Am I In Danger Of Getting Trench Foot?

What a fun week - some time ago, Liz sent me a link to the Kaffe Fassett exhibition at the Fashion & Textile Museum in Bermondsey. Then on Sunday afternoon, messaged and said "Are you free on Wednesday?" So I hopped on a train on Tuesday afternoon, and spent a day and a half enjoying time with family and art appreciation - then came back Thursday. Fabulous!

Once I have all my photos sorted, I shall do a proper post. I only had one problem- as I walked up from Borough Market to Liverpool Street Station, I was aware of a squelching noise from by left foot. It had been raining, the pavements were damp. When I got home, I discovered that my walking boot had holes in the heels and a split across the sole. And my left foot was cold and damp inside my sock.

I have not owned walking boots before. How long should one expect boots like this to last? I bought them in October 2021. I certainly do not wear them every day, and although my average number of paces per day is around 11K, I reckon these boots have done way less than 500 miles.

I really like my boots, they fit comfortably, and they are lovely to walk in [even with my painful verucca]  I want to keep walking for the good of my health!

Am I being unreasonable in expecting them to last longer than 15 months?  I thought I was buying reasonable quality footwear. [orig price £75, reduced to £45 in sale]
Perhaps, if you are a walker, please can you advise me here!

When Life Gives You Lemons...

 ...Make Marmalade While The Sun Shines*

Following yesterday's post, this is my Malaphor for the Day. I had a lemon in the fruit bowl, so I combined it with a can of pre-prepared Seville oranges to make my marmalade for the year. I like to add some lemon peel and juice to each batch as I prefer the flavour.

I couldn't find my usual Ma-Made in any shops locally so bought this in Lakeland [it cost quite a bit more] and produced 7 jars of amber joy. There does seem to be less 'shred' in this brand. I will see how it tastes. 

I subsequently found Ma-Made in Morrisons, so bought a can to keep in reserve for the autumn.

*this malaphor particularly appropriate for those with solar panels who put off high-energy tasks till it is bright and sunny, and they are generating power.

Do you make your own marmalade? 

If so, do you work from scratch, or use these tins? 

And do you add any extras, or use a different sort of sugar?

It's Not Rocket Surgery

Last weekend, my friend Chris Duffett taught me a new word 

Malaphor

A malaphor is an informal term for a mixture of two aphorisms, idioms or clichés .eg It's not rocket science plus it's not brain surgery becomes

It's Not Rocket Surgery

The term malaphor—a blend of malapropism and metaphor—was coined by Lawrence Harrison in a 1976 Washington Post article.  Some examples below- see if you can split them into their component parts

• She really stuck her neck out on a limb
• A bird in the hand is worth two killed with one stone
• We could stand and talk until the cows turn blue
• 
  It sticks out like a bear with a sore head
• She's not the sharpest needle in the haystack
• It's as easy as falling off a piece of cake
• He's between a rock and the deep blue sea
• Don't bite the hand that rocks the cradle
• 
  
• 
• Those who live in glass houses should count their eggs before they hatch
• They are as thick as two thieves in a pod
• He's burning the midnight oil from both ends

Have you come across malaphors? Can you share any good ones here?

The Tea Post

Not a post about tea, but a post about The Tea Post

Last week Bob had a very early appointment at the surgery for an eye test. The instructions said that he would have drops put in his eyes and be unable to drive afterwards. So I said I'd act as chauffeur if we could then have breakfast afterwards, in the place across the road.

The Tea Post is the tearoom attached to the village post office in North Elmham. They open at 9 most days - serving breakfasts, morning coffees, lunches and afternoon tea and cakes. 

When we went in [Jan 3rd] they still had their decorations up. It was so pretty! The ceiling support pillars had been entwined with greenery and there were lots of pretty baubles, straw decorations and fabric 'pinecones' all in the trad green/red/white/gold colour theme. 

And particularly attractive double sided fabric bunting. It was all very festive. Helen and Heather, the staff that day, were very attentive. The food was excellent. There was a good variety of tea, all from the Brew Tea Co, with individual glass teapots.

