I got sent this string of garlic last night by Sainsbury to You – as a substitute for four bulbs of garlic. I don’t know if it’s just me or if it happens to other people too but I think they always substitute ‘premium’ priced products for the things they are out of stock of (though I must say I have my doubts that they didn’t have any ordinary garlic in stock).

I decided to use it to photograph today because I’d seen two amazing pictures of these in Delia’s Vegetarian Collection, both by the same photographer, Cameron Watt, so I decided to have a go and see if I could come anywhere close to a pic as nice as his two. (Practicing my lighting techniques.) I’m obsessing about that book – I’ve set myself an ambition to get a shot of mine in one of her books – if I achieve it I’ll be the happiest bunny alive.

Anyway, all I had was my pic idea, not a story to go with it until I was on my way home from work, thinking about stuff while doing battle on the M25 and I heard an article on Radio 4 about how the French Government have, today, passed legislation to try to prevent the beautiful city of Paris becoming too much like London. In all of the years I have been in business, I have NEVER heard a client talk about their French counterparts with anything other than a sigh – the French have a reputation (whether deserved or not) for being difficult to work with. For me, I reckon some of their Government’s policies are a bit strange, but they certainly protect French culture with vigour and determination so good for them, I say. As for my own colleagues in our two separate Parisienne offices, they are all charming and great fun.

Now I do love London but I know what they mean. There are almost no ‘Independent’ shops left anywhere in the South East of the UK – the entire region has been monopolised by the chain stores who are the only ones who can afford the huge rent and rates bills that the councils demand.

In Epsom, where I work, the High Street is a curious mix of charity shops (they don’t get subjected to the same draconian charges that apply to other types of store), ‘cheap’ shops – the kind of clothes store that sells a pair of trousers for £5 or a tee shirt for £2 and the big chains – there are probably 4-5 mobile phone shops. The use of all these mobile phone shops? Well, so kids can replace their phones with the latest technology every six months or so and the old phones can get shipped off to India or Bangladesh where poor souls (in all senses of the word) with no protective clothing or breathing apparatus can ‘cook’ them over open fires to melt the solder that holds in the chips that make them work. The sight of this operation in a documentary over Christmas on the TV has left me with the shivers ever since – talk about the hidden consequences of your actions. I doubt that many people give the disposal of the phones a second thought when they buy a new one.

Still, that’s not my point for today. The French Government has decreed that they want to maintain the way of life in their cities and so have extended their definition of the term ‘essential’ workers to include those who work in butchers, bakers and green grocers (we have a similar ‘essential workers’ policy in London, but it only extends to healthcare and teaching). I applaud that. I love the real food shops of France – selling what is in season and mostly grown locally. You just don’t see that here any more. So, tonight I salute the French Government for showing pride in being French and protecting a charming, delicious policy of promoting ‘real’ food.

Epsom had three traditional bakers when I first came here to work twelve years ago. Now only one remains and that one will, in my view, end up going the way of all flesh just like the rest. It’ll make way for another estate agent or gadget shop. I am as responsible for this as anyone else – I too bought my bread from Sainsbury until I heard about the ‘Milton Keynes’ process – it suddenly became much less appealing after that and we now bake all our own bread at home.

So, the garlic has ended up representing a small ‘victory’ for the French government – long live this particular policy. Vive la France!

DM’s verdict: Pretty damned good but still not quite exposed right (a little overblown on the LHS) and the depth of field should be either a bit shorter or a bit longer. Ah well, close but no cigar as they say!!!!


Strangely, I mentioned yesterday about my wiring skills and as I've looked back at my year ago pic, I realised I'd mentioned the same subject then!