The History of the Potato is a fascinating subject (no - seriously, it is). Like tobacco, nobody can quite agree when, how or where the very first came to Europe. One theory is that Walter Ralegh (inventor, as every schoolboy knows, of the bicycle) brought tubers back from his back-packing tour of America, planted them on his Irish estate near Cork - allegedly today in 1586 - and intended to feed them to his animals. Gardeners - please don't write in. I know that 28th of July is a rubbish date for planting potatoes, but the books say it is today, so what can you do?
Anyway, I have tried this animal food thing out on my feline companion of a mile, the Count; and whereas he is perfectly happy to nosh any leftover fish, he won't touch chips with a bargepole. So, sorry, Sir Walter, back to the drawing board I'm afraid. Stick with what you know - sea-faring, exploring and knocking off ladies of the queen's bedchamber.
In other news ...
Beatrix Potter, creator of Peter Rabbit et al, was born today in 1866. I'd like to expose her as a pot-smoking Satanist, blackmailer and arsonist, but alas, she was just a really lovely lady with a great artistic skill and a good line in stories for kids.
Damn!
