Quite Busy Right Now…

…but still dancing. As Snoopy says

All Change In Ambridge

“There’s something wrong here,” I said to Bob one night last week, “Tony Archer doesn’t sound quite right” Indeed he didn’t – because the actor has changed. After more than 40 years in the role, Colin Skipp has retired on health grounds, and his role has been taken over by David Troughton. [below Colin left, David right] The change was effected very quickly, and I missed the announcement, so was quite caught out by the new voice.

I suppose it is easier to change actors in a radio soap when you don’t actually see them – and in a few months time, Archers Addicts like myself will have adjusted to the new voice. David Troughton is a well known actor – son of Patrick, who played Dr Who #2, he has appeared in quite a lot of TV stuff, and comes from a family of actors, his brother Michael and son Sam are also in the business.

Colin Skipp is 74 [10 years older than the character he has played for so long] and well deserves retirement and time with his family. His mother in the soap is played by June Spencer, who is 94 [yes 94!] She was in the original pilot programme, and is still there! She took a break from the role from 1953-1962, when she and her [real] husband adopted two children. Another lady took her role for a decade, then she came back! In Ambridge, she has just been widowed for a second time by the death of husband Jack Woolley. I felt the script writers handled the problems of Alzheimer’s Disease very sensitively.

Just lately I have been quite busy, so I haven’t kept up with the goings on in the village as assiduously as in the past. 

But I still think this radio soap beats any of the TV ones.

The Archers is like Marmite – you either love it or hate it.

Dum-di-dum-di-dum-di-dum….

Tiny Toes

The girls I work with on Tuesdays both wanted to make baby shoes – so I have spent time over the weekend preparing some exemplars for them, to take to today’s session…

The patterns are all from the internet – from left to right

• Craft Bits ‘matryoshka doll’ shoes [here]
• Stardust shoes [here]
• Purlbee baby shoes [here]
• Martha Stewart felt slippers [here]

The Purlbee shoes don’t show up well in my photo – please do click on this link to see the originals in a glorious rainbow of colours! They are completely hand-sewn. The others are a mixture of hand and machine work – and quite fiddly to make because they are so tiny. I shall be interested to see which style the girls choose.

The two pairs shown above are my favourites. I don’t mind making exemplars of small items like this – I am glad it was nothing larger.

I Can Sing A Rainbow…

Do you know this old children’s song? [written in 1955, and recorded by lots of artistes; Peggy Lee, Andy Williams, Cilla Black and others]

I know the colours aren’t accurate – but I remembered it one afternoon last week when Bob came in with a gift for me. He’d been out pastoral visiting [we have an awful lot of church folk who’re unwell at the minute] and one lady had send me this little bag. Fifteen spools of thread – she no longer sews and thought I’d have a use for them. I spread them out and admired their pretty colours

I love the fact that the older ones have a name for their colours, not just a code number. Why did thread manufacturers stop doing that? I cannot imagine Farrow and Ball giving up their evocative paint colour names and just having “Grey #17” instead of “Mole’s Breath”!

This little collection includes dark jade sky blue gold peacock sage saxe blue dark claret light pomegranate & dark olive

Googling about, I have discovered that there are still colour names – but the manufacturers no longer print them on the spool labels. I am a little bit frustrated that in America you can buy a spool of blue thread called variously Wedgewood and Wedge Wood. Somebody should tell them that Josiah the potter never had an ‘e’ in the middle!

I know I shall never be able to use all the reels of thread in my box, or the fabric in my stash. I have recently started making up little shoeboxes of fabric, threads, buttons and trimmings to pass on to the young people I know who are starting to sew, so that they have stuff to practice on. Two of my pupils had sewing machines at Christmas – and were quite thrilled to be given a ‘starter pack’. It costs me nothing – and means these resources will get used.

“Every young girl should be taught to do the following kinds of stitch, with propriety. Overstitch, hemming, running, felling, stitching, back-stitch and run, button-stitch, chain-stitch, whipping, darning, gathering and cross-stitch”

[quote from Catherine E. Beecher, A Treatise on Domestic Economy, 1843, the picture is Mary Cassatt’s “Sewing Class”]

I am sure that all the generous older ladies who have given me stuff over the years will be happy to know that I am putting it to good use like this.

