Another BSJ

That's a Baby Surprise Jacket. I first knitted one of these seven years ago  The Elizabeth Zimmerman pattern enables you to knit a cardigan all in one piece, and then it folds together, and just two sleeve seams later you have a jacket.

My Postcard Project Partner Kirsten mentioned that she was just knitting one - which was so bizarre, because I had just found my pattern in the loft and sorted some wool from the Stash to knit one myself. Kirsten's is beautiful - look here, and I was so pleased to be able to send her some buttons for it [The Button Collection is just too big, and I need to prune it down]

I did mine in some Sirdar Snuggly [originally from SIL Denise,] with a few bands of a pastel random yarn to liven up the grey. And here's one I did back in 2015 when Liz was pregnant

And this is the lovely one Kirsten has made. I think my 2022 version is distinctly lacking in stripes!

 Maybe I should sort out a whole bagful of yarns and make another. The great advantage of this pattern is that you do not need to worry about matching the stripes - they automatically line up because of the clever way in which the pattern is written.

It is truly a Surprise Jacket

Taking A Short Cut

I finally got myself organised and booked a haircut. My hair had got so long I was putting it back in a ponytail or clip to keep it out of my face. I trimmed my fringe to get it out of my eyes [bad idea!] I need it tidy for my niece's wedding in 3 week's time. 

Since giving up dyeing, the condition has been good, but I knew a trim would be a good idea. 

I went back to Above The Fringe in Norwich. I'm very happy with the cut, and the new blue fascinator sits well. The shorter length feels much more comfortable. 

And I'm back to wearing my dangly earrings again [I stopped two years ago, because they kept getting pulled out by my mask elastic]

The grey is gradually taking over - but my skin tone is lighter than it used to be. I really don't want to look like Morticia Addams, so I'm not dyeing any more!

It Was Not Hers To Wear! A Rant

It was sixty years ago this month. I remember seeing in on our little black and white TV. Harold Macmillan was the British Prime Minister, and he looked like a grumpy old headmaster - but in the USA, John F Kennedy was the handsome, smiling President, and his wife Jackie seemed so glamorous to this little schoolgirl [we were living up in West Hartlepool, in a little terraced house] I wanted to wear a powder blue coat, and a pillbox hat, and shiny stiletto heels when I grew up...And then we saw JFKs birthday - and Marilyn Monroe, the beautiful film star, sang "Happy Birthday Mr President". The clip has been shown thousands of times since. Within 6 months, Marilyn was dead, and the following year, November 63,  JFK was assassinated. Rumours continue to abound about the nature of their relationship. I was too young to understand then - these were just glamorous people on the other side of the world. But somehow I was mesmerised by that song. And that sparkly, close fitting dress 

I knew that after the performance, the dress was put away - not even washed! and six years ago "Ripley's Believe it or Not" museum in Florida acquired it at auction for $4.8M. It was an iconic piece of fashion history. As someone who likes costume and films and history, I think it is important to preserve clothing which has a story behind it. I also know that when you put on a garment, even briefly, you change it - your sweat and body oils leave residue on the fabric, your movement can strain seams, pull the material in a different way, fingernails can catch on threads...

Precious historical items like these are kept carefully in Museums for this reason - in carefully controlled environments, so future generations can enjoy them. Museums like "The Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute New York" for example. Museum are expensive to maintain - every year this one holds the MetGala as a fundraiser  to help preserve their artefacts. 

So can somebody explain to me the thinking behind letting Kim Kardashian wear Marilyn's dress last week? The woman was the wrong size and the wrong shape. Footage has been posted on line of her being tugged into the dress - and she had to drape a fur behind her to cover the gap wear the zip would not fasten.

I know nothing about KK other than that appearance is important to her. 

Surely somebody involved in all this had some sort of cognitive dissonance?

Who ever thought it was a good idea to deliberately inflict damage on a significant historical piece of costume in order to raise money for preserving other pieces? 

Zandra Rhodes, fashion designer [who made a number of Princess Di's memorable frocks] was asked about it. She said something like "I'd like to think that our grandchildren studying history will be able to see the video clip, alongside a mannequin in the dress. Letting somebody wear it and damage it was a Very Bad Idea" I tend to agree.

Lines And Circles

Kirsten and I have swapped postcards again. I had added a LINE to my piece, she added a CIRCLE to hers.

