Small Things

Funny how little things can mean a lot. When we first moved into Parsons Cottage in 1974 we inherited a mole filled garden, hornets nests in the attic and a few treasures in unforeseen places. Apart from the many horse shoes we unearthed in the garden and the small bits of clay pipes that nestled in the flowerbeds there was one item that has become the greatest find for the kitchen.

Our kitchen had a cupboard a small table, a cooker and a sink. The cooker was an ancient electric creation from the fifties and had to go. We heaved it away from the wall and revealed a mouse nest or two, a great patch of grease and underneath it, all masked by cobwebs and all sorts of unmentionable things, a simple wooden spoon.

I say simple but this one is shaped in the most delicate way. It tapers within its bowl and, this is the most wonderful element, it has a fine taper to a straight edge about two thirds down the bowl. It is a lovely spoon with a flat base and has been the most wonderful kitchen implement I have ever held. Its joyous simplicity, its usefulness, its satisfying tactile warmth in my hand are exceptional. One can use it to stir, to serve, to mix, all the things an ordinary spoon can do. But much more than that, because of its straight ending, this one can scrape the bottom of the pan!

The necessity of scraping the bottom of a pan will not mean much to those who do not cook but if you have ever attempted Scrambled Eggs you will know the joy of having an implement that really is fitted for the job. Getting those wonderful slightly over done bits off the bottom, getting into the corners! Oh the delight!

I have travelled in 64 countries In my life, in most I have had the opportunity to look, and often buy, odd items for the kitchen but I have never, ever, seen this spoon on sale. I have seen and bought some that approximate. I have even had copies made, but none come close to the original found behind the old cooker in Parsons Cottage.