Casting Off...

It is the end of the month and therefore the end of my knitting challenge. I was supposed to do 30 minutes every day. That would be 30 x 30 =900 minutes = 15 hours
There were two days when I only managed a brief 10 minute knit [looking after grandchildren was keeping me rather  busy] but in total I've knitted for over 60 hours not counting today, And my generous sponsors [thank you all] have helped me to raise over £450 for the Bone Cancer Research Trust. My JustGiving Page will be open for another two weeks, and I'm hoping to pass the £500 mark. 
What did I knit? One of my Christmas Projects, and a lot of little mini-jumpers. But the second project [a knitted nativity] has languished untouched. I realised that I didn't actually like it! Mary, Joseph and Jesus were knitted in Dorset, but not sewn up. I may just complete those three and make a little stable - without the collection of angels, animals, shepherd and magi outside... 
I have enjoyed the challenge, and the opportunity to promote a very worthwhile cause. And the weather has certainly proved an encouragement to stay inside.

Remembering...

November is a month for remembering, and I chose that for the theme of my CoverStory piece. Yes there is the acknowledgement of those who died in the service of their nation - we wear our poppies, on  the 11th [Armistice day/Poppy Day] and on Remembrance Sunday [the 2nd Sunday of the month]
But for me it also a month to remember two precious family members I have loved and lost. Cousin Gillian, who died on Remembrance Sunday 2021, just a few days after her 65th birthday. And Gill's Mum, my Auntie Peggy. She died in March 2023 - but her birthday was November 17th.
So I decided to stitch poppies. I used nets and voiles in shades of red and overlaid the whole piece with a pale scarlet voile.

There's a phrase "beyond the veil" - which comes to us from the Jewish tradition.

For them it referred to the Veil/Curtain in the Temple, which separated the ordinary people at worship from the very holy place, where the priest offered special prayers, in the presence of God. In William Tyndale's translation of the Bible 500 years ago, he brought this phrase into common English. It came to mean the place where God is - and where the saints join with Him after death. 

Therefore I chose the nets and voiles, translucent fabrics, to symbolise this. Lost, but not forever - one day I believe we will all be together again.

This is the sixth piece I've stitched - so we are halfway through the patchwork - after which there will be embellishments to work on.

I ought to confess that as a child, when I heard old people in church speak of "Those we love beyond the veil" I thought they meant young women who had gone away and got married!!

Sew Busy

On Saturday week we are having our first Christmas Craft Fair at the Chapel. We hope to raise funds for a village charity, FRIN. Foulsham Relief In Need supports individuals or families who have disabilities, or need other support. So I'm making some bits and pieces to sell. I'm going for inexpensive stocking fillers. Like pencil rolls and tissue holders

I spent all Wednesday at the machine, really enjoying myself, while the rain just kept on raining outside. I'm so glad it was fine and dry yesterday morning when Sam and James were working on the door!

I've decided to make some decorated hair clips too, they have sold well in the past

It was fun sorting out buttons to sew on to hair clips, I shall do that over the weekend. It's made a change from all the knitting. 

QUESTION does anyone else read the lovely Family Barwitzki blog, written by Viola in Norway? It continues to show up in my reading list, but the link seems to be broken and so I cannot read her posts. Is anyone else having this problem. Viola, do you know about it? 

Shut That Door!

At 8am yesterday, Sam and James turned up to replace our front door. The one we have always had at Cornerstones is getting on for twenty years old. It is not exactly good quality, and very poorly insulated. We decided we would replace it. I hadn't realised exactly how much a new door costs, but this is a 'buy once, buy well' purchase so we chose very carefully. Wre wanted glass to let in light, but not a large translucent panel. With the old one, and the light on, it might as well have been clear glass! A secure lock, a simple, waist height horizontal letterbox [none of this kneeling on the ground stuff, or struggling to open the flap whilst pushing letters sideways...] and a knocker. Yes, we do have an excellent doorbell, but I like the appearance!
The guys took out the old door [and took it away], got the new door from the van [and stood it on the gravel to check all was well] Then they fitted the new door and cleaned up beautifully

Here we are inside and out

So very bright and cheerful. I love the patterned glass - and the way the light coming through sparkles on the wall.

When we acquired this home in 2009, the path was narrow [not wide enough for a buggy] and there was quite a step over the door frame from the ground into the hall. That trip hazard has disappeared - and we have a path twice the width now. Improvements all round. And we are already noticing the warmth in the hallway.

I much prefer the 2024 red door to the one we first opened in 2009!