I wanted to represent my concern for Climate Change, and Earth Day. Where at all possible, I dry my washing in the sunshine. Here is my line -

Nothing much to report on this - I stitched the posts by couching down cream thread with blanket stitched ochre yarn. The line itself is whipped chain. The red pegs are detached fly stitch [or is it detached feather? my reference books disagree] I chose clothes which are typical of my wardrobe, including a dress, a skirt, jeans, and the ubiquitous Breton top.

Kirsten's inspiration came from Gail Lawther's "Celtic Quilting" a book I borrowed from a library years ago. Gail is an extremely gifted stitcher, and by all accounts a very pleasant person. [website here] K took the circular design for a needlecase, and after a lot of work, was able to reduce it in size. She backstitched in variegated threads, and outlined the whole in a chain stitch. 

Kirsten chose the colours as they were springlike, and felt that the three flowers in one circle were reminders of God, Three-in-One. So I did Easter, and she has added the Trinity - all ready for Pentecost Sunday in June.

I have an idea for my next contribution, but it is still at the 'back-of-an-envelope' stage!

Peas Please Me

When I was in Norwich last week, I went into the Millennium Library which is situated inside the Forum [next to City Hall] In the space outside where some cheerful people in green teeshirts, publicising a new product and giving away free samples. Not having had elevenses, and it being ages till lunch, I drifted over.

baked pea-powered curls proclaimed the green banner. Looks interesting, I thought.

"Can I ask you a few questions?" asked the young man politely. This seems quite fair to me - if they are giving me a free sample, then I shouldn't begrudge them a couple of minutes help with the market research. I know a bit about this, having a research director in the family!

I was told simpleas are a new product from a local company using [mostly] locally sourced ingredients. First I was asked what I thought the packaging suggested - and i said green/health/fibre-rich/lo-cal protein snack. This evidently ticked the right boxes! Then I was asked my age bracket, occupation etc. And did I have any questions?

Well I did! I asked about the fact that the peas used are yellow when I'd imagined they'd be green. I was told about the nutritional benefits of these golden globes of goodness - gluten free, high protein etc - and the Norwich-based production company [Nova Farina] already makes lots of flour from these legumes, which goes to the food manufacturing industry. npw they are using the peas to make these snacks. East Anglia has always had a good pea-industry, but as the green pea growers decline, there are more yellow-pea farms. The guy suggested I check out the simpleas  website when I got home [link] - so I watched the video  that evening

I asked about the oil used [sunflower] and wondered if the situation in Ukraine had affected production [not as yet]  
I asked about the 'health benefits' of these compared to your average bag of crisps. It appears that simpleas contain <90cals per bag. In fact, in the WHS hospital shops, they are only allowed to include two sorts of 'snack bags' in their meal deals [simpleas  and Walkers oven baked crisps] as these are the only ones which meet CQC health guidelines.

I asked about the four flavours**- are they available as multipacks?. Answer- not yet, but there will soon be larger 'sharing packs' available. **cheese&herb, seasalt&balsamic, lightly salted, smoky paprika

I asked about the price - currently they retail at about £1 a packet.

I sampled the paprika, and the balsamic flavours- both very pleasant. More of a crunch than a crisp texture. Yes, I liked them a lot. I much preferred them to crisps, which I often find too greasy/fatty. My free sample pack was just the right size for me.

Would I buy them in the shops?...I am not sure. £1 a pack, that's a tad pricey for me.[I'm a thrifty pensioner these days]  If I needed something to include in a meal deal I would definitely consider them a good choice. . I might consider a sharing pack to serve in a bowl as "pre-dinner nibbles" for guests though. If they came down a little in price I would be more inclined to buy them perhaps.

But I recognise these are 'premium' foods. We have been hearing in the press recently that many of the 'budget' ranges which the MPs are advocating that people in financial hardship should buy are actually poorer quality food - more fats and sugar, and more water and cheaper ingredients. I accept that it will cost more to make a high protein, good quality, nutritious product. 

But I really do like the fact that simpleas are produced locally, with thought and care. Consideration for local growers, sustainability, and the health of people and the planet...

If you see SIMPLEAS on sale, treat yourself to a pack, and let me know what you think!

