Hold On To Hope

Yesterday was quite busy. We began with a nearby Craft Fair where we met a few friends [and found a couple of Christmas gifts] then dropped in on the Village Hall where our neighbour was celebrating her 18th birthday with a lunchtime party. Then on to the Hospice for the Christmas Fair there. We encountered a number of Bob's colleagues, including Hugo, the Head of Fundraising, who was interested in the tableau. We purchased a Christmas wreath from Jack, the gardener. The team of volunteer gardeners have made loads of these from greenery around the site. We ended our afternoon in Earlham. A quick stroll round a couple of charity shops, then on to the Greengrocers, for cups of tea, and a shared slice of cake. They have a community noticeboard, where locals can pin their adverts. For maths support, chess tuition, harp lessons, yoga classes and more... I was very taken with the message on a postcard pinned there.

Isn't this the heart of the Christmas message? Hold on to Hope, for behold I bring good news of great joy for all people...
It was a miserably wet day, but when we drove into the Close it was getting dark. The light in the stable shines brightly

In The Bleak Midwinter

Wednesday night was very cold, and it snowed! Thursday morning was sunny, but still chilly. Many neighbours with solar panels woke to find frozen white rectangles on their roof. But they thawed very quickly. Which was good, because we had marked the date in the calendar for setting up the tableau.

We fetched the wooden frames down from the Workshop Loft, and the boxes of costumes etc from the Futility Loft. Some of the labels were a little amusing!

The angel is suspended, and does not have a frame like the others. Instead of gazebo legs and bits of broomstick, the heaven seraph is a polystyrene head stuck to an upturned laundry bin, with wings threaded onto an old piece of curtain track. The little shepherd was a headless shop mannequin found at a yard sale for £5

The main addition this year is a pink collecting pot for the Hospice [plus a QR code, if people want to pay by phone] We'd just finished putting it all together when someone who was visiting our neighbour walked over to have a look - and immediately put a handful of coins into the pot. This is year #5. It is interesting to see how things have evolved
2021-  Just Mary, Joseph and the baby, plus one wise man
2022 - Added; a shepherd boy, plus sheep, and Rosie's owl. Plus a net light on the backdrop
2023 - Added an angel, a red star [which didn't work properly!]
2024 - Added a better illuminated star, the wise man's gift [biscuit tin!] and a small mouse [the owl had a year off]

This year the owl is back, and there's a collecting tin, and a poster on the side of the workshop with the QR code for donations [https://www.justgiving.com/page/bob-almond-1] The lights are on from dusk to 11pm. The costumes vary slightly each year! No there will not  be a camel. Thankyou to those who have already made a donation. God bless you all.

The Wife Of Bath

I have never actually read this story from The Canterbury Tales [ my knowledge of them is lamentably poor, I confess] Although I do know that "Bath" refers to the city, not the place where one washes.
I was thinking about baths this week - one friend has problems with her boiler, another with her immersion heater. Lack of hot water is an issue for both of them. I remembered my childhood - how different things were back then.

I usually had a bath once a week, and there was not much water. I'm amazed we didn't have one of those black lines painted round, as they did in the war years - only 5"water allowed. Sometimes there was just not enough hot water. So I was given a 'strip wash' at the sink, involving a damp flannel. The bathroom was so cold.

And sometimes, I had to kneel with my head over the bath, and Mum would wash my hair. She would pour water from a jug, and somehow it always went in my eyes and down my neck! I was so excited when we got one of those y-shaped rubber thingies that fitted on the taps, so she could direct the shower head onto my hair/head and the process seemed easier.

My own daughters hated hairwashing when they were very young [I usually did it as they sat in the bath] I am not sure those hairwash shields were very effective. But eventually they got used to the idea. We were pleased when we got Cornerstones, to discover the bath is quite long - Bob can sit in it quite comfortably. Yet we have hardly used it, preferring to take a quick shower. I am not one of those candlelight, lots of water and bubbles, and a glass of wine sort of bathers [like Bridget Jones and co] 

The bath only really gets used when the grandchildren are here, and Rosie & Jess, or George& Jakey, pile in together and play with the rubber ducks and the pirate ship. And they gleefully squirt Grandad with the water cannon.

