School

I have had 2 interesting visits to school, yesterday and today.

Yesterday I went for my normal activities - and found myself filing and printing out lists of spelling words and laminating them. Very ordinary you would think but not a bit. I arrived at 1.0pm and found everyone rushing around tidying, vacuming the carpet etc etc. Once the children were in after their lunch-time play, there was an uncanny quiet. You may have guessed what was afoot? The OFSTED lady was expected any moment. I was wearing a Visitor badge and had signed the Visitors Book. I had been rung up beforehand to get my Police clearance number, as the Education Authority hang onto the papers, instead of passing them on to the school.
Once she arrived it was a bit of an anticlimax because after a quick tour of the school, she sat in the staff room grilling the Head, before she departed for her hotel.

Today, I was let in by the Head because the same lady was in the Library, by the main entrance door, talking to a group of children. I am certain that she will be pleased with what she found there. The reason for my return today was to help with the Christmas Concert, the first performance being at 1.30. The result of 'The Lady' being there was that they had had to have ordinary lessons all morning, instead of doing a run-through.

The Lady departed at 1.0 and everything returned to normal, except that the children were not as over-excited as usual, so perhaps her presence had been a bonus! I was given the job of helping a wee fellow with cerebral palsey to get into his costume. He is actually very good at coping, but his boots and buttons cause problems. Once they were all dressed and ready, they 'sat on their bottoms' and listened to a lovely story about a spider which came across a Christmas Tree in the house where he lived. He explored it all over, leaving his silk thread behind him. Later, Santa saw the tree and was surprised by the silk covering. He touched it with his finger and it suddenly sparkled all over - and that is where tinsel came from. Mrs B listened as quietly as they did and thought it was sweet!

Then we all trooped into the hall, where there was only just room for all the children because of lots of Mums, Dads, Grannies, baby siblings etc. The concert was pretty standard for a First School (Reception to Year 4) but was made special by some lovely harp accompaniment and the Year 2's upwards sang songs in French! The dialogue was mostly in English though! The little Year 1's won my prize - you could hear every word and they really kept to the rhythm as little Reindeer and Santas.

After, I helped the wee boy to change back into his ordinary clothes and then came home. At this very moment, they are in the middle of their second performance. I felt it was more sensible to stay at home - my cough is improving, but far from gone and it is freezing hard.

It was interesting to see a school responding to the OFSTED visit. I still think that they ought to just turn up, without warning, and work round whatever is going on. It would give a much better idea of what the school is like and cause much less stress to staff. Of course they get very little warning these days, but it was still a very different-feeling school yesterday afternoon and the staff were all feeling very stressed.

All Souls Day

Today, the Benefice celebrated All Souls Day with a service in Cambo Church in the evening. It was very moving. I had reason to mourn, but nothing compared to others who were there.
I had not been to this service before, so did not know what to expect. It seemed to be aimed at those who were recently bereaved and were sorrowing in a big way. It did not, however, exclude people like me.
There was one young family who had lost the Mother at a very young age. A lady who recently lost her husband after 52 happy years together. A long list of names who meant much to someone but little to me. Whatever, there must have been comfort for all.
I was specifically remembering my first husband, who died last April and my cousin, who went a fortnight ago. Then, when I looked in the diary, I saw that G's brother died 5 years ago today. That was a tragic story. He had a daughter, whom he adored, who was living in Hong Kong. One Christmas, she caught a cold and did not manage to shake it off. Her doctor diagnosed lung cancer and so she came home. The centre of excellence in Newcastle did the best they could, but she died two or three days after her 48th birthday. The really awful thing was that about 6 months after her death, her mother began to have symptoms of bloating and nausia, pain etc which was wrongly diagnosed. In the end it was diagnosed as Ovarian cancer which had moved on. After a terrible time of lack of support - a rural address, away from public transport, and impossible to get proper in house help - no room in the Hospices, no help from the Community Hospice - she did get into a Hospice and finally died. Her sad husband, who had adored his daughter and was very dependent on his beloved wife, was left with his eldest son living across the yard and his other son in the south. Sadly, son and grand-daughters could not make up for the great loss he had suffered. I visited him every week and there was no doubt that he was slowly dying of a broken heart. He would not eat and turned to alcohol to dim the pain. When I reminded G that it was the anniversary of his death, he asked me to pray for him tonight. So, of course, I did.
In a strange way, this ties in with my ambition to get involved with bereavement councilling. I hugged the lady who was married for 52 years. One gets very close to people for a little while.
But the original reason why I blogged here tonight was not all this. It was the thoughts that I had during the service. When you are as old as I am, there are so many people who have gone to be with God. A young man who had a motorbike accident, a semi boy-friend. My best friend and her husband who were drowned together aged about 30, Much later, a number of friends who were killed in accidents, died of cancer. My Grandfather and then my Grandmother. My Father. My Mother. Quite recently, my nephew aged 37. My first husband. My cousin, for whose parents, I was bridesmaid. And many, many more.
I remember that my first husband's grandfather, who lived to be over 90, used to both cheer because he had outlived old so-and-so and was sad that he was amongst the last of his friends/aquaintences to be alive.
But this should not end on a sad note. All those who have gone are with God and those of us who are left are in his care - and I truly believe this.

A Contrasting High Mass

On Sunday, four of us went to St Bartholomew's Church, Brighton. The present building, which cost £18,000, was commissioned by Fr A D Wagner and dates from 1874. It was designed by local architect Edmund Scott and is the tallest parish church in Britain at 135ft. The style is Italian Gothic and the brickwork is particularly fine. The furnishings are some of the finest examples of the Arts and Crafts movement.

When you first enter, it seems barn-like but the beauty of the high altar and other factors soon dispel this impression. We were there early and were made very welcome and were able to wander around a little before the High Mass.

The High Mass is the most wonderful piece of theatre. It was brought back into some Anglican Churches by the Oxford movement, of which Nathanial Woodard was a member. The idea was to return the importance of the Eucharist, robes and actions etc to Anglican services, that had been lost since the Reformation.

At St Bartholomew's, they have a strong musical tradition. The choir sings a full choral setting of the ordinary at each Solemn High Mass. They have a repertoire of over 40 mass settings, but on this occasion they used Mozart's Mass in F. Unfortunately, the choir was very thin on Sunday as well as the alto ringing in sick that morning! They still managed a very beautiful rendering of the Mass.

We were sitting chatting in our seats, when a bell rang to the right of the high altar, and the procession appeared. It was led by a black-clad man swinging the censor. There were a number of black-clad men, carrying candles, a cross etc. Then came 3 robed priests. As we sang 'Love divine, all loves excelling', they processed to the back of the Church and then down the central aisle to the High Altar. The choir sang the introit. The Epistle was read by a man with a foreign accent, so we were glad to have it printed in the service sheet. The gradual hymn was 'Guide me, O thou great Redeemer', during which the Gospel was processed to the middle of the Church, just beside us. The celebrant read it so it was easy to follow. The Creed followed and then the Sermon, which was excellent.

