Blinkin' Blogger!!

 All good herein Cyprus. Blogger will let me post your comments but not reply to them. SORRY 

Drawing Conclusions

Some bloggers are really good at art - Fat Dormouse  often adds a sketch to her posts, as does Kirsten. Sometimes it is a carefully constructed piece, other times a quick 5 minute sketch. But I am just no good at this. I have tried, believe me. In my personal sewing journal, I log all the projects I get involved in [in August I have altered 4 garments for friends and neighbours] but my sketches of these trousers and tops and dresses look nothing like the clothing I have been working on. And as for the garden logbook where I list my produce... Well I only managed six tomatoes this year, and I didn't think the 6 red scribbled circles are that spectacular.
I suspect FD & K would both encourage me by saying it is a practice thing, develop the habit of a 5 minute sketch every day and one will soon be creating great artwork [in my case, probably less Poulencs, more Pollocks!] 
I decided not to give up too soon. So over the weekend,  I marked the "eggs-to-be-used-up-first" with a red sharpie. It's a start...

Any suggestions for improving my drawing will be welcome!

Parliamentary Matters

Did you know that the collective noun for a group of owls is a parliament?  And furthermore, did you know that every year, 4th August is celebrated as International Owl Awareness Day?  I knew the first, but only learned the second fact this week 

And I discovered it yesterday in Holt. This lovely Georgian Market Town, boasts an "Owl Trail". You can walk round the town and find 24 plaques at interesting sites. The name comes from the ancient legend that some local men found an owl. They put it in the town Pound for safe keeping, whereupon it promptly flew away! 

There aren't too many owls in the town centre nowadays, but you may spot them in nearby Holt Country Park. We went up to Holt to meet my dear blogfriend Kezzie and her husband. We had a lovely lunch together in the Owl Tea Rooms. 

It was such fun to chat together in person. The husbands got on well too. I'm always anxious before I meet up with a blogfriend that our "other halves" might be bored. I am so grateful that this hasn't ever happened. 

Kezzie has been a good friend for a long time -  when I was running 'Grandma's Nursery for Rosie in lockdown, she sent me some great ideas for music lessons. When cousin Gill died, she came over to Romford and took me out for a much needed coffee break. And I love being involved in helping construct her Whovian Cosplay outfits.Thank you K&C for a super time together, and a great lunch. It was kind of you both to take time out from your family holiday to connect. 
The cheerful waiter took a photo for us 

Then we all put on our hats, ready to leave, and decided we needed a 'hat-pic' too!

Harvest Lunch

On Friday, Kirsten posted about the few broad beans she had harvested which formed part of her lunch. On Sunday I was able to harvest one yellow courgette, and just a handful of strawberries. My mint is thriving [at last] so we enjoyed courgette and carrot coins with our 

gammon and potatoes after church, followed by a slice of cheesecake, garnished with a sprig of homegrown mint, and some chopped berries. The apple and pear trees look like they should have a fair crop, the figs are coming along slowly. More courgettes are on the way, also some pea shoots. And my potato tubs are looking very healthy. 

How does your garden grow?

Three Churches In Three Days

On Friday, Bob and I went to Dereham Parish Church for an organ recital. This is part of their fundraising campaign to be able to install much needed toilets and decent kitchen facilities on site.At 12.15 we enjoyed an excellent sandwich lunch [good choice of fillings, also quiches, sausage rolls, pork pies and cherry tomatoes, followed by selection of cakes, choice of hot or cold drinks] 

Then a gentleman started trying to erect a portable screen near to where we were sitting. Bob used to have one like that, and as it's easier to put up with a helper, he went off to assist. Here he is in his best navy blazer, kneeling on the carpet! Then he helped sort out the video camera too...his assistance was much appreciated.

I do not have any photographs of the recital itself, they were not allowed! The visiting organist was D'Arcy Trinkwon. That is not an anagram, D'Arcy's forebears were from the continent and his surname is French. He is remarkably gifted and played various pieces, including some by a Canadian Composer for the foot pedals only [we were able to watch his hands on the keyboard and feet on the pedals via the video camera and big screen] Here's a clip of him playing in Selby Abbey. He's quite the showman!

