SpongeBob Square Pants

I have never actually watched this programme, but I had four things I wanted to mention and tis title sums them up beautifully. I shall deal with them in reverse order [all those palindromes have made me think backwards.

pants, square, Bob, sponge

Firstly then, a pant-rant. What has happened to M&S briefs?

They are so flimsy now, and wear out really quickly. I hgave some pre-covid ones I bought in Dorset which are fine, but a newer 3-pack is already giving up on me. My thumb went through the other days as I pulled them up. I found this pic on line of "visible mending" Life is too short to waste time and thread on such things - and you rarely hear me say that! I shall have to pull up mny bug girl knickers and buy some more.

Then square-Xmas-cards. We received 32 cards this year, and 24 of them were square. That's 75%. Square cards are taking over. This cheerful handprint angel is from Grandson George [not sure why the greeting is in Spanish!] You may have had one of these school-fund-raiser cards from children you know.

Bob is now going to the gym Mondays and Pilates on Tuesday, which appears to be helping strengthen his back and improving his mobility. If your GP recommends the gym for back problems, you can get a discount at the Leisure Centre [Useful tip picked up at the Men's Shed] 

Here he is with all four children at Christmas, watching him  as he breaks open a lump of clay containing "dino relics". George was happy with the result an eye, a skeleton, and a mini dino - but I didn't think we got a lot of 'bang for our buck'. The tiny wooden hammer in the kit was hopeless - Grandad had to provide a heavier one!

And finally- sponges - last year I mentioned I had changed over to Wettex - biodegradable, allegedly the ultimate ecofriendly dishcloths. Here is my review a year on. I have been washing and reusing three in rotation all year. 

They have been excellent all rounders - dishwashing, general cleaning, windows etc. Only downside - coffee spills stain them badly. The pink one has just gone into holes and is being retired as a garden cloth for wiping flowerpots etc. And eventually will go to compost. 

You can see by the new yellow one, they do shrink a little in use. 

I rate these a ***** product

There you are pants, square, Bob, sponge - have a good Thursday!

Backwards And Forwards

Here's my newly learned word for this week

AIBOHPHOBIA

Well done if you worked out that it means 'fear of palindromes' I love palindromes*, there are the simple words like MUM, DAD, DEED, ABBA, ROTOR, CIVIC, ROTATOR, REVIVER. 

And then there are some amazing sentences - here are three animal related phrases

The first palindromic sentence was not

MADAM, I'M ADAM

and I doubt Napoleon ever said

Able was I, ere I saw Elba
in 1880, the canal dreamed up by De Lesseps led to

A man, a plan, Panama

I remember a very embarrassing moment when I was supply teaching. In the staff room at lunchtime, somebody started a game where we were writing favourite palindrome sentences on the whiteboard. I'd only been at the school a couple of days, and everyone was very friendly. I had come across one just a few days before. So I said "I read this last week - it is advice for anybody who has upset their spouse" and grabbing a pen, I wrote 

Lapses? Order red roses, pal

There was an uncomfortable silence. One teacher quietly rubbed out my words, and another whispered "the Head's wife has just found out about his affair" Oops! 

Along with aibohphobia, I also came across SEMORDNILAPS. These are words which forms another word or phrase when it is reversed. Semordnilap /Palindromes

Here are some pairs

dog/god , repaid/diaper, live/evil, gateman/nametag, pupils/slipup. stink/knits.... and my favourite - stressed/desserts

*Even the name of my online shop is a palindrome

Sorted!

Yesterday, the sewing machine came out for the first time this year. I was mending a couple of jackets and shortening a pair of trousers for my neighbour. And I finally got round to doing a job I have been muttering about for around 10 years. 

For about ten years I always wore this jumper at Christmas. It was a gift from a friend when she moved away from our village in Leicester. Cheery, and bright - but it was acrylic and not the most comfortable [and my teenage daughters did not like it] But it refused to wear out! I finally took it to a CS.

