A Word Of Appreciation

Covid prevented many important social gatherings - weddings, funerals, birthdays - and retirement events. I was sad that after 40 years in the same job, serving so many churches and communities as pastor and friend [councillor, school governor etc etc] Bob felt his ministry had sort of fizzled out unnoticed. He didn't get the big send off that most ministers do. I was determined to do something to rectify that. So in June I sent out about 30 emails, to the people and places where we'd been since 1981 when he first became a student pastor, up to the present day. I asked for letters, just acknowledging something about the friendships he had made over the years. I asked people to pass on the request to others. The letters were all to be sent to my friend Wendy [so he would not suspect anything] He had no idea!
I was delighted to receive 50 letters, representing over 80 people. Some I had completely lost touch with, and wondered how they had heard about the secret project. The letters were so appreciative, from pastors he had mentored, people whose marriages he'd conducted, or families who appreciated his input when they were bereaved, college staff, those in the community who had benefitted from his contribution to the well being of the area...

I collected the letters and took them secretly to a friends, where I printed off Bible verses and favourite hymns too. And on the evening before his birthday, after our special meal together, I presented it. We were both really moved by the kind words we read together. I am not posting any of those here - they are his letters and very personal. Just a few photos

But the day after his birthday, a letter came from Rosie. This is going to be added at the back of the book, after these final photographs.

Bob, your ministry certainly has not fizzled out unnoticed. In retirement, you are still doing amazing things here in Norfolk, and with your family. We love you so much - cooking pancakes and bbqs, craftsman, doing silly voices and telling great stories, the best grandad, dad, husband...

That's definitely the end of the 70th birthday celebrations!

Peregrination

So yesterday was our wedding anniversary - Liz, Steph and families are now all in Holland - so it was a day by ourselves. We began early with a celebratory breakfast at The Goat Shed

That was really good, then we filled up the car with fuel, and bought an M&S Dine In Meal for the evening. [We had a cool bag with ice packs in the car all ready]

 

Bob said he'd like to go to Cromer...so off we went. Peregrination means wandering and comes from the same root as pilgrims. Being good pilgrims, we parked in a blue badge space behind the big Parish Church.

And discovered we were right next to the Peregrine Project which is a well-supported local charity

A team of enthusiastic volunteers have three telescopes focussed on the church tower, and I was able to watch Poppy, the mother bird, perching on one of the buttresses. They also have a live stream and youtube videos available to watch - this pair have been here since 2019. Utterly fascinating

This little one is just about ready to leave the nest now. The PP volunteers talked about the territorial nature of these birds - and how there is another pair living on top of Norwich Cathedral. After a good chat, we had elevenses at Art House Café , our favourite place for a good coffee in Cromer.

We strolled down the Pier in the sunshine.

My new dress was cool and comfortable but its cute pearl buttons are a little bit too small, and whenever I put my bag across my body, the strap pushed them open. I shall have to add a couple more hook&eyes at bust level. We shared a portion of chips, mooched round a few CS and then drove home. What a lovely day!

The family have arrived safely in The Netherlands too. All is good!

 

Love, Life And Laughter

Forty Six Years and still going strong. God has blessed us with so much. Thank you Bob for every wonderful moment! [and for your infinite patience] Last year all the family were with us - this year, just us two at Cornerstones - but still celebrating. 💘

Four Decades Later...

When Liz was 3, Bob was at College and money was tight. There weren't Charity Shops on every other street corner then - so I made lots of her clothes from remnants and scraps. Laura Ashley sold lots of gorgeous cord dresses and skirts which I could not afford. But they also sold bags of the odd shaped leftover pieces from the factory. For a couple of pounds I got loads of small cord patches. I made Liz a little blue jacket,  and appliquéd houses, and Big Ben, and on the front, a cloud and the sun. On the back, above the houses, I put stars and the moon. The cloud and moon were scraps of my wedding dress fabric. Liz called it her sun, moon, stars jacket. I gave it to her for Rosie, but it was just before lockdown, and Rosie never wore it. But this weekend, Liz showed it to Jess, and she adores it...

I just wanted to get a couple of pictures, front and back. Jess was busy dancing about, waving the bathroom duck, explaining it all to me! That's  Big Ben, Grandma. In London..." 

