Moving Stories...

Just two news stories which you may have missed...
There's an old joke about a minister who said on New Year's Day that he wanted to move the piano in his chapel from one side to the other. The Deacons said he couldn't. So every Sunday after the service, he pushed the piano just a few inches to the left. Nobody seemed to notice - but by Christmas, he'd got it exactly where he wanted.

I thought of that this week when I say this news about a whole church building    being moved in Sweden. 

They put it on a huge trolley and  it travelled 5km at a maximum of 500m an hour - it took two days.

What an amazing feat! And what a beautiful building.

The second joyful news was about 

a lady getting her voice [and her creativity] back after over 20 years. 

She lost it through MND, and for years had a robotic voice. 

An amazing company in Bristol have taken a scratchy recording of her voice on a family video, and created through AI, her 'old' voice again. She uses 'eye gaze' technology to operate a keyboard which then 'speaks' She also uses eye-gaze to produce artworks.
Do check out Sarah Ezekiel's incredible story

Two stories which made me feel very happy. Good news worth sharing

Twostoriesd

Just Desserts?

According to the charity English Heritage, unless Somebody Does Something, the British Pudding will become extinct in the next 50 years. My immediate reactions were

1 - not in this family, mate - I know children who love puds!

2 - why are you worrying us about steamed puddings during these hot summer months?
The answer to #1 - here are their [dubious] statistics...

62% of British households stated they made puddings once a month or less [27%] or never [35%].
36% of people named steamed puddings [10%], fruit crumbles [19%] or pastry-based baked pies or tarts [7%] as their favourite puddings.
17% percent of 18-24 year olds named steamed puddings [4%], fruit crumbles [10%] or pastry-based baked pies or tarts [3%] as their favourite puddings. 45% of respondents over 55 named steamed puddings [11%], fruit crumbles [27%] or pastry-based baked pies or tarts [7%] as their favourite puddings.
838 people eat homemade traditional puddings at home, in comparison to 1405 people saying they ate ice cream at home. Ice cream is therefore eaten 68% more than homemade traditional puddings. Bad maths, and what happens to those of us who eat BOTH? or put i/c on their pies and crumbles?

The answer to #2 is - EH are about to launch "The English Heritage Baking Book" in a couple of weeks time. Cynical old me thinks they are 'scare-mongering' to get grannies to buy the book as gifts for their fruit&yogurt eating daughters-in-law.
Even though we do frequently have fruit and/or yogurt as dessert, I regularly serve up baked, home made puddings, like rice pudding [Rosie loves it] sponge puddings, fruit pies and crumbles. Luz made an excellent blackberry cobbler on Monday. Bob likes almost all puds [except lemon meringue pie] Any leftover cake is often turned into a hot pud, with the addition of fruit, custard etc. On Saturday I said "Well done, Jess, you have eaten all your first course" she replied "And is there  pudding, Grandma?" It was a hot day, so I'd prepared fresh fruits, sponge fingers and ice cream for a DIY Sundae. But often I give them something&custard.

EH name a few puddings which have already 'died the death' namely

Twelfth Night Cake - a fruity Tudor post Xmas pud. If your portion contained The Bean, you got to be Lord of Misrule for the day. It survived the Reformation, but was supplanted by our modern Christmas Cake [and the bean replaced by a silver 6d in the festive pud]

Cabinet Pudding a steamed sponge with glacé fruits and custard. Also called Newcastle or Chancellor's Pudding. In the 1970s this was regularly on the menu at The Lamb in Norwich, I always chose I if Dad took me there for lunch. I must make it for Bob sometime*

Soul Cake  a spiced roundel of flour, butter, sugar, spices and currants. Dating back to 1511 or maybe earlier, these were given to poor people and children who went from house to house singing and reciting prayers at Hallowtide [the days surrounding All Saints/All Souls Days, Oct 31/ Nov 1st] A more wholesome Trick or Treat reward than a bag of Haribo...

Anglo Saxon cake honey, oats, butter and dried fruit, mixed and cooked over an open fire. Sounds like fruit flapjacks to me.

