Baby, It's Cold Outside!

Norfolk County Council is preparing the gritters in readiness for winter. They have 55 lorries, and this year held a competition to name each one. Asking the public for names is always dodgy [BoatyMcBoatface] BBC Radio Norfolk, and the Eastern Daily Press helped. Over 600 entries, mostly from children and local schools. They have just published the list of the winning names. You can tell the majority of entrants were children! I am impressed by a four year old suggesting Control Salt Delete [I suspect parental influence there]
Many refer to famous people or films, some [in red] are folk with Norfolk connections, others relate to the Canaries [Norwich FC] Some I found a little confusing [Doris? Gracie?] In Norfolk dialect, great is pronounced grit. One in six have ice in the name somewhere. One in 3 include ice. One in 8 have salt.
My own Norfolk favourites are Edith Gravel [Miss Cavell's name often mispronounced, but her family insist the emphasis is on the first syllable, so this one works well] and On the ball, Gritty [the Canaries song is the world's oldest football chant] And I think it is lovely to have Kitt The Grit. Terry Kitt was Assistant Norfolk County Surveyor for many years, and responsible for winter maintenance. That was his nickname at work. He died last year. and this is a fine tribute.

A Fine Gritty - Elaine  Albert Icestein - Albert, 7  Alfie Hew-Grit - Anonymous   Attlebrrrr - Timothy  Banham Blizzard - Florence, 5  Big Mean Ice Machine - Zane, 5  Billie Ice-Lish - Hope, Year 5  Blizzard Of Oz - Mia, Year 3  Boud-Ice-A - Dennis, 8  Captain Grit - Kye, 7  Chris Thawham - Gail  Control Salt Delete - Melodie, 4   Dan Gritter - David   Doris - Jake, Year 5  Edith Gravel - Lisa, Matt  Elsa - Darcey, 4  Frostilicity - Felicity,     Gracie - Bawdeswell School  Grant Salt - Nick Grit Astley - Bruno The Grit Gatsby - Ellie, 9  Grit Expectations - Riely,   Grit Yarmouth - Stanley, 9 Gritosaurus - Florence, 4  Gritty Gritty Bang Bang - Frankie, Gus The Gritter - Erin, 6  Harry Gritter and The Chamber Of Salts - Tudor, 10

Ice Warrior - Horsford School  Kitt The Grit - Andrew  K-Popsicle - Clara,    Lando Norice - Chloe, 7, Nyle   8  Let's Be Gritting You – [3 votes] Luke Grittler - Bill Maleficent - Sorina, 6  Margrit- Stanley,    Norwich Gritty FC - David On The Ball Gritty – [5 votes] Paddington Brrrrrr - Dougie, 5  Polar Patroller - Joseph,    Salt and Gritter - Bonnie  Saltimus Prime - Mabel, 4  Sandy Snowgo - Martha, 9  Sleet Caroline - Ralph, 8  Slippy Slayer - Kye, 7  Snow Stopper - Archie, 6  Snowball 3000 – Alexis 9  Snowbi-Gone Kenobi - Mia, 9  Sprinkle Sprinkle Little Star - William, 11 Taylor Drift - Millie, Thawa Hird - Richard The Ice Tamer - Lexi, 5 True Grit – [14 votes] Usain Salt - Lily-May, 7 Wall-Ice And Gromit - William, 9 Walter The Salter - Sydney, 9

Thank you Liz for sending me this news story.

Does your county council name its gritters?
Which is your favourite name in this list?
And what would you call a gritter?

NOT Feeling Jaded

The word jade  has three different definitions - A verb, jade,  meaning to wear out, leading to the adjective jaded -  exhausted, lacking enthusiasm, often through being satiated. From the Middle English jade/chade for a worn out horse [and later, disreputable woman

A noun jade from the Spanish piedra de ijada  which means flank-stone. Centuries ago, people believed this lovely green semiprecious stone would cure ailments of the flank or kidney.