The Offertory hymn was 'Come down, O Love divine', and that was followed by Intercessions and the Peace. Only the 3 robed men acted that, hugging each other in turn! The congregation did not join in.

As part of the next stage, there was much theatre, bells, swinging of incense etc during the prayer of consecration. The altar rail was up quite a lot of steps and were only across some of the front of the altar. That meant that most of us had no rail and only a carpet to kneel on. Not easy for the likes of me and when I stood up my knees had just about cast! I watched the last people come down and there were 2 who only just made it, and wouldn't have if they had not had a partner to help.

The final hymn was 'Glorious things of thee are spoken' and the usual ending to the service - so I thought. The procession appeared to be going out but suddenly I realised they had stopped at the Lady Chapel and we had Mary, Mother of God, that I only half know and it was not printed out for us. That was the end - or almost!

We had coffee and chatted to some of the parishioners and looked at stuff for sale. Helpers were busy clearing the kneelers and re-organising the chairs, ready for a concert later in the afternoon. Then there was that bell again! A procession was emerging from behind the High Altar, which came all the way to a small chapel at the back of the Church, with the consecrated bread and wine. Everyone but us dropped to one knee, where-ever they were

I may sound a little disrespectful in my account and for that I am sorry. I was deeply impressed by the enormous reverence of the congregation. They were mainly older but there were a few younger people. For me, I can find God more easily in a simple service, but there was no doubt that he was there at that Mass, and all the participants gained a great deal from the service.

Brighton and Lancing College

This weekend, I went to Brighton, with a number of Old Ethelburgians, to visit Lancing College. Lancing was founded by Nathaniel Woodard, who was of the Oxford School of thought. I will not try to describe his career etc, much better that you read the Wikepedia entry. Queen Ethelburga's School in Harrogate, which I attended from 1942 t0 1948, was opened in 1912 and was part of the Woodard Corperation. It is now called Queen Ethelburga's College near York and is no longer a Woodard School.

There are Old Girls who enjoy trips to places related to the life of Queen Ethelburga or other places associated in some way. Last year, I organised a trip to Durham which is somewhere on one of my blogs. This year it was the original school of Lancing College, which entailed a trip to Brighton. For me, there was also a 100 mile drive to get to the coach, which left Harrogate at 9.30 on Friday morning!

Saturday was the important day, when we visited the College. It started with Holy Eucharist in the Crypt of the Chapel - a simple area which did have some superb stained glass, not visible in my photo. This was the first part of the magnificent Chapel to be built and was used by the School until the rest was done.

We sat in a circle, with a gap at the back, where the small choir from the School sat. While we waited, a message came from the Chaplain - was anyone licenced to administer the wine. I heard my name said by one or two of my friends, so admitted to it! The Chaplain was delighted to find that he was to have help. The form of the service followed those held at past venues, except that it was a Eucharist. We had "Praise my soul the king of Heaven" and the School Hymn and ended with "God be in my head" and the Hill Standard - To be the best I can be, being what I am, with the gifts that I have. The choir sang Glory be to God on high--- and the School Psalm, Psalm 121, to the proper chant (Mozart's?) But the high-light for me was to administer the wine to all these friends and to have them say how good they had found it too.

It was a beautifully simple service with huge meaning for all us Old Girls, with the addition of some beautifully sung music.

After this we had coffee and a short account of the way the school is built and what it contains. Then we split into 3 groups and did tours of the school. We were very lucky and had a lovely, enthusiastic girl to take us round. (It is co-ed nowadays)

This is just a small part of the School. It is always being added to and brought up to date, so there is one building that is ultra modern - the new Art Centre which is opening after Half Term.

We saw inside one Boarding House, where it was clear that high quality educational facilities are more important than excessive comfort for the pupils!

After the tour, they gave us an excellent lunch and then we went back to the Chapel and sat in the Chancel to hear about the history of Nathaniel Woodard, the extraordinary difficulties experienced when building the Chapel and much more. Then we were free to wander and photograph.

The organ and magnificent rose window.

The Chapel from the Organ Loft. It is enormously high, as can be seen from the earlier picture taken from the coach as we approached the School

On our way to the coach, we visited the Memorial Cloister built after the First World War to remember the huge number of Old Boys who were killed. The names of those killed in the Second World War are now included. Then we went back to the Hotel.

The account of a contrasting service will follow tomorrow.

Rural Conference

This blog is a factual account of a Church of England Conference on Rural matters - Community, Partnership and Mission. Please understand that before reading it. Don't read it if you think it will have nothing for you..........

Our LLV (Lovely Lady Vicar) is also the Rural Officer for the Newcastle Diocese. Wearing this hat, she organised a Conference, on behalf of the Diocesan Synod, that was open to all.
There was a goodly gathering at St. John's, Kingston Park - a Church on the outskirts of Newcastle and there was a 'buzz' from the beginning.
The Conference opened with a short period of worship, which included a reading about the parable of the sower - very apt for a Rural Conference. Having been quietened and put into the right mind, we settled down to listen to an excellent speaker - David Stewart. No words of mind can give you a true picture of this man. He speaks from the heart as he wanders around - holding our attention for every moment. He is/has been part of every North East quango you care to mention - but he is a very long way from the type of person you expect in this position. He openly admitted that he is not an Anglican - what he does believe I do not know - but his approach to life seems to me to be Christian, whatever his faith or lack of it. His understanding of the current quangos and the possible future situation as we move to a unitary authority was deep. His desire is that we move to the bottom up rather than the top down, but he put it in a new way that I had not heard before. Long may he be involved with the people who have an influence on our future. Perhaps I should explain that we are losing our 5 District Councils and moving to a single authority with only 60+ councillors. I know there is a move to increase this to 70+ but it will still put the elected members much further away from the man/woman in the field (more appropriate than street). Parish Councils, which have become very stereotyped, with few elections, will have much more power and will have to adjust to this.
David was joined by a District and County Councillor - who is Deputy leader of Northumberland County Council - for a question and answer session.
During the following coffee break, I was cornered by a couple who have the same sort of problems that we do in Kirkheaton - small congregation, small community and all the load that goes with that on the few people who try to carry on the life of the Church. I hope I was able to help a little.
After the break we had 4 speakers from Parishes, talking for what was meant to be 2 minutes(!) about things that had happened in their area/Parish. A Christmas Tree festival - about 30 trees arrived in the Church, appropriately decorated by the organisation that brought them. As a result there was a record attendance at the Carol Service. A group of First Schools working together, both to the benefit of the teachers and children but also the local communities. A group of very rural churches coming together. Again, a coming together of very rural churches. Sorry, I have got the last two a bit confused in my mind - it was getting on towards lunch!
The last session before lunch, we were honoured by the presence of the National Rural Officer for the Church of England, Jill Hopkinson. She told us of a piece of research that had been carried out to find the relationship between the Churches (of all denominations) and the population in rural communities. The conclusions are too long for me to give here and I do not have notes, but it was very interesting in that it proved that what we do - wearing what-ever hat - is of great importance, and we should accept that our Faith is behind what we do.
Lunch was locally obtained food - salmon beef chicken etc - light but more than adequate - and another chance to network.
The 'grave-yard' shift was filled by the Durham Diocesan Missioner, Rev Dr Rod Allon-Smith. He spoke on Missio Dei - God's mission amongst us. Basically, his talk continued the theme of just being ourselves, with our faith and doings acting as mission. I am sure that is not a good summary but the best I can do just now!
Then we had another 4 people talking about local things. First an account of how a rural parish enacted the Passion all over the village, using the village green etc. In a way, low key - minimal costumes, a symbolic Jesus etc - but obviously very moving for those taking part and it must have had a big effect on the people of the village. Then I did my 2 minutes on the fund-raising event which had involved so many people from the benefice and outside - co-opperation. I have to be honest now. I cannot recall the next two speakers enough to write about it. We had had a concentrated day and my 'mental computer' had got tired!
We ended with all the speakers responding to questions/comments from the floor and finally we had a minute or two to decide, with our immediate neighbours, what we would take away with us to do.
We ended with the Grace and went home with our brains humming with all we had heard which would enable us to go forward renewed in our rural communities or with much greater understanding for the urban people who were there.

