My Mother's Brown Sugar Collection

In the safe and certain knowledge that my mother still isn't at all sure what a 'blog' is, and emboldened by Mrs G's recent maternal posting, I thought I would take the liberty of sharing with you a small selection from my mother's brown sugar heist, her hotel toiletry haul and her complimentary pen collection.

My mother you see, has always had this embarrassing propensity to strip any hotel room, airline or bank of its 'compliments'. And did I mention her 'Marmalade' collection? All through my life she has shamelessly stuffed individual marmalade and jam pots and butter pats (and serviettes and spoons) into her bag in restaurants - even helping herself to extra ones from the counter - in full view of diners and waiting staff whilst I sat opposite, fervantly wishing the floor would swallow me up.

Or her.

She claims this is all harmless and that she is being 'green' as 'they would only throw it all away otherwise.' Except that she sort of undercuts her argument by the fact that all these items are still to be found unused in kitchen and bathroom cupboards years later - somewhat to the detriment of the perishables - it has to be said.

I only wish I hadn't chucked her priceless Pan Am sugar and marmalade out on the grounds of Environmental Health during my last visit, not being a blogger and thus regarding the world with a mercenary blogger's eye view, at the time. :-)