I've known about the pub thingy from spending years in the GF
the leather thingy I picked up from here recently - there was a doco on prickly pear - and it was enlightening what they do with it -
I think it was all from Mexico ------- I might be wrong there. And, sorry - I probably can't find out what the doco was - if I do, I'll post it and you might be able to find it somewhere ------- it's hugely interesting if you are a prickly pear person
all I remember from them as a kid is that it's not wise to rub off the prickles on your hanky -------
it kinda gives you many problems later on ------ but, it's sure nice to know any food source
