The side garden round the raised bed is a bit of a desert. The grass is brown and crispy, there are a few determined dandelions showing their sunny faces. The apples and pears are ripening on the trees. The raised beds are looking decidedly sad. I'm watering and harvesting the odd lettuce here and there, and a few beans - but general there is not much happening. Until Saturday...
This huge thistle sprung up from nowhere, in the shade of the pear tree, with spiky green foliage, and its purply pink petals pointing heavenwards.
A pop of glorious colour in the arid surroundings. I am leaving it there, in honour of Josh Kerr and his Miracle Mile. I'm not really into sport, and I am not Scottish, but this was such a lovely story. I am so glad he won the gold, on his home turf, and that they played Flowers of Scotland for the win, not God Save The King!!
It is 235 years since Ben Franklin made this statement - most people only know the last seven words. It is not my place to comment on the US Constitution [but I can continue to pray for the upcoming elections] I have been seriously downsizing for 10 years since we left Leicester, and generally decluttering on and off for even longer. Not quite ready for "Swedish Death Cleaning" yet! But taxes? Having only worked part-time as a Supply Teacher for most of my career, averaging 2 days a week, there were hardly any years when I paid income tax. And I only get a small teaching pension. And due to a missing year of NI contributions, I don't quite get a full state pension. But it's just enough to tip me over the tax threshold. But it is all dealt with at source so that's fine, I don't do a self assessment.
But now I have my own online shop. I closed my Etsy shop - I was unhappy with their charges, and with the fact that many of their sellers now seem to be selling on stuff that they have clearly bought in, rather than made themselves.
The government has recently announced it is going to clamp down* on 'small traders' who might be omitting to pay their taxes. So I went online, The HMRC website is very helpful, with a simple questionnaire to fill in. As my turnover is well under the £1000 threshold, I neither need to register my business nor do a self assessment form. I thought it was worth mentioning this in a post because I know that quite a few of my blogfriends are crafters and make and sell their wares - and I would hate for any of you to get caught out with a fine.*They are apparently checking ads on social media etc. to see if there are people out there clearly doing a roaring trade but not acknowledging it. My main issue at the moment is publicising 31:13 more effectively - because it isn't part of Etsy, it won't come up in searches. I need to get a review page set up on the site, and also explore other methods of publicity.
If you have ever purchased from the site, and you blog or use Facebook, please can you give me a mention sometime?
I will be very grateful [as will all the mice sitting patiently in the spare bedroom]
Here's Rosie back in 2017 going to the Polling Station with her Mum. It will be another 10 years before she can vote. But my vote today can make a difference to the world in which did is growing up.
It's Saturday, I’m wandering round picking up dirty washing
...towels on
the bathroom floor, one sock on the stairs A jumper in
the dining room, [they have too many clothes] Joe’s
sitting on his bed, playing some noisy onscreen game, all explosions and
gunfire, screams and cursing “Turn it
down” yells Hannah “I’m trying to revise. If I fail, and don’t get into Uni,
I’ll murder you Joe” In the
kitchen Pete is glaring at the empty bread bin
“What can a man have for
breakfast round here?”