Shine!

A number of my friends choose a word for the year, or a Bible Verse. Lucy Mills at Looking Deeper has selected ‘release’ as her 2014 word. Lucy is another Pastor’s wife, and a poet. Her blog is truly inspirational and full of superb photographs.

Gary Sanders, over at ‘Trials and Tribulations’ writes that he has chosen a section of Ephesians 6. Gary is a member of our worship team here at KMFC, and he and his wife Fiona do lots of great work with the young people. Gary is a very hardworking local councillor. Gaz also plays the ukulele and writes songs. Gary has chosen

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armour of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

I haven’t ever done this word/verse thing in the past. But after a week of consideration, I have concluded my #word365, for this year just has to be shine -

with the associated #verse2014 from Philippians 2 [Good News]

You must shine among them like stars lighting up the sky as you offer them the message of life.

I am lighting this candle every Sunday lunchtime as a reminder!

 

Write On!

A quick update on my red pen – now down from 10cm to 7cm of ink – here is a new one beside my started one.

And thankyou Kath, who sent me an email saying she has a Red Letter Bible – I had quite forgotten about these, although my grandmother had one. These are Bibles [usually King James Version] where the words of Jesus are printed in red ink. This is because they are so important, and so precious, they need to stand out on the page, my Nana said.

Despite a serious hunt in the loft, I’ve been unable to track down my Spirograph set – so plans for mathematical doodling currently on hold.

Feeling Whimsical

I have just re-read Thrones, Dominations which is a Lord Peter Wimsey novel. Dorothy L Sayers had made notes for this before her death, and these had been stored in a safe. Her agent approached novelist Jill Paton Walsh who completed the book in 1998. I felt the first time I read it, when it came out in paperback, that JPW had really made a good job of continuing the Wimsey story accurately in the original DLS style.

Also this week, Radio 4 Extra has been serialising Have His Carcase, and earlier DLS Wimsey [with Ian Carmichael and Maria Aitken in leading roles] and that’s been good to.

One of these days, I may get round to JPW’s other two Wimsey books from 2002 and 2010 – Presumption of Death and The Attenbury Emeralds. The former was again written from DLS notes, the latter totally by JPW.

I feel I should tackle these two simply because last month, Mrs P-W churned out yet another Wimsey – The Late Scholar. She was interviewed about it on the Radio, and I was fascinated [but feel the other 2 ought to be digested first!]

This last one is set Post War and Lord Peter is in his sixties.

I wish they would repeat the Wimsey series made for TV, I did like the Edward Petherbridge & Harriet Walter episodes in the 1980s [and actually preferred them to Ian Carmichael’s version]

Still, at least they have just made some more ‘Father Brown’ programmes, which I like very much.

Mind you, I am aware that Mark Williams’ interpretation of this cheerful Catholic priest is not everyone’s idea of G K Chesterton’s character. At least he is not as crazy as the clergy around Midsomer, and he is quite clear about the love and grace of God.

Red Letter Days

Originally these were days in the mediaeval church calendar that had been decreed to be special holy days or saint’s days - and were marked in red. In Scandinavia, public holidays are often called ‘red days’. I am declaring that January is to be full of Red Letter Days.


I’m taking part in the Bic Cristal Challenge. Details and claim form here. The idea is that you are challenged to finish up one of their pens.  You must buy a pack of 10 Bic Cristal ballpoint pens [around £3 usually, but half that price in Sainsburys this week] and then when one is completely used up, you send it back [along with till receipt] and they will send you £10. I’ve decided to write as much as I can in red therefore, and put one of the red pens from my pack into my Filofax
The purchase must be no less than 30 days prior to the date when the form is submitted. I measured the length of ink in the tube – approx 10cm – and at the end of my first day it was 9.5cm. So I think it will take around a month to finish – some days I write more than others.
I have always had a fondness for red ink – I think it is a shame it has so many negative connotations [like overdrawn bank statements ‘gone into the red’ and unpleasant comments in the margin from teachers] Maybe I should get my ancient Spirograph set down from the loft and doodle a few patterns to help speed the ink on its way! This is a financial challenge too good to be ignored!

