Scorper by Rob Magnuson Smith

Scorper by Rob Magnuson Smith
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Scorper, noun, a tool used to scoop out broad areas when engraving wood or metal.

I didn’t know that either until I read this strange book. I was attracted to it in Waterstones bookshop by the dust jacket, which contains an etching of a village I know well: Ditchling, located to the north of Brighton and the South Downs. And the first line of the book: “You are on your way to Ditchling”. What’s not to like I thought.

Scorper is an uncanny and sinister tale of an eccentric American visitor to this small Sussex village, searching for stories about his grandfather. A tale of twitching curtains, severed hands and peculiar sexual practices. A book about Eric Gill's artistic legacy, his despicable behaviour and enduring influence. Strangely comic, often sinister, often incomprehensible, but nevertheless compelling reading.

Is it a ghost story, is it Gothic? It is certainly dark and uncomfortable. I am edging towards awarding four stars....

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The Mini Egg Revolution

Poultry farmers from Ditchling, Sussex have helped to raise the issue of food waste – with a helping hand from TV chef Jamie Oliver.

Susie and Danny Macmillan who run The Mac’s Farm in Dumbrells Court appeared on Channel 4’s Friday Night Feast on 9th January explaining how they lose around £60,000 a year because no one eats little eggs.

Young pullet chickens lay small flavoursome eggs – but because most consumers want medium or large eggs these mini eggs are thrown on the scrapheap or used for liquid egg.

“To me, pullet eggs are a product at its best but we lose so much money on them,” said Susie. “We’re only paid about 48p a dozen and on average we collect 8-10,000 eggs a day – 600,000 a year - from our chickens when they’re first laying. People don’t want these eggs because they’re small but actually pullet eggs have a really big yolk and less white, and are brilliant at holding together when cooked. Everybody believes large eggs are what you need because a recipe says so, but you shouldn’t expect chickens to lay big eggs.

Jamie Oliver added: “The great British public are missing out on a premium, seasonal product and worse - farmers’ livelihoods are on the line. We want to kick start a mini-egg revolution. The supermarkets may not want them, but I reckon farmers could find a market for their huge volume of pullet eggs by selling them to restaurants and pubs.”

And me! I travelled over this morning to Mac's Farm located in Ditchling, Sussex - not sure if they would have any mini eggs left, as the Jamie Oliver programme has helped to stimulate tremendous interest in these little eggs and they have been selling like hot-cakes...

Well, my luck was in. The farm shop had fresh supplies and I purchased 3 x half dozens. What stock the shop has will quickly sell out so I considered myself fortunate to have obtained some.

I know what I'm having for lunch....