SusanGaszczak

A moment of thoughtfulness struck me today. We had left the pub after a lovely lunch, that started as just going for a drink. After lunch we went to buy our Christmas tree. As I was paying for our aptly named ‘humbug tree' I got a call from a good friend and colleague. After our conversation, about telephone canvassing and politics, I realised that we really do not do family days that often.

I guess because we do give up time, to do the work we believe in, we miss out on family time sometimes - but I guess it makes us appreciate the time we do spend more. But it is fantastic that so many people give hours and hours of their time for little more than a thank you and knowing they are working for a cause they believe in. There are also many of us who battle it out to become candidates in seats we may or may not win..

A very thoughtful afternoon...

Tonight I was watching Rick Stein on his adventures through France to the Mediterranean. I was salivating at the thought of local caught eel, French rare steak and chips cooked in duck fat. At the end of the programme I had to ask myself where the local produce is.

I am probably one of the first to stress when I cannot get fresh or speciality ingredients in Tesco but actually I do not want all my produce ‘superstore' bought. I want to walk into the 'wonky' (Susan speak for shops with uneven floors and odd aisles) shops as I did 25 years ago and buy local produce.

I am disappointed that we can no longer do that, we now put up with the compromise of the supermarkets local brand.

Why did they take the fun out of food?