Matthew Chapter 25

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.’ 

The Statue Of The Thinker

 No, not Rodin's masterpiece, but this guy, Sir Thomas Browne [1605-1682] who spent the last 45 years of his life in Norwich.

He was a scientist, a trained doctor, and a great polymath. 

His statue stands on Hay Hill, Norwich - erected in 1905, on the 300th anniversary of his birth - close by St Peter Mancroft Church where he was buried.Beside it, since 2007 some modern statues bearing the names of his books.

Although he had a few quite strange beliefs himself, he researched the ideas of others in depth. He wrote a book called Pseudodoxica Epodemica, which outlined the vulgar errors of others. For instance, Browne applied observation and reasoning to such beliefs in the existence of unicorns, the notions that chameleons ate only air, and that garlic disrupted magnetism.

And next to all this there is a huge brain - over three feet high

At the moment there is a lot of controversy, as the City Council want to move the books and the brain elsewhere, and re-lay the steps on the hill to make it a more open area suitable for seating, and events etc. The Thomas Browne Society are not happy, saying more should be made of this important Norwich resident. The Norwich Society do not like the statues at all. 

I can see both sides of the argument - the space would be much more accessible if these large blocks of marble were elsewhere, but I also think that many people are unaware of the genius of this guy. 

There was much more to him than the study of unicorns, chameleons and garlic. Apart from anything else, he contributed a phenomenal number of neologisms [new words] to our language during the 17th century which we still use today, The Oxford English Dictionary [Susie Dent and her colleagues] estimates at least 788. And I bet you use have used some, if not all of them in the past few weeks. It fascinates me that these words below were first written down in Norwich, and we are still using them today. Words like

misconception,exhaustion, coma, ambidextrous, carnivorous, medical, follicle, hallucination,  illustrative, participating,  ruminating selection, transgressive, undulation, variegation, vitreous, flammability, biped, gypsum, ferocious, electricity ,  compensate, prairie, coexistence, suicide, and finally...migrant

But please don't ask me where his brain should be relocated - I have no idea...

Now The Green Blade Rises...

Four weeks ago I sowed some seeds, hoping to grow 'microgreens' on the windowsill in the Futility Room. 

I have to report total failure of all seeds. I blame the old compost, and possibly it was not moist enough - I don't know

I bought new compost, found a couple more seed packets which looked ok, and tried again.

This time I seem to be having some success 

- as everyone keeps telling me, gardening is a learning experience, and lesson one is than you cannot predict the results!

These are some of the Téte-a-Téte bulbs I bought in October 2021. 

They produced a sweet display in my tubs last year, and when they finished flowering I put them in a patch of bare earth beside the fence, and sprinkled grass seed too. [and I confess i forgot they were there] 

They are small, but bright and golden, heralds of the spring. 

Last week I felt despondent about the gardening, this week I am encouraged to keep trying!

PS thanks for all the comments on yesterday's "Royal" post. We obviously have differing views, but at least we can be tolerant of one another- and we all seem to believe in the importance of building good relationships!

For King And Country?

I've always considered myself a royalist. It's a bit of a family thing - my grandfather [who died before I was born] worked at the Royal Mint, making the King's Maundy Money, and also worked as a cook in the Buckingham Palace kitchens. 

I was taught to stand for the National Anthem. I was encouraged to pray for the Queen and those in authority, as Scripture tells us. I got my Queen's Badge in the Girls' Brigade- the youngest person ever to do so [and my record will be forever unbeaten, because they subsequently changed the rules] and was in a guard of honour for Her Maj. I waved my Union Flag, celebrated various jubilees, and watched the Royal Weddings. Then the Queen died. And this summer...

...and I am really struggling to be enthusiastic about this event. Bob, as Parish Councillor [altho not the Royalist that I am] has some responsibilities for events in this village over the celebration weekend. And I am on the planning committee for the event in the next village - as the rep for our chapel. I am being supportive [and organising the children's tent - no surprise there]

But honestly, I have very little enthusiasm for the whole business.

Is it just me? I had respect for the Queen. I am not so sure about the rest of her family. How did relationships get to the point where her grandson could write a book tearing into his father and his brother in such an unpleasant way?

When Diana died, Charles and his sons were with the Queen at Balmoral. One of the newspapers published a headline Where is our Queen? and insisted she should be back in London 'with her people'. I was angry at that. I felt that as a grandmother, she was doing the right thing, staying with the two young boys who had just lost their mother. I still feel that way - she always put duty and service first, and in August 1997, she felt her most important duty was to the children. 

