Thank you to everyone for the positive thoughts for Col. I really don't know if I should mention how he is in blog posts or not, as I don't like people who go on and on about illness. But if I didn't say anything everyone would be wondering how he was.
Anyway,
DVDs
The one on the right we've had for several years
on the left is the DVD I got for Col for Christmas. Both were originally filmed for Anglia TV back in the early 2000's.
Paul Heiney is a quiet presenter, he doesn't talk too much, lets others speak. The dialect and accent of the old Norfolk and Suffolk farmers filmed talking about their memories is wonderful. And something rarely heard now although Col's brother who has worked on the same Suffolk farm all his life and still talks 'Suffolk' comes out with an old word sometimes. He's got a cough and said he kept tissicking!
They try out some original recipes in the wartime programmes - Mock Duck which is sausage meat and Mock Apricot Flan - made from carrots are two I remember. Some tasted better than others!
We often watch DVDs on a winter afternoon, not films, but things like those above. We've got some of the Ruth Goodman et al programmes - Victorian farm, Edwardian Farm and the best - Tales from the Green Valley plus the whole series of The Good Life and The Coal House and Hannah Hauxwell. Col's got some Fred Dibnah DVDs too - I'm not so keen. We've also got a few of the East Anglian Film Archive DVDs - The Home Front, East Anglia at War; Suffolk Past and Old Railways.
Maybe I should look out for more of the same at car boot sales but probably a bit like looking for a needle in one of the Victorian Farm haystacks!
*******************
Had a nice letter in the post from Suffolk County Council. Not sure why/how but during last year there was an increase in pensions based on the lump sum and we are due a handy £500 bonus at the end of the month. That will cover some costs for the year............... I'm very glad he did his 30 years with the council.
*********************
Aspall, the company that produce Cider/Apple Juice/ Cider vinegar,- just a few miles away from us has been sold to a US beer company - Molson Coors- after nearly 300 years in the same family and on the same site. They say they'll carry on producing local apple products but................
Last week the news was Colman's Mustard closing their Norwich site after 200 years, but they had already sold out to Unilever many years ago. I bought a 1lb tin of their mustard powder 3½ years ago and still have about quarter left but I may stock up with another big tin or two just in case.
Back Tomorrow
Sue
Thanks for the Coleman's heads up - I use dried mustard for all sorts of things. It's like salt in that it seems to bring out the flavour.
ReplyDeleteWhat super news about the bonus. Now I'm wondering if I'm due one too (as you do). Was it the state pension?
J x
No sorry - Suffolk County Council and it's just something we should have got last March!
DeleteAh . . . I shall stop waiting to pounce on the postman then. :-)
Delete< chuckles >
J x
I was sad to hear about Colman's mustard too. Yes, we get that in New Zealand and I am thankful for my tins which I shall now keep as souvenirs of a bygone age.
ReplyDeleteThe really old tins sell for a lot on ebay already. They say they will keep making it - just somewhere else but........
DeleteSue,
ReplyDeletePlease do keep us up to date re Col.
I'm sure that many of your followers and readers are genuinely concerned for you both.
We've travelled a long way with you both.
At the moment yours is the first blog I turn to in case there is any news. Sue
Thank you. I just feel I'm going on and on and on! No fun.
DeletePlease keep updating about Col. I have been in your situation so have some idea what you are going through, I felt the whole situation was out of my hands and felt unable to help patient in any way, apart from being positive and being there. I also use dried mustard powder for all sorts of things, will stock up.
ReplyDeleteI store my mustard tin in the freezer as I was fed up of it being well out of date and tasteless.
ReplyDeleteColman's mustard tin in my spice drawer too.
ReplyDeleteHow much of your day is spent thinking about Colin? Your blog would be 'elephant in the room' if you didn't keep us updated.
We walk with you, some sharing memories, some wondering about the future.
I have a couple of Victorian Colemans Mustard Tins on the shelf , just love Age of Empire Stuff , none of its very politically correct these days im afraid but it would be sad if we sanitised the past
ReplyDeleteHi Sue, do please keep us updated about Col - as others have said. I have been reading your blog for ages and you feel like a friend. We in blogland are all wishing you both well and sending you good vibes -I hope you can feel them!
