Today I walked up Hill of Fare to listen to the Queen’s funeral, while looking at the landscape she loved. It has excellent views of the Cairngorms.
It was very powerful to hear the music and the words, set against this magnificent backdrop. To hear the piper’s sounds slowly fading away…. I mimed the words to God Save the King, as no sound would come out of my choked-up throat.
I didn’t intend to pick mushrooms today, but I was so utterly surrounded by them, in an Eden type of forest, that I just had to. Scarletinas, Porcini, Puffballs, Amanitas, Russula, Orange birch bolete…. So many species were there! As my time on the hill increased, gradually the sense of sadness for the Queen was replaced by a sense of gratitude; to be alive, to live in a beautiful part of the world, and to be greeted by such bounty in the forest.
In days prior, I had already picked many mushrooms, so our fridge and freezer are doing a juggling act! What to cook and how, what to freeze and preserve… At least I will not go hungry for quite some time to come.
Tomorrow the face to face teaching begins again, after 2 years. I am apprehensive about having to go back to work and not having anywhere to cook during the day. I had got used to foraging during the working day and making myself a healthy lunch. Now I need to think about what to take with me… At least it’s not all day every day, and I work at home on Friday. And who knows what might be growing around campus! I will keep you posted about what I will discover.
The healthy forager 