Setback
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Last week some family and friends called to my home to find out what they could do to help as my back had finally told me in no uncertain terms that I hadn’t heeded my own words (see Crossroads blog) and it has produced enough pain and attendant tiredness to keep me away from work for several weeks.
Each visit had necessitated a perusal of the bottom half of my kitchen dresser. One friend wanted to retrieve sugar for her coffee while another was looking for space for some of the shopping she had done for me for the weekend. I was so deeply embarrassed by the mess therein that I decided to clean it out once I was more mobile and flexible. On so doing, in amongst spilled flour and dried pasta, etc, I discovered some angelica which I had candied (without the green dye) about 3 years’ ago. While it didn’t look the best, it had still retained some of its sweet, musky, seductive flavour and I have been nibbling happily on it ever since.
Now that the seeds from the original plant have produced four new angelica plants, I can get to work again, putting it to better use than reclining in an untidy store cupboard. According to food writer, Sophie Grigson, ‘its Latin name, angel of the archangel, derives, according to one source, from a dream in which an angel announced that an infusion of angelica would halt the spread of plague’. Well, if it can do that successfully, maybe, just maybe, it can hit the sore spot, and help with the healing of my back.
I also found a kilner jar of apricot and nettle wine which I had made as a Spring tonic around the same time as the candying of the angelica. On sampling, I was surprised that it tasted far better than when it was first made. Evil warded off and blood purified, what next but a big thank you to all my family, friends and neighbours who offered their support in the last week and who continue to keep in touch. I am very grateful for your love, kindness and friendship.