The jade plant, crassula ovata. Also known as the money plant or friendship tree. Liz has a very large plant, in summer 21, just before Jess was born, she gave me a small cutting, I put it in a coronation mug . Look at it now, three times the size. I am quite excited by this growth.

Later that year, Liz gave me a small Christmas cactus, to replace a much larger one which I had for years, and which died when we lived in Kirby Muxloe. I know it survived to 2023, as I blogged about it just two years ago. But I think it must have died. I cannot find it anywhere! I may treat myself to a new one.

How are your Christmas Cacti plants coming along?

Do you do the darkness thing, to encourage blooms on cacti and poinsettia?

Do you have any jade jewellery or ornaments?

This Gets Right Up My Nose!

In the middle of all the celebrations, I developed a health issue- I couldn't seem to breathe easily through my nose. It was noticeably worse at night, and Bob said my snoring was irregular and worse than usual. I rang 111, and a very helpful woman did her checklist [mucus? no, nosebleeds? pain? no....] She directed me to a nearby pharmacy, and explained she thought it was sinusitus and the pharmacist would be able to help and advise. So I went off and waited less than 10 minutes. 

The pharmacist diagnosed blocked sinuses - I came away with a little plastic bottle to enable me to rinse out my sinuses. "This is free, we were given a load of samples" said the guy. You can get more sachets from us or online. I have been diligently squirting morning and evening for a week or so. It is making a difference. 

But its an undignified process and I hate doing it. One of the reasons I took forever to learn to swim was that I hate water up my nose! The guy said many people do not seek help until they have a painful infection. By acting promptly, these rinses should prevent that. 

Since May 2023, the NHS has been working to help patients access primary care, and ease that early morning rush to book GP appointments. This includes encouraging people to Think Pharmacy First - there are seven conditions which pharmacists are now able to treat, and offer prescription medicines if needed.

I went to a pharmacy in Dereham - open 8am-9pm Monday to Saturday, 8am - 6pm Sundays. 
This is such a useful service. 
The expression 'gets right up my nose' seems to date back to the beginning of the twentieth century. Certainly it was used by English troops to describe something annoying.
This medical provision is anything but annoying, I am very grateful for it.

My Tree In November

A Day In Autumn

It will not always be like this,

The air windless, 

A few last leaves 

Adding their decoration to the trees’ shoulders, 

braiding the cuffs of the boughs with gold; 

A bird preening in the lawn’s mirror. 

Having looked up from the day’s chores, 

pause a minute, and

Let the mind take its photograph

Of the bright scene, 

- Something to wear against the heart in the long cold.

Ronald Stuart Thomas 

A Foat? Whatever's That?

It's a new portmanteau word, I told Bob. Ferret+stoat? Fishing+Boat?  Nope, it is a Funnel-necked Coat! I kid you not, it was in Red Magazine. 

How ridiculous is that name? Whatever next? Pumper = polo neck jumper, Rardi = round neck cardi. 

Netmums suggest this cream one from Sainsbury's for less than £50.

No thank you. Not with a silly name like that!

Furthermore, knowing my clumsiness, a cream one would be besmirched with coffee stains, or worse, within seconds of being put on. They do it in a few other colours, including "this season's Must Have brown twill" 

Being told something is a Must Have puts me off buying it.

Wrap up warm, everybody - and don't worry if it is the comfy garment you've had in your wardrobe for months [or years] and keep your hands warm with Loves or Witts [leather gloves or woolly mitts] 

Woolgathering

Defined in the dictionary as indulging in aimless thoughts or daydreams. I've definitely been woolgathering as I've continued with the Loft Sort!

One of my nieces is expecting a baby next year, so I thought I'd do some knitting. The day before going to Manchester, I confidently climbed the loft ladder in search of baby wool. I was sure it was in a wicker hamper. There was a hamper, but only one suitable ball of wool. I found a pair of 4mm needles on the table in the back bedroom. I began knitting a little hat.

I'm embarrassed to admit that on Tuesday as I began to move the stacks of boxes around I unearthed seven hampers of wool, a large plastic box of wool, and a smaller one with assorted needles. One box was full of Sirdar baby yarns. 

