Did You Solve The Rebus?

I wonder how many you worked it out, We were at Dunston Hall, a luxury hotel, spa and golf course, just south of Norwich. 

 

Weekend Puzzles

For my 70th birthday in April, Liz, Steph and their families gave me a special present - a double ticket for a day here. It looks Elizabethan, but was actually built in the 1850s. Here is a rebus, can you work it out? The things we did and places we went during our day - and the two facilities we did not make use of...
Thank you family, for a wonderful gift

but we did not do these...

Answers will appear at 5pm [BST]

Happy Birthday, Jess!

 Four years old today - big school in September. It doesn't seem that long since we made a midnight dash down to London because your early arrival meant someone had to come and stay with Rosie. But from the moment you were born you have been a delight. Always very busy, and very loud, but very lovely. A real character, whatever costume you have chosen to dress up in. Have a wonderful day

Easy As Pie

The weather has been mixed, Tuesday was very wet, and the BBQ to celebrate Liz' birthday was eaten inside her cottage. But Wednesday was wonderfully sunny. Julian had arrived Tuesday night, Adrian and Marion came over, so 15 of us enjoyed sitting outside for another BBQ [our joint 140th birthday!]

Bob cooked all the meats, I made salads, and we had a choice of puds. Eton Mess, Tiramisu, Ice Creams, Fruit - and this "Impossible Coconut Pie"

Really easy, and very tasty - the bottom sets to a creamy custard, the top is a coconutty crust.

INGREDIENTS

• 4 eggs
• 2 cups milk
• ¼ cup melted butter
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 cup sugar
• ½cup plain flour
• ½tsp baking powder 
• ¼tsp salt
• 1 cup desiccated coconut

METHOD

Place all ingredients in a bowl and beat till well mixed. Pour into a greased baking dish 2" deep, 9" diameter [or approx 7" x 9"] Bake in preheated oven 170* for an hour. Serve chilled, hot or warm.

A good time had by all. I shall definitely nake this dessert again.

Happy Birthday George!

Is it really 5 years since you were born? There we were in Lockdown, and Manchester seemed so far away. Five weeks after your birth we got to meet you briefly, but it was ages till we all got together properly as a family. And now you have almost finished your first year at school. You already know more about dinosaurs than I ever will, and your enthusiasm for life is wonderful. I am so glad that your teacher says you are "thoughtful and kind" - you always show so much concern for your little brother Jacob. Looking after the pair of you last November while your Mum and Dad were away may have been exhausting, but it was glorious fun. How you have grown! Have a fabulous birthday!

Wizard- From Oz!

My last surviving Aunt, Auntie Jean [Dad's Sister in law] is 100 today. She now lives in a Care Home in Perth, Australia. Here she is with nine of her ten children. I saw her in December 1997, when she and Nina [on the left] came over for the wedding of her youngest son, Brian, to an English girl. I think he is the one in the check shirt behind Nina. 

The stitching arrived from Kirsten on Thursday - details will be shared on Monday. My April piece was 'beach huts' - because of the warmer weather and recent trips to the coast. Plus the first Beach Hut I remember is the one Jean and Uncle Ted had at Thorpe Bay, Essex, where they lived in the 50s and 60s. Most days in the summer holidays they would all pack bags and walk down to the hut and spend all day on the beach in the sunshine. Easier and way cheaper than taking a dozen of them away on holiday! Then they emigrated, the 12 Ten Pound Poms - and had sunshine most of the year

Kirsten's 'flat gift' this month was also Australian. It is a Supoon, a nifty little gadget which measures out a teaspoon of cream, jam whatever, acts as a small spatula for clearing jars, and its kinked handle keeps the greasy bottom of the worktop! A lovely gift for my new kitchen, Thanks K! Enjoy the Vegemite Video showing it in use

PS I prefer Marmite myself!

Here Is Bear Number Thirty

On Monday I mentioned a funeral, weddings, and birthdays. After Barbara's funeral I had two sewing tasks to complete. Shortening a dress for a friend to wear at her grandson's wedding - and making another Memory Bear. I think this one is my thirtieth! Two years ago, my friend lost her partner very suddenly after twenty years. His daughter - her step-daughter - gets married today. She and my friend are very close - and I was asked if I could make a Memory Bear as a surprise for the bride - a way of remembering her precious Dad at the wedding. I had a lovely morning at F's cottage, looking through his shirts, and we talked about him.  I selected four which I felt would make a good bear, but there were a couple of special things to include - firstly his pride in his Scottish Heritage, and secondly, his love of Short Mat Bowls,

So this little chap has the family tartan on his paws and ribbon - and the bowls club badge on his side. But please could I do something with his Clan Teeshirt?