Clarifications about our house

First of all, we do not live in a Stately Home! It has 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, neither en suite, 2 tiney ex maids rooms, now our offices. Downstairs, a drawing room, sitting room, small hall, dining room a loo and a kitchen. The so-called utility room is several yards outside the house, beyond the Conservatory. It has a washer, sink, table, dryer, and another table. Also garden tools and all sorts of other gardening bits and pieces!

The house was built in about 1570 as a Bastle House ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bastle_house ) The stone vaulting mentioned is not here and may have never been. The "New Front" was probaly put on in the mid or early 1600's. The wall is thinner and of course has proper windows in it, though they were smaller then. An extra pane was added in 1927 when the ceilings were raised. The square bit was added in about 1730 and has a flat roof. Used to be lead but not any longer.

Film set - it has been used once, or rather the flat roof and the front door were. A children's film a number of years ago. The rooms are all too small for films and there are so many better houses in Northumberland, even for Cookson films.

Shall have to discover how to transfer the Common Room Post to here, so that this makes sense!

WI visit to Yorkshire Lavender Farm and Castle Howard

Yesterday (Monday) 22 of us set off for Yorkshire in a 24 seater coach. It poured as I walked down the village to the coach and as we boarded. It poured most of the way as we drove South and was still raining when we arrived at Yorkshire Lavender. We hurried in and had coffee etc. I had coffee and a delicious buttery crisp toasted tea cake. By the time we had looked round the shop and the owner was ready for us, it had stopped raining and we walked down to the polly tunnel, where he talked about the history of the farm and much about lavender. As he had lived for quite a section of his life in Northumberland, he talked to us like blood brothers!

We had a short time to look round, but it was so wet under foot that we did not feel inclined to explore far. Another visit before too long perhaps?

Then we boarded the bus again and went a few miles to Castle Howard. It was still not raining!

This is the recently restored cupola - as close a copy as could be made, with only old photos to go by. The original collapsed into the hall below when there was a disastrous fire in 1940

And this is the inside. The painting is also reproduced from black and white photos, using great knowledge to create it. Below is one of the burnt-out room, now water proofed and with a wood floor. It, with 2 or 3 others, was used in the second filming of Brideshead Revisited. These rooms are very odd, with open ceilings and bare stone walls, mostly and a little of what the film people did. One day, they will be properly restored, but it costs so much to maintain the house, that it will pobably be a very long time before the money is available.

The famous fountain, in which the young men bathed in Brideshead Revisited.

Two bird species that were around in large numbers. It not being mating time, the peacocks tails were firmly down!

The rose garden. There is also an ornamental vegetable garden, which is most impressive. Produce from it is sold in the Farm shop.

Our day was rounded off with supper in a pub on the way home, and we got back to Kirkheaton, in light rain, about 10.00 pm. Everyone had had a lovely day as we always do when we have an "outing"

An interesting day

G put the dishwasher on after breakfast. When I came to empty it after lunch it hadn't functioned. Oh burger! Put it on again and it stopped again at the same point. Rang the local man who does Bosch. When I gave him the model number and said I though it was at least 5 years old, he said add 10 - ie 15 years old or thereabouts. It could be repaired but at a great cost. Discussion with G arrived at the conclusion that the most cost effective action was to renew. So we will get another Bosch. They are so reliable. I need advice about which one to get, so putting a thing up in the forum.



Settled down to wash up before I had to go out. Did the 'old man' offer to help? No, he was sitting with his legs up in the Conservatory, alongside the kitchen, reading the paper. After a while, he needed a pee, so on his return offered to dry up the few remaining glasses! Brilliant!!!



Next on the programme was to go to the occulist. He is lovely and has been doing our regular eye test for years and years. "Anything special about your eyes?" "Yes, I am having trouble reading road signs at a reasonable distance away" In a second a car number appeared on the wall and I could just read it, so I am legal! Then he set about testing my long sight and gradually all things came clear, first with one eye, then the other. So --- I am to have glasses to drive in. Good. Then he moved on to my short sight for which I have had glasses for ages. At one point I said "ooh that's much better" and later when I asked whether I was to have new lenses he said did I not remember how much better I had found one setting. So --- I am to have new reading lenses. So far so good, but then he shone lights into my eyes and puffed air on my eyeballs. The puffing showed no problem with pressure, but he found that my lenses were dirty!! A lovely way of saying that the beginnings of catteract where showing. Not a problem yet, but will be in time.



After that I went to Curries and looked at Bosche Dishwashers. Came to a partial conclusion but need your input/advice. See forum.

Purple pics

A Geranium like one already in the Common Room

Black Elder in flower. This picture cannot begin to show the beauty of this seen from the upstairs windows of the house, when the light is right. It is a joy all spring and summer.

This close-up probably gives a better idea of how beautiful it is

Does Catmint attract cats or put them off? We do not have problems with them (cats) in the front garden, where this is. They will stalk the birds in the back where they are fed. They are mostly ferals - but nice and plump!

Unfortunately the Buddleaea (spelt wrongly) and other lovely purples are not yet out in this Northern outpost.