Our washing habits have, I hope, improved since the Wife of Bath and her medieval friends. We have baths, showers, bidets etc. We should not take our hot washing water, and cold fresh drinking water for granted. So many in our world go without either.
During Covid, the Toilet-Twinning charity did tap twinning, to enable people in the 3rd world to maintain good hygiene standards in the pandemic. We twinned the tap in the Futility Room. That group no longer offer this twinning, but another group does. And Water Aid does an incredible amount across the globe, to provide clean water, toilets, and good hygiene. Spend a penny, then send a donation...

A New Raised Bed

In 2009 - two single beds. They went against the wall, with a pair of matching cabinets between.

Later, we moved them to the opposite side of the room so we could accommodate a wardrobe. Only room for one cupboard - the other came into our bedroom. In 2023 we pushed them together as a double, and I made a 'filler strip' to go down the middle where there was a gap between the mattresses. Really wide, room for two parents and a grandchild. Or two grandchildren and Gran.

Now we have changed it for a King size Malm. With two extra cupboards for more storage [thank you FB Marketplace] It is also higher - and we think this raised bed will prove useful, as we can store stuff underneath, and it is easier for oldies like us to get in and out of! Currently there are 2 single mattresses, awaiting delivery to Manchester. 

The single quilts which I made in 2009 are really large- so one placed sideways is adequate. As I took the photo I realised our picture [Holkham Beach] needs moving. I think it needs to be central over the bed! 

If you need b&b in central Norfolk anytime, let me know!

Mysterons, Ergatrons And Magnetrons

This is the voice of the Mysterons, we know you can hear us...
Do you remember Captain Scarlet? Another character from Gerry Anderson's "Supermarionation" - the Mysterons were from Mars and had ' a war of nerves' with the earthmen. It was a follow up to Thunderbirds, but not as good, imho.

This week I came across Ergotrons. Well, almost. I was looking round a hospital with a colleague, and we kept find weird triangular patterns of screw holes in the consulting rooms. "What are these?" she asked, and was told "Oh, that's where the Ergotrons were". The staff member was unable to give any further information. It transpires that they are wall mounted bits of kit involving monitors and keyboards etc. They had been removed, but nobody had got round to filling the holes or making good the walls [we were doing an inspection of the premises] We giggled as we walked back to our meeting room, about The Invasion Of The Ergotrons...

Then I had a a bit of a scary experience. I switched on the microwave [bought just 5 weeks ago] and it started smoking and making odd noises [smoke, crackle! pop!] I switched it off, promptly. Bob said "switch it on again, and take photos this time". So I did, somewhat nervously. Bob said "I think the Magnetron has gone"

Bob contacted John Lewis customer services, who communicate via WhatsApp. They put him through to the technical department. The guy did not seem to know much about microwaves.

Bob sent a picture of the microwave full of smoke. Then said "Would it help if I told you I have an MA in physics, and trained as an electrical engineer, and I believe the magnetron has gone?" The person on the other end accepted this diagnosis - and said if we packed it up, we could take it into JL Norwich and exchange it for a new one. We did that, hoping the mysteron,ergotron,magnetron lasts longer than 5 weeks this time. Or I shan't know what to do-ron -ron-ron

PS IF YOU ARE IN THE UK, DON'T FORGET TO PUT THE CLOCKS BACK TONIGHT!

Keeping Up Appearances

That fabulous TV show ran from 1990-1995. How we loved watching bossy Mrs Bucket [pronounced Bouquet] She reminded me of a WI woman I met in Warwickshire in the 70s, surname Sidebottom, who insisted on being called Mrs Sidday-Bot-Tome. Was that programme really thirty years ago? In 1994, we were on holiday in Sussex, and we took the girls [aged 12 and 10] to the Festival Theatre, to see Patricia Routledge in the farce "The Schoolmistress" by Pinero. She was clever, and witty, a consummate professional. She enjoyed a long and glittering career, on stage, radio and screen. A longtime resident of Chichester, she was a patron of the theatre, and a faithful member of the Cathedral. She gave generously of her time and resources to support both. She will be greatly missed 

Since we bought Cornerstones in 2009, the original neighbours around us have all moved on. [I don't think its our fault, many were very elderly]

I remember driving over from Leicester by myself one day in early summer. I needed to do a few odd jobs and tidy the garden.

As I pushed the mower up and down, I thought about the other residents of the Close.

