Not Grumpy Today

[Colwyn]

I shan't be posting in the grumpy section today (unless H submits one of his politically incorrect diatribes). I am not grumpy at all. For the first time since I left hospital a month ago I have felt up for a proper walk. And what a great day for it.

I walked from out house up to the top of Purdown to look down of Bristol under a cloudless sky. The trees were just starting to take on their autumn colours )I bet you ex-pats miss that) and the sun had taken the edge off the crisp, clear air. Saw an interesting fungus. Perhaps one of you can identify it? A short walk through a wood, down a steep slope, up the road and after an hour's hike I arrived at my local - there's a surprise. (Some of you might think that if my "local" is an hour's walk away it is not particularly local; but I did take the long route). As I may have mentioned before, much of my local - its ambiance - is still trapped in 1911; a proper old-fashioned pub. There is a sign on the wall that says:

If you can't say anything nice about a person ...
 ... you've come to the right place

You probably know a lot of pubs with signs like this - but this one means it. I never met such a bunch of cantankerous old gits. I fit right in. At 12.30 it was full of men crowding the bar to eat the Sunday freebie cheeses, biscuits, peanuts and chunks of black pudding. But I elbowed my way forward to take my choice of the six ales on offer. Then a walk back home along the river for Sunday lunch of roast pork with apple sauce and local vegetables with a decent bottle of red wine.

How could I be grumpy? Ain't life grand? I hope you've had a good day as well - even if you didn't manage one of H's "exotic" ones.


BRISTOL




TREESCAPE




FUNGUS
(can anyone identify it?)




WOODS




DIFFICULT CHOICE




BACK ALONG THE VALLEY




BY THE RIVERSIDE

[GordonA]

Hi Colwyn, without a doubt, your Fungus is; Coprinus comatus, the shaggy ink cap, lawyer's wig, or shaggy mane it is a common fungus  often seen growing on lawns, along gravel roads and waste areas. The young fruiting bodies first appear as white cylinders emerging from the ground, then the bell-shaped caps open out. The caps are white, and covered with scales - this is the origin of the common names of the fungus. The gills  beneath the cap are white, then pink, then turn black and secrete a black liquid filled with spores (hence the "ink cap" name). This mushroom is unusual because it will turn black and dissolve itself in a matter of hours after being picked or depositing spores.

When young it is an excellent edible mushroom provided that it is eaten soon after being collected (it keeps very badly because of the auto digestion of its gills and cap). If long-term storage is desired, sauteing or simmering until done will allow the mushrooms to be stored in a refrigerator for several days or frozen. Processing must be done whether for eating or storage within four to six hours of harvest to prevent undesirable changes to the mushroom. The species is cultivated in China as food.  
Gordy, [)]

[Eric]

We had a great day too.  Oludeniz air games final day (mind you with all the rain the past couple of days it has been the ONLY day)  Fantastic acrobatic flyers, free fall parachutists and a crazy Yank Base jumper, jumping out of a microlite in a birdman flying suit....brilliant.  Plus the weather was great too.

[ladydiver]

I Would go for a pint of Sharps Doombar.  A nice Cornish Ale.
Kaz

[Colwyn]

Thanks for the detailed description Gordon. I didn't pick it so I shan't be testing its eating qualities.

[pookie]

Shaggy inkcaps are very nice - but only when young.  Delicious with some garlic butter on crispy toast [^][^]

[Highlander]

Fantastic post Colwyn with lovely photos. Makes me almost want to stop posting in the Grumpy Section. But only almost.

Glad your feeling better.

Take care.

[GordonA]

Thanks Colwyn, I do admit I 'Googled' it, though. It's amazing just how many different fungi exist! Very interesting.
There must be literally thousands in the U.K. alone. I got to page 24 before I discovered this particular variety.
 Gordy. [)]

[Scunner]

I feel I should also post a photo of the great UK  




This is the fog lifting from one of the parks here in Perth. I told you I was lucky, that's the view from my living room window