Blog Archives
A Love Letter from Bosch
Someone lovely at Bosch sent me this poem last week. I thought I’d better share it – what a comment! Long, considered, amusing…what do you think I should say by reply?
I was thinking about sending a poem back to Bosch. While I look out my poetry cap and write something worthy of the Bosch poet’s time, perhaps in iambic pentameter, maybe a haiku?here’s the comment that was left on my post about that little Italian workhorse vehicle, the Ape.
Epic, oh Epic…
Lovely Epicurienne
Your blog has inspired us
To pick up our poetry pen
And celebrate your love for food
(You gorgeous bon vivant)
We’re jealous of your travels
You have the life we want
We’re picturing you on a Vespa
Or on an APE (ah-pay) as it is called
Travelling to France and Italy
Keeping us all enthralled
With your Epicurious adventures
You really make us smile
Which is why you’re our favourite blogger
You’re number one (by a mile)
You’re probably aware of us
We make household appliances
That deliver yummy recipes
That define food blogging sciences
We’ve seen you hangin’ out in restaurants
Dining in Kerbisher and Malt
We’ve made the compact kitchen appliances
Just bring your own vinegar and salt
But even before you flew
From New Zealand to old Blighty
We were making gorgeous products
More beautiful than Aphrodite
We’re also in the food processors
Which help you make tomato paste
Like your hero Kenny Everett
It’s all done in the best possible taste!
And now that you’re moving house
And hopefully have outdoor space
Our range of gardening accessories
Can help you customise your place
Whilst we know that you’re quite cultured
And know your decorative arts
Our mission is to develop technology
That wins over minds and hearts
…that power your weekend wagon
For you and your beau Monsieur
From brakes to your ignition
And the bits that make your engine roar…
When you worked in the world of auctions
You kept valuables protected
Our Bosch security alarms
Ensure that burglars are detected
We wish you’d blog more often
As your posts sure are a beaut!
You keep our stomachs growling
(You cheeky kiwi-fruit)!
You are true blogging royalty
In you, a friend we’ve found
So spare a thought for us today
Because Bosch is All Around (http://bit.ly/BoschUK)
Hope you enjoyed that (come on over and say hello on Facebook or Twitter)!
http://on.fb.me/ShbgAU – Facebook
http://bit.ly/ShbyrC – Twitter
Sardinian Free Range Pork
Driving from Cagliari to Sardinia’s Costa Smeralda gives the option of two main routes: one zig-zags you up the island on an efficient, wide autostrada (the SS131); the other snakes precariously around the sheer cliff faces of the east (the SS125). Never again do I want to travel the second way.
At various junctures along this serpentine route signs may be found warning of wandering livestock. They do not lie. We encountered quite a few four-legged friends, most often pondering life in the middle of the road or grazing calmly beside it. Pigs, goats, horned cattle, sheep… all came dangerously close to losing their lives beneath a large Ford people-mover as Monsieur, impatient to reach our hotel, zoomed us around the corners like a Schumacher brother. For much of this journey, I gripped the seat and door handle for dear life, closing my eyes and silently imploring St Christopher to protect us against what I now saw to be our inevitable end: diving down from the road to an untimely death, which, given the desolation of much of the area, I was certain may not be discovered for some weeks. If you’re even a slightly nervous passenger, I certainly do not recommend travelling this way. If you must, be warned: you may need to pop a few dozen valium to get through it.
At one point during the trip, when I felt momentarily calm enough to release my grip on the car and use the camera, I snapped the Three Little Pigs, calmly trotting across the road, impervious to the real threat of slaughter by automobile. A few nights later, as Monsieur devoured a good portion of juicy Sardinian suckling pig, we wondered aloud if it had been a relation.
The food of the island is certainly excellent and now we understand why: they raise happy animals like this example of proper, free-range pork. It was pleasant to see so much of Sardinia’s GDP ambling about her country roads, but once is enough for me. Next time, I’m determined to stick to the autostrada.
Do not stand at my grave and weep
This is for the people I know who’ve lost close ones in recent weeks, and for all those who know what it feels like to lose someone. WARNING: do not read without kleenex to hand.
Do not stand at my grave and weep,
I am not there, I do not sleep.
I am in a thousand winds that blow,
I am the softly falling snow.
I am the gentle showers of rain,
I am the fields of ripening grain.
I am in the morning hush,
I am in the graceful rush
Of beautiful birds in circling flight,
I am the starshine of the night.
I am in the flowers that bloom,
I am in a quiet room.
I am in the birds that sing,
I am in each lovely thing.
Do not stand at my grave and cry,
I am not there. I do not die.
To find out more about the poem’s attribution and history, please click here.