Apologies to Vee and everyone else that this piece didn't post properly this morning!!

Quids In With A Quite Quick Quiche

In the story of the feeding of the five thousand in John chapter 6, it says Jesus said to His disciples, “Gather up the fragments that remain, so that nothing is lost.” January is definitely a time for ‘gathering up the fragments’. Christmas cards are recycled [into new cards, gift tags, and mini giftboxes] and leftover food is used up. Careful menu planning means there is as little waste as possible.

I’d bought a pack of filo pastry, and used about 75% of the sheets – a handful of cherry tomatoes, half a yellow pepper, 2 rashers of bacon and 2 spring onions had come back from Norfolk in the coolbag. There was also some cottage cheese in a tub and a splash of cream which needed to be used up. A forgotten pot of parsley was dying on the kitchen windowsill [oops!] Each item uninspiring by itself. But I put them together at the weekend and voila!

I usually sprinkle a little semolina across the base before I put the filling in and I forgot. So please don’t tell Mary Berry, but my quiche has a soggy bottom.

Stick ‘Em Up!

Or stick them on …to your letters [if you still send real letters, and are rich enough to afford first class stamps] The new Children’s TV stamps go on sale today. Here’s a nostalgia fest for you all…

• Andy Pandy First screened in 1950, Andy Pandy co-starred with Teddy and Looby Loo. I thought it was very odd the way they lived all in that basket
• Ivor the Engine Ivor the Engine worked in the ‘top left-hand corner of Wales’ from 1959. Oliver Postgate narrated
• Dougal - The Magic Roundabout Created by Serge Danot, it made its UK debut in 1965. Rewritten in English by Eric Thompson [father of Emma, and husband of Phyllida Law]
• Windy Miller - Camberwick Green Broadcast from 1966, narrated by Play School’s Brian Cant. Wonderful man!
• Mr Benn Mr Benn appeared in 1971, the shopkeeper appeared ‘as if by magic’. By David McKee who also gave us Elmer the Patchwork Elephant
• Great Uncle Bulgaria - The Wombles. The Wombles introduced us all to the idea of recycling way back in 1973.
• Bagpuss This ‘saggy old cloth cat’ first appeared on our Television screens in 1974. And Emily loved him. Another Postgate Triumph
• Paddington Bear. The bear from Darkest Peru found TV stardom in 1975. Jeremy Clarkson’s parents got rich making the toy bears!
• Postman Pat The friendly postman first appeared in 1981, together with his cat Jess. In the days before they sold off the Royal Mail! [btw his surname is Clifton]
• Bob the Builder Can he fix it? Yes he can, and he’s been doing so ever since 1998. He has no surname. I’m quite fond of Bobs who can fix things!
• Peppa Pig This lovable and cheeky little pig celebrates her 10th anniversary in 2014. She’s that old??!!
• Shaun the Sheep Following ‘A Close Shave’ in 1995, Shaun graduated to TV in 2007. From the talented Aardman Studios

I am rather relieved that neither Teletubbies nor Iggle Piggle have made it on to this list of ‘classics’. Does that make me a snob?

Who is your favourite out of this lot? Which did you watch as a child, with younger siblings, with your own offspring, or your grandchildren?

The Gift Of The Magi

If you do not know the enchanting short story with that title by the American writer O Henry, take a few minutes to read it sometime [here] I was surprised and delighted to receive gifts from three magi this Christmas [but mine were all wise women stargazers bloggers]

I read lots of blogs, and occasionally comment. What has overwhelmed me is that these blogfriends not only read my comments but responded by sending me gifts which reflect remarks which I have posted in the past year.  I will not embarrass them by naming them here- but I want to thank them for their generosity.

