Mother's Day and the Welsh.

In honour of Mother's day, which I celebrated in the company of Mrs P. and Mother-in-law P....

My Mother, who grew up in Camden and Islington, has always detested the Welsh. Not any particular Welshmen, but the whole bunch generically.

This is not a prejudice I share; indeed my Best Man was Welsh, though now, sadly, Australian.

The problem is historic. From the Middle Ages the main route for London dairy produce was down through Islington and Finsbury, arriving at (what is still to this day called) "Milk Street", the main milk market in the City of London's Cheaping (or shopping) area, now known as Cheapside. People in the area did not get the best of the produce. The growth of the City had already led to a decline in pasture land, and the dairy cows kept in the surrounding properties were often in the most unsuitable, insanitary conditions, and watering-down took place regularly. From the 1700's on the majority of "fresh" "dairy" "milk" in Islington was sold by Welsh dairymen.

In the way that London has, this tradition continued down to my Mother's day. So, to satisfy her bias, I give you this story, from the excellent Soupsong website.

OF SAINT PETER, WHO CRIED "ROASTED CHEESE!" (from the not very "PC" 100 Merry Tales, or Shakespeare Jestbook of 1525):

There is written among the old stories the tale of how God made Saint Peter the gatekeeper of heaven. The good Lord, soon after His passion, allowed many men to come into the kingdom of Heaven who had done little to deserve such honor.

After that time, there was in Heaven a large group of Welshmen, whose babbling and boasting annoyed everybody else. God then told Saint Peter that He was weary of these Welshmen and would be glad to have them out of Heaven. Saint Peter replied, "Good Lord, I warrant you, it shall be done."

Saint Peter then went outside the Heavenly Gates, and cried out in a loud voice, "Cause bobe," which means "roasted cheese," a delicacy of which Welshmen are very fond. They all ran out of Heaven at a brisk pace. When Saint Peter saw the whole group outside, he suddenly re-entered Heaven and locked the gates, thus keeping all the Welshmen outside.

By this tale you may see that man is not wise to set his mind too much on delicacies or worldly pleasure, for in this way he may lose his celestial and eternal joy.