A load of Rhubarb ?

[Ma and Pa Snip]

Leaving out any political opinions, what do you make of this:-


London Mayor Boris Johnson has thanked the designers of the 2012 Olympic velodrome for boosting the British rhubarb industry.

The secret to that rosy hue is that it is achieved by rubbing it with rhubarb," he said after admiring the venue's red cedar cladding at the official opening on Tuesday. "It is lovingly rubbed with rhubarb.

"Therefore it creates jobs for the British rhubarb industry and also helped to create a new craft -- that of English rhubarb rubbing, that will go on and on," he added.

"So it represents a fantastic investment for sport and society."

Reuters


My thought is, where did all the rhubarb come from to have completed the task during winter months.

Could we be going to see antiques show experts telling us to restore furniture by rubbing it with rhubarb

[Thrift]

Did I miss a few weeks ? Is it April 1st ? 

[Ma and Pa Snip]

Did I miss a few weeks ? Is it April 1st ? 

I did wonder myself

[Ma and Pa Snip]

Just in case anybody thinks I have made that up

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/22022011/58/london-2012-london-mayor-rhubarb-claim.html

[Aidy]

joking aside, I would say it is possible to have vast amounts of rhubarb at any time of the year, I know in the rhubarb triangle in the other county   they have vast sheds of the stuff being forced.
Can't remember who it was, but one of the cheffy peeps went and it was propper big scale growing indoors.
Anyway talking of april the 1st's did anyone see this is one....
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12363852
 

[JaK]

  Thanks for the very informative read Aidy

Yes, I also saw shed loads of the stuff growing on a TV programme. I wonder how much they needed to use though

[New shoot]

I think that's Boris talking a load of rhubarb or possibly wiffwaff   Will we ever live down that handover ceremony 

Red cedar wood is pinkish when new and matures down to reddish/brown, but you can't knock the guy for promoting rhubarb just as the forced crop hit the shops     

[Ma and Pa Snip]

I'm almost tempted to do a before and after 'controlled' experiment  

Quote, "it is lovingly rubbed with rhubarb "  

I just cant see it myself, especially the 'lovingly' bit.

I feel an element of rhubarb that has been recycled from Bulls is in this somewhere.

[hamstergbert]

Oak also looks good when being treated with oxalic acid, which is what Boris, in his own unique way, is describing!   Not just the acid but also a nice fibrous material carrying it, all the better to move the wooden fibres around and encourage more than merely surface contact.

Just cos it is Boris, it isn't always codswallop!

[Ma and Pa Snip]

Oak also looks good when being treated with oxalic acid, which is what Boris, in his own unique way, is describing!   Not just the acid but also a nice fibrous material carrying it, all the better to move the wooden fibres around and encourage more than merely surface contact.

Just cos it is Boris, it isn't always codswallop!

Now that tells me what I was wondering,
so it is feasible that wood would have an improved look.