Thank you to Chris and your team for spending time answering my questions, and for the free packet. I am definitely planning to order some of your other pea products to use in my baking.

Our Grandson Is Two

 

You love cars

... books

.... Grandad

... .chillin ' out, watching TV and chatting on the phone

...doing important stuff with big cousin Rosie

... eating birthday cake which Mum has made, 

...we can't believe it is two years since you arrived

And like you, we are really looking forward to the arrival of your new baby brother in August.

Happy birthday, George -  God bless you today and always

Good Memories

Last year - on the day that Jess was born, and I was in London, a lady went missing from the Care Home in the village here. A huge search was organised - and sadly, her body was found, 48 hours later. All I knew at the time was that she was Margaret Smith, a widow, aged 87, who suffered from Alzheimer's disease. It was a very sad story

At Easter this year, a new seat appeared in the village - and we spotted it when we were out on one of our walks. It is very attractive, and comfortable. And engraved simply "Margaret's Bench"

I asked who Maragret was- and was told "She was the lady who went missing last summer. The family have put this here in her memory, as they were so grateful to all those who took part in the search."

I did some research into who exactly Margaret was- and discovered she was involved with Guiding, WI and the RSPB - she'd worked in laboratories for ICI and Colman's Mustard. She was a Mum to two sons. And then I realised I'd met her once! Because her late husband Ron was my biology teacher at East Dereham High School For Girls back in the 1960s.

He was a great teacher. He knew his subject really well and communicated with enthusiasm. 

Here he is with Margaret and some girls on a school field trip [just after I'd left] He later became Deputy Head, and she worked as the school librarian. 

What a lovely gesture by the Smith family, to give this bench in her memory. I shall sit there sometimes, and remember those lessons - some of which I can still vividly remember. I recall him teaching us to draw a diagram of a hip joint, with the ligaments and synovial membrane ...and the afternoon he explained why it was important to have legumes in your garden, because the nitrogenous nodules [aka 'fingers and toes'] on the roots of beans help to fix nitrogen in the soil. Mr Smith, I was listening, all those years ago. Thank you for all you taught us. I have only just started gardening, but I have definitely got those legumes in the raised bed!!

I hope that many people will rest on Margaret's Bench, and that some of them will have good memories of this kind couple, who loved encouraging young people, and shared their love of Creation with them,

Box Sets

In our family, we have always enjoyed board games. But they do take up a fair amount of space. I decided I needed to tidy up the shelf. We have children's games, like Junior Scrabble and Kangaroo, and 'trad' games from my childhood [Cluedo, Monopoly, Scrabble] and some of the newer games. Over the years we acquired duplicate, because we liked having games 'at home' but also here in Norfolk for holidays. Duplicate Monopoly, Scrabble and Trivial Pursuit have gone to the CS. 

Back in 2008 I reconfigured one Scrabble board, and made a waterproof zip bag so that we could slip the game into the motorbike pannier for our holiday. I wondered if there was any way to modify other board games in our collection to take up less space. 

In a CS in Sheringham, I'd bought "Kangaroo" [very like Buckaroo] to play with Rosie - you load all the kit onto the animal till the spring clicks and throws everything into the air. But the original plastic tray was missing, and all the components were rattling around in the large box. I trimmed it down by about 50%. Everything fits neatly, into the smaller box.

We have Cranium, which we love- and Steph gave me a box of extra cards for my birthday. By removing the plastic insert, it was possible to get old and new cards neatly into the box. There was a lot of wasted space and the new arrangement is much neater.

I have done a similar thing with my extra Trivial Pursuit cards. My next move will be to cut the Cluedo Board to make it fold into a reduced size box.[This post  has a tutorial on modifying boards]

Do you have a favourite board game?

How do you store the boxes?

A sMASHing Poem

From Michael Rosen, for Rosie, and all those other children who cycle to school 

Time For A Bargain!

"What shall we do on Bank Holiday Monday?" we wondered - and decided to find a Boot Sale. There is a big one just off the Norwich Ring Road, every Sunday, but on BH weekends, t is there Mondays too. We left the house just after 7, with our coffee flasks, parked at 7.30 and began with bacon rolls before we started meandering round the huge site.

Established in 1987, Arminghall car boot sale is one of the biggest car boot sales in the region, regularly hosting up to 600 stalls. It is situated just off the A47 in a riverside location in close proximity to the Boudicca Way Walkway & Norwich City Centre. 2022 marks the 36th season of sales.

