A Pause In Lent #1

Just a simple prayer...

The Opposite Of "Deliver Us From Evil"?

I was decluttering a file of household documents last week, and a delivery note fell out. With slightly strange wording

"Delivery caused by goodwill" - what could that possibly mean?

Delivery in the Close is usually done by the postman, the milkman, the supermarket chap, the meds from our surgery or the impatient Amazon//online guys. Nobody hereabouts is need of delivery by a midwife, nor 'ministry of deliverance' from the Vicar. So what is 'delivery 'by goodwill'?
I looked for further clues - it is from Neff, and 'these parts should be fitted by a suitably qualified person'. Then I checked the date [1996] and the address [Kirby Muxloe] and what these parts were...

Then everything made sense. In the spring of 1996, we moved into the new Manse [built 1992], which had a fancy Neff double oven with gas hob. But no operating instructions.
I contacted the company, and they said they'd send a set of booklets. This was the delivery note that came with them. I presume 'caused by goodwill' means 'we are not going to charge you for these'

Thirty years on, times have changed so much. Most manuals are available online. I've just passed my older Janome Sewing Machine on to a friend from the Craft Group. I could find all the accessories - but not the manual. It took less than 10 minutes to find it online and print it off for her. 

When we left Kirby in 2015, I left all the appliance manuals behind for the next occupants! The phrase 'delivery caused by goodwill' sounds so friendly and charitable, doesn't it? It is always good to find helpful customer service departments.

Can you recommend any companies which go "above and beyond" ?

Sent Packing

Shakespeare uses the phrase " I'll send him packing" in Henry IV,  where it is said by Falstaff [who was based on a real guy, Sir John Falstolf, a man born and buried in North Norfolk] As far as I can tell, it always means to dismiss abruptly - there is never any mention of suitcases. Obviously my train trip to Manchester has meant packing carefully. 

Tuesday night after the pancake party I put everything onto the bed, and decided I could get it all into a wheeled cabin bag,plus my Roka backpack, and phone, tickets and glasses case in my small crossbody banana bag. 

My new Icelandic woollen house slippers. Liz and Ro bought them on their trip to Denmark. Great for travel they pack flat and take up little room in the case. 

I was mildly amused by the conversation of the couple beside me on the station platform with two matching suitcases. 

He wondered why she had not packed teabags, she said she hadn't got any in individual paper wrappers. 

I wondered where they were going if they couldn't get teabags when they got there. But then, who am I to judge? I'm the woman who packed a tupperware box of teabags in my case when I went on heneymoon, To Yorkshire! Just in case... 

Nowadays my packing list has a few essential items - phone, meds, charger, toothbrush, spare pants and socks. I rarely pack teabags anymore! Then there's all the rest [this week, I have gifts for family, warm clothes, ongoing craft project, and sermon notes to be worked on for next Sunday] When Bob arrives today, I expect him to have a comprehensive toolkit in the boot, and a ladder strapped on the roof, plus my repaired glasses. 

What are the important things in your suitcase? 

Thank You Jean!

I really enjoy Jean's lifestyle Blog A House in France, and her baking blog A Slice Of Cake. She's a lovely woman, and I got to meet her and her husband when they holidayed in Norfolk a few years ago. Recently Nick bought her a half-price Bundt Pan, and so she decided to make him a cake in it. The Pan was from the Golden Jubilee Range brought out in 2006 when the company was 50 years old.

They still make the golden pans. I have one of these, which Bob found in a charity shop in 2017, unused. I think he paid £6 - they now retail at around £50!

Jean chose a recipe called Fochabers Gingerbread from a book by Scottish writer and chef Sue Lawrence. I had been to the Baxter's Estate in Fochabers many years ago, so the recipe interested me. 

I decided to make the cake on Saturday afternoon. Cakes in Bundt Pans are notoriously difficult to turn out, but Jean also has a recipe for Cake Release Paste on her website. I made a batch.
I followed the recipe [here] And I am thrilled with the result. It turned out beautifully! Thankyou Jean for the inspiration. With family around this week, it is good to have some cake in the tin.

It is rich in dried fruit and ground almonds - the black specks are sultanas etc. The ginger, cloves and mixed spice made the kitchen fragrant as the cake cooked. 
Apart from my Christmas Cake, I haven't made many cakes recently. Jean has inspired me to bake more regularly - merci beaucoup, Jean! 

Have you ever cooked in a Bundt Pan?
Can you share a favourite Bundt recipe?

Tis A Far, Far Batter Thing I Do...

