Mrs Pickwick scored a small victory in the kitchen this morning. Even before fortifying herself with coffee, she captured and then perfectly sliced a mango! Just look at this lovely unmangled mango.

Usually, even if her technique is perfect, the mango is mushy because she was saving it for just the right day. Also, to be perfectly honest, she always puts them off because she rather dreads cutting mangoes. They’re sort of slimy. Mrs P has heard of kitchen gloves, thanks, but the children like to wear them on their feet and go squawking, clucking, and scratching about the house and yard. So the Pickwicks don’t generally bother to stock chicken feet, er, gloves, because they are concerned about the effect of their flock’s shedding feet on local wildlife.

However, Mrs Pickwick made one fatal error. After congratulating herself on a mango well cut, she paused before tackling the other half. Because of the afore-mentioned sliminess. One half was enough to supply most of the Blessings with a smoothie, and the portion containing the seed could wait until she was properly caffeinated. As she complacently sipped her coffee, she turned her back on the unsuspecting fruit, little knowing what plot was hatching in some little Pickwickian head…

Apparently, not everyone shares Mrs P’s aversion to touching mushy mangoes. And there is obviously more than one way to eat a mango, even if your mother has not provided gloves for your feet.