Somewhere along the way, in the years since, things clearly have not been handled well. And I am sad about that. I remember years ago talking to someone from the States who said they envied us Brits with our Royal Family. They said their Head of State was the President, which was sometimes troubling if he was a bit dodgy, but whoever was our Prime Minister, at least we always had the Queen to look up to, setting us a good example. [and this remark was said to me way before Tricky Dicky Nixon, or Dodgy Donald Trump] But now, I just don't feel the same way about the Royals.

Don't get me wrong, I think some of them work really hard to do good stuff [I've great respect for Sophie, Countess of Wessex] but I can't help but feel things have shifted in the public's perception since last summer's Jubilee. What do you think?

And on a trivial note, it does sound a little silly to say to Bob "I'm just going to a meeting about the Coronation Street Party"

One I Prepared Earlier

Here I am, back in my happy place, planning for Holiday Club! It is strange having it in the Easter holidays rather than the summer, but that seems to fit well here. At the weekend we made yet another banner

I took a photo of the spray painting inside the carriage house - but forgot to take one once I'd peeled of the letters and hung it outside the chapel.

It has a QR code on it, so families can scan it and that gets them straight to the registration form.

Meanwhile I've been busy preparing crafts. Our theme is Restoration Station and where possible we are using recycled materials

These bottle tops are faces. They have a hole punched in the centre (with hand held leather punch) and goggle eyes. They have a peel off back - but they do not stick, and they are very fiddly. To save time I've stuck the eyes in advance using a hot glue gun. Bob is wandering around humming "I only have eyes for you" 

Liz declared that the spare bedroom was like the council recycling centre. It's full of cardboard tubes, pizza boxes, bottle tops and old CDs. But in 4 weeks it will be all over 

Until then, Cornerstones will feel like the Blue Peter Studio!

Vicars And Tarts

Just a quick review of two recent library books. Most of my books lately have been from the have cross stitch section, seeking inspiration for the CCC. But I did order this one, and thought it worth a review.

Murder Before Evensong is by the Reverend Richard Coles. It has Rev on the front cover and the spine, just in case anyone doesn't realise this Radio presenter, and former member of pop group The Communards is also a Vicar in the CofE. The book has all the things one might expect - a Flower Guild full of difficult ladies, the family up at The Big House, arguments about alterations to the Parish Church, and people who have lived in the village forever, and have Dark Secrets in their past. Also a bishop who isn't happy that the vicar is an amateur sleuth. 

But I found it cleverly written, pretty accurate about the church details [RC certainly knows his hymn tunes!] with a superb vocabulary and great descriptions. And being full of church ladies, who loved to cater for events, there are the inevitable scones, coffee-and-walnut sponges, and jam tarts.

It is set - I think- about 30 years ago. Certainly there are no mobile phones, and personal computers are something new, which the vicar looks at in Rymans.  It is a bit heavy on scene setting - Murder#1 doesn't happen till around page 100, and the pace only really hots up another hundred pages on with the second murder. With hindsight I realised there had been early clues which I had not picked up. A cosy read, ideal for fans of Midsomer or Father Brown ****

This next one has cake recipes and the author is the son of a Rev. And it was definitely a serendipitous discovery. Some distracted borrower had replaced the book on the shelf by the cross-stitch books. 

It is a bit niche, and I have to say that at the outset. It's written by Miles Jupp in his alter-ego, cookery writer Damien Trench. If you have every enjoyed listening to "In and Out of the Kitchen" on Radio 4, or 4 Extra, you will get it. I suspect that it may not mean anything to those who have not enjoyed Miles/Damien's soft, yet occasionally petulant, tones explaining recipes or clarifying the situation.  I&OTTK is a programme which always cheers me up and leaves me smiling - or even laughing out loud. 

This book is Damien's 'childhood memoir' but peppered with anecdotes from the present, and a number of recipes. All written in the rambling, pedantic style which he has made his own. 
If you like I&OOTK you will hear Damien's voice in your head as you read it and chortle. If you don't know the programme it may all seem rather quirky. I rate it ****but I know non-fans won't get it at all.

Oh but if I could only meet the Dereham Library borrower who left it by the cross stitch books...I am sure we would have much in common!