Said Bob as we loaded Rosie and Jess into the car yesterday afternoon and headed off for chapel

He cooked well over 100 pancakes. Loads of families from the village came. My activities table was well received

All those children who coloured pictures, did word searches, made Mardi Gras Carnival crowns, or did Chinese New Year activities went home with a small bag of Haribos and a Chinese banknote for ¢500,000! Rosie and Jess were really friendly and helpful, welcoming visitors, explaining the Crafts and helping clear up.  I was too busy to take pictures!

£50 was raised to help Ukraine. We were quite exhausted, but pleased how well it went. 

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A Short Post

Last month, Jess found some cute fabric in a charity shop, and asked Grandma to make her a dress or something. I explained there wasn't enough material for a dress. Liz suggested for a cushion for her bed. I had a small cushion pad in the stash, so whipped up a simple cover. Last week, the machine was out, and I decided I had just enough fabric left for a little pair of shorts. I used my M&S reward voucher to get a plain white teeshirt. Adding a tiny puppy motif on the sleeve produced a sweet pyjama set. I'm so pleased that Jess is already a keen supporter of CS, happily putting outgrown toys and clothes in the Donate Bag, and looking for books and bargains in the stores. 

B

Two Little Dickey Birds...

 

Two years ago, on my birthday, Steph, Gaz and the boys sent me a corn plant from Bloom and Wild. It has thrived in the lounge, and doubled in size. I may have to repot it soon. 
It has glossy green leaves, but was looking a bit uninteresting. I decorated the compost with the flowers and cross from Rosie's 2025 Easter garden...

Then when I was in the garage recently, I found something unexpected in ,y bag of silk flowers.  Two cute little orange birds with clips on their undersides. I have popped them onto the corn plant. I think they are fun - I shall wait to see if Jess and Rosie notice them when they next visit.

Four Years On

Four years ago we held our first Foulsham Pancake Party. On Tuesday, Bob will flip the pancakes again for our fifth such event. 

The war in Ukraine had begun the week before, so although our event was free, we put out a donations jar for HopeNow, a charity we know personally, who have been working in Ukraine for many years. 

That night, we raised £75. This week we will have our fifth pancake party here. It has already become a tradition - and until this war is over, we will go on supporting, and go on praying.

God who hears,

For four years we have prayed, mourned and lamented. Four years of war in Ukraine. Four years of invasion, of violence, of death.

Sometimes it slips from news broadcasts and from people’s consciousness. But we know you, O God, have not forgotten.

We hold before you refugees who still feel like strangers, unsure when or if they will ever see and hug loved ones again.

Keep safe those who remain in Ukraine. Protect them from the mental and physical wounds of war. We ask for a miraculous end to this bloodshed.

Help us, even when we feel powerless, to act where we can. To care, to listen, to sit with those who grieve. To give, to protest, to continue to pray:

Your kingdom come, your will be done on Earth as in Heaven.   Amen

[With thanks to the Churches' Joint Public Issues Team for this prayer resource] 

Happy Valentine's Day

Here is a picture of the jigsaw I bought in November. I started it early December, then rolled it up on the felt mat - and only got it out again this week. It took a couple of evenings to complete

The Kiss seems a fitting picture to post on Valentine's Day!  I found it quite challenging, all that black hair and the black rectangles - not to mention the curved edge [no corners !] 
Bizarrely the picture is actually the mirror image of Klimt's original artwork. I wonder why? This is such a small section of the canvas too.
But today I celebrate love... not just Eros - romantic love, but also Philia - true friendship/family love, and Agape - God's perfect love.
Today is a day for showing love and kindness to all. And being grateful for those we love, and who love us.

Double Vision?

Bob is very fond of science fiction, whether books,films or TV programmes. Me, not so much. But years ago, he pointed out to me two actors in this TV genre who look so similar, they are frequently confused. So much so, that they themselves occasionally appear together...[they are both Brits] 

James Callis played Dr Gaius Baltar in more than 70 episodes of Battlestar Galactica [as well as playing Tom, a good friend to Bridget Jones in 4 films] but he looks awfully like Alexander Siddig who played Dr Julian Bashir in over 170 episodes of Star Trek

They do look very like each other imho

We both like crime dramas. Currently enjoying Grantchester, Patience and Silent Witness, in the first, one of the main characters is Leonard [the former curate] played by Al Weaver. We were watching Patience, and I said there's Leonard! He sounded like him too. But when I checked out the cast list, this minor character was actually a different guy called Rasmus Hardiker. And to add to the Co fusion, RH also had a bit part in Silent Witness too. Here's RH and AW.

