Denise >

After a couple of days of heavy cloud and even heavier rain, a break in the weather, late this afternoon, was most welcome. The rain may have stopped, but the ground was sodden, the mild-mannered streams that prevail here had all become angry torrents, and the wind was still as bracing as is to be expected at this time of year.  We pulled on boots and coats, and set off for a simple walk along the lane to the hill fence, up the old sheep fank on the side of the hill, and back home again.  We went out empty-handed – we didn’t even have our phones or cameras ; and certainly no guns.  And yet, we came back with a couple of brace of widgeon!

We’re familiar with the superior flavour and texture of naturally raised duck, but  until now we’ve never eaten wild duck, so we were unsure what this would be like.  Well, we were very very pleasantly surprised : the meat was very dark, richly flavoured and though with a distinctive texture, it was very tender.  With some of that delicious quince jelly, and home grown potatoes (from storage) and spring greens (freshly cut in a greenhouse), it was a meal fit for royalty.