Cave by Hugh Bowen

Author:Hugh Bowen
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Publish on Demand Global LLC

Chapter 19

You Start with a Good Welsh Breakfast

The next morning at Llwyn House, on James’ invitation, Van and Ava joined Laura and James, and David and Heddy, to enjoy a Mrs. Evans breakfast. That is to say, a groaning sideboard of juices, cereals, milk and cream from the home farm, breads, ham, eggs and bacon, kippers, with kedgeree on the side, and coffee, tea, or chocolate. Ava exclaimed, “God! I'd blow up like a balloon if I did this every day! And whoever heard of rice with bits of fish and sliced hardboiled eggs for breakfast?”

Van laughed. “It's what you've missed by being an American. It dates from British days in India. Kedgeree is best made with smoked haddock, as Mrs. Evans has done here. You add curry powder and butter; then top it with parsley. I'm very glad to see it done so perfectly. Historically it's one of many dishes made from the leftovers from the day before. That was the practice all over the world before refrigeration. In principle it is the same dish as hash. Just thought you'd like to know.”

“All right. Just remember, you lost the colonies. I'll try a tiny bit. I still think I would blow up if I ate like this all the time.”

“Actually, you probably wouldn't,” Van told her. “The life style here is full of exercise. This morning, for example, you have to fuel up for our trek along the cliff path. So eat up!”

James cautioned, “Remember not to go too near the cliff edge. At this time of year, with vegetation growing over the lip, it's particularly dangerous.”

“I remember that well,” Van assured him.

James left them to go to the Home farm. That morning, he told them, the vet was coming to artificially inseminate some pigs. James put on his Wellington boots and picked up his double-barreled shot gun. “You never know what you'll find out there and Mrs. Evans almost decrees that I bring back a rabbit or a pigeon or a duck or, possibly, a pheasant.”

James left and Laura said brightly, “That's all part of the country life here, isn't it? Sort of old-fashioned, but quite dramatic! I'm going to explore around. There's an old stone bridge up the river with a cottage by it. It's called Pont Newydd, New Bridge. It's ages old, of course. It leads up to Penny Hill farm. James tells me an old cowman, who used to work here, and his wife live there. I bet they have some good stories to tell, if I can understand them. The Welsh accent takes a bit of getting used to. James said I should ask them about the spirits pushing the tide up at this time of year to clean things up. The very top of the tide can reach their bridge.”

David had a phone call on his mobile phone and went away from the table to take it. He returned to invite Van outside. They sat on a garden seat by the conservatory, basking in the morning sunshine, with cups of coffee in their hands.

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