With Apologies To Oscar Hammerstein

The other evening I went to a concert [fundraiser for our village Parish Church] My friend sings in a local choir, and asked me to support the event. So I did. The Bach to Broadway programme included some well-sung well-known pieces. But I confess I was a little distracted in one song, and found myself rewriting the words of an old favourite from the musical 'Showboat'. 

Oh listen, sister, I love my mister man                 
And I can tell you why
Theres's many reasons for me to love that man     
It must be somethin' that the angels done plan

but... 
Sharks gotta swim, bats gotta fly
I gotta love one man till I die
But I can't help loathin' that beard he’s grown

Look at those bristles, thatch on his chin,
And when he kisses, it scratches my skin,
Can't help loathin' that beard he’s grown

With his beard so grey,
that's a rainy day
But when he shaves it off**
that day is fine
The sun will shine!

So he can come home
with a whiskery face
Cos home without him
ain't my happy place
Can't help lovin' that man of mine

[**as soon as he has been Santa for the Toddler Group at Chapel]

I Will Sing Of The Goodness Of God

This is Falkland Park, South Norwood. From 1923 till 2025 it was the home of Spurgeon's College - the training establishment established by  Charles Haddon Spurgeon in 1856.
Its closure last year was very sudden and very sad. But hundreds of us joined on Thursday to mark the significance of this place in our lives. From 1981 - 1986, Bob was a Spurgeon's Student - the first year on a college placement as a Student Minister in Gillingham, Kent, then 4 years of fulltime study in this lovely building.
Our daughters were born during that time [82 and 86] Initially I worked as Warden in an OAP Scheme just down the road, then we moved to Orpington and became a full time Mum. For some time I worked as a volunteer helping with the college book-keeping, and student spouses were allowed to attend evening classes with paying fees. I did courses in counselling and church history!
Thursday's event was one described as "Remembering, Lament, Thanksgiving and Hope" Despite the sadness and great sense of loss there was gratitude for the legacy, for all those men and women trained there, and a sense of hope because God continues to call people into serving him in ministry and there are still ways in which they can be trained and encouraged.
It was a bittersweet day, but there was a real sense of God's faithfulness down the years and the certainty that he will lead us in the days ahead. We began the service with Wesley's hymn "O for a thousand tongues to sing my Great Redeemers Praise" [sung at our wedding] and also joined with confidence in a hymn of faith and trust

I love You Lord
Oh Your mercy never fails me
All my days I’ve been held in Your hands
From the moment that I wake up
Until I lay my head
I will sing of the goodness of God

All my life You have been faithful
All my life You have been so, so good
With every breath that I am able
I will sing of the goodness of God

I love Your voice
You have led me through the fire
In darkest nights you are close like no other
I’ve known You as a father
I’ve known You as a friend
I have lived in the goodness of God

[Bethel Music/Jenn Johnson]

The College may have gone, but our unchanging God is forever with us, and nothing can separate us from his love.

Goodbye, Dolly!

The wonderful Dolly Parton has left us, to go and sing with the angels! She will be greatly missed by so many. Her nephew paid a moving tribute.[see video below]
I loved her, for her music, her honesty and her openness about her faith. I loved her generosity - helping children in the US get to College, and her worldwide Imagination Library [my own grandchildren benefited from the books they received through that] I am appalled that the hypocritical President says flags will fly at half mast for a week at the same time as his Republican Party is withdrawing funds from the I.L.across the States.

Here's Rosie, ten years ago, with her first Dolly Parton Book!

When she learned that the doctor who once treated her after a car crash was working on a vaccine for Covid, Dolly's immediate response was to pull out her chequebook and donate $1M to help. Thanks Dolly, I had my Moderna Jab!

Dolly once said “God has a plan for everything. I think it probably was his plan for me not to have kids so everybody’s kids could be mine. And they are now.”

She brought joy throughout her life, to so many people. but never forgot her humble roots, and was always generous to others. She had a very long and happy marriage. RIP Dolly- we will always love you!

I did love the tribute from the band outside Buckingham Palace today! 