Have you ever changed the door of your house?

It's That Time Again...

We've fetched all the Christmas boxes down from the loft. There do seem to be a lot. I have told Bob that I will try to reduce the number that go back up again at Epiphany! The figures and costumes for the Nativity Tableau came down on Sunday [the frames were in the workshop and came down today] I stood the little shepherd boy on the other side of the kitchen door, beside the manger

All was ok till I went to the loo at midnight. The motion sensor triggered the nightlight. And I jumped, because I'd forgotten he was there, and thought a small child was hovering in wait!
Bob wants to strengthen some of the frames before I dress them - but I hope to have everything ready for Sunday and the beginning of Advent, so the Cornerstones Tableau is in place. 
I have moved him into a corner for the time being!

Oh Christmas Tree!

The Dereham Christmas Lights Switch On was cancelled [due to Storm Bert] but the Tree Festival was up and running in the Parish Church. We popped down after lunch to have a look. It is the first time they have done one of these. I am not sure if I saw every tree, they were arranged all over the church, and sadly there was no site plan, numbering or clear labelling. There were a few trees which gave very little clue as to who had made them, and others which seemed to have no clear theme identifying their origins. But a clear collaborative effort across the town.

There were trees from local charities, local businesses,and community groups. I liked the Dementia Golf Tree [decorated golf balls and tees] and the LitterPickers and Refill Shop [all made from recycled stuff]

 Quite a few trees [including two local undertakers] inviting you to write the name of a loved one and tie it on. I didn't photograph them all

But on the whole, many people had made a lot of effort. And the refreshments were good, if a little pricey [£2 for a cup of instant coffee seems a lot to me!] - maybe I am too used to Nonconformist catering...

I filled in the questionnaire, which a gentleman was handing out to those of us drinking our tea. That was mainly about the use of the building in general [Bob and I agreed that the plans for a kitchenette and toilets on site were good ones] and mentioned the labelling issue to the chap, who said that was a very good suggestion!

Here's the Hospital Tree. Ann and Carol had worked hard with pill-bottle lights, the patients' coloured baubles, and other card baubles with finger prints and names of all staff members

Finally the Mothers' Union Tree. Crosses for their Christian Heritage, my little books, mini duvets for their "bedding packs" and parcels for their "care packages" [both for newly housed people who were previously homeless]

Pauline, if you are reading this, I hope your Festival in Dorset is successful - can you send a couple of ladies up to Norfolk to give these folk some hints and tips?

Have you seen any innovative trees at festivals near you?

Empower Her!

 The Mothers' Union is running a new campaign

It looks brilliant. Our local MU decided to feature this, with a couple of other campaigns on their Festival Christmas Tree. I was asked to produce half a dozen mini books approx 3" x 2". Here they are

It was lovely to be asked to help. Women's Education is something I feel passionate about. And it is good to raise awareness [MU website HERE] 

The Things They Say...

We are home safely at last! We got to Norfolk late yesterday afternoon. 

Lots of post on the mat and in our parcel box. Including a beautiful surprise gift of felt squares from "a regular reader" in Hampshire who has been decluttering. You know who you are. Thank you for your generosity. This fabric be well used! Unlike you I didn't attend RCHS, as my parents moved from Romford while I was quite young. The green uniform was at my primary school in West Hartlepool. You are very kind - God bless you for your thoughtfulness. 

It has been such fun being with the four grandchildren this week, not least because they have all been chattering away to us. Some of their comments will be long remembered and cheer me up when I'm feeling low...

Jacob [2] like the older three, already adores books. Thank you TeaHive, Chorlton - as soon as we were settled in our seats last weekend, a member of staff came with some books [plus crayons, colouring sheets and a activity toy] J. was delighted. That evening I was getting him into his pj's and I said "Grandad will come upstairs in a minute" He beamed and said Grandad has the best stories

George [4] was talking about Star Wars and telling me he loved Yoda. "When you were a tiny baby, your Mum asked me to knit you a Yoda Hat" I showed him the pictures on my blog

"Can you knit a Yoda Hat for Baby Teddy Dinosaur, please Grandma?" 

BTD is a half size version of TD. "I'm not sure I'll have time to do this before we leave tomorrow, it's quite complicated" 

I said

And my cheeky chappie grinned at me and said It won't take forever Grandma, he's only got a small head!

I went downstairs and literally reduced the original pattern by 50%. When George came down for breakfast BTD was waiting in his new Yoda hat. 