I checked out my older cookbooks and found lots of puddings I'd forgotten about. I think many modern women can't hang around the kitchen all day topping up the boiling water round the steamed Pudding. I do make puds, but avail myself of the modern technologies.

Microwaving sponge mixtures, happily leaving things unattended in the slocooker where they don't boil dry, using my pressure cooker, and air fryer...batch baking and freezing to eat later. 

I shall share some favourite pudding recipes in another post. 

Do you still eat puddings?

ECO & ECI

Years ago I was sitting in a staff room writing notes on my day of Supply Teaching, so the regular tea her would know what her class had been doing. The woman next to me was doing the same thing.

"Excuse me, what is ECO & ECI that you have written as the afternoon lessons?" I asked as politely as I could 

"It's Educational Cutting Out and Educational Colouring In" she explained. "There was no work set, so I got them to draw things, cut them out and colour them in. But nobody ever asks what it means, it is a very useful abbreviation for Supply Teachers"

I have never ever used this in the classroom. 

But entertaining the grandchildren is another matter. 

Jess asked for some arts and craft activities last week. We looked through this useful little book, and she cheerfully made a chain of dancing fairies.

When Rosie came with us to Stranger's Hall, she enjoyed dressing up on and playing the games. As we left, she thanked the woman at the desk - who gave her a lovely activity book.

We came home and the next day we sat in the sunshine doing ECO and ECI and making Tudor paper dolls 

The emphasis was on educational though. Even if there was much giggling about a Tudor undergarment named a BumRoll, and another which Rosie insisted on calling a Farting-Gale!

It Started With A Book...

Liz taught me the phrase cascade of chores when one task leads to another, and another...and eventually,  maybe, some of them get completed.  A few weeks back, I said I would lend a book to someone. I put it on the table - then left the house without it. I have apologised to her now, because neither Bob nor I have seen it since July. "I must sort the bedroom bookcase" I declared "It is really overloaded" But it was too hot for housework

It has been baking in our bedroom "The fan is not very efficient" said Bob. I pointed out it was rather old, dusty, and tired [like me] We have had it 20+ years. He looked at it, and declared the the back of the grill looked rusty. But when dismantled, the brown rust proved to be a thick layer of dust. Bob cleaned it all up, it works much better. Back to the book sort. 

Technically the top 2 shelves are all Terry Pratchett, the bottom 3 are craft and cookbooks, and in between, "current reading" with ½ a shelf designated "borrowed" [from library or friends]

I cleared 5 shelves onto the top of the drawers for sorting. And soon realised it was a dusty task. I grabbed an old washing up brush and brushed down each book in turn [just like the NT conservators in Blickling Hall library]

Oh so very dusty! And there were far more books which were not craft or cookery than I'd realised. Some have come from the lounge "fiction" selection and need to go back there. Some need to leave the house forever. And that missing book is still missing [sorry, Heather!]

This is still a WIP, as I have realised there are cookbooks in the study and kitchen. But only 5 in the borrowed pile.  I am embarrassed to have found three CS books bought in Essex in March which I'd forgotten about. I'm giving books a good shake, dislodging all sort of random cards and clippings. Some to be recycled, others will be kept as bookmarks because they bring back happy memories. Like these from 1992!

How often do you sort or dust your bookshelves?

I know some of you are former librarians,  so I'm sure you are more diligent than I am!

"For Your Tomorrows, We Gave Our Today"*

The King was in Staffordshire, but we went to the local VJ Day Commemoration Service on Friday at Dereham Parish Church. It was very moving. The Curate preached the sermon, and spoke of his grandfather, who had been a prisoner in the Far East. He also talked about Bishop Leonard Wilson of Singapore, and how this gracious man of faith was able to forgive his torturers because he believed God's Spirit gave him the grace and strength to do so. I had quite forgotten about the Bishop, one of my Dad's 'heroes of faith'. I must try and find "The Singapore Story" - the moving biopic made about this man.
Here is the prayer of commitment from Friday's service

Let us pledge ourselves anew
to the service of God and our fellow men and women:
that we may help, encourage and comfort others,
and support those working for the relief of the needy
and for the peace and welfare of the nations.
Lord God our Father,
we pledge ourselves to serve you and all humankind,
in the cause of peace, for the relief of want and suffering,
and for the praise of your name.
Guide us by your Spirit;
give us wisdom;
    give us courage;
        give us hope;
and keep us faithful now and always. Amen.

