All the Fun of the Fair!

Arrived at Liz's flat on the dot of noon, and we packed a picnic and went off to Brockwell Park for this. Discovered almost immediately that despite new batteries, my camera refused to work at all! So all the pictures this weekend will be ones I have borrowed from other internet sources. The Park was absolutely packed and the weather was gorgeous.

There were loads of things to see, but we began by sitting on the large foam 'slices of bread' at the Warburtons stand and eating our salmon sandwiches and amazing flat donut peaches which Liz had brought

We looked at the animals in the City Farm Area, the various craft and charity stalls, the wonderful selection of food stalls and generally had loads of fun. We met some of Liz's friends, and it was great.

Also entered a competition with Lambeth Library to win a hamper of books. I confess I did ring Bob to check answers for a couple of the questions - but between us, Liz and I thought we knew 95% of the solutions.

They had a fabulous vegetable sculpture competition. Loads of models in tribute to Michael Jackson, made of aubergines and potatoes- but sadly I can find no pictures of them.

In the evening we went to Kingly Street near Liberty's and had a great Japanese meal at Ramen Seto

We followed this with coffee and cream puffs from Beard Papa round the corner.

Then home on the bus - passing Trafalgar Square again[outward journey we observed a scotsman in a kilt on The Plinth, return journey, a woman crawling out of a small tent]

After relaxing in front of the tV for a bit, off to bed! Jon's away this weekend with Monkey Steak, and I slept in the studio/spare room, surrounded by heaps of electronic stuff/PA gear [just like home!!]

This morning, woke early and listened to the Morning Service from Derbyshire on Radio 4, and then sat down to type this.

I hope it publishes OK - it is always harder working on an unfamiliar PC - but thanks Liz for the use of it!

Elephants and Esperanto

Looking forward greatly to tomorrow - going to visit Liz and Steph in London. Haven't seen Liz & Jon since Christmas, so that will be really good.

Liz lives close to Elephant and Castle,

within walking distance of the Metropolitan Tabernacle. Over a hundred years ago, my great-grandmother used to come here, to  hear Mr Spurgeon preach and lead Bible Studies.

Not sure exactly what Liz has got planned - but I know we will have loads of fun. We are going to Steph's place on Sunday night for a meal. How blessed I am to have such brilliant daughters, who cook so much better than I do!

On a totally random and unconnected note, did you know that there is an Online Esperanto Hymnal ? Bob and I discovered it very last night whilst we were searching for another hymn. Some dear soul has spent ages translating lots of popular hymns into Esperanto. Why? and does he also preach in Esperanto? There are apparently about 2 million speakers worldwide. It is a fascinating site. One of the Easter hymns refers to "Morton Travis" - which I think means "Death is conquered" - but sounds to me like a Theatre Critic writing for the Sunday Times!

The Bible Society obviously takes the language seriously, as they first published a translation of the Bible into Esperanto in 1926, less than fifty years after the language was invented.

I've checked out some useful phrases - just in case I meet any Esperantans near the Elephant!

Bonan matenon - Good morning

Mi nomiĝas Angela - My name is Angela

Kiel vi fartas? - How are you

Kio estas tio? - What is that?

Tio estas hundo - That is a dog

Mi ne komprenas vin - I don't understand you

Ĝis revido - Goodbye

First Class Male

Today Bob and I worked almost non-stop on Holiday Club preparation- but took a break at 10.30am to nip down to the Post Office. Malcolm, who has owned and run the village PO for 23 years retired today and there was a 'bit of a do'. Sandra and Jane, who work behind the counter in the shop had organised drinks and nibbles

Quite a few people dropped in to wish Malcolm well for his retirement. There was much laughter - don't know why Stella looked so worried about being photographed though!

Malcolm [on the right here] would not turn round and be photographed properly

Here's a better picture of him from back in April, when Joan, another PO staff member retired.

I am glad that two women have taken over running the Post Office. People were concerned at first that it might close when Malcolm retired. It is a vital part of our Village Community and an important service - especially for the elderly and those without transport who find it hard to get into Leicester.

I mentioned that I got some sewing done yesterday - that included shortening two pairs of maternity trousers for my friend Sam. She goes on holiday tomorrow- but dropped round briefly this evening. One blueberry flan seems a very fair exchange for some hemming!