I suggest
cereal – but there’s no milk in the fridge “Haven’t you done the shopping this
week?” he grunts I point out
that Hannah is revising and eating mountains of toast. And Joe went
out for an early run ... then drank a whole pint of milk when he got back. I say that perhaps
Pete could pop out to the shop, I’m busy with the washing...he grabs his
keys, pushes past me [no goodbye kiss] and slams the front door on his way out I load up
the coffee maker, then go upstairs to change the sheets Joe knows
what I will ask so he dives into the bathroom and locks the door. My son’s
room looks like a bomb’s hit it. Why can’t he help a bit? Hannah acts
like any intrusion will ruin her revision, and her whole future “You just
don’t understand Mum” [hang on, I went to Uni too, you know, years ago] The front
door opens “I’ve got milk!” sings out my now cheerful husband Two
teenagers race each other to the kitchen they somehow don’t notice me, coming
downstairs, arms full of bedlinen, I’m nearly knocked over I gather up
the scattered pillowcases and duvet covers By the time
I get to the kitchen they all have coffee and toast I hover in
the doorway, hoping someone will pour me a mug of reviving caffeine Nobody does,
they are all talking at once, so I slam the laundry basket on the table And I start
yelling, and shouting and swearing at them I tell them
they are inconsiderate, I feel taken for granted, I’m sick of all of them They stand
open mouthed – never seen their Mum like this. I grab
Pete’s mug which he put down as I began my rant. “I’m taking this into the
lounge... I JUST WANT
A BIT OF PEACE!” And I walk out of the kitchen. In the
lounge I pick up the newspaper somebody’s left on the floor The
headlines scream out at me “FIGHTING INTENSIFIES IN UKRAINE, MORE DEATHS IN
GAZA” Stupid
warmongering men – why can’t they see the senselessness of fighting. Nobody
wins. I look at
the pictures and I start to weep – women grabbing towels to staunch bleeding
wounds Mothers
cradling tiny children dying of hunger. Nurses using rags for bandages A
grandmother with sad eyes, staring at her family home, now reduced to a bomb
crater Widows
laying flowers at a row of graves each marked with a crude wooden cross And I’m
ashamed of myself, and I feel so impotent – THESE are the women who want a bit of peace I go back
into the kitchen and say sorry – Pete hugs me I ask if the
family will help me... I want to sort out some warm clothes for the Aid Centre And perhaps
the family could have a roast dinner together this evening? Joe
volunteers to peel the spuds, Hannah is sick of revising, and offers to make an
apple pie Pete says
nothing, he is busy loading the washing machine. … I realise
the atmosphere has changed, ...the kitchen feels warmer somehow And that
song we sang at school echoes in my brain Let there be
peace on earth and let it begin with me
A poem originally written
for the Ukrainian Aid Centre, for Dereham Peace Day
The Christian women of Palestine were asked to prepare this service about five years ago. At that time, nobody had any idea about what would be happening today. But God knew. Find more about the day of prayer here - and join in the prayers for peace.
Yesterday morning Bob and I visited the Ukrainian Aid Centre in Dereham. It is just two years since the start of the war.
The town was marking this with Dereham Peace Day. There were a lot of people in the Centre. After tea and cake, at 11am we stood round as a lady spoke. She was acting as a translator. She invited various members of the Ukrainian community to speak, and told us what they had said.
It was very moving. They read poems and prayers speaking of their wartorn homeland, the friends they had list,
and those they'd left behind. Many wept as they spoke, and others listening embraced each other with tears. I bought one of the special key rings.
I cannot imagine what they are going through. But I join them in praying for an end to the fighting. I'm glad that these women have found live and support in this corner of Norfolk.
I have a new website! For a few years now, I had an Etsy store - but that has been empty since the spring as I didn't have time to restock it with my craft items. Of late people have been complaining that Etsy's fees have gone up a lot and their repayments to sellers have got slower. So I investigated SumUp. I have a little SumUp card reader, which I can use to take credit card transactions - and they have been promoting their facility. Fees are way lower than Etsy, and they pay me on a regular basis. So, with Bob's help I have designed and launched my own website. thirtyonethirteen.net
Here's my logo. The 'about' page on the site explains a little about me, and why I have this name and this image on my logo
I have loved crafting all my life - sewing, knitting,
papercrafts, embroidery and more. And I admit to being a hoarder-
collecting the scraps that other people discard and turning them into beautiful
and useful things.
Now I'm retired, and living in a beautiful part of the
country, I have more time to sit and stitch, and I want to share my creativity
with others, at an affordable price.
My grandmother taught me crafting skills
when I was a child, and she was a woman of faith. My shop is called 31:13
because there is a verse in the bible (Proverbs chapter 31 verse
13) , about a woman who "finds wool and fine linen and works with eager
hands" My shop's logo is a play on those numbers - the butterfly
reflects the idea of metamorphosis into a new, beautiful life.
At the moment, the shop has three categories of items - decorations, gifts and brooches. I am gradually adding handcrafted items to the shop - so please drop by and have a look. I am deliberately keeping my prices low, and there are lots of stockingfillers there.
If you know anyone else who may be interested, please share the details with them.