Then I found a much nicer jumper in a CS. It is from Next, and 'winter scene' rather than specifically Christmas. 

But there was s problem- it was polo-neck and there was just too much of the neck for. I rolled it over a couple of times to be more comfortable, but it was always a bit lumpy. And it did that every Christmas [that picture was taken post lockdown, when I needed a haircut] Last week I washed and de-pilled the jumper. And yesterday I finally turned the excess to the inside, and using my sewing machine made it into a comforatble crew neck.

This looks and feels much better. Why didn't I do this years ago?? My other post Christmasd mending task was a double hip operation on the little wooden millennium teddy bear. He somehow came off the tree and got involved in some sort of role play with the grandchildren. The elastic holding his legs in place snapped. I suspect it was perished - he's 24 years old after all. But it was an extremely fiddly job requiring a curved needle and a magnifying glass. He is fixed now!

So that's all the Christnas stuff dealt with [apart from trimming the pictures from 2024's cards to make cards and tags for 2025]

Going Potty

Potty = acting a little strangely

Preserves = [noun] Jams, chutneys etc [verb] maintains in good state

Jam = [noun] a fruit preserve [verb] to squash inbto a small space

Can you believe it? people are actually trying to sell these empty jars on eBay, now that is potty IMHO [average price, inc postage, 50p each] 

I suppose some people might want to buy them. Here are some ideas for using them. Remember to label them! 

Buttons when I am dismantling shirts for memory bears, I save all the buttons [four shirts can yield anything up to 60 little buttons]

Seeds saving seeds - from tomatoes, sweet peas etc

Herbs and spices - especially when they are sold in flimsy plastic bags.

Packed lunches and picnics - a small amount of salad dressing, or sugar for someone's coffee, a few peanuts to nibble

PVA glue - when I run craft workshops, its often easiest to give each person their own little pot, rather than have them reaching across the table. 

Especially when working with children! And the unused glue will keep liquid if the tiop is screwed on firmly.

Craft supplies - as well as buttons, they are a good size for beads, sequins, etc.

Travel - earrings, pills, earbuds, hairclips and elastics, mini sewing kit.

Small change- useful in the car, £s for the trolley, and odd bits of 'shrapnel' for all those Norfolk Pay&Display carparks which only take cash if you do not have their particular Parking App.

Tiny gifts- pot up a little terrarium with a mini cactus and some moss, or put some home-made jam or chutney in a jar 

[and add a fabric 'hat'], or fill the pot with tiny sweets or mints - or make a mini candle. Glue on a padded ciurcle of fabric to make a pincushion. 

I was at a lunch event before Christmas, and every woman had one of these little gifts at her place, prepared by our hostess.

There are literally dozens of ideas out there for reusing mini jam jars

How have you repurposed yours?

Are you getting rich selling them online? 

A Prayer For Lighting Candles

Steph and I have both heard from friends in California, who have seen the smoke and the devastation, and been affected by the air quality [but live outside the evacuation zone] The BBC yesterday morning posted a map showing the size of the area affected.comparing it to New York, or London. I cannot take this in, it is devastating [and fires continue to spread]

I found this Shabbat Prayer for Los Angeles on a Jewish website. 

A Prayer for Lighting Candles

We give thanks for the ones who offer prayers.
We give thanks for the ones who take action.
We cannot heal the world without both,
We must pray AND we must do.

When so many people have vanished into the darkness
We light these candles, and say the blessings
And pray for those who have been injured or killed.
And pray for those who are worried, homeless and hungry.
And pray for those who are lost to themselves.
    May we all be joined in yearning holy conversation
    And pray when prayer is needed.
    We must pray AND we must do.

When so many people have vanished into the darkness
We light these candles
And bless those who are working so hard to make things better.

