Holocaust Memorial Day.

Normally I write once a week, but felt I needed to say a word or two about January 27th,  Holocaust Memorial Day.

In the Summer of 1945 the British Government offered 1000 orphans of the Nazi camps a place in the UK.

Only 732 could be found, and they were collectively known as The Boys, even though there were 82 girls.

I don't feel able to write, to describe, I have no concept of what they went through, no idea of how they must have felt coming to a strange land, to hostels where their lives would slowly be rebuilt.

But I know that their courage must be honoured.

This is a Memory quilt, one of several made for the 70th anniversary of the Liberation, on exhibition in the London Jewish Museum until 7th February.

Zdenka Husserl, one of the 'Boys' is gazing at it, one of the squares being made by her.

What goes through her mind?

The service broadcast tonight from the Guildhall in London reminded us that this terrible atrocity must never be forgotten.

Kitchen things

I bought a new lamp yesterday.

The centre ceiling light in our kitchen had broken and while waiting for the electrician to come, we needed some other form of light.

When I saw this in my favourite colour, I just knew it would look perfect in my blue and white kitchen!

It sits beneath a shelf which I found at a village antique sale.I'd been looking for something to hang my prettier mugs on, and there it was.

Painted in Annie Sloan chalk paint and slightly distressed (I always feel a bit concerned about the distress, maybe it needs counselling?), it is just what I needed.

The little box on the left was bought in France and is for keeping Garlic in.
Although the centre light is now repaired, I will be using this lamp often, as it sheds a warm glow around the kitchen.

Birdwatch

During the weekend of January 30th, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) is running a nationwide Birdwatch. This is an annual event and millions of people take part in counting and naming the birds that visit their gardens.

I'm always fascinated to see photos of what I think are exotic birds on blogs belonging to people who live far away. Probably humming birds are your everyday birds...but we certainly don't have them here.

There are always the Sparrows and the Chaffinch in our gardens. I suppose the birds we most frequently see are the Blue tits, here on the left of the photo. I love the tenacious little birds, always rushing in for more peanuts in the hanging feeders.

Our bird feeders are hung outside my husband's room, so that he can enjoy seeing the different varieties. We spend a lot of time just watching.

Just lately we have had Goldfinches visit, their bright red heads glowing as they peck at the Sunflower seeds.

A Blackcap came to visit but could only peck on the ground. We have also seen the Great tit, which has not the same blue colour as the Blue tit, and unusually, a pair of Long Tailed tits. They always come together. The last one on the left is a Coal tit, smaller than the others, and a regular visitor also.

Poor example of photography here, but taken through a window so a bit misty.

I wanted to capture the Blackbird who comes and chomps away at the fat balls that I leave for him in the bulb pots. He can't hang on the feeders so this is his way of sharing. I don't know if the photo would be easier to see if you enlarge it.

I'm looking forward to our Bird Watch weekend.

Cornish daffodil season.

Have you ever had the pleasure of receiving a bunch of Cornish daffodils by post?

Of course when they arrive they don't look quite like this, but should be in tight bud.

This is how the daffodils come from the grower.

I recently posted a photo of daffodils just coming up in the gardens.
Can you imagine what they look like in the fields ?
 At this time of year our local daffodil growers are busy picking and bunching hundreds of stems to be sent to London markets. 
It is a big industry for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, and daffodil growing has been an important part of our economy for over 100 years.
Long ago ladies from the village picked the bunches, but now Eastern European workers come here for the daffodil season.

During the war many of the evacuees were used as pickers. I love this photo of children in 1943, with their little bunches!

Once the railways came to Penzance, deep in the South West of Cornwall, it was so much easier for growers to get the flowers to markets. 

Below is an embroidered panel, part of a collection of panels designed for the Millennium, known as  the Tregellas Needlework.  They are unique and show the history and legends of Cornwall.

The daffodils are there, and along the edge are some of the other flowers sent to the market, Cornish violets, anemones, primroses and one that I can't identify.

Ready to travel to market.

The picture below shows a Daffodil Festival in one of our local churches.

The flowers seem to add such a glow to the stonework.

Although it is a relatively short season it seems to herald the coming of Spring, and hope.

Cosy feet

 Cold feet are part of Winter.

One of my Christmas presents was this delightful pair of furry boots, which are so light to wear, and are roomy enough for an extra pair of socks.

I was a little worried about the icy feet belonging to my husband, who does have poor circulation, so went hunting on the net.

His problem is a size 12 foot, and many that say they are size 12 actually aren't.

However, these popped up and are ideal as there is a zip at the back, and he can wear them with the furry top either up or down.

I don't claim to have fairy feet...but mine do look quite small next to his!

January things.

This is the best part of January, seeing the beginnings of new life in the garden.

Last Autumn I planted bulbs, tulips and daffodils, in my terra cotta pots, as well as adding to the flower beds. All of a sudden they are peeping up above the ground. I can't wait to see the golden glow of the flowers.

Sadly, the weeds are just as busy growing. The ground is so wet that it is almost impossible to do anything productive, and weeds come up with big clumps of earth attached.

We do need a dry day soon.

As does Scotland.

This is such a sad thing to happen.

Abergeldie Castle, close to Balmoral, is teetering on the edge of a swollen river which swept 60 feet of land away.

The owners have moved out.

A piece of history may be lost.

So many people all over England have been affected by the flooding.

It must be heartbreaking to see your house wrecked, under muddy water, sometimes for the third time.

But people rally. It's been compared to the aftermath of the war, everyone joining together to help their neighbours.