It's The Silly Season!

This phrase was first coined in the UK in 1861, describing late July. August and September. It is a period during the summer months when the papers publish trivial news stories to fill space, primarily because major institutions are in recess. During this time, stories about massive vegetables, strange animal behaviour, or Loch Ness Monster sightings often take centre stage in the news.
Here in East Anglia, we have had some rather ambiguous headlines, alongside bizarre photographs in the last couple of weeks. Julian and I were reading the Eastern Daily Press online over the weekend. We honestly couldn't decide of some of these captions with the accompanying pictures were deliberately chosen, or whether the head had gone to their heads.
For instance 

Sandringham Estate in Norfolk
hit by "Vermin Infestation"

The report does explain...A tenant, who did not wish to be named, told a national newspaper: "There are always rodents in an agricultural area like this, but most people can keep the numbers under control by having a cat."…However, tenants on the estate are banned from keeping cats under a rule introduced by the late Queen Elizabeth II to protect wildlife in the area. Despite the complaints raised at the council meeting, it is understood that the estate has not received any direct reports of vermin from tenants, . …It comes after Andrew Mountbatten Windsor's new home on the estate, Marsh Farm in Wolferton, was invaded by moles earlier this year.

Next My Grandsons are particularly keen on this local theme park. But this picture certainly made Julian and me laugh

Dinosaur Park gets green light for new look

We presume the exclamation mark is to be illuminated in future !!

Thirdly

Owners of "hidden" sauna, built without planning permission, fight to save it.
The bizarre thing about this story is that the sauna never was 'hidden' - the EDP had a big feature on it back in April when it opened.

The establishment is called The Hidden Sauna Club because it is off the beaten track, looking out over the countryside. It has proved incredibly popular. Quite why the owner thought she could build this without first seeking planning permission is unclear. But she is now applying retrospectively, claiming "the sauna is small in both scale and impact"
It is proving very popular, operating seven days a week, daytime and evenings, with sessions for up to 8 people at a time.[£20 an hour, if you're interested] So it's clearly a nice little earner. But the first sentence really tickled me
"The owners... hope the council planners WILL NOT POUR COLD WATER on its bid to stay in business" 
I don't know about the silly season, but as they say round here, it is

One final thing, picked up, bizarrely, by the Manchester Evening News before the EDP or the BBC reported it - the World Snail Racing Championship at Grimston in West NorfolK, was won this year by Snailor Swift!! [here]

Watching The World Go By

Friday was really quite tiring. We went to see my old schoolfriend, A, who I reconnected with in the autumn, who is now out of hospital. But her mobility is poor and she decided she was not able to look after herself properly any more. So she's relocated to a care home by the sea. I have visited her there three times now. The journey is quite exciting, as the satnav takes us on a route through the backroads, and villages I have never heard of before. Like Sco Ruston, a tiny hamlet mentioned in the Domesday Book. 

Last week, we went down a hill, on a narrow hill between some cottages and rounded a corner. Bob slowed right down as he steered the sharp right hand bend. And there, in the middle of the road was a guy in a red stripy jumper and bobble hat. "There's Wally!!" called out my witty spouse, as he braked. We did not see Wally this week. 

A has no phone and no internet connection. She asked Bob to sort something out for her. He spent the morning setting this up - once the care home had managed to find the wi-fi password for her. I don't think many of the residents are able to use modern technology - and her bedroom is woefully short of power sockets. We finally got away at 2pm, and decided to go to Sheringham for lunch.

I had my first ever iced matcha. I suspect it may be my last. It was cooling, but I didn't feel it was that special. As I told Bob "It doesn't taste green either!" We popped into a few charity shops, and I bought a mug. I don't actually need it, but it brought back happy memories. 

