oj’s status update

So I checked the progress of my tempeh this morning. One batch (made in a plastic bag) had miraculously grown all its fungi overnight and was sitting there, hanging together like a proper tempeh cake. Unreal!

The other batch (made in a stainless steel steamer) had a fine layer of furry white mould over the top. Naturally, I was reminded of my ‘friend on the phone’ (see previous post).

So perhaps there is some kind of reciprocity here. Once somebody declares that a layer of mould reminds them of you, they instantly damn themselves to the same fate!

I showed the mouldy cake to Pip, and asked him if it reminded him of anyone. His reply: “Frosty the Snowman!”

Then I sliced off and discarded the mouldy top layer and we sampled our tempeh. Pip declared it delicious, and he was right.

People are sometimes defined by their hobbies and interests. I sense that a new definition is building up around me - two interactions in as many days point to this conclusion…

Health food person: Those soybeans didn’t come in for oj.
J: That’s ok. There’s no rush. He just wants them for making tempeh.
Health food person: [puzzled pause] … but … I sell tempeh!
J: Yeah, I know… he just… likes making fermented foodstuffs.

Friend on the phone: Oh hello, I thought of you today. My pickles have grown a little mould on top. I’m just going to scrape it off and carry on… but I just saw this mould and thought of you.

Which I found not exactly flattering, but interesting at least. Not many people can claim ‘mould’ as a substance that puts their friends in mind of them.