I really do not handle hot weather very well. It is too hot for me to think straight. In times like these, I'm grateful the Lord did not call me to be a missionary in hotter climes. Meals are easy, I'm not going to slave over a boiling stove. Fortunately Bob enjoys cooking some meat on the bbq while I toss a cool salad. Or we have a simple one pot dish which cooks itself. Months ago I ripped a Yotam recipe out of a magazine, and we enjoyed for lunch after church [total time at stove around 5 minutes at the start of prep, and another 5 cooking a couple of flatbread.
I love it when mine looks like the picture - and tastes good!
Yesterday was really busy. Church in the morning included an AGM [We gave our report on holiday club] Then Bob went to the Hospice for one of their regular memorial services. In the evening, the Installation of the new vicar in our village [Rachael and I have already become friends, we have heaps in common]
After lunch, I indulged myself in 100 minutes of pure nostalgia on BBC 2.
I love C S Forester's books, and the film of
The African Queen is a classic. Katherine Hepburn as the upright, tea drinking Edwardian maiden missionary, paired with Humphrey Bogart as the gruff, gin-drinking dissolute steamer captain. Fabulous cinema!
At the beginning of the film, Hepburn is playing the harmonium at the mission station where her saintly, caring brother is preaching. And as I sat dozing in the summer afternoon, I suddenly noticed an alarming resemblance between the late actor Robert Morley and someone else much in the news lately...
I'd only been drinking tea, not gin, I promise you...
It must have been around 2001, Liz was a student in London, and one Saturday afternoon she telephoned me, very excited
"Mum, I've just seen Glenda Jackson in the Garden Centre in Blackheath!!"
"Oh Wow! Glenda Jackson the actress? How fantastic!"
"No Mum, the Labour MP..."
And I suddenly realised that this brilliant woman had given up acting to become an MP when Liz was about 10, and so Liz only recognised this woman for her second career in politics.
When I was 16, I loved watching this fiery woman portraying Queen Elizabeth I in the BBC series- from the feisty young woman to the tired old monarch, it was riveting viewing [we only had a black and white TV then, sadly]
She was superb. Her working class roots meant she understood grim poverty, but she also was wonderful in Shakespearian roles, and film adaptations of DH Lawrence books.
In 1971, she received an Oscar for "Women in Love" - and 18 years later in "The Rainbow" she acted as the mother of the character she'd played in the earlier film.
From 1957-1992 she was in films,on TV, with the RSC and acting on Broadway.
But all the time she held strong political values - fighting for women's right, protesting against the VIetnam War, supporting Oxfam and the International year of the child. A lifelong member of the Labour Party.
She left the stage and in 1992 became the Labour MP for Hampstead and Highgate [later Hampstead and Kilburn], serving till 2015. She stood no nonsense, and spoke her mind. A champion of the underdog - she really did care about making the country and better place.
And then aged 79 she retired from Parliament and returned to the stage again in 2015.
At the age of 80 she played the title role in King KLear to great acclaim.
She is one of only 24 people to win the Triple Crown of Acting Awards [Oscar, Emmy, Tony] But it took her nearly half a century to do it!
Oscar in 1971, Emmy in 1972 - and the Tony in 2018.
In her last role, based on a true story, she plays the wife of a WW2 veteran [played by Michael Caine]who absconds from his Sussex care home to go to France for the 70th anniversary of the D-Day landings. I am looking forward to seeing The Great Escaper.
Having been friends for years, Sir Michael led the tributes when her death was announced this week
What did she regard as the best moment - she always said that the apotheosis of her acting career was appearing as Cleopatra in the Morecambe and Wise Show.
She was so popular, that she was invited back again.
Thank you Ms Jackson - for your wonderful acting - and for the years you spent working on behalf of your constituents and your country. RIP
There was a plane crash on May 1st in the dense Colommbian jungle. The small plane was carrying a two-man flight crew, a mother and her four children. Army search teams quickly found the wreckage and the bodies of the three adults- but there was no sign of the children. For 40 days the searchers, and their sniffer dogs looked for 13 year old Lesly, and her brothers aged 9,5 and 1. The soldiers were given the code word "miracle" to be used over the radio if they found a child alive.
