Baby, It's Cold Outside!

Norfolk County Council is preparing the gritters in readiness for winter. They have 55 lorries, and this year held a competition to name each one. Asking the public for names is always dodgy [BoatyMcBoatface] BBC Radio Norfolk, and the Eastern Daily Press helped. Over 600 entries, mostly from children and local schools. They have just published the list of the winning names. You can tell the majority of entrants were children! I am impressed by a four year old suggesting Control Salt Delete [I suspect parental influence there]
Many refer to famous people or films, some [in red] are folk with Norfolk connections, others relate to the Canaries [Norwich FC] Some I found a little confusing [Doris? Gracie?] In Norfolk dialect, great is pronounced grit. One in six have ice in the name somewhere. One in 3 include ice. One in 8 have salt.
My own Norfolk favourites are Edith Gravel [Miss Cavell's name often mispronounced, but her family insist the emphasis is on the first syllable, so this one works well] and On the ball, Gritty [the Canaries song is the world's oldest football chant] And I think it is lovely to have Kitt The Grit. Terry Kitt was Assistant Norfolk County Surveyor for many years, and responsible for winter maintenance. That was his nickname at work. He died last year. and this is a fine tribute.

A Fine Gritty - Elaine  Albert Icestein - Albert, 7  Alfie Hew-Grit - Anonymous   Attlebrrrr - Timothy  Banham Blizzard - Florence, 5  Big Mean Ice Machine - Zane, 5  Billie Ice-Lish - Hope, Year 5  Blizzard Of Oz - Mia, Year 3  Boud-Ice-A - Dennis, 8  Captain Grit - Kye, 7  Chris Thawham - Gail  Control Salt Delete - Melodie, 4   Dan Gritter - David   Doris - Jake, Year 5  Edith Gravel - Lisa, Matt  Elsa - Darcey, 4  Frostilicity - Felicity,     Gracie - Bawdeswell School  Grant Salt - Nick Grit Astley - Bruno The Grit Gatsby - Ellie, 9  Grit Expectations - Riely,   Grit Yarmouth - Stanley, 9 Gritosaurus - Florence, 4  Gritty Gritty Bang Bang - Frankie, Gus The Gritter - Erin, 6  Harry Gritter and The Chamber Of Salts - Tudor, 10

Ice Warrior - Horsford School  Kitt The Grit - Andrew  K-Popsicle - Clara,    Lando Norice - Chloe, 7, Nyle   8  Let's Be Gritting You – [3 votes] Luke Grittler - Bill Maleficent - Sorina, 6  Margrit- Stanley,    Norwich Gritty FC - David On The Ball Gritty – [5 votes] Paddington Brrrrrr - Dougie, 5  Polar Patroller - Joseph,    Salt and Gritter - Bonnie  Saltimus Prime - Mabel, 4  Sandy Snowgo - Martha, 9  Sleet Caroline - Ralph, 8  Slippy Slayer - Kye, 7  Snow Stopper - Archie, 6  Snowball 3000 – Alexis 9  Snowbi-Gone Kenobi - Mia, 9  Sprinkle Sprinkle Little Star - William, 11 Taylor Drift - Millie, Thawa Hird - Richard The Ice Tamer - Lexi, 5 True Grit – [14 votes] Usain Salt - Lily-May, 7 Wall-Ice And Gromit - William, 9 Walter The Salter - Sydney, 9

Thank you Liz for sending me this news story.

Does your county council name its gritters?
Which is your favourite name in this list?
And what would you call a gritter?

NOT Feeling Jaded

The word jade  has three different definitions - A verb, jade,  meaning to wear out, leading to the adjective jaded -  exhausted, lacking enthusiasm, often through being satiated. From the Middle English jade/chade for a worn out horse [and later, disreputable woman

A noun jade from the Spanish piedra de ijada  which means flank-stone. Centuries ago, people believed this lovely green semiprecious stone would cure ailments of the flank or kidney.

The jade plant, crassula ovata. Also known as the money plant or friendship tree. Liz has a very large plant, in summer 21, just before Jess was born, she gave me a small cutting, I put it in a coronation mug . Look at it now, three times the size. I am quite excited by this growth.

Later that year, Liz gave me a small Christmas cactus, to replace a much larger one which I had for years, and which died when we lived in Kirby Muxloe. I know it survived to 2023, as I blogged about it just two years ago. But I think it must have died. I cannot find it anywhere! I may treat myself to a new one.

How are your Christmas Cacti plants coming along?

Do you do the darkness thing, to encourage blooms on cacti and poinsettia?

Do you have any jade jewellery or ornaments?

This Gets Right Up My Nose!

In the middle of all the celebrations, I developed a health issue- I couldn't seem to breathe easily through my nose. It was noticeably worse at night, and Bob said my snoring was irregular and worse than usual. I rang 111, and a very helpful woman did her checklist [mucus? no, nosebleeds? pain? no....] She directed me to a nearby pharmacy, and explained she thought it was sinusitus and the pharmacist would be able to help and advise. So I went off and waited less than 10 minutes. 

The pharmacist diagnosed blocked sinuses - I came away with a little plastic bottle to enable me to rinse out my sinuses. "This is free, we were given a load of samples" said the guy. You can get more sachets from us or online. I have been diligently squirting morning and evening for a week or so. It is making a difference. 