What do you think?

Can you think of any other famous lookalikes?

PS tomorrow's post will not have a sight- related title!

UPDATE Suggestion from A below - Jack from Silent Witness and Christopher Lee in Fu Manchu

Terri suggests Justin and Nathan

Gill says Rupert Grint and Ed Sheeran 

Finally  Rob Brydon, Ben Miller and Anton Du Bec!  Thanks for the great suggestions, not adding any more pictures here tonight

Eye! Eye!

Well, that will teach me! Having joked about SpecSavers and Double Vision, I ended up back at the opticians just after I posted yesterday. The left lens fell out of my glasses. It happened on Monday, then again Wednesday morning. I took them back and the manager agreed that they were rather loose in the new frames. They have gone off to be fixed. Leaving me acting like Steve Fletcher again, alternating between two pairs of specs. 
A bit frustrating as I'd set aside Wednesday as a sewing day. I got on with it as best I could.
The half duvet cover was hemmed properly to make a tablecloth. I used part of the remainder to recover the ironing board. 

Originally there were seven "Ports Of Call" in Jeff Banks' bedlinen range. But that was 30 years ago - now there are just two patterns [but not this one]
Quick tip for making a new cover for your board. Measure length, and width. Add 25 cm to each of those, and cut a rectangle that size. Fold all edges over to make a double hem approx 2 cm deep. Press firmly.  Mitre the corners as shown. Then stitch the hem all round. Close to the edge  leave the mitres unstitched. This makes it easier to thread your elastic. 

Take a length of elastic, feed it through the casing and pull it tight on the board. Those unstitched gaps at the corners will make it easier to thread. Fasten with a knot and tuck loose ends inside. My elastic is repurposed from an old anorak, and still has the retaining bobble!

I am very pleased with today's endeavours. I have also been working on two secret projects for Ro and Jess, and working on the 2x2 [ but gave up because I coulndn't handstitch as neatly as I wanted without my proper glasses.
I did at least manage to do the ironing!

I Spy...

Two SpecSavers Home Visit Vehicles outside two adjacent properties. Is this a case of Double Vision?

Yesterday was very busy, lots happening on the craft front. One thing I hadn't done for ages...

French Knitting.

I bought this little knitting doll in Flying Tiger a couple of summers ago, and meant to teach Rosie but then forgot.

Now I have a genuine reason for wanting to make some cords myself, so I sat and had a practice after lunch.

I will explain later! 

The 2x2 project is progressing slowly. K and I are exchanging a lot of WhatsApp messages. I will be glad when the weather brightens up, it's cold and damp found here! 

Rediscovered Treasures

Back in 2012, my blog friend Floss suggested a new blog event. [now a fully fledged Anglican priest, it was Floss who started the Pause in Lent and Pause in Advent events]

She called it The Thrill Of What You Already Have and you can read more HERE

I was reminded of this on Saturday when I was pottering in the old garage, and came across a carrier bag of silk flowers. There were some daffodils in there, and I'd just thrown away a bunch of real [but dead] ones.
They were 95p in Lidl, and they had lasted two weeks and brought much joy. These ones could take there place until more fresh ones arrive.

Normally there is a green cloth on the dining table - I have two, bought from Scotts of Stow, back in the 90s, and I rotate them. But I felt like a change. I looked in the linen drawer - and found a single duvet cover. I know exactly when I bought that - Easter 1996, it was in Debenhams, half price - and I had just been given a new divan bed for the spare room in Kirby. That bed is long gone, and most of my other single bedlinen too. I shook it out, and put it on the table. Ta Da!

I really like the way the amber/brown pattern sets off the greeny blue vase, and the daffodils. And Steph's lovely picture behind picks up those shades too. I think she painted that when she was a student - it is at least 20 years ago...
It has the words of the Lord's prayer, and a dove of peace, and fresh golden wheat against a sunny background [originally hung on a yellow kitchen wall]

I quite like this arrangement - fresh and springlike. I think I may unpick the duvet cover, and hem the fabric from this side, and retain the other for something else!

I found other treasure in the carrier bag - but that will be for another post.

Do you use silk flowers - or only fresh ones ? [my daffs were purchased for a Day of Prayer display four years ago]

How often do you find 'treasure' in the cupboard, when you are actually looking for something else?

Oh Don't They Know? There's No Such Thing...

I know I am not the only one excited by last week's announcement by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler. There's a new book coming in the Autumn, featuring the Gruffalo Granny! 