Win. Don't Bin

This is the slogan for Food Waste Action Week, which starts today. It is organised by WRAP [Waste Resources Action Programme] - the people behind the 'love food, hate waste' slogan

You can find dozens of recipes here - be creative, don't throw it away! There is no excuse - and with prices rising, we all need to be more careful. Look at the food you do throw away. Ask how you can find a use for it - or how you can plan to avoid the surplus.

There are some things which you probably do already

• turn leftover bread into crumbs or croutons 
• make "fridge scrape" soup from tired veg, or "mystery smoothies" from fruit past its best
• take leftovers and plate them up for another meal, or a packed lunch for work.
• use stale biscuits in bases for cheesecakes, or make 'refrigerator cake, tiramisu or 'tiffin'
• use leftover rice in fried rice dishes
• milk 'on the turn' can go into scones
• use the chicken carcase to make stock

But can you be even more creative?

• Leftover potatoes mixed with canned fish will make lovely fishcakes - but but remember to coat them with homemade breadcrumbs, and pan fry them in the oil from the can
• Combine leftover ragu [or spare cheese] with leftover risotto to make Sicilian arancini
• Cut bread into large cubes and use it in place of pastry or crumble to top a casserole or stewed fruit.
• When you get to the end of the ketchup or chutney jar, rinse it out, and add to the stew for extra flavour
• If you are eating an orange, zest it first, and freeze the zest for another recipe.

Use any leftover takeaway food intelligently. Don't keep it too long, and do reheat it thoroughly. Last night's leftover chips can be pan fried to go with lunch. Curry can top a jacket potato. All sorts of leftovers make a great snack spread on toast, topped with cheese, and popped under a grill. 

Don't despise 'doggy bags' - after a recent family outing to a carvery, we came home with some lovely sliced beef [the portions were extremely generous] We did not have a suitable box with us, but granddaughter Jess lent us her [clean] feeding bowl. I have since realised my collapsible Stojo Mug would be excellent for transporting some leftovers!

Wrap says we must all work on this together. What is your best tip for avoiding food waste?

 

Safely Home

I missed the Day of Prayer service on Friday - I was at a funeral. We first met Ray and his wife Cathy in 1986. They had grown up at Weling Baptist Church where their parents were members - but had moved away a few years before Bob became the Minister. But they frequently returned to see family [their cousins also belonged to the church] or attend special events. But their son had settled in Norwich, and in retirement they. like us, had come to Norfolk. It was a joy to reconnect with them. Ray's death was quite sudden - he was taken ill, and within a few days he died. But in those last few days he was able to speak with family and assure them of his faith, he knew he would soon be in his eternal home, with his Saviour. 
Friday was a sad day, but also one of joy. The pain of parting, but also the celebration of a life lived lovingly and generously. Bob and I were able to meet up with many of his relations whom we hadn't seen for 30 years or so. I wore the ear-rings his niece had made for me when she was a young girl in Girls' Brigade [Cathy's sister and I worked together in the Welling Company for for 9 years] Heather was surprised and delighted I still had them and wear them often. 

At the service, his wife and three children, plus Paul, his minister, and Trevor, a very close friend, all paid moving tributes to him. A family man, a worker in the church, a former Boys' Brigade Captain, an architect by trade, and a gifted artist in his leisure time. The church was filled with Ray's wonderful artworks. We sang the Boys' Brigade hymn with great enthusiasm - Ray loved these words, and they summed up the strength of his faith,

Will your anchor hold in the storms of life,
when the clouds unfold their wings of strife?
When the strong tides lift and the cables strain,
will your anchor drift or firm remain? 

Will your anchor hold in the straits of fear,
when the breakers roar and the reef is near?
While the surges rave and the wild winds blow,
shall the angry waves then your bark o'er flow?

Will your eyes behold through the morning light
the city of gold and the harbour bright?
Will you anchor safe by the heavenly shore,
when life's storms are past forever more?

We have an anchor that keeps the soul
steadfast and sure while the billows roll,

fastened to the rock which cannot move,

grounded firm and deep in the Saviour's love! 

For everyone in the church, there was a card depicting one of Ray's artworks. Depicting a figure climbing up the steps from the rocks and waves to the security of the lighthouse, it is entitled "Safely Home". And I believe Ray is home now...