Saturday from 9.30-4.30 I was in Dereham Baptist Church, for a Safeguarding Training Day. It is very important to us in our chapel that we have the correct procedures and protocols in place, for the protection of any vulnerable person [child or adult] who may come to our premises - five from our chapel attended. People from all over Norfolk were there. I met up with old friends- and it was especially lovely when a woman called Christine came up and introduced herself. She met me at a Women's Day at DBC in 2015, and has been following Tracing Rainbows ever since. I hope we can meet up again sometime, for a proper chat over coffee.

Sunday I was back in my own little Chapel at Foulsham. I was Duty Deacon, so we got there really early. Duties include checking who is on the rotas for tea and coffee, welcoming, prayers etc.

 As it was communion, I had to fill the little glasses [they go in a tray like the one in the picture] I knew we had a number of absentees. So I filled 24 glasses. At the start of the service we had 22 adults [plus adults and children out in the hall at Sunday Club]. But one couple arrived late. Our practice is that a deacon takes the tray, serves the pastor, takes it round the congregation, and then returns it to the communion table. As I took it back to Nick, we realised there was just the one glass left, for me! We sung some good songs, and Nick preached a great sermon about Jairus' Daughter, and the sick woman, from Mark 5.

Three church buildings, one very big, one fairly big, and one small - but good friends and a lovely atmosphere in each one. Bob tells me that nowadays a person is considered to be a 'regular churchgoer' if they attend a service once in 3 weeks. I'm definitely a regular.

Have you come across D'Arcy Trinkwon?
He's a very flamboyant character, and a master of his music.

Here's A Hurdy Gurdy!

 A couple of weeks back, Kezzie posted about visiting Kentwell Hall, stepping back into Tudor times, with customs, costumes, and music. She particularly mentioned seeing [and hearing] a hurdy-gurdy played for the first time 'in real life' And she got to try it herself. Do read her lovely post, with all the illustrations if Tudor re-enacters, and Kezzie herself getting happily involved.
In the same week, Bob and I went to a talk at the Dereham Heritage Trust. 

The guests were Chanter's Jigge, Malcolm and Elizabeth, husband and wife,  who also play many many Tudor instruments. They gave us an Elizabethan Musical Experience, with their latest programme,
including a hurdy gurdy.
Clearly Tudor Music is the sound of the summer!

*If Henry VIII really did write Greensleeves, did all the royalties go to royalty?

*Is it true that if Tudor musicians got into debt, they had to pawn their doublets and sit around in their singlets?

Have you ever played a crumhorn, a shawm, or a hurdy-gurdy?

[* apologies for very, very old jokes]

Take Me With You, I Can See Perfectly!

Whenever I spot a pin on the floor, I remember Donald Pleasence in The Great Escape, convincing James Garner that his eyesight is fine. [DP had actually been a POW in WW2]  I am aware that my eyesight is not what it once was. I've been wearing glasses for half my life. And they are not cheap! But I have recently had an eye test and acquired new ones. This time I have chosen slightly more colourful frames than usual - tortoiseshell at the front, bright peacock blue at the side.

Our Vision Express is situated at the back of Tesco. When they told me the glasses were ready, I nipped down to collect them, stopping only to buy some Alka Seltzer, and a meat and pastry snack as I left the supermarket. 
As Sue said last Friday, once you get to our age, life is just "Specs, Drugs and Sausage Rolls"!

If you are in the UK, enjoy the Bank Holiday, and do avoid getting dehydrated or sunburnt

Here We Go Again!

Drum roll please! Just to announce the next great Kirsten&Ang collaborative craft project is underway. K had the brainwave for it. 

We were both wanting to do different individual stitching stuff, and we took a bit of a break after our Two-by-Two patches, to consider what we might work on together.