"I shall be looking for old tools to refurbish" said Bob. "I would like to find a replacement kitchen clock" I replied. This is a sore point, we left a few clocks behind in Dorset, because we thought we did not need them. Then Bob moved the kitchen clock to the Lathe Palace - which seemed OK, as there is a digital clock on the cooker, and the microwave, and the coffee maker. BUT I realised that I like a proper analogue clock - and I kept looking at a blank spot on the wall.

"I'm setting myself a £1 limit for any purchases, unless I can really justify them. And I shall keep an eye open for Penguin Coffee Mugs too" First buy, as I queued for the bacon rolls,I spotted this on the stall opposite. 50p. It is now up on the wall and exactly what I wanted!

50p on a summer dress for cheetah-obsessed Rosie. £1 on a cotton shopping bag - not that I need the bag, but those 20 buttons are beautiful, and will be repurposed into other craft makes.

And one chap had a whole box of brand new wedding fascinators. I went over my limit and splashed out £2 for a blue one to go with my dress and shoes. [I was planning to get one in Norwich on Friday - and expecting to pay at least £5]

Then I met the family who had been queueing in front of me for rolls earlier - they had a pitch and their son was selling his Playmobil. The travelling vets clinic - in a carry case - was priced at £4. "You can have this little box too" he said affably, when I explained it was for my animal loving granddaughter. It was all there,[even the tiny bandages syringe and stethoscope] and would have been around £30 to buy new. 

I'd bought another box of Playmobil for 50p earlier on a different stall, but that needs a bit of attention.

Bob spent £3.50 on tools. 

I came home really pleased with my purchases. Total spend for both of us, including breakfast, well under £20. 

What a satisfying morning in the sunshine!

Bara Briff

riff is sometimes defined as 'improvisation' or 'variation on the original' - I made some Bara Brith Welsh teabread, but tweaked the recipe, so I guess it is Bara Briff. Kirsten had sent me a pack of interesting tea in the last Postcard exchange.

It was called "Bears Like Marmalade " and listed as ingredients apple, rosehip, hibiscus, orange and lemon peel, sumac berries, orange blossom and natural flavouring.

When freshly made, it started out an alarming blood red hue, but settled down to a crimson liquid. [I think the sumac berries  gave it the colour] You could smell the floral, rose notes, and taste the citrussy notes. It was OK - but not my first choice for a fruit tea. But I couldn't waste it. So I made a jugful and used it for this tea bread...[recipe based on my 1982 Cranks Cookbook]

Ingredients

• 250g mixed dried fruit
• 50g sugar
• 50g chopped walnuts
• grated rind of ½ an orange
• 400ml of tea
• 350g plain flour [sift and stir in the bp]
• 2tsp baking powder 
• 1 free range egg, beaten

Method

1. Put fruit, sugar, rind and tea in a pan, 
2. Simmer 20 mins
3. Allow to cool
4. Stir in nuts, flour, egg and baking powder
5. Pour into greased, lined 2lb loaf tin
6. Bake at 180º for 45 minutes
7. Serve sliced and buttered

 The fruit tea worked really well, and gave the cake a lovely orangey, fresh taste. The walnuts added to the flavour . The original recipe required 2tsp mixed spice, but I felt that was unnecessary with the flavoured tea.

  It was delicious - even without butter! Thank you Kirsten, for sending me "Paddington's beloved marmalade infused tea"

More Bird&Blend Teas on their website here

UPDATE Apologies - I omitted 50g sugar from ingredients, thank you Marilyn for letting me know. Recipe duly amended

Are You Being Served?

 When I was 5, I was taken to London to see Father Christmas In Selfridges. The huge store, opened at the start of the 20th century seemed like a Palace- especially with the festive lights in Oxford Street, and the colourful window decorations.

Aged 7, I moved to West Hartlepool. The big store in town was Binns. Not as special - but they had these amazing tubes, and the assistant put your money in, and they were whisked away to somewhere secet while your purchase was carefully wrapped for you

We moved to Norfolk in 1965, and soon after 1960s my parents began taking an annual holiday in Brighton. I loved the British Home Stores. This 1931 Art Nouveau building later became C&A and then Primark. But it felt stylish and elegant

I grew up, married, and in 1995 Bob and I moved to Leicester with the girls. I was fascinated by the Fenwick building [originally built for Johnson & Johnson in 1926, a family run department store]

Sometimes we'd take the girls to Nottingham, and marvel at the fabulous decorations in Zara - housed in the shop which was originally built in 1892 for Florence and Jesse Boot's growing empire.