Helicopters flew low over the dense tree canopy, dropping food parcels, and broadcasting a recorded message fromt he children's grandmother - urging them to stay in one place so they could be found. Led by their President, the Colombian people prayed for these precious little ones to reach safety. One group of searchers gave up - "they cannot have survived this long - there are jaguars and other wild beasts out there". But another officer said "if they were dead, we would have found bodies. It is easier to find a body in the jungle than a small child who is moving from place to place"
They found a nappy, a hair clip, a piece of fruit with teeth marks, and small footprints - and finally on June 9th, the children were found - emaciated, and covered in insect bites - but all alive
Miracle! Miracle! Miracle! Miracle!
was sent across the airwaves.Colombia rejoiced
The soldiers tended to their injuries and gave them food ["I'd like a sausage!" declared on of the boys] Lesly said their mother had lived 4 days after the crash, but knew she was dying, and urged the children to seek safety. Lesly took some farina [flour] from the crashed plane, and set off with her siblings
If there were ever children well-prepared to tackle such an
ordeal, the Mucutuy family were them. The indigenous Huitoto people learn hunting, fishing and
gathering from an early age, and their grandfather Fidencio Valencia [pictured] told
reporters that the eldest children, Lesly and Soleiny, were well acquainted
with the jungle.Speaking to Colombian media the children's aunt, Damarys
Mucutuy, said the family would regularly play a "survival game"
together growing up. "When we played, we set up like little camps," she
recalled. Thirteen-year-old Lesly, she added, "knew what fruits she can't
eat because there are many poisonous fruits in the forest. And she knew how to
take care of a baby".
Their survival story is truly amazing. These children had all the skills they needed, and a close connection to nature and their environment. They knew how to use the resources around them. I wonder how many British children would be as resourceful if they suddenly found themselves lost, and having to fend for themselves without adult help?
In a week when our media has been full of news about liars, cheats, phone hacking, and
violence this story is one to gladden our hearts. I think the choice of radio code word was inspired
That's a really old joke, and probably not understood by anyone under the age of 55. But I remembered it yesterday when I heard that Harry Belafonte had died.
He was a really popular singer in the 50s and 60s. My father was very fond of the man and his music - Harry was born in Harlem, New York in 1927, the son of poor Caribbean immigrants. As well as being a singer, he was also an activist, working against racism and poverty, for all his life.A great friend of both Martin Luther King and Nelson Mandela, he spoke out on behalf of the marginalised, the oppressed and the impoverished. He was not afraid to criticise the American Presidents, whether Democrat or Republican. He was a Goodwill Ambassador for Unicef
He popularised the calypso style - and many of his songs were about life in Jamaica and the Caribbean. Perhaps the most famous is the Banana Boat song [Day-O] - with the call and response sections
But he had other songs too - the crazy "Jump In The Line" and the nostalgic "Island in the Sun"
But the Belafonte song I love the best is one which we sing every Christmas, one which reflects Harry's lifelong Christian faith
Oprah Winfrey's tribute yesterday described him as "a trailblazer and hero to us all" saying "Thank you for your music, your artistry, your activism, your fight for civil rights and justice. Your being here on Earth has blessed us all." RIP Harry Belafonte 1927-2023
This is an electrically powered air raid siren from WW2, nicknamed the Moaning Minnie. They were sited on top of tall buildings and could be heard up to 25 miles away.
This is the "Tangent" portable hand-cranked siren, made over 80 years ago by Gents of Leicester [this company is still going, making fire alarms now] This was used in situations where there was no power supply.
My parents and grandparents were used to hearing these sirens during the Blitz. A high proportion of the rooftop sirens remained in place for 50 years after the end of the war, and I understand that most were in working order. Simple, but effective technology.
However it was decided they were no longer useful and almost all were removed by the turn of the Millennium.
Yesterday we had the trial of a National Alarm signal, to be sent to everyone's phone at 3pm.
That was the theory.
My phone made a noise at 3.02 and again ten minutes later. Bob's was silent throughout. Steph and Gary in Manchester had nothing on their personal phones, but both work phones got the message. A friend told me her mobile alerted her, but her husband's did not make a sound. [We are aware of the fact that mobile reception is very poor in Norfolk.]