 

I Had Planned On Stitching Snowdrops

At the beginning of the month I had no idea what to stitch for the CCC, then Bob suggested a trip to Oxburgh Hall to see the snowdrops. As I walked round, I was once again entranced by these brave blossoms, sparkling white against the cold brown earth. A good subject for stitching. I have done a number of 'floral' pieces down the years - after all this is a traditional theme for a sampler. But when I got home and looked through my photos I started to reconsider. What about a cartoon style group of Red Hat Ladies in their purple outfits and scarlet millinery instead? Looking at the Maryan embroideries again, I wondered about interpreting some of her animal stitchings. But I decided in the end it was the house itself, with its lovely new roof, back in 'working order' which deserved to be recorded.

I set out to translate this photo into a cross stitch chart, and found this free programme. But setting the chart for 60 squares by 20, to match my grid space gave a rather coarse pattern

Try again. A grid of 140 squares looks much better, but obviously is way too big for any section on the canvas

In the end I found a happy compromise. Using some graph paper, I used the top chart to get the correct number of squares for the outline, and then I modified, and added details using the second chart as a guide for positioning windows, roof edges etc. 

And I pinched Kirsten's idea about multicoloured threads for the embroidery. I used a brown shaded silk for the brickwork, and a shades of pastel blue for the sky. It saved so much time, and I love the way the brickwork looks textured and the sky has variations of blue. The roof I did in charcoal grey, windows in black, and outlining in dark brown. I am very happy with the result - perhaps I can market this to the NT as a kit for their gift shop?

My March CCC stitching is going to be much less ambitious!

I Have Heard About Your Faith

Today, the first Friday in March is, as always, the World Day Of Prayer. This year the chosen country is Taiwan. 

Here is the artwork for the theme "I have heard of your faith" The artist, Hui-Wen, has used several motifs that highlight Taiwan’s best-known features to express how the Christian faith brings peace and a new vision to Taiwan. The women in the painting are sitting by a stream, praying silently and looking up into the dark. Despite the uncertainty of the path ahead, they know that the salvation of Christ has come.

Two endangered species are featured: the Mikado pheasant and the Black-faced Spoonbill, which are both of unique significance to the Taiwanese people. The Mikado pheasant is regarded as one of Taiwan’s national birds. The Spoonbill migrates thousands of miles to spend the winter in Taiwan. Their distinctiveness symbolizes a characteristic of the  people—confidence and perseverance in times of difficulty. The green grass and Phalaenopsisorchids stand out against the dark background. Taiwan has a worldwide reputation as the “Kingdom of Orchids.” This beautiful island is known by its rich natural resources. Green grass represents the Taiwanese as simple, confident, strong and under God’s care.

The service has been planned by Christian women of Taiwan. They remind us of the urgency to protect the environment and have a nuclear-free homeland; to be aware of the gender stereotypes women face when defying the traditional role in the workplace or in the family, and to care for the healing of the victims of verbal and sexual abuses. It also brings to light the hidden struggle of the essential workers during the pandemic who had to balance between work and family in a vulnerable economic situation. The sisters thank God for the natural resources of the island and pray for wisdom in face of the ​​political isolation of Taiwan in the international community.

Find out more, and details of local services here

A Fine Example

The word sampler is derived from the French examplair, meaning a pattern to work by, copy or emulate. It derives fromt he Latin exemplum. The earliest surviving needlework samplers, worked in double running stitch and pattern darning are those found in Medieval Egyptian burial grounds. European embroideries were almost certainly influenced by the patterns thereon - especially the lozenge shape and letter forms S and X. During the Renaissance in Europe, there was a great revival of interest in decoration, many women took up needlework to beautify garments and furnishings. There were no printed patterns then, designs passed from hand to hand - filtering through from the Middle East to the Continent. 

The recording of patterns, motifs and lettering was essential for future use, and thus was the 'sampler' created. Ideas were shared between friends and immediately stitched to samplers before they were forgotten. They filled the vacant spaces, often in haphazard and random ways - experiments with new stitches, colours and threads before proceeding to a major piece of work.

Samplers became popular in England from the 16th Century - and were often used to record family evenings [births, weddings etc.] They were precious, and often bequeathed in wills. Blackwork - using a single colour was popular, and when Henry married Katherine of Aragon it was  named Spanish Work [until the Royal Divorce] Double running stitch was named Holbein stitch - the court painter frequently portrayed characters wearing garments trimmed with this work.

