Counting, Watching. Listening

Because some of you were asking yesterday - here's the Nine Times Table Fingers Trick, I cannot find the originator of this YouTube, but it is explained very well here.

There are other Finger Tricks for times tables but personally I would not use them as I think they may confuse the children. Many school do not want children using their fingers at all as they believe it is a bad idea, and will prevent their pupils thriving in maths. But personally I love this one for the nines, and even quite young children learn it quickly and enjoy showing off to the adults. I am 70, I have a BSc in Maths, but I still count with my fingers at times. Especially when I am calculating stitches in knitting patterns!
Lots of crafting going on this week - repairs and jeans hems for friends, and my final 2x2 patch has gone off to K in the post. Once hers arrives, I will start stitching them together, and making up my sewing pouch. Pictures soon...

Have you been watching the Night Manager [season 2] ? no spoilers hereIt ended on Sunday evening, and the finale was quite harrowing.  They filmed season 1 ten years ago, and in April 2016, Hugh Laurie and Tom Hiddleston said there would not be a season 2. Ten years later, here it is - and the writer, David Farr has already said he is working in Season 3, and promises there will not be a ten year gap this time round!

I have been working at the sewing machine, with earbuds in, listening to Radio 4 Extra. Specifically, one of Mark Taverner's comedy thrillers "In The Chair"- first broadcast in 1998. The two main stars are Michael Williams [Husband of Judi Dench] and Barry Foster [original VanDerValk] but the rest of the cast is superb
Hugh Laurie is Prime Minister, then there are other great actors, Rebecca Front, Richard Griffith, John Bird, Kenneth Cranham, Geoffrey Whitehead.  

Many of these brilliant people are no longer with us, but Front, Fry and Laurie continue to entertain on stage, screen and radio. Bob and I enjoys Hugh Laurie's jazz too [ HL can not only act, but also sing and play the piano!] 
I was doing my volunteer visiting at the hospital last week, and talking to a patient who said she was grateful to have a radio with her [no TVs on the ward] but found it hard to find programmes she liked. She was thrilled when I told her what she could listen to on Radio 4 Extra - Paul Temple, Tony Hancock, Dad's Army, Sherlock Holmes...
And after all, sometimes on radio, the pictures are better!

Really?

I confess to being a little puzzled by this one - it is February after all. Naomi, the artist, lives in Northern Ireland, and I'm pretty certain the weather there isn't too brilliant right now[but I know some of you, like Bless, are enjoying sun, and blossoms]
There are a few flowers [snowdrops, daffs...] but not a lot of blooms and I haven't seen any butterflies lately.
I think of February as a time for sowing,  time to prepare my garden for the summer, and prepare my heart for Easter [Lent begins on 17th Feb] 

The calendar picture is attractive, but it feels like the wrong month!
Blooming confusing if you ask me! I can only think that in these cold wintry days, Naomi has been singing songs from My Fair Lady to herself
Oh, so loverly, sitting abso-BLOOMING-lutely still
I would never budge, till Spring crept over me winder-sill

 

Inspiration From The Bible

My dear friend Clare has just started an instagram page where she shares her artwork alongside Bible verses. She's a very talented woman, and I look forward to reading the words, listening to the music, and seeing her pictures. Check it out for yourself, and maybe you will want to 'follow' too. [link HERE]

An Entertaining Evening

 Lots of practice and setting up beforehand - and the evening went very well

I got my "cocktail waitress" outfit sorted out, as we had an alco-free bar.  Clare gave me a little Christmas clip which lit up and looked very pretty [she wore hers in her hair]

The hot chocolate proved the most popular, closely followed by the green [ spice]d apple fizz] Fewer people wanted the red [berry] or blue [orange and lemon] Rosie was happy to take home the leftover bottle of berry drink. 

About three dozen people turned up, quite a few children.  

Rosie, a budding magician herself, was delighted to help Nick with one trick.

I'm not sure how much was raised for FRIN.* One of the trustees explained that Foulsham has the oldest "relief in need" charity in the country. Amazing, for a small village.