Judging - day 1

Today I was up at an early hour (for me!) and left the house at 7.30 to meet my co-judge in the Ikea car park at 8.15. Then I drove us down to Billingham to judge the town on its entry to Northumbria in Bloom. I remember the place as very boring but with an exciting new feature - the Forum, with a swimming pool and an ice rink! I am talking about the early 1970's. Now it is a thriving town. ICI, which was its raison dêtre, has gone. The memorial to the ICI war dead has been moved alongside the town cenotaph in the Peace Garden. This lies between 2 main roads and is a haven of peace.1
There is a lot of colour about. The roundabouts are very variable - they range from all covered by trees, to one, (with pipes and wires just below the surface), that is covered in gravel with large plantes full of bedding scattered about. Another is covered in the most beautiful annual wild flowers.
There are two wonderful wild-life areas. One has a large fishing lake, a smaller one and several ponds. Between the paths it is left to itself, so between the trees there are brambles, nettles and so on, so that animals, birds and insects have a really natural environment. The other has acres of meadow, which we saw at their best, with orchids and many other meadow flowers showing their colours. There are woodland areas too and a lake and wet lands. Originally it was salt pans - long ago. In one place lime had been tipped, so that led to different types of plants. We would have loved to have spent much longer there, rather than the 20 minutes we were able to give it.
We spent a happy time in an Infant School, where they had had a competition to design a flower bed. Two pictures were chosen and then planted in the grounds. We met the 2 boys and 2 friends - all year 2's - and went to see the beds - in a heavy shower. They were lovely little people who had helped to plant one to the beds. Once their initial shyness had worn off they were full of chatter. Then we went to the associated Junior School, where one young girl's design had won the prize for the best butterfly. This too had been turned into a bed, which we went to see. The wee girl also brought a friend, but was pretty firm, when it came to photo time, in seeing that she was the only in the picture!
During our tour we were given a light finger lunch, overlooking bowling greens and accompanied by 2 teams of lady bowlers, who were unable to play because of the rain.

From there we drove to Spennymoor in County Durham - an old mining village/town. In this case we were entertained by the Town Mayor and the officer responsible for N in B. The atmosphere was quite different because responsibility is shared between them and the Borough Council. There was much less to see but two things stood out. First the Cemetry. As you enter you look down between two herbaceous borders, backed by hedges. Most unusual and they won the best cemetry in the country last year. Although it is very open, with few trees in the main bulk of the buriel area, trees do continue to border the road after the herbaceous borders, to the centre. The man who cares for it is also planning plantings to break up further areas.
The other outstanding area is the Park. They have a wonderful new play area with innovative activities. One amused me in that it was an exciting slide, but only available to anyone who could either climb a mini climbing wall or get up spread footholds, hanging onto a rope. In other words you have to work for the pleasure of going down the slide and little people are prevented from getting into a dangerous situation! The planting in the Park is lovely and the bowling greens are, unusually, not fenced off, so the beautiful grass and plantings round each area can be seen by all.

The great joy of a day like today is the people you meet. They are all so lovely and so proud of their town and so keen for it to do well.

Visit to Berwick

This morning it was grey and damp. We had had .6ins of rain yesterday and another .03 in the night. It did not seem much brighter today. However, we were due to go to G's cousin in Berwick today, so set off somewhat unwillingly. We took my little (Peugeot 207) car to save fuel and to aid parking, and drove up through almost continuous showers, with car lights on. It is about 60 miles and took us just over about an hour and a quarter. When we got there we found their little house as happy as ever. It has a room with windows all round the east side that gives a fantastic view of the Tweed estuary. It is worth the drive up, just to see that.
G's cousin is an art dealer. He gets most of his pictures these days from Russia and Serbia. His wife is also an artist and paints lovely pictures of flowers. One of his brothers is an art dealer too. He has a gallery in Petersgate, York and space on the 4th floor of Liberties in London. Another brother is in Australia and in the same trade. We wonder where the genes came from! In fact, G has the collecting habbit too and if he could have afforded it would have a house full of lovely pictures. As it is he has quite a number.
They have a summer party each year to which they invite friends and people they think will buy pictures. They are hung all over the walls and each one that is available has a number - and a good price! We have been once before, so recognised some of the people there.
That particular branch of G's family deserves a blog all of their own, but sadly, I could not possibly write one without their vetting it first - so no go. Such is life in ciber space.

My Garden

I was out in the garden this morning with my camera. These caught my eye.

Abutilon, Clematis and Rose.

A happy Sunday

I have had a lovely Sunday.

To start with, we had Holy Communion in our little church. The average number is 7, but today there were 12 people present and our Vicar asked me to admisnister the wine, which always gives me great pleasure.

The rest of the day was spent at the one-day, 50 over, cricket match between England and New Zealand at the Riverside - where we went to a Test Match last year. We met the queue for the match as we left the A1 which filled us with dread but the police have got it so well organised that we kept moving mostly and were soon in the car park. The pedestrian queue to get in looked pretty daunting too but again it moved quite fast. The examination of our bags was very cursery so they did not discover the National Trust cutlery sets, with knives in them! They were really looking for alcohol and there wasn't any of that - really - truly!
By the time we found our seats England were batting and had lost 1 wicket. I had not been to a match like this before - not a pair of white trousers in sight - a white ball - and funny rules - but cricket all the same and some of it really fast and exciting. And England won! The sun shone occasionally, it wasn't too cold in between, just a chilly wind and IT DIDN'T RAIN! A lovely day.

And to finish off, a happy time having a look at Purple Coo.

Re-wiring

Now, what has happened since Tuesday?

On Wednesday evening we had a Parochial Church Council meeting. To my enormous relief, we decided that we should rewire the chuch, if the actual quotes are anywhere near the ballpark figure. We will launch an appeal at the end of August and hope to raise the money, to replace that taken from the 'vaults'. That is, we have enough money, or nearly, in a fabric fund, but must replace it if we use it.

As a result of this need to raise money, and because the WI are going to have to raise much more money to build the Hut, I have offered to have a Garden Fete here on September 6th, dividing the proceeds between the Church and the WI. The garden will be far from its best but I hope it will be presentable. July is too soon and too much going on, and August is a restful month. By doing a joint event, there will be more people to help and a wider range of people who might come. And I will be supporting both the things that I feel I must support. So, it must be good!

In the garden - the runner beans are planted as are the courgettes. As we have had rain, both are growing as you look at them. Also I am weeding like mad. If we are to have this garden fete, then I must keep up with all of that.

This picture was taken before the runner beans and courgettes were planted. they are beyond the green cover over the carrots.

And tonight, the lovely G took our mower up to the church and cut the path up to it, as we have a service on Sunday and our helper is on holiday. He came in exhausted bless him.

Benefice Book Club

Today we met to discuss the second book that we have read as a Benefice. The first one was read as a Lent book and discussed chapter by chapter at a weekly Lent meeting. This proved a success, so we decided to start a book club which would be open to anyone. The books would not be overtly (or covertly come to that) religious. Just thought-provoking.

This second book is Nick Hornby's How to be Good. "London GP Katie Carr always thought she was a good person. With her husband David making a living as 'The Angriest Man in Holloway', she figured she could put up with anything. Until, that is, David meets DJ GoodNews and becomes a good person too. A far-too-good person who starts committing crimes of charity like taking in the homeless and giving their kids' toys away. Suddenly Katie's feeling very bad about herself, and thinking that if charity begins at home, then maybe it's time to move...."

