Sweet Nothing

“"That buzzing-noise means something. If there's a buzzing noise, somebody's making a buzzing-noise, and the only reason for making a buzzing-noise that I know of is because you're a bee. .... And the only reason for being a bee that I know of is making honey..... And the only reason for making honey is so as I can eat it." So he began to climb the tree.” from Winnie-the-Pooh by A.A. Milne

With steps larger than those taken by the giant in Jack and the Beanstalk, as he chased hapless Jack from his castle in the sky, the world is becoming crazier. Commercialisation is rife.

Once Hot Cross buns appeared, freshly baked, their spicy aroma permeating several shops from the bakery, a day before Easter. There was a rush to purchase these 'icons' of Good Friday with their cross either impaled with a knife edge before baking, or a sweet cross added with icing directly after the buns cooled enough. Warmed in the oven and spread with luscious butter there was no better a way to start Easter.

Not today though; Hot Cross buns appear in the supermarkets a week before Christmas, their frozen husks borne in and stored in the freezer until just after the Christmas rush when they then were offered for sale. Not a week before Easter; No. At least three or four months before Easter.

I studiously avoid Hot Cross buns until Easter week. Today I broke my own rule. I purchased a pack of six from the local corner grocery, and later at the Church Fair a punnet of creamed honey simply begged to be purchased ... the honey knew my weakness for Hot Cross buns spread with butter and honey, which any dietician will tell you is a sure road to a heart attack. I don't care! The Hot Cross bun tasted delicious; the honey and butter adding to its decadence.

To show I have some sense of will-power I can say that in the refrigerator lies a pack of six marshmallow Easter eggs, plus one Creme Egg for my other half. This pack will stay intact; though it is possible the Hot Cross buns will be consumed before then. I have the opinion that Hot Cross buns, belonging to the bread family, is best eaten fresh, and most definitely they will not be anywhere near their best this time next week.

Back to commercialisation ... I wonder how the young child of today views Easter and indeed Christmas? The shops are full to overflowing with treats more than enough to rot baby teeth or to add unwanted kilos to teenage figures. The temptation to over-indulge surely has never been greater.