Just realised, my lighted pin makes it look as if I'm on fire! 🔥*An amazing £775 raised!

Music And Magic

Busy day today, as we have an event over at the chapel. Bob's doing the PA, and I am providing the drinks. More importantly, Nick, our minister, is the Magician and Graeme and Clare are making the music. He's an accomplished keyboard player, she plays lots of instruments, and is also a composer [winning the BBC Radio Carol writing competition a few years back]

 

It is a free, family event for the village - we hope it will be well attended! FRIN is the local charity which supports those in the village who are in some sort of need. They work all year round, not just at Christmas. 

Gaudete!

 Rejoice- I bring good news of great joy! said the Angel. I can joyfully announce my voice is back, so I can go out to preach this morning. The church to which I am going has asked me, not surprisingly,  to take Joy as my theme. Some far right groups have recently been suggesting that the churches in England have not "put the Christ in Christmas." The Churches 'Joint Public Issues Team' have some helpful comments on their website. They have also re-released the materials from the 'Bus Stop Nativity' Poster Campaign.#JoyForAll  This is the poster going up outside our chapel

I hope someone has pointed out to Tommy Robinson/Stephen Yaxley that

• Jesus was not a white Englishman
• Jesus and his parents had to flee as refugees to Egypt to escape Herod's soldiers
• Jesus always respected women, whether Jew or Gentile. This cannot be said for some of the people TR/SY holds up as role models

The angel said “Don’t be afraid. I’m here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide: A Saviour has just been born in David’s town, a Saviour who is Messiah and Master. This is what you’re to look for: a baby wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger.”

At once the angel was joined by a huge angelic choir singing God’s praises: Glory to God in the heavenly heights, Peace to all men and women on earth who please him.

Oh Christmas Tree...

The girls were fantastic on Saturday evening, helping to decorate the tree. Bob erected the tree whilst we sorted everything on the coffee table, into groups: round, wooden, soft, china, big, tiny, bells, angels etc.  Rosie stood on the sofa, I stood on the stool, and Jess handed us items to hang. Then Bob put the angel on top. We have three new decorations this year: The tiny bead angel  I made at craft group, a keyring which Ro and Liz bought back from Copenhagen in the spring, and a red plastic star. 

I think I may change the gilt chain on the Little Mermaid for some pretty ribbon. 

The star is just a red plastic one about 4cm across. It came from Wastesmiths in Great Yarmouth.  It is made from recycled plastic. Do check out their website. I was very impressed with their team I when met them in October. We cannot realistically expect to live in a world without plastic-  but we can do our best to deal with it responsibly. Rosie told me on Saturday that only 10%  of plastic which could be recycled is recycled. She also asked me to explain why I have a plastic Christmas tree, and not a real one! We do have a couple of real trees [OK, shrubs] outside the front door. We've decorated them with red "berry" lights. [Saved from the staircase garland - which went to a CS when we moved to a bungalow]

They look very festive, don't you think? When do you dec9rate your tree?

Back To The Swinging Sixties!

Yesterday morning I went off for my Volunteer Visiting at the Hospital. One patient had a fairly uncommon first name, and I asked about pronunciation. Then I said "was your surname previously.....?" "Yes!" she said. "We were at school together, I used to be Angela Hall"  We spent ages reminiscing about old friends from Primary School and High School. Both of us left Norfolk for university and then returned four decades later. It was great to catch up. I came home full of memories of those school years we shared [1965-1973] She's hoping to go home from hospital soon, but we will keep in touch.

In the afternoon I tidied the back bedroom, and listened to the weirdest programme on BBC I-player. It was called The strange parallel world of Christian pop.