I brought the blue box downstairs and spent an hour sorting the needles into pairs, and discarding damaged or odd ones. Then I lined them up in size order from 2mm to 20mm. 

Then I was ruthless removing all my duplicates. There were more than 2 dozen pairs. They will go to the Big C Cancer Charity Craft Emporium at Wymondham. Whenever I visit, someone is sorting through looking for a particular size. I'm sure they will sell.

Here's the little baby hat in a soft lemon shade. Now I've found the hamper with all the baby yarns, I think I'll try a little cardi in another colour.  Is it really November tomorrow?  The year is racing by. Last November I did a knitting challenge for the Bone Cancer Research Trust. I'm too busy for that this year...

Cut To The C[h]ase

Did you know the phrase "Cut to the chase" is a century old? It comes from the early days of silent cinema, in the USA. Film makers shot lots of film, but it was hard to make dialogue interesting. The rapid chase scenes were exciting however, so superfluous footage was excised- the editors phrase was "Cut to the chase". Now the phrase means "forget the trivia, get to the point"

The point of this post is a case. Specifically, a case to help you cut. I recently purchased some folding scissors, and was intrigued to realise they would fit perfectly into a square case - the same size as our TwoByTwo patches. I decorated two squares of lilac felt. One side with three Boteh motifs, and the other with a letter K [for Kirsten] The crimson K is decorated with running stitch and coloured seed beads - the other side has sparkly sequin embellishments. The squares are attached on three sides, open at the base. I threaded a ribbon through the scissors and then through a hole in the top corner of the case. And attached a pair of buttons at the top.

When folded, the scissors are inside the case. But they can be pulled out, unfolded and used. The little buttons retain the ribbon. 

This should fit tidily in a sewing bag, and when folded, all the sharp points are safely enclosed. 

I included this as Kirsten's "Flat Gift"

I am becoming quite fascinated by the constraint of having to work on these little squares each month! 

Working At Warp Speed?

James Doohan, who played"Scotty" in Star Trek, was the grandson of a Scottish weaver. It is said that he suggested "Warp Speed" for the extremely high speeds reached by the Starship Enterprise, as a reference to the flying shuttles he had watched in his childhood. I was pondering  on my October Two-By-Two patches, and realised I'd done a fair bit of mending and fixing for friends and family recently. So I thought I would decorate this months patches with darns.

I dug out my Speedweve darner. I picked some Autumnal colours, and used some white Aida even weave cloth to keep things neater. Here are my two patches

You start by threading the WARP using the hooks to make a tidy top edge. Then you WEAVE THE WEFT from side to side. It's fiddly but fun. I like the way the colours blend and remind me of the falling leaves.

In the way these things turn out, Kirsten sent me a link [after I had begun working on the idea] to the website of Jessie Mordine Young, who had an exhibition of her 'woven year' based on a collection of daily pieces created on a small loom.

K. had no idea what my October patch would be about - but I am fascinated by the way similar ideas come to us as we are planning...
By the way 'Speedweve' is a bit of misnomer. This one took ages - and these are patches #3 and #4, as the first two just weren't up to snuff!

Putting The Clocks Back

It is odd how we talk about 'gaining an hour' this weekend - when in fact it is just making up for the hour we 'lost' in the Spring. Time rolls on, whatever we do. Joyce Grenfell wrote this great poem, simply called Time...

When I was a girl there was always time,

There was always time to spare.

There was always time to sit in the sun;

And we were never done

With lazing and flirting,

And doing our embroidery,

And keeping up our memory books,

And brushing our hair,

And writing little notes,

And going on picnics,

And dancing, dancing, dancing, dancing--

When I was a girl there was always time to waste.

Thank the Lord.

When I was a young woman there was always time,

There was always time to spare.

There was always time to walk in the sun,

And we were never done

With going to weddings,

Our own and our friends',

And going to parties,

Away at weekends,

And having our children

And bringing them up,

And talking, talking, talking, talking--

When I was a young woman there was always time to enjoy things.