K read this book, and wondered if this time round we should knit rather than sew. Jan Eaton's book has dozens of 6" squares to inspire you 

I got my own copy of the book 2nd hand, online, and started looking through it. Some squares she does in 4 colourways, so strictly speaking there are less than 150 different stitch patterns
I was really excited about the idea - as K said, it would be a good stash buster, not much yarn needed for each square. Like 2by2, we'd each prepare two squares every time, one to keep, and one to swap.
What will we do with them? I asked. Neither of us needs another throw, especially in this hot weather! 🔥🥵🔥🥵🔥

18, or maybe 32 squares would make a patchwork cushion cover. I have gone right off this idea, ever since someone at the craft group brought in her new book, showing how to combine squares not in a quilt but in a pillow [the term our US friends use for cushion] and the author called these items quillows. No!!! I do not want a quillow , thank you. Ugly word imho.
Bob suggested a waistcoat/gilet type garment. We plan to wait till we'd finished to decide what to make.

I just could not choose which square to start with. So as Heather and I sat in Costa, I said "Go through this book and quickly point out 4 that you like" So she did, and I said I would do one of them as my first square. Then I asked Rosie to pick two balls of wool for me to knit the square. That was a little difficult, she kept suggesting alternative patterns! I am grateful to my supporters, when I get stuck with a decision

I used the white and random-dye balls Rosie had chosen to start knitting the pattern. 

But I really did not like the resulting stripes. I swapped out the white for a rusty shade - but that sort of disappeared.  
Now I have started again with completely different shades, and I am much happier with the outcome. 
We are going to swap as and when we've both finished our 2 samples. And the accompanying notes will be written on 6" squares of paper or card.

So that will be two women

    each knitting two squares

        on yarn that is thinner than aran and thicker than four ply

thus our next collaboration has the working title

DOUBLE KNITTING

More will be revealed in coming weeks...

TeaTime Treats

It is over 20 years since I last went to Port Sunlight. This wonderful village was built in 1888, by William Hesketh, Lord Lever - the Soap Millionaire. He built  Port Sunlight to house the workers at his soap factory, Lever Brothers, which eventually became the global giant, Unilever. The village represents one man’s vision to provide industrial workers with decent, sanitary housing in a considered architectural and picturesque form.

However, rather than a philanthropic venture, Lever claimed it was all part of a business model he termed ‘prosperity-sharing’. Rather than sharing his profits directly with his employees, Lever provided them with decent and affordable houses, amenities and welfare provisions that made their lives secure and comfortable and enabled them to flourish as people. It was also intended to inspire loyalty and commitment. Now maintained by the Port Sunlight Village Trust, this fascinating community is a great place to explore [lots more information here] The Lady Lever Art Gallery, with its fabulous collection of Pre-Raphaelite Art, is somewhere I would especially like to revisit sometime. Maybe if I am in Manchester for a holiday with Steph I can zip down the M56 for a day...

Back in 1929, 'The Port Sunlight News' was a regular magazine produced for the workers who lived there - and they had a competition for a sweet treat to rival other local products [like the Eccles Cake]  It was won byMiss Lee, [who worked in the Soap Factory] with her "Port Sunlight Bun". It cannot have been that much if a success, because it seems to have been forgotten - until last autumn, when a PSVT staff member found a copy of the magazine, and persuaded The Nettle Café -[a local community run café] to make it for customers

The original Port Sunlight Bun recipe

Ingredients

• 1 lb. plain flour
• ¼ lb. margarine and lard mixed
• ¼ lb. sugar
• A good pinch of salt
• 1 teaspoonful of bicarbonate of soda
• 1 teaspoonful of cream of tartar
• ¼ lb. currants
• ¼ lb. sultanas
• 2 oz. candied peel
• 1 tablespoonful of ground almonds
• 2 eggs
• 2 tablespoonfuls of milk
• Grated rind of orange or lemon

Instructions
Mix all dry ingredients together, rub in lard and margarine. Now add fruit and bind into a stiff dough with well-beaten egg and milk. Now take a fork full of the mixture and put in lumps on a greased tin, the rougher the better. Cook in hot oven for 15 minutes; turn gas lower after first five minutes.