Mysterious parcels arrived by post during December, and were placed under the tree

In a discussion about having cold feet in bed, I said I wore a very old pair of ugly bright yellow Virgin Airways freebie flight socks. I now have a pair of stylish grey bedsocks, with the added safety feature of little rubber dimples on the soles [so I can make nocturnal trips to the loo without risk of slipping over]

Commenting on a friend’s post about signature perfumes, I lamented the fact that having found one I liked it had been discontinued. How she found a pristine bottle of it I do not know, but I love it!

Steph once told me that as a homesick student, she would sometimes go to the perfume counter just to sniff the fragrance and be reminded of home!]

And having declared that I was using up my wool stash, and therefore making projects requiring small amounts of yarn, I was sent a lovely book of tiny motifs [this may get a proper review later]

Not gold, frankincense, and myrrh – but nonetheless treasured gifts from special friends. One day I hope we shall get to meet in person.

Somebody wrote on their blog last week that they were giving up blogging, as blogs are out of fashion now. I disagree. I continue to find such thoughtful people out there in Blogland, and value these new friends. Thank you again, you lovely people.

I have not forgotten that I said in December I would do a blog-giveaway to celebrate 200+ followers. I had put something special aside for it, and then a friend happened to mention in conversation that she would like such an item [not knowing I had one]…so I gave it to her instead! Back to Square One on that one. But it will happen!

Mc Or Mac?

Steph started it, when she politely pointed out that in a recent post, I had misspelled the owners of the Golden Arches – McDonald’s does not have an ‘a’ between the M and c. I began thinking about ‘mac’ words.

macaroni; either a sort of pasta, or an 18th century fop

macramé; a craft, tangling string into knots, ‘reverse macramé’ is untangling knots in Church Christmas Tree Lights

macaroon; in France, a light, delicate coloured confection of egg whites and sugar. In other places a heavier, dense lump of egg whites, sugar and coconut

maculate; with a spotted surface, hence the more familiar opposite term – immaculate, pure and clean and spotless

But here’s a ‘mac’ word I have just learned – my first new word of 2014

 macarism

this can mean ‘a blessing’ or ‘the practice of making others happy through praise and felicitation’ [from the Greek word ‘makarios’ meaning ‘blessing’]

So here are some macarisms for the first Sunday of the New Year

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

…and may God truly bless you this year

Ten Things To Remember In 2014

I am not doing New Year Resolutions this year- just Reminders To Myself

These mostly revolve round weight loss, money saving, healthy living and good housekeeping.

I will do my best, but I am not going to wallow in guilt when I fail [for I shall inevitably do so] nor spend time gloating if I succeed.

Here then is my list…

• We serve extremely good coffee after church – and then I come home for Sunday Lunch – I do not need to eat a biscuit with my coffee
• The bin men come on Wednesdays. Emptying wastepaper bins and clearing rubbish should therefore be done on a Tuesday to stop last minute panic as I hear the dustcart further up the road.
• If the ironing is done regularly, the basket will not overflow – and it will not take so long to put away afterwards.
• Unless I have more than two heavy bags to carry, there is no reason why I should not walk to church.
• Just because it is ‘on offer’ does not mean it is a bargain.
• I have a beautiful bicycle, I should use it often
• It is possible to walk round a Charity Shop and come out empty handed, and without feeling guilty.
• Just because I believe it is good to share things in a happy marriage, that does not mean everything has to be shared equally. Especially when serving up food. Bob is bigger than me and needs more calories.
• Checking emails late at night is a Bad Idea. It is better for me to check earlier in the evening, and switch off the PC when I have finished with it, that way I will not be kept awake with concerns that can wait till tomorrow.

And finally – there is so much ribbon in this house, I could tie a new little bow like this on my finger every day for the whole year. This year I will sort out my ribbons and use them up or give them away.

I do not find that this is a good method of remembering things anyway. A note in my filofax or a Post-It over my PC is much more effective. How do you remember things?

Sock It To Me, Baby!

Many people receive socks at Christmas time. Bob had a splendid pair from his sister Denise. Two years ago I had a pair with a Union Jack design from my cousin Gill, who thought I might need them for Jubilee related events. She was right – and I have worn them a lot since.

