My grandad’s barometer and bacon sandwiches

I know that’s a funny mix but the association these two have is very strong for me, let me explain.

When my mum and dad moved out of White House Farm and into Manor Farm, my grandads barometer hadn’t moved from the hall in Whitehouse Farm for over seventy years (my grandad had left it in situ for father when he retired to Castle Cary many years earlier). Barometers do not take kindly to being moved too often and perform much better in a settled spot. To cut a long story short, in 1965 I persuaded father to let me move the precious item to Hill House Farm as I was about to move in.

A sound barometer is a great asset to any farmer as if the barometric pressure is rising steadily over twenty four hours or so, a spell of a few days settled weather can be relied upon.

By the same token dropping barometric pressure almost always predicts unsettled wet and windy weather. Therefore for any budding professional farmer consultation of the barometer frequently is paramount.

I have to admit that a light tap of the face of the barometer can become almost addictive when wishing for a pleasant change in the weather to do some much needed haymaking!

This machine recently triggered my memories of the delicious bacon sandwiches that I used to make from fresh crusty bread, yes a whole loaf, and copious rashers of my dads home cured bacon slices cooked slightly crispy, absolutely delicious!

During the war when bacon for home consumption was strictly rationed Dad took to curing his own pork loins which were cut from our home reared whey fed pigs, this bacon had an amazing flavour which I haven’t experienced before or since.

Whenever Mum and Dad went away for a few days and I was to be left in the Farmhouse alone I was allowed to invite one of my farming colleagues to come and stay with me for a few days. My best friend on the farm was a lad called Ben and not having eaten too much through the day I loved to make a whole loaf of these amazing sandwiches which we ate heartily very quickly!

The combination of crusty new bread and delicious home cured crispy bacon all done freshly as a farmhouse evening meal this was to die for!

As I sign off, it’s almost lunchtime, can you guess what I’m having?

John