Another Bryan Bilston Poem

This is a reprint of a post from July 2018 - after I had gone to London to protest with Liz about President Trump's first State visit to the UK. Afterwards she sent me a BB poem. So my post about that march was entitled Liz Sent Me A Poem - here's a shortened version of that post...
Friday's march was a joyous carnival event -[many people] united in their anger and sadness over the activities of one narcissistic man. Liz and I were marching with Jenna, originally from Michigan - I was proud of these two young women beside me who shared my feelings about the arrival of this man on our shores.

We commented on the diversity of issues represented [racism, misogyny, nuclear weapons, global warming, mistreatment of refugees, Islamophobia, imprisonment of asylum seekers, homophobia, separation of children from parents...and more]We sang, 

 cheered, clapped, blew whistles Afterwards Liz sent me Brian Bilston's poem. I shall endeavour to live up to it as I grow older!

AS I GROW OLD I WILL MARCH NOT SHUFFLE

As I grow old
I will not shuffle to the beat
of self-interest
and make that slow retreat
​​​to the right.

I will be a septuagenarian insurrectionist
marching with the kids.

I shall sing ‘La Marseillaise’,
whilst brandishing homemade placards that proclaim 
‘DOWN WITH THIS SORT OF THING’.
I will be an octogenarian obstructionist,

and build unscalable barricades
from bottles of flat lemonade,
tartan blankets and chicken wire.
I will hurl prejudice upon the brazier’s fire.

I will be a nonagenarian nonconformist,

armed with a ballpoint pen
and a hand that shakes with rage not age
at politicians’ latest crimes,
in strongly-worded letters to The Times.

I will be a centenarian centurion
and allow injustice no admittance.

I will stage longstanding sit-ins.

My mobility scooter and I
will move for no-one.

And when I die

I will be the scattered ashes
that attach themselves to the lashes
and blind the eyes
of racists and fascists.

Thank you Bryan! I was in my 60s when I protested then, I am in my 70s now. I hope I never lose the fire in my belly that makes me want to speak out against evil and injustice. 

Trump is due here for another State Visit in September. According to CNN last week  "More specifics about the state visit will be released in the future, the palace statement said. As with every state visit, it will include a full ceremonial welcome and state banquet. All senior members of the Royal Family are expected to take part."

Of course, the King's brother Andrew will not attend the banquet, as he is no longer able to take part in State Events, because of his unfortunate close friendship with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein...

Struggles, Stillness, And Strength

I know that quite a few of my friends are going through difficult times right now, and it is hard sometimes to keep going. Some of you send me 'offblog' private messages and emails. Be assured, you are remembered in prayer. One person referred to the comfort she had found in the words of Joshua 1: 9.
Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid, do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.
Sometimes it is so important to just be still, to stop, and reflect.
To leave the stress and strivings for a moment and find a moment of peace.
It has been so hot for many of us recently - and I do not cope at all well with extreme heat. Another quote about stillness came to mind when I looked at this month's Painted BearCalendar. It is from George Fox, founder of the Quaker movement. Be still and cool!

Booked Up!

I have just finished my part of the CoverStory Project, which Kirsten and I have been working on for a year. Our two panels are here

I trimmed the panel neatly, and bound the edges with navy bias binding. Then I folded it around my A5 notebook to work out the best placement of the flaps. The 'pen pocket' had to be on the front.

The 'info' panel fitted neatly inside the front cover - and at the back, my Immanuel strip, and lengths of embellished ribbons tucked inside. What a wonderful project, and practical too, this is my little day to day notebook, so will get a lot of use.
Our next collaborative project is due to start on August 1st...

I'm Sew Excited!

Have you heard? The Bayeaux Tapestry is coming to England in 2026!

OK, it is a temporary exchange of treasures - the French are getting the Lewis Chessmen and some of the Sutton Hoo hoard. In the 1000th anniversary of the birth of William the Conqueror, this 70 metre length of embroidery [it is not tapestry work, by the way!] is coming back to the land of its creation. 

We asked to borrow it in 1953 [Coronation of Elizabeth II] and 1966 [900 years after the battle] and quondam Culture Secretary Matt Hancock* assured us in 2018 that it would be coming in 2022. [huh!]

But now there is a definite date, and it will be on display in the British Museum. Oh how I long to go and see it...
I have dreamed of seeing this for more than 55 years, ever since I laboriously copied a portion onto a bit of sheeting for a school project on mediaeval needlework. [I finally saw my other favourite French stitching, the Lady and The Unicorn, last year in Paris]

I am clearly not alone in this longing, poet Bryan Bilston has written a little ode, which I plan to print out and stick on the fridge...