But there was a weak point along the back of the heel which gave way last week. I felt that if I oversewed it to make a narrow seam I could get a little bit more wear from them.

Bob’s sister did not give me socks for Christmas, she gave me this…

…like me, Denise loves meandering round Charity Shops, and found me this superb vintage darning mushroom. I was able to put it to good use the other night whilst watching Sherlock. It is not an invisible mend- but it does the job…

 

…and I am happy to start the New Year with thriftiness.

I did enjoy Sherlock. Loved seeing BC’s real parents [Timothy Carleton and Wanda Ventham] playing Mr & Mrs Holmes. Felt old to realise I first watched WV 40 years ago in the Lotus Eaters.

Cable TV

I sat up to see in the New Year with Jools Holland’s Hootenanny [singing along with The Proclaimers ‘500 miles’] knitting away furiously. “I am NOT going to bed till this is all knitted!” I said. ‘This’ being my Christmas holiday project. I have relaxed a lot in front of the TV during our week at Cornerstones, making myself a tunic, and was determined to finish it before I came home. Well, I did – although I admit that I did the final sewing up in the car on the A47 yesterday morning! My friend Janice lent me the pattern [thanks J] so I won’t be able to wear this one if I do more supply at her school – but I did enjoy making it. It is the first time in ages that I have wrestled with a cable needle. Bob says I mutter a lot whilst manipulating the wool and needles, and he hesitates to start a conversation. Anyway – all done now and ready to wear…

Photo taken at wrong angle, making it look awfully ‘hippy’-it’s not!

Technical details – the pattern is James C Brett # JB128, and the wool is the recommended ‘Marble Chunky’MC28 [the pattern shows MC31] – it took me two balls** to do the 36/38” size and cost around £5 a ball from Twinkles in Leicester Forest East.

**Janice made hers without pockets as she ran out of yarn – I made mine slightly shorter than the pattern suggests [cos I am little!] and I ran out whilst knitting the pocket tops. I did them with one row less than recommended, and had to sew up with an alternative yarn. The pattern says you need 2 balls for 32/34, and 3 for 36/38 so I am not surprised I only just managed it.  I’ve also tacked the pockets closed, as Bob thinks they will gape [he is right] but I’ve left a gap, to slide in an ‘emergency hankie’.

Trying to cable knit and watch TV at the same time is far too complicated. My next project is going to have to be simpler, I think.

When One Door Closes…

…another opens, goes the saying. Here we are at the close of 2013 and the opening of 2014.

This moment in the year is always an opportunity for reflection on the year gone by, and hopes for the year ahead. 2013 has had some wonderful moments, and some sad moments – I have rejoiced with friends at the birth of new babies, and wept with those who mourn a loss. I’ve been thrilled by the hopes and dreams of those who have made wedding vows, and grieved with those facing marriage breakdown.

It has been exciting watching students learn [to read, to sew, even to do ‘division by chunking’] and heartwarming to see people growing in faith and learning to trust God more. I have made new friends [many out there in Blogland] and been shown amazing kindness by people I barely know. For that, I give thanks.

But I have been saddened by the evil in the world - wars in far off lands, and petty squabbles in my own village. I have struggled with my own failings, but been conscious too of small personal achievements. I continue to remain immensely proud Bob and the girls [and their partners] - plus my wider kinfolk, and my church family. And above all, I know that God will be with us in the days ahead, whatever life throws at us.

Perceptive readers may have spotted that despite the title of the post, the picture shows two closed doors. They are the new ones redeemed recently from a neighbour’s skip in Kirby and now fitted by Bob to the bedrooms here at Cornerstones. The picture below shows one of them adjacent to the kitchen door. The styles match really well, I think. But the great thing is that the previous owners fitted that door when they altered the kitchen, and this space had no external window. By putting that glazed door there, the light shines through from the kitchen, which makes all the difference.

Lord, as we enter this new year, help us to look to you, to be the Light to guide our paths, and may we reflect that Light to help others struggling in the darkness.

The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness cannot put it out