Cornwall Day 17 (Clacking Claws 2023)

 

In compassionate solidarity with the lobster, our Em was hidden in her room two stories up. 

In the kitchen, a kindly YouTube chef demonstrated the how-to's of lobster preparation. It appeared to involve some twisting, some cutting, and some boiling. Once again we listened eagerly. 

"The lobster will feel nothing whatsoever as the knife goes into its head. Just be sure it is put into the right spot."

Okay, I believed the chef but still the whole idea was a little creepy. Grateful that it would be friend Rosie and Ted and not me who held the knife, I watched as quiet as a little mouse.

They put the knife, as the chef had said, into the right place. The chef moved the knife downward, so Ted did. There was a silence.

"Is it dead yet?" I asked.

"Yes," said friend Rosie, as the tail of the lobster moved up and down. I freaked, but hid it well. During this process the pot of water had begun to boil, so when the knife had been placed and moved and removed properly, Rosie placed the lobster into it. Something somewhere moved. I freaked.

And then, after 20 minutes of quiet boiling, it was all blessedly over. We called the compassionate Em out of hiding, and she crept to the kitchen and peered in. The aroma of lobster (with lemon mayo made by Em), potatoes, courgettes, broccoli, and yellow squash permeated the place and set our mouths to watering.

Fishing in the waters off St Ives is not an exact science, and we still don't really understand how it works with the tides. But Stuart came through, bless him. I saw him this morning, driving his white pickup truck back to the pier for another day of fishing.

"Hello, are y'alright?" he called.

"Oh yes, fine!"

"Having a nice walk?"

"Yes - but most of all, Stuart, the lobster was fantastic. Thank you so much!" He smiled.

The truck began to pull away, but he put his head out for a last word.

"Come see us next year, now, don't forget!" And he was gone.

Have you ever had a particularly scrumptious lobster dinner in a Cornish town just yards from the ocean where thousands of squiggling lobsters are currently clacking their claws in those waters? No? But you must!

Here's to making it happen.

See you along the way!

the SconeLady