The best and the worst

Whilst it’s easy to remember delicious meals in our favourite places, it’s often harder to remember the less enjoyable ones. The reappearance of some long forgotten photos reminded me of school trips (not the falling over varieties!) to interesting cities – Barcelona, Turin and Tallinn immediately sprang to mind. There seemed to be a reluctance among the staff to volunteer for the exchange visit to Estonia, so when invited I decided to accept. Bearing in mind I really don’t like snow, it was either brave or foolish. So armed with thermals, a duvet coat and very thick boots I was well equipped. Over the weekend the children were entertained by the host families and we were free to explore – having to be out all day as guests of the head teacher. Tramping through waist-high snow to visit a sick pupil led to the need for a medicinal brandy in a bar where my colleague became engrossed in a rugby match on TV. The young woman sharing our table looked across and asked if I was Mrs.C who taught her in Hemel Hempstead – well, yes, I was! Later that day a meal at the Old Hansa restaurant was interesting with staff dressed in traditional costumes and the few candles making it impossible to read the menu. In desperation I chose the “special”. Not my best decision. Wild boar sausages with lumpy mashed potatoes and (the best part) lingenberry sauce. I’d previously had boar sausages with polenta in Milan and hadn’t liked them that time either. The views across the frozen sea to Finland and produce sold from the Sunday market in wooden sheds, the artisan bookbinder and the hat maker, an evening at the ballet and the amazing fish are much sunnier memories of that trip.