My Notes, May 2026
Preheat oven to 200°C then turn down to 175°C

I halved the recipe, and made 6 buns. I omitted candied peel and rind [Bob dislikes them]  I had no ground almonds – but it still tasted good

I served mine with butter, jam and fresh strawberries. Bob said they reminded him of his mother's Rock Cakes. I did use lard&marg, not butter as per the recipe. I think Miss Lee made bigger buns!

Unlike scones, these tasted just as good on the second day. I do enjoy recreating these old recipes! Bob has discovered Max Miller's YouTube Channel Tasting History which is very clever, and most entertaining. He covers a wide range of recipes from ancient times, to WW2. Fortunately Bob has not yet felt the need to make the Cooked Jellyfish of Ancient Rome, or Hildegarde of Bingen's Cookies of Joy [allegedly not at all joyful!]

Big shout out to Carolyn at the 1940's Experiment, who continues to research amazing recipes from eight decades ago

Have you got a favourite "Heritage Recipe"?
Something local to you, or perhaps one handed down through the generations in your own family?

A Week Of April Anniversaries

If you read Sue's post yesterday, or Mary's, you will know there are some great poems out there celebrating April. I cannot agree with TS Eliot's assertion that April is 'the cruellest month'. For me, this past week - April 10th- 17th is one of joyful celebration and gratitude for so many good things in my life.

1955  April 10th
Easter Sunday
The year I was born. Back then, the fathers had to wait outside the delivery room. They told Dad I'd got the cord wrapped round my neck and was unlikely to survive the birth. But I was ok [and he was late for church!] 

2009 April 15th, Wednesday
54 years later, we took possession of Cornerstones - our wonderful bungalow in the heart of rural Norfolk

We still wake up every morning marvelling at God's grace in providing us with this lovely home.  When we first bought it, we were living in Leicestershire - our daughters were both in London.

2018 April 14th, Saturday
Off to Manchester for the wedding of daughter Steph to her beloved Gaz. In the past eight years they have achieved so much, moving house, both succeeding in their careers, and best of all, becoming parents to two gorgeous little boys.

2021 April 12th, Monday
A week after Easter, Bob retired from being minister in Ferndown. With the help of masked friends [lockdown rules!] we packed our belongings in to a van and drove the long road up to Norfolk. Next day I left a message on the fridge.

Retiring in Lockdown was difficult. I really felt for Bob who didn't get the razzamataz his college buddies did when they retired in 2019 or 2022. 
But here we are - five years on from retirement. I'm grandma to four lovely children, and 'auntie-mum' to Julian in Romford.
We are happily involved in our church, and our community.  

The family are thriving, and we have lots of good neighbours - although since 2009, many of the residents have moved on and we've made more new friends . Cornerstones has become a place of love, peace and joy. The new kitchen is fabulous, the solar panels keep us warm and the garden is growing. He's Shedding and I'm still Sewing [and blogging]

So this week in April will always be a special one for me, full of happy memories. There's a lovely old song that begins "Oh how good is the Lord, I never will forget what He has done for me"
I hope I never do

A Purrfect Gift For Someone?

Lyssa blogs here , and we have followed each other's blogs for many years now. She recently asked me if I would review her latest book [acknowledging that I am not really a 'cat' person!] and I said I would. 
The title intrigued me, as there aren't any domesticated cats mentioned in the Scriptures [although there are quite a few lions and also references to leopards] The Egyptians were very fond of cats, and these felines occur in their religious ceremonies. What was this about?
The book is in fact a collection of true anecdotes about the author's three cats, Smudge, Smoke and Shadow. Their behaviour, and their fascinating homelife serve to illustrate all sorts of important principles about life, laughter, love and long-suffering.
Each chapter is headed by a Bible verse which emphasises the point being made, the lesson to be learned. as the story unfolds.
The book is an easy read - either sit down and work right through it, or pick it up and just read one tale at a time. Even as a non cat-person, I found myself entertained, amused, and sometimes challenged by the moggies' antics, and wondered how I would have responded to some of them. Owning cats is certainly a character building experience.
I have a few reservations about some Bible verses being used out of context, but this isn't meant to be heavy theology, so I won't knock off too many stars! And it is not just for people of faith.
I think it would be a sweet little gift for a cat-lover of your acquaintance, and is available from Amazon. The book  also contains fewer calories than an Easter Egg which is another point in its favour.****
Purrhaps you know someone who would like a copy...Update-please read Lyssa's comment below 

Thank You Jean!