It was good to have fere newspapers to read while we waited for our food to be prepared too

Look at that gorgeous blue dresser behind Bob, with all the teas, plus cake domes and fancy jams...

Bob loved his Eggs Royale. My bacon roll was delicious, but less photogenic. I'd like to visit again sometime, later in the day.

I admire the initiative of the people who run village Post Offices, in diversifying like this, in order to keep their businesses financially available and the services available to the locals.[The one in nearby Guist is very good too] 

I am honestly impressed that folk continue to operate the POs in their community following the appalling treatment of so many staff over the past twenty years following the Horizon Scandal.

We really enjoyed our visit to The Tea Post. The atmosphere, service and food were all 5* [and they have a good sized car park outside too, with a bicycle rack. So bonus points there!] Thank you Helen and Heather!

 

Polished Off!

Did you pick up this piece of news last week? S C Johnson ['a family company'] is no longer producing Kiwi Shoe Polish to be sold by British retailers. The Forces are up in arms about their feet! 

Since 1906 when Australian William Ramsay founded his company [named Kiwi as a tribute to his New Zealand born wife]  the British Armed Forces have used this as their shoe polish of choice. A decade ago, the Army issued brown leather combat boots to the troops 

- but black remains the colour for boots worn with regimental dress uniforms. We all saw that in sparkling glory as the soldiers paid their respects at Her Majesty's funeral last year.

It won't affect this household - my family has always used Cherry Blossom [another company founded in 1906] SCJ blame "people working from home, and the wearing of trainers" for causing the drop in demand. They say they will still be selling online to British customers. Cherry Blossom say the exit of Kiwi from the market should be a huge boost for their sales.

Do you ever polish leather shoes/boots?
If so, what products do you use?

[I'd love to hear what happens to those of you who are non UK readers]

Christmas Trimmings

The Christmas Cake was all eaten up - and the manger, the angel, the candle and the greeting were left forlornly on the glass cake stand with a few crumbs of cake and odd lumps of icing. Bob, being helpful, decided to wash everything up. He has been brilliant over the holidays - especially with all the visitors, and done sterling work in the kitchen. And I acknowledge that what happened was entirely my fault. Last year, when we had a lot of figures on the cake, I washed the icing off their bases, and discovered that Pauline's angel was made of sugar, not resin. But I had forgotten to do anything about it.

So yet again, my URC Angel had a Baptist Total Immersion experience! even more of her silver washed away and her crisp wing edges were slightly more curvy.

I have sorted her out now. I redrew her eyelashes and lips with fine gel pens, and touched up the gold line on her sleeves. And I repainted the the silver 'surplice' and her halo with glittery nail varnish. Then covered the lots with glossy 'top coat' nail varnish.I hope this keeps her in better condition for next year.

The other major task 'before we pack everything away' was fixing Mary's shoulders. Last year, she was sitting at a slight angle. This year she faced straight out - and I really wasn't happy with her rather broad shoulders. So Bob has trimmed each side, so next year she will have a softer frame.

I have kept back a Christmas Bag for life, and over the past week have found a number of Christmas items which didn't get put away after the clear up last weekend [two hand towels, a Snowman plate, 2 hanging decorations etc]. I think I've found everything now so all is bagged and packed!

Bob has yet to go outside and get down the icicle lights festooning the Lath Palace- although we've switched off the timer, so they are not coming on in the evenings any more.

ps SueJay, I have not heard from you re the Giveaway Prize, please can you email me with your address ? [Apologies if you have already done so and it's got lost in the ether]

The Artist, The Chaplain, And The Chair

I blogged about Charlie Mackesy - the artist who produced the book [and film] “The boy, the mole, the fox and the horse". Someone has shared this YouTube clip with me. Charlie telling a sdtory about his friend, the chaplain. It's less than 4 minutes long, about what it means to pray . So I'm sharing it with you

Mum, I Have To Warn You...

 ...It's Not A Dinosaur!

What??!!  THe ominous dark crack in the egg widened on Thursday [Day 4] and all was revelaed on Friday. It is a penguin

 

Steph says the instructions recommend leaving the penguin in water for a while longer as it may increase in size. 

