SCOTLAND AND THE GREAT FAMILY FOOD CHALLENGE

Our time in Scotland, seemed to pass quickly and the girls were growing up. In my mind, I still see this period as a happy, tight family group. Although the girls were now reaching the age, where they no longer wanted to hang with us. We still found occasion for some lively times. One of our favourites was going to the local fish n’ chip joint. It was located in Edinburgh, near the Leith Docks and on the water. We used to go there whenever we had guests or whenever we craved British Fish N’ Chips. The girls, especially loved it. The name was Harry Ramsden’s.

The restaurant was relatively new, clean and bright. It was not a 5 star establishment, but did serve great Fish N’ Chips. The primary draw for the girls was the Fish Challenge. Harry Ramsden’s offered a huge meal and a certificate if you could eat it all. There was nothing the girls liked better than a good challenge! OR, if they had to eat fish, they wanted to be rewarded for it. The first time we went, they were like, “come on dad we can do it”! Or, “mom please, please, please let us eat it”. They nearly always won out.

The meal consisted of one, “big ass” piece of Cod. it was cut into a fillet and filled an oversized plate from end to end. I estimate it at about 2-3 pounds of meat, incased in about 2 pounds of batter. It didn’t look like much in the picture. However when they set it in front of you, it looked like they had beached a whale, on your plate. Then, squeezed in, around and under it, were about a kilo of “chips” or French fries. These, soaked in the oil that they were deep fried in. Added to this, was enough coleslaw for the whole table, along with a half dozen slices of bread. The “piece de resistance” was a big old bowl of “mushy” peas. A glutinous mass of smashed peas. Also a bucket full of onion rings, in case you were still hungry.

Once it was plunked down in front of you the eating began. The girls dug right in to the chips. They hacked away on the whale sized fillet and were quite happy. The 4 slabs of bread seemed to go down relatively easily. The Coleslaw, well it didn’t go down as fast, but they pecked away at it. Where they did draw the line, however, was the mushy peas. You could immediately see by their looks, that there was “no way in hell” that they were eating this green goop! The deal was, eat it all, or pay the premium price for the meal. Additionally, unless you ate it all, the was no “graduation certificate”.

Yep, you guessed it. After some whining and begging, the mushy pea bowls all ended up, being passed too dad. In those days I had an “iron’ stomach and could pretty much eat anything. However, a never ending chain of mushy peas, almost brought me, to my limit. The girls were like, “come on dad you can eat it”. Each one of them, in turn would slide the peas to me. Then take my empty bowl and place it in front of their plates. I must say, I ate enough mushy peas, to last me a lifetime. I will never understand why they just couldn’t leave them whole. Why mash them into an unappetizing mess.

There was usually a lively banter around the table while I ate my fish challenge. In addition to my own, also eating everything the girls could not eat. They did a pretty good job, and ate “a lot”, considering their skinny little bodies, at the time. I remember one time when ol’ D2 was in Scotland visiting. The girls just had to take him for the fish challenge. When he was around, there was always teasing between him and the girls. This particular time D2 and Ron were having issues throughout the day. However, at dinner time they had made a troubled truce. So, off to Harry Ramsden’s we went.

We are all sitting around this big round table, listening to the girl’s bragging about taking down the fish challenge. Ange was taunting her big brother while Ron was relatively silent. A waiter deposited a huge pitcher of water on our table. I suppose, to be used, to wash down a couple of kilos of fish and chips. The mushy peas did not need water, they just kinda slid in a glutinous mess down your throat. Anyway, uncharacteristically of Ron, she politely picked up the water jug and started to fill glasses. She was very polite, and stopped at each person to ask if they wanted water. Then she would proceed to the next. Wow, I’m thinking, this girl is finally maturing. How sweet she was.

When she arrived at D2’s seated, she gave him a cold steely stare and passed right by him. She deposited the water jug back into the middle of the table and sat down in her seat. D2’s mouth flopped open to launch a protest, but he knew better, so just slumped down in his seat. Ron never said a word, just carried on with the table conversation. She had planted her sword in the ground! D2 realized that, just because, she was being polite, she had not forgot or forgave any “slights” that he may have made. There was silence, but when the full realization of her actions, sank in, everyone, howled. Poor old D2, he was always the subject of abuse from his little sisters. He acted grownup, but I know he never forgave!

We had a great time, everyone ate, with D2 and I sharing the mushy peas. We each ate three bowls full. This along with about 10 breads each and a couple extra bowls of coleslaw. The eating was successful, certificates were claimed all around. Bragging was loud. Stuffed, we headed to our next adventure. It is interesting to me, that something so insignificant, could stick in my memory for this many years. I was happy and content at this point in my life. Deysi guided the ship and kept us on the “straight and narrow”.