Brian’s Reflection: Wednesday, August 24, 2011


Taste every fruit of every tree in the garden
at least once. It is an insult to creation not to
experience it fully. Temperance is wickedness.

Stephen Fry, English actor [Wooster & Jeeves] and writer;
he was born on this date, 1957, at Hampstead, London


Yes, I agree [in general, which is to say that the Rule may be proved by a few exceptions depending on our individual makeup]. Mothers who said, “At my table, you will at least try every food once” I am totally in agreement with. I am very glad that my own mother - within the limits of lower-middleclass Verdun Scottish/English cookery - had me try kidneys (YUM! – especially in Steak & Kidney pie with a luscious crust made with lard, and eaten with HP Sauce!); beef liver; Brussels sprouts (served soaked in butter); bread fried in bacon fat (bless my father!); Blood Pudding (fabulous when fried crispy, and served with friend eggs); the Spanish make it with raisins ….. such clever people; I love a little sweetness!; snake (in Liberia); dog fried in palm oil (sorry, it was very tasty; cultures are different.); Haggis (utterly fabulous!); Black Russians; Poppers.

There are some foods I’ve tried ….. just once, and have no need or desire to try again: tripe; beef tongue; head cheese (thoroughly disgusting); fried locust in Morocco (well, maybe again); raw living conch; sea cucumbers (utterly revolting); Scotch.

Moving to a more “spiritual” level, I could make the same kind of list about Religions/forms of worship. For fear of being stalked and killed in my bed by fanatics, I shall refrain from naming them. Some are FAR better than others ….. Just Saying! And, I can say the same thing about sexual experiences; Propriety restrains me.

The World is chock full of absolutely amazing things, and people and ideas of stunning variety.

Be adventurous. Giv’em a Go! Narrow-mindedness is just a form of Fear, which is, like Temperance, wickedness!

Brian+