New Wheat

A Red Dorking rooster with deep red and black plumage in a flour-dusted natural linen bib apron over a pale blue chambray shirt, standing on a flour-dusted wooden worktable in a stone village bakery before dawn beside a wooden rack of round crusty loaves, a brick oven glowing behind him, a sheaf of wheat tied with twine hanging on the whitewashed wall and a blue window

Before the Shop Opens

The first loaves of the new wheat come out at five. He waits by the rack while they cool, close enough to hear the crusts begin to sing.

1 August 2026