That is always a challenge, because teeshirt fabric is stretchy, and has to be stabilised if it is for a bear - and it is not wise to mix woven and stretch fabrics. I suggested making the teeshirt into a tote bag for the bear to travel in!

Oops, just spotted the thread on the badge in the photo. I assure you that is not there on the bear!

In side the backpack flap are embroidered the details of H's Dad. I do this for all my bears, usually following the same formula 

In memory of  

xxxx  

Years of Birth and Death

Made with love

for yyyy

It is so much more special if there is some sort of personalisation I think, and I hope it brings comfort. My friend was pleased with the result. I hope to see wedding photos soon.

The three birthdays - one is another good friend from church, who asked me to shorten a jumpsuit she had bought to wear at her birthday event. She has recently started using her sewing machine, and said "I ought to be able to do this for myself" I did her jumpsuit, but gave her a careful set of instructions about shortening trousers. I was so thrilled when she turned up at church, with pictures, of the second pair which she had managed to fix by herself, following my notes. "Now I won't need to ask you anymore, now you have taught me." A very good result all round. 

Tomorrow, we are going off to Nottingham to join a couple celebrating their 70th&80th birthdays. A happy family event - but also en route, we will call in at the nearby IKEA. I need a new waste bin to go under the sink in my new kitchen!

Two Weddings And A Funeral [Plus Three Birthdays And A Centenary]

"Well, I am fairly busy in March and April," I said back in February "We are putting in a new kitchen and doing it ourselves" But I clearly didn't say it loudly enough. And I hate to let people down. So there were funeral flowers on the coffee table over the weekend, waiting to go to church on Sunday. Then four different sewing projects on the dining table [in plastic bags to avoid the dust!], all with deadlines in April/May. I have been diligently working on these items for my friends, and 3 out of four have been completed and delivered. The fourth will get done in time, I am determined. However, next Saturday we are away all day for another couple's "Milestone Birthday" Event. 

Here's a Teaser Picture for you - my resource materials for some of the work...
No, I am not making any dolls. I cannot reveal any pictures of completed work just yet. Sewing is my Happy De-stressing Activity. I admit to ignoring all the above tasks on Thursday evening, and working on the April CoverStory stitching. Truly a balm for my soul.

The Wonder Years

We were a bit late getting up on Tuesday, and therefore we were still getting dressed at 8:15 when the doorbell rang. I pulled on a dressing gown and ran to answer, expecting a parcel delivery or something. And there stood Julian, grinning, with a large gift bag - "Happy Birthday!" he said. As he had  Tuesday off work, he decided to come up unannounced and deliver his gift in person. I was utterly thrilled. 

We went out to breakfast [North Elmham Post Office] Then we came back, and I opened J's gifts, an Ottolenghi cookbook [Simple, which is one I have been keen on for ages] a quirky plant holder, and another little gift. And a birthday card saying that now I am 70 I am entering the Wonder Years.[I wonder where I put my car keys, I wonder what I did with that book...] He'd addressed to Ang aka WonderWoman!

Julian helped us with more kitchen work, stopped for a snack lunch, then went home mid afternoon. What a lovely surprise.

Wednesday was another birthday event. My best friend Chris treated me to tea and cake at Tall Orders. I made a real effort and dressed up properly [having lived in my red overalls for most of the previous few weeks]
She gave me a lovely card, bouquet of flowers and a little book about "You are entering the Wonder Years, now you are Muddle-Aged" [I am spotting a theme here]
Late Wednesday evening, I opened all the cards, and Bob's gift. A new Breadmaker, to replace the one I have had since 1998 [which no longer produces a decent loaf] That will be reviewed once I have a proper kitchen again. The girls and their families gave me a joint gift of a Spa Day [oooh!]
We got up early on Thursday. I delivered a card and plant to my SIL as it is her birthday too. She gave me a card and a plant in return! Then on to collect the oven doors. In the last ten years, they have got very scratched and tatty, but now they have a new powder coating and look splendid. Thanks Tom and Ian at Colorcote.

On the way back a quick stop at a plant centre [coffee and scones] The afternoon was spent planting, sorting flowers, and building kitchen cabinets - and then a lovely meal of moules et frites. I feel truly spoilt - thank you everybody for all your lovely comments yesterday. I don't know about wonder years, I certainly had a wonderful day.

