Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Still planting

Apple trees that is. I only got one (sort of) offer of a massage after last week's request. Unfortunately there's an ocean in the way of my taking it up. At least I've got used to the digging and I don't ache quite so much. The sad thing about planting all these tiny little saplings is that they won't be ready for much for at least ten years or so. They should produce some good cider by then. That's cider in the European sense not the American. Over here cider is an alcoholic drink. It has as high - or frequently a higher (up to 8 or 9%) - alcohol content than most beers. There used to be a local sport here of feed the grockle (tourist) two pints of scrumpy (farm cider) then watch them try and walk. I know, I've been a victim of it. They don't seem to do it as much now. Probably because there isn't as much real farm cider around. That's a result this modern habit of mass-produced, ultra-sterilised, must-all-be-the-same, commercialisation. Real cider isn't clear, it's cloudy, it has bits in it and the big bits hunt the little bits.

Ting Tong. A reader came up with a suggestion of its origins. Apparently there's a Ting Tong Gate in Wales and it's a corruption of Dan-tung (upon oath). The gate stood where the tenants of the manor gave their fealty oath and paid their fealty rent. Since the language of the Dumnonii and Cornovii eventually became Cornish which is cousin to Welsh (and mutually intelligible) it seems pretty likely that the Exmouth Ting Tong might be the same. Fantastic. Been driving me nuts for over ten years trying to find the roots of that. Thanks Laurie!!

Ze

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