You may know La Vache Qui Rit, [the Laughing Cow] the processed cheese made by the Bel Cheese Company in France for over a century.  There is a Belgian company with a similar name

When we had a family holiday in Belgium 25 years ago, we saw adverts for "La Vache Qui Regarde Passer Les Trains" [the cow that watches the passing trains] This is the logo of a  family company producing foods which are organic, vegan, and made with ingredients sourced locally to their factory near Liege.

Sauces, dips, spreads, biscuits, crackers, desserts, chocolates...all very delicious, and good for the planet. We enjoyed some of the foods on our holiday.  At one of the major Belgian stations, there was a lovely tiled mural. The cow is standing, wide eyed, chewing the cud, watching the world go by.

The girls were growing up, that was one of our last family holidays together, just the four of us. Bob had spent all his childhood summers in Belgium staying with his grandmother. We took the girls once. So I treated myself to this mug because of the joyful happy memories that flooded back. And I shall show it to the grandchildren when they visit. 

I do like this little cow, and if it were not so hot right now, I might even get out my silks to embroider a picture of her on a piece of cotton. 

Standing watching the world go by is about all I have the energy for at the moment...

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? 

Goodbye, And Godspeed

This is Bob's birthday lunch three werks ago, when we went to Gem, the restaurant by Norwich Station. We are with our good friends Peter and Wendy [Peter is a week younger than Bob]

I am posting the picture now because today they are leaving Norfolk to go and live in Cyprus. I shall really miss them. When they moved to our area almost 4 years ago, they came to the Chapel. I discovered we had mutual friends in other parts of the country and we hit it off immediately.

Both Peter and Wendy have contributed so much to the life of our little fellowship.

Wendy and I have lots in common. But at least we have WhatsApp and can keep in touch. And who knows, maybe we will fly out for a holiday, and stay in their sunny new home...God bless you both

Keeping Up Appearances

That fabulous TV show ran from 1990-1995. How we loved watching bossy Mrs Bucket [pronounced Bouquet] She reminded me of a WI woman I met in Warwickshire in the 70s, surname Sidebottom, who insisted on being called Mrs Sidday-Bot-Tome. Was that programme really thirty years ago? In 1994, we were on holiday in Sussex, and we took the girls [aged 12 and 10] to the Festival Theatre, to see Patricia Routledge in the farce "The Schoolmistress" by Pinero. She was clever, and witty, a consummate professional. She enjoyed a long and glittering career, on stage, radio and screen. A longtime resident of Chichester, she was a patron of the theatre, and a faithful member of the Cathedral. She gave generously of her time and resources to support both. She will be greatly missed 

Since we bought Cornerstones in 2009, the original neighbours around us have all moved on. [I don't think its our fault, many were very elderly]

I remember driving over from Leicester by myself one day in early summer. I needed to do a few odd jobs and tidy the garden.

As I pushed the mower up and down, I thought about the other residents of the Close.

One lady liked everything just right [Hyacinth] another seemed less confident [Elizabeth] a temporary resident was actually described to me as "No better than she ought to be" [Rose] and one old chap loved to just sit in his armchair, beer in hand, watching sport on TV [Onslow] As I cut the grass I thought  They could do a remake of Keeping Up Appearances and  my neighbours could be the cast. But of course, they'd need an overworked member of the clergy and his slightly crazy wife..." Then I realised that would be Bob and me!

She may have played snooty, snobbish characters [Lady Bracknell] or salt-of the-earth Northerners [Hetty Wainthrop] but at heart she was a good woman who loved acting and loved bringing joy into peoples' lives. She died two weeks ago, aged 96.

Thank you Dame Patricia for all that you gave us. RIP

There's Actually A Word For It!

We are grateful for all the kind words and good advice. We decided that as it was a sunny day we would go out somewhere. We drove to Fakenham, and parked by the library - where I found 3 interesting craft books. Then we crossed the road to Taylors. This place has changed hands since our last visit. Bob had a breakfast brioche and I had scrambled eggs with smoked salmon. Good service, a generous portion of fish - but the eggs were not as good as NEPO [North Elmham Post Office/Tearooms]
We drove on to Wells Next The Sea. This place has gone very upmarket. I do not know how the locals manage. We looked at a few menus at the eateries...Sausage and Mash in a Yorkshire Pudding was £18.50. Not eating in a place like that!!

