Friday, 21 January 2011

Forraging for food

The hunter gather looks out from his dwelling, it is first light and his mate lies sleeping inside.  There has been a light falling of snow over night and the world is draped in white.  He steps out and sniffs the air.  There is a slight breeze stirring from the south and he turns into it instinctively knowing that it is better to hunt into the wind.  Moving cautiously he passes his previous foraging area, pickings had been good there last night.  Working together with his mate they had managed to bag bread, sausage, cheese, six beers and a bottle of red. Working alone now, he chooses to go further afield.  Moments later he is met with disappointment.  The area he had seen yesterday, which looked so promising was closed and would not open for another half an hour.  Conscious of his mate’s hunger and knowing that waiting half an hour in minus 2 degree temperatures would push him perilously close to hypothermia he decides to risk going further afield.  He turns into the wind once more and surveys the land ahead.  Snow has started to fall but he can make out what could be a Backerei in the distance.  His gamble has paid off and he is rewarded with Brotchen and good Kaffee, all of which are acquired without a word of English spoken.

With coffee and bread in hand he knows his mate will be content but his success has boosted his confidence and the route back to the dwelling will pass last night’s foraging ground.  Perhaps he will push his good fortune further and try for some eggs, milk and bananas.  Disaster.  Domestic blindness has struck and no matter how hard he looks he cannot find the eggs.  Summoning up his last reserves of courage he manages to ask a shop assistant where the eggs are and is rewarded by being told they are near the potatoes.  Once again not a word of English is spoken. 

The hunter gather returns to his dwelling laden with his spoils and regales his mate with tales of his exploits.  Today they will not go hungry.

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