Sunday 1st March 2020 - Wettest February and Artisan Baker

I said to Peter yesterday, ‘I wouldn’t be surprised if this isn’t the wettest February on record’. The evening news confirmed my thoughts. We have seen above normal rainfall, not just in February but during the whole of the winter. March has got off to a better start, it was windy but at least it was dry when I went out in the garden this morning. After putting in some pepper and flower seeds in the heated propagator, I spotted some ground elder coming under the fence. This needed to come out, before it spread further. After lifting a couple of clumps, I found out just how heavy and stodgy the rain has made the ground. The soil formed clods, as I lifted the ground elder and its extended root system. Until the ground dries out, there is no way Peter will be able to sow radishes, as he would normally at this time of the year.

It may have been wet as well as windy, during the week but this didn’t stop the launching of the fishing boat, Cara Marie. The crabs caught by Rob, were boiled and dressed ready for sale and on Friday there was a number displayed in the Lobster Pot in Mundesley. Needless to say we bought two. (On Saturday, when I took this photo, Rob and Andy were out either hauling up crabs or dropping more shannocks.) After purchasing our crabs and meat from the butchers, we went to the greengrocer, Country Pickings. Here, in one corner of the shop, were trays of pre-ordered bread in brown paper bags, produced by local artisan baker, Pete Sewell. Luckily he had produced a few extra loaves enabling me to purchase a small granary. It had a good open moist texture, with an excellent crust. We ate half the loaf with our crabs for Friday’s lunch and the rest, along with some grilled streaky bacon, made sandwiches for yesterday’s lunch. The loaves are more expensive than mass produced bread but taking into account quality, it was worth paying that bit more.