Flutterby Patch: Balloons, bears and honey

On this day in 1783, the Montgolfier brothers of France tested their new hot air balloon. The passengers in this first ever 'manned' fight were a sheep, a duck and a rooster. The animal's eight minute journey took them a distance of about 2 miles and all was witnessed by King Louis XVI who was not at all impressed as he was choked by the stench of the dense smoke.

My goodness, what progress we've made in the intervening 225 years, although you wouldn't think so looking at this illustration of Winnie the Pooh. Always a favourite of mine, the story of Winnie the Pooh and the bees was given to me in the late 1950s. I'm pleased to say all four pop-up pictures are still intact. The price was six shillings, just 30p in today's money (that makes me feel old).

Silly old bear, there are much easier ways to acquire honey.

My dad was a beekeeper for many years and the smell of fresh honey transports me straight back to my childhood and my dad bottling the gloriously gooey, golden liquid as it flowed from the extractor.

These days I make it my mission to buy British honey whenever I can but it isn't always easy to track down. Fortunately the small independent supermarket where I shop always stocks a good variety. Yesterday I treated myself to this Scottish heather honey as I hadn't tasted it before. My goodness, is it rich! Heather Hills Farm that produces it is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year and has an attractive web site. I have to say I am tempted by several varieties from overseas that are advertised on the site and like the sound of chestnut tree honey from the wooded hills of France and lime tree honey from Hungary. I notice that the price quoted is about £1.00 cheaper than the retail price but delivery charges are high if you only want one or two jars. If you visit the Heather Hills Farm website be sure to look at the cute beehive candles made from beeswax. Each one has a bear clinging to it. These candles last 50% longer than other candles and at 50p each I think they'd make great gifts (though I don't think I could watch the little wax bears slowly melting).

I can't leave the subject of delicious honey without quoting the last two lines from Rupert Brooke's well known poem 'The Old Vicarage, Grantchester'.

Stands the Church clock at ten to three?
And is there honey still for tea?

What a wonderful picture that paints