A Foat? Whatever's That?

It's a new portmanteau word, I told Bob. Ferret+stoat? Fishing+Boat?  Nope, it is a Funnel-necked Coat! I kid you not, it was in Red Magazine. 

How ridiculous is that name? Whatever next? Pumper = polo neck jumper, Rardi = round neck cardi. 

Netmums suggest this cream one from Sainsbury's for less than £50.

No thank you. Not with a silly name like that!

Furthermore, knowing my clumsiness, a cream one would be besmirched with coffee stains, or worse, within seconds of being put on. They do it in a few other colours, including "this season's Must Have brown twill" 

Being told something is a Must Have puts me off buying it.

Wrap up warm, everybody - and don't worry if it is the comfy garment you've had in your wardrobe for months [or years] and keep your hands warm with Loves or Witts [leather gloves or woolly mitts] 

Woolgathering

Defined in the dictionary as indulging in aimless thoughts or daydreams. I've definitely been woolgathering as I've continued with the Loft Sort!

One of my nieces is expecting a baby next year, so I thought I'd do some knitting. The day before going to Manchester, I confidently climbed the loft ladder in search of baby wool. I was sure it was in a wicker hamper. There was a hamper, but only one suitable ball of wool. I found a pair of 4mm needles on the table in the back bedroom. I began knitting a little hat.

I'm embarrassed to admit that on Tuesday as I began to move the stacks of boxes around I unearthed seven hampers of wool, a large plastic box of wool, and a smaller one with assorted needles. One box was full of Sirdar baby yarns. 

I brought the blue box downstairs and spent an hour sorting the needles into pairs, and discarding damaged or odd ones. Then I lined them up in size order from 2mm to 20mm. 

Then I was ruthless removing all my duplicates. There were more than 2 dozen pairs. They will go to the Big C Cancer Charity Craft Emporium at Wymondham. Whenever I visit, someone is sorting through looking for a particular size. I'm sure they will sell.

Here's the little baby hat in a soft lemon shade. Now I've found the hamper with all the baby yarns, I think I'll try a little cardi in another colour.  Is it really November tomorrow?  The year is racing by. Last November I did a knitting challenge for the Bone Cancer Research Trust. I'm too busy for that this year...

So What Are YOU Celebrating Then?

Years ago I was in WHSmith looking through some Easter cards, when the lady next to me complained "This is no good, these are all religious!" I said, rather more loudly than perhaps I should have done "But Easter is all about the resurrection of Jesus from the dead - what are you celebrating then?" She looked very embarrassed and scuttled away. 
I thought about her last week as I was looking through the John Lewis Christmas section whilst Bob was sorting out the replacement microwave.

JL declares there are four themes to their decorations this year, "these are Heirloom Splendour, Enchanting Tales, Worldly Treasures and Ancient Wonders, and each have been thoughtfully curated to add charm to the festive period."
I don't need any more decorations, but it is fun to have a look. Heirloom Splendour seems to baubles and wrapping paper [retro items like telephones and sardine cans], Woodland Tales is animals [felt ones, or decorated baubles, tableware and beauty products] Enchanting Tales seem to be mostly interesting shaped baubles - and Ancient Wonders include a wooly mammoth, a dinosaur. acorns, pine cones and more. But did they have any nativity crib scenes? [Sue in Suffolk is hunting them out for a friend's fundraiser]

Yes they did! starting at around £100, there is this porcelain Alessi model. Personally I think it is odd - particularly the smug baby Jesus standing up with his fingers in his ears. 

There is another more expensive Alessi range, and you can buy the pieces separately, like these musical angels [£34 the pair] and animals for the stable. 

I am not sure they gave much thought to this. Surely a Jewish stable is unlikely to contain a pig! So basically, any representation of the true Christmas story is not in the main Christmas section but round the corner in the kitchen/china area - and rather too expensive for the average family. Why not buy something much cheaper for your tree, like this felt Christmas Toilet Roll?

On our way home from JL, we stopped at Next to have as coffee in Costa, and I browsed their Christmas Shop. They seem to be fixed on Highland Cattle - decorations, tableware, bedlinen. If you have bought the JL loo roll, why not add a Highland Cow in a Santa Hat sitting on the toilet reading her book? 

