Figs and Eggs Jug

In her own words, Katrin Moye says: "My all-time favourite novel, and a continuing source of inspiration, is ‘The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman’, by Laurence Sterne; first published in 1759.  It’s remained in print ever since – a testament to its everlasting appeal!  Inside this book there are many stories within stories, including a long anecdote about a traveller who is walking along a road on a very hot, dry day.  He comes upon a peasant woman sitting on the ground in front of a large basket of figs.  As the man is very tired and thirsty, he asks the woman if she is willing to sell him the figs.  Oh yes, she says, absolutely.  But I’ll also need the basket, says the man, as I have nothing else to carry them away in.  Oh – says the woman – but then you will have to buy the eggs that are underneath the figs, as I won’t have anything to put them in if you take the basket away.  But I don’t want the eggs – says the man – just the figs!  And so they arrive at an impasse, and there the story ends.  This is typical of the novel as a whole, being a whole series of conundrums, false starts and digressions."