December 24th..............Short of Time

Went to a the first Cafe Church yesterday at the Methodist Chapel where Colin's Dad was a lay preacher for many many years  before he died. Col's sister goes to services quite often so I said I go and see what a Cafe Church was like. We did some crafting and drunk coffee, not sure what the older members of the church thought. Then Col's brother cooked a roast dinner for the three of us.
Home again to prepare for arrival of Jacob......
Once he arrived no jobs got done!

Ran out of time to do a post!

Sue.

December 23nd and the Spiced Nuts

This is a photo from a few years ago because I forgot to take any this time, but this year looked the same

They are exceedingly more-ish and it was a wonder any of them got into the bags for the hampers.

To make them I just put some runny honey in a bowl and added a little cumin, coriander, paprika. Stirred in the nuts and spread them on baking parchment on a baking sheet. They had 10 minutes in a fairly hot oven, stirred them round and then another 5 minutes.

Left to cool and bagged up with some left for me and Christmas visitors if they last that long!

Back Tomorrow
Sue

December 22rd and My Christmas (and the whole of January) Reading

I seem to have collected rather a lot of library books from the mobile library, once again it was a big surprise because the system is still playing up and not telling anyone when the books have moved from one library to the library they've been ordered from.

The whole lot are crime which is worrying! and look at the size of Tombland at the bottom of the pile. I usually read C J Sansom's previous book in his Shardlake series before the next one arrives to remind me of the storyline as there is usually a few years between each volume. But there is no way I'll have time to do that.
All the above are authors I've read before except "Dark Suits and Sad Songs" by Denzil Meyrick, have no idea where I came across the idea of ordering this to read.
Top of the pile is the new Christmas novella by Anne Perry " A Christmas Revelation". I enjoy these small books which always feature characters from her other  two series.

I have a feeling I will be glad of all these books to keep me occupied because after the busyness of the last two weeks January will be very quiet.

 Thank you to everyone for comments yesterday, I was re-assured to find there were a lot of other people  who hadn't got in some green stuff for the Solstice!

Back Tomorrow
Sue

December 21st and the Winter Solstice

According to my Country Wisdom and Folklore Diary at 22 minute past 10 tonight we should celebrate the Winter Solstice and the Official start of Winter.

Today is also St Thomas' Day.........

St Thomas grey, St Thomas grey

Longest night and shortest day 

The tradition of bringing greenery into the home goes back a Very long way. This would have been the only decoration available to the poorest homes.
And even earlier each plant had a meaning.........Holly was a symbol of everlasting life and fertility, Ivy was an anti-witching plant with medicinal values, Rosemary was holy and magical and Bay was sacred to Apollo and Aescutapious, the God of medicine. Mistletoe was also associated with fertility and used by Druids in their ceremonies.

Christmas wreaths made of greenery are also ancient, thought to date back to Roman times when they decorated homes during Saturnalia. The wreath is thought to be a symbol of the wheel of the year. (The word Yule is usually thought to come from the Nordic word jol but may come from their word for wheel.......houl).


There should be pictures of holly, ivy and other green things here but I was so busy yesterday that I didn't get round to bringing anything in. I'm working my way through a list of food preparation so I can spend more time with Grandson Jacob when he arrives with his Mum and Dad on Sunday afternoon and before then I have coffee at a friends, a carol service and a dinner out, a shopping trip, bread sauce to make, spiced nuts to do for the hampers, deliver the hampers, more red cabbage casserole to make and cook. Some small presents for neighbours children to wrap, wood and kindling to bring in and maybe I'd better do some cleaning!

So instead of a photo of green things brought in for the Winter Solstice here's a page from the book "Cattern Cakes and Lace"

Back Tomorrow
Sue

December 19th and The Holly and the Ivy

 I ran out of time for writing a proper post so here's an old carol and another page from The Country Diary Christmas Book.

  Carol, from the same Greek word as chorus, used to mean a round song or dance. There were Easter Carols, Midsummer Carols, May Carols as well as Christmas Carols.

The Holly and the Ivy is a very old folk carol and was re-discovered by Cecil Sharp at the end of the 19C, in Chipping Campden, Gloucestershire.