[That is Bob's hand, by the way]

The bird has a weird texture and lumpy feet, so he won't stand up by himself.[Maybe this is a female, with an emergent egg...]

We will send George pictures - but I am not sure if we can keep Pingu in good condition until we visit in mid February

Meanwhile, enjoy an old ad for a popular chocolate bar

They Think It's All Over...

...It Is Now!

Today is the Feast of The Epiphany, although some people will mark Sunday [January 8th] as Epiphany Sunday. 

As we walked back from the Post Office on Tuesday afternoon, we discussed the different 'rules' people have for celebrating.

I know some who always decorate the tree on the first Sunday of December [I did that when the children were younger - it fitted in with the pattern of Xmas events at Church]

Others have a particular 'start' date which enables them to get family birthdays out of the way first [you know who you are!!] Very sensible - you need the opportunity to enjoy cards and gifts for your special day.

Another friend refuses to allow any decorations to go up before Christmas Eve - whilst others start taking them down straight after Boxing Day. People with 'real' trees try and manage a careful window around 25th to allow for a reasonable display before the needles start to fall on the carpet. 

This year I planned decorations to be up just before the family arrived - and down just as they left. Jess has definitely got the hang of the festivities. She pulled a hat out of the basket, plonked it on her head and cried "Ho!Ho!" -  and wore it for most of the week. Rosie added a beautiful Scandi-style wreath to the decorations - made from a kit kindly sent by Kirsten.

George spent ages lining up the figures from the wooden nativity set, alongside my other Bible character models. Then he discovered that you could stack the three Kings on top of each other and balance the manger on top. "Look Daddy, a Tower!" He is really into building lines, towers and bridges. We think he may become an architect or construction engineer when he is older!

I love the different approaches to decorations. Some folk go over the top and have an eclectic collection where every ornament has a story [me] others are very Trad, with fresh greenery around their pictures, and tartan bows on finials and newel posts, others Arty with twisted willow branches, stacked driftwood and iridescent glass baubles, some all minimalist, pale and Scandi.

What is your Christmas Style? 

and when do get your dex down?

Or are you like my late friend Ray - who kept one little red bauble always hanging on the end of the pelmet over his lounge window? So, like the redeemed Ebenezer Scrooge, he could "keep Christmas in his heart,. and honour it all year" 

An Egg Has Been Laid In The Bath

Grandson George is busy learning new words, discovering all sorts of exciting things and generally being a delight.It was December 30th before he finally realised that his 'treasure' - gold** foil coins - could be unwrapped to reveal chocolate pennies! He has learned too that eggs can hatch. So whilst at the SeaLife Centre Hunstanton last Saturday, with his cousins, he spent some of his Christmas Money on an egg. I think it is meant to hatch into a baby dinosaur.

He put it in water when he got back to Cornerstones. Unfortunately it got left behind when the family returned to Manchester on Sunday. So now it is in the bath inside my large lock'n'lock [It's OK, Bob and I prefer to use the shower] 

Day 1 - you can see two small holes at the base of the egg. The egg is about the size of my clenched fist/a small grapefruit 

They take weeks to hatch, Bob assured me [we will be visiting Manchester in about 6 weeks time]

Day 2 - absolutely no change

But on Day 3...

There is a definite crack, like a grinning mouth, appearing across the egg.

And the water appears cloudier

I am not sure I like having this thing in my bath - especially when I make a nocturnal visit to the loo [I mean, I've seen Jurassic Park, and look what happened to that guy when he went to 'spend a penny'!] If there is no blog for two days, you will know what has happened to me!

If you have not met these things before, check out this little clip

** George doesn't trust the foil coins which are shiny pink or blue, he was happy for Rosie to have them! He only wants the gold ones.

And the Winners Are...

There were so many kind words on the 4,000,000 post, and even after removing the friends who sent comments, but put 'don't include me in the draw' I had dozens of comments. I decided on adding in a smaller 2nd gift. So I wrote the names down, and randomly allocated numbers. Bob chose a 1st and 2nd winner

Nicky, and SueJay, please can you email me your addresses? Thank you. Thanks again to all of you blog-followers for your friendship

#Word365

In 2020 I chose inspire, in 2021 it was adventure, and in 2022 it was look again.