JD says the idea has been bouncing around in her head for over twenty years, and now she's a granny herself, it has all come together. AS says that down the decades since the first book came out, he has occasionally drawn a few Gruffalo pictures, to keep his hand in, Personally, now I am a granny too, let me add my two-penn'orth to the comments 

• I approve of the fact the Granny has let the rich chestnut fur grow naturally into an attractive silver grey
• As I suspect, the Deep Dark Wood may be in Norfolk. Evidenced by the lack of adequate dentistry.
• Her tail and ears are a little droopy  -  body sagginess a definite sign of age catching up with this busy woman. 
• A stick is always useful, for walking, poking, or hoicking things down from high places.
• Her eyes remain alert and bright
• Her expression is amiable, she looks secretly amused
• She carries a pencil and notebook ready record important things
• She has a sensible crossbody bag, capacious enough for knitting, drink, snacks, tissues whatever

The plot has yet to be revealed. Thus far we have just one line
the Gruffalo said to his daughter one day
    "your Gruffalo granny is coming to stay"

My daughter has suggested that maybe granny visits so that G and his missus can go out to the Pub [that would be the one on the far side of the Deep Dark Wood? ]

However I suspect she may be going to teach her granddaughter important life skills

• calculating the the Fibonacci sequence [you maybe female, but STEM subjects matter]
• learning to bake [see here for a good cookbook] 
• telling those stories that parents sometimes 'forget' ["when your Dad was small, he ..."]
• practising how to be a proper activist and go on demos. [let's role play, child - I will be Emmeline Pankhusrt, and you can be Greta Thunberg]

What do YOU think that Gruffalo Granny should be doing when she visits

Something Beautiful

 

O living God, 

draw all the fragments of my life

into the bright mosaic of your love;

weave all the tangled threads of my desires

into the tapestry you are spreading,

like a rainbow,

on the loom of the world;

and help me celebrate the many facets

and the dazzling colours

of your peace.

Amen

Thank you Kirsten for sharing this prayer from Judy Hulme.

Feeling A Little Pasty, Eating A Large Pasty

The former represents how I have been recently, not sleeping well and therefore feeling fatigued. The sinus issue was still bothering me - and I have apparently been snoring an awful lot. I finally saw the GP on Thursday, and he discovered I have polyps in both nostrils - and they, not the sinuses, are the cause of the problem. A daily nasal spray should deal with them [but allow 12 weeks for it to work fully, he says] I felt much better for knowing what was wrong!
The latter- I watched Jamie's programme on Monday night [Channel 4], and decided to cook his £5 meal meat and potato pasties
The recipe was easy, budget friendly and we both enjoyed them - but they were huge

They came out nearly 20cm across and filled the bowl, I served them with mix veg. The filling [mince, plus grated potato, carrot, onion] was very moist and the 3tbsp of brown sauce added extra flavour. We added a little ketchup at the table. Next time, I might make three[ or four] smaller pasties with this quantity of mixture. Using strong bread flour for the pastry meant it was both thin, and robust [but not tough] I need to practice my crimping technique though
Have you cooked any of Jamie's £5 Feasts?

Twelve By Two

 Post came bright and early on Thursday. with K's final patch

As well as the patch and notes, I discovered some lovely knitting stitch markers, and cute erasers in the small flat box. When I was wrestling with my knot ideas, I had told myself that if that failed, I would just do a miniature ninepatch piece. But I did accomplish the knot - and lo and behold, Kirsten has sent me a gorgeous little square, using scraps from other collaborations, and charm sqaures- and a postage stamp fabric to celebrate our cross country collaboration.

We are both itching to sew our dozen pieces together now. Arranging them is fun...

I'd started sewing mine on Monday at Craft Group, but the newest patch cannot go in that space, it is too similar to the one beside it.
Meanwhile Kirsten laid hers out, and felt that maybe some of them [like the darned square] need a bit of a border

I can see how that edging helps soften the bright white evenweave. We are both working on the design of our finished pouches, and plans for the embroidered 'rubric' tape.

Do you like the soft grey woollen fabric which we are using to back our pieces? Suitably neutral I think. 
I was given a length of red viscose last month, which I am planning to use for a lining. I have sent some of it to K too. Seven weeks till Easter, and we hope to be done and dusted by then...

I'm A Frayed Knot!

It is just 6 months since Norwich Castle re-opened after the multimillion£££ restoration. We were delighted to have early view tickets, because we hold annual passes. I was blown away by everything there was- not just the phenomenal embroideries, but also the bright colours, and the wooden furniture, and the ironwork on the doors. I knew that I wanted to represent this project on one of my two-by-two patches. It has taken me till now, the very last patch, to actually do it. I have been planning this for weeks and weeks...