It is so lovely to see the little jacket being worn again

In Which Ang Enjoys Fine Dining

On Tuesday, we decided to have a day out. Whilst Bob was in the shower, I went into the loft and filled a bag of stash-stuff. We popped across to Wymondham. At the Big C Craft Emporium, I dropped off some craft bits I had sorted out - wool and fabric I have no use for. I spent £2.10 [all my profits from Saturday!] on two cards, a set of metal dies, and some self-cover buttons. Then on the way out of the shop I spotted a knife. It was only 10p, but it was a gorgeous WMF stainless steel knife. It felt lovely in my hand, and I dashed back to the paydesk, "I am over 18 so I'm old enough to buy a knife" I said and gave the lady 20p for it. Here it is on the right, next to one of my regular knives. Slightly smaller, it will be good as a butter knife 

Our wedding cutlery was called 'Celtic' in 1979, but inexplicably renamed 'Domus-Brasilia' 5 years later. I have eight 8-piece place settings plus serving spoons, salad servers, a pie slice, and a child's set [50p bargain] 
What amazed me was that I found my new knife online, it is the Virginia pattern. I could buy this now from WMF in Germany for €30!** I got back to the car and found Bob admiring the 3 LPs he'd bought [he does love his vinyl collection] and we went on to the Wymondham Furniture Warehouse so he could look at old tools. He bought nothing, but I fell in love with a casserole.

Six years ago, I gave Liz and Steph some of my wedding present Le Creuset pieces. I kept my frying pans, and the largest and smallest casseroles. Once or twice since, I have missed the middle sized piece. It was oval, with a 'strap' handle, not the round knob, and also Volcanic Orange. 

OK, this one is brown, but it is pristine inside, and clearly never been used. And at £28, just one tenth of the price of the LC casseroles in John Lewis. There were matching casseroles and saucepans, all unused. I did not want them! 

Having splashed the cash on fancy cookware, we thought lunch ought to be cheap and cheerful. So it was time to tick off something else on my 70s list, and visit Angie's Big Baps alongside the A47 [I've wanted to do this for ages]. The burgers were excellent. I very much hope that when her layby disappears as the road becomes a dual carriageway, they let her have a new pitch a little further along. I hope to eat there again. As Bob said, we have been to more expensive burger outlets and not had such good food!

** I went right through the baskets of cutlery, this was the only WMF piece. Who donates one knife from a set?

Number Three...

Last year I picked this up in a Charity Shop. When Jess asked for a pink princess dress for her birthday, I sewed her this one.

She loved it, especially the pockets and the decorative buttons. So I made another, in a Pound Fabric safari print.

When I asked what she wanted for this year's birthday, she requested another princess dress. Her birthday is not for a fortnight, but I have already made her a summer dress, in the same pattern. 
This time, instead of binding the neck and armholes, I fully lined the top in plain blue fabric*. I did bind the neck and pocket tops though, and added some vintage blue buttons. The hem and pockets were sewn with a decorative stitch on the machine

I added 1.5cm to the side seams, to allow for growth. She's really thrilled with this one too - and last summer's frocks still fit. She twirls happily in them!

Such an easy pattern, using barely a metre of fabric. As the Pound Fabric cloth often comes in 'minimum 2 metre' lengths, I have leftovers. I hope to make a dress for my little great niece too. * Lesley asked the other day "Do Brides still have 'Going Away dresses?' Well I have kept mine for nearly 46 years. Until last week, when I dismantled it, and used the plain cotton lining to line this dress for Jess. How's that for creative recycling? I knew it would be useful eventually!

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.

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!

SuperGran

I never knew my Mum's mother. But my paternal grandmother was a force to be reckoned with. She was strong in her faith, adored her husband, loved her children, and did all she could to make the world a better place. But she had two particular habits which honestly terrified me as a child. I was convinced these dangerous practices would lead to her untimely demise. I thought about her on Sunday as I took my bread knife to church for the Harvest lunch [I needed to be sure there was one sharp enough for slicing French bread and fruit cake*]

Nana was often to be found in the church kitchen helping with catering. Like all the other ladies, after the service she would take off her coat, and put on her apron [but her Sunday hat remained firmly on her head] 

If she was on Sandwich duty, she would clutch the loaf to her bosom, and grasp the knife, slicing the bread horizontally towards her chest!  

I was convinced she'd go too far and blood would come spurting out of her heart all over the black and white tiles. I'd hide my eyes 

behind my hands and pray hard she would survive.

It was Nana who first taught me to sew. But she would insist on keeping the pins in her mouth. And still carry on chatting. I just knew she was going to swallow a pin or seven, and they'd perforate her insides and she'd writhe in agony and probably exsanguinate. I loved her dearly and could not bear the thought of losing her - I wondered if she got a perverse thrill out of living dangerously like this. Needless to say she survived unscathed into her late 70s.

I hope she would be pleased with the way her family has turned out. 

*the fruit cake was because we wanted to celebrate our 45th wedding anniversary with our church family.

The little flowers were produced very quickly and easily with this little gadget from Lakeland. I was going to do 45 daisies, but somehow ended up with 52. Because, as Nana taught me "a wedding is one day, but marriage is a week-in-week-out commitment" 

Truly Thankful

 So many kind wishes yesterday, we are truly grateful for them all.

We had an absolutely wonderful day with all our family. The cousins play so well together. But Cornerstones looked pretty dire by 5pm when the children went down to the Playground.

Before lunch, Bob set up his camera on the tripod for a family photo. All of us, happy together- a memory to treasure...

