Calendar girl

I love January. It's so ... new. I'm still on a high from Christmas (the turkey and mincemeat takes a while to leave my bloodstream) and everything is 'new for 2010', or whichever year we're beginning.

I don't, you understand, love it in a 'fresh start, new resolution, clean slate, start over' kind of way, as magazines and TV adverts tell me I should. That sounds ghastly - having to start afresh. I can't think why I'd want a clean slate, unless the year before had been particularly horribilis, like the one the Queen had that time.

Rather, I like January because I get to do the same all over again. It's like last year ... again. There's another winter, Easter and spring are just around the corner, Pimms will be in fashion again soon enough. Even Christmas will be along again before we know it.

I'm particularly excited about all the food I can eat again. Sad to eat the last mince pie? Never mind - the season will be around again at the end of this year. Missing pancakes? Shrove Tuesday is coming right up. Didn't get a chance to try all those fantastic salad recipes last summer? Never fear - a new year is here.

I love the predictibility and sameness of a new year starting. I'll start digging out all my old recipes in date order and getting excited about the approach of asparagus season, not to mention my delight when autumn's apple day comes a-knocking!

Winter killing

It nearly happened again! Last Monday, at the first proper whiff of winter, I very nearly said "oh, it's my favourite season!"

I got as far as "oh, it ..." before remembering my solemn vow of loyalty to its older brother autumn.

I've been roasting parsnips til the cows come home (to be made into lovely fillet steak and eaten with redcurrant sauce and roasted parsnips!) and I caught a glimpse of some wonderful sprouts in the supermarket the other day. I've also got cupboards full of pickles, biscuits for cheese, nuts and chutneys for Christmas, so I'm all set for a happy, healthy, warm winter.

Let's have an apple party

It hardly seems any time since the last Apple Day at Audley End House. Nevertheless, it has come around again already - and this year filled a whole weekend.

I went along last Saturday to take part and to enjoy the lovely autumn weather. I also took along an apple from the tree in my garden and was reliably informed that it's a good, healthy example of an Egremont Russet! Good for eating or cooking lightly on a tart!

I think Apple Day, however predictable and samey, will remain a part of my yearly calendar because it seems perfectly to encapsulate the beginning of autumn. The trees at Audley End House fade and shed prettily and the ranks of apples, pears and vegetables sum up a bountiful English harvest.

I love each season when it arrives and walk around for a fortnight telling myself (and anyone else who'll listen) that it's my favourite. I think, however, autumn really is my favourite! All the nicest food seems to be in season and all the nicest colours abound. I'll try to stick to it this time and not have my head turned by the frost of winter or the first whiff of spring!

Eating dates

Veering away from food ever so slightly, just for a moment ...

If you haven't got a calendar for 2008 yet, or even if you have but it's really, really boring, perhaps you should consider buying this one. It's a full-colour entertaining calendar produced by Wheelybird, a regular contributor to b3ta, the infamous comedy website. Each month features a very funny illustration of a particular day, event or celebration. There's plenty of space for writing notes, too.

And it mentions tea several times, which is nice!