Jess [3] chatters nonstop. She is also obsessed with a CBeebies character called Valerie the Vampire [From Nick Cope's Popcast]

In a loud voice on the bus, in a scary voice [vaguely reminiscent of Marlene Dietrich] she suddenly announced

I vant to suck your bluuud! 

And Rosie [8] has just been utterly delightful, so helpful and thoughtful. Her "chapter book" [ie the one where we read a chapter together at bedtime] is currently The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe.

I was her age when my parents first read it with me, and I'm thrilled she is loving it too. 

It has been 9 days of great moments to remember - I'm truly thankful to be part of this awesome, loving family

Girl Friday

The dictionary defines this as "a female office worker,who does different types of work" I'm a sort of Girl Friday in my role as a Hospital Volunteer. I visit the patients, I chat to them, and listen to their stories. I take their books and magazines back to the Day Room and fetch others [but no more People's Friend, dear, I've read all of them] I plug in phone chargers and refill water jugs as requested. Definitely a variety of tasks - and all done on a Friday morning.

Obviously I'm not there today because I'm in London, but I doubt they will notice. For many of them, it is hard to keep track of what day it is! My particular remit is to encourage craft activities, to keep their hands active so they don't lose motor skills, and also engage their brains in projects.

This weekend marks the start of the Dereham Christmas Tree Festival.

I was asked to get patients making tree decorations. Two staff are making "hospital themed" stuff, fashioning little amber shades for plain Christmas lights using old cylindrical plastic pill pots.

Bob prepared me some wooden "baubles" on his laser cutter. 

I took some felt pens to the bedsides along with small plastic chopping boards as a firm work surface. 

Patients enjoyed colouring them in. I look forward to visiting St Nicholas Church when I get back and seeing our Hospital Tree. 

Are you involved in any Tree or Wreath Festivals? 

Unexpected November Knitting Challenge

 A couple of years ago, I sent Steph some money and asked her to get George an Easter Egg on our behalf [no sense in posting a chocolate egg across the country] She got one with its own dinosaur. The egg was eaten and forgotten, but the toy became George's favourite, and named "Teddy Dinosaur"

The day before we left Cornerstones, Steph said George said TD would like a Christmas Outfit got TD, and she wondered if Grandma could make one.

I took red and white wool, needles and a tape measure. On Thursday after school, George helped me measure TDs chest and head. I showed him how to make a tiny pompom by winding woool found a kitchen fork.

He went to bed and I sat up late making a jumper, with Xmas 🎄 tree on the front, and a little pompom hat. Which was good, because he announced he'd like to take it in to Show&Tell on Friday.

His teacher said his S&T went well. And on Saturday we had a 4th birthday party for TD, playing musical statues, eating homemade cupcakes, and generally having a lot of fun. The boys made a birthday banner and a card.

We all slept very well Saturday, being completely exhausted!!

Being Consistent

I've always felt that it is important to be consistent when working with children. It is not fair to them if you are frequently changing the rules, or acting one way one day,and differently the next. We have tried to keep to the boys' regular routine in Manchester

Cuddles.and stories in the morning and at bedtime, teeth-cleaning, please&thankyous, etc etc. And they have responded well and been a delight to look after.Now we are in London with Rosie and Jess, and doing our best there. 

But I wish to have a rant about child safety equipment. Why do they apparently make no attempt whatsoever to be consistent?

Why do the manufacturers of buggies, carseats, and stair gates choose such a diverse range of mechanisms?

I just get used to unfolding the double buggy, when I have to operate the single one in Manchester, which is quite different from the one in London....

Then there are the car seats, front facing,rear facing, isofix, not isofix...

And stair gates that must be clicked or squeezed or lifted [possibly one handed as you are carrying a baby]

And we persevere, because we take our role as grandparents very seriously.

As Bob was reminded in IKEA on Monday, with great power comes great responsibility. 

We are gradually getting to grips with it all, as we stay in our daughters' homes - including learning to use a piece of kitchen equipment which many busy young Mums find indispensible nowadays...

It's challenging, abd tiring looking after children [more so as we get older] but it is truly a privilege to spend time with them.

Steph and Gaz are home safely now, after a brilliant 40th birthday celebration holiday. 

Hanging On The Telephone...

 My phone rings, and "Becky"* is calling. The conversation goes thus

A    Hello Becky
B    Hello is that Angie?
A    Err, yes  

[nobody calls me Angie]
B     Angela from Church?
[now I'm suspicious, the Becky I know doesn't go to church...]
A     Yes, um, who are you exactly?
B    I'm Becky from church
A    Which Church?

B    St Philips

[Where on earth is St Philips?]  

