A Riot Of Colour!

Elisabeth was outside the station as I drove up, and within 10 minutes we were parked at the Racecourse. Check-in was quick [we had prebooked tickets] and we'd walked 75% of the way round the ground floor in the first hour. Then at 11.30 the loudspeaker went bing-bong! and a cheerful voice welcomed us and reminded us the three eating venues were all now fully open. 

I fully expected the voice to say "Hello Campers, Hi-de-Hi!" but she didn't. We looked out at the race track - all very green, but deserted. Not a horse in sight... and decided we were ready for coffee. E&I are old hands at this, we checked the three places, and discovered the cheapest coffee was inside in The Runners' Bistro - and it was fairtrade and served in proper mugs. E has a very strong social conscience and we were happy with this choice. We chatted and then it was noon, and people were coming in for lunches [which smelled delicious] We decamped to a sheltered spot outside and ate our packed lunch [prepared by E] Then back inside for more meandering. Stallholders were saying that people had been slow in arriving, and there were fewer than expected. We were 99% white women in the 40-80 age bracket. Most stallholders were women too, but there were some blokes.

You can see that it doesn't look that crowded! E had never been to a Quilt Show before and loved looking at stuff [and deciding not to buy it] There was one knitting/wool stand upstairs. 

I did like the award-winning Thimblewood stand, with their lovely felt nativity set, and beach hut etui. But came away with just the business card! 
I did not think much of the man in the corner selling marbling kits for £40, nor the guy with all sorts of overpriced perspex gizmos to make your quilting and patchwork easier. "I know a lot of ladies struggle with maths so this ruler has zero in the middle and measures out left and right, so you can find the centre of your work more easily" This "lady" took an exception to that, and moved on swiftly. Going with a friend is always a good move. You can ask each other "Would I really get much use out of this?" and if salesperson is too pushy, one of you can say "Let's so for coffee and think about this" I watched quite a few women waving their credit cards and buying things with apparently very little consideration about their purchases.

Special mention for AitchBee. This stand looked familiar, as did the one beside it Helen Howe's quilts- I visited their shop on the Norfolk/Suffolk border the year before the pandemic and blogged about them. I showed them the post I had written then, and Helen filled me in on the story since that summer. Two lovely ladies- who were generously giving away postcards with notes on how to replicate some of their quilt patterns!

There were many large quilts hanging around the venue featuring Kaffe Fassett prints, and more of those Highland cows [complete kits available to buy], and also a display of ones which had won prizes in the pre-show competition.

We looked at three quilts by Gillian Travis. They all followed the same format; she collected photographs whilst on holiday [Shetlands, India and Mexico] then reproduced details as paintings on postcard size pieces of ecru cotton. Each piece was then embellished with stitching [hand and machine] The scottish one had letters, and small items [jumpers and bobble hats] as well as scenery and building. India was vehicles, Mexico was doors.

These were on the top floor of the show. It was almost 3pm. And I made my Big Purchase of the day. Then we went for more coffee [and shared a slice of cake] and returned, as Elisabeth had decided she wanted to splash the cash too. As we left, at 4, the bingbong! lady was wishing us all a safe journey home. Next week I will post pictures of what I bought! Thanks Elisabeth for being a great friend and a good companion. A pleasant day out - lots of inspiration for further projects. 

Quilts Super, Quick Supper

 

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Elisabeth and I had a lovely day. Lots of laughing and chatting and catching up, while we looked at all the merchandise and quilt displays. It will take a while to sort all my photos. 

So here's one I took earlier of a recipe I tried out this week. 

This is Jamie Oliver's Roasted Pepper Pasta. 

I made it on Wednesday evening and set aside half for Thursday. It was very easy and very tasty. And it just required heating through when I got back from the Quilt Show feeling exhausted [but happy]

Spinning, Strimming, Trimming

Tuesday was a pleasant day and for the first time this year, the whirligig dryer went up in the back garden. Always a cheerful sign, spring is on the way. And later Bob strimmed the edges of the lawn, and mowed the grass. The grass was just a bit loo long. I'd better get a move on with my 2026 garden notes.

My hair was also a bit long, so I drove into Norwich and went to Supercuts. Shelley cut quite a lot off, but I am pleased with the shorter cut. I can show off my dangly earrings! I think my last cut was in September, but Steph trimmed my fringe in the Christmas holidays.  A one length bob needs minimal maintenance, but once it gets a bit too long and the weather warms up, I like to go shorter again.

I am still unpacking bits and pieces from the Manchester trip. I thought I had left Bob's slippers behind. I hadn't - but I had failed to pack my little red Icelandic beauties!

Today should be a lot of fun, I am meeting up with my old friend Elisabeth in Newmarket - we have been friends for 44 years. We are going to the racecourse together- but for a Quilting Show, not to bet on the horses! There will be a full report later...

Burgers, Milkshakes, And Buddy Holly

Thank you for all yesterday's kind birthday wishes for Rosie 

When Bob arrived in Manchester last Friday afternoon, he said he had stopped for lunch at an American Dinner, and had really enjoyed his meal* So on our way home on Monday, he suggested that the pair of us stop for an evening meal at the OK Diner, on the A17, near Newark.

It was dark when we arrived, but the neon lights shone bright. We parked and went inside.
It was just like the diners I have seen on TV - red and blue banquette seating, decor included vintage CocoCola bottles, pictures of Marilyn Monroe, Uncle Sam in his top hat, and the star spangled banners everywhere. The waitstaff were a cheery bunch in their red tee shirts. And the jukebox was playing relentlessly cheerful 1950s hits the entire time we were there. 
We both had Top Dollar Malted Chocolate Milk Shakes, made in huge aluminium cups in the machine, then decanted into tall glasses. We were give the glasses, and the cups, so we could top up and have a second glass. I drank part of mine before my meal arrived [chicken burger] and some with the meal - then had a paper cup to take the rest with me. Bob enjoyed his shake along with his chicken platter. The food was lovely and hot. Staff could not have been more helpful, chatty and pleasant. 

In case you are wondering, this is what the place looks like in daylight. It was great fun - I suggested that if we made another Manchester trip early in the morning, we could have breakfast there. I'll have the short pancake stack with maple syrup and bacon, please. 

*The Cona coffee was in a glass jug, keeping hot, so rather stewed - but then that is the authentic way of serving coffee in diners, so we cannot complain, as I told Bob.
I kept thinking of all those films and TV shows I have watched where they eat in a diner, and felt I would not have been surprised if Meg Ryan, Al Pacino or Guy Fieri had been sitting at the next booth!

Into Double Figures

Hard to believe it but Rosie is ten today. So many great memories...

• 2016 when she first came home from hospital, first Grandad cuddle
• 2020 lockdown, and that amazing summer of Grandma's nursery at Cornerstones 
• 2021 Jess was born, and Ro has been a wonderful big sister ever since
• And now growing up so fast

Thank you for your wit and wisdom, love and thoughtfulness, for the joy and laughter you bring us everyday. Happy Birthday Rosie. God bless you today and always 

Half Term, Half And Half

 Half the holiday in Norfolk with the girls

Then half in Manchester with the boys

Highlights

Monday's Beaver Trail at Bkickling Hall, followed by lunch at The Whistles top café at Aylsham Station. Yes that Aylsham - now much more famous than it was a week ago. Also teaching Rosie how to embroider. Board games, and pancake party. 

Word games, and Mousetrap, stories with Grandad.[when he wasn't fixing things and doing odd jobs] And some of us shared a nasty cold. 

So lovely to spend so much time with our two daughters and their families.

Cornerstones is going to feel very quiet this week. 

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?