To my surprise it turned out to be a broken half of a well-crafted Indian mano, or handstone.

'When in doubt take the Underground', urged an early Underground poster showing a bewildered little bowler-hatted man with an illuminated 'Underground' sign behind him. That little man was me.

Because pastry is such a dynamic field, and many like to make their own variations, formulas tend to vary significantly from source to source, and pâte brisée is a good example of this tendency. Some varieties may use bread flour, others pastry flour. Some may contain sugar, others not. However, according to Traite de Patisserie Moderne, a bible for pastry terminology, pâte brisée should not contain sugar (Darenne & Duval, 1974, p. 60). Some may contain water, others egg, some just […]

but I would have you draw on me for a Quarter at present which shall be paid