I really enjoy Jean's lifestyle Blog A House in France, and her baking blog A Slice Of Cake. She's a lovely woman, and I got to meet her and her husband when they holidayed in Norfolk a few years ago. Recently Nick bought her a half-price Bundt Pan, and so she decided to make him a cake in it. The Pan was from the Golden Jubilee Range brought out in 2006 when the company was 50 years old.

They still make the golden pans. I have one of these, which Bob found in a charity shop in 2017, unused. I think he paid £6 - they now retail at around £50!

Jean chose a recipe called Fochabers Gingerbread from a book by Scottish writer and chef Sue Lawrence. I had been to the Baxter's Estate in Fochabers many years ago, so the recipe interested me. 

I decided to make the cake on Saturday afternoon. Cakes in Bundt Pans are notoriously difficult to turn out, but Jean also has a recipe for Cake Release Paste on her website. I made a batch.
I followed the recipe [here] And I am thrilled with the result. It turned out beautifully! Thankyou Jean for the inspiration. With family around this week, it is good to have some cake in the tin.

It is rich in dried fruit and ground almonds - the black specks are sultanas etc. The ginger, cloves and mixed spice made the kitchen fragrant as the cake cooked. 
Apart from my Christmas Cake, I haven't made many cakes recently. Jean has inspired me to bake more regularly - merci beaucoup, Jean! 

Have you ever cooked in a Bundt Pan?
Can you share a favourite Bundt recipe?

Double Vision?

Bob is very fond of science fiction, whether books,films or TV programmes. Me, not so much. But years ago, he pointed out to me two actors in this TV genre who look so similar, they are frequently confused. So much so, that they themselves occasionally appear together...[they are both Brits] 

James Callis played Dr Gaius Baltar in more than 70 episodes of Battlestar Galactica [as well as playing Tom, a good friend to Bridget Jones in 4 films] but he looks awfully like Alexander Siddig who played Dr Julian Bashir in over 170 episodes of Star Trek

They do look very like each other imho

We both like crime dramas. Currently enjoying Grantchester, Patience and Silent Witness, in the first, one of the main characters is Leonard [the former curate] played by Al Weaver. We were watching Patience, and I said there's Leonard! He sounded like him too. But when I checked out the cast list, this minor character was actually a different guy called Rasmus Hardiker. And to add to the Co fusion, RH also had a bit part in Silent Witness too. Here's RH and AW.

What do you think?

Can you think of any other famous lookalikes?

PS tomorrow's post will not have a sight- related title!

UPDATE Suggestion from A below - Jack from Silent Witness and Christopher Lee in Fu Manchu

Terri suggests Justin and Nathan

Gill says Rupert Grint and Ed Sheeran 

Finally  Rob Brydon, Ben Miller and Anton Du Bec!  Thanks for the great suggestions, not adding any more pictures here tonight

Rediscovered Treasures

Back in 2012, my blog friend Floss suggested a new blog event. [now a fully fledged Anglican priest, it was Floss who started the Pause in Lent and Pause in Advent events]

She called it The Thrill Of What You Already Have and you can read more HERE

I was reminded of this on Saturday when I was pottering in the old garage, and came across a carrier bag of silk flowers. There were some daffodils in there, and I'd just thrown away a bunch of real [but dead] ones.
They were 95p in Lidl, and they had lasted two weeks and brought much joy. These ones could take there place until more fresh ones arrive.