 May we join with the stubborn 
Of all places, religions, races, and sexual orientations,
Who, when times are hard, refuse to disappear,
Those who fight so hard for their communities
With food, advice and shelter - organizing. work and love
    - insistence and resistance.
    May we all be joined in holy struggle,
    and act when action is needed. 
    We must pray AND we must do.

We give thanks for the ones who offer prayers.
We give thanks for the ones who take action.
We cannot heal the world without both,
Blessed is our God, Source of Light!
We are holy with the obligation to speak goodness and do good
    As we light these candles,
    we will pray AND we will do. Amen.       [Trisha Arlin]

The Pasadena Synagogue, was totally destroyed, as were many churches, temples, mosques and other places of worship. May the members of these faith communities be given grace and strength to work together in the coming days, to help and support others.

A Tree For The Year

A number of bloggers choose a tree near them, and take a photo every month of the year. I dithered about this last January - and by March I realised it was too late to start. This year, I have been more organised and I 'found' my tree in December.
It is on the road out of the village [called Swanton Road] and just the other side of the farm which used to sell free range eggs. And less than 1 mile from my house. I can walk there, but there is a convenient place to pull in on the opposite site of the road. So this picture was taken from my car window...

I love its size and shape, and I think it is going to be fun to watch how it develops each month, as winter turns to spring. 

Do you have a special tree? 

Adventures Of Tin, Tin And Tins

I've always had a fondness for tins [and for Tintin, my second favourite Belgian] Cocoa tins, biscuit tins, mustard tins... In 2012, Bob gently suggested I might like to review the stack of empty tins which I'd amassed in the Kirby Muxloe garage.

At the time I counted 42 unused tins - I got rid of quite a few. When we left Dorset I gave even more away. But they've somehow been building up again. 

There were twenty one tins on the top of the kitchen cupboards! But I'd stored them neatly like matryoshka dolls, nesting inside each other. It was only when I separated and stacked them that it became apparent how many there were. I removed all duplicate sizes, used some for food storage, and recycled others. There are 7 left. . I was on a roll! I then got out all my glass jars -- Gü ramekins, Bonne Maman yogurt jars, screw top jam and chutney jars, tiny Tiptree jars, and little glass bottles. There were dozens

Collecting yogurt jars is a recognised hobby Who knew? Do I need a dozen pretty little aperol bottles?  Gone. Eight ramekins will be enough, surplus gone. The recycling bin is filling up fast. 

And then I did my food tins. I have labelled them clearly with BB date, and they will be stored with oldest to the front, so things get used in order.



I'm declaring 2025 the Year of the Kitchen

Family Likeness

Last week, I took Jess to the bathroom. I admit to manipulation here. For a fortnight our conversation has been
 "Do you need the loo, Jess?" "No!"
"Well at least come and check out the picture on the Christmas towel today"
I was putting out angels, robin, poinsettia, holly or Christmas tree, in daily rotation, so that got her into the bathroom, and once there she could use the loo then wash and dry her hands! But on January 3rd , she noticed that there was no Christmas themed handtowel on the ring, just a blue and white striped towel. This is very old, it was my Grandma's towel, I told her.

We have a "Rogues Gallery" of family photos in the hallway. The big frame contains fifteen small photos of cousins, siblings and niblings. As we came out into the hallway, Jess asked "Have you got a picture of your Grandma's wedding?" We had, and I showed her. She looked at the wall of mugshots, and suddenly pointed to one almost at the top of the display.
"Is that me?" she asked, quizzically.
I felt somewhat emotional as I explained it was my Very Special Cousin Gillian, who was Julian's Mum. 

Jess certainly shares Gill's love of fun, and zest for life - I wish they could have met, I'm sure they would have adored each other.

Taking The Pill

PILL: A ball of fibres formed on the surface of a textile by rubbing. Colloquially known as a bobble, fuzzball or lint ball. 