It Is 25568 Days

Since Easter Sunday 1955 - and my Dad was late for church [and as the minister, he was usually early] But he had good reason - earlier in the morning, the nurse had come into the waiting room [Dads were not allowed in the Delivery Room back in the fifties] and said they were not sure the baby would survive. He sat quietly praying...then was allowed in to see Mum and their new daughter... and here I am now, in 2025, celebrating my 70th birthday today!
No I cannot believe it either. One day maybe I shall write down some of the stories from those seven decades - growing up, student years, meeting the man who has been my soulmate for almost 47 years, my loving family, and my wonderful friends... So much love, life and laughter. So much to be thankful for. 

None of us knows what lies ahead. But I trust in a God who knows my past, present and my future. My fridge magnet has a line from a favourite hymn which sums it up beautifully. I shall leave it at that.
 

A Month Of Sundaes?

Firstly, thank you everyone for the kind birthday wishes for Rosie yesterday, she is definitely making the most of her celebrations. On Saturday we went on a family tenpin bowling trip, followed by lunch. If you have younger children, I can recommend the Bowling House in Norwich. This is the quirkiest bowling alley I have ever visited. A while back, we looked after the girls one evening, while Liz and Jon visited this venue [For cocktails and food, which they enjoyed] There are just five lanes, at BH and all half-length, so it suited the girls. The pop-up seating is recycled from years ago when this building was a cinema. I took three shots of Rosie bowling, and inadvertently got pictures of Jess as the seat folded up on her!

We went on to a Pizza lunch [I pleased to have discovered that I can eat pizza with vegan cheese]  and the girls enjoyed desserts. Jess was intrigued by the inverted waffle cone in her ice cream sundae.

I have four glass sundae dishes at Cornerstones, They were given to me about 35 years ago- my friend was having a new kitchen and decided to clear her clutter. "You can only have them if you promise to use them" she said. I promised!

I still use them on a regular basis. 

Even the most boring pud is greatly improved by fancy serving, I frequently put a scoop of plain vanilla in the dish, topped with some fruit, and home made yogurt and a 'boudoir biscuit' [I think in the US they are called ladyfingers] Occasionally there is fruit sauce or chocolate sauce too, or some crumbled cake. The girls think this is a real treat, especially when I give them the longhandled teaspoons. 

In my current, ruthless kitchen declutter, I can assure you that my sundae dishes are staying! I must lay in a box of waffle cones before the Easter holidays though.

Rosie said Saturday's treat was her 'quarter final' birthday. Monday [the day itself] was to be the 'semi final' and the 'final' will be her party on Saturday - a Clip'n'Climb event with schoolfriends 

Rosie Is Nine!

 We have had such a great week together - but now she is back to school in London. Growing up so fast into a thoughtful, gracious young woman. We are so blessed!

Time And The Hour...

I've taken down the curtains, removed the hooks, and loosened the gathers. The label says "dry clean only". So I washed them on a quick and cold wash. What's done cannot be undone

They definitely look fresher and the rufflette tape is sparkling white. Out, damned spots! They will be dry by Thursday morning and I will be able to inter-line them. 

Today will be very busy. I have a physio appointment[back and hip issues, nothing too serious] and Bob has Pilates The labour we delight in physics pain

Then this evening, a somewhat belated birthday treat for Bob - a pre theatre meal, followed by an evening at Norwich Theatre watching Macbeth. A poor player struts and frets his hour on the stage. One of Bob's favourite Shakespeare plays.

Then home to bed... 

Sleep that knits up the ravelled sleeve of care

I couldn't cope with nothing at all at the windows, so we've hung my blanket over the doors [the side window has a vertical blind] I embroidered the blanket 10 years ago [story here] For the time being, it is better than nothing! As Macbeth did not say Is this a blanket I see before me? 

Unexpected November Knitting Challenge

 A couple of years ago, I sent Steph some money and asked her to get George an Easter Egg on our behalf [no sense in posting a chocolate egg across the country] She got one with its own dinosaur. The egg was eaten and forgotten, but the toy became George's favourite, and named "Teddy Dinosaur"

The day before we left Cornerstones, Steph said George said TD would like a Christmas Outfit got TD, and she wondered if Grandma could make one.

I took red and white wool, needles and a tape measure. On Thursday after school, George helped me measure TDs chest and head. I showed him how to make a tiny pompom by winding woool found a kitchen fork.

He went to bed and I sat up late making a jumper, with Xmas 🎄 tree on the front, and a little pompom hat. Which was good, because he announced he'd like to take it in to Show&Tell on Friday.

His teacher said his S&T went well. And on Saturday we had a 4th birthday party for TD, playing musical statues, eating homemade cupcakes, and generally having a lot of fun. The boys made a birthday banner and a card.

We all slept very well Saturday, being completely exhausted!!

Weekend Round-Up

What a crazy week...