The Blue Bird Of Happiness

In 1908, the Belgian writer Maurice Maeterlinck wrote a story called The Blue Bird about two children, brother and sister, named Tyltyl and Mytyl. It is a fairy story [not specifically for children - synopsis here] but in the tale, the fairy gives them a magic diamond which will reveal truth to them. Mytyl wants to find happiness, and they seek everywhere for the mystical Blue Bird which will grant this. In the end, they go home, and there all along is a cage containing a blue bird. Tyltyl gives this to his sister. That's sort of where this happy blue bird idea started [why did he give the children such odd names though?] And in 1939 Judy sang about bluebirds over the rainbow, and soon after Vera added the bluebirds over the white cliffs of Dover.
But what are these bluebirds? Here's the thing - in the USA a bluebird is one of three species of thrush [Easterm, Western, and Mountain Thrushes] with vibrant blue and reddish brown plumage. But we don't get them in Europe...

The writer of the 1941 song was from the US, and never even visited Dover till long after the war. He was unaware we didn't have bluebirds here! So people have made various suggestions

• that blue birds' represented the RAF pilots in their blue uniforms
• that they were the peregrine falcons with blue feathers in their backs - flying over the Channel, trained to intercept German carrier pigeons.
• that the swallows arriving each summer had a blue sheen to their plumage, and that return brought hope.
• they could be the Eurasian Jay which has a bright blue flash on its wing
• they could be blue tits... feeble claim, these are tiny garden birds, and unlikely to be seen soaring over Kent!

Sorry if that burst your bubble...

But do have a look at my bluebird which has just flown in to Cornerstones. A tiny little amigurami crochet blue tit. It was a gift on Monday when I delivered a pair of memory bears. My friend's mother died recently - she was a very colourful lady, 89 years old, and fond of brightly coloured dresses.

I made two identical bears, for my friend and her sister. They have blue bows at the neck and personalised backpacks. And the 'pads' are made from her Mum's fleecy dressing gown - which she wore all the time in the last few weeks of her life. I used the dg to make two bags for the bears to travel in
My friend was thrilled [I may have to include packs of tissues next time I deliver bears] and said she couldn't sew. I admired the crochet items in her lounge, saying that I struggle with crochet. She immediately gave me a tiny bluebird!
Currently he is sitting with the orchids - but I may add a hanging ribbon and put him in the Xmas Tree box.

Can you crochet?

 Have you ever made amigurami birds or animals?

Seeing Double

On Sunday evening we went into Norwich for a classical music concert. The two performers were identical twins, Peter and Zoltan Katona, playing identical guitars. They were absolutely stunning. Although they are Hungarian, they are expert in Spanish guitar. They thrilled the audience with Scarlatti, Manuel de Falla, Bocherini and more

The two came to England to study at the Royal Academy of Music, and then settled in Liverpool. They love the Beatles, so their encore was a great rendition of "Come Together" 

It was a simply magical evening. Bob had booked the tickets months ago, not really what to expect. They are in York this week, Cheltenham next. There are tickets still available. Do check out their Website.

Have you ever heard them play? What did you think? 

Goodnight, Ladies

 Four notable, strong women have died this week.

1. July 7th - My Auntie Jean, at 101. The rest of the world did not know her, she won't get a mention on the BBC, but for her 100+ relations, and her many friends, her passing will be noted, her life and faith celebrated. She gave so much to so many. always with a warm smile or a cheeky grin.
2. July 8th - Bonnie Tyler. Aged 75. 
   This Welshwoman, with a wonderfully powerful voice had been ill for some weeks. She had been married to her beloved Robert for 53 years. They had no children, but she did a phenomenal amount for charity across the world, but particularly in Wales, especially child-related projects. Her most famous hit was "Total Eclipse of the Heart" [my favourite is "Holding Out for a Hero] Deeply loved, she was described as 'a proud Welsh Icon' by Prince William
3. July 9th - Anne Widdecombe. Aged 78. A feisty, outspoken woman, of very strong views. She was raised Catholic, became an agnostic, then Anglican, then converted back to Catholicism. Brought up Conservative, she was a local councillor, became an MP in 1987. She joined the Brexit Party, then the Reform Party. She remained single and had no children, saying she had chosen to commit her life to public service. In her later years she became a 'celeb' appearing on Strictly Come Dancing, Celeb Big Brother and made numerous other TV appearances. Rev Richard Coles described her as "Ann Widdecombe, who I knew a bit, both as an adversary and as an inconveniently congenial acquaintance." and wrote a prayer on Facebook which was very gracious, I felt. We have since heard that she was murdered. So incredibly sad. 
4. July 10th - Patricia Greene - aka Jill Archer. Aged 95. Part of the soundtrack of my life until I stopped listening to the radio soap during Covid! She was 'married' to Brookfield Farm for 69 years! She did other roles here and there on TV - but basically she had one job, and she did it brilliantly. The longest serving actor in any soap [radio, TV or Internet] in the world. The matriarch of a huge fictional farming family - her character was so popular [Queen Camilla is apparently an Archers Addict] She continued recording, even when she moved into a care home. Patricia [Paddy] was a much loved member of the Archers Team, "unfailingly warm and encouraging" She was awarded an MBE ' for services to broadcasting and charity.

