Turkey eggs

Today in Sheeplands Farm Shop, I saw something I have long wondered about, but until today never seen - turkey eggs! That's eggs from turkeys, not turkey meat shaped into ovoid forms.

The little speckled things vary in size much like a chicken's egg. Unlike chicken eggs, though, is the price - £1.40 for a single one, the same price as six organic free range eggs.

I didn't buy any, and now I wish I had. I can't believe I've been wondering all this time and I let the opportunity pass me buy. I'll get some the next time I go.

I don't want to die never having tasted turkey eggs!

Other egg-vending establishments are available.

Pears

... the only firm fruit I could find in the supermarket (last week) that came from Britain.

There were apples from France, America, New Zealand, Argentina, South Africa. But none from Britain. In April.

It's asparagus season!

In Sheeplands Farm Shop today, newly moved to Hare Hatch Nurseries, we found bunch of "locally grown, freshly picked" asparagus. Twelve plump stalks, held together with a red elastic band, were £2.49.

We ate them steamed, with a little mayonnaise.

For me, the flavour wasn't quite as deep as I had hoped. Perhaps they need more sunshine, a little longer to ripen.

But it's asparagus season, make the most of it while it lasts!

There are three bottles of wine on my desk

That is, there are two bottles of red wine, and a bottle of Moet & Chandon Brut Imperial Champagne.

The former are for my charitable works (resupplying the tuck shop) and for suggesting the name for the courtyard area that N4 Solutions now occupies (Fountain Square).

The latter is my thank you for a successful year at N4, which came as part of the company-wide bonus scheme, presented at lunchtime today.

It's been a strange kind of day.

Today's organic apples

...come from USA or Argentina. 6000 miles to our table. Not ideal.

We have newts!

We saw two, lurking by the side of the pond, in the water, distinctive and unmistakable. This discovery has prompted a rush of research into newt types, habits, and rarity.

We think they're probably (not-so) Common Newts rather than the Great Crested variety.

We also have a great many frogs, some of them giants, with very blunt heads.