One lady liked everything just right [Hyacinth] another seemed less confident [Elizabeth] a temporary resident was actually described to me as "No better than she ought to be" [Rose] and one old chap loved to just sit in his armchair, beer in hand, watching sport on TV [Onslow] As I cut the grass I thought  They could do a remake of Keeping Up Appearances and  my neighbours could be the cast. But of course, they'd need an overworked member of the clergy and his slightly crazy wife..." Then I realised that would be Bob and me!

She may have played snooty, snobbish characters [Lady Bracknell] or salt-of the-earth Northerners [Hetty Wainthrop] but at heart she was a good woman who loved acting and loved bringing joy into peoples' lives. She died two weeks ago, aged 96.

Thank you Dame Patricia for all that you gave us. RIP

A Month Of Bargains

1. My usual charity shop limit is £4 a week. Which is £16 a month.  For ages I've been looking in CS for a single Pokal glass tumbler, as I only had 5, not 6. So I was pleased to find one for 50p in the Warrington IKEA bargain corner - they come in sets of 6 for £4, which is 67p each. Set complete. Not a CS buy, but never mind
2. I don't need pinking shears - but Bob spotted brand new Fiskars ones for £8 instead of £35, and all my other crafting scissors[and garden secateurs, and kitchen scissors] are the orange handled Scandinavian beauties. So I got them - and passed my others onto two sisters I know who are starting their sewing journey, and will make good use of them. [Break shop, Cromer]
3. Bob also spotted 4 Pantone mugs for £4. They have gone into the cupboard, and random non matching mugs have gone in a CS donations box [Hospice Shop, Norwich]
4. I said I did not want anymore Willow Tree Figures, but the Bright Star Angel was £4 not £25, and she will look so good with the others at Christmas. [RSPCA Chorlton]

Total spend £16.50. That's OK. I probably won't buy any CS stuff for the next few weeks. My bargains

There is only one problem. The Angel has lost a hand. She had two when I took her from the shelf and gave her to the lady to wrap up. 
But when I unwrapped her, her right hand is missing. I checked very carefully in the bag she'd been in, in case it was in there. But no...

I am working out how to make a new hand. Air-drying clay is currently my best thought. Bob suggested putting some sort of pin into the wrist to hold it. On closer examination, there is a mark on the wrist, and I wonder if the hand had already been repaired and was loose in the shop...

No matter, I have till December to fix her!

In Everything Give Thanks

These are the words of Paul in his letter to the Christians at Thessalonica. I was completely exhausted when we got back from Manchester on Friday night, and have developed a nasty cold. But I was thankful 

• For a safe journey
• For 5 superb days with the family
• For a lovely home to come back to
• For the neighbour who had put my wheelie bin back
• For good food to eat
• .... For so much more.

But I was feeling a bit flat - missing my two cheerful little boys, and sneezing a lot. "We may have post waiting for us" said Bob, hopefully. There was indeed a stack of flyers on the mat [no, I don't need new furniture, replacement windows,  a will or a funeral plan - and I am certainly not planning on moving house!] But at the bottom of the heap, a proper envelope, with a handwritten address. And inside, the most gorgeous card

My wonky photo doesn't do it justice. My friend had already emailed a thank you for the small package I'd sent her. This handmade thank you card really lifted my spirits - as did the message inside. 

In this busy world of texts and emails and WhatsApps, it really means a lot when somebody makes an extra effort to show their gratitude.

"Writing thank you letters " after Christmas or birthdays often felt like a chore when I was a child, but I am glad Mum drilled the habit into me, and grateful to others who say thank you sincerely.

Let us not take each other for granted. Every day, find somebody to say thank you too. And make it genuine, not just a perfunctory phrase mumbled in passing.  ❤️💚💙🧡🩷

Bring Me Sunshine!

 

There is a pink furry octopus on the sofa. She is 25cm tall and I'm calling her Olivia Octopus [after Olivia Colman, the bright and cheery actress from Norfolk]

Somehow Bob 'won' her from Octopus Energy, who are our "suppliers". Except they don't supply us with very much energy, because of our solar panels on the roof and the storage batteries connected to them. In the 6 months March to August, we got 98.5% of our energy from the panels. And of the power generated, over 68% was sold back to the grid. So as well as paying for the 1.5% we got from the grid, our Octopus account has built up a very healthy balance. Enough to pay for any electricity used over the winter and cover the costs of the oil for our heating. 