So I thought long and hard about my Word of The Year for 2023. Was there anything in 2022 which had gone well, which might be a starting point for my theme? It was pretty obvious really...

Since January, I have been exchanging a parcel of stitching each month with Kirsten. It has become my standard answer when anyone asks me what craft work I am currently working on "Oh, I'm doing a collaborative needlework project with another blogger from Sussex" I say [It sounds much more classy than 'me and my mate send bits of linen through the post to each other"] K&I barely knew each other before this began, but over the year have become good friends [yet to meet in person]

But the whole sharing and working together has made the project brilliant. I know we have picked up techniques, and exchanged ideas. The dictionary defines collaboration as "the action of working with someone to produce something"

I found this 

Seven Keys to Creative Collaboration

• It's voluntary. [Forced collaboration isn't collaboration]
• People are dependable
• There's trust and vulnerability
• The structure is loose  - but there is a structure
• We share a vision
• The ability to not always take things seriously
• We embrace candour and conflict.

Our "Postcard Project" has certainly revealed many of these things [fortunately no conflict]

Like cogs working together, there must be planning, support, help, trust, teamwork and togetherness if a collaboration is to achieve success. And like the cogs in a well-oiled machine, there are times when one will carry a bigger load, another will spin faster, and yet another may feel they are going in the opposite direction - but if all mess smoothly as they should , things will work.

Already this year I have found situations where I am needing to collaborate with others

• with friends at church as we plan for another Holiday Club [even in retirement, this is on the calendar for Bob and myself] We will collaborate to make it the best we can,
• as we seek to help an elderly neighbour, we are collaborating with friends and family members to support her through a difficult patch
• obviously we collaborate with our daughters as they are seeking to be good parents to our four darling grandchildren. Not to tell them what to do, judge their parenting styles, or burden them with unworkable advice- but to be there to help when needed. Hilary Clinton's book "It takes a Village" [to raise a child] made the point that it is hard work bringing up little ones, and we all have a responsibility.

There will be other timers, other opportunities for collaboration I am sure.

Bob and the girls will tell you that I am an independent, often obstinate woman - reluctant at times to accept the help I'm offered "No I can do it myself!" I need to learn to collaborate more, to share the load. "Teamwork makes the dream work, Grandma" says Rosie.

Let's see where this one takes us...

There's still time to comment on the 4000000 Giveaway post!

The Car Is Back Where It Should Be...

On Saturday, I dismantled the tableau in the Cornerstones Carriage House. The costumes all need to be washed, the polystyrene heads and the manger returned to the loft-space over the Futility Room, the backdrop and T-shaped 'skeletons' [all part of a dead gazebo] are stored away and the lights carefully packed and labelled. And the signs out by the main road have been uprooted and brought home. And the car is parked in inside once more.

But the most delightful thing happened one evening last week. We were in the kitchen preparing food together and the doorbell rang. A gentleman stood there and said "Please excuse me for ringing your bell. I've been in the Close visiting family this week. I just wanted to say thank you for the manger scene. It has quite made my Christmas. I hope you didn't mind me disturbing you and telling you"

I was so touched. Other people have commented on the extra figures added for this year. The sheep and the owl were clearly popular. People have been so positive. I've already started thinking about 2023 - should I perhaps add an angel? And should we have some sort of charity collection tin?

Please don't forget the 4Million Giveaway [here] Add your comment on last Thursday's post and on Tuesday evening I will draw the winner's name.

New Year Greetings

One carol which seems to have been ubiquitous this Christmas is "The Carol Of The Bells" - but Liz had sent me a link showing it was originally a Ukrainian Folk Song for the New Year, called Shchedryk which means bountiful evening.  It is often called "the swallow"

The Ukrainian National Chorus sung it at Carnegie Hall in 1922, and Peter Wilhousky [an American of Ukrainian descent] wrote English lyrics based on the euphonius bell-like ostinato pattern of the tune.