Thank the Lord.

And when I was an elderly woman there was no more time,

There was no more time to spare.

There was no more time to sit in the sun,

For we were never done

With answering the telephone,

And looking at the TV,

And doing baby-sitting,

And talking to our friends,

And shopping, shopping, shopping, shopping,

And washing-up, washing-up, washing-up,

Writing letters, writing letters

Rushing, rushing, rushing,

And we were always hurried,

And we were never bored.

When I was an elderly woman

There was never time to think.

Thank the Lord.

But now I'm an old old woman,

So I want the last word:

There is no such thing as time--

Only this very minute

And I'm in it.

Thank the Lord.

I think I am at verse 3 these days, but at every stage of life, I have learned to thank the Lord for his blessings.

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!

Comin' Thro' The Rye...

 

A Scottish folk song, words written by Robert Burns in 1782. I was never quite sure about it, but it is something to do with a young couple meeting up in a damp field of grain for a private kiss. And Jennie's petticoat gets wet. It was written centuries before Salinger's Holden Caulfield story. I recently bought some rye flour, and decided I should use it in my breadmaker.
The breadmaker is 6 months old, and I have got into a good routine with it. It makes three sizes of load - M,L and XL. The M size is just right for slices for the toaster, and that size loaf lasts us 2 or 3 days. I usually make a half'n'half white and wholemeal flour loaf with an added scoop of my seed mix.

I noticed in the recipe book there were two recipes - one 100% rye flour, the other 50/50. This is the latter. A good even texture and a pleasant taste. And it toasts well.
I have just been reading Breadsong, a heartwarming story by a daughter and her father, Kitty and Al Tait.

‘If you had told me at 14 when I couldn’t even get out of bed with depression and anxiety that three years later I would have written a book I would never have believed you. But here it is – the story of the Orange Bakery. How I went from bed to bread and how my Dad went from being a teacher to a baker. You reading it means everything to me’ – Kitty Tait

If you want a heartwarming story about a loving family coping with the stress of a teenage daughter with serious mental health issues, this is it. It is also the most wonderful book about bread, and a caring community.
As well as the story of their life changing experience, these two generously share their tried and tested recipes in the centre section of the book. 
The book is written in two different fonts - so you can tell which is Kitty's writing and which is Al's. I reluctantly returned the library copy, [other people had reserved it] but I am putting this one on my Christmas list. 
Breadsong is the magical sound made by bread cracking and hissing as it cools...
*****

You Won't Feel The Benefit...

January 1978, my second term of teaching, living in Hemel Hempstead. HH was a 'New Town' and the New Town's Commission had set aside affordable rented accommodation for key workers. As a teacher, I qualified for a first floor, 1 bed flat with a little balcony. I was so happy there. But over New Year I had developed a really bad throat infection. I was off school, and got a GP appointment at 9am. I walked up to the surgery - part of a little run of shops at the end of the road, using a well maintained footpath which ran alongside the OAP complex. I saw the GP, collected the prescription, treated myself to a cake, and set off for home. It was very cold and there had been a hard frost.
As I turned onto the path, I found a little old lady, standing perfectly still and looking confused. "Are you alright?" I asked "I'm scared. It is so slippery, and I am afraid that if I try and walk I will fall over" I held her arm firmly, and together we walked back to her flat. This took quite a while! 
By the time I got to her door, I knew she was a 90 year old widow, Cora originally from the north of England. No family nearby, but very happy within her community. They had connected, independent flats, with 24/7 access to a warden, and a communal lounge where lots of activities happened. And she had good neighbours too. Cora had been out to buy some bread for herself and her neighbour.