It had a lovely almond/frangipane flavour, and the pastry crust was of a delicious melt-in-your-mouth texture. Thanks Sam!

 

Q - What has four legs and flies?

A - Two pairs of trousers!

Lucid Logophile!

I've learned a new word!

According to an article in the paper yesterday about the facial fungus of Bob Ainsworth [Defence Secretary]

"In practical terms, a moustache is no more than an eyebrow for the mouth; a hispid strip to frame the face and keep out the dust."

"What's hispid?" I asked Bob. And he didn't know either [which surprised me, he knows thousands of obscure words]

The dictionary says "Covered with stiff or rough hairs; bristly"

So this is my new word for the week - and I am trying hard to work it into conversation. Which is not easy!

Then we got into discussing other words ending in ...pid

We quickly thought of stupid, torpid, limpid, rapid, vapid, tepid, Cupid, lipid and insipid [ as well as cuspid and bicuspid]

... but did you know there is also sipid [opposite of insipid] and sapid [full of flavour] ?

in the animal kingdom you find adapid [extinct sort of lemur] anaspid [extinct type of fish] elapid [a snake] thripid [a minute sucking insect] and vespid [wasp]

and trepid [to be timid or fearful]

So you could say this...

I made a rapid exit from the garden, the presence of a vespid made me trepid.

Or this...

Cupid shot his arrow, and she stared into the limpid pools of the blue eyes of the man opposite her. The sapid meal in front of her was left uneaten and her coffee went tepid. But when he kissed her, she awoke from her torpid state, finding his hispid chin quite off-putting!! Stupid man! Why didn't he shave more carefully?

Don't Put Your Daughter On the Stage, Mrs W...

I arrived at church hall around 8.30am today, to find David already working on the stage refurbishment. By 9.15, there were about a dozen folk sitting round sorting out all the craft materials and worksheets for Holiday Club. So many people turned up that we were all done and dusted by 10.30 and able to adjourn to the Coffee Drop In upstairs.

This may not look like much - but it represents eight groups crafts for five days all counted out and ready to go. Lion masks, bobblehead kings etc, all bagged and tagged.

 

Every group also gets its own box of basic equipment - pens, scissors, glue-stick, sellotape etc.

After the coffee break, I set about preparing the new stage curtains.

It was a very large piece of fabric - 5 metres by 3 metres, which had to be cut in half and have the edges finished.

Here are the two Davids working on the stage front.

After I had overlocked the edges, Val and Bob did careful measuring and calculations to work out where to put the curtain clips.

Then the little bungee loops had to be threaded through and the two curtains hung from the scaffolding pole.

Bob had to disconnect one end, whilst David supported the pole, then every loop had to be threaded on.

I was too short to be of any great help at this point! So I just took photos.

The stage looks  much better now it has curtains, and the cupboard doors are concealed.

The curtain fabric is lovely - thick, heavy, black 'Molton' fabric, feels pleasant, and it is fireproof - we got it from Thomann in Germany, a company Bob uses quite a bit for PA gear, so it is good stuff.

Everything I hoped to achieve was done by 12.45, due to the amount of willing helpers - so I could come home and do some more sewing! I'm so grateful to be part of such a committed team like this.

I should have taken pictures of tonight's meal but I ate it instead- but we had broad beans and potatoes from the garden! Quite excited to be eating food I have grown myself.

Growing In Faith

Another busy day sorting out Holiday Club things. This afternoon I went to see my friend Elisabeth. partly to borrow a 'fascinator' to wear at a wedding next month, and mostly to catch up on news. She sat at one end of the kitchen table, making beautiful greetings cards [sorry, I really should have taken some photos, they were splendid creations] whilst I sat at the other end with a pair of pinking shears chopping lengths of gold ribbon to make crowns for the Bobblehead Kings.

This evening, after The Archers [oh why has Mike married Vicky? she is awful!] I went to photocopy more worksheets at the Church. Bob has hung up the banner

[thank you to Anu at Digital Print Leicester for very prompt service today after our original order with another company got forgotten]

It looks very good - and I hope it brings in some more last minute bookings.

We have some flower beds at the front of the church and another at the side, which are carefully tended by one of our church members. I knew he had some spare plants from his allotment and was amused to see the side bed now has lettuces and cabbages growing in it!

Does this count as 'guerilla gardening'?