If you're my sort of age, and spent your teens involved with church youth groups, names like The Joystrings, Out of Darkness, Parchment and The Fisherfolk may sound familiar. If they do, you might find the programme interesting. In the evening, Bob and I watched an Australian series - Ms Fisher's Modern Murder Mysteries on Prime. Also set in the 60s

Much muttering by me of "I had a dress like that!""That hat is all wrong"

The granddaughters had an inset day today, so the family are up for the weekend. Hot chocolate with marshmallows plus arts and crafts at Cornerstones. Grandad Bob was practising his Santa voice "Have you been good little children?" I said it was too deep and scary. Rosie pointed out that if his voice was too high, nobody would believe he was Santa. She told Bob he needed a "warm voice" 

As i said to my friend in the morning, in 1965 at Primary School, we would never have imagined where we'd be at 70 - retired and back in Norfolk!

Flash! Bang! Wallop!...What A Picture!

 

Nothing like a bit of Tommy Steele and his Cockney mates to brighten a cold wet November morning. You will remember we had our own Flash! Bang! Wallop! just five weeks ago with the spectacular demise of the microwave [Video here] John Lewis promptly supplied a replacement. And on Monday, that one went bang too! This time we asked for our money back. We suspect there was a batch of defective magnetics, and research online shows other people have had similar problems. We now have a similar Hyundai. 

What a Picture? Here's one to amuse you...

Bob has been asked to give out the gifts at the Chapel next week at the Toddler Group Christmas Party. Santa #1, who has done this for years, is just out of hospital, with a broken leg. Santa #2, who helped out last year, is about to go into hospital for an op. So Bob is stepping up as Santa #3. Except the costume was bought for #1. A small, slight man, it is Size L. Bob takes size XXL! Furthermore the beard and wig are a massive of  horrible static nylon curls.

Here he is in the unaltered outfit and itchy beard. I spent Thursday making a new beard using some white fur fabric from The Stash. I sewed fur and black gaiters to the bottom of the trousers legs, and let in some elastic into the hat so it would fit better. 

I hope there will a photo later of Santa in full costume, so we can "stick it in the family album"

Top Tips for working with fur fabric

• On the back of the fabric, mark the nap [direction] of the fur with a few arrows, so the pile runs in the right direction
• Use glass headed pins so they are easy to find and retrieve, and don't disappear into the fluff.

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...
*****

En-RHAP-tured!

Definition enrapture- to give intense pleasure or joy

I've been watching the Last Night of the Proms, since I was about 6 [sitting in front of my parents' tiny b&w tv) but I think Saturday night's programme was the best I've ever seen. 

• The stunning, enthusiastic conducting by Elim Chan
• Soprano Louise Alder's enthusiastic performance
• Witty, talented Bill Bailey on typewriter [and organ]
• Trumpeter Alison Balsom's retirement appearance
• ...and best of all, Bohemian Rhapsody, now 50 years old 

The whole evening was a glorious riot of exuberant joy, thoughtful interpretation, gifted musicians and singers - and cheerful promenaders. Bob and I enjoyed it immensely.

It was the second time this weekend that I'd enjoyed a celebration of Queen's wonderful song, now half a century old. 

There was a superb flashmob in Paris, led by pianist Julien Cohen, singer Mickey Callisto, and guitar prodigy Olly Pearson, who is just 11 years old.

You can catch up with the fun from the Albert Hall on BBC I-player. The Parisian entertainment is here...

Dud you see either of these?

Will you do  the Fandango?

HMS Pinafore ?

That stands for His Men's Shed Pinafore. Much progress has been made in the last few hours.

Two machines on the go - one to embroider logos, the other to stitch them in place. I wanted a very simple design.

I used the selvedge cut from the 50cm wide lengths. But where to put them? Bib or pocket? I asked for help...

Steph and Kirsten agreed the pocket. 
On the bib it looks like a staff uniform.
Kirsten suggested at right angles. 
Brilliant. 
BBQ Apron Design done 

But in future, sew logo on pocket before assembling, for ease of construction! Now I have to make loads more before Saturday when the Shed gazebo will be up at the Village Hall as part of the community VJ Day Celebrations

 

A Short, Short Break

We had hoped for a short break after the Kitchen Project was completed. Bob wanted to return to the Canterbury area where he grew up. Things kept getting in the way. Last Wednesday we decided if we didn't book it soon, it would be the school holidays...So we investigated possible accommodation. Airbnbs seemed quite expensive for what was offered. But Keynes College, part of Kent Uni, offer a really good b&b deal. 

