Associations

    When I was about ten years old, I used to sit on the window seat of my bedroom, looking out to sea, reading pony books and eating Caramac. So strong is the association of that phase of my reading life with that particular confectionery (it's not chocolate) that the two things are inextricably linked.

    Books by Ruby Ferguson (whose lovely Lady Rose and Mrs Memmary I've enjoyed in more recent years - there's a post on Lynne's and my 'tea' for the book here), the Pullein-Thompson sisters (their mother's Princes in the Land makes good but sobering reading) and Pat Smythe (did you ever read her Three Jays books?) - these were my staples at the time, devoured quickly, a new one being bought just as soon as my pocket money would stretch to it.

    I haven't tasted Caramac for years and years, but I'm about to broach the bar you see there and try it - it's not quite Proust's madeleine, but still. Meanwhile, here's the blurb on the back of my copy of A Stable for Jill: "During her summer holiday, Jill makes friends with two boys and a girl, and together they set up a hacking stable at the vicarage, using their own and borrowed ponies" - simple, straightforward, no hype, no puffs! (Glad to see there's a new edition).

    Anyone else have strong food/book associations?