May these strong women rest in peace, may their loved ones be comforted, may others carry on the good work they did and the generosity they showed.

It's Too Darn Hot!

 I am up to my eyes in making bears, with frequent breaks to wash my hands and rehydrate. The neighbourhood cats are sheltering in their homes, avoiding all hot roofs [tin or otherwise] The solar panels are quietly generating lots of energy. 

Here's a brief excerpt from Kiss Me Kate. 

I am left with two questions...

1. If it was that hot, why were they all leaping about so much?
2. Have I left it too late to take up tap dancing?

Pearl's A Singer

Occasionally when I was a child, my Mum would make a stew and put pearl barley in it. Every time, my Dad would make a joke about Pearl Barley and Pearl Bailey. That gifted American singer was born in 1918 at the end of WW1, she died in 1990. She had a long and varied career - on Broadway, on TV, providing voices for Disney animations. She was a personal friend of many US Presidents and their wives. Gerald Ford made her a Special Ambassador to the UN, Richard Nixon appointed her as an "Ambassador of Love", Ronald Reagan gave her the Presidential medal of Freedom. She won many awards, and was friends with politicians and performers. 

Pearl Barley, on the other hand is processed barley which has been polished to remove its outer coating. It is also known as pot barley and Scotch Barley. It is hearty and filling, a good source of fibre. I bought a pack in the supermarket the other day. It takes an hour to cook on the hob, but only 30minutes in my rice cooker in the microwave. I sometimes put it in a casserole. We both enjoy this as an alternative to rice, it works out around 6p a serving - and it is produced in the UK. And it works well cooked and cold in a salad too. Healthy and thrifty and tasty!
I think few people remember Pearl Bailey now, but here's Elkie Brooks with her debut chart single from 1977,  about another singing Pearl. Elkie is 81 now, and currently doing her farewell tour this year!

Do you remember Pearl Bailey?
Do you ever cook with Pearl Barley?

Happy Birthday, Jess

I feel so blessed to have such a loving family. Yesterday, granddaughter Jess celebrated her 5th birthday down in London.
She is such a character, 
entering into life with such joy and enthusiasm. She adores clothes, especially hats - and trying new foods, and dancing, and books. She loves words, and numbers, art, crafts and science. We hope you have had a great weekend, with your playdate party in the park - and we can't wait to see you again soon.

Three Churches In Three Days

On Friday, Bob and I went to Dereham Parish Church for an organ recital. This is part of their fundraising campaign to be able to install much needed toilets and decent kitchen facilities on site.At 12.15 we enjoyed an excellent sandwich lunch [good choice of fillings, also quiches, sausage rolls, pork pies and cherry tomatoes, followed by selection of cakes, choice of hot or cold drinks] 

Then a gentleman started trying to erect a portable screen near to where we were sitting. Bob used to have one like that, and as it's easier to put up with a helper, he went off to assist. Here he is in his best navy blazer, kneeling on the carpet! Then he helped sort out the video camera too...his assistance was much appreciated.

I do not have any photographs of the recital itself, they were not allowed! The visiting organist was D'Arcy Trinkwon. That is not an anagram, D'Arcy's forebears were from the continent and his surname is French. He is remarkably gifted and played various pieces, including some by a Canadian Composer for the foot pedals only [we were able to watch his hands on the keyboard and feet on the pedals via the video camera and big screen] Here's a clip of him playing in Selby Abbey. He's quite the showman!

Saturday from 9.30-4.30 I was in Dereham Baptist Church, for a Safeguarding Training Day. It is very important to us in our chapel that we have the correct procedures and protocols in place, for the protection of any vulnerable person [child or adult] who may come to our premises - five from our chapel attended. People from all over Norfolk were there. I met up with old friends- and it was especially lovely when a woman called Christine came up and introduced herself. She met me at a Women's Day at DBC in 2015, and has been following Tracing Rainbows ever since. I hope we can meet up again sometime, for a proper chat over coffee.