Double room, with ensuite. Use of kitchen and lounge, full breakfast menu, free parking. So we booked Friday - Wednesday. And planned our schedule. Whitstable, walk by the sea. Canterbury and see the sites, and be nostalgic. Return to Littlebourne where Bob grew up, and the Churchyard where his dad is buried. Deal Beach Parlours [once owned by Bob's Italian godmother] for an ice cream. Stroll through picturesque Rye. Eat a sandwich in Sandwich...It didn't happen as planned 

Friday drove down, over Dartford Bridge, stopped at Bluewater for lunch in Leon. Got to uni at 3. Checked in [2nd floor room] Bob had back pain, so I walked to nearby Campus Co-op, got a couple of microwave ready meals for tea. He felt better after food, so at 7pm we drove to Whitstable for dessert.

Saturday into city centre for 9.45. The Medieval Pageant was due to start at 11. We pootled along, visited his Mum's church [not been there since his sister's wedding nearly 44 years ago] looked at people in costume setting up stalls, and displays in the Library, had a coffee. 10.55 we were in the Methodist Church, and Bob said he needed to sit for a bit. I went outside for 10 minutes to watch the procession pass by. Returned to find him feeling really unwell, The kind church ladies looked after him whilst I fetched the car and was able to drive it round to side entrance. Back to Uni. Arranged to change to a ground floor room. It was Really Hot. Bob slept. I took the car to big supermarket for more food. 

Sunday after a disturbed night, Bob said he still wanted to go to Littlebourne. The sun was shining brightly. We had coffee in the local pub, visited the lovely old church [no service this week] and stood quietly at Dad's grave under the trees. Onto Sandwich, for a sandwich

The Folk and Ale Festival was in full swing, great music and Morris Dancers everywhere. Excellent sandwiches. Onto to Dover, to the Ancient Maison Dieu. Then the heavens opened, we were soaked to the skin. Bob felt ill again, acute pain, nausea and more. Back at Uni he phoned 111, we ended up in Ashford Hospital Urgent Treatment Centre. Kidney infection, antibiotics. Monday He slept all day.

Tuesday we came home a day early, it was a long drive - and I managed it ok [but 8 miles from home, we stopped for petrol, and he kindly took over for the last bit]. 

I did manage to get a few good pictures, and will post them later. Right now I'm concentrating on nursing duties. Happy to say that Bob is getting better, slowly

The Green Leaves Of Summer

The tree does not really seemed to have changed since June - but notice that the crop beneath continues to change colour.

The music is the song from the 1960 film "The Alamo" . The lyrics have nothing whatsoever to do with that historic siege, nor yet Davy Crockett!

 

Moderate Or Fair, Occasionally Rough At First!

Today marks the centenary of the Shipping Forecast, first broadcast on the BBC  on 4th July 1925. It is a much treasured feature of our national radio service. 

I am not a sailor, and have never needed to listen, but I find it comforting to know that those who do need to know what weather is coming their way can rely on this amazing service.

There are currently three broadcasts a day, 00:48, 5:34, and 17:54.  It's the teatime one that we landlubbers are most familiar with I guess. But sometimes, when insomnia has driven me to seek solace in late night radio I listen to the Shipping Forecast, always preceded by Ronald Binge's "Sailing By " Theme. [and if there are gales forecast, I will snuggle into my warm bed gratefully, and pray "for those in peril on the sea"]
I hadn't realised that the tune was chosen because it is repetitive, and so sailors are alerted to the fact it is almost time for the forecast, and it acts as a "filler" between the final programme of the night and the forecast, so it can be trimmed to end at 00:48 precisely. According to HM Coastguard is a legal requirement for the Forecast to be provided, as part of the Mariners' Safety Information.

There are really strict rules about the forecast, so that sailors in the 31 areas can easily understand the data which affects them..