My Christmas tree is covered in all sorts of eclectic items - a Maine lobster from Steph, a tiny Marmite jar from cousin Gillian, and a little glass sewing machine from Julian, the little mermaid Rosie and Liz brought me from Denmark. Each item has its own story of love behind it - but the majority of my decorations are angels, nativity scenes, or items saying love, joy, peace, hope etc. 

If your entire house is bedecked with highland cattle this Christmas, then I am just wondering, what exactly are you celebrating? 
And yes, there will be a candle on my Christmas Cake - it's Jesus' birthday after all! 

Cash In The Attic?

Definitely Not! But I am starting the process of tidying and ordering the loft, because it has become something of a mess up there. I get down some project [eg Shed Aprons] and all the stuff is in a large plastic box. But when I return it, I realise there is another 'loft thing' - so that goes in that box. Or in a rush to tidy up because guests are coming, I put a suitcase away, without checking it is properly emptied. And then there are the bags labelled with messages like "Old greeting cards, 2022, sort these out ASAP" I wrap up well for this task, and wear sensible footwear [going up and down the loft ladder in slippers or socks is a bad idea] Here is my equipment

• 7A rubbish bag [for rubbish!] 
• a couple of large strong bags, for stuff that needs to come down and be relocated[Charity Shop, other people, the craft cupboard etc]
• A reel of masking tape, sharpies and a pencil - for labelling
• A pair of scissors  - always useful
• My tablet [to listen to the radio**]
• My phone - in case somebody phones me, or in case I need help for some reason [eg lifting down a large item and Bob is out in the workshop] I used the phone for the picture hence its not on the table

I found an angel's tinsel halo, so put it on and felt joyful. Then there was a large freestanding mirror - redundant now we have a mirror on the wardrobe door That's going to Manchester for Steph's new house. Note the rubbish bag hanging down, gradually filling up. That empty cardboard box is for recycling, and is the THIRD one I filled in the first hour. I have decided I do not need every cardboard box which has entered the house [the new kitchen came flatpacked in over 100 boxes] 

They have just announced there will be a village Yard Sale in the Spring, to raise funds for the Parish Church - so one corner of the loft is now 'possible yard sale stuff'. But my task was interrupted by an IKEA delivery lorry. We are changing the two single beds in the back room for one double. It will free up a bit more floor space. But that means as well as sorting the loft, I also have to sort out all my bedding. The singles will go to Manchester, along with their linens, [and that mirror] when we visit at Christmas. 
I'm hoping to have the loft and back bedroom straight by Friday 7th when Julian comes. There is loads going on - especially Bobs 70th birthday on Tuesday.

All four grandchildren appear to be having a great half term, at Forest School and Holiday Club.
** I listened to the final episode of Jane Eyre, a programme about Men's Sheds, and a 'Limelight' thriller on BBCSounds.

Always in my loft I hang the paper heart which turned up in a loft sort about 30 years ago. It has hung in three different lofts, but the message holds true. My loft, and the world in general, may appear to be in a chaotic mess sometimes - but there is One who is watching over us, and his love never fails.

Cut To The C[h]ase

Did you know the phrase "Cut to the chase" is a century old? It comes from the early days of silent cinema, in the USA. Film makers shot lots of film, but it was hard to make dialogue interesting. The rapid chase scenes were exciting however, so superfluous footage was excised- the editors phrase was "Cut to the chase". Now the phrase means "forget the trivia, get to the point"

The point of this post is a case. Specifically, a case to help you cut. I recently purchased some folding scissors, and was intrigued to realise they would fit perfectly into a square case - the same size as our TwoByTwo patches. I decorated two squares of lilac felt. One side with three Boteh motifs, and the other with a letter K [for Kirsten] The crimson K is decorated with running stitch and coloured seed beads - the other side has sparkly sequin embellishments. The squares are attached on three sides, open at the base. I threaded a ribbon through the scissors and then through a hole in the top corner of the case. And attached a pair of buttons at the top.

When folded, the scissors are inside the case. But they can be pulled out, unfolded and used. The little buttons retain the ribbon. 

