There is something very comforting about a cream tea. Tiny, triangular cucumber sandwiches – with the crusts cut off, warm scones, homemade damson jam and lashings of thick, yellow clotted cream served with tea in porcelain cups and saucers – quintessentially British; ignoring, as the British so often do, that the history of tea has its routes in far flung places many miles from Britain. Why don’t we do this more often? Apart from the obvious health issues of course…….., such a tea imbibed amongst old and new friends is a wonderful way to wile away a few hours. However, I don’t think I should eat anything else for the next week or so for fear of adding even more lumpy bumpy bits that really shouldn’t be there.

As the thoughts wander the realms of the quintessential, the Arthurian Legends spring to mind, especially when living in Somerset. I was mortified today when I requested Thomas Malory’s ‘Morte D’ Arthur’ at the local library and was informed that it was no longer held in Somerset libraries. Why not! Much as I enjoy using a computer and teaching others to use it, it really should not replace books – work alongside yes, but definitely not replace them. Where are the Encyclopaedia Britannica – no longer held in libraries. I spent many, many happy hours flicking through those tomes as a child and as a teenager, although don’t ever let my parents know that I enjoyed them ………………..

On one of the many occasions I ran away, I packed my flute, my favourite books (a complete holdall full), my favourite floaty clothes and a large number of leather boots and proceeded to hitch anywhere I could go. Fortunately I was picked up by a bloke going to Calstock where I knew a lovely family. I stayed with the family for two weeks before returning back to my real home. But my point is – would any 15 year old now run away with a holdall of books? Actually, where there many 15 year olds, thirty years ago, that would have run away with a holdall of books? Probably not! There’s nothing wrong with being a little strange…………