MONDAY -Bob's birthday. A lovely day, ending with a meal out at Cote Brasserie in Norwich. I love my ear-rings [they were Gill's] but not happy with my straggly hair

TUESDAY - Dentist Visit. New tooth and scale and polish from the hygienist. Smiling a lot! Watched the voting on and off all night.

WEDNESDAY - I was invited to join some of the local Mothers' Union for Communion followed by coffee and cake. More on that later [not mentioning the US election result]

Bob had very positive session at the Medical Centre*

THURSDAY - last minute change of plans, asd I was due to meet a friend in Norwich and she broke her wrist. Went into the city anyway, and had a haircut

FRIDAY- Volunteer Visiting at Hospital. Will miss the next 2 Fridays due to Grandparent duty

* this was his regular blood test etc to monitor his diabetes. Thrilled to report he is doing really well. His better eating habits resulting in ongoing weight loss, have made a significant difference. The Practice Nurse was very pleased with him. Pilates is helping the back issues, although one ankle is taking a bit longer to heal.

I have been doing a lot of knitting, as I know I shall not manage so much in the next couple of weeks. In the first 7 days, I exceeded 900minutes [30 x 30] And my generous sponsors- online and in person, have pledged over £450. I am so grateful for their support.

I hope you have had a good week too

Happy Birthday, Bob!

This year has certainly had its ups and downs - lots of great family times and celebrations, good involvement with the community, but also health issues. Through it all you have remained cheerful and positive.
I was talking with Rosie about people who inspire us - and she mentioned a few famous characters [contemporary and historical] and then she said "and Grandad"
Have a happy birthday - we all love you so much! God bless you today and always

Happy Birthday Steph!

Just a few pictures of the last 40 years - one from your childhood, one from Brazil, when you spent the summer working with the street children, and others since your graduation.

Have a wonderful day!

Never stop sparkling!

We love you so much

Improving The Triangle

Back in the eighties,there was a truly atrocious TV show called Triangle. It featured a ferry sailing from Felixstowe across to the continent. The producers thought it would be cheap to film as everything was on the ferry - just one film  set which travelled to different locations. The opening titles featured actress Kate O Mara sunbathing topless on the top deck. They'd forgotten just how cold and windy it can get out in the North Sea! The weather,and the plots were awful. It was a running joke on Terry Wogan's radio show. The BBC was embarrassed. The series got cancelled.

Today there are far better triangles around. We received this very stylish anniversary card last month. 

Looking at it I realised it had been made from a regular square greeting card blank. I decided to try and recreate one myself. 

It was easier than I thought! 

You need a square card and some pretty paper

First take your  card and measure the sides. Mine was 14.4 cm. 

Mark the midpoint of one side, and carefully cut from that point to the ends of the crease. This will give you a card with a triangular flap, and two identical right angle triangles. 

Now using your paper, cut a square 1cm smaller (eg 13.4 cm) , and a second one 1cm smaller than that.(12.4cm) Measure the midpoint of the edge of the smaller square and cut that piece into three. 

Now stick the large square on the inside leaving a border all round. Repeat with the triangles on the other pieces. 

Now this is the fiddly bit... You need to stick those two right angled triangles in place. The right angles must touch the outer edges, the thinnest points be in line with the top, the bottom corners in line with the bottom of the card and the point on the flap. NOT going outside the edges of the square

I couldn't work out where to put the glue.

Then I realised that if I lined up the triangles upside down, I could mark the edges. Then I put glue just on the top piece of each triangle, turned it over and stuck it down firmly on the opposite side (hard to explain,but it makes sense when you try it) 

I didn't have a lovely golden butterfly, but I used my Big Shot diecutter to produce words in contrasting card. I hope the recipients will feel blessed when they receive them! This really turns a simple blank card into something stylish. 

Thank you C for the inspiration

Now back to making more stock for my 31:13 shop

NewsRound

Sunday evening - watched Grace on TV. I do like that police series, as I am especially fond of Brighton,
Monday morning; first I went to the Foodbank Warehouse with over 100kg of donations. The staff were especially grateful that things were sorted into categories[thanks to the helpful girls from Sunday Club who sorted out tins, pasta , toiletries etc into separate bags after the morning service.]
Then onto craft group - eight of us had brought back our mosaic tiles - don't they look good?
In the evening after the Quizzy bits, we caught up with NightSleeper. I may not travel on a train for a while...
Tuesday I did my volunteer visitor stint at the Hospital then came home for lunch. Bob had been attempting to get somewhere with his orthopaedic consultation. Progress - after initially being told November 2025, he now has a cancellation appointment on Saturday Morning. Hallelujah! Thank you all for the kind words of encouragement. I will keep you posted on that one. In the evening I sewed mouse dresses and mob caps.