Thank you for comments yesterday, I now have another red cabbage to make a second batch. And apologies for not leaving comments anywhere recently. It's been a busy few days.

Back Tomorrow
Sue

December 18th and The Red Cabbage + plus something funny?

One of the things that yells Christmas to me is a red cabbage! We used to grow a few to sell when we were at the smallholding and they always sold well just before Christmas but not so popular afterwards, although they keep for ages.

The recipe I use to make this colourful part of Christmas dinner comes from Delia Smith's Christmas.
A BBC book dating from 1990 (One of the few Christmas presents that Colin bought without me knowing!)

Braised Red Cabbage with Apples
2lb Red Cabbage
1lb onions chopped small
1lb cooking apples, peeled cored and chopped
1 clove garlic, finely chopped
Grated nutmeg
¼ teaspoon each ground cinnamon and ground cloves
3 tablespoons brown sugar
3 tablespoons wine vinegar
½ oz butter
Ground black pepper and a little salt.

Pre-heat oven to gas 2, 150℃
Discard any tough outer leaves of cabbage, cut into quarters and remove hard stalk. Then shred the rest finely..
In a large casserole arrange a layer of cabbage seasoned with salt and pepper, then a layer of apples and onions with a sprinkling of garlic and spices and sugar. Continue with layers until it's all used. Pour over the vinegar and add some dots of butter. Cover with a tight lid and cook slowly for 2 - 2½ hours, stirring everything around once or twice during cooking.
Once cooked this will keep warm without spoiling or can be refridgerated and reheated or frozen.

I "sort of" followed the recipe but didn't actually weigh  the cabbage, used my home made cider vinegar and eating apples rather than cookers as that's what I had and less onions than the recipe because they were making my eyes water too much!

It tastes good and has gone in the freezer but not sure if its really made enough for 10 people........ may have to repeat.

 

A very British sense of humour? So many bits of this radio programme made me smile, snigger and  laugh when I listened on Sunday that I thought I would share it with anyone interested, just to find out how many people find it funny or is it just me? ( and the people at the recording?) Is it funny in other parts of the world?...................... If the link to the radio programme actually works its here.............I'm Sorry I haven't a clue series 70 episode 5

Many Thanks for comments yesterday
Back Tomorrow
Sue

December 17th and The Ice Rink

Some more pages from The Country Diary Christmas book, compiled by Susan Hollis.

Ice skating was popular in Victorian and Edwardian times - when the winters must have been colder. It gave the young ladies and gentlemen a way to meet informally and show off their skills.

 This quote is below the picture - so not everyone was a natural on the ice!

Francis Kilvert also writes in his diary about skating at Draycott Water ( near Chippenham?) in 1870, there were bands playing so the skater did the dances of the time - The Lancers, Quadrilles and The Sir Roger de Coverley. It sounds as if skating carried on until after dark because he mentions Chinese Lanterns and torches being lit.

This poem is on the same page

 Last Saturday there was an "ice" rink in the middle of Stowmarket nothing like the painting!

 It was only little but big enough for children and their parents to have a go. I didn't like to take a photo with children in it so just a quick snap.

 

The ice rink was part of an event called Christmas Snow-fiesta and it was certainly cold enough for snow. There were stalls all down the street and carol singers - all very Christmassy. This photo was early morning

I  had volunteered to do a couple of extra hours in the charity shop in case it was extra busy , but it wasn't too bad and there were three of us there so I tidied and topped up the book shelves and then did some sorting upstairs. I'm still overwhelmed by the muddle and it doesn't help that each week things have been moved round because it's all so new and gradually getting organised. When I left the charity shop at midday everywhere was packed with people. There was free parking on all the car parks which was a good idea to get people into town.
I've been to many things alone in the last 7 months but it felt odd to be walking through town on my own among all the families, so quickly got the shopping done at Asda and home to light the wood-burner and warm up the house for an evening of glitzy glamour........ the Strictly Final. (Think Stacey and Kevin got the sympathy vote because on the day none of their routines were as good as the others! I didn't mind who won, it's all good entertainment.)

