January

Living More Sustainably … and Seville Oranges

I hope your Christmas was super, and that you are continuing to enjoy this special winter time.

I’ve learnt not to make Resolutions in January. Diets and DryJanuary have always been a no go, my Mother’s birthday was the 7th January. She firmly believed that a January birthday should be celebrated; there was always cake, at least a sherry before supper and often a glass of wine with the meal. My younger son celebrates his birthday even earlier in January, I continue to follow my mother’s example.

Despite no resolutions, I am determined to live more sustainably in 2023, Dame Vivienne Westwood’s death has reminded us all to:

I try to embrace this philosophy myself. Rather than buy ´fast fashion’ I have, since my early 30s, bought classics that last. Only last week I was wearing a much loved Jaegar jumper which I bought before my son’s fourth birthday (so it’s now 30 years old!) I have several pairs of Ferragamo Vara shoes, purchased in the sales when I was working, they have been re-soled multiple times, and are still going strong. My mother’s Aquascutum raincoat hangs in the cloakroom and her Liberty scarves are folded in a chest of drawers, waiting for me to wear again in the Spring and Autumn.

I regularly take bags and shoes to be repaired and things that I no longer wear (such as ‘work’ clothes - I was a primary school teacher so no uniform as such) are donated to charity shops. I particularly like Mary’s Living and Giving, which support Save the Children their local branches in Teddington, Richmond and Kew are well worth a visit, if you’re in the area.

In December I attended a workshop at Brora, off Sloane Square. It was an opportunity to learn how to do ´Visible Darning’. The teacher was Shelley Zetuni (find her @_sewingsmith_ on Instagram). The morning was inspirational, I came away with my own piece of darning. Since then I have successfully darned and worn a pair of gloves, which the moths had attacked. There are courses online and I’m buying a book of instructions, to enable me to darn more creativily.

One of the things I love most in January, is the arrival of Seville oranges. These very seasonal fruits, extremely bitter if eaten raw, transform into the most marvellous Marmalade once sugar is added.

Marmalade making is a slow, contemplative activity, taking at least two days. The first day one prepares the fruit, soaking the shredded peel overnight in water. The following day the peel is gently simmered for several hours before the sugar is added. Finally the marmalade is boiled and the resulting nectar is sealed in sterile jars. My mouth is watering just thinking about marmalading!

I’m rushing to post this on time! I’ll post my recipe for Seville Orange Madeleines next week… I really recommend making plenty of marmalade with these sumptuous bitter oranges, however, when you purchase the oranges, it’s worth buying a few more for the freezer. They enhance baking and are marvellous in savoury dishes when orange peel is called for. Seville oranges are so much more orangey than an everyday orange!

I have a mountain of books to read this month, early dusk ensures I can’t photograph them. (Maybe a mini reading list with the Madeleine Recipe?)

Tomorrow morning I’ll have the radio tuned to BBC Radio 4 to listen to Michelle Obama. (You should be able to find her readings of The Light we Carry online, once the broadcast is complete.)

The perfect inspiration on a cold January morning.

Look out for my Madeleine recipe next week.

Take care, stay safe and a Very Happy New Year.