* The famous Kohima Epitaph

Grounds For Improvement

We are constantly being urged to Stay Hydrated. I do try, but honestly, there is no way I could manage to cart a 1.2 litre flask around with me. A 250ml mug of liquid is my limit, and even then I will drink it slowly. Bob says that if I were to have a tomb-stone he would have it engraved "I haven't finished my tea yet"

I'm glad that NHS guidelines include tea and coffee in their list of healthy drinks that can contribute to your 6-8 glasses a day. Because this Grandma runs on tea - and Grandad Bob likes his good fresh coffee. 

We are very careful to put both our coffee grounds, and used tea leaves into the compost bin to improve the soil in the garden. If it is filter coffee from the Melitta, the grounds are carefully carried outside in the paper*, and dropped in the compost bin. Before we make our breakfast coffee,

[a mug each from the cafetiere]  the previous grounds are rinsed out over the raised bed, just outside the door [more dashing outside in my pjs...] It is important to only put used/brewed coffee on the garden, apparently if you put fresh, unused grounds on the soil it can have a detrimental effect.

Loose tea leaves from Bob's fancy brews go into the compost no problem. Tea bags are a whole other issue. Even 'biodegradable' bags don't always break down in a domestic bin. So I collect them in a little bowl by the sink. When I have half a dozen or so, I rip them in half. I empty the grounds into the compost, bags into general waste [if we only had food waste bins here, they could go in there...] But the general result of this recycling is that there is a definite improvement in the soil. Good grounds make good ground!

If you don't drink coffee yourself, you may find bags of free used coffee grounds being given away free at local establishments [like Starbucks, and National Trust coffee shops]

*I reluctantly abandoned the home made cotton filters, Bob said they imparted an unsatisfactory taste to his drink. ** tea bags do vary as to their compostability, this little graphic is helpful

Rosie Goes On Safari

Rosie on the GoGo Safari Trail on Wednesday. You can just see she is holding something white in some shots. That is because she did some craft work, making masks. This was part of the HIDDEN exhibition in St Peter Mancroft

Here is Dog Girl and Pankake Man.
We also visited another Art Gallery and the Stranger's Hall Museum.
It was a very busy day in a very hot Norwich.
Ending with borrowing jump leads from a helpful stranger in the car park, then driving to Halfords for a new car battery! Good job all the other activities did not cost us anything.

Stitches In Time

One of the parts of the "Castle Reborn" project which I have been following with particular interest is the needlework. In the Great Hall there are a number of hangings, and in the adjacent room, a wonderful embroidery - a sequel, if you like, to the Bayeux Tapestry.  

All this stitched by Norfolk women, worked to an exceedingly high standard. Here is the 'year' piece- twelve months, with sun, moon, earth and ocean in the corners.

 And here is a hanging depicting the six kings. Find out about the 'Bayeux Sequel' here

It has been hung rather high on the wall, so you cannot really see it in detail - I learned on Wednesday that many visitors have remarked on this, so maybe it will be put in a more accessible spot.

But there are panels showing some details hanging at eye level in another room

As I walked round on Monday, I was involved in a WhatsApp chat with Kirsten - the whole idea for our collaborative stitching was actually born out of an earlier visit to the Castle 3½ years ago.

"I wish you were here" I typed. There was so much inspirational stitching. I suspect some of it will definitely get into this year's TwoByTwo project.

I love that these two 'sampler' panels have such interesting stitching between the patches - gold on red cloth, and the simpler blue on white.

The people behind the Reborn Project felt it was important to ask local Norfolk Women [from the Costume and Textiles Association] to do this work - and although it is strictly an embroidery [as is the original Bayeux piece] they refer to this one also as a Tapestry.

Better photos and more details here,

The last section ends with the words

"All noise of wars, thanks be to God, is quiet in the English lands"
I am grateful for the peace of my life in East Anglia right now - would that this were true across our world.