Sunday I was back in my own little Chapel at Foulsham. I was Duty Deacon, so we got there really early. Duties include checking who is on the rotas for tea and coffee, welcoming, prayers etc.

 As it was communion, I had to fill the little glasses [they go in a tray like the one in the picture] I knew we had a number of absentees. So I filled 24 glasses. At the start of the service we had 22 adults [plus adults and children out in the hall at Sunday Club]. But one couple arrived late. Our practice is that a deacon takes the tray, serves the pastor, takes it round the congregation, and then returns it to the communion table. As I took it back to Nick, we realised there was just the one glass left, for me! We sung some good songs, and Nick preached a great sermon about Jairus' Daughter, and the sick woman, from Mark 5.

Three church buildings, one very big, one fairly big, and one small - but good friends and a lovely atmosphere in each one. Bob tells me that nowadays a person is considered to be a 'regular churchgoer' if they attend a service once in 3 weeks. I'm definitely a regular.

Have you come across D'Arcy Trinkwon?
He's a very flamboyant character, and a master of his music.

Here's A Hurdy Gurdy!

 A couple of weeks back, Kezzie posted about visiting Kentwell Hall, stepping back into Tudor times, with customs, costumes, and music. She particularly mentioned seeing [and hearing] a hurdy-gurdy played for the first time 'in real life' And she got to try it herself. Do read her lovely post, with all the illustrations if Tudor re-enacters, and Kezzie herself getting happily involved.
In the same week, Bob and I went to a talk at the Dereham Heritage Trust. 

The guests were Chanter's Jigge, Malcolm and Elizabeth, husband and wife,  who also play many many Tudor instruments. They gave us an Elizabethan Musical Experience, with their latest programme,
including a hurdy gurdy.
Clearly Tudor Music is the sound of the summer!

*If Henry VIII really did write Greensleeves, did all the royalties go to royalty?

*Is it true that if Tudor musicians got into debt, they had to pawn their doublets and sit around in their singlets?

Have you ever played a crumhorn, a shawm, or a hurdy-gurdy?

[* apologies for very, very old jokes]

Jesus Brings Us Joy

On Friday there was a FunDay at Church. I was not there [explanations later] but I did help with planning and preparing all the crafts. The theme was Jesus at the Wedding Feast In Cana - so the children made party crowns, placemats, and these little joyful cup-people. And there was a photo booth for wedding selfies [with suitable attire for a wedding feast]  Friends Sue and Alastair from Essex came to run the day, with music, puppets and games - assisted by Nick with his magic tricks. Alastair [&AI] produced a song [which blogger will not let me post!] 

Nick is away today, and I am preaching on the same story. I have chosen three songs especially for the young at heart; My Lighthouse, Our God is a great big God, and this golden oldie - one of James Partridge's 'Assembly Bangers'

Half a century ago, we used to add an extra verse "Give me Unction in my Gumption, let me Function". They were Happy Days....may your day today  be filled with JOY

Snöskyffel and Aglet

I think these should be a pair of Scandinavian cartoon dogs - the Nordic equivalent of the Antipodean Bluey and Bingo. In fact Snöskyffel is the name of the cute red metal shoe horn from IKEA and Aglet is the correct English word for the sheath at the end of as shoelace, which stops it unravelling and makes it easier to thread through the holes.

I have been thinking about both recently, because summer approaches and I am wearing both my white plimsolls and my new trainers on warm dry days. I get frustrated if my laces come undone when I am out - finding somewhere to balance whilst I retie them is not always easy. I do not want to kneel on the path, there is never a convenient ledge or step when you want one, and I do not want to roll inelegantly into a heap on the pavement like a distressed hedgehog. I decided to try the 'no bow' system, turning the shoes into slip ons.[Ignore the fact that this video is for gents!]

But when I push my foot in, the back of the shoe rolls over. The shoehorn is brilliant at assisting my heel into place. The aglets are inside, invisible, and my feet are comfy. And my shoes have been converted into slipons. I am sure many of you knew the word aglet already - I have posted this video of the aglet song before...

