Silver Service

“A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver” [Proverbs 25]

For as long as I can remember, there have been “Apples Of Gold” calendars hanging up in the houses of many of my Christian friends [I don’t think I have ever had one though!] My landlady had one all through my student years – and we would race each other in the morning to tear off yesterday’s page, and find the bible text for the new day.

They don’t just do verse-a-day calendars – they also produce quite attractive diaries too. [but no good to me, I am a committed Filofax girl]

I was thinking about the ‘settings of silver’ this week. As I helped Marion pack up to move, she said “Do you want this? I was going to chuck it” It was an extremely tarnished, silver plated basket. I brought it home with me.

First of all, I put it in my widest pan, with scrunched up tinfoil and a tablespoon of bicarb, and a kettleful of boiling water. See how black it is!

I let it bubble away for a bit – and after about 15 minutes removed one filthy piece of tinfoil, and a considerably cleaner basket.

I washed it in regular washing-up liquid [dish soap in the US, I think]

Then I discovered I was out of metal polish. I improvised by making a paste of cheap cooking salt and a splash of lemon juice. It is still not 100% right – I still need to get into those crevices with an old toothbrush and some regular polish – but after a total of only 30 minutes boiling, bathing and buffing I’d got it this far…

I am not sure about golden apples, but at Christmas, I think this will look super with some satsumas and a few ivy leaves as a table centre.Or perhaps some pinecones and clove-studded pomanders…

Thanks Marion!