Which festivals do we observe?

[shewhomust]

Today is Saint Valentine's day in the Guardian, with a poem by Carol Ann Duffy pushing the news down to the bottom of the front page, and a Valentine's themed crossword. It was Saint Valentine's day in Sainsbury's, with men anxiously consulting each other about appropriate gifts. "They've left it a bit late, haven't they?" said durham_rambler, who wouldn't dream of buying a Valentine's gift; "Perhaps they have dates for this evening?" "Oh, right..." And it's Saint Valentine's day in Ambridge.

In this household, however, Saint Valentine's day is not observed. It is simply the day after our anniversary, and we barely observe that, either: a card may have changed hands, a bottle of fizz may have been opened, but that could happen at any time, couldn't it?

The festival that durham_rambler took care not to overlook, in fact, fell on Tuesday: not trusting me to cook him pancakes, he telephoned J. and told her, as far as I can work out, that since she no longer works on Wednesdays, she should invite us over to eat pancakes on Tuesday. She agreed to host the party, but everyone should bring things to eat with the pancakes - and since I have a large bag of buckwheat flour, I made the batter for the savoury galettes, which is the proper Breton way.

Forty years ago (good grief) J. and I were in our final year as undergraduates and participated in a pancake party with the entire final year French group - there were about thirty of us, plus some partners. Everyone who owned a frying pan was asked to hand it over during the morning's classes, and what I mainly remember about the event was the polite puzzlement of the lecturers at this unprecedented trade in frying pans.

Even then, I think my contribution must have been the misshapen old pan which behaved so badly on Tuesday. Usually it makes a mess of the first pancake, and then hits its stride, but this time the galette just cooked on to the pan and refused to shift: until I soaked it overnight, when it came clean, looing as if butter wouldn't melt in its - well, perhaps that's not the best choice of words. But will I dare risk using it again?

Comments

[desperance.livejournal.com]

Usually it makes a mess of the first pancake, and then hits its stride

I think this is universal, and not an artefact of your pan or any. The first pancake is just always a mess.

[shewhomust.livejournal.com]

This one was truly exceptional.

[klwilliams.livejournal.com]

This will be the first Valentine's Day we've spent together, and it will also be ten months since our wedding. Chaz tends to be very romantic most of the time, but is incredibly sweet for Valentine's Day.

[shewhomust.livejournal.com]

I rather thought that might be the case.

[weegoddess.livejournal.com]

Happy Belated Anniversary?

[shewhomust.livejournal.com]

Why, thank you!