It works both ways

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.

Pigeonholing

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.