This should fit tidily in a sewing bag, and when folded, all the sharp points are safely enclosed. 

I included this as Kirsten's "Flat Gift"

I am becoming quite fascinated by the constraint of having to work on these little squares each month! 

Working At Warp Speed?

James Doohan, who played"Scotty" in Star Trek, was the grandson of a Scottish weaver. It is said that he suggested "Warp Speed" for the extremely high speeds reached by the Starship Enterprise, as a reference to the flying shuttles he had watched in his childhood. I was pondering  on my October Two-By-Two patches, and realised I'd done a fair bit of mending and fixing for friends and family recently. So I thought I would decorate this months patches with darns.

I dug out my Speedweve darner. I picked some Autumnal colours, and used some white Aida even weave cloth to keep things neater. Here are my two patches

You start by threading the WARP using the hooks to make a tidy top edge. Then you WEAVE THE WEFT from side to side. It's fiddly but fun. I like the way the colours blend and remind me of the falling leaves.

In the way these things turn out, Kirsten sent me a link [after I had begun working on the idea] to the website of Jessie Mordine Young, who had an exhibition of her 'woven year' based on a collection of daily pieces created on a small loom.

K. had no idea what my October patch would be about - but I am fascinated by the way similar ideas come to us as we are planning...
By the way 'Speedweve' is a bit of misnomer. This one took ages - and these are patches #3 and #4, as the first two just weren't up to snuff!

Putting The Clocks Back

It is odd how we talk about 'gaining an hour' this weekend - when in fact it is just making up for the hour we 'lost' in the Spring. Time rolls on, whatever we do. Joyce Grenfell wrote this great poem, simply called Time...

When I was a girl there was always time,

There was always time to spare.

There was always time to sit in the sun;

And we were never done

With lazing and flirting,

And doing our embroidery,

And keeping up our memory books,

And brushing our hair,

And writing little notes,

And going on picnics,

And dancing, dancing, dancing, dancing--

When I was a girl there was always time to waste.

Thank the Lord.

When I was a young woman there was always time,

There was always time to spare.

There was always time to walk in the sun,

And we were never done

With going to weddings,

Our own and our friends',

And going to parties,

Away at weekends,

And having our children

And bringing them up,

And talking, talking, talking, talking--

When I was a young woman there was always time to enjoy things.

Thank the Lord.

And when I was an elderly woman there was no more time,

There was no more time to spare.

There was no more time to sit in the sun,

For we were never done

With answering the telephone,

And looking at the TV,

And doing baby-sitting,

And talking to our friends,

And shopping, shopping, shopping, shopping,

And washing-up, washing-up, washing-up,

Writing letters, writing letters

Rushing, rushing, rushing,

And we were always hurried,

And we were never bored.

When I was an elderly woman

There was never time to think.

Thank the Lord.

But now I'm an old old woman,

So I want the last word:

There is no such thing as time--

Only this very minute

And I'm in it.

Thank the Lord.

I think I am at verse 3 these days, but at every stage of life, I have learned to thank the Lord for his blessings.

Mysterons, Ergatrons And Magnetrons

This is the voice of the Mysterons, we know you can hear us...
Do you remember Captain Scarlet? Another character from Gerry Anderson's "Supermarionation" - the Mysterons were from Mars and had ' a war of nerves' with the earthmen. It was a follow up to Thunderbirds, but not as good, imho.

This week I came across Ergotrons. Well, almost. I was looking round a hospital with a colleague, and we kept find weird triangular patterns of screw holes in the consulting rooms. "What are these?" she asked, and was told "Oh, that's where the Ergotrons were". The staff member was unable to give any further information. It transpires that they are wall mounted bits of kit involving monitors and keyboards etc. They had been removed, but nobody had got round to filling the holes or making good the walls [we were doing an inspection of the premises] We giggled as we walked back to our meeting room, about The Invasion Of The Ergotrons...

