Elder The Queen of Herbs

Recipies for Elderflowers and Elderberries

A guest article by Sarah PJ White author of “The Little Book of Elder”

Elder is a familiar site in the UK, Europe and North America.  It is one of those plants you probably see everywhere but never realise what it is, or indeed how useful it can be.  The flowers and berries can be used to make drinks – see how to make Elderflower Champagne, edible delights, medicinally and cosmetically.

The masses of flat-topped, creamy-white flowers start to appear from Mid May if weather is good, filling your senses with their heady, honey aroma.  They can easily be picked for using fresh in recipes like Elderflower Cordial – delicious mixed with spring water, or used as a base for other recipes.  If you are short on time, you can lay them out to dry for storage or later use in various guises – tea being one of the more popular recipes, as it can help alleviate hay fever, colds and flu, and period pain to name a few.

Image – judyofthewoods http://www.flickr.com/photos/68888883@N00/3647949351/
Elderberries start to appear from the end of September.  The glossy black berries hang heavy on red stalks, ripe for use.  Again, they can be used fresh in wines or dried for later use in pies, jams and as a cold or flu syrup.

For all those gardeners out there, you can also use the leaves to make an effective pesticide.  This can combat Carrot Fly and Cucumber Beatle.

I often make an Elderflower Infusion ready for use, as it comes in handy – especially if you have children – a quick dab will help heal cuts and grazes, sun burn, spots, bites and stings!  It truly is an under-used, hidden treasure that thoroughly deserves the title ‘Queen of Herbs’.

For more information on the use of Elder, take a look at Sarah’s latest ebook entitled “The Little Book of Elder” by visiting the website at http://www.theelderbook.com

Bournemouth Artificial Reef Fail

Way back in 2000 I think it was I was puzzled by the announcement that an artificial reef was to be constructed at Bournemouth with the intention of transforming the area into a surfers paradise.

Now we learn that the artificial reef has failed to create waves in the English Channel – one of the least wavey places in the UK

No Waves at Bournemouth

Bournemouth does not get good, consistent swell. No swell = no surf no matter how many sandbags you dump on the sea bed.

Bournemouth is on the Southern coast of the UK. Exposed to what is ultimately a fetch limited shallow water undeveloped sea state that is the North Sea/Channel. To make it worse, the localised currents from the Channel disrupt and interfere with any wave that attempts to ‘develop’.

End result? No regular waves with which to surf on. Regardless of how much diamond coated sand is laid out. This is why only short sharp and random waves are noted instead of long crested regular waves.

The failed project was 1.3 million over budget and delayed by 12 months.

How was an initial budget of 1.7 million approved for filling 55 sacks with sand and dumping them on the sea bed?

And how could this possibly have taken 12 months longer than expected?

Anyway here is a glorious photo of Bournemouth going off big time:

Many thanks to one of our guest munchers for alerting us to this new sensational item of lingerie being showcased in where else but Japan.

Grub grown in not so sexy lingerie

Recently Japanese women’s fashions have been in the news for the crazy designs and non sexy functionality – rememeber the underwear that played wedding bell jingles that were supposed to lure Jap Chaps to the alter and who could forget the Pay As You Go chastity bra neither of which featured in our previous post about the top types of bra.

Now our fun filled friends have release a range of stylish luxury lingerie that include a bra in which you can grow your own nosh – munchtastic!

Well enough words let the glamous lingerie model show you the new range of bras – yet to be found in UK lingerie shops

In the wake of mixed feelings about the release of Four Lions we ask the question – Is it right to joke about terrorism?

Terrorism Jokes

It was with some intrepidation that someone posted the question on September 11th 2001 – Is it too soon to make jokes about the World Trade Centre – or should I let the dust settle?

It’s right to joke about anything! It is a free country after all…

To laugh at something that scares us removes its power to do so.

Given that the objective of terrorism is fear, laughter and ridicule is precisely the way to combat it.

Right to Joke about Terrorism

It’s not only right to joke about terrorism. Our response to terrorists should be ridicule. But instead we big them up, change our way of life, encouraging more of these pathetic losers to follow. Because other than causing mayhem, destruction and inconvenience, these people would never amount to anything. So let’s ridicule them, and aspiring terrorists. It’s part of our defence against them.

Some terrorist jokes might be crude or insensitive, but never is it ok to react violently.