Sunday 15 May 2011

Sunday.

Garden's looking nice and colourful. Took above snap because Ann was about to change all the urns and hanging basket contents to their summer bedding plants, which she did this afternoon.



Above is roast chicken supper, with sage and onion stuffing and various veg. Ann bought chicken from Andrews, our local (and very good) butcher's shop. When we moved here (seventeen years ago) there were two butcher's shops. The other one was a very old established family butcher who rejoiced in the name of Mr. Pierpoint. There was a standing joke about him that his meat was very well hung, but you had to be of a certain age to get the joke. Pierpoint's shop has (since Mr. Pierpoint's death) been sold on, which leaves Andrews as the senior (and better) butcher's shop. For pudding we had locally grown strawberries and cream. Ann's just gone up to bed, so I'd better follow. Good night All.
P.s. For the benefit of my younger readers (if any) the joke about Mr. Pierpoint's well hung meat is that a Mr. Pierpoint (another one I hope) was, for some years, the hangman. Slightly black humour. Sleep well.
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12 comments:

Crowbard said...

I bedoubt me that any of your younger readers might actually believe in the public hangman.
Too many generations of 'pas devant les enfants' has made such macabre matters less real in their minds than father Christmas.
And as for well hung meat - if you told the little loves how long it was left before being considered properly ripe, they'd all become vegetarians overnight.

Sir Bruin said...

I agree, there is not much talk of such matters these days. Still, no noose is good noose, I suppose.

Unknown said...

That one, Sir Bruin, was money for old rope.

Sir Bruin said...

Sorry, I could knot resist. I'll try and give you a ring this week re the musket.

Crowbard said...

Which phrase the Kiddie-kins might know... but would they know it refers to the hangman's perk of selling off the used rope in short sections as souvenirs to the good-hearted folk who had come to witness the felon's final fandango?

stigofthedump said...

Hi Pa
wasn't Mr Peirpoint's father also a hangman ?
I read a biography of the younger a few years ago - fascinating stuff about rope lengths and weights etc and how he used to insist on packing his own bag and test the equipment the night before and not having the prisoner hear the equipment being tested or spending too long standing on the gallows etc - very humane I thought !
Hope this gets through to you... looking forweard to seeing you this weekend, would you like us to bring anything ?
Is it OK if we bring the dogs ????
See you soon love Stig x

Maggie said...

all of these quips are leaving me with a hangover! your loving sister x

Unknown said...

Hi Stig. Don't know the answer to your question re two generations of Pierpoint hangmen, but as a Mr. Pierpoint seemed to be hangman for a long time, you could well be right. I'll ask your Mama re the second query, and yes, of course to the third. We'll take them to the show.
Love, Pa and Granny.

Unknown said...

Hi Maggie. Can't keep up with all these punning replies at breakneck speed (that one really is black humour).

Unknown said...

P.s. Or rather, to use the older and more apt term, gallows humour.

Pat said...

I thought that name was familiar.
I can't grow lupins.

Unknown said...

Hi Pat. Lupins- I think it's probably something to do with the soil in the area. Up on the Norfolk coast, they grow wild (mainly yellow ones), and on our new ( built about twenty years ago) town bypass, they're growing along the verges.