Kirsten and I will be carrying on this tradition with our Cross Country Collaboration - choosing random sections of our canvas to develop our skills and share ideas. K suggested the cross stitch idea, never having tried it till last year with the Postcard Project. I've been doing it since before the girls were born. But already I am learning things, and K's ideas are sending me off in new directions which is really exciting. 

Her first piece or the CCC arrived at the weekend - it is a proper example of what should be in a sampler. She has drawn the two of us, either side of the postbox, about to mail our little packets of stitching, There are trees, flowers, a house, and hearts. 

Rather than introducing lots of new threads, K had the brilliant idea of using multi-colour floss as a way of providing interest to the sections. The trees are different shades of green, the variegated pastels in the window pane look like reflected light, the petals on the flowers are shaded, not uniform, and those hearts go from pale pink through to deep mauve. What an effective and efficient use of threads!

This idea had never occurred to me before.

We never disclose what we are stitching - opening the packet is always a surprise - but Kirsten had mentioned buying the variegated threads. And I picked up on that thought before I began my February stitching.

I love these two cheerful women [she sewed it before my haircut] the very British postbox, and the friendly hearts. And the English house with its tidy trees and neat row of flowers. What a brilliant start to the project. 

And my 'flat gift' was really cool. I thought it was a pen- but no, it is a neat little pair of scissors which make their own case. Lovely for my bag and stitching on the go...Thanks K!

Top Tips For Trousers

About a month ago, I treated myself to a pack of two pairs of pj trousers at the end of Tesco's Post-Christmas Sale. They were 100% cotton, and had been reduced from £15 to £11, then to £7. I usually wear favourite [but tatty] teeshirts as pj 'tops' and I needed some new 'bottoms'. We were going to stay with Steph - it was a good excuse for replacing nightwear. Except they were, of course, too long for my little legs - and I never got round to shortening them. Then Steph kindly passed on two pairs of jeans which were too large for her, but fitted my hips. So that meant four pairs of trousers to shorten.

I got out the ironing board, tape measure, scissors and hemming web

Tip #1 - get your inside leg measurement right. Measure from crotch to hem down the inseam of a pair of trousers which fit you well. Mine is 67cm.[The King's is 75.5 cm - or so the tailor from Savile Row who used to make the Royal Trousers once told me]

Tip #2 - you need sharp scissors to cut fabric, especially denim. Treasure these blades- label them fabric only. Threaten death to anyone who uses them for opening their packages.

Tip #3 - hemming web is very useful. I believe Good King Wenceslas had a tailor who used hemming web - it makes the finished hems crisp and even [and possibly deep too]
Tip #4- Turn the garment inside out. Turn up the leg to the correct length and iron carefully, check the hems are level, measure twice, cut once, allowing an adequate hem. Now tuck your webbing inside the fold, right up against the crease, and press again to set the adhesive. Turn garment to the outside.

If the Uber's outside and you're late for the party, just dress and go. If you have more time, either hand stitch with an invisible hem on the inside, or run a line of machine stitching round to give an extra secure edge,

Tip #5 - for sewing denim always change your needle. Better results, easier for the machine, easier for you. 

Tip #6- check out your machine stitch on your 'donkey' [see here]

My machine offers a triple-step running stitch which is super strong for jeans.

Tip #7 - change the needle back again for non-denim sewing, and put your donkey under the presser foot as you do

[if you let go, and the needle won't drop inside the machine!]

Tip #8 - Have a little fun. Instead of boring running stitch or zigzag, this is an opportunity to try out one of the fancy stitches on your machine. 

Tip #9 check before you leave the shop that the security button has been removed. I went through the self-scan system, and nothing bleeped as I left the store. 

Only on Wednesday when I took the two pairs of the hanger, did I find one of the buttons folded to the inside. I had lost the receipt and did not want to drive all the way back to the store and try and explain myself [yes of course I'd paid, but couldn't prove that!]

Bob went out to the Lathe Palace and removed the button, warning me there may be a hole. I said it didn't matter. 

There were 3 little holes. I fixed on a patch [some of the trimmed leg section] with hemming web, and did a decorative stitch all over it

All four pairs of trousers now shortened!

I've never had a pair labelled "Mom" before, I don't think they do "Grandma" jeans. Just one issue to solve now...