But its an undignified process and I hate doing it. One of the reasons I took forever to learn to swim was that I hate water up my nose! The guy said many people do not seek help until they have a painful infection. By acting promptly, these rinses should prevent that. 

Since May 2023, the NHS has been working to help patients access primary care, and ease that early morning rush to book GP appointments. This includes encouraging people to Think Pharmacy First - there are seven conditions which pharmacists are now able to treat, and offer prescription medicines if needed.

I went to a pharmacy in Dereham - open 8am-9pm Monday to Saturday, 8am - 6pm Sundays. 
This is such a useful service. 
The expression 'gets right up my nose' seems to date back to the beginning of the twentieth century. Certainly it was used by English troops to describe something annoying.
This medical provision is anything but annoying, I am very grateful for it.

You Are Only Seventy Once!

People have been saying that a lot, as we all have marked this significant "Milestone" event with Bob. I think he has been overwhelmed by the kindness and love shown to him.

It was one truly memorable week of events [and good food]

Sunday - cake, singing and a birthday ode with church family

Monday - special meal together, followed by late night opening of gifts and cards

Tuesday - birthday lunch in Norwich with good friends

Wednesday - Kippers for breakfast, then Men's Shed with cakes, Indian banquet

Thursday - Cambridge, seeing many dear friends 

Friday - Julian arrived- fish and chip tea from our favourite shop

Saturday - a family birthday meal, with Julian, Marion and Adrian 

It was good to have a celebration meal on Saturday, between Bob's birthday [4th] and Adrian's birthday [16th]

Also, November 8th would have been the 69th birthday of my dearest cousin Gill - Julian's mum. I was so glad he could be with us.
As well as this mahoosive card, and enamel mug, there have many other cheerful cards and thoughtful gifts. I may mention some of them in a later post. Once again, thank you to everybody who has sent such kind greetings 💓

Poppy Sunday

As a small child, Remembrance Day meant standing with Mum in the cold, damp, misty weather, watching the solemn procession to the War Memorial - the military band, followed by men in uniform, then the dignitaries from the council with heavy overcoats and gold chains, and the local clergy [Dad being the only one not in clerical robes!] and finally the Scouts and Guides. Poppies were wire and paper, with a black bitumen centre and held on with a regular pin.
In my teens, I was marching with the Boys' and Girls' Brigade companies [in my smartest uniform, diligently keeping in step] They started putting plastic stems on poppies in 1967, and the paper leaf disappeared. In 1982 there was the Falklands War. There was a resurgence of support for the poppies. In 1987, the leaf was returned [by popular demand] and in 2000 they introduced large poppies to fix onto cars.

Then we had 9/11, and wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Previously the veterans had been mostly from WW1 and WW2 - but now there were young men marching, or being pushed in wheelchairs, and young widows, proudly wearing the medals their husbands had won, posthumously. We were not just remembering distant past conflicts, but conscious of very recent sacrifice. More people turned out to walk down to the Memorial in Kirby Muxloe, Rachel played the Last Post, Bob and the Vicar led the Act of Remembrance together

2014 was definitely the Year of the Poppy - 100 years since the beginning of WW1, and the Tower of London had a display of 100s of ceramic poppies, entitled "Bloodswept Lands and Seas of Red". I went to see it with Liz. Adrian gave me a poppy for Christmas.
Back at church in Kirby Muxloe, we had a huge picture of the local castle. and people added their own messages of remembrance written on paper poppies

And that was the year I worked in the Autism Unit, and helped the girls to sew their own poppies, using four red felt hearts [love] with a black button centre[ sadness]

Now the British Legion poppies are 100% paper, and 100% recyclable. And there are far more public poppy displays than ever

But whatever these red flowers on our lapels are made from, however many knitted poppies adorn our churches, shop-windows, lamp-posts and pillarboxes, the message remains the same...throughout the years, so many have paid the price for our freedom - and we honour their memory, their sacrifice will not be forgotten.

We WILL remember them

A New Raised Bed

In 2009 - two single beds. They went against the wall, with a pair of matching cabinets between.

Later, we moved them to the opposite side of the room so we could accommodate a wardrobe. Only room for one cupboard - the other came into our bedroom. In 2023 we pushed them together as a double, and I made a 'filler strip' to go down the middle where there was a gap between the mattresses. Really wide, room for two parents and a grandchild. Or two grandchildren and Gran.

Now we have changed it for a King size Malm. With two extra cupboards for more storage [thank you FB Marketplace] It is also higher - and we think this raised bed will prove useful, as we can store stuff underneath, and it is easier for oldies like us to get in and out of! Currently there are 2 single mattresses, awaiting delivery to Manchester. 

The single quilts which I made in 2009 are really large- so one placed sideways is adequate. As I took the photo I realised our picture [Holkham Beach] needs moving. I think it needs to be central over the bed! 

If you need b&b in central Norfolk anytime, let me know!

My Tree In November

A Day In Autumn

It will not always be like this,

The air windless, 

A few last leaves 

Adding their decoration to the trees’ shoulders, 

braiding the cuffs of the boughs with gold; 

A bird preening in the lawn’s mirror. 

Having looked up from the day’s chores, 

pause a minute, and

Let the mind take its photograph

Of the bright scene, 

- Something to wear against the heart in the long cold.

Ronald Stuart Thomas