"Please come in for a cup of tea" she said. I went into her tidy little home "Take off your coat , or you won't feel the benefit" She became a good friend, and I visited her regularly, getting to know her neighbours, and the warden. The warden said many residents wanted to have a Sunday Worship service as they could not get out to church - so with others from my chapel, I set up a monthly afternoon event. I helped with Christmas Socials and Summer Tea Parties in their central garden area. And winter or summer, Cora would tell us "Take off your coat , or you won't feel the benefit" Five months after meeting Cora, I met Bob. We left HH in the summer on 81 as Bob began ministerial training 
In those 4 years I had learned quite a lot about how elderly people adjust to the problems of age, health issues, managing on a pension, and coping in widowhood. In July 82, I became the Warden in an OAP Sheltered Housing Scheme near the college where Bob was training.
I was reminded of Cora yesterday when I went into Dereham Library. A young woman, Emma, runs an IT help session every Wednesday for people who get confused by technology. And this week she was promoting a new WhatsApp scheme set up by Norfolk Council - called "Ask Cora". It's designed to give unpaid carers easy access to advice and support. She asked me to pin up a flyer in our chapel - and I left her helping a gentleman who was struggling to use the Smartphone his family had given him.

I wonder who decided on the name Cora? We still say "take off your coat, or you wont feel the benefit" occasionally, and remember our friend from almost 50 years ago. 

Waiting For The [T]rain

 Busy weekend ahead.  Here's a clue in a poem...

[Hint, start top left and read downwards and you will know where I'm going]

Dancing The Foxtrot?

 SLOE,       SLOE,      QUICK,       QUICK,       SLOE !

On Friday, Bob was delivering two Shed Aprons to a lady in the Retirement Community up the road, and she told him there were lots of sloes in the hedge by the footpath on the other side of the fence. Julian and I went on Saturday, armed with lok'n'lok boxes. But there is no longer access through the fence - just a padlock and barbed wire. We drove round the complex,  hoping to walk up the footpath that way. But that appears to be closed off at the minute [we suspect part of the Norfolk Offshore Wind Zone Project aka NOWZ]

Disappointed  we went back into the village and down a lane where I found sloes a few years back. The bush was still there - but someone had picked it completely clean apart from THREE fruit. Never mind...

You have to be quick to get a sloe round here!

Knock, Knock, Gnocchi!

I bought a bag of gnocchi on a whim in the Co-op. Liz had said she cooked some in the oven, so I asked for the recipe. So easy, and so tasty, so we ate it all up before I'd remembered to take a picture. 

In a large bowl, toss the gnocchi with a punnet of cherry tomatoes,** peppers cut intolerant chunks, onion wedges, a few garlic clives7, a chopped courgette and/or aubergine.  And a generous glug of olive oil, plus salt. Mix together, to coat everything in the oil. Pour onto a large rimmed baking sheet or roasting dish.

Cook at 200° for about 30 minutes till the gnocchi is crispy.  Serve sprinkled with parmesan and basil.[picture from the internet]

I have eaten gnocchi in the past which has been cooked in water like regular pasta. But this way of cooking fresh gnocchi adds a crispy shell. Bob said it reminded him of cooked chestnuts. 

A quick recipe needing minimal intervention. And one which lends itself to being adapted for whatever veg are in the fridge.

**I typed my shopping list on my phone in a hurry. I was amused to see an error. I quite like the idea of a punnet of CHEERY tomatoes.

Have you tried any new recipes lately?

Thank you Liz for this one.

There's Actually A Word For It!

We are grateful for all the kind words and good advice. We decided that as it was a sunny day we would go out somewhere. We drove to Fakenham, and parked by the library - where I found 3 interesting craft books. Then we crossed the road to Taylors. This place has changed hands since our last visit. Bob had a breakfast brioche and I had scrambled eggs with smoked salmon. Good service, a generous portion of fish - but the eggs were not as good as NEPO [North Elmham Post Office/Tearooms]
We drove on to Wells Next The Sea. This place has gone very upmarket. I do not know how the locals manage. We looked at a few menus at the eateries...Sausage and Mash in a Yorkshire Pudding was £18.50. Not eating in a place like that!!

