AFS - do you ever have ‘mix’ with your chips? By which I mean a dollop of bright green mushy peas and a dollop of black pudding cooked up in a big pan until it breaks down into a paste and no doubt reheated many times over. It would not pass my lips now, but it tasted fine in 1984 after several pints of Hardy Hanson.

Mushy peas is possibly the only vegetable dish in existence that I cannot abide. Actually frozen or tinned peas in general revolt me. Too many memories of growing up in the UK in the days when they were widely considered a perennial staple.

Fresh peas I adore. When in season they are cheap and can be used in a multitude of ways. Actually the UK has some wonderful fresh veg available most if not all of the year.

Last edited by Yuca (2022-01-15 12:34:09)

Leaving peas aside, mushy or otherwise, if you had the money what would your choice be for a really good raincoat?

I went back to the beginning.
AUS made my head spin.  The James Joyce of 'Talk Ivy'.  He seems to have jumped ship.
I'd have liked to have heard more from our American friends.  They seem to value English/Scottish rain and knitwear.

AFS said - if you had the money what would your choice be for a really good raincoat?

I assume you’re talking brand new here. If so, it would have to be Grenfell, Burberry or Mackintosh who all make full length traditional raincoats in England or Scotland. Burberry are too high profile in the fashion market for my tastes, so I would be left with Mackintosh and Grenfell. When it’s raining properly I like a full length Balmacaan cut fly fronted raincoat so, having fliicked through their websites, I would go for the Grenfell Campbell, which is what I bought from JS in 2006. At the time I winced at the price but despite plenty of use it’s still as good as new, in fact it’s got better with age.

^ Very true Yuca, although cheaper than Burberry  or Mackintosh and I would say the quality is just as good.

My raincoat collection hasn’t expanded since I started the thread.  If anything I would get shot of the double breasted Burberry as I rarely wear it and I suspect it is a fake anyway, not that I’m too upset about that as I didn’t pay a lot. The Dunn and Co might go as well if serious culling was taking place as it only sees the occasional run out. But olive green is a nice colour for a raincoat.

It's always vital, with 'Ivy League' dressing, not to look flashy or - perhaps a better way of putting it - ostentatious.  Well, we all know this - 'understated' is the word often used.  And yet, a paradox emerges.  Although I would never give consideration to a raincoat that wasn't grubby olive, navy, beige, stone, fawn, oyster, taupe, natural, ecru etc. I'd almost give my right arm for a Boom Years plaid jacket, three or two button, with a natural shoulderline and all the right detailing, including an interesting label (or two) and the union confirmation.  That wouldn't be 'flashy' in an 'English' sense, though, would it? - what Peter York and Anne Barr might term 'gin and Jag'.  Selecting something with which to wear a jacket like that would be great fun.

^ haha
It was the lack of a size label sewn inside the left pocket and the fact that in one spot the check in the lining does not line up at one of the seams. Unnoticeable really but it points to it being a fake, or a second that was sneaked out of the factory when the boss was out for lunch. Either way I’m not terribly bothered as it’s a good coat.

The one downside to my Brooks raincoat is it doesn't have a raglan sleeve. Details are important.