Gooseberries

We planted gooseberry bushes the year before last- or the year before that- but this is the first really good crop we've had off them.

For "really good crop" read "medium-sized bowlful".

I understand why you don't see them in the shops. They're not exactly a cash crop.

Having picked them, you then have to top and tail them. I spread a piece of Amazon packaging paper over my knees to catch the bits.

Amazon's packaging paper smells like sick.

If Amazon were a co-operative it would be absolutely fucking awesome. As it is...

No, let's not chase that hare. Let's get back to gooseberries.

So....

... Ailz bought me some special doodads to do the topping and tailing- a pair of rubber condoms that you slip over your thumb and forefinger. The one that fits over the thumb has a blade where the thumbnail would be, and the one that fits over the forefinger gives you protection from the blade.



Ingenious, eh? I also use them for dead-heading roses.