Today we met in the Village Hall, with contributions to a light supper, which we ate with pleasure and plenty of happy gossip. There weren't many of us, but hopefully, when the autumn comes, there may be more. The book provoked much discussion and we only touched on some of the issues raised. No-one said they had not enjoyed it - we were carried through by the speed of movement through the events, and much humour - it kept making me laugh aloud. This is apparently the first book that Nick Hornby has written from the female point of view (it is narrated by Katie). He has been very successful in this and I understand that he took much advice from women, to confirm that he was on the right track.

The characters are not obviously of any religion - David and GoodNews are specifically not and though Katie does visit a church, and is Anglican, it is of no real significance in the book. Despite this, there are many moral issues included that make it a very thought provoking book.

It is a quick read and would be enjoyed by many people. It has made me want to read 'About a Boy'

The Broom has gone

Today, I did the dirty deed. I took the loppers to the broom. Now, before you send the hate mail, let me clarify the situation.

Milla said "the other ones, beg their pardons, look a bit more dull and, well, green - can't they be shifted instead??" Well yes but... bear in mind that for the rest of the year the Broom looks a bit dull and, well, green, and after pruning not at all nice. The two 'dull, green' shrubs were looking dull then. One of them is a white Potentilla that flowers its heart out all summer - not like the broom, but for much longer. The other is a miniature lilac. It does not flower for long, it is just coming out now, and is pretty boring for the rest of the time. Then there is a shrub that is good value for its foliage. Can't remember its name, but it was completely buried by the broom, after it spread, so is looking a little unhappy, but will soon pick up now that it is getting full light. then there are oddments that have seeded themselves, as if knowing their time would come.

Gardens are for ever changing. They are made up of living things which start small and young, grow, mature and finally die or have to go. This makes way for change, often for the better. G and I have studied the gap and find that there really isn't one at a lower level - only high up. The space will fill with other things to give us pleasure. We both agree that the replacement I had bought should be found another home. I am sure that in a few year's time it will give us great pleasure, where-ever I decide to put it. That is, if I have the time and energy to give it the careful pruning that the last one had. No clippers for me - each flowered shoot had to be cut back by hand, a long and boring job.


This is the little fellow that is going to have to be found an other home.

Good-bye to a 94-year-old and Memories

Today I went to another funeral. It was not a sad one, though obviously the family were sad to lose their mother/grandmother/great-grandmother. She was 94 and had left 24 great-grandchildren, so will live for ever through them and others still to be born.
For me:
It was the first event that I had been at that I would have attended if Ian had been still alive. We lived opposite the family for 6 years, before going to Singapore, and her husband had given I a job when we came back. He was a good friend and we knew most of the family (children). The only one we didn't know, I met later. The mother was a lovely laid-back person who was always there for everyone - even if the dogs always came first when it came to who got the steak and who got the runny mince! Not your sort of person, Milla!
Today was full of memories. Two particular ones come to mind -
One day I looked across to their house from our garden. A small child was on the OUTSIDE of a 3rd floor window. What do you do? If you shout will he let go? If you run across and try to find someone how long will it take. I ran inside and rang them up. Mum (daughter of today's deceased) answered the phone. She said today that she started to yell at once and had to run up 3 flights of stairs! By the time she got up to the top, the young fellow had come back in. Did I save his life? I shall never know.
The other memory was one that was forgotten by the second daughter. During one year that we lived across the road, she had a growing bulge in her middle, which she called M... (female name) When the great day came and she gave birth, a pink towel was hung from a window so's we would know what had happened (that bit I'd forgotten) The little girl was christened M... I reminded both Mum and the now 40ish child about that!
There was another side to the happy memories today. We had lived in a large Old House with a big walled garden. Last time I was there, the far end of the garden had a house on it. Today, it was unrecognisable from the lane. The h0use has been divided into two, with two drives with electronic gates. The garden is covered with houses. I got a glimpse of the old house. The roof was of old tiles. A local builder had said to us that it should have been re-roofed in the 1920's but he thought it would do plenty of years yet - that was in 1963. Now it is covered in nasty light red tiles instead of the lovely weathered old ones! I suppose that when I read that date - 1963 - I have to accept that things are bound to have changed somewhat!

Kirkheaton Church

I am going to do some thinking in writing! It seems that crunch time has arrived for the small but much loved church, St Bartholomew's, Kirkheaton.


There was a church here in 1200, attached to Hexham Abbey. Through much of its time, it was either a Chapel of Ease or extra-parochial and there was not a Parish, as such. In more recent times it has been attached to another small village - Throckrington and also Bellingham and more recently, Kirkwhelpington. In the early 1970's it became a Parish in its own right and part of the United Benefice of Kirkwhelpington, Kirkharle, Kirkheaton and Cambo. In 1730 it was roofless and was rebuilt by the lady who owned the Kirkheaton Estate.

Since then, the Chancel was enlarged and and the Church was gothicised. A vestry was added. Also, lime workings have come very close on the north side, so the cottage shown, no longer exists.

We now jump to today. The hamlet of Kirkheaton has 18 houses and cottages. There are also 3 outlying farms, a new racing stable and 4 cottages. Very few of the inhabitants take any real interest in the life of the Church, though some, if asked, would say that it is important to the Village. As can be seen from the picture, there are many people buried in the Church-yard, and this means that there are families far and wide who have an interest. But the crunch line is that there are only 6 people on the Church Electoral Roll and 4, + the Treasurer from else-where, on the PCC. (Parochial Church Council). A Holy Communion Service is held on the 3rd Sunday of the month, at 8.30, which is attended by an average of 7 people. 3 people in the village come + others from the Benefice.

Two sundays ago, the main electricity switch failed. This was a fault that could not be mended by an amateur. The electrician who came had to tell us that everything in the electric line in the church was illegal! It had mostly been installed in the 1960's and things have changed considerably since then. With difficulty, I managed to get a ball-park figure out of him for re-wiring - replacing lighting and 4 night store heaters. The existing ones were on their last legs - only one fan and the heat not adjustable! This figure was at least £6,500 + VAT. As the price of cable goes up as fast as oil prices, this could be more already.

Now we come to the moral position. Can anyone justify spending up to £8,000 on so few people? There is a general feeling that we cann't. The options currently thought to be available are:

1. Do nothing. Services could only be held when it was light. The fabric would gradually deteriorate and tiles would come off the roof

2. Minimum maintenance. Rewire everything necessary to run 2 night stores Fit 2 new night stores in place of uneconomic ones at a cost of about £250 + VAT each. No provision for lighting. Ballpark costs of rewiring to be obtained. Summer services only. Keep the roof and gutters in order.

