Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Hot Cross Buns and Easter Tide memories.


Looking back to childhood days and the memories that are still so vivid in mind and imagination Good Friday always seems very much at the forefront of those that are worth holding onto. The whole family would be woken up early and there would usually be kippers for breakfast and somehow the strong fishy smell of those kippers was always completely over-awed with the delightful aroma of Mothers Hot Cross buns, and as she kneaded away at the dough the Christian scents of cinnamon and mixed spices would permeate the air and a quiet peace would throw a blanket over the house as if bestowing a blessing on us all.
Breakfast over then off to church the family would go for the "Stations of the Cross" service. It was long and so the children, when we were small, did not stay for its completion but were allowed to walk home when we were tired of standing. This always seemed unfair as after standing for at least two hours we still had about a fifteen minute walk home.
My parents always seemed to return home from church with friends who had been invited to join us for an afternoon tea of freshly baked Hot Cross buns which were smothered with thick farm butter which melted and dripped over onto our plates. As we hungrily gobbled our way through the buns my Father would play Handel's "Messiah", talking was not needed, we were safe and content and knew who we were.
On Good Fridays fish pie was always on the menu for supper and as we sat around the dining table and the conversation allowed itself to be led wherever we chose there was always that feeling of belonging, of being a part of, of just being there, of eternity, of the goodness of all and of being surrounded by love.
When I was growing up my childhood seemed to be very normal to me, yet when I look back now I realise how fortunate I was to have so many wonderful memories to recall at special times of the year.
Happy Easter to all.

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