The curved windows seemed very glamorous - and when the store first opened, one of the attractions was the new electric lighting - which made the glass sparkle and shine.

Down to Dorset in 2015, where Debenhams occupied the site of Bobby's Department Store [another building from the start of the 20thC]

Now back living in Norfolk again - and Jarrolds still stands proudly at the corner of the Market Place. [read the story of this, and other Norwich stores here]

 I must be getting old - but I like these old places, with their heavy revolving doors, ladies cloakrooms that merit the term 'powder room', a sense that the staff want to help the customer [and not act as if you are being a nuisance, because you are interrupting their phone conversation] The sort of shop where the Dowager Duchess [played by Maggie Smith, naturally] takes tea in the afternoon, having ordered some new silk camisoles for her grand daughter's birthday, and a picnic hamper for the family's day trip to the coast. 

Why all this nostalgia for the department stores of my youth? - because they are departing rapidly. Many High Street stores have moved online, or completely gone out of business. These glorious emporia, with wood panelling, huge windows, chandeliers, and an air of faded grandeur...are fading away. 

At best they are being repurposed into luxury apartments or hotels - at worst razed to the ground and replaced by ugly concrete structures. The group "Save Britain's Heritage" has produced a report called "Departing Stores- Emporia at Risk". They want to preserve these buildings in some way. I think this idea has some merit.

Having said all that, can I just praise John Lewis of Norwich [originally Bond's Store, and bombed in WW2, rebuilt afterwards, and now part of the JL Partnership] I recently took my friend [aged 89] to choose a dress for her grand[daughter's wedding. Amber, the staff member who served us could not have been more helpful. There is no need to book this "personal shopper" service in advance, either] We were seated in a comfortable area away from the main thoroughfare through the shop. Amber asked about size, style choices and colour preferences. She went away and swiftly returned with 5 different dresses [I was allowed to go into the spacious, curtained changing area, to help my friend with zips etc]  Amber waited outside, fetched different styles and sizes, and did all she could to help. She was knowledgeable, patient and unbelievably helpful. This was 'proper shopping' how it used to be, and I was glad for my friend. I've actually emailed the manager to tell him how good Amber was - she deserves to be recognised as a good member of staff. 

"Online, order tonight, get it tomorrow" has become the retail mantra. It is fast, convenient, and often cheaper than going out to the shops. But maybe when you go out for a 'shopping experience' you think a little more carefully before spending your money. And you take time to choose wisely, to try on the garment before paying...

Are there traditional 'department stores' where you live?

Does it matter if all our shopping is online?

Have favourite shops from your childhood disappeared?

What's The 'Posh' For?

 ... said one of my girls once, when they came home from school and found the dining table set with candles and best cutlery. It is good to make the meal a little bit special. Especially when you are seeing friends for the first time in over a year...

Tim, Jane, Peter and Jenny have come up from Ferndown for a week's holiday in Norfolk.

We had a lovely evening together. In case you are wondering about our menu - Bob was up at the crack of dawn, to light his bbq, and cooked a delicious piece of brisket, very low and slow, with French bread and some salads...

• carrot, nigella seeds, sultana and coriander
• red and white cabbage coleslaw
• red onion, red pepper and tomato
• bulgur wheat salad [**recipe HERE ]

Dessert was "Deconstructed Eton Mess" - guests assembled their pud from three bowls, 

• whipped cream
• meringue pieces
• mixed berries [blue- rasp- and straw-]

[This is a useful way of enabling people to either indulge or reduce their intake of fruit/cream/sugar to their own satisfaction]

Jenny was pleased to see my orchids flourishing, Jane commented on my raised bed - and the men spent ages admiring the Lathe Palace. A good time was had by all, I think. I was delighted to be able to give them the Cornerstones Guided Tour. And these lovely people definitely deserved the 'Posh' treatment. They will be able to report back to old friends at UCF that we have settled very happily into retirement.