• A strict 370 word limit [at 00:48, an extra 10 allowed, to include Trafalgar
• Gale warnings are always mentioned first to alert mariners
• Then there is a general synopsis, followed by specific areas in strict order [wind, sea state, weather, visibility]
• The words imminent, soon, and later have definite meanings, within 6 hours, 6-12 hours, 12-24 hours
• There are standard terms and abbreviations.

These set phrases have become part of Radio4 fanspeak. jokes which appear on birthday cards and teeshirts. Such as

• light icing
• veering slowly, losing identity
• moderate or good, very poor
• new low expected, south east

Many famous actors have voiced the Forecast, some better than others, to be honest. Samuel West has declared this honour to be a lifelong ambition. He has read it on other programmes, but not read an actual live forecast. Please BBC, let this man do it! Acting as Siegfried Farnon, he is well on the way to becoming a National Treasure. Quick, while his dear Mum Prunella is still around. 

Find out more about the special BBC programmes here

We are having a few days away - I shall pack my copy of One Summer's Grace, a favourite holiday read. We are an island race, and seafaring is an important part of our history.

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!

I've Got A Little List

I had so many lovely birthday cards, they are all hanging on the wire in the hallway. This is so useful, as there is nowhere else to display them properly, and with all the kitchen traffic in and out at the moment and doors opening and closing, the draughts would blow them all over the place if they were standing up.

Towards the right is a bright blue one, handmade - with 70 cut out of card, and each numeral covered in colourful tinfoil. It's from my old friends Elisabeth and Mark in Cambridge. She sent a lovely newsy letter with it, and posed this question "have you got a list for the year?" It's apparently a thing for 'milestone birthdays'.  Either you have a long list of Small[ish] Aims, or a shorter list of Big Ambitions. So she suggested 70 little things I might want to do before next April 10, or seven major things, one for each decade.

Learning the Saxophone, Growing My Hair To My Waist, Writing a Crime Novel, Visiting The Kennedy Graves At Arlington, Seeing the Northern Lights, Owning a Lotus Elan [like Emma Peel's], and Running A Half Marathon. These seven were all previously considered at some point in my youth, but long since abandoned due to lack of finance, time, health and talent. So The Big Seven List is out...
This week I shall try and come up with 70 things which I could aim for. What's that phrase? SMART Goals

My dear Auntie Peggy used to have a plate like this in her china cabinet, my Mum gave it to her, because she was always saying 

"One day I'll get around to it" So maybe this is the year for me to do all those things I have been intending to do...

Watch this space [please, NO suggestions, I am afraid that once I start writing it down, there will already be more than 70 on my own list, without additions from well meaning friends!]

ITEM NUMBER ONE - WRITE THE LIST!

I just spent 10 minutes on this project and came up with 20 items without much difficulty 

Singing [NotTracing] Rainbows

 

White and yellow and pink and green
Beige and magnolia and blue
These are all the colours
My kitchen has been
Since nineteen seventy two...

Oh my goodness, the things you discover when you remove the cupboards and the tiles!

Busy today with our one day holiday club at the Chapel. Hoping for good weather!

Ribbons And Rhythms

When I am stitching, I like to listen to the radio. Sometimes music [usually Classic FM] or the spoken voice [BBC Radio 4 or 4Extra]

For my penultimate stitching section, a long thin strip, I found three ribbons in my stash. Red, white and blue [unintentionally patriotic]One had been part of the wrapping for a gift from the Literary Emporium, one a white cotton twill printed with a music stave, and one was some simple pale blue satin.

I left the red unadorned, on the white I stitched French knots on the "blobs" of the crotchets and quavers. [Apologies, I don't know their proper name. I'm sure Kezzie or Kirsten will let me know!] And on the blue I did rows of running stitches. I used random dyed floss throughout to get interesting variations of colour. I stitched the outer edges down with red and blue blanket stitch.

Here's a favourite piece of music, played at Gaz and Steph's wedding. Very calming when I'm stitching!