Make Your Mark [In A Good Way]

 

Thank you to Dave Walker for his brilliant cartoon. If there is an election in your area today. 
Please Vote. 
I'd quite forgotten the Marsh Family, the musical clan whose parodies kept many of us entertained during lockdown. But they have released a new song this week. 
Please Vote Wisely

Great Oaks From Little Acorns Grow

Sometime I must ask Ann just why they call the Toddler Group "Little Acorns" I mentioned yesterday that the lady at the Fete from the local council had been very interested in our group. She gave me a nylon zip bag and two plastic folders and hoped they would prove useful.When I got home, I unpacked them in the kitchen

Would you believe this amazing hoard?

The contents were: five quality books*, thirteen activity cards, two booklets (songs and games)  one finger puppet, one headband, one  set of "feelings" cards,  one Orchard Toys boxed game, a safety mirror, a wooden pig and a cow, a stress ball, a pot of bubbles, one-minute timer, chiffon cloth, foil blanket, biro, box of crayons, and two Norfolk Council information sheets. 

I reckon at least £40 worth of materials. The activities cards related to the books too, so you could plan a morning's activities round the stories. Ann was really astounded at church on Sunday to receive this bag of goodies. She asked if the lady was giving them away to lots of people - I said that nobody else came up in the whole time I was near the council display. Which is a real shame. [* including a proper Julia Donaldson lift-the-flap one]

Thank you Louise, from Broadland Council for your generosity!

Are you involved in any sort of Toddler Group or activities with Preschoolers? 
Have you come across any positive support for young families in your area?

Cockles And Mussels, Alive, Alive Oh!

We used to sing "Molly Malone" at school in music lessons. Did you?

When I was a child, we would visit the family in Leigh On Sea, and my Mum would treat herself to a pint cup of cockles down at the sea front. They were dressed in vinegar - and she loved them. I found the whole idea awful, and refused to taste them.

I never wanted to eat mussels either. Then I married Bob, and he is half Belgian. He loves "moules et frites" - somewhere in the last 40 years I finally tried them, and now I too really enjoy a bowl of mussels [with chips, and mayo, and a hunk of baguette to mop up the broth] 

I read that the Essex cockle fishers are trying to revive our interest in their shellfish. About 45% of their catch is exported to Spain - and the UK cockle industry is valued at about £10M annually, half of which comes from the Thames Estuary. Should we all be eating more of these? 80% of the fish we eat is from the "Big Five" - cod, haddock, tuna, prawns and salmon, says the Marine Stewardship Council. They want  to prioritise 'locally sourced' fish. They're putting blue 'ecolabels' on sustainably sourced products and running a campaign called "Buy Blue, Protect Dinner" This started last September apparently, and promoted Norfolk Brown Shrimps [sorry, MSC that one completely passed me by!] and other fishy dishes

Maybe I should ask the Bunnings Man on Dereham Market. They sell cockles caught off the Norfolk Coast. Mind you, this fish doesn't come cheap - cockles are £18 per kilo, twice the price of Scottish Mussels. 

If I stick to the Flemish speciality, which we both enjoy, am I being shelfish?

Mama's Little Baby...

 ...loves short'nin', short'nin' 

I have been doing much shortening and altering this week - some for myself, some for my neighbours

• 2 pairs of trousers
• 2 zip replacements
• 2 dresses, sleeve adjustments

It is lovely to sit in the sun and handstitch garments.

We were also sitting outside on Tuesday to eat our lunch. My neighbour called over the fence "Can I give you those trousers now, Angela?" I took them from her. Then a few minutes later she called back "Do you two want some cake with your lunch?"

She passed me a plate with two huge slices of freshly baked Victoria Sponge. 
Bob says he greatly approves of this arrangement where I do the shortening and he gets to eat cake!

I have completely missed out on The Wiggles but this video was more fun than the original Andrews Sisters clip. 

On the subject of children's TV, what's the story in Balamory? My grandson is incredibly excited, as his classmate's Dad works at CBeebies, in MediaCity, Salford. This chap came in to school and now George tells us he knows all the secrets behind the production!