Here is the beautiful version Liz sent me - with one young Ukrainian woman singing all four parts a capella

Another Ukrainian musician, Stepan Pasicznyk, has translated the words slightly differently. At this time, they seem especially poignant

Sing swallow sing, fortune you bring
Into the homes letting you in
Happy are those hearing your song
Life will be kind, life will be long.
Sing swallow sing, bounty you bring
Days longer now, leading to spring
Chaff of the wheat, ear of the corn
Nestling ewes, lambkin are born.
Sing swallow sing, praying you bring
News that a new time will begin
Peace in our land, hoping this year
Good will prevail, nothing to fear.
We lived off the land of milk and honey
Envy of the world, no need for money
Sing swallow sing, praying you bring
News that a new time will begin.
Sing swallow sing

Wherever you are, may God grant you a new year which brings love, joy, hope, and especially peace.

Reflections on 2022

If you didn't watch "The boy, the mole, the fox and the horse" and the accompanying documentary about the artist Charlie Mackesy, then you missed a treat. A reminder that we can find encouragement and friendship, love and strength, in the most unexpected places. Find the two programmes both on BBC i-player, or borrow the book. Beautiful artwork, and thoughtful words, to remind us about what really matters as this year ends.

By

Come Back, Lady Bracknell!

There I was, reading an article online about Christmas leftovers, and it mentioned keeping your cooked meat in a hambag. "Sweetheart," I said to Bob"do you know anything about a ham bag"

You can guess his response! He immediately channelled his inner Dame Edith Evans

Neither of us had heard of this food storage item. But the clear implication was that this is the ideal way to preserve your Christmas ham. And it said you can buy one in Woolworths. We don't have Woolworths in the UK any more

...apparently this is Woolworths Australia*. These cotton bags, size 41 x 61 cm, made of cotton with a drawstring. They have these instructions printed on them -"Keep your ham fresh and moist. Rinse bag in a mixture of 2 cups water, and 1 tbsp vinegar.Wring out bag, wipe ham with damp cloth. Rinse ham bag every 3 days to retain freshness."

Well who knew?

I love a Christmas ham, tasty with pickles, salads, cheese, breads etc for easy meals in the days after Christmas. But I never knew about the bag before.

In my youth [before we had a fridge] the ham lived in the pantry under a clean teatowel, and Dad would slice off pieces for meals, or snacks and sandwiches. I recognise that my friends in the Antipodes are celebrating Christmas in balmy summer weather. Do they still put this bagged ham in the fridge? or is this a way of keeping it fresh if stored on the countertop?

Whatever the answers, I felt a bag would be a better container than foil or clingfilm. But 41x61 is almost a pillowcase- I never have a ham that big! I sorted through my reserve tea-towels. No point in keeping my Kirby Muxloe Souvenir if I don't use it!. It took me less than 15 minutes to sew two side seams and a channel for the top, and thread some spare cotton tape through.

Voila! my hambag. We have eaten most of the ham - so I am using a stand-in for the photo above. I shall look out for any reduced hams in the coming days - but the bag will go into my linens drawer for use next Christmas if not before. 

You can buy hambags online - but at £12+ I think this is extortionate. My recycled teatowel solution should work fine.

Do you use, or have you ever used, a hambag?

*Woolworths Australia has nothing to do with Woolworths USA. Woolworths NZ have rebranded the stores as 'Countdown', and in Canada they are Foot Locker - Woolworths UK have all gone, and their place on the High Street has been taken over by Wilko 

Four Million?!? End Of Year Giveaway

I am struggling to get my head around this huge number. 

My blog has had over 4,000,000 hits since it began in March 2008.

Thank you so much, to all of you who follow Tracing Rainbows. Some have been here since the beginning, others are more recent followers. 

Your comments - publicly here, or privately via email, have been so kind and so encouraging. I thank you for them all. 

I don't know how many people are represented - but it has been great to make new friends, and especially to connect in person. 

As a Thank-you I am going to pack a giveaway parcel - please leave a comment BELOW before Tuesday 3rd January, and a name will pulled out of the hat then.[I'll be a bit busy over the weekend]

I cannot find any songs with "four million" in the title. Katie Melua had 9M bicycles in Beijing and PTBarnum had 1M dreams.