Since discovering my 'new' jumper last month, I have been wearing other cardis back-to-front. And the colder weather has meant more knitwear in general. But when I came to put away my Xmas Jumper, I noticed there was a lot of pilling, bizarrely under the arms. I checked out all the jumpers - it was a common problem. I suspect it is friction when these things are worn under jackets. As 'make do and mend' is important, I finally [after years of dithering] order a "Defuzzer" I'm very pleased with the results. A gentle circular motion removed surface 'pills' without damaging the sweater itself. 

I'm especially pleased with the visible improve- ment on this sweater dress passed by Steph in 2022

This jumper is ten years old, and looks much better now. The gadget comes with cleaning brush and spare blade.

It has a charging lead, which stores neatly inside the 'fluff box'. A charge lasts 15 minutes, enough time to do at least 5 sweaters!

£6 well spent, and I'd give a ***** review. These garments all look so much smarter, and less worn. I like the fact it is rechargeable - and somewhat safer than the old method of using a razor blade [with risks to both garments and  fingers]
Have you ever tried one of these?

Under The Covers

 A new word for the new year...

At first I thought this sounded new and contrived, but it first appeared in print over a century ago.  The word is was coined by American writer Christopher Morley. In his novel The Haunted Bookshop, published in 1919, a bookseller suggests to a Miss Chapman that she take a book up to her room and read it in bed (if she wants), and then questions, "Are you a librocubicularist?" Miss Chapman is taken aback by the word, but another character, Helen, chimes in: "He only means you are fond of reading in bed. I've been waiting to hear him work that word into the conversation. He made it up, and he's immensely proud of it."

My bedtime reading has been somewhat sporadic recently, late nights, exhaustion, and lack of concentration mean it has taken me a while to finish the book I started in November. It was £1 in CS, and as I am fond of Tudor mysteries, on the page and on screen, I thought it looked worth trying.
I have really enjoyed it and found another for 50p in December - so I hope to read through them all. There are plenty available in the Norfolk Library Catalogue.
The book is in the Giordano Bruno series. One review explains "Giordano Bruno as a character was intriguing and keeps being so throughout each book in the series. He is complex, with different strands like his religious history, academic studies, and his spy and undercover work. Bruno was a real person who was in England spying for Francis Walsingham, although the exact nature of his assignments doesn’t seem to be known, and it looks as though he left England in 1585 so couldn’t have been involved in the Babington plot in 1586. A bit of historical license is OK, and Bruno is such an interesting character that I can imagine he would have been involved in the Babington conspiracy if given the opportunity."

I enjoyed it, the descriptions, the characters, the plot twists - although readers of a nervous disposition may struggle with the very graphic accounts of Tudor torture and executions. Parris is an expert on the Tudor period, and seems to give an accurate portrayal of the times. It has certainly whetted my appetite for more Bruno mysteries.

Definitely *****

Signs Of Growth

 

I'm clearly growing in my gardening skills - Christmas gifts included this wonderful trug, another Black Dog plaque [my favourite Morris print, Strawberry Thief], a gorgeous gold leaf  with a Jekyll quote [weatherproof so it can go outside],, new secateurs, and a seed catalogue [sent to Bob but he has no use for it!] 

Thank you so much to my friends and family who continue to encourage me in this. I hope this year that the veg I grow will have an even more positive impact on my health - both from what I eat and from the exercise out in the fresh air.

If you are a gardener, do you have any new ideas to implement in the coming months? 

What worked in 2024 which you will repeat? 

[and what failed?]

All Things New...

New Year, New Beginnings,
    New Encouragement, New Joy, New Hope

[and a great new calendar- thank you again, Christine]

#Word365

My "Word For The Year" came to me back in November. I volunteer every week at the local hospital, and I have to log my hours using the online site of Voluntary Norfolk, on a page titled "My Impact". I think they are encouraging us to understand that whatever we do, even if only an hour a week, can make a difference - to other people to the community - and to us volunteers as individuals.

