In which unlockdown is getting to me

I have just walked 4.4 miles to buy a slice of watermelon.

Yep. I really have been alone too long.

In my defence, Tuesday is a day where I need an excuse to go out. Mondays and Thursdays are parental shopping run days. Me-shopping happens Wednesdays and Saturdays; tough yoga Fridays and Saturdays (moderate on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays); bright morning walking on Sundays. In my deeply institutionalised world, Tuesday is the day without duty or joyful exercise.

Also, our best food shop is at the top of a hill. They are the kind of place that splits watermelon into slices rather than selling a small plastic box or an underripe mini one (or a beautiful ripe behemoth that I can neither carry nor consume). Cooking with watermelon for one is a pain, And although I made do with a plastic box of watermelon for this salad yesterday, it was turning slimy already, ugh.

Besides, it's a gorgeous day. The bit between two heatwaves, with a breeze, light cloud and a glorious feeling of Augustness. I set my nose west north west, put on an episode of the (cracking) Hoovering podcast, and strode out. ("Strode." I walk almost precisely 3mph in all circumstances, my pedometer reliably reports. It's depressing me tbh).

This was a good enough reason to go out, I reckon:

It's in a good cause: solid late summer cooking. A salad of watermelon and tomatoes (half and half, ish). You will need to add to this base:

1) Good oil

2) Nice fresh herb. Parsley, coriander, dill, mint - all feasible; but basil is tops for summer

3) Seasoning

4) Something sharp - lime or lemon juice is good, it was white balsamic today because I am *going* to reduce my oversupply of posh vinegar

5) Something chalky-bland - this is young goat cheese, which is splendid. Feta would work (season much more cautiously). You could do it with fried halloumi, and the flavour mix would be great, but a joy of this salad is the juicy melon and toms combining, so they might make it a bit wet. Boursin or philadelphia on toast would do nicely. You get the idea.

Chop, mix, eat. Lush.

See what I mean about the juice?

I'm now off to have plums with custard for afters, since if you're walking that far to buy watermelon it would be rude not also to buy the last pack of their delicious creme anglaise, right?

Right. Good luck with the rest of your week, folks.