We decided to drive on to Sheringham and check out the new Priscilla Bacon Hospice Shop. This meant driving through wonderful Wiveton. Bob found some CDs at the junkyard, and I discovered some very quirky package labels [which the lady let me have for nothing - I could see she thought nobody else would buy them] We went across the road to the Hall and had a cuppa [Bob had cheese scone, I had tea cake] 

In Sheringham there wasn't anything in the PBHS that interested me. In the Sally Army Shop I bought some West Wing DVDs[because I recently decided I wanted to watch them again. Martin Sheen made a good President] This little pepper pot was £1. But who is he? I left him on the shelf, then another lady bought him. Who is he? I asked- but none of us knew! And where is his salty other half?

It was a truly lovely day out together, driving up through the country roads to the seaside, and along the coast road, then home again.*** We were home soon after 3, and Bob settled down to sort out his  CDs, whilst I decided to do my summer/winter clothes swap. I had discovered earlier in the day that the Japanese actually have a word for this biannual ritual [that's twice a year, not biennial which is every two years. I checked it up]
 衣替え koromogae 
Literally meaning changing of attire [or furnishings] this custom has been around for 1000 years, and traditionally the Japanese people pack away their summer clothes on October 1st, and get them out again on June 1st. If school children have summer and winter uniforms, these are the changeover dates.

When I hung up the summer clothes, they start with hangers 'the wrong way round' and if I wear something I turn the hanger. At the end of the season I can see what has not been worn for 6 months. That stuff goes in the CS bag, along with other items I really do not like any more, or that do not fit me. 

I have been practising koromogae for years without realising it had a name [since before I got married]
Do you do a regular clothes swap? 

** Very grateful for towns which have good Blue Badge Parking, and seats where pedestrians can stop for a rest. I was saddened by a conversation I had in one shop. I remarked to the assistant that Wells prices had gone up, and he said that Holt is even worse - the town is now split in two he said. The obviously wealthy people [many are wealthy second-home owners, or visitors from London]  and the much poorer people [who have lived there all their lives and cannot move] . His friend helps run the Foodbank, and says they really are not very well supported, yet so many people are dependent on their foodparcels. Lord, help us to be more generous.

The Children Cheer Up Their Grandparents

Let's be honest, I woke up feeling a little bit flat on Saturday morning. I should have been greeting the dawn from a hotel room in the South of France. But we both determined to get over it, and get on with life. We enjoyed a proper English breakfast, and then I finished off seven more aprons. 

"We're on our way!" Liz messaged us. Their plans had changed, so they'd decided to make a lightning trip to Norfolk to cheer us up. I hadn't see Jess since August - how has she grown so much in 4½ weeks at school. She likes maths best, and she knows all about phonics, she told me!

Liz suggested that as we had a 'free' week, we should try and go out places, perhaps find somewhere different to enjoy a coffee."Perhaps with a cookie?" volunteered Jess, adding "or maybe a cupcake?" then, triumphantly "You could even have a macaron!"

In August we took Rosie to an art exhibition in Norwich - paintings by Thelma MacFarlane, the late mother of my Fiona. Fiona was enchanted by Ro's appreciation of the pictures, and her ability to explain what she liked, and what she thought the artist was trying to portray. Bob had a favourite. So he bought it - and Rosie stood for ages in the hall, looking at it and telling me about it. [I made a video to send to Fiona] I loved listening to her critique - sounding just like her Auntie Steph did 30 years ago.