The World Snooker Championship was disrupted, and Welsh speakers had an unintelligible message on their phones. People on the 3 network didn't get a message at all.
It all seems a bit of a fiasco if you ask me. Perhaps we should have kept the Moaning Minnies.
I was hungry and you gave me no meal,
I was thirsty and you gave me no drink,
I was homeless and you gave me no bed,
I was shivering and you gave me no clothes,
Sick and in prison, and you never visited.
Then they are going to say, ‘Master, what are you talking
about? When did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or homeless or shivering or
sick or in prison and didn’t help?’
He will answer them, ‘I’m telling the solemn truth: Whenever
you failed to do one of these things to someone who was being overlooked or
ignored, that was me—you failed to do it to me.’
Apologies to overseas readers- this post is for those of us who live in Britain.
Just a quick question - are you entitled to vote in public elections? Are you sure? ...
The Government has introduced a law which says that when you go to the Polling Station now, for local or general elections, you musthave voter ID with you or you will not be allowed to place your vote.
The Government claims this is to prevent electoral fraud.
Between 2010 and 2018 there were only twoconvictions for fraud. At the 2019 elections there were only 33 allegationsof fraud - not all convicted. Our electoral system is one of the safest around. The Electoral Reform Society has calculated that this law will cost around £180,000,000 per decade - and says the Government is using [a very expensive] sledgehammer to crack a nut.
Just over 4% of voters do not have photo idea [around 2.1 million people] Since January, these people have been able to apply for afree voter authority certificate. But fewer than 21,000 have applied - I suspect the rest are not even aware of the issue.[Details here]
What counts as acceptable ID? A current [photo] driving licence, passport or OAP bus card does.I'm OK then, I have two of those items.
But you cannot use a student ID card or young person's travel card.
Or a photo ID card where the photo does not accurately reflect your appearance
It is hard not to feel that this Tory Government is deliberately disenfranchising groups who are less likely to vote Conservative. There is genuine anger in certain quarters that the right to vote will be denied many people.
Charities have warned that particular groups are more likely
to be disenfranchised: just 53% of black Britons hold a driving licence,
compared with 76% of white Britons, and Mencap has highlighted that people
with a learning disability are less likely to have a passport. The RNIB, Royal National Institute of Blind People, noted
the lack of driving licences amongst blind and partially sighted people and
Stonewall say that trans and non-binary people may have been
particularly vulnerable as the photo on their official ID may not reflect their
gender identity. Civil
rights group Liberty has also highlighted that younger people – less likely to
vote Conservative – are much less likely to have a valid form of photo ID.
This is particularly true given that the government has allowed more forms of
photo ID that are relevant for older groups than for young people – for
example, concessionary transport passes will be accepted, but not youth travel
photocards or University IDs.
I can think of someone I know who is in her early 60s on a limited income. She does not drive or have a passport- and is too young for her OAP pass.
My elderly neighbour has no passport, her driving licence has expired, and limited mobility means she never uses a bus.
And another who is a student, who does not yet drive [many living in London rely on travelcards and have no need of cars] and cannot afford to go abroad so has no passport.
Were you aware of this change in the law? Will it affect you, or somebody you know?
How will you feel if you arrive at the next election and realise you are not able to cast your vote? Or if you actually do get round to applying for the certificate, and there is a backlog of requests, so you don't get your proof of ID in time for Polling Day?
Bob gave me a set of suffragette pin badges a few years back. I shall be wearing them quite a lot over coming weeks!
For my August contribution to the Postcard Project, I added two things. I found my box of Dorset Buttons in the loft, and decided to. make a few more. As I did the foundation ring, I was struck by the similarity to a bicycle wheel. Apart from that week of really hot weather, I've tried to do at least one ride a week since July [to the Library, Craft Group or Egg Farm]
So I stitched a bicycle - using two curtain rings for the framework, and a tiny black plastic button for the chain guard. And of course, I had to stitch a small Aida banner declaring the details of Baby Jacob's arrival. My 'flat gift' for Kirsten was a card of my ”Blandford Cartwheel " Dorset Buttons.
