Roasted Asparagus, originally uploaded by bongo vongo.

The farmer from Evesham, who grew and sold me the asparagus, suggested a cooking method. Boil them for 12 minutes and then serve simply with butter. I consulted the Internet and decided to roast my bunch instead. Olive oil, salt, pepper and chopped garlic cooked in the oven at 200 degrees Centigrade for about 12 minutes. Delicious even if I say so myself.

Asparagus, originally uploaded by bongo vongo.

Drove to Evesham yesterday. Saw a farm shop just outside the town. A sign said locally farmed asparagus was being sold inside. I bought a bunch. It’s the season for asparagus. The Vale of Evesham grows the best.

A field in Oxfordshire, originally uploaded by bongo vongo.

I pass a particular field everyday on my journey into work. Most of the time I don’t notice it. This past week, in the glorious weather we’re having, I couldn’t help but notice it. I had to stop and take it in. On the way back from work I noticed that what seemed like half the fields in Oxfordshire and Warwickshire are radiant in this way. Marvellous

Charlestown Harbour, Cornwall, originally uploaded by bongo vongo.

We went to St. Austell in Cornwall back in September and visited the Eden Project (as you do) and when the weather permitted to some of the villages in the surrounding area. By far the most picturesque of these is Charlestown which has been used as a setting in a number of Films.

Another village we went to was Mevagissey where I had probably the best tasting pot of mussels ever anywhere (and I’ve had some good mussels in Belgium where they know a thing or two about them). I want to imagine that they were caught locally that morning but wouldn’t be surprised if they’d been imported from somewhere else.

Despite the occasional downpour during September I can easily recommend Cornwall to anyone planning a late season break but would urge them to take waterproofs and a sat-nav.

Moseley on Farmers Market Day., originally uploaded by bongo vongo.

Was passing through Moseley this morning when we noticed the Farmers Market in full swing. The weather was good for a change and there were plenty of people about. The area by the bus stop, opposite the Barclays bank had all the food stalls and the Alcester Road side, opposite HSBC had the arts and crafts stalls. We bought some organic apples grown in … Argentina … hmm!

I’ve just listened to someone comment on how there’s a whole generation now growing up who know nothing about Arthur Scargill’s battle royale with the evil Baroness Thatcher.

I expect hose who are interested in history do know and the rest are like young peole anywhere far more interested in the future than the past. The past is the land of their parents and grandparents and the future, ‘the undiscovered country’, is theirs to explore.

Arthur’s class war inspired battle against the reactionary forces of capitalism ended in defeat as did the hopes of all of us deluded young people of those days who thought that a socialist utopia was just a revolutionary battle away. Well, we were wrong. Arthur was wrong and eventually it has to be said Maggie was wrong too.

Socialism collapsed and now capitalism appears to be collapsing about our ears so what did any of us actually know — not a lot — so to paraphrase an Bowie, ‘All the young dudes (should) Carry the news. Boogaloo dudes. Carry the news’