That really cheered me up. And Jess and Rosie came in the kitchen with me to make three chocolate bars from a craft kit. For Grandad, Mummy and Daddy. Sadly the 'leave in fridge for 40 minutes to set' instruction was wrong. Grandad was presented with a very sticky offering. We left the parents' bars chilling overnight, and they were fine on Sunday,

Lunch with the family here was delightful. Can you believe that stack of marshmallows on Ro's Hot Chocolate? Jess was unstoppably cheerful, didn't stand still long enough for a photo. But we did get lots of hugs from them both.

And up in Manchester, George and Jacob went to Tatton Park with their friends, and sent us pictures of all they were doing.

I feel very blessed to have this loving family around me - we had lots of laughs and good conversations. And plenty of time just to sit and relax. "Mummy says we have to cheer you up, because you couldn't go on holiday!" they told me.

I am cheered, and feel greatly loved. "Your friends are so kind" said Bob, reading all the lovely comments and good wishes on the blog. 

Thank you family, thank you friends! Or should I say "Merci beaucoup!"

Plane Speaking

For our joint 60th birthday gift, our daughters treated us to a holiday in Sicily "a proper trip on a plane" they told us. This is the year in which we are 70 - so we decided to treat ourselves to another foreign holiday. This morning we were due to be driving to Stansted and catching a plane to southern France. We had a week booked in Perpignan in Languedoc. But here we are, still at Cornerstones...

I had diligently re-read Kate Mosse's book Labyrinth, to remind myself all about the persecution of the Cathars in Carcassonne. Bob carefully researched the dishes of the region. Foreign travel means finding out the local people and their culture [for me the history, for him the food!]
We booked with Ryanair, and luggage was planned to an absolute minimum. I bought a tiny tube of toothpaste in Boots. 

And a small wheeled cabin bag which fits into the airline specifications [as new, £4 in CS] We also bought Holiday Insurance from SAGA. It was not cheap, but as a proportion of the total expense, not unreasonable.
I am so glad we did. There is no way Bob could have managed the trip. The GP said that even if his pain meds worked, he probably wouldn't feel like doing too much, and wouldn't get the full enjoyment of the holiday. And there is no way I would leave him in the hotel and trot around medieval cathedrals by myself.
So once we realised last weekend that a plane to the South of France was not going to happen this month, we cancelled, and started the business of claiming on the insurance. 
I am happy to report that Hertz repaid car hire in full, and Expedia refunded 50% of the hotel costs. SAGA are sorting out the rest for us [the GP said she would confirm the genuine medical grounds for not going] 

Once Bob gets his treatment sorted, we will attempt to arrange another holiday. And we now have a quiet week ahead of us with nothing in the calendar. Lazy days and easy meals, and time together in Norfolk. [which is exactly what our holidays used to be like before we retired here] And next weekend, we the family are coming.
I absolutely hate flying anyway, so that is one experience I am happy to live without. 

Fourteen Weeks To Go

I really could have done without the announcer on Classic FM mentioning that yesterday afternoon. There are many tasks I would like to complete before I begin thinking about Yuletide. I shall have to sit down and make a proper list. 

• I plan to enjoy and Autumn, the changing colours of the season
• I hope to do my summer/winter wardrobe sort
• I intend to have a short holiday soon [one without trips to A&E]
• I want to make another batch of Shed Aprons
• I need to prepare some good meal plans for colder weather
• I must get regular exercise and be diligent about weight loss

And if I can tick those things off the list, maybe then I will apply my mind to preparations for the Festive Season.  Come on, it's only September and we haven't reached the equinox yet...Mincemeat and wrapping paper and holly wreaths can wait 

A Visit To The Royal Armourers?

The family in Holland all went to a theme park. Rosie rode the carousel, and Jess explained to the fairy that Grandma had made her fairy dress. 

There appears to have been a medieval knights component to the experience. Steph sent a photo of tabard, shield and sword. "Knight's Tabard? How difficult?" I replied [perhaps a little too quickly] "Easy. Is Grandad required to make the shield?" George would like a shield please. With fire on it. And a sword too. So, having finished Shed Aprons and other tasks, Bob and I set to work to produce items for George and Jacob, done in time for our trip north.