Unlike Steph, I'm not a fan of distressed, holey jeans. I have got to think about some creative darning for these holes on the thighs! 
Tip #10 - teach your children to be generous - thank you Steph for passing these on to me!

Come Back Mrs Pankhurst!

 

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 must have 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 two convictions for fraud. At the 2019 elections there were only 33 allegations of 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 a free 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!

Bowls In A FragileWorld

This was the exhibition Bob and I attended on Wednesday. It was challenging and thought provoking. Here are the words of the artist, Debra Shipley, which accompanied her work...

Please look closely at and into these bowls. I hope you will find them both beautiful and thought-provoking. Each is unique, and every one is polluted with a fragment of plastic, a fleck of laminate, or a chemical from the printing process.

My bowls have no practical purpose but they will, I hope, take on a motivational one. Our ability to care for ourselves, 

both individually and globally, is fundamental to both our own survival and that of our planet. In many cultures, worldwide and over millions of years, 

the bowl has been linked to daily food consumption - the very basis of human survival. That survival - the ability for everyone in the world to daily consume a bowl of food - is now being challenged on an unprecedented scale with the onset of climate change.

…I have used the basic form of the food bowl, a shape universally recognised, to symbolise human need. I have created my bowls using materials which are themselves part of the problem - the rubbish which we are daily putting into our refuse bins. I have also included dead leaves, petals and other organic matter, reminders of our natural environment and how vulnerable it is. Like our environment, my bowls are very fragile - without care they will disintegrate.

At first, when preparing the junk mail to make the paper pulp used to create the bowls, I carefully removed the plastic windows from the envelopes. I tried to select discarded paper which didn't seem to have any extra coating. So, I was truly shocked to find tiny bits of plastic imbedded in my final work. Look carefully and you will see dots of colour and typeface - evidence of inks and coatings. You will also see tiny flashes of reflection as the little plastic pieces catch the light. Initially, I tried to remove the bits of unwanted plastic,… but I quickly realised the removal itself was damaging. This became the underpinning narrative of my work. A metaphor for the pollution in our shared rivers, seas, earth and sky along with the realisation of the difficulty of its removal.

My hope is that when you look into my bowls you will take time to think about all this and to take whatever action you are able. During the forthcoming year, people will die in floods, fires and famine - all caused by climate change. Wth action we could prevent this.

Debra embedded nature- leaves, petals, seeds etc. into the bowls - and yet could not remove the plastic and chemicals that we have embedded into nature. These bowls were so lovely, so delicate, and so challenging. 

We all have a part to play, and we must collaborate ...

One Year On...

 

Feeling Trim

Firstly, thank you for all the recent comments - I know so many of you are equally concerned about the situation in Ukraine, and the plight of refugees from many nations. May God help us all to truly love our neighbours and to live in peace.

And thank you for the messages for Rosie's birthday - a good time was had by all. The custom at her school is for children to go to the nearby playground and share cake with friends. An easy way to celebrate, everyone is included - and no hiring of party venues or entertainers etc means it is much more affordable!

Bob’s Hospice Activity has been cancelled for two weeks due to a Covid outbreak among staff [all volunteers barred from the premises] So we went into Norwich on Thursday together. I finally got round to having a haircut. I went to Supercuts, which is a walk-in salon. Within an hour of parking the car, I was walking out to lunch! I'm pleased with the results.

It had got very long and straggly. I've stuck with the one length Bob, I find it easier to manage. [my parting on the left as always, but the 'before' picture is in the mirror.]

After lunch Bob and I went to a free art exhibition in the Cathedral. It was very good. Once I have sorted my pictures I shall post about it. 

Happy Birthday, Rosie!

Seven years old today - where has the time gone? Thank you for all the joy you bring us. Grandad and I had a great half term with you, making unicorn masks and magic wands, reading together playing with your little sister, and having lots of fun.

I am so glad you like the new ducks. My favourite is the Pirate, but you were very sure that you liked best 'the one with the book and glasses. I shall call him Sir Quackingham Duck, who lives in Quackingham Palace.'

I know you will get lots of lovely gifts today. Your other gran gave me a piece of embroidery made by her late Aunt, and asked if I could turn it into something for you. 

It is now a wall hanging for your newly decorated bedroom. There are over 60,000 stitches in it! It will be a while before Kirsten and I can manage anything that good.

Have a wonderful day - looking forward to seeing you again at Easter.

God bless you today and always 🥰💕💌