We decided to drive on to Sheringham and check out the new Priscilla Bacon Hospice Shop. This meant driving through wonderful Wiveton. Bob found some CDs at the junkyard, and I discovered some very quirky package labels [which the lady let me have for nothing - I could see she thought nobody else would buy them] We went across the road to the Hall and had a cuppa [Bob had cheese scone, I had tea cake] 

In Sheringham there wasn't anything in the PBHS that interested me. In the Sally Army Shop I bought some West Wing DVDs[because I recently decided I wanted to watch them again. Martin Sheen made a good President] This little pepper pot was £1. But who is he? I left him on the shelf, then another lady bought him. Who is he? I asked- but none of us knew! And where is his salty other half?

It was a truly lovely day out together, driving up through the country roads to the seaside, and along the coast road, then home again.*** We were home soon after 3, and Bob settled down to sort out his  CDs, whilst I decided to do my summer/winter clothes swap. I had discovered earlier in the day that the Japanese actually have a word for this biannual ritual [that's twice a year, not biennial which is every two years. I checked it up]
 衣替え koromogae 
Literally meaning changing of attire [or furnishings] this custom has been around for 1000 years, and traditionally the Japanese people pack away their summer clothes on October 1st, and get them out again on June 1st. If school children have summer and winter uniforms, these are the changeover dates.

When I hung up the summer clothes, they start with hangers 'the wrong way round' and if I wear something I turn the hanger. At the end of the season I can see what has not been worn for 6 months. That stuff goes in the CS bag, along with other items I really do not like any more, or that do not fit me. 

I have been practising koromogae for years without realising it had a name [since before I got married]
Do you do a regular clothes swap? 

** Very grateful for towns which have good Blue Badge Parking, and seats where pedestrians can stop for a rest. I was saddened by a conversation I had in one shop. I remarked to the assistant that Wells prices had gone up, and he said that Holt is even worse - the town is now split in two he said. The obviously wealthy people [many are wealthy second-home owners, or visitors from London]  and the much poorer people [who have lived there all their lives and cannot move] . His friend helps run the Foodbank, and says they really are not very well supported, yet so many people are dependent on their foodparcels. Lord, help us to be more generous.

It's All About Grace

The calendar picture for October. It is a quote from Joseph R Cooke, a "Methodist Unitarian" preacher [1775-1811] who wrote two books about God's grace.

I confess I cannot quite work out the picture.  

At first I thought the bear was showing the dog his burnt fruitcake with a sad expression. Then I decided the dog had a sad expression too, because she'd left a trail of muddy footprints. Each creature realising they were imperfect.

Then I decided the bear was bringing the dog's food to her - even though she had made a mess, the bear was gracious and forgiving.*

When our girls were much younger, I had two posters in my kitchen:

The first was a sad little girl holding a plate, and a cake upside down in the floor in front of her. The caption was "God loves us, even when we mess things up"

The second picture was an incredibly untidy house, stuff all over the floor and furniture, rampaging children and a frazzled mum. The wording -"God bless this mess!" **

All of us mess up sometimes. But God continues to forgive us, to love us, and to bless us. And that is his Amazing Grace. 

I need to work on my "Grace-Face" I think😘

* Why does the bear have clothes but the dog doesn't? [Am I overthinking this?]

** The poster was a gift from my Dad to remind me that even in the midst of chaotic,  busy, family life, God cares.

As The Needle Dances On The Cloth...

The other day a friend came round for coffee - she brought with her a quilt to show me. A beautiful piece of collaborative stitching. Following an accident, her husband had to spend some months in hospital in Yorkshire. Friends from their church made a quilt for his bed - lots of individual patches to remind him of those who were praying for him, thinking of him - and special embroidered motifs and stitched Bible verses symbolising memories and friendships. It was truly special, and I felt so privileged to have the opportunity to look at it and examine the details and the careful work involved in a true labour of love.
Yesterday I spent the entire day making another batch of Shed Aprons. I bought a trolley-bag for my latest machine in Lidl a couple of days ago. It's a lightweight one, just to make it easier to wheel my bag from room to room [I store it in the back bedroom, but usually work at the dining table] Bob took the day very easy, lots of resting [and I had my earplugs in as I worked, listening to vintage crime dramas on radio 4 extra]