Then I had a a bit of a scary experience. I switched on the microwave [bought just 5 weeks ago] and it started smoking and making odd noises [smoke, crackle! pop!] I switched it off, promptly. Bob said "switch it on again, and take photos this time". So I did, somewhat nervously. Bob said "I think the Magnetron has gone"

Bob contacted John Lewis customer services, who communicate via WhatsApp. They put him through to the technical department. The guy did not seem to know much about microwaves.

Bob sent a picture of the microwave full of smoke. Then said "Would it help if I told you I have an MA in physics, and trained as an electrical engineer, and I believe the magnetron has gone?" The person on the other end accepted this diagnosis - and said if we packed it up, we could take it into JL Norwich and exchange it for a new one. We did that, hoping the mysteron,ergotron,magnetron lasts longer than 5 weeks this time. Or I shan't know what to do-ron -ron-ron

PS IF YOU ARE IN THE UK, DON'T FORGET TO PUT THE CLOCKS BACK TONIGHT!

Comin' Thro' The Rye...

 

A Scottish folk song, words written by Robert Burns in 1782. I was never quite sure about it, but it is something to do with a young couple meeting up in a damp field of grain for a private kiss. And Jennie's petticoat gets wet. It was written centuries before Salinger's Holden Caulfield story. I recently bought some rye flour, and decided I should use it in my breadmaker.
The breadmaker is 6 months old, and I have got into a good routine with it. It makes three sizes of load - M,L and XL. The M size is just right for slices for the toaster, and that size loaf lasts us 2 or 3 days. I usually make a half'n'half white and wholemeal flour loaf with an added scoop of my seed mix.

I noticed in the recipe book there were two recipes - one 100% rye flour, the other 50/50. This is the latter. A good even texture and a pleasant taste. And it toasts well.
I have just been reading Breadsong, a heartwarming story by a daughter and her father, Kitty and Al Tait.

‘If you had told me at 14 when I couldn’t even get out of bed with depression and anxiety that three years later I would have written a book I would never have believed you. But here it is – the story of the Orange Bakery. How I went from bed to bread and how my Dad went from being a teacher to a baker. You reading it means everything to me’ – Kitty Tait

If you want a heartwarming story about a loving family coping with the stress of a teenage daughter with serious mental health issues, this is it. It is also the most wonderful book about bread, and a caring community.
As well as the story of their life changing experience, these two generously share their tried and tested recipes in the centre section of the book. 
The book is written in two different fonts - so you can tell which is Kitty's writing and which is Al's. I reluctantly returned the library copy, [other people had reserved it] but I am putting this one on my Christmas list. 
Breadsong is the magical sound made by bread cracking and hissing as it cools...
*****

You Won't Feel The Benefit...

January 1978, my second term of teaching, living in Hemel Hempstead. HH was a 'New Town' and the New Town's Commission had set aside affordable rented accommodation for key workers. As a teacher, I qualified for a first floor, 1 bed flat with a little balcony. I was so happy there. But over New Year I had developed a really bad throat infection. I was off school, and got a GP appointment at 9am. I walked up to the surgery - part of a little run of shops at the end of the road, using a well maintained footpath which ran alongside the OAP complex. I saw the GP, collected the prescription, treated myself to a cake, and set off for home. It was very cold and there had been a hard frost.
As I turned onto the path, I found a little old lady, standing perfectly still and looking confused. "Are you alright?" I asked "I'm scared. It is so slippery, and I am afraid that if I try and walk I will fall over" I held her arm firmly, and together we walked back to her flat. This took quite a while! 
By the time I got to her door, I knew she was a 90 year old widow, Cora originally from the north of England. No family nearby, but very happy within her community. They had connected, independent flats, with 24/7 access to a warden, and a communal lounge where lots of activities happened. And she had good neighbours too. Cora had been out to buy some bread for herself and her neighbour.

