"It's dreadful. You've all gone thin as a spendthrift's purse, with all the piquancy of dishwater."

Maybe there's more benefit to the farming proposal than he grasped immediately. If green pepper, onion, and celery are the backbone of Louis' often reminisced cuisine, turnips and rosehips might be the secret ingredient to restoring some flavour to the locals.

"So don't think I don't suffer with you. I won't be making a habit of this. Who has the time?"