A    I'm Angela from Foulsham Baptist Chapel

B    Where's that then?

A    Norfolk

B    Are you sure?

[of course I'm sure]

A    Positive. 

What was your name again?

B    Becky Snowflake

 [Ahh, I remember...]

A    Ah! right, that Becky - you used to come to Alison's choir at our Church in Dorset

B    Yes I did, in Ferndown

A    My husband was minister, but we retired 3½ years ago

B    Oh, was he a very tall guy called Bobby? 

[nobody calls him Bobby]

A     That's right. I'm his very short wife

B    You're not the Angela I thought you were

[there's no answer to that, is there?]

A    Well never mind. I have to go. I'm rather busy. 

God bless you. Goodbye!

B     Good bye then 

[she hangs up]

What a crazy conversation 

[*names changed to protect the confused.I've deleted this Becky from my contacts]

PS thank you for kind words about Julian's appearance on Countdown. We are so proud of him 

Double Meanings, Getting Out Of Control

It was Rosie who started this train of thought. There are so many ordinary everyday words which can be interpreted in two ways.  

Like saucer is a piece of china or a UFO

And mouse can be a small animal or part of your IT equipment

I'm sure you can think of lots of other examples. 

Then I came across two very odd, totally unconnected pairs of things which share names. And involve the word control

I can tell Alexa to switch on the bedroom light if my hands are carrying a large laundry basket.

The Bosch company has a system for your whole house, called Light Control with a neat little box managing all your domestic  illumination. 

But if you are in Marks and Spencer, they have a range of "shapewear lingerie" also called Light Control. Like these Light Control Lace Cycling Shorts [no, I don't have a pair!] 

But bizarre though this term with two very different interpretations is, this next one made me laugh out loud in the discount store... 

I mean, I saw this kitchen item, and thought of the tank engine's friend

I bet you thought of him too! 

If you're into wordplay, and watch Countdown, our Julian should be on today's edition

I

My Prayer For This Month

This weekend up in Manchester caring for the boys, then midweek, down to London to look after the girls. This prayer is very apposite. [And Lord, please look after both sets of parents as they travel abroad, and bring them home safely]

Everybody Needs Good Neighbours...

 Today is the United Nations Day Of Tolerance [first celebrated in 1996]

I'm not aware of ever being involved in events marking this day, neither in schools or in churches

But it seems a very good idea... 

After all, the Good Book reminds us we have a duty to love our neighbours, doesn't it? However different they are from us. 

And we have a duty to be good role models for those who look up to us

The Future's Bright, The Future's Orange

 That slogan is thirty years old. Do you remember it...

I've harvested the last of my lovely orange carrots from the raised bed. They have been delicious. I also took out the remaining chard  and salad leaves and made a big batch green soup to portion and freeze. Warm lunches for cold days... 

The Bone Cancer Research Trust sent me a thank you card, and bright orange tee shirt. I continue to knit at least 30 minutes a day, often more. And there are lots of satsumas and easy peelers in the shops, a favourite snack. And those orange autumn leaves are everywhere...

The Future's Bright 

Close Parking

The first thirteen properties in the close have dropped kerbs, a drive with space for at least one car to park off-road AND a garage. We are fortunate to be on the corner [round the bend !] and so we have plenty of space. The remaining ten have no vehicular access, but at the end of the Close there is access to their 10 garages - two rows of five. Built in 1973 they are rather small, and 80‰ of them do not contain cars The turning area at the end of the Close will take half a dozen cars parked perpendicular to the pavement, and residents often double park. It is mayhem at weekends, and when the bin lorries, tankers full of heating oil, grocery deliveries, ambulances or hearses arrive they often struggle to get out again. And such vehicles come most days. 

From my kitchen window I see all the cars parked in front of Cornerstones. I did a double take one day this week

They were actually touching! These belong to the members of the same family. 

Two days later, another family member added his car. Three in a row, bumper to bumper. 

Their mobile catering van takes up 1½ spaces at the end of the Close. When these bungalows were built nobody envisaged ordinary families having more than one small car. 

Fortunately I'm not too bothered by all this. Other residents write regularly to complain to the Parish Council. 

When neighbours ask why I'm not complaining about the cars outside my home, I politely explain that I do not own that space. And if I were living in a Victorian property in Manchester or London the parking situation [and 24 hour passing traffic] would be infinitely worse. 

I am grateful for my home, and my car. Romans 12 verse 18 has wise advice for those seeking to be good neighbours 

Do everything possible on your part to live in peace with everybody.