"Please come in for a cup of tea" she said. I went into her tidy little home "Take off your coat , or you won't feel the benefit" She became a good friend, and I visited her regularly, getting to know her neighbours, and the warden. The warden said many residents wanted to have a Sunday Worship service as they could not get out to church - so with others from my chapel, I set up a monthly afternoon event. I helped with Christmas Socials and Summer Tea Parties in their central garden area. And winter or summer, Cora would tell us "Take off your coat , or you won't feel the benefit" Five months after meeting Cora, I met Bob. We left HH in the summer on 81 as Bob began ministerial training 
In those 4 years I had learned quite a lot about how elderly people adjust to the problems of age, health issues, managing on a pension, and coping in widowhood. In July 82, I became the Warden in an OAP Sheltered Housing Scheme near the college where Bob was training.
I was reminded of Cora yesterday when I went into Dereham Library. A young woman, Emma, runs an IT help session every Wednesday for people who get confused by technology. And this week she was promoting a new WhatsApp scheme set up by Norfolk Council - called "Ask Cora". It's designed to give unpaid carers easy access to advice and support. She asked me to pin up a flyer in our chapel - and I left her helping a gentleman who was struggling to use the Smartphone his family had given him.

I wonder who decided on the name Cora? We still say "take off your coat, or you wont feel the benefit" occasionally, and remember our friend from almost 50 years ago. 

I Shouldn't Be Allowed Out!

The last couple of weeks have been slightly surreal, I don't think I have been thinking very clearly about things. 

One day I returned to my car - parked in the field outside the Museum, and I just could not remember where I had parked it. I had to walk up and down the rows clicking my key fob till I heard the doors unlock.

Three days later I returned to another car park, and this time went straight to the car, opened the passenger door and slung my bag into the footwell. Then absent-mindedly I climbed in and was about to put on my seatbelt when I realised the steering wheel was on the other side! I had to scuttle round before anyone noticed.

I have a sewing project in mind, and needed supplies. I complained to Bob "I went through all the craft baskets in the Charity Shop, and I could only see two invisible zips" He couldn't stop laughing.

For six weeks I have been looking for my bottle of M&S perfume. "I haven't seen it since we were last in Manchester" I said. When I fetched my cabin bag down from the loft on Friday morning, I found not only my perfume but clean teeshirts and underwear, and my missing baseball hat.  Fortunately the bag of dirty laundry had been dealt with on our return, but clearly I didn't empty the case before I put it away!

I thought our flu jabs were this week. But last Thursday, enjoying a lazy breakfast in our pjs, Bob looked at his phone, and announced we needed to be at the surgery in 10 minutes time!! We dressed Very Very fast, and walked round to get our shots.

Despite all those crazy errors, I did manage to get from Cornerstones to Steph's house and back without any crises en route! 

Happy Birthday Steph

We can't be with you today, but I loved the opportunity to spend the weekend in Manchester with the family, and look after the boys on Sunday so you and Gaz could go to London [not that I will ever understand why you both enjoy American Football so much] I really enjoyed watching you make salt dough decorations with George and Jacob on Saturday - remembering 35 years ago doing the same with you and Liz.  But then you told the boys that Grandma would help with the painting on Sunday!

I was grateful for the easyclean Totter+Tumble mat, but the boys were very careful and kept the floor, and their fingers, paint free

Having painted them, we then created some birthday bunting, and made a birthday card.

George told me that the other week they went somewhere and had cookies decorated with Smarties. "Mine had 5, and Jacob's had 3, so Mummy said her birthday cake should have 41 Smarties. Please can we make one for her?"

How could I refuse? So we went for a walk and got a cake and mini Smarties in Tesco. We counted out 41, and pushed them into the icing [using lengths of drinking straw because it was more hygienic than using our fingers!

And we enjoyed refreshments in the Chorlton TeaHive, where the staff are always friendly, and they have a stack of children's books to read.

I am sure that Gaz, George and Jacob will make your birthday really special. You're a great Mum, and a good friend.. Looking forward to seeing you at Christmas.  

God bless you today and always, Steph 💝

Who Is In The White House Today, Ang?

It's my own fault. A few weeks ago, I said I was fed-up with a certain orange guy, and I wanted to watch The West Wing again, and think about people in power who actually cared about their nation. And there it was, in Sheringham Sally Army CS. The complete set...a stack of DVDs a foot high. Around 120 hours of viewing. So I treated myself. Its not Bob's thing, but if he's busy elsewhere, I can iron, or sew and indulge myself. I have been enjoying the thought provoking, well written, award winning scripts from 25 years ago. 

