The Fallen Woman Has Been Rescued…

…and he came at midnight… and the next morning, he whisked her away, back to his palace in Dorset!

Angela Becomes A Basket Case

Expecting to be driving on the motorways [M11, M25, M3, M27] back to Dorset I’d set up this morning’s post in advance. But I am still at Cornerstones – typing this with one hand.

I fell over backwards yesterday morning and injured my left wrist. I kept going and finished the basket, then drove to Adrian and Marion for my evening meal, as planned. Fortunately it isn’t far – I went there entirely in 2nd as it hurt too much to change gear! They looked at me and declared “A&E, don’t argue!” We ate the meal first, not knowing when we’d get back. The Hospital staff decided that the scaphoid may be broken – they want it X-rayed again in a fortnight.

By 11pm [less than 3 hours at hospital – not bad as these things go] I was back here and in bed, my wrist velcro’d into a splint, dosed up on painkillers. I still feel quite woozy. I am grateful that

• there is not much pain unless I try to use my hand [then there is a lot!]
• I am right handed
• I have a phone by the bed so can ring people if I need to
• I can rest all I need to, in this lovely warm home
• I have food and drink and all I need
• friends and family are fantastic and helpful  [“they are Christians, they will bring casseroles!” declared Liz]

A&E Staff were fantastic – I realise now that the pain was leaving me a little incoherent and my story was confusing [Address Dorset, GP still Leicester, but doing basketry in Norfolk] Funniest bit “But I was supposed to drive back home to Dorset tomorrow” “Who is at home?” “My husband” “And will he be able to cope on his own?” “Oh yes!!” So grateful to A&E, and Adrian and Marion for last night.

I do feel rather silly – ‘injury sustained falling over whilst basketweaving’ Typing this much has tired me out – so apologies that I may not get to read and comment on this week’s Lent Pauses for a day or two.

Jesus The Carpenter Needs Joiners

My friend used to have that on a sticker in the back window of his car. Here at UCF [United Church Ferndown] they serve “The Carpenter’s Lunch” on a Tuesday to a large group of Senior Citizens. A team of volunteers come in on a rota, to prepare, serve, and clear up a delicious meal for these older members of our community.

The team wanted a ‘uniform’ so a group of us got together and produced a set of tabards. The fabric came from The Great Stash, and my Memorycraft machine produced some name badges.

They are going to going to look very smart at the lunch club, aren’t they? [Carol’s craftroom with the big table and Velux windows was lovely and bright for us to sew in]

Pause In Lent # 2– A Basket Case!

Just a quick thought this morning – I am about to go off and spend the day learning to create baskets. Not my usual Sunday occupation- this is my Christmas Present from Steph – a day’s course on basketmaking. No doubt I shall have lots to tell you afterwards- I’m really excited about the prospect.

We have to wear ‘old work clothes, as they may get damaged’ and take out own knife and secateurs [and a packed lunch – but hot drinks will be provided throughout the day!]

I started thinking about baskets in the Bible, and came up with 4 stories about baskets – 2 Old Testament, 2 New Testament.

In Leviticus, there are the instructions to Moses about the offerings made at the Tabernacle, where bread is put into baskets - and then in all the gospels, we read of the feeding of the 5000, where the leftovers of bread and fish were gathered up into twelve baskets.

In Exodus, Jocabed puts her baby Moses into a papyrus basket, and hides him in the reeds of the Nile. In Acts, the disciples in Damascus helped Paul escape, by letting him out of the window in a basket.

In the first two examples, the baskets were used for provision of food. In the other two stories, it is all about protection. In the Old Testament God is called Jehovah -Jireh, the Lord my provider, and Jehovah-Rohi, the Lord my protector/shepherd

God is our provider and our protector

That’s something to ponder upon as I am weaving my basket today!

Don’t Get Into A Flap!

The kitchen has felt rather cold and draughty, due to the ill fitting, broken cat-flap on the back door. Outside it was sharp-edged and unsightly - inside it was coming away from the door panel.