Wednesday I went to Tall Orders for tea and scones with my oldest  friend Christine, as it is her birthday this week. It was very good to sit and chat. I cant believe we've been friends over half a century. Or that this year I was so disorganised that I delivered her birthday gift on August 20th instead of September!
In the afternoon I had an email from someone having trouble placing an order with my shop. Having got the other issues sorted, it transpired that there was a further problem with the online payment system. Bob was brilliant and together we got it sorted. All seems to working well now, I just need to get all the new stock in place. I had a lovely card from the recipient of the gonk. 
And in between all those things, I have been plugging away at decluttering, and making marmalade [with Mamade Tins, not from scratch!] and getting the garden tidied for winter.
Monty Don's tomato tip works! I put a load of green cherry tomatoes in a brown paper bag with a banana - and they are ripening beautifully. As I removed all the bean stuff, I found some dry pods from the little French beans - and have harvested a load of bean seeds for next year. Also saved some seeds from the yellow cherry toms that Jess loves so much.
I have completely lost a box of squares of paper which I'd prepared for Kusudama Flowers. It is quite small [about 4" square and 3" high] So I dived into a CS on my way back to the carpark yesterday. I bought a paperback with over 900 pages for £1. That represents nearly 100 flowers for the workshop I am running in October!

And I could not resist this one. Over ninety activiy ideas for indoors and out,through the four seasons on sunny days and rainy days. I love the MMM stories, and read them to the girls, and now to Rosie and Jess. This will definitely be in use over half term. Most of the ideas are things I have done before - but the instructions are clear, and beautifully illustrated using pictures from the original books.
Today I have set aside for sewing, and Friday afternoon we are visiting friends.
So all is good [and our afternoon cups of tea have been accompanied by a small slice of anniversary cake]
Someone pointed out it is 99 days till Christmas. I am not going to worry about that, I am enjoying September.
I was sorry it was so cloudy on Tuesday night though- I did want to see the Supermoon! Did you see it?

Mum's Centenary

One hundred years ago today, my Mum was born. She died in 1991, but I still miss her. I went into the loft and found a few old photographs [and spent ages looking through boxes of pictures going back over 60 years and remembering all sorts of past events]

This was part of a collage made for their Ruby Wedding in 1988

This was taken in 1965, when we moved to Norfolk and Dad became Minister at Dereham Baptist Church. I  have the same haircut today

Clacton 1987 - how Mum and Dad loved their granddaughters

How Mum loved to relax with her copy of  The People's Friend!

She was an amazing woman. Born in Romford into an ordinary working class family, the 6th of 7 children [Auntie Peggy was her younger sister] 

She met Dad when they were 15, as WW2 broke out. They started "going out" at 16 and were engaged when they were 18. By this time, Mum had left school and was commuting into London each day to work as a clerk in the Foreign Office. She was whisked off to Bletchley Park and spent the rest of the war as a Codebreaker [no, she never told me a thing about what she did, other than that she had to learn Morse Code] 

After the War, she and Dad believed God wanted them to go to China. So they went off to Scotland to do a theology course and missionary training at a college in Glasgow. Halfway through their course, they married in 1948. But the world situation changed, China would no longer accept Christian Missionaries, so Dad became a Baptist Minister instead. in 1951 Mum became very ill, and would definitely not have survived if she'd been in the Far East. They were back in Romford. In 1955 I came along, and in 1962 my brother Adrian arrived. Dad worked in churches in Kent, Romford, Bishops Stortford, West Hartlepool and Dereham. She had a few part time jobs - but wasn't really fit enough for long hours. But she was an incredible support to Dad's work, running Ladies Groups, doing Pastoral Visiting, and being a great friend to many people. She died in 1991, just two years after Dad retired.

One final picture- Mum's 54th birthday in 1978. My best friend Dorothy was over from Belfast and staying with me for a few days. My new boyfriend offered to drive us up to Norfolk to surprise Mum. 

Here's Mum, Dad, Dorothy, Adrian - and Bob

This was the day my Mum met Bob for the first time. Her comment - "He's a really nice boy, but his hair is a bit long"

He had it cut very short soon after and never grew it quite that long again!

Look at my Dad's awful flares, and my brother's chunky boots [1970's fashions]

I learned so much from Mum, about life, and faith, and caring for others. I was privileged to grow up in a loving home, my parents had a strong marriage, and family life was very important. She would have been so proud of my girls, and their families. 

How the world has changed in the hundred years since Hilda Margaret Spooner entered the world. But her values of love, faith, honesty and service are still the best.