Tapestry of Dreams

for sew long how I did yearn
to visit you in Bayeux

but with the conquest of the years
my hair is getting greyeux

for Time will wait for Norman
-that's one in the eye for me

yet hope hangs by a silver thread,
I now hear you'll cross the sea

oh, I'm on pins and needles
I've been waiting since my youth

no stitch-up or false-spun yarn
it's the unembroidered truth

Brian Bilston

Will you be going to see it do you think?
* I have always wanted to use the word quondam in a post. I am not at all fond of MH, so am pleased to have found an appropriate adjective for him at last.

But Me No Buts

 

At the end of June, my bro went away for a few days and asked me to water his plants. I was happy to do so. But I did develop serious Butt Envy. Tucked round the corner of his garden, he has a huge water butt, into which drains all the water from the roof of his house. I have two smaller slimmer butts, one at the end of the coach house, the other just next to the patio doors in the back. I would love one as big as this, but cannot work out where it could go!

I have always been fascinated by water butts - the clever way that once they are full, the diverter sends the overflow back into the pipe and down the drain. 

Every time I water my plants, I diligently refill my three watering cans when I've finished, to leave maximum space in the butts just in case there is any rain. I'd hate to waste any water! My friend Cathy has a fabulous arrangement with 5 interlinked butts behind her outhouse [a wonderful Victorian building, there's a date on one of the bricks] She rarely runs out of water for her lush vegetables beds. 

The Raised Beds continue to delight us - plenty of lettuce and potatoes at the minute, and in the greenhouse the mini tomatoes are ripening. We've had the last mini cucumber - I shall get one of these again next year from Toftwood Nurseries.

I was going to work on my flower garden this year, but haven't. However I have been enjoying three house-plants recently given to me.

In May, my neighbour's daughter gave me her mother's orchid, and it has recently bloomed. In June, Adrian gave me a daisy as a thank you for watering his garden. And in July I received this bromeliad from old Kirby Muxloe friends who came to lunch. 

This is quite stunning. I am a little unsure about watering, The advice is to keep the little 'cup' at the top full of water [rain water or boiled, cooled tapwater] How often should I do this? It is so hot at the minute, it seems to be dried out every morning when I check. 

Note; I put it outside simply to photograph. It is currently living on the coffee table in a bright spot  [but not full sunshine]
It seems OK there -but I will have to move it to a safer spot when the grandchildren arrive.

All your Bromeliad Care Tips will be gratefully accepted. Thank you!

Phil Up With Phood

Twenty years ago, I was very fond of watching Everybody Loves Raymond on Channel 4. Like Frasier, and Cheers, you can still find it there. A family sitcom, starring Ray Romano and Patricia Heaton with a good supporting cast. Ray's sister-in-law Amy is played by Monica Horan. She is the [real life] wife of Phil Rosenthal, creator and director of this very clever show, which ran for 9 seasons.

In the past month, Bob has discovered a new series, on Netflix, also created by Phil Rosenthal. It's called Somebody feed Phil and stars the man himself, travelling the world, eating everything. When Bob has time to watch TV and there's nothing else he fancies, then he turns on yet another episode of this show. The ultimate in binge-watching
What can I say? It is utterly delightful. The man is a joyful, positive character, full of hope and love and laughter - and usually quite full of food too. Each episode is in a new location where he seeks out the cuisine. He eats the simple food of the locals in their homes, the exquisite takes on the regional dishes provided by the top chefs, the fast food takeaway street foods, and the generous portions served up at foodbanks and community projects. He isn't patronising, always grateful, and eager to promote the hard work done by the producers of the dishes set before him.

His brother Richard is executive producer, and is often called to the other side of the camera to sample a mouthful of whatever is on Phil's fork. Sometimes wife Monica shares the meal with him - and she is screamingly funny too.

Described as a "foodie do-gooder", via the "Rosenthal Foundation" Phil supports many feeding programmes, and gives a link on his show in case viewers feel moved to help this. Towards the end of every show, he has an online chat with someone [a family member, or a well known celeb] and his guest is required to tell a joke. He is very Jewish, as are many of his guests, although he certainly doesn't 'keep kosher' when it comes to his diet. I'm not 100% in agreement with all his politics -but nevertheless I think it is great fun.

The one he did from Ireland was splendid - visiting Darina and Rachel Allen at the Ballymaloe Cookery School, and doing cold water swimming with crazy vegan chefs Dave and Steve [identical twins] from The Happy Pear in Co. Wicklow.

I can recommend it if you want a burst of sunshine on a gloomy day [you may want to save this up for winter viewing] Good entertainment, his exaggerated facial expressions are a hoot - but watching it does make me hungry...

It's Nice Iced!

When we were in Canterbury, I picked up some cans of iced tea to keep in the fridge. They were pleasant, but definitely a "convenience food" - at home it is much easier to make from scratch. I use this recipe from the BBC, but I skip the oranges and the mint. And use whatever sugar is to hand.

It is lovely to relax out in the summerhouse, with a good book and a carafe of luscious lemony tea. Whatever you do, do not get dehydrated, friends! 

What is your go-to cool drink on a hot day?