Got a little Christmassy last night watching Tales from the Green Valley on TVO last night, a 2005 BBC production, in which a number of academics with good teeth live in a 1620's Welsh farm and display how civilized it all would have been without the ignorance, disease, constant use of alcohol and religious fanaticism. But all very good and worth watching. Here is one participant's website. It were the December episode that drew me back to the deep mid-winter:
To celebrate Christmas 17th-century style the farmers cut a giant yule log, find traditional decorations, brew contemporary tipples, and put all hands to cooking up recipes from the age of Shakespeare, like mince pies with real meat in them. At the same time they must find time to tend the livestock, make some winter clothes, and build a hovel, a period wood store.But they did butchered a pig and made with it plump sausages and many a pie. 'Twas the "contemporary tipples" that was of interest, the infusion of herbs in spirit that got me thinking of storing up something of a julglögg, then I reckoned it might be a pyment or metheglin. It reminded me of when at King's I was in charge of the Gunpowder Punch in 1984 for the Christmas Readings: 7 parts red wine, 2 parts port, 1 part brandy simmered with old apples and spices.
Taking care of this in November leaves time in early December for some careful cheese planning. Oh, and I better buy a snow shovel, too.
Comments
gr - November 13, 2006 8:40 am
If people drank a lot it is because they were cold wet and hungry and at the mercy of a legion of biting insects, in every season. I would not submit my 2006 self to that sort of abuse.
Alan - November 13, 2006 8:44 am
Actually, it was because it is an excellent source of carbohydrates and B vitamins and water was so dangerous that a sickly person was called a "water drinker".
gorthos - November 13, 2006 11:08 am
Whats my excuse then................
non-water drinker
sean
Gordo - November 13, 2006 11:17 am
I just happen to have a carboy of metheglin aging in my basement ... Mmmmmm
gorthos - November 13, 2006 11:36 am
I coudl live in a cave, trapping creatures and eating off of the land if I had to, but damend if I would want to live in a filthy disease infested city of that era.
gorthos - November 13, 2006 11:41 am
DAMN my lack of accurate typing ability.. let me re-do that:
I could live in a cave, trapping creatures and eating off of the land if I had to, but damned if I would want to live in a filthy disease infested city of that era.
gr - November 13, 2006 12:16 pm
NOTE AWESOME POTTERY IN PHOTO
Alan - November 13, 2006 12:20 pm
I was wondering when you would notice that. Any history of pottery web resources you might point us to?
gr - November 13, 2006 1:05 pm
I feel a petit historical lesson coming on....check in at pottersblog, folks, in a few minutes.
gr - November 13, 2006 1:21 pm
All set. In a show like this, the pots would be purchased from a potter whose work closely resembles what was made 400 years ago. Plenty of people work that way (I don't), and you can read about that at potter'sblog if you wish. Thanks!
Flea - November 13, 2006 3:08 pm
<i>... in which a number of academics with good teeth live in a <strike>1620's</strike> 2006 Welsh farm and display how civilized it all would <strike>have been</strike> be without the ignorance, disease, constant use of alcohol and religious fanaticism.</i>
That's better.
Alan - November 13, 2006 3:15 pm
Grammar at 6:42 am is vastly different than at 2:15 pm.
Flea - November 13, 2006 3:20 pm
It is not your grammar but your optimistic appraisal of the present tense to which my amendments were addressed.
Alan - November 13, 2006 3:24 pm
That is good because I was about to accuse you of being under the powers of the Omni-Chron and set the dogs upon you accordingly.
Flea - November 13, 2006 3:26 pm
And you would not be wrong. Me and the Omni-Chron go <i>way</i> back. Also, forward.
Alan - November 13, 2006 3:31 pm
And yet at the same time not. That is the freaky think. Damn good thing dogs are oblivious to the whole thing and have a love of the chase and a taste for flesh.
Alan - November 27, 2006 8:37 am
This who was again good last night. March and April. Egg and pear pie not to mention beer making.
Stuart Peachey - November 28, 2006 10:57 am
If you are chasing pottery we can put you in touch witht he potters who made the stuff for the series. For booze try "The Tipplers Guide to the mid 17th Century" or see www.stuart-hmaltd.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk for the full catalogue of the published research material from the team who built own and opperate the Green Valley site.
Stuart Peachey