After I wrote this I did some research on the artist - because under the picture it say's "L Prang & Co(after a work by Henry Sandham)". Turns out L Prang & Co were a company well know for producing Christmas cards .......in the USA! and Henry Sandham was actually a Canadian Painter.
This is an original of Sandham's  dated 1886, from which the Christmas card  could have been copied

He came to the UK in 1901 to exhibit at the Royal Academy of Arts and died in London in 1910


Back Tomorrow
Sue

December 16th and the Special Carol Service

The Co-op Funeral Service hold special carol services for families to remember loved ones who have passed away during the year. I got an invite as did Col's sister and we both decided to go. It was in Stowmarket church among the Christmas trees. Which looked so much better seen at night and all lit up compared to when I saw them in sunlight.

There were favourite carols, poems and bible readings. It was a good service and I lit a candle in memory of Colin.

But one problem - I can't sing anymore. I used to be able to sing and hold a tune but now my voice sounds like a quavering old lady! Is it because I don't talk very much? Can't be old age as many choirs have older members.
I thought I would try and sing and record it with the camera and found if I'm loud it sounds OK. So now I know what to do - practice singing loudly at home............But don't worry I won't be inflicting it on you!

Back Tomorrow
Sue

December 15th and the 50p Christmas Decoration

I've  tried  this almost every year since 2013 ............ To do a post that makes the the page views go mad!

It happened  first with this  post that went viral (slight exaggeration!) from November 30th 2013......................................

This morning Him Outside concreted in the  6 new posts for our broken fence. He wanted to get this done so that when our son is here next weekend he'll be able to help lift the fence bits upright, while they are fixed back onto the posts.
I did the ironing and a bit of housework then biked down to the village hall to have a look at the Annual Cancer Research Christmas Sale. Plenty of people there and things to buy but I just had a go on the Grand Draw and spent 50p on a little Christmas Decoration that I've hung on the back door. (The last of the Big Spenders!)

  
 For several years this topped the page views - have no idea why and I found if anyone googled Christmas Decorations up popped this post.

It's no longer at the top of the viewing lists but when I bought a 50p decoration this year it reminded me to try it again.
I wanted something old fashioned-looking to add to the mantel-shelf and found this happy fella in the charity shop

I'll see what happens with the viewing figures....................

Many  Thanks for comments yesterday. Apologies for not getting round to replying. I had a day out travelling down to visit my Essex friends who have recently moved house. Managed to find them in their new village without too many problems.

Back Tomorrow
Sue

December 14th and the Brown Paper Packages.................

.......................tied up with...................ribbon.

I have actually got some Christmas wrapping paper - some saved from presents, a few folded new sheets and  a roll from a car boot sale last year - but also had a roll of brown paper from several years ago - it's moved house twice - and loads of ribbon.
It was about time it was used

 I've been dipping in and out of this library book

which is an interesting book about the history of all the customs we take for granted. Including the wrapping of presents.

Many of the first gifts were hung on a Christmas tree and were edible and these were often displayed in paper cornucopias, which was just a cone of paper or card and filled with sweets or dried fruit.(Mentioned in 1832 when a German professor, teaching at Harvard took the idea to the USA) Paper cornucopia could be made at home but soon shops were selling specially printed paper for making the cones.

In the well known engraving of Queen Victoria, Prince Albert and their family dating from 1848, the presents under the tree were not wrapped and there is no mention of wrapping presents until much later.

By 1882, the wealthy were importing "Dresdons" these were boxes made from card that had been pressed, shaped  and lacquered to look like tin  and were in the shape of animals, ships, sun, moon etc. and were often more expensive than the gift inside, and made the unseen gift more mysterious.

Wrapping of presents followed the Victorian approach to decorating their homes, with boxes to put things in and tables, chairs sideboard etc all being covered. It was the Victorians who first had cases for gloves, handkerchiefs, spectacles and folders to hold writing paper, covers for matchboxes and bags for nightgowns and their  early wrapping paper was just the brown or white paper that all shops used to protect their customers purchases on the way home. As late as the 1880's a British children's book describing a German Christmas explained, as though it would otherwise not be understood that "Every present is wrapped up in paper and labelled from Mary to Jane, or Jane to Mary, as the case may be"

After the industrial revolution and mass production, shop bought gifts often replaced home made and wrapping became more popular showing a bit of care and love had been taken with the gift. Just like nowadays the manufacturers responded to the new trend by producing more colourful wrapping and then printed labels.
I'm hopeless at wrapping Christmas presents, just like card writing I start with good intentions but then finish in a hurry so  one of the good things about giving hampers is that no wrapping is necessary. For a couple of years I found hamper baskets at boot sales, I've also used boxes and covered them in cellophane. This year I had an excellent find............. a man was selling these new bags for £1 each or bargain of 2 for £1.50. Much more useful for using after Christmas.....................