Normally there is a green cloth on the dining table - I have two, bought from Scotts of Stow, back in the 90s, and I rotate them. But I felt like a change. I looked in the linen drawer - and found a single duvet cover. I know exactly when I bought that - Easter 1996, it was in Debenhams, half price - and I had just been given a new divan bed for the spare room in Kirby. That bed is long gone, and most of my other single bedlinen too. I shook it out, and put it on the table. Ta Da!

I really like the way the amber/brown pattern sets off the greeny blue vase, and the daffodils. And Steph's lovely picture behind picks up those shades too. I think she painted that when she was a student - it is at least 20 years ago...
It has the words of the Lord's prayer, and a dove of peace, and fresh golden wheat against a sunny background [originally hung on a yellow kitchen wall]

I quite like this arrangement - fresh and springlike. I think I may unpick the duvet cover, and hem the fabric from this side, and retain the other for something else!

I found other treasure in the carrier bag - but that will be for another post.

Do you use silk flowers - or only fresh ones ? [my daffs were purchased for a Day of Prayer display four years ago]

How often do you find 'treasure' in the cupboard, when you are actually looking for something else?

The 1940's Experiment

Have you come across this blog? Carolyn started blogging in 2009, the year we purchased Cornerstones. At that point, living in Canada, she was really struggling with weight loss, and also with some difficult personal circumstances which meant money was tight. Things had to change...

Her aim was to live in a WW2 Wartime Rations Diet, which she hoped would prove both frugal and effective. After all, the scientists and historians frequently tell us that the British Nation was healthier and fitter in those years than in the years since. Lots of exercise and little processed foodstuff. 

In the years since she has moved back to the UK, lost around 7 stone. She's blogged diligently through the years, celebrating success and honest about lapses. 

She ran the London Marathon, raising money for the British Legion [WW2 connection] And she has posted some fabulous, economical WW2 recipes along the way, started a YouTube series and more

Her latest, brave venture, is to give up her job, in order to fulfil her lifelong dream of producing a book. 

If this sort of thing is of interest to you, do check out her blog or YouTube channel, and watch out for the book. There is far more to living on rations than Woolton Pie, and Potato Pete!

I have enjoyed her writings, I applaud her efforts and wish her every success.

Cut the Mustard!

Question -What foodstuff does this remind you of?
Answer- Pigs in Blankets!
A huge thankyou to Jean in France for sharing her recipe for cassoulet made with leftover Pigs In Blankets.

Mine looked pleasantly similar to the photo on J's blog, but a bit more orange! But it tasted really good - and the quantities for four served us two good meals. My Le Creuset was the right pan in which to cook and serve this hearty dish.

Yes Jean, as you warned, the bacon does unwrap itself from the chipolatas, but a genuine cassoulet will often have sausages plus separate chunks of pork. I put some carrot chunks in mine, and served with hearty slices of brown bread for 'mopping up' 
Warm and filling on a cold day. 

WARNING I checked out Mary Berry's original recipe [here] from which Jean adapted hers. MB adds a Dijon mustard and sage garnish to stir in at the end. As the sage is still growing happily outside, I decided to make some. Onto each bowl, I put a dollop of the golden sauce, flecked with chopped green leaves, and vivid lemon zest. "You are supposed to stir it in" I explained. It looked pretty. But it was way too mustardy, even for Bob! Next time, I shall be sure to cut [out] the mustard.
Allegedly, mustard crops in East Anglia used to grow to 6 feet high, and had to be scythed. If the blades were not sharp enough, then they wouldn't cut the mustard - not sure if I believe this explanation of the phrase, but I love the Norfolk connection

I picked up this little white beauty in the 50p bin in a CS on Monday.
I already have a blue Colman's jar for my English mustard, but I thought this white one from Essex would do beautifully for my French mustard. Liz gave me the tiny wooden spoon some years ago, hand carved by one of her friends.

Sadly Colman's, having been bought out by Unilever, stopped producing mustard in Norwich 6 years ago [after over 150 years] but the Wilkin family in Essex continue producing their preserves [the family have been farming there since 1757, selling preserves since 1885]