3. Completely rewire and fit 3 new night store heaters at a cost of (ballpark figure) less than £10,000 + VAT.

4. Continue to follow up the idea of developing the church for community use at a cost of about £50,000.

Initial comments:

1. I imagine we would not be allowed to do that by the Diocese.

2. Combined with joining one of the other Parishes in the Benefice, (Kirkwhelpington?), this could be the only feasible option.

3. Too large a sum to spend on so small a congregation.

4. The access to the church – i.e. not being able to get a vehicle up the steep hill – puts off other bodies. Improving the access is difficult if not impossible.

(The WI Hut is condemned and the plan is to replace it with a pre-fab wood hut at a cost of about £40,000.)

Once the WI have their new Hut, we would be able to hold services in it, I imagine, but I fear that the people from the Benefice would not come. Would it attract anyone from the village who does not come at present?

If anyone reads this and wants to make any HELPFUL comment, I shall be glad to read it.

Following the first comments:

The money is available. The question is, is it morally justified to spend so much on such a small number of people? There are Methodists, but they go to neighbouring chapels, the one in the village went out of use long ago. Deconsecration is not an option at the moment, I am glad to say. London commuters do not buy up here yet :)

Cytisus - Broom

This is a very sad report. The magical broom that I showed you two years ago is more magic than ever this year.
Quite unbelievable.
BUT - We had some heavy snow a month or two ago and it has spread the shrub out, so that it is overlaying other shrubs.

Sadly, it will have to go. You cannot cut Broom back to base - it will not re-grow from old wood. Anyway, they are not long-lived, so if I tried to tie it together, it would not live much longer. So - when the flowering is over - I shall remove it, with tears running down my face, and plant a replacement. The wee shrub is already waiting - sitting in its pot and looking tiny, but flowering its heart out.

On my Travels.

We set off from Northumberland on a nice morning, early (for us) and got to my cousin's near Marlbrough by 4.00. It was lovely to see V and D who are very dear to me. D is the eldest son of my 1st cousin, but is the same age as my eldest brother. Such are large Victorian families. His wife V is a darling and we are the best of friends. The next day they had invited 2 couples who had connections with the North to lunch. One had been an officer in the DLI (Durham Light Infantry) The other was a lady who was the daughter of a doctor who was known to G's father and cousin. So lots to talk about.

On Friday we went off to Torquay for a family gathering for the marriage of my eldest brother's second son. The marriage took place in the lovely old church in the hidden valley in the middle of Torquay. It was beautifully hot and the marriage was so old time. The first time I have heard someone say 'obey' for many a long year! She did give him a sideways look as she said it! Then the happy couple received communion - again a very rare thing these days.

The reception was in a hotel on the front and was soon followed by a wedding breakfast. After that there was quite a good break before the dancing and G took advantage of it to walk back to our hotel. I followed him before too long ie before the dancing got going. As it was a 12.00 wedding and I got back to my room by about 7.00 I didn't do too badly! It was lovely to see so many of my close relations, including son and daughter, at a happy event. The grandsons were not invited - the numbers game.

Next day, we said goodbye to my brother and other family members, before setting off to drive round a devious course to Ugborough. We went via Dartmouth and other places having lunch en route. At Ugborough, we found old Singapore friends of I and me, who were giving us supper and leading us to the ferry. The latter was not really necessary but meant that we could leave it to the last minute to leave. We had a good crossing, mostly in our bunks.

The drive down from Roscof to Lamor Baden was uneventful. We went by a country route as we had all day. I had meant to go via Elizabethd's village, but made an error and went down another road. The hotel she had found us was lovely. We had a suite with a view to die for. The rooms were very small but the added space of the suite made it very comfortable and there was a tiny balcony, which I used - not G though. The food was fabulous. The daughter had worked in the Waterside Restaurant where she learnt good English as well as meeting her husband. More importantly, she picked up a lot of cooking skills. Mum and daughter worked together in the kitchen and were ably assisted by Benoir who is the son-in-law and who also speaks very good English.

The morning after our arival, Elizabethd and her husband arrived to have coffee and lots of chat. I was talking to another guest when they arrived and I knew at once that they must be them! All four of us got on so well together. And of course, I was extremely grateful for Ed finding the hotel for us. (http://uk.hotel-parcfetan.com/index.php will take you to this lovely hotel and room 218 is the suite you want.) It would have been lovely to visit their home but it was not convenient this time - maybe next time we are in the vicinity.

We had 2 very hot days followed by 2 wet mornings and cloudy afternoons. The Town of Aury was seen at its best - at least, I mean the old port, not the town which was not interesting. The next morning, Vannes was wet and miserable though we were able to see how lovely it would be on a nice day. We did some serious (for us) walking along the coast trail in the afternoons.

You can walk along the edge of the sea and then next day you can drive to the nearest access and walk another bit.

The 5 days were over far too quickly and we drove back up to Roscoff, having lunch and picking up wine, ordered on the way down. We had taken a good cabin (cheap by day) so had a sleep and ate a picnic we had bought en route. We got to the kind friends who had fed us on the way out, about 9.30 so just time for a drink and then to bed. Sadly, our host was not at all well so was not able to come to the party the next day. This was a Sunday lunch in the Green Station Brasserie in Bath. It was to celebrate the 50th wedding anniversary of 2 more old Singapore friends. Neither G or I knew anyone bar the family (me only) but we both enjoyed meeting very nice people.

Next day we set off for the north in our air-conditioned car on a very hot day. Guess what - having gone up the M5 and M6 to Carlisle and then across, as we crossed the Pennines and turned onto the Military Road, the sun disappeared and the temperature dropped and we knew that we were nearly home!

Where Withy Brook Lives

If you come up from the main road, you drive for 5 miles on a fairly straight road (after negotiating the 2 double bends, where lots of people go through the hedge). The first part just has room for 2 cars side by side so you can overtake - but not if it is a lorry. These are only allowed for access. In the end you reach a length of single track road, the latter half of which is lined on one side by old sycamores and ash trees. The ash trees are gradually disappearing, but the sycamores will last a year of two yet. These trees run up the side of the Show Field - a very uneven area that you would never expect to find a Show on! At the end, you arrive at a medieval village green.