But then John from HiQ installations arrived to fix it – he promptly took off the old panel and fitted a new one without a flap in it – and now everything is hunky-dory. Just after I took the picture of the door sans panel, whilst John was collecting the new panel from his van, a huge spider climbed into the kitchen through the hole. I bravely scooped the creature up and threw it outside again!

Three bits of catflap trivia*

1. Isaac Newton is credited with inventing the catflap. The doors of his rooms at Cambridge did have a cat-sized holes- but nobody is quite sure of their purpose[see here]
2. Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales mention a cat door, in “The Miller’s Tale”
3. cat-flap is an anagram of flat-cap [here is a picture of the heir to the throne, in said headgear]

*trivia ought to come in threes, I feel

The Name’s Bond…No, It’s Bob!!

More than sixty years ago, a young chap in his twenties, from Stockwell in London modelled menswear for knitting pattern companies. He went on to become the actor Sir Roger Moore, whose most famous role is that of 007.

Some of you requested a photo of Bob in his new jumper. Who knows where this foray into knitwear modelling may lead him?

Bob’s CV does include time in The Eglesfield Players, Oxford, alongside this guy, and also a stint as President of Marconi Instruments Theatrical Society. But I don’t think he wants to change career just yet!

A Shedload Of Joy

The jury is out on this one, it seems- is it shed [noun] meaning the amount of stuff to fill a shed or is it shed [verb, past tense]meaning the amount of stuff which is shed from a lorry ?? My Essex roots and links with Romford market lead me towards the fell off the back of a lorry definition. Anyhow, whatever its roots, we have a shedload of joy round here right now. KMFC gave a us a generous parting gift, and we’ve been able to buy a much needed shed for the back garden [moving from double to single garage meant problems storing motorbike, two bicycles, garden tools, much DIY gear, a work bench etc – not forgetting my precious palm tree!]

Tiger Sheds delivered the parts last Wednesday. There was already a slabbed area so we had somewhere to erect the shed almost immediately. Bob put the floor panel down then checked the rest of the wood.

We propped up the various components then carried them to the base and started assembling. The instructions were clear and it was all remarkably easy.

We had a choice about the window panel- and opted to put it on the ‘house’ side.

The shed it 6foot square and about 7foot at its apex.

Bob can stand up straight in the centre section- I can stand [or lay down] anywhere! He put the roofing felt on, and the job’s done. Bikes and mower locked away securely

The garage is still full of boxes, many as yet unpacked – although Bob has built a workbench and sorted out most of his tools. The motorbike will stay in the Cornerstones garage till after Easter.

Bob’s a very happy guy – he has never possessed his own shed before! [Thanks KMFC]

Tunic, Take Two

Last year, I knitted myself a tunic in the Christmas holidays using my friend Janice’s pattern. This year, in the holidays I knitted Bob a jumper.

The yarn I used for Bob’s jumper was Robin FX Aran, shade ‘Milky Way’ – and it came in huge 400g balls. When I had finished Bob’s sweater, there was quite a lot left*. I decided to make myself another tunic, as I wear my green one a lot.

I started the front, and realised the cable pattern did not work at all – the yarn was too dark and it did not really show up very well. So I re-wrote the pattern [basically just missing out the cable panel up the centre of the front and sleeves] and simply made it in stocking stitch. It was fine – but dull. So I joined the raglan sleeves in place using a double crocket, to give a raised seam o the outside. That looked messy. I re-sewed them, neatly and then dug out some big and bright buttons. I put four in a row along one seam, and sewed one in the centre of each pocket [I’d had ‘gaping issues’ with the pockets on the green tunic] It was so quick to do– only 2½ weeks!

Here’s the final result – well almost. I put the top on and persuaded Bob to take a photo – but after ten minutes of wearing the tunic, I realised the final green button was wrong. It was too near my armpit! I took that one off, leaving just three at the shoulder. Much better. [He’s right – I do look a little anxious!]

* The weight required by the pattern was 750g, so Bob suggested I bought 3 balls as I was intending to make it larger. In the end, I have knitted two jumpers and still have loads over. I may pass the yarn onto Liz who wants to knit a scarf.