But like London buses, two series set in 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue have arrived at once in my lounge. Because there is a new series of The Diplomat just started on Netflix. But here's the thing - the same actors appear in both

Allison Janney [White House Press Secretary] and Bradley Whitford [WH Deputy Chief Of Staff] are back in Washington again.

But this time she is President, and he is her husband.

She has gone blonde, he has luxurious white hair and beard. Bob managed half an episode, then went off to do something useful,  muttering "Is this where actors from The West Wing go to die?"

Well I'm enjoying it, even if he prefers The Simpsons. Plus there are some excellent British actors on board - 

Rufus Sewell, Rory Kinnear, Celia Imrie, Nancy Carroll, Aidan Turner and more.

Is it weird to enjoy shows about the machinations of US politics? I enjoyed House Of Cards too , but preferred the original UK series to the later American version.

What is weird is that three times I tried to type Celia Imrie into my PC, and autocorrect kept changing it to  Reliability. You can trust CI to give a good performance every time!

I think I am the only person whose watch list does not include Strictly, Traitors or Masterchef. My new sleep regime "no screens after 10" means I don't go to bed with news stories about DT, or the Grand Old D of Y bothering my brain as I try to sleep. Reducing screen time generally is proving very beneficial. 

Peace Beyond All Understanding

I'm in Manchester today, and Bob is in Norfolk, taking the service at a local church**. Following their preaching plan,  he's speaking on Paul's letter to the Philippians. I discovered online* a prayer for October 19th,  based on this epistle, which seems good for today...

O Lord grant us your Spirit 

that we may comprehend your peace. 

As we pray,

help us to recognize 

what must come from you alone, 

for you are mighty and holy 

and your will is peace on earth. 

Your will is peace beyond all understanding, 

your peace in heaven 

and on earth and under the earth, 

your peace that opposes all sin and death 

and takes away every evil that can be named. 

We await you, O Lord our God, 

and you will hear us. 

No matter how long the battle lasts, 

we hold out in patience, for we are your children. 

We shall never lose the faith 

that your name shall be honoured 

and that all things shall come into harmony 

with your will of peace on earth, your peace. 

Amen

*from the Bruderhof Community

**thank you Bob, for standing in for me

Keeping Up Appearances

That fabulous TV show ran from 1990-1995. How we loved watching bossy Mrs Bucket [pronounced Bouquet] She reminded me of a WI woman I met in Warwickshire in the 70s, surname Sidebottom, who insisted on being called Mrs Sidday-Bot-Tome. Was that programme really thirty years ago? In 1994, we were on holiday in Sussex, and we took the girls [aged 12 and 10] to the Festival Theatre, to see Patricia Routledge in the farce "The Schoolmistress" by Pinero. She was clever, and witty, a consummate professional. She enjoyed a long and glittering career, on stage, radio and screen. A longtime resident of Chichester, she was a patron of the theatre, and a faithful member of the Cathedral. She gave generously of her time and resources to support both. She will be greatly missed 

Since we bought Cornerstones in 2009, the original neighbours around us have all moved on. [I don't think its our fault, many were very elderly]

I remember driving over from Leicester by myself one day in early summer. I needed to do a few odd jobs and tidy the garden.

As I pushed the mower up and down, I thought about the other residents of the Close.

One lady liked everything just right [Hyacinth] another seemed less confident [Elizabeth] a temporary resident was actually described to me as "No better than she ought to be" [Rose] and one old chap loved to just sit in his armchair, beer in hand, watching sport on TV [Onslow] As I cut the grass I thought  They could do a remake of Keeping Up Appearances and  my neighbours could be the cast. But of course, they'd need an overworked member of the clergy and his slightly crazy wife..." Then I realised that would be Bob and me!

She may have played snooty, snobbish characters [Lady Bracknell] or salt-of the-earth Northerners [Hetty Wainthrop] but at heart she was a good woman who loved acting and loved bringing joy into peoples' lives. She died two weeks ago, aged 96.

Thank you Dame Patricia for all that you gave us. RIP

Waiting For The [T]rain

 Busy weekend ahead.  Here's a clue in a poem...