I'm a truly grateful Grandma

Sapphire Sunday

Today is our Sapphire Wedding Anniversary - 45 years. I thank God every day that He brought us together. Thank you Bob for the love and joy you bring to so many - for your commitment to the family, the community and the church. 

B

I thank my God for you every time I think of you; and every time I pray for you all, I pray with joy because of the way in which you have helped me in the work of the gospel from the very first day until now. 
And I am sure that God, who began this good work in you, will carry it on until it is finished on the Day of Christ Jesus. You are always in my heart! [Philippians chapter 1] 

A Difficult Day

Seven years ago, we travelled up from Ferndown to the East Midlands, for the wedding of our good friend Steve from Kirby Muxloe. We had not met his bride before - he and Angela got together after we left KM. But it was a lovely day and the wedding was full of love and joy. 

They were so happy to have found each other. Sadly we will be travelling back to Leicester today for Angela's funeral. She died suddenly a few weeks ago following a fall. Steve says friends at church have been really supportive, and his faith remains strong - but these are truly difficult days. 

May God give Steve strength for this time - and may he know that there are many people who care for him. 

Thank You Bob*

*Especially for your patience and grace. The numbers on this graphic are wrong - they omit the Leap Year Days. We've actually been  married 16071 days - but even on those extra eleven days you've still been amazingly long-suffering!! 

The love goes on...still counting every moment precious

Happy Anniversary, Gaz And Steph

Five years today! Congratulations. You've both achieved so much since you got married. Steph now a directory of the company and Gaz moved onwards and upwards as an insurance broker. And of course, parents to the gorgeous George and joyful Jacob. We're so proud, and grateful. [Wishing Manchester was a little nearer, but grateful for the extra time retirement gives us to travel]

Have a wonderful anniversary - God bless you today and in the years ahead 
 

Some Things Old, New, Borrowed And Blue

 Once I got round to sorting out my wedding photos, there weren't many which were worth sharing. When we arrived, Robin was still sorting out things in the amazing geodesic bamboo and canvas tent. At 1pm there was only one "Mr&Mrs Almond" present - but of course, by the end of the ceremony there were two couples! Here we see Old Mr Almond chatting with younger Mr Almond! The bunting is also Old, and Borrowed [it was lovely to hear so many compliments on its woodland colours] I think this was at least its 8th outing. I've lost count of how often its been used for weddings, birthdays, anniversaries etc. 

Here is the bride in the woods, with her father, and her two sisters [the bridesmaids] in their New Blue and ivory outfits.

Robin  and Gillian's children, James and Breagha were there - James resplendent in his little kilt. Breagha nestled snuggly under a blanket in her buggy - she's the Newest girl in the family. She was born about 3 months before Jacob. 

Later the splendid woodland-themed cake was sliced - with the Old Japanese sword which originally belonged to Robin's grandfather, and Borrowed for the occasion. James was eager to assist his parents with this task!

I have no photos of the fantastic ceilidh. I was too busy dancing. I must check Bob's pictures! 

A great day, and very appropriate for Robin and Gillian, who love all things outdoors, especially forests. 

Journeying Mercies

The French wish travellers "Bon Voyage!" - many older Christians I know say "Journeying Mercies!" [which means approximately the same, but is less intelligible to the majority of people] Well, either way, we certainly enjoyed safe travels over the weekend, in a round trip of 750 miles or so. I was grateful to get home safely on Sunday evening. Still waiting on an OK to post wedding pictures, but here are a few other holiday snaps...

My outfit - like the actors Beryl Reid and David Suchet, I followed the rule "start with the shoes when planning your costume"

I figured the instruction to 'wear wellies' would be OK in a field of mud - but less comfy for the dancing. So my trusty biker boots began the outfit. With that, I had to have the biker jacket- and the thermal vest which has kept me warm for many miles riding pillion in heavy rain and high winds.

Plus my lovely Suffragette purple Snag Tights [last year's Xmas gift from Liz] and my ancient pink Laura Ashley scarf. That all dealt with warmth. But it was a wedding, and I wanted prettiness too. The 50p dress I got at the Swishing Party  at Ferndown three years ago was just right. Black, with a busy pink floral pattern.

It was just right for swirling round the floor at the ceilidh on Saturday night, and the whole "biker chick" ensemble received some very kind compliments.

We enjoyed Dunbar - our accommodation was very comfortable, hospitable hosts and a homely atmosphere. And decent coffee and good pastries at breakfast [also yogurts, cereals, juices etc]

Friday night's meal at Umberto's Italian Restaurant was great - good food at good prices, and very friendly staff.

Two signs we saw in the town which made us wonder.

Whatever are "Hot Ovoids"? Probably BBQ fuel - but it sounds like a posh name for boiled eggs.

And the beauticians offering gift vouchers for "Body Piercing Sunbed Nails" ?

No thank you!!

Other than than, Dunbar seemed a very pleasant town - and we learned much about its most famous inhabitant [post to follow]