Leviticus 202/84: Statue of the Prince and Blindwells webinar ...

Marie Sharp jumps the gun with The Scotsman. We'd been asked for a comment on the Blindwells latest detailing and consultation as they start to prepare a revised Town Centre Plan for Blindwells. The 1 hour webinar took place tonight [when Bryan phoned from Edmonton!] There was little new and a reported 20/30 had registered. My questions were designed to get on record our wish to get together asap with architect James Fraser of EMA and explore how/ what/ where the Centre will be … at the NW corner of the High Street. Need more chasing by Sylvia to get the signed Battle Trust option for the site as well as Gareth's visuals. What was confirmed was that the pathway from Blindwells to the station at the N side of the bing must be done within next 24 months. Marie Sharp had our comments, intended really for the East Lothian Courier but she used it on Monday/ Tuesday in The Scotsman with the headline grabber the proposed statue of Bonnie Prince Charlie - if Derby can do it so can we, surely? As a drive past the site shows the initial roads are going in and housebuilding is due to commence any month soon now.

Boris gets given a fish supper in Brussels. It's pathetic really the way the politicians keep posturing in the EU to convince the UK it needs to stay in line with them indefinitely even though we've left. And that they should retain control of our fishing rights in our own territorial waters. Boris went to meet the EU President to see what the possibilities are for a realistic conclusion but it seems most unlikely and a fair measure of disruption will probably follow both sides of La Manche.
Checking national days showed: Christmas Cards and Pastry. A tad late on the cards front since I'd completed and posted already yesterday; written the afternoon previous. But is a timeous day if ever there is one and meets the date for posting 2nd Class with the expectation of delivery across the nation if not outwith the islands. Pastry Day is more fascinating as I'd bought a couple of Eccles Cakes at Morrisons on December 6th - they're always good at Cdn$1 apiece, excellent puff pastry. But my search remains for the Banbury Cakes … … that I ate from Paddington Station 1963-1965 almost each night. So what's the difference? Some suggest it's just the shape - like the Eccles cake a Banbury is filled with mincemeat i.e. spiced currants, inside a flaky pastry shell. The Banbury cake is oval not round and has been made in the Oxfordshire town since the 16th century, reputedly first by Edward Welchman on Parsons Street. Documented recipes were during the 17th century. Earlier Banburys were quite different and these are what I ate at Paddington in the 60s. Besides currants the filling typically included mixed peel, brown sugar, rum and nutmeg

They are traditionally enjoyed with afternoon tea. Queen Victoria was presented with Banbury cakes on her journey from Osborne to Balmoral each August. The notorious 19th century refreshment rooms at Swindon railway station by all accounts sold "Banbury cakes and pork pies (obviously stale)". In his novel London Belongs to Me set in 1939, Norman Collins writes that Connie eats a Banbury Cake at Victoria Station.