We have a new bench in the house.

It arrived Tuesday evening on the back of a van that had come from somewhere in Belgium. It then spent 48 hours in the basement before being assembled this morning.

It is looking very smart in the kitchen although it will make itself useful outside at some point. Perhaps when the snow has melted.

In the meantime Christmas has been and gone and we have in the basement a large plate of cold capon.

Is there any better job for a man than picking the meat from a roasted bird. A small sharp knife is essential but then it is all a master of nimble fingers and picking away at the bones until there is nothing left. This one had been stuffed with dried figs and cherries, walnuts and onions, and a good few dashes of San Miguel. Cook’s treats were a suck at the bones.