[Hint, start top left and read downwards and you will know where I'm going]

Clean Sleep

I heard a bloke on th3 radio talking about "sleep hygiene" which sounded like an instruction to wash your hands before bedtime. But it actually means developing good habits, arranging your bedroom, for an optimal night's sleep. I got a book from the library but it involved buying the author's products. Huh! I returned the book promptly. Then I saw a hand lettered graphic online [cannot find it again, sorry] it SAID

HEAL THY SLEEP HABITS

At first I thought it was an Old Testament command, then realised the spacing was bad!

HEALTHY SLEEP HABITS 

makes much more sense.

I read various articles, and I've made just three significant changes

1. No screens after 10pm. I don't watch the 10pm news, I don't check Facebook or emails or WhatsApp [or blogs and blog-comments]
2. Last drink of the day is water, or milk not tea 
3. I wear a blackout sleep mask

And after just two weeks, I really am sleeping better. The My Halos mask cost £10, but it's so comfortable. It comes with a neat storage case. The padded foam inside lifts it away from my eyes, so no pressure on eyelids or tickling lashes. And the memory foam fits round my nose, so it is total blackout. 

In fact the first night I put it on, and snuggled down to sleep, oblivious to the fact that I'd forgotten to switch off my bedside light!

We sleep on the ground floor [it's a bungalow] at the front of the property. Although we have efficient curtains, sometimes a vehicle with headlights, turning round at the end of the Close, can shine a flash of light into the room. With the mask on I'm not disturbed. 

I'm making fewer 3am trips to the loo too. And if I do wake up, I fall back to sleep faster.

Poor sleep affects weight-regulation hormones [hence many new mums struggle to lose "baby weight"] i am hoping better sleep will help with that. 

What are your most successful sleep tips?

🛌💤💤💤

Unexpected Treasures

Watching Bargain Hunt this week, I nearly choked on my lunchtime sandwich. The teams had been challenged to find something "with an animal connection" and they found a little brass bell for £5. "Look! It's a Gospel Bell like mine!" 

I was a little frustrated that neither the expert, nor the auctioneer recognised it as a Gospel Bell, often called an Evangelist Bell or a Sanctuary Bell.

I found mine on Fakenham Market in 2014 for £2. Explanation of the bell here The team paid £5 and it sold for £15. Sold under their correct description, they usually go for more than that. No, I'm not selling mine!

There's a CS close to my hairdressers in Norwich, and I picked this book up for 50p. I could see in the shop that some of the pop-ups needed a repair here and there, but it looked interesting. Something to read with the grandchildren.

Further research when I got home revealed that
Tomie de Paola was an award winning children's illustrator in the USA. The book came out in 1984 and is recognised as a classic, and families read it together each Chr8stas Eve. There are six amazing pictures telling the Nativity Story, with accompanying text, and pop-ups and sliders.

1. The Annunciation - a house in Nazareth [dove flies, bell swings, and Gabriel nods and waves a hand to Mary
2. The Census  - in Bethlehem a line of people walk past a Roman soldier, with Joseph, Mary and the wee donkey bringing up the rear. 
3. An innkeeper points the couple "not this way, that way!" directing them to the stable
4. An angel proclaims the baby's birth to astonished shepherd's, and even more singing angels fly out from behind the clouds 
5. Three wise men stand outside Bethlehem pointing to the star - and suddenly it shines even more brightly over the stable
6. Everyone turns up to worship at the manger. No moving parts here, but the reader should shine a small torch through the little hole in the stable roof to illuminate the ChristChild.

If you have 8 minutes to spare,  here is a woman [plus two glove puppets] reading the story

I am delighted with this ten-bob-treasure [my bargains are often measured in £sd]

One more thing...

A couple of months back, Jill in Dorset won the Noahs Ark panel. Sorry Jill, I think your email may have got lost in the ether. Please send me your address as a comment [I won't publish it] And I will post the piece off to you ASAP. Apologies for the delay Update, thank you Jill. Address received. Problem solved

Speaking of unexpected treasures, have you been following Sue-in-Suffolk, and the wonderful package of old photographs she bought recently? Fabulous photos of villages along the old A12 in the Edwardian era...