Keep-Going

Like party-going and theatre-going, only this time having a good time in a Mediaeval Castle Keep. Because we have annual passes to Norfolk County Museums, we were delighted to be invited to a special preview of the Keep Restoration. To see the work that has been done in Norwich Castle Keep over the last seven years at a cost of millions. 

We went on Monday and it was utterly brilliant. So much to see, a fabulous atmosphere. The main Keep has been restored to the way it was in 1121. The central area is the royal dining hall, and beautifully painted in historically accurate bright colours, with wall hangings and wooden tables and benches. Visitors can dress in robes and feel part of the King's Banquet.  The place was full of people, all ages - young families, students OAPs.

Here's Bob pretending to be Henry 1st [son of William the Conqueror] Tomorrow I shall say more about the embroideries. If you can access BBC Sounds, listen to Monday's Front Row [Link here] which explains even more about this phenomenal project.

And here are some helpful Table Manners for the King's guests

Long Necked Giraffes, And A Long Legged Model

Bob and I went into Norwich yesterday, for a special event. I will explain that tomorrow once i have collated all the photos. We saw quite a few more of the GoGo Safari animals across the city. These creatures raise a lot for charity

There was a really weird giraffe with a wig, but sadly my photo didn't come out.

I dashed into M&S to get a new bra. Unfortunately my 20% off voucher isn't valid till next week, I'd missed that detail ."We've had people coming in all day to try and use these" Never mind, I already had some regular vouchers, so my multipack of 3 only cost me £5.

As I left the store, I noticed a huge poster on the wall - there is no way I could never wear trousers like this! This model must be a foot raller than me. By the time I'd shortened them to fit, I'd look like Coco the Clown! 

Why do trousers have such silly names? Carrot, barrel, cigarette and paper bag...then there are Mom jeans, and Boyfriend jeans [and a company called NYDJ , Not Your Daughter's Jeans] 

I'm waiting for M&S to introduce Very Short Granny Jeans...

Spam On Crackers, Anybody?

Despite our hard work, and your good wishes, Saturday's event did not turn out as planned. We arrived and set up just after 10, Here's a picture taken at 1pm, Saturday, as I sat beside Bob, under the Men's Shed Gazebo. Just seven people on the field, and about thirty more milling about by the bar and the tea point. 

Only eight stalls were there, and I forgot to take pictures. It was quite a surreal event really. The ice cream van left early, as so few people seemed to be buying ices.

And as for the eclectic mix of stall holders... There weren't many takers for unusual pink plastic creatures produced on a 3d printer, pyrography, WW2 memorabilia, earrings, or jute baskets. 

There was a poet who tried in vain to sell his books - he had written poems about Bloomsbury and Tavistock Square. Bob mentioned TS was close to our daughter's office. But the poet said he had never actually been there! 

There was a gentleman, dressed as a US Army Officer was giving out samples of Spam on little crackers "I have enough for 500 visitors" he said, rather sadly, and returned to his stall [a model of a Spam factory surrounded by pictures of WW2 people on ration eating Spam] He had a model chicken on top of the factory, which talked...

Publicity had not been very successful, which contributed to poor attendance I think. There were more people first thing, and a few more later - many said they couldn't find out the details anywhere and a lot of the information on social media omitted the time.

One bemused lady had come from Norwich with her dog for the Rescue Dog Event [what? where?] 

But most did stop at The Shed Display. We had positive conversations with about 40 people I think. Bob and his mates sold £50 of stuff, including just two of my aprons, plus bug hotels, model boat kits, door wedges and tealight holders. And a few blokes took leaflets about the Shed. We packed up around 3.30 [no sign of the Community Rounders Match] £50 will help with the next insurance premium. I hope to sell my aprons elsewhere [I shall put some in my online shop later this week]

When people talk about "Normal for Norfolk" they just have no idea.

Blooming Lovely!

Looking back over seven decades, I can see there is much truth in this statement. But [now I am a gardener!] I have to remind myself that sometimes it takes a long time for a seed to germinate, grow, and bear fruit.
Right now, there are signs all around the village of harvest, and gardens are full of beautiful flowers. This is a good month to remind ourselves that many seeds have to endure the winter weather and spring frosts. 