He inserted old "ship" halfpennies into the pommels, polished to a shiny copper, and whipped the hilts. The shields were laser etched, painted and waxed.

I turned some scraps and a green cord skirt into two tabards. They are reversible to plain green if the boys want to play Robin Hood or something. Having learned at the castle the other week that bright colours were authentic, I went to town with these

Peregrination

So yesterday was our wedding anniversary - Liz, Steph and families are now all in Holland - so it was a day by ourselves. We began early with a celebratory breakfast at The Goat Shed

That was really good, then we filled up the car with fuel, and bought an M&S Dine In Meal for the evening. [We had a cool bag with ice packs in the car all ready]

 

Bob said he'd like to go to Cromer...so off we went. Peregrination means wandering and comes from the same root as pilgrims. Being good pilgrims, we parked in a blue badge space behind the big Parish Church.

And discovered we were right next to the Peregrine Project which is a well-supported local charity

A team of enthusiastic volunteers have three telescopes focussed on the church tower, and I was able to watch Poppy, the mother bird, perching on one of the buttresses. They also have a live stream and youtube videos available to watch - this pair have been here since 2019. Utterly fascinating

This little one is just about ready to leave the nest now. The PP volunteers talked about the territorial nature of these birds - and how there is another pair living on top of Norwich Cathedral. After a good chat, we had elevenses at Art House Café , our favourite place for a good coffee in Cromer.

We strolled down the Pier in the sunshine.

My new dress was cool and comfortable but its cute pearl buttons are a little bit too small, and whenever I put my bag across my body, the strap pushed them open. I shall have to add a couple more hook&eyes at bust level. We shared a portion of chips, mooched round a few CS and then drove home. What a lovely day!

The family have arrived safely in The Netherlands too. All is good!

 

How Can I Say Thank You?

In the past two weeks, I've have met up in person with three people who read this blog. One was an old friend who I knew before blogging, and she called in whilst on holiday on Norfolk.
The second was someone I met in the early days of blogging, also on holiday locally, so I met her for a cuppa where she was staying.
The third was someone I didn't really know at all. But she heard me talking about my blog at a Women's Day in Norfolk ten years ago and has been reading ever since. She introduced herself to me at an event the other Saturday, and we met up in Dereham for coffee. I hope we will become really good friends. She is a lovely person, and really encouraged me to keep on blogging.
Then I looked at my stats this week [something I try not to do too often] I passed seven million hits last week!

I really cannot get my head round this figure. 
In the past, when I have hit milestones, I have done some sort of thank you for you lovely readers. Usually a small giveaway, to show my gratitude to you for being my blogfriends, for your thoughtful comments and messages, and generosity over the past 17+ years. 

After a wonderful weekend with my granddaughters, enjoying meals together, playing in the sunshine, laughing in the rain, I know my family has so much to be grateful for. I have been moved to tears by the news reports of the little children starving in Gaza. So, my friends, I hope you won't mind that this milestone will not be marked by some item posted randomly to a reader- but instead I am marking 7,000,000 views by sending a gift to help those who really need it, to make a small but positive impact in our sad world.  I am donating £70 to help feed these little children and their families.

I hope you will understand my decision
UNWFP details are here

Thank you all

Back To The Middle Ages

 

It was really splendid to see so many people coming together for this fantastic community event [info here]

I stood near the start of the route, outside  St Peter's Methodist Church [whilst Bob sat inside feeling unwell]

Hundreds of people, from the very young, to the elderly, in an array of costumes- some professional, others homemade. And everyone so cheerful. There were school children in the tabards they ad decorated, proudly carrying their colourful banners. Huge models of Chaucer's Characters. Lots of music, and laughter. A guy walking on stilts, juggling at the same time [I couldn't  do either skill - to do both at once is amazing imho] It was lovely and the atmosphere was really good.

Such a delightful morning - so much to see and do and learn...