The Green is large and has dwellings on 3 sides, all but one of which has been there since time immemorial. The show field is to the East. North Side is what it says it is and has 9 dwellings - houses and cottages. The latter are rapidly being up-graded, but it won't be for the first time! They were all here in 1800 and had been for long before that and none are now one room only! They have lean-to's on the back and some went upwards long ago. As you come into the village, the first was a farm once upon a time. Now it is a farmhouse type building, and is a haulage business. The man who lives there is the son of a lady who was born and lived all her life here. Her father founded the haulage business with a horse and cart going to Hexham on market day, along a road that is now only partially traceable and partly lost in a huge quarry. The family were in the Parish in the 1800 census. The old lady's husband still lives in a cottage in the middle of the Green. He is about 85. The next house up is quite big (comparatively). Further up there is another farmhouse. In amongst them are cottages.
Across the west end are a brand new house and a small cottage of the same sort of age as all the rest, which belongs to us. Then, set back a bit, behind a tall stone wall is our house. From the Green, you just see a grey square building with 2 large windows. It is the 1740's addition to a bastle house. These were fortified houses, built to keep the stock down below and the family upstairs, with a pull-up ladder, for when the Scottish Reivers came marauding, raping and thieving! It is a bit different now, with its "new front" put on in about 1620!!!
The south side of the Green has 2 farm houses and 2 cottages. These were originally 6 one-roomers, one of which was the Pub at some past time!
Once upon a time, there was quite a large population (comparatively speaking), with shoe makers, a school and chapel as well as the church. The dentist came and set up on the Green every now and then. Think he probably just removed teeth!
Nowadays, there are 5 properties that are let, which does not make for a settled population, in such a small place. Currently we are lucky that they are all nice people except one who we never see. But it has become a commuter village, like so many. Two of the farms are still functioning and the haulage business. The saving grace of the place is the Show. This pulls everyone together once a year. Nearly everyone helps in one way or another and lots of lovely people from round about come and help too. Having lived here for 27 years now, I am considered to belong! Because we are in the Manor, we are expected to play the appropriate part! The old timers call me Mrs.... in spite of all my efforts to make them use my Christian name!
What else do we have here? One Victorian post box, in our garden wall. One church which has been there since the 13th Century, but Victorianised by a vicar in 1860. Very much loved by many but supported by a tiny number. A WI Hut, which is falling to pieces. A mobile library which I have not seen for some time, so it may have stopped. 3 wind turbines up the lonnen (track). Except when the farmer is driving about or the RAF are low flying and when there is no wind (rare) we have silence. At night, apart from bad light pollution to the SE, we have wonderful stars on a clear night. No through traffic - the road stops outside our house.
There is the odd evening, particularly in the summer, when you can go outside and listen to the silence - only broken by the baaing of sheep. That is magic.
There are moderately good walks and if you go up to the top, where the turbines are there are fantastic views - The Durham hills to the south, the Pennines to the West, Cheviot and Simonside to the North and nearly to the sea to the East. However some of this may sound, I love it here and would hate to have to move - though I know the time will come when we cannot manage here any more. But I know I will never get G to move!

Pointing of the Front ended

The lovely lad, full of many pints of tea, has completed the pointing of the front of the house. As he has done it very well, G has decided that the north side should be re-done too. So in about 4 weeks, scaffolding will appear there and it will be returned to the state that was intended by the builders in the 16th century.

The West gable has these pretty windows. The upper was added in the 1960's but the date of the lower is any one's guess - inserted into a wall 3 foot thick. The whole gable needs repointing but the bit the wee lad has done was the worst. The colour of the pointing will change as it dries. It was only done today.

Pointing the front of the house and other matters

Just a few jottings.

The main (oldest) part of this house was built of stone in the 16th century. The original mortar was the right, sandy mix for stone. At some time in the 20th century, it was repointed with a hard cement and in about 1930 an even harder mix was used round the front door and window, when they were enlarged. The middle strength has done the most damage. It was put on to cover the stone in many places and level the surface. When done like this, the rain can penetrate under the cement, especially with sandstone as in this case. Then, when it freezes it expands and loosens the cement and damages the stone. As more damage is done the worse it gets, because more rain can get in. We have known for a long time that it would catch up on us, and the time has arrived. The damage to the stone has reached a serious proportion.
A lovely young man (38 yrs old), arrived for work at 8.45 on Saturday morning, and started to remove the offending stuff. A lot of it almost fell out and he made good progress, despite a prickly pyracantha overlapping the work area and a climbing rose. Then he reached the first window and found the very hard stuff. He had to use a machine to cut it out and then chisel against the stone. A slow and painstaking job. He didn't get any tea cos I was out till lunch time. He did get some then, and a very big mug kept for the purpose. He thought it was great.
He was back again on Sunday, ending up by clearing up as much as he possibly could and putting his bits and pieces away as tidily as possible. He won't be back till next Saturday. Easter week he has holiday so he will be here all week. Tomorrow, the scaffolding arrives, and we have to make sure he makes it wide enough, despite the Pyracantha - which I have cut back quite hard - on one side and a Lonicera nitida and Holly on the other.

On Monday I made my way to the Leisure Centre in Gateshead. Sounded easy. Decided to go up the bypass almost to the Angel of the North then turn down into Gateshead. Next thing I knew I was whisking over the Reddiheugh Bridge into Newcastle! I kept my head and managed not to get lost. Found my way to the Swing Bridge and popped over back into Gateshead and soon found the Leisure Centre. A large number were gathered for the Inaugoral Meeting of Northumbria in Bloom. Most of the judges and lots of entries. Had a good meeting - the Chairman of a village which won a Gold Medal in last summers National - Britain in Bloom - gave an excellent presentation. A chap from Green Flag told us about that. Green open spaces are their speciality. We overlap somewhat. If anyone wants to know more about it, just ask in the comments.
After a 3 course lunch given by Gateshead Council, I set off for the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle for a hearing assessment. Got there an hour early, so had a read while I waited. The assessment showed a small loss at the top of the range. This effects the clarity of what one hears, so combined with my tinnitus, is the reason for my not always hearing properly. Far from a hearing aid though.
That'll do for now, so see you, diary, in a day or two.

Gardening today

This morning, I had to go to the surgery to see the District Nurse, to have my ear syringed to get rid of a bit of something (she said skin) that could foil a hearing test that I am to have on Monday. After that, I went to my favourite garden centre. There are others around that many would think much better. Plants yes, but acres of other things. This one has some of these other things, but not too many, and far more plants and garden extras. I was led astray from my carefully written list and got some crocus in flower - the mice have eaten so many of ones in the garden. These will go out there and I will buy some corms too at some point. I also got a few tulips for the same reason. I went to the garden centre to buy 2 new things for the ends of my hozes and some JIP 3 and Vegetable seeds, having procrastinated over filling in the order so long that now it is March.
This afternoon, I used some of the compost and some seed compost that I already had. I pruned the Abutilon Nabob that G had wheedled out of the Head Gardener at Wallington, cutting it very hard back as they had done in the past. This meant that I had lots of pieces about 3 or 4 feet long. I cut the ends of, about 4-5 inches long, trimmed them, removing the leaves and any flower buds and pushed them into the compost in a 3 inch pot. 12 of them are now in a propagator on the shelf in the greenhouse. It does not work any more, so no heat, but there is a cover, to stop drying out. It has a lovely dark red flower. I already have one young plant that I repotted today - a nice single stem. When it is tall enough it will come into the Conservatory, to replace the more mauvy, lighter one that has been there for years. If todays cuttings take, they will be sold for the WI or some other charitable concern and I will keep one as a replacement.
When I was in Wales last summer, for my brother's 60th birthday, I was given some Fuschia cuttings by a specialist, in who's barn we were staying. All of them took. Mostly they have reddish leaves and wood but one is variegated. Of the red ones, one is going to be grown with 2 horizontal branches, as it is already doing naturally. One will be a standard - again heading that way naturally. The rest will be bushes. I had already pruned them the other day, but today I potted them on into bigger pots. They will go out in the frame later on and be planted out next year. After that I shall just have to keep my fingers crossed. We are much colder and exposed that their Welsh home. I may keep the standard in a pot/container.
I did not get anything done outside today because it was blowing a gale yet again. When is it ever going to stop for more than a few hours?