Personally, I have no problem with vegetables in a church garden. The cabbages appear to have good hearts - and who could argue with sentiments like

Lettuce Pray  and Peas on Earth ?

The Truth, The Hole Truth...

An item in today's paper reminded me of another of Dad's ditties

Do you remember, as a child, on really hot summer days, walking home from school past the road menders, and inhaling the smell of the hot tar? Well, change that smell - in future you could be smelling

chip fat instead! According to the Times, Aggregate Industries, a Leicester firm, have a new product. They have developed a way of mixing crushed rock with waste vegetable oil to make road surfacing material. Traditionally, the rock is mixed with bitumen - which is oil-based, therefore expensive and has a larger carbon footprint. This new method saves money and the environment. Trials are planned in the county soon.

VERY OLD JOKE...

Two brothers of a religious order opened a Fish and Chips store to raise money for their monastery. A fellow comes in and says to the one behind the counter,"You must be the FISH FRIAR, ha ha".
The counterman replies, "No I'm the CHIP MONK!!"

Ambridge, America and Art

This is ridiculously exciting! I am sitting in the lounge at Cornerstones, laptop on my lap, actually blogging!  This morning, while I cut the grass, Bob crawled around in the loft, sorting out cables, and now we have broadband here in Broadland.

Yesterday afternoon in Leicestershire, I caught up with a whole week’s worth of the Archers. I was reassured to hear Phil speaking again [although he didn’t say much] Quite concerned about Usha the Vicar’s Wife though – her husband wants to take her on a camping holiday. They haven’t specified how they are travelling [he has a motorbike] It will undoubtedly rain buckets – somebody tell her not to do it!! You have no idea how much the prospect of a summer holiday under a real roof, sleeping in a decent bed, this year, cheers my soul!

We missed all sorts of exciting village events last week – it was Carnival week here. The procession of floats started from the end of our road on Saturday 4th. All week there were different things going on – culminating in “The Sponsored Body-Waxing of the Village Postman”

Abraham Lincoln’s family originally came from this village,and as this is the 200th anniversary of his birth, the carnival had a USA theme. Lots of photos have been posted on the net.

Here’s the Chair of the  Parish Council, who led the carnival procession.

Looks like the Parade was really good fun – but I’m not altogether sure where the Postman fits in!

Also today Bob has been putting up pictures. This one is a print which Liz gave us a few years ago when she was working at the Tate Gallery. It’s been rolled up in a poster tube at home for ages It is called Mariana [the character in Shakespeare’s ‘Measure for Measure] and was painted by the pre-Raphaelite artist John Everett Millais.

The textures and colours are amazing and I shall get a lot of pleasure looking at it [we have hung it in the bedroom]

Bob calls it “That Woman With Backache”!

Heart and Soul

In July, the Special Olympics are coming to Leicester. This is quite exciting - especially as Zara Jurenko from our church is one of the athletes.

You can read a profile of Zara here.

It was a Family Service today, so Bob took the theme of 'Sport' - I don't have any photos - mainly because the younger children were involved and I cannot post their pictures.

He began by asking about  what sports we could think of in the Bible. There are quite a few - archery, running, boxing, wrestling, swimming, sailing, fishing, javelin... [although some of these related really to practising for war, or finding food in Bible times, and were not really sport/leisure activities]

He said he was not allowing "Cricket" - even if there is a verse about "Peter stood up with the eleven and was bowled/bold" !

Illustrating his points with Bible stories, and with the help of  volunteers from the congregation [they are so good, at taking part in things] who did things whilst blindfolded, and others hula-hooped, and threw darts, and fought with pugils [that's these big Q-tip things] Bob reminded us that as in sports, so in the Christian life. We must

• listen to our Trainer
• strive to do our best
• keep persevering
• watch out for things that will trip us up [sin]

All good stuff. Loads of people kept handing me craft bits they had prepared for Holiday Club [sharing out that task has saved me hours of work!] and others have volunteered to come and help sorting out craft materials on Thursday. But before that we have 36 hours at Cornerstones to look forward to.

 

 

The motto of the Special Olympics is "Let me win but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt"

and the strapline for this year is "Leicester 2009 - giving its heart and soul"

Which reminded me of these verses...

 

"The most important commandment" Jesus said "is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.The second is this: 'Love your neighbour as yourself.There is no commandment greater than these."