......................as long as  no one minds shopping with bags with random advertising - but they'll have to like it or lump it as my Mum used to say!

 I much prefer prefer jute bags for shopping as they are so much easier to pack compared to cloth bags where I usually get the handles tangled with the shopping, hopefully the family will agree.
 Everything should fit in nicely.

Back Tomorrow
Sue

December 13th and the Radio Times

One tradition that carries on regardless of Brexit, political shenanigans and everything else happening in the world is the Christmas Double Edition of the Radio Times!

The other day I looked online to see when it was available and found this.....................

When is the Christmas Radio Times out this year?

There are actually a couple of release dates for the Christmas Radio Times this year, with London and the south east getting the issue early, on Saturday 8 December.
The rest of the country will be able to get their hands on a copy on Tuesday 11 December.
The cover of the issue is a closely guarded secret by the Radio Times, so we don’t know who or what will have the honour this year just yet.

WHY? does London and the South East get it earlier than everywhere else .......Harumph!


There's a website with all the Double Issue Christmas Covers going back to 1969, it didn't like me copying them very much so it's HERE if you want to look

 This is more dated - pre 1969, when cigars and cigarettes were often given as Christmas presents! 

 Here's another pre-decimal  cover

Much better than recent years when it's just been Raymond Briggs's Snowman or Father Christmas - a bit of a cop out I reckon, doesn't take much designing to copy things from books!

The price of the double issue has jumped up to £4.90 and the  free Snowman book is available only from Rymans which would mean a trip to Ipswich, with diesel and parking charges it's probably cheaper to find a copy from a charity shop!

Many thanks for comments yesterday, sorry I didn't get to reply to later ones.

Back Tomorrow
Sue

December 12th and the Free Christmas Lunch

There is a very old charity trust in my village, set up years ago to help the poor. The trust owns small parcels of land which are rented out as "allotments". Nowadays the income is shared between the primary school and paying for a Christmas meal for the villagers over 60. It's held at a big pub not far up the A140 from the village. Last year I went on my own because Col was in Addenbrookes and the only person I knew was the lady who we bought the house from. This year of course I was on my own again and knew no one at all, but luckily I sat with some friendly people who were welcoming.



I'd chosen the vegetarian option of filo stack with creamy mushroom, leek and cashew sauce and roast new potatoes followed by a huge chocolate and walnut brownie with vanilla ice cream.
It was all delicious and it was only after I'd ordered it about a month ago that I looked on the blog and found it was exactly the same as what I'd chosen last year. Must be more adventurous next year!
I had no room for the mini mince pie that I could have had with coffee.

Last years meal took place on a horrible snowy day, this year it was nice and bright but chilly so after the raffle (didn't win anything this year) it was home to light the fire. I didn't need much to eat the rest of the day.

I completely forgot to take any photos - too busy eating and enjoying.

Thank you to everyone for comments yesterday. I surprise myself with my bright ideas sometimes!.

Back Tomorrow
Sue

December 11th and the Slightly Naff Purchase

When I told son and DIL that I'd bought a slightly tacky Christmas decoration and they would probably love it, they wondered what it was, and when I described it they said they'd bought something very similar from a car boot sale too - knew it would suit them!

Wouldn't have looked twice at this Christmas canvas picture if I'd seen it in a shop but it was at a Car-boot sale for £1 and the lady selling said it just needed batteries and I had a plan.

I took a photo of it with the lights on..................maybe it should have more lights? Possibly the reason someone got rid of it.

Then  loaded onto memory stick and took it into Boots, printed off a few which will be turned into Christmas cards next year.

I might pass the picture to the charity shop  now I've got the photos or just keep it lit up on the shelf for Christmas or give it to son and DIL to start a collection..

Just looked to see how much they are new.............good grief............some are £10!