I don't know what your hopes and dreams are for the coming year - peace and love are very high on my list.

A Range Of Meanings

I popped briefly into The Range to get a couple of washing up bowls - we have had a double sink in the kitchen for a year, and I really want a smart, matching pair of bowls. I did find them - but left without them, when I realised there were about 50 people in the queue and only two checkouts working! I was not prepared to wait that long...
However I did have a quick look at the Christmas decorations in the sale section. Just in case. But one item initially left me baffled - a bag of six "Christmas Sentiments" reduced to 45pBethere it says. 

That's not a word!

perhaps it should be Bet here[we sell lottery tickets]

or maybe Beth ‘ere[an Eastenders version of Little Women]

Bob says it is Be there[why would I want to be somewhere where they are no good at punctuation and grammar?] 

Mind you, I didn't realise till recently that many people in Wales actually call this store The ORaNGe, on the grounds that on the sign, it say 'The' and below it, the word 'Orange' starting with a capital O in an orange colour!

Perhaps these confused folk are connected with Welsh Max Boyce, whose catchphrase is "I was there!!" I suggest the company takes its 

Be theresigns to Cardiff, they might make more sales...

Paint Your Wagon

 Liz suggested a pull along wagon would be useful for Jess to store books and toys. Bob looked at a number online, and decided to construct one himself in the Lathe Palace. He used a sheet of ply from his wood stash. He ordered wheels from Norfolk firm Hobbies and built the wagon. 

One end was painted with blackboard paint. The other end he cut her name from wooden letters. Two short lengths of broom handle were turned and painted red and green to make toggles for the cord. It is good and strong [I'd venture to suggest it is stronger than some we looked at online] 

I'm pleased to report that Jess loves her Christmas gift - especially when big sister Rosie tows her round in it. She climbs in and calls "Ready... Go!" 

Well done Grandad. 

We're Not Crackers!

I decided against crackers - bought ones were either cheap, tacky and full of plastic, or they were eco friendly, stylish and pricey. Then as I was returning the library books on Friday I found an interesting book by the checkout point [I had to go into town - the mobile van has broken down, so Book-Mark didn't come on Thursday after all]

Zero Waste Christmas is full of lovely ideas,grouped in four themes- Skandi, Hot, Frosty and Retro, and is published by David&Charles, a reliable source of craft books. Rosie and I spent an hour or so on Friday afternoon making piñatica as an alternative to crackers.

Rosie knew about piñata - the popular Mexican hanging decoration, usually filled with sweets, which is hit with a stick till it breaks, spilling the contents. Piñatica are much smaller.  Based on an octahedron, and made of recycled card,trimmed with tissue paper. I drew out the template* with pencil, ruler and compasses. Here's what we made for the six of us to have at Christmas Lunch.

Ours are covered with random tissue shapes, not neat strips of fringing. She's only 6, and time was of the essence.

We inserted two chocolate coins and a joke into each little box before sealing it up, and tying on a label. Rosie provided the jokes, which I typed onto the computer and we cut into strips and concertina-ed into tiny squares. 

You can easily open the piñatica by squashing it flat, or by ripping apart one of the seams.

Here are Rosie's jokes

Who delivers presents to baby sharks at Christmas? 

Santa Jaws!

What do you get if you cross Santa with a duck?

A Christmas Quacker

What did the snowman eat for his lunch?

An Ice-burger

What did Mrs Claus say to Santa?
It looks like rain, dear
 
What do cats and dogs call Father Christmas?
Santa Paws

and her favourite, she says...

What is the best Christmas present in the world? 

A broken drum… you just can’t beat it

With time and effort, and without help from a child, I think I could make some very pretty table favours using this idea. I may blog some of the other ideas from this book, its full of fun stuff - and many could be adapted for non-Xmas events.

Meanwhile, in Manchester, Pirate George clutched his gold coins, muttering happily "My treasure!"... he didn't realise there was chocolate inside! How long before he finds out? 

*I realised later I could have logged into the D&D website and downloaded the template in minutes