Have you started on your winter programme of multivitamins? Or are you taking your cod liver oil? Not in capsules, but raw off the spoon, just as your mother used to administer it. One man always remembers the maternal comment "That'll put a red neck on you". He never asked what the value of a red neck was, and now will never know. A mistranslation from the Irish? Another man takes the same dose because he asked Dr M about its value and the answer was "I take it myself every day." And have you had your flu injection? That's the end of the interrogation.
On Sunday last, in a quiet part of Meath, there came, briefly, an hour or so of sun. Looking up at an enormous, rather ragged buddleia, there were seen many winged creatures clustering on the yellow balls of flower. Could bees still be working at honey gathering? Yes, said Ann O'Sullivan of the County Dublin Beekeepers' Association, but at this time it would usually be for the last of the ivy flowers before they turn to fruit.
You would be rash to say that honey has medicinal properties. In France, in fact, it is illegal to claim this if you are in the honey business. Which some French acquaintances are, and from whom came a few small jars, each honey named from the area it came from. One had its origin about six thousand feet up towards the Pyrenees, another was from the rough garrigues along the coast, a third from a known holy place. A fit of nostalgia could only be assuaged by taking a spoonful from each one.
It's lovely. No better than our own, but different, and variety is the spice of good food. No better than Sean Cronin's early season Woodtown brand, or McGrane's heather honey or others that we will meet tomorrow, Saturday. For on that day, November 1st, the same County Dublin Beekeepers' Association hold their honey show at Christ Church Hall, at the Rathgar end of Highfield Road. Bee people are usually philosophers and there will be much good chat. Also, with the honey, goes a craft exhibition from aromatherapy to basketwork, wood turning, jewellery, pottery, fishing flies and glass. But the honey is the thing, and Graham Hall says that this year was good for honey in Dublin with the early spring and with warm and humid weather in August for the heather honey. From 2.00 p.m. to 5.00 p.m.; £1 entrance for adults which goes to Cerebral Palsy Ireland. Y