What is Christianity?

I have been thinking about what makes a Christian. There are all sorts of things that one might say - a loving person. Someone who works for others. Someone who goes to church. Someone who forgives. Someone who loves their neighbour as themselves.
There is one type of person who is NOT a Christian - someone who says that unless you do as I say you are dammed. A tiny child is drowned. The parents are not married. The child's spirit belongs to him. The "crime", as seen by the priest, of the parents is their "crime" and nothing to do with the child. But, because the parents are not married, the priest refuses Christian burial to the child. In order to obtain that burial, they have to marry. THAT IS NOT CHRISTIAN.
Jesus said "let the little children come unto me" and other things about children that made it clear that they were beloved by him above all.
Then there is the saying the sins of the fathers will be visited on the children to the third and fourth generation. As I see it this is talking about something quite other than an immediate 'sin' like bearing a child out of wedlock. It has to do with inheritance and things like sexual illnesses.
One thing that does not make a Christian, is to do something that is not Christian in the name of Christ, like the priest who would not bury the baby.
I pray that I may do Christian things. I would like to bring the comfort and light of Christianity to others, but fear that it is beyond me. However, if I can make someone stop and think, then I have achieved something. God bless anyone who reads this blog.

Tagged for Tips

Since Penny tagged me for doing the tips I have been wracking my brains for any. Not much came to the fore, I fear.
1. If you spill red wine - resist the temptation to wash it or put salt on, though sopping up any loose wine is a good idea. Then pour on a generous amount of white wine - sweet, dry or medium - it seems not to matter. The only thing with sweet wine is that it takes more washing next day because it is sticky. By next day the stain will have gone. Someone spilt red wine on a fluffy white carpet in our drawing room. We poured on the white wine and left it till next day. I then had to crawl about feeling the carpet to discover where it was wet and slightly sticky. Promice - there was not a scrap of red to be seen.

2. As said by most others, do not have pets of any kind in the house, to reduce the cleaning. (Not a favourite, I fear!)

The rest need an AGA, so perhaps the next tip is Put one in! Might be rather expensive though!

3. To iron things, smooth them out as much as possible, fold them if large and put on the lid over the hot plate. I find that while wet, things can go on the hotter one, but once dry they will scorch there, so always use the cooler plate lid. Some things can be hung on the rail in front, where one keeps the tea towel etc.

4. To air things or dry things after conventional ironing, put them on the shelf above the AGA. Not everyone has one. Why? I ask myself. It is incredibly useful. It is an open iron job, hard to describe. I lay ironing on it. I hang stuff like socks, pants, vests etc from the cross pieces.

5. On same shape, warm plates dishes etc if not enough room in the cool oven. Keep the joint warm up there while it rests (covered by a piece of foil and a tea-towel)

Pretty poor I fear but there we are - I was never enamoured with anything to do with the house!

What a Day

What does Withy most dislike? and what does she dislike next most? Shopping and clearing out cupboards etc (her New Year's Reslolution)

Up be-times this morning because I had decided that I was going to make my yearly visit to Newcastle to shop. I had a voucher for Marks & Spencer so I was headed there to try to find an evening top for a new skirt. I set off in reasonable time - I do NOT like to shop when everyone else is - and found Newcastle fairly free of cars and the chosen car-park (a circular climb with cars parked on the outside and then onto the roof of Bainbridges to leave my car and descend by lift) almost empty on the way up and on the roof. Still cost me £2 plus though.
Descended to ground level and walked round to Marks & Spencer, arriving on the ladies clothing floor. Went all the way round the outside, except where they had things like underwear, gifts, shoes etc etc and then went round again on the inner circuit. Did I find what I was looking for? No, of course not - I never do! I did find 2 or 3 things that might do and a couple of pairs of trousers, so headed off for the fitting rooms and tried them all on. Both pairs of trousers turned out to be designed to go round the hips and this DOES NOT SUIT ME! Kept the 3 tops and found that I did not have to pay too much, having cashed in my voucher.

Decided to visit a few other shops, as I was there, but Next and others in the vicinity had absolutely nothing that resembled what I wanted. By then I had walked a long way and my legs were weary, so I worked my way back to Bainbridges omitting Fenwicks - they might have had something but I had no more energy. Here I must explain that Bainbridges is an old store that has been in Newcastle since the year dot. A long time ago they were taken over by John Lewis but JL had the sense to leave the name alone and thus kept the clientelle. A few years ago they decided that the old guard had either died out or been outnumbered, so changed it to JL. I am the Old Guard - nuff said.

Once back in Bainbridges I visited the Ladies and did the rounds of the ladies clothing franchises - still nothing I wanted. On the next floor up I went to the bed linen department. I am certain that they used to have duvet covers and sheets for large single beds. (Between a single and a double). They swore blind it was Fenwicks who had had them. I am equally certain it was not!!! Anyway, it made no difference because they don't do them now. They sell the beds but not the linen. They claim that double bed linen will do as well. It will not.

By this time I had definitely had it, so up another floor to the car park, and set off for home - my legs aching and very hungry. Guess what! When I got home, G was out and if I wanted the crossword to do with my lunch, I had to walk down the Green to get the papers!

Now for the next worst thing that Withy has to do. I set about the space under the stairs that is part of the kitchen - no door. I gradually worked my way in, getting rid of old boxes (there is a limit to the number you need to keep), masses of bubble wrap - you don't need all that amount for future use - and other junk that had built up over the last few years. I had not got very far when the fabulous builder/plumber rang to say that he would like to come and put in the new immersion heater we were waiting for. Fab! Come at once! He did! And of course that meant moving a whole lot of stuff from the airing cupboard to let the dog see the rabbit. And when he had finished, it had to be sorted etc.... At the end of it all Withy was tired and had had quite enough. What did she do? Came to see what her friends on Purple Coo were up to - and felt better immediately!

Wet snow

The picture to the left is of a path!

Below is a picture of a beech tree that was planted to celebrate the marriage of Prince Charles with Dianna.

Part of the back garden to the left.

A tree brought from a long-ago garden to here.

And here we have himself, having collected the paper.

I am by the gazebo. Do you like my boots? Left over from my skiing days!

A holly and the Seneccio greyii.

Looking in from the front gate.

So there you are! It is turning to rain now. Sorry for the poor layout. I could improve it because I have learnt quite a lot doing this. The trouble, I find, is that what you see is NOT what you get!!!