Diary Notes
Sunday was a good morning in the kitchen (It's all very well gadding about taking photos for the blog and keeping busy but it doesn't leave time to do anything at home!)
 I'd bought local bacon and chipolatas from the Co-op, so spent a while twisting all the chippos in half to make mini sausages and wrapping them all in a third of a slice of streaky bacon. Then I heated a bit of honey in the microwave,stirred in some whole grain mustard, left it to cool and spooned over the sausages and bacon in a oven tray. Popped the whole lot in a freezer bag and then into the freezer. One job done for Christmas day. Wondering if I should do another lot for the 3 vegetarians although veggie sausages and bacon always look pretty awful.
Next I mixed up some fruit cake mix for 3 mini cakes for the hampers. I like the idea I found for decorating them which involves tri-coloured glace cherries and pecan nuts.
And while the cakes were in the oven I also cooked some chicken thighs  for my lunches this week.
While they were cooking I made my favourite "make early and freeze" dessert. It a Chocolate Meringue Gateaux - suitable for vegetarians and gluten free but very, very bad for for people on diets! (the recipe's on the recipe page somewhere), I've got a medium sized Christmas pud in the cupboard, bought last year and unused but still in date so that's dessert for Christmas Day sorted.
Finally I did the tomato, garlic and ginger soup that I was asking about (Jack Munro's Hot Nurse ). I keep waking up snuffly and thinking it's a cold coming, so far it hasn't come to anything but I'm hoping the soup will stop it in it's tracks.
(Tried the soup...........think I over did the ginger! ..........Phew)

Another book read in December thank goodness. Nicola Ford - The Hidden Bones. First novel by this author, who is an archaeologist  and the story is set around a Dig, missing finds, murder and secrets hidden for 40 years.She has a follow up due in May, I shall make a note to check the library.

Keep forgetting to welcome new followers as I see numbers have crept up to 444. Hello and hope you enjoy reading. Do leave a comment - sometimes I get time to reply and other days I don't so apologies for those days in advance!

 
Back Tomorrow
Sue

December 10th and the Christmas trees in the Church

Finally got to Stowmarket church to look at this years Christmas tree festival. Some lovely trees as always. With carols playing over the speakers sure to put even the most Bah Humbug person into Christmas mood.

After wandering all round and taking some photos I sat and enjoyed a coffee and mince pie (second of the season) listening to the carols.

Every clock face has a sentence using the word - TIME, to tell the story of the birth of Jesus

The one on the left is a bit..................odd?

Baby Jesus inside the tree - a different idea

Every pew has these bottle top Christmas trees

Christmas Tree Festivals are becoming a popular way for churches to fund raise. The Stowmarket one has been happening every December for many years. Worth a look  to make you feel Christmassy if you see one advertised.

Back Tomorrow

Sue

December 9th and the Christmas Post

I like this years Christmas stamps, 2nd class of course

and I've written almost all my cards and posted some. My problem is always I start with good intentions of writing a letter to go with cards going to people I don't see and then end up scribbling a quick message inside the card instead.
 4 cards have arrived through the post already - we are an old fashioned family - still prefer proper cards rather than e cards and anyway I want to keep postmen in work!

and to save you looking them up here are the latest recommended posting dates for all services to UK addresses.

Date	Recommended posting date
Tuesday 18 December	Royal Mail 2nd Class Royal Mail Signed For 2nd® Class
Thursday 20 December	Royal Mail 1st Class Royal Mail Signed For® 1st Class Parcelforce Worldwide express48 & express48large

Royal Mail International Standard and International Tracking and Signature services

Date		Recommended posting date
Tuesday 4 December		Africa, Middle East
Friday 7 December		Cyprus, Malta, Asia, Far East, Eastern Europe (except Poland, Czech Republic and Slovakia)
Saturday 8 December		Caribbean, Central and South America
Friday 14 December		Canada*, Czech Republic, Italy, Poland and USA
Saturday 15 December		Finland, Sweden
Monday 17 December		Austria, Denmark, Germany, Iceland, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland
Tuesday 18 December		Belgium, France, Ireland, Luxembourg

*Notice for services to Canada: The last recommended posting date to Canada is Friday 14 December, however due to recent industrial action in Canada, Canada Post are advising of significant delivery delays once items reach Canada. As a result, they are no longer able to commit to their usual delivery aims. Customers should expect continuing and significant delays to services over the Christmas period and into the new year.

