There’s nothing that the tossers in Wivenhoe enjoy more than pancakes and with just 114 shopping days until Shrove Tuesday, anticipation is really starting to rise. Already the shelves in Wivenhoe’s One Stop have been stripped of eggs and flour, while the lemon groves of Broome Grove have been left barren by crowds of marauding pancake fans desperate to stock up for the big day. Meanwhile, Wivenhoe library has seen the pages of any cookery book coming even close to mentioning pancakes torn out, while in the town’s hairdressers ‘the pancake’ is very much the style du jour.
This morning at 4am, the first crowds started to form outside of Wivenhoe Co-op amid rumours that not only has it once again stocked up on sugar, but that pre-prepared pancake mix is back in stock and that they’ve finally replenished the milk after last week’s rush.
Ever the voice of reason, Wivenhoe’s Mayor Dame Dannii Minogue was quick to highlight the need for consideration for others at the important time of year noting: “For some utterly incomprehensible reason you simpletons seem to enjoy Pancake day nearly as much the other big seasonal holidays – Whitsun, Saint Swithin’s Day and See You Next Tuesday. But it’s important to remember the true message behind this celebration: when Jesus took some bread and fishes and turned them into 5,000 delicious pancakes with a variety of different fillings he did so to show the importance of love and respect. So let’s all try to look out for one another, yeah?”
Pancake day falls on 5 March 2019 (like you need reminding) and I’d like to take this opportunity to wish everyone everywhere the very Shrovest of Tuesdays, innit though.