The dictionary offers five definitions of this word

Noun
1. the act of one body, object, etc striking another; collision
2. the force with which one thing hits another or with which two objects collide
3. the impression made by an idea, cultural movement, social group,
Verb
4. to drive or press an object firmly into another or of two objects to be driven or pressed firmly together
5. to have an impact or strong effect (on)

Some of these can sound quite negative - but there is also a positive aspect to impact. Yes a health issue, or a sudden financial drain, or a broken relationship can have a bad impact on us. But other things, an unexpected gift, a bright sunny day in the middle of a dreary winter, the renewal of a friendship, a hug or smile... these things can have a good impact.
The graphic, with its Newton's Cradle imagery. implies force, and the definitions include words like collide, hit, drive, and press. Impact can be strong, and maybe unpleasant. But even soft words can make a difference, and have an impact. 45 years ago, the first British TV series to feature a female detective was called "The Gentle Touch" - the idea that sometimes it was better to go gently than plough in with brute force.

What things may have an impact on us? Weather, TV programmes, health issues, world events, books, politicians, relationships [and for me personally, reading the Bible and listening to sermons]
And how do we impact others? By the way we act and speak - and also how we vote, how we spend our money, how we share our time with other people.

The ball swings down and hits the next in the row on Newton's cradle, and the force travels along through the others suspended, until the end one swings up. There is a 'knock-on' effect. Sometimes in life, the original force is magnified like ripples on a pond - and the final outcome is much worse

For want of a nail the shoe was lost.
For want of a shoe the horse was lost.
For want of a horse the rider was lost.
For want of a rider the message was lost.
For want of a message the battle was lost.
For want of a battle the kingdom was lost.
And all for the want of a horseshoe nail.

At other times, the impact of one small action grows into something huge and good. Rosa Parks sat down on the bus in 1955, Moina Michael pinned a red poppy on her coat in 1918 - you can think of other examples
This year I hope I will take the hard knocks which will inevitably come, but try to ameliorate their effect and not pass on too much negative impact to the next in line - but also try to ensure that I can do good things which have a positive impact on those around me

Undressing In The Cold...

Thursday morning was lovely - both girls and their families came for coffee, then Steph and family left for Manchester, while Liz and co went off to buy food. John took a great picture of everyone

Rosie is busy with her Elf Pen. It has ten different colours. I had one of these when I was her age and I loved it. She's had a lot of fun drawing, and changing the colours.

By 11.30 the house was so quiet. It was sunny [but so cold] outside, and the wind had dropped. It didn't take too long to undress and dismantle the Nativity Tableau

Then after lunch we took all the inside decorations down. That took much longer. Everything needs to be packed away so carefully. 

Before packing them away, I completely forgot to take photos of our wonderful gifts from Julian - two gorgeous glass tree ornaments from Liberty. For Bob a coffee pot, and for me a sewing machine. Very thoughtfully chosen. I found pictures on the Internet.. We have had a great time, and we thank God for our family. 

Pitta, Paté, Raindrops

Thanks for all the lovely Christmas and New Year messages.

I'm still on the post-Xmas diet of eating up food in freezer, fridge and cupboard. Watching the wet and windy weather outside, and singing nursery rhymes with grandchildren..

How's your new year shaping up? 

What's the weather like on your neck of the woods? 

To All My Blogfriends

 

Thanks for reading, commenting and connecting through 2024. Looking forward to making new friends and meeting up with old ones in the year ahead. 

Thanks for all the love, laughter and encouragement shared here. ❤️🤣👍🙏

If Tomorrow Is Yet Another Bank Holiday...

 

Tomorrow is the day for all those new diaries and calendars to be started. I was very tempted by this one on sale in Aldi, a meal planner might be useful - but I decided it was unnecessary.

Then I saw the one in the adjacent display. I am really disconcerted by the name they have chosen for it! 

In years gone by I had a "Family Organiser" which never lived up to its name, but a "Family Planning Calendar" sounds rather intrusive...