Peckish?

You might not be aware of this but it's possible to purchase black puddings by mail order - how cool is that? Of course the best way to eat black pudding is bought hot on a stall in Bury market. Bit of mustard and the job's a good 'un. Click on the image to be whisked to the Bury Black Pudding Co website where it's possible to place an order for this Ambrosia.

From Lear

"Come on, sir; here's the place: stand still. How fearful
And dizzy 'tis, to cast one's eyes so low!
The crows and choughs that wing the midway air
Show scarce so gross as beetles: half way down
Hangs one that gathers samphire, dreadful trade!"

(King Lear, Act IV, scene VI)

This is rock samphire; the plant Shakespeare was describing when Lear referred to the dangers in collecting it. It was collected to supplement the diet and is now seen as a delicacy. Check out this blog for a wonderful recipe with a mouthwatering photo of samphire, scallops and black pudding. The samphire in this photo is just coming into flower and I took the shot at Samphire Hoe which nestles in the shadow of Shakespeare Cliff - the Hoe was built using spoil from the Channel Tunnel excavations. Marsh Samphire is eaten now rather than this stuff.

Location, location, location

While waiting for my Chinese takeaway I thought I'd show the good folk of blogland something of the village of Coxheath. First some context,

Until the 1700's the heath was a deserted tract of land which was the haunt of highwaymen.

The deserted heath remained that way until in 1756, twelve thousand Hanoverian and Hessian soldiers were encamped on the heath. This large influx of foreign soldiers caused bad feelings within the local area.
(http://www.villagenet.co.uk/highweald/villages/coxheath.php)

So now to the present day

This is, as the sign says, the Chinese takeaway. Excellent food at sensible prices.

Here we see the Chinese on the left and, past the bakers, Coxheath Tandoori - mouthwatering Indian food to enjoy in the comfort of your own home.

Finally and taken from the same place - the front of the Chinese looking towards the Indian restaurant and takeaway (yes another one but not shown here) we see Threshers Off Licence. There is also a kebab shop, a fish and chip shop, a Londis, two butchers, two newsagents, a charity shop, a chemist and other less useful things. All spaced around the corner from which I took these photos. There is also a car park behind the shops and here you can see the pull-in area for parking outside the essential shops.

It's difficult to see what more a bloke might need when it comes to purchasing the essentials.

Yummy!

Fresh tuna on a bed of steamed spinach and finished with a sauce of butter, lemon juice, capers and rough chopped parsley

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