Bit sad for Canadians!

Back Tomorrow
Sue

December 8th and How I Shocked My Children

Last week when Eldest daughter rang and asked how I was getting on with the Christmas preparations  I was able to tell her the tree was up and  decorated, I'm sure she dropped the phone in shock! Got the same reaction from son and DIL - they are the biggest fans of Christmas (even their wedding 2 years ago was Christmas themed) usually  getting their tree up early but I beat them by two weeks.
In the past the tree was always fixed together (or brought indoors when we had a live one from the smallholding) and decorated on the weekend before Christmas. This year it was done much earlier.

The reason? well, I was crawling into the half height cupboard under the stairs to get out some plastic boxes to store all the food and other stuff from the cupboards  while THAT man was doing the kitchen. And there at the back was the tree in it's box, so I thought it might as well come out while I was there. It hasn't been out of the box since 2015 so it deserved to be freed from captivity and anyway youngest daughter was visiting with Florence and I thought she would help put some of the decorations on it.

I'm glad I got the box of new lights, it looks so much better well lit, they are the only thing bought new this year and in true Frugal Sue fashion all the hanging decorations are from boot sales, charity shops, charity Christmas fairs or hand made.

Looking good

PS - Does anyone know who had a recipe for a soup that protects against catching a cold? Think it was heavy on the garlic.
( Edited in to say........ Thank you to my PP friend S who emailed all the way from Portugal to give me the answer and to Gwen below how also knew where to find the recipe)

 Back Tomorrow
Sue

December 7th and Coffee, Chat and (Optional) Craft!

An Invitation, to thank all Home Start Volunteers, even those like me who've only been volunteering in the new Stowmarket shop for a few weeks.

Refreshments turned out to be a delicious mini buffet and the (Optional) Craft was to make these pretty Christmas decorations with ribbon and beads.(In case you are not sure, due to my ham-fisted attempts............they are meant to represent Christmas trees!)

 I made the green one first but decided it would be a bit heavy for the Christmas tree so made the smaller one for the tree and the big one will go on the window......catching the light.

Might start collecting beads to make some next year, have plenty of ribbon already. The lady who taught us buys up bead necklaces from charity shops and uses those. She also told me about a charity shop called The Big C that has craft classes in Diss, she said it's beside the Original Factory Shop and Poundstretcher, I didn't even know there was a  Factory Shop and Poundstretcher in Diss! but apparently its on a small trading estate just on the edge of town. Sounds as if it's worth a look........ ASAP.

Many thanks for comments yesterday, sorry about the bit that sounded moany and pathetic. I am really pleased with the kitchen, it is so well finished and will still be fixed to the walls when, as Elaine said, archaeologists find it in 2000 years time!  

Back Tomorrow

Sue

December 6th and the 5p Money Box

5p pieces get stuck in the corner of my purse, so for the last few years I've been taking them out and popping in a money box. I also chuck in any 10p's if there are more than one in my purse and some pennies and twopences go into another tin too.
Sometime in December when I know I'm going to be visiting the bank I tip the whole lot out, bag them up, pay them in and use that amount of money to get something for Christmas. (When we were selling stuff at the gate on the smallholding I got a lot more 5p's than I do now! ........it used to be enough for the Christmas Ham and the Turkey).
This year there were enough 5p's to fill a £5 bank bag  almost enough 10p's for another £5 bag and one pounds  worth of pennies

£11 was enough for a good sized bit of smoked Gammon to pop in the freezer ready for cooking on Christmas eve.


Diary Notes from the week so far

Today's post should have been about the WI speaker who was supposed to be coming to talk about the 'Tradition of the Christmas Goose and other Christmas food'.
But she cancelled and we entertained ourselves with some paper folding to make a star -(as seen in WI Life magazine) It's very strange that 3 speakers have cancelled this year at Big WI - or in the case of one - just not turned up - quite disappointing and 1 cancelled at small WI too. Of course there is usually a genuine good reason - illness or similar but it's a bit annoying because WI isn't cheap to belong to