Quince

Our neighbours have a quince tree. I've been looking forward to quince season ever since we moved to our house nine months ago. And now the quinces are ready. Ready and heady - their aroma is amazing, intoxicating, captivating! I am in love with the quince. We picked the quinces, and then they sat in our house, making the whole place smell like one giant quince. Then I poached them in the oven for four hours with cardamom. And then I made eight jars of quince conserve (which I think must be a bit like jam). David hates them. He says they're like vegetables masquerading as fruit. I think he thinks it's unfair, or unnatural, of them to need to be cooked before being eaten. I like them. We are friends.