Apples

[Driver]

Spiked is right.

Just remembered - the scrumpy barrel in question was a firkin - containing nine gallons and also known as a firkin' great big barrel (that gag may be old but it's still got legs - unlike me after drinking Granfer's scrumpy!)

Hic!

Col

[jow104]

Driver, your accent sounds very famililar.


To echnida.

I recall to get the apples to ferment etc. it was customary to drop a dead rabbit in the brew. Any around these days?

[Driver]

Driver, your accent sounds very famililar.

"At's only 'cause Oi'm puttin it on, boy!

I'm originally from Merseyside but one of my aunties married a Cornishman - a bloody terrific bloke - still one of my heroes. We had a lot of holidays in Cornwall when I was a kid (and my Mum and sister now live in Cornwall). Granfer was actually my cousins' grandad.

The rabbit legend has some truth in it, too. Before myximatosis, the fields around where my aunt and uncle lived were absolutely full of rabbits. I used to go out shooting them with my uncle - he had a Lee-Enfield with a sniper scope. Memories of those holidays in the 50s are full of Aunty Gwen's rabbit pie - and her Cornish pasties! The bits I can't remember are probably a consequence of sneaking the odd thimbleful of Granfer's scrumpy!

Burp! Hic!

Col

[jow104]

Driver.

A Lee Enfield (303?) That must have made a large hole in bunny. Was there really anything left for the pie?

My bunny hunting days was done as a pillion passenger carrying the shotgun at the rear end of the motorcycle. Shotguns and horses didn't mix.