Lofty Thoughts

To paraphrase a Randy Newman song*

It's a jungle up there!
Disorder and confusion everywhere

No one seems to care

Well Bob does

Hey, who's in charge here?
- He could be wrong now
    [but I don't think so]

Over the winter it has been too cold to spend very long up in the loft. I scuttle up the ladder, snatch what I want and come down again. Bob thoughtfully fitted an extra grab handle for me 3 years ago. I occasionally return items by putting them in boxes, climbing to the hatch, and shoving them hard across the floor without even going right up inside. This does make for disorder and confusion. The main loft contains my sewing and craft materials, out of season clothing, and other random stuff [two guitar stands belonging to Bob - who rarely sets foot up there] The loft above the Futility is much tidier. All the Christmas stuff, and those empty boxes from important items [to be kept until the guarantee runs out, just in case]
I set aside time this week to work on tidying the loft. This happens every couple of years.  I have rules for myself during this activity

1. Go to the loo before climbing the loft ladder [for what Ro and Jess call a "Safety Wee"]
2. Take mobile phone [if I don't, its sure to ring - and if something goes wrong, I need to be able to call for help!]
3. Take a sharpie, a pair of scissors, a tape measure and a trash bag, for efficient labelling and sorting
4. Organise 'stuff to get rid of' into three boxes/ bags while still up there. Donate, recycle, and general bin. It is much easier that way.
5. Be firm and realistic. I am retired now. I don't need half a set of class worksheets about algebra anymore. Yes, the children can do drawing on the other side of the sheet - but be honest, just how many pictures is Jess going to do when she visits? I have been filling a plastic box with random craft materials to take to our local Scrap Scheme. Somebody else will use them.
6. Pieces of ribbon less than 10cm long are no use to me. Particularly if they are grubby from being on the floor up there. Ditto tiny scraps of felt. And elastic that lost its stretch back in 1998. Bin them!
7. Sort things sensibly. Label the drawers so you can find things quickly. Next time, put things away carefully in the right place, however cold it is up there
8. Nobody needs to keep every envelope, jiffy bag, and cardboard box that the postman brings. Recycle!
9. If an item has not been used for a very long time, why am I keeping it? Rehome it or ditch it. Now!
10. If it is properly tidied now, I can keep it tidier in future. My word of the year is restoration. I need to restore order and sanity...

I last tidied the loft in autumn 2023 [see picture]. But that space in front of the drawers is full of more stacked boxes now. So I cannot get to my Velcro stash, or felt pieces, without a lot of shuffling. A tidy up is long overdue

The current disordered state! I need to do the winter/summer wardrobe swap in the next couple of weeks. Back to work...

*It was used for the theme tune of that great detective series "Monk". Adrian Monk was OCD, he would have a complete melt-down if he saw my loft.

NB that empty HiViz jacket is strapped to the roof truss, It is not a desperate kidnap victim.
Also, I found my little wooden eggs, just in time for Easter Decorating.🥚🥚🥚

A Little Shy In The Park...

On Saturday, Liz, Jon and the girls collected me and we went to Holt Country Park. I think our last visit was back before lockdown! It was a beautiful day - we began with Ro and Jess enjoying the playground [swings, slide, zipwire etc] Then we set off to walk through the trees. Rosie in the lead, I was behind her, [she is nearly as tall as I asm now!]then Jess and Jon, with Liz taking pictures ...

It was sunny, and a little cool, but the ground was mostly dry and firm underfoot. Suddenly Rosie stopped - she had come to a place where there were fewer branches overhead - with a clear few up the bank covered in gorse, to a clear blue sky. She called out to me 
Catch the beauty, Grandma!

What a lovely comment! She went on to explain to me that we all see nature in our own different ways, but she thought this was just beautiful. And she thought it sad that others did not appreciate it, or take care of it. Such enthusiasm for creation gives me hope! 

We walked on together. To the south of the park is Holt Lowes, where there are Dartmoor Ponies. The rest of the family caught up with us. We admired these beasts but did not attempt to stroke them or touch them in any way. [Please note Ro's amazing K-Pop hairdo!!]

Then I said 

No, that looks like two water tanks. No, it is a sculpture...

It is called The Carved Men, and Rosie sat and had a chat with them!

We walked on to Tin Can Alley - a brilliant arrangements of cans tied on a beam with pine cone missiles to make a form of Coconut Shy. Simple yet clever. The cans do not get lost, and the cones are easily replaced [and when the cans are all hanging, you can 'play' them with sticks like a percussion instrument] Liz and I both felt the Men's Shed could use this idea!

Then on into Holt for a delicious lunch in Holt Fish Bar - helpful staff, very family friendly, lovely chips! 
Sunday lunchtime they all came over to Cornerstones for a Roast Chicken Lunch. The house is full of flowers and cards. I feel extremely loved. Grateful for them all...Catch the beauty, feel the love