When life is tough, do not be despondent -there is light at the end of the tunnel - but some tunnels are incredibly long. And never be afraid to admit you are finding life difficult - there are people out there who care, and will stick with you on the journey.

Aprons All Fini-Shed

This is where we will be all afternoon. I have a stack of ten aprons, each tied with a Shed tag, and a leaflet explaining about the Shed in the pocket.

I have kept one apron 'loose' for display. The others are folded round a piece of card, with tissue paper inside, and I had a reel of blue cotton tape in my stash which keeps everything together neatly. 

Hoping for sunshine and sales!

Taken With A Pinch Of Salt

I read this during lockdown, two years after it first came out. I gave it a 3* review, and dithered about making it 4*. I admired their resilience and commitment to their marriage - and having toured France ourselves with a tiny tent, minimal luggage and a tight budget, I recognised that such ventures can be very stressful.

But last month's article in the Observer, by Chloe Hadjimatheou left a really sour taste in my mouth.

What was claimed to be a 'true story' in fact is full of not just inaccuracies, but many actual falsehoods. 

When I read the book, some parts didn't feel quite right, and in my review I said as much  "It doesn't do to be too forensic as you read it. I think there are parts where things may have been slightly adjusted to fit the narrative. I mean, surely, a woman of her age, packing for a long journey by the sea in summer, would remember a hat and some sanpro? And their diet, if it was exactly as described, seems extremely bizarre and unhealthy. Dates are very vague - and there is a hiatus in their walk, when someone offers accommodation so they can be inside 'over the winter'. Nine months disappear into one chapter. "
But I tried not too be too judgmental, so didn't put in my review that I felt that stealing food from the village shop is always wrong: I gave her the benefit of the doubt, their finances were tight, she was worried that her sick husband was weak from lack of food etc. But now I learn that they own a plot of land in France, and that there are serious doubts about his diagnosis of a terminal illness.
Winn was very critical of other people, who apparently dismissed the pair as "tramps, down and outs, or addicts". There are numerous episodes where they are treated badly at campsites and little shops. Since Chloe's article, a number of Cornish people have come forward and spoken of their distress at recognising their shops and sites described in the book - with totally false reports of what happened. Some are local traders who lost business because of the way they have been very inaccurately portrayed in the book.

Somebody at Penguin didn't do their necessary checking up before publishing this "true" story, did they? They might have discovered inter3sting facts -That the bailiffs claimed their house because they had embezzled money from their employees. That nine months condensed into one short chapter misses out the things that they did in the community which sheltered them, and the debts they left unpaid. That the medical details in the book do not follow the same timeline as those Winn has given elsewhere. 

It is all really sickening. I wonder how Gillian Anderson feels now, having played the lead character in the film? 
I recognised that directors claim "dramatic licence" when they alter the details of a story for the film - to make it easier to follow etc. But it seems to be the case that a high percentage of the original book was based on economies with the truth - and yet it claims to be a true story.
"What would happen to us, if we suddenly became homeless and without any income?" I said to Bob - and he said that our friends would rally round and help. [As they did for us in 1985] "Well where were her friends?" I responded. And I found myself wondering if the fact that Raynor claimed that nobody seemed to be friendly towards to them was because she herself wasn't a particularly friendly character. Maybe she did not have any friends to support her.

As Mark Twain said "A lie can get half way round the world while truth is getting its boots on"

Some people are angry, others feel cheated by all this. I just feel sad

HMS Pinafore ?

That stands for His Men's Shed Pinafore. Much progress has been made in the last few hours.

Two machines on the go - one to embroider logos, the other to stitch them in place. I wanted a very simple design.

I used the selvedge cut from the 50cm wide lengths. But where to put them? Bib or pocket? I asked for help...

Steph and Kirsten agreed the pocket. 
On the bib it looks like a staff uniform.
Kirsten suggested at right angles. 
Brilliant. 
BBQ Apron Design done 

But in future, sew logo on pocket before assembling, for ease of construction! Now I have to make loads more before Saturday when the Shed gazebo will be up at the Village Hall as part of the community VJ Day Celebrations