The quest for a perfectly spherical egg to fit a uniquely designed spherical egg cup has taken an intriguing turn.
Meet Simon Balch, a 49-year-old man on a mission to find this elusive egg that will beautifully complement his custom-made egg cup. His inspiration sprang from the remarkable story of Jo Willis, who made headlines with her discovery of a rare egg—one that was described as a "one in a billion" find back in May. In a generous gesture, Mrs. Willis donated her special egg to help raise funds for Cancer Research UK by pairing it with Balch's creation for an auction. However, tragedy struck when the egg became spoiled after she accidentally hard-boiled it.
Originally hailing from Hemingstone in Suffolk and now residing in Camden, North London, Balch is determined to press on with his quest. He hopes to showcase both the spherical egg and its cup at an upcoming egg festival in Hitchin, Hertfordshire. "It would mean everything to me," he stated passionately, wishing fervently to poach another spherical egg.
Balch has discovered a knack for crafting egg cups, leading him to establish a presence on social media to promote his designs, alongside offering an egg delivery service and even a YouTube channel dedicated to his creations. He found Mrs. Willis’s story especially captivating, saying, "As soon as I heard about that egg, I knew I had to make Jo the world's first spherical egg cup to house this extraordinary spherical egg!"
Collaborating with a pottery company in Camden, Balch has designed a cup that resembles an upside-down chicken foot, with plans to have it gold-plated to elevate its elegance and utility in holding the egg. He expressed his disbelief upon discovering that Mrs. Willis’s prized egg had gone moldy. This unfortunate event occurred because she had begun boiling the egg before realizing its unique shape.
Currently, Balch is primarily reaching out to individuals within the egg industry, with a firm deadline set for March 21. This date marks the moment he hopes to unveil the egg and cup at the egg festival at Lannock Farm near Hitchin, Hertfordshire. "I've never been more committed to anything than I am to this project; it's going to happen," he assured.
Have you ever encountered a story as delightful as this? Do you think the search for the spherical egg is whimsical or an over-the-top endeavor? Share your thoughts in the comments!