When Bob phoned, to ask if some of the surplus could be transferred to our bank account [for the oil payment] the guy said he would have to check - we are supposed to keep 'in the black '., to ensure we can pay for power in the darker winter months. He said he would call up our account on screen. Bob said there was a pause, then the Octopus man said "Blimey!!" He was quite astounded by the effectiveness and efficiency of our panels. We feel very grateful that we were able to have the system fitted when we did.

If you are considering solar, do check out your fitter's credentials, don't have panels without batteries, and make sure you have the right paperwork connecting you to the grid so you receive your payments. We have found Octopus to be helpful and reliable. 

I'm still not sure how I feel about Olivia though!

Love, Life And Laughter

Forty Six Years and still going strong. God has blessed us with so much. Thank you Bob for every wonderful moment! [and for your infinite patience] Last year all the family were with us - this year, just us two at Cornerstones - but still celebrating. 💘

It Started With A Book...

Liz taught me the phrase cascade of chores when one task leads to another, and another...and eventually,  maybe, some of them get completed.  A few weeks back, I said I would lend a book to someone. I put it on the table - then left the house without it. I have apologised to her now, because neither Bob nor I have seen it since July. "I must sort the bedroom bookcase" I declared "It is really overloaded" But it was too hot for housework

It has been baking in our bedroom "The fan is not very efficient" said Bob. I pointed out it was rather old, dusty, and tired [like me] We have had it 20+ years. He looked at it, and declared the the back of the grill looked rusty. But when dismantled, the brown rust proved to be a thick layer of dust. Bob cleaned it all up, it works much better. Back to the book sort. 

Technically the top 2 shelves are all Terry Pratchett, the bottom 3 are craft and cookbooks, and in between, "current reading" with ½ a shelf designated "borrowed" [from library or friends]

I cleared 5 shelves onto the top of the drawers for sorting. And soon realised it was a dusty task. I grabbed an old washing up brush and brushed down each book in turn [just like the NT conservators in Blickling Hall library]

Oh so very dusty! And there were far more books which were not craft or cookery than I'd realised. Some have come from the lounge "fiction" selection and need to go back there. Some need to leave the house forever. And that missing book is still missing [sorry, Heather!]

This is still a WIP, as I have realised there are cookbooks in the study and kitchen. But only 5 in the borrowed pile.  I am embarrassed to have found three CS books bought in Essex in March which I'd forgotten about. I'm giving books a good shake, dislodging all sort of random cards and clippings. Some to be recycled, others will be kept as bookmarks because they bring back happy memories. Like these from 1992!

How often do you sort or dust your bookshelves?

I know some of you are former librarians,  so I'm sure you are more diligent than I am!

Aftermath

Half Term Holiday week was fabulous - thirteen different family visitors - the girls and their families, Julian, my bro and SIL, and Bob's sister and BIL. They liked the kitchen  "Calm and tranquil" said Gaz. "Surprisingly tidy" said Steph. Steph, Liz and Julian quickly learned the new locations for stuff, and helped out with meal prep. The children were bright and cheerful - crafts and science with Grandma, stories and steam engines with Grandad...

Jess was eager to make floating flowers again. She explained it all to Bob. But 17 seconds is an awful long time for a three year old to wait...

Last September, when we were putting away the patio parasol, I noticed it was very ripped and holey round its top section. I made a new piece "So I will not have to repair it when we get it our again."

But when we got it out two weeks ago, the top was OK - but the rest was completely perished along its fold-lines where it had been packed away! 

See the holes marked in green. Steph brought us a new cover from Manchester IKEA and all was well again. We were grateful for the shade on the very sunny days.

Now all bedding and towels have been laundered, in the bathroom the little step stool has been folded and tucked away, and the pirate ship and ducks moved to the end of the bath [so they won't impede laundry on the drying rack]And we are eating p meals made of random leftovers.

The June calendar is surprisingly full - but for a few days I shall really miss them all. Their presence makes such an impact

Bearing Fruit

My fig tree is over twenty years old, a gift from Liz in 2004 for our Silver Wedding. It lived in the conservatory in Kirby for 10 years, and from 2008 onwards I enjoyed fresh figs all through the summer months.
Then we moved it to the Cornerstones garden in summer 2014. It has not produced any fruit since it was forced to live outside. 

