If you wonder why my title is in French, there is a reason. It is not because I adore France, although I do. It is because the word 'picnic' originated from the French version. In 1692 it was the term used to describe 'ap erson who brought their own wine to a restaurant'.
Why write about picnics anyway? It is because Sunday 18th July is 'Climate Sunday' and the day when everyone was to have been welcomed to join the Frenchay Picnic. (Sadly, that date has now been postponed to 29th August due to the extension of Covid restrictions) After 21 years of living in France, I know that English people, on the whole, are more keen on picnics than the French. The motorways in France often have picnic areas with tables and benches, but they are usually half-empty, whilst the cafeteria inside has a queue waiting to go in!
In the South, you rarely see people eating meals on the beaches. But why would you when they are lined with fabulous and fairly-inexpensive cafés and restaurants?
My only picnic memories result from living in Westbury-on-Trym! We lived near the Downs, as our house was in Downs Cote Drive. Very often on fi- ne days, I would drive home from teaching all day, fetch a picnic already pre- pared from our kitchen, then fetch our two children, and head for a picnic on the Downs!
It is more practical to wrap individual portions in foil, and then put each person's share into a little basket if you have one. Only the cake I didn't pre-slice. Often I took a tube of chocolate spread for it. I hoped that more went on the cake than on the children!
So, have fun, and enjoy what ever your choice of meal.
Esmé
Why write about picnics anyway? It is because Sunday 18th July is 'Climate Sunday' and the day when everyone was to have been welcomed to join the Frenchay Picnic. (Sadly, that date has now been postponed to 29th August due to the extension of Covid restrictions) After 21 years of living in France, I know that English people, on the whole, are more keen on picnics than the French. The motorways in France often have picnic areas with tables and benches, but they are usually half-empty, whilst the cafeteria inside has a queue waiting to go in!
In the South, you rarely see people eating meals on the beaches. But why would you when they are lined with fabulous and fairly-inexpensive cafés and restaurants?
My only picnic memories result from living in Westbury-on-Trym! We lived near the Downs, as our house was in Downs Cote Drive. Very often on fi- ne days, I would drive home from teaching all day, fetch a picnic already pre- pared from our kitchen, then fetch our two children, and head for a picnic on the Downs!
It is more practical to wrap individual portions in foil, and then put each person's share into a little basket if you have one. Only the cake I didn't pre-slice. Often I took a tube of chocolate spread for it. I hoped that more went on the cake than on the children!
So, have fun, and enjoy what ever your choice of meal.
Esmé
RSS Feed