Historians discovered that the medieval castle builders used lots of bright colours, and although we are used to dark oak church doors, when first installed they would likely have been glorious primary hues, with black ironwork. This new door was designed by a Norfolk company, and the ironwork created in the forge at Holkham. 

It is the Bigod Door, named after Baron Bigod, first Norman Earl of Norfolk in the 12^th C, when the castle was built. This door is oak, covered in gloriously bright blue leather. I was amazed by the way that strips of metal were twisted and knotted, similar to Celtic knots and then riveted to the wood. The metal work forms hinges, handles, and general decoration.

I copied one particular knot last autumn and decided to recreate it with fabric and thread. It proved quite a challenge. I abandoned the idea of satin stitch, then thought about couching down some cord. Perhaps a black shoelace on blue fabric? It didn’t look right. I did have a book of small linen samples. I opted to use a neutral colour for the patch, with the knot in a bright blue cord.

Having worked out the knot – under/over/under/ over I pinned it to a piece of corrugated card and adjusted the loops as best I could, then transferred cord carefully to fabric and stitched it down[blanket stitch] with two strands of floss [blue/ lilac/ purple random dye]
Then I added NORWICH CASTLE, REBORN 2025 in back stitch in plain purple floss.

The first one, on darker linen, had the ends of cord going over the edge, and the lettering was perhaps a little too close to the fold. And in the wrong light, you couldn’t read it anyway! There were problems with the cord ends fraying too. So Kirsten is getting the lighter one  which I consider to be better of the two!

This knot was hard enough to create with cord, I am in awe of a blacksmith who can make such a knot with hot twisted metal – whether in 1100 or 2020!   

Notes:

• The knot is the one at the top of the vertical decoration which runs up the centre of the door.
• Baron Bigod is now remembered in the wonderful Brie style artisanal cheese, made at the Fen Farm Dairy in Suffolk
• This is my last patch. Kirsten's should arrive very soon and we will get on with stitching the 'rubric' and making up the project. Hoping to be done by Easter.
• I'm becoming quietly obsessed with ancient needlework, but equally fascinated by the technological developments which mean my new sewing machine can do so much more than any I have ever used before...It's all about finding the best in both disciplines I think.

Counting, Watching. Listening

Because some of you were asking yesterday - here's the Nine Times Table Fingers Trick, I cannot find the originator of this YouTube, but it is explained very well here.

There are other Finger Tricks for times tables but personally I would not use them as I think they may confuse the children. Many school do not want children using their fingers at all as they believe it is a bad idea, and will prevent their pupils thriving in maths. But personally I love this one for the nines, and even quite young children learn it quickly and enjoy showing off to the adults. I am 70, I have a BSc in Maths, but I still count with my fingers at times. Especially when I am calculating stitches in knitting patterns!
Lots of crafting going on this week - repairs and jeans hems for friends, and my final 2x2 patch has gone off to K in the post. Once hers arrives, I will start stitching them together, and making up my sewing pouch. Pictures soon...

Have you been watching the Night Manager [season 2] ? no spoilers hereIt ended on Sunday evening, and the finale was quite harrowing.  They filmed season 1 ten years ago, and in April 2016, Hugh Laurie and Tom Hiddleston said there would not be a season 2. Ten years later, here it is - and the writer, David Farr has already said he is working in Season 3, and promises there will not be a ten year gap this time round!

I have been working at the sewing machine, with earbuds in, listening to Radio 4 Extra. Specifically, one of Mark Taverner's comedy thrillers "In The Chair"- first broadcast in 1998. The two main stars are Michael Williams [Husband of Judi Dench] and Barry Foster [original VanDerValk] but the rest of the cast is superb
Hugh Laurie is Prime Minister, then there are other great actors, Rebecca Front, Richard Griffith, John Bird, Kenneth Cranham, Geoffrey Whitehead.  

Many of these brilliant people are no longer with us, but Front, Fry and Laurie continue to entertain on stage, screen and radio. Bob and I enjoys Hugh Laurie's jazz too [ HL can not only act, but also sing and play the piano!] 
I was doing my volunteer visiting at the hospital last week, and talking to a patient who said she was grateful to have a radio with her [no TVs on the ward] but found it hard to find programmes she liked. She was thrilled when I told her what she could listen to on Radio 4 Extra - Paul Temple, Tony Hancock, Dad's Army, Sherlock Holmes...
And after all, sometimes on radio, the pictures are better!