Here's a lovely poem called October Quilts. I will make another quilt sometime. But right now in between Apron Sewing all I can manage is a couple of small squares each month for the TwoByTwo project. But as the poem says "Each square holds a story sublime"

OCTOBER QUILTS

In the midst of fall's warm colours
Lies a craft, tender and bold
A tapestry of memories, stitched together
Stories in threads, yet to be told
October quilts, with each block pieced
Breathe life into the autumn air
A symphony of textures and hues
That only the heart can truly share
With every stitch, a moment captured
A memory woven in time
From golden leaves to crisp apples
Each square holds a story sublime
The scent of pumpkin and cinnamon
Infused in the fabric's embrace
As the needle dances on the cloth
A masterpiece takes shape with grace
Squares of flannel, denim, and silk
Layers of warmth and comfort entwine
A labour of love, each quilt unique
A treasure that will forever shine
October quilts, a soothing refuge
For chilly nights and cosy days
A work of art, handcrafted with love
A symbol of autumn's peaceful ways
So let us gather 'round the fire
Wrapped in these quilts, so dear
As we revel in the joys of fall
October quilts, we hold them near.

by Dashaun Rashod Snipes

Walrus, Eric, And Paris.

When I was a supply teacher, in the early 90s, it was not unusual to return to the classroom after lunch and find an enthusiastic pupil waiting to put up a sign for me. This was before interactive whiteboards and so much taught using screens. Many notices were fixed with blutac onto the drywipe board. And these three signs were very popular, and all meant roughly the same thing.
WALRUS  was Writing and listening, reading and understanding
ERIC meant Everybody reading in class
PARIS meant Please, all read in silence
I expect other schools had similar acronyms, for that blessed quiet 20 minutes at the start of afternoon school, when children had their heads down reading and teachers and classroom assistants could get other tasks sorted. It helped to give children the idea that doing some reading every day is a good idea - at school, and then hopefully again at home [maybe with support from family members] 

One phrase popular at the moment is "My chapter book" - ie the book from which I read a chapter each night. Steph tells me that this one is George's current favourite. 
As we get older, it is sometimes harder to maintain a regular reading habit - life so often gets in the way. I am being much more disciplined lately - no screens after 10pm. So no sitting up in bed 'doomscrolling' or even reading magazines or flicking through Facebook or Pinterest. Instead I am going back to a chapter or two of a library book each evening. 

I am very grateful for the Norfolk Library Service, and especially the mobile van which comes once a month to the next road.
Our local Mobile Service is celebrating its centenary this year. The driver told us that their great celebrations got overtaken by all the hype about the Castle refurb- but they had a party for staff, and got a whizzy new electric van, which has a timeline of photos dating back to 1925 along the side.

Thank you to all the team, especially our local driver, Mark [aka BookMark] So many of the elderly folk in our village cannot  easily get into Dereham  or Norwich, but the monthly van brings the books they want to the end of the road.

On Thursday we were on the van, and my friend Jane told us this great story;
Last summer she had been picking flowers and pressing them inside some books. Inadvertently she'd used one of her library books. A couple of days after the van visited, she had a phone call from Dereham Library "Please can you come in and collect something?" Mark was sorting out the returned books on the van, and found the pressed flowers. He worked out that Jane had borrowed that book - so he carefully removed the flowers, put them between two sheets of card, and left them in the town library - having asked the staff there to phone Jane and tell her where they were!! That is the sort of Gold Star service we get round here!! 

Screens are useful, and the ability to find information quickly can be a blessings - but lets not ever forget the benefits of the printed page. And always remember the importance of passing the habit of reading on to future generations. 

Thank you for all the kind words yesterday. The service went well at Church, and Bob and I enjoyed a quiet afternoon. Things are resolving slowly, and I will explain later.  But your love and prayers are greatly appreciated ❤️