Then last March, disaster struck - the men came to replace the fence, so I moved the fig in its pot to another part of the garden -and a piece of stacked timber fell and cracked the plastic pot.
I was upset, but took the opportunity to buy a larger, stronger pot, and to relocate it on the concrete base at the side of the summerhouse

And this summer, it has put forth many leaves and dozens of baby figs...
I am ridiculously excited at the prospect of fruit again this summer. Figs are mentioned a lot in the bible. The first mention of sewing refers to Adam and Eve making themselves garments of fig leaves! The growth on a fig tree symbolises the coming of summer, and hope. 
And Habakkuk speaks of faith in difficult times "Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I WILL rejoice in the LORD, I WILL find joy in the God of my salvation....The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places."
The prophet Micah looks forward to a time when "Everyone will sit under their own vine and fig tree, and live in peace and unafraid"

Look! here are figs on my tree - maybe this summer I will once again have a harvest of fruit.
The summer is coming
I have hope
But even if there are no figs, I can trust that God will provide, and He will give me strength.

Today I am thinking especially of those who are suffering the pain of bereavement right now, may God bring them comfort, and peace, and surround them with love. 

Eureka!

The Back Bedroom is an absolute tip. I really must try and get things into some sort of order. Everything from the kitchen went in there in March, and I took the absolute minimum of crockery, cutlery and foodstuffs through to the Futility Room Temporary Kitchen. But every so often, I need something which has been packed.

It was lovely to receive flowers for Mothering Sunday and my birthday - but the boxes of vases was totally inaccessible, so they had to be displayed in a coffee pot and a kilner jar. I have put the two lids somewhere 'safe' but now I cannot remember where!

Monday night, we had some air-fried salmon with a sweet chilli coating, I thought I should add extra Blue Dragon Sauce, as it seemed a little dry. But I could not find it - Bob suggested a splash of the IKEA dill instead.

I got the jar out of the fridge., "This is almost empty, we must buy another jar in Nottingham" I said. But on Tuesday I was hunting for my book about felt mice - and I found two new jars of the dill sauce [I got them in Lakeside IKEA in February, and had forgotten about them] I did not find my mouse book. I spent an evening drafting paper patterns from scratch...

On Wednesday I was looking for my Mixed Herbs, and unearthed the pattern book underneath a bag of baking sheets...Along the way I am discovering kitchen bits and pieces I have not used for ages, and probably do not need any more. So I have a Charity Box in the corner which is filling up with decent, usable stuff to donate. And another box which is for rubbish.

I'm still not sure why the crown from the dressing up box was in with spare Tupperware though. I wore it all Thursday afternoon as it made me feel important [and made Bob laugh]

Refitting the kitchen is both a Steep Learning Curve and a Voyage of Discovery....

When Archimedes shouted "Eureka!" was it really because he'd discovered a new scientific principle, or was it that he had found his bar of soap?

This Blessed Plot...

 ...This Earth, This Realm, This England*
or in my case, "This blessed plot, this raised bed, this mini-greenhouse..." I have been outside, and negotiated my way round the woodstore cottage and checked on a few things outside. 

I have emptied the bottom half of my compost bin, through that flimsy little sliding door - and put a layer of compost on the raised bed.

The two troughs of tete-a-tete daffs hich were sheltering beside the oil tank are all in bloom, so they have been moved to the front, beside the door.

This is one of the four plastic supports from the old water butt. It is held in place by a large lump of concrete found when we were sorting out the patio and dead decking. I am using this contraption to force some rhubarb. I had a quick peek - a few fine bright pink stems with vivid greeny yellow curly leaves under there. Maybe when Julian comes next week I shall make a fancy pud.

Inside, the potatoes seem to be taken forever to chit, but the pepper seeds in the propagator are showing signs of growth. Sadly not the 'mild red pepper' which I could eat, but the two blistering hot chilis I planted for Bob have both developed leaves.

* This is the only bit of Richard II I can quote. Currently I am studying Romeo and Juliet in order to help a young friend with her GCSE Revision. I will close this post with a favourite Ogden Nash poem, which I dedicate to the frazzled parents of adolescent daughters

The Romantic Age

This one is entering her teens,
Ripe for sentimental scenes,
Has picked a gangling unripe male,
Sees herself in bridal veil,
Presses lips and tosses head,
Declares she's not too young to wed,
Informs you pertly you forget
Romeo and Juliet.
Do not argue, do not shout;
Remind her how that one turned out.