Some thoughts on scoring

This has been on my mind since the start of summer, so I’m finally writing it down. The first loaf came out with a crust you could knock on and a middle you could have used as mortar. I mentioned scoring to someone I met through the hobby, who laughed and told me to give it another year.

Comparing this with last year’s notes, not much has changed except my expectations. My first instinct was to blame the crumb, and my first instinct is usually wrong. Folding the dough every half hour fits nicely around the radio and a pot of tea.

• Do less, notice more.
• Stop when it stops being fun.
• Have another look at the shaping next summer.
• Write the date down, every time.
• Clean up straight away, while it’s still easy.

Next time I’ll try to remember all of this, though past form suggests otherwise.