ReplyDeleteThose are just the kind of DVD's I like to watch maybe on a Sunday afternoon. I do draw the line at Fred Dibnah though of which Andy has many DVD's.
ReplyDeleteBest stock up on mustard then.
Hugs-x-
It's sad about both companies. I remember there used to be a Colman's Mustard shop in Norwich too. Not sure either will be the same.
ReplyDeleteGreat news about the bonus - nice surprise!
I always enjoy hearing about Col. I think about him hoping all is going well so it's nice to have updates, but of course only if you want to say anything.
The videos sound really good. I love hearing about the old ways. Sometimes things don't always change for the good.
Norwich without Colman's is so wrong. I'm with you, I'm going to stock up soon too. It's the only mustard I use. Am shocked about Aspall :o(
ReplyDeleteSadly, one by one these little companies disappear as they are eaten up by larger ones - it is all to do with money I se but it does seem a shame.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely keep us posted on Col if you feel comfortable doing so. I prayed extra hard for him last night.
ReplyDeleteWhat a nice surprise with the pension bonus.
Updates on Col if you are comfortable with it please.
ReplyDeleteSmaller companies are disappearing here in Canada as well. I guess the cost of business is just too high for them to manage.
God bless.
You can see a lot of similar videos and great television series on You Tube. You have got some super DVD's to watch on these dark Winter nights.
ReplyDeleteGosh we have so many of the same Dvds, we're just re-watching A Wartime Winter and Summer after you reminding me I had it. And we finished watching Coal House and Coal House at War last week.
ReplyDeleteOf course The Good Life was a must buy when we first moved to the countryside to start our self sufficiency adventures, and you've just reminded me I also have Hannah Hauxwell somewhere :-)
I always remember visiting the shop in Norwich and buying bits and pieces. The problem with the yanks is they're never content with leaving things as they are. Look at the cream egg fiasco!!
ReplyDeleteIt is very sad when old companies sell out - there has been so many over the years. They manage to keep going for over a hundred years through the war and bad times and then all of a sudden just sell out.
ReplyDeleteI haven't got any of the DVD's but I have enjoyed the programs of the Victorian Farm etc - they are amongst my favourites.
I remember touring the Colman factory as a student nurse. They had the first industrial nurses in the country I believe. We also went to the Colman family home then a geriatric hospital in Trowse-I remember the beautiful conservatory. I was more interested in the history and architecture than whatever we were supposed to be learning. My sister retains the beautiful Suffolk dialect.
ReplyDeleteI used to get friends to mail me jelly babies to Canada. People here think it very odd we relish candy in the shape of babies.
Yes yes best of all Tales From the Green Valley x
ReplyDeleteSue, I think we are just glad that you trust us enough to share at least a little of the difficulties you and Col are going through. Somehow, it warms my heart to send kind thoughts to you when I'm awake at 4 AM, trying to sort my own problems and not just crawl under the bed. (Which would be a bad idea, as I'm sure it's dusty and horrible.)
ReplyDeleteLike you, I love knowing more about "the olden days," as I said as a child. One of my favorite books is Dorothy Hartley's "Lost Country Life" (as published in the US) and "Food in England." As an Air Force brat, I lived 3 wonderful years just outside London in my early teens, and I've always felt the stork took a bit of a wrong turn not setting me down in England. Although, I have to say that the "Little House" books about frontier life in America are also great favorites.
I make my adult children laugh when I tell them that when the zombie apocalypse comes, I'll know about foraging, building shelters, growing food, and maybe even making something alcoholic like mead. Thank you so much for sharing some of your life with us--I greatly value your insights and ideas. Best regards (and love) Kate in Oregon
Hi Sue
ReplyDeleteYou have led me totally astray. I ready your above post and got the fancy to watch the programmes again and have ordered them from Amazon so that I can watch them on a cold grey Sunday afternoon. Thank you for leading me astry it gets expensive when I pop in here. Books, DVDs recipes. xx