Both of us have had a chaotic time recently, family wise, and agreed to have a Stitch-free September [our project, our rules] but now we are thinking that our postcards should acknowledge the Queen's passing this month in some way.
I watched the Service of Prayer and Reflection from St Paul's Cathedral on Friday evening. [You can download the order of service here] They said the hymns and music were all favourites of Her Majesty. One piece, by Charles Wesley, is a favourite of mine too, it was my College hymn. It does seem to sum up our Queen's promise that "be it short or long" her whole life would be committed to fulfilling her calling to service.
O Thou who camest from above,
the pure celestial fire to impart
kindle a flame of sacred love
upon the mean altar of my heart.
There let it for thy glory burn
with inextinguishable blaze,
and trembling to its source return,
in humble prayer and fervent praise.
Jesus, confirm my heart's desire
to work and speak and think for thee;
still let me guard the holy fire,
and still stir up thy gift in me.
Ready for all thy perfect will,
my acts of faith and love repeat,
till death thy endless mercies seal,
and make my sacrifice complete.
Today, our Queen has died. She was a woman who had a deep sense of calling and duty. A woman of faith and service.
As I type this, [6:50pm Thursday] the BBC is showing a picture of the flag at Windsor Castle flying at half mast - and a rainbow is shining across the sky. I suspect she would be pleased at that - a symbol of hope for the future.
Tonight my thoughts are with all those for whom she represented a dearly loved family member and personal friend. And especially with our new King. God bless and guide him right now.
The quote from Matthew 25 is very appropriate today
It's World Refugee Day. Read more HERE. I could go on about this, but I am sure you know already about the desperate plight of so many in our world.
Nobody puts their child in a boat unless the water is safer than the land.
Sadly many people fleeing war and persecution end up in the clutches of people traffickers. For a long time, the charity Stop the Traffik has worked to break up trafficking rings, and enable people to escape.
A while ago, I turned one of their keyrings into an earring. Then I made a second earring using a short length of chain. I have worn these in the past to show my commitment to praying for those caught up in this evil trade, and for all refugees. To working for a kinder, safer world
There is much evidence of people trafficking in Rwanda. HERE
I am appalled that our government thinks it is a good idea to take refugees landing on our shores and fly them to Rwanda. This is ungodly, and an abomination. I have been wearing these earrings for the past week - a number of people have asked about them, and I've explained how angry I am about the words and actions of the Home Secretary.
I think the late Tony Benn was right...
UPDATE I completely forgot to include a link to Sue's page. She is fundraising for refugees this week, and has already achieved sponsorship for around 10 refugees for A WHOLE YEAR. Read more HERE
My beautiful Phalaenopsis "Moth Orchid" continues to bloom and delight us. It currently has a couple of dozen blooms, and one bud about to burst open.
Alongside it, my Peace Lily - a gift last year - has just bloomed for the first time. Christian Aid Week starts today - below is a Peace Prayer from their website.
God of all
peoples and nations,
Who created
all things alive and breathing,
United and
whole,
Show us the
way of peace that is Your overwhelming presence.
We hold
before you the peoples of Ukraine and Russia,
Every child
and every adult.
We long for
the time
When weapons
of war are beaten into ploughshares
When nations
no longer lift up sword against nation.
We cry out
to you for peace;
Protect
those who only desire and deserve to live in security and safety
Comfort
those who fear for their lives and the lives of their loved ones
Be with
those who are bereaved.
Change the
hearts of those set on violence and aggression
And fill
leaders with the wisdom that leads to peace.
Kindle again
in us a love of our neighbour,
And a
passion for justice to prevail
and a
renewed recognition that we all play a part in peace.
Preacher, teacher, wife, mother, grandmother, craftswoman. Married to wonderful Pastor Bob since 1979, now happily retired to Norfolk, but still busy. I am blessed with two brilliant grown-up daughters and four wonderful grand children
A pop of glorious colour in the arid surroundings. I am leaving it there, in honour of Josh Kerr and his Miracle Mile. I'm not really into sport, and I am not Scottish, but this was such a lovely story. I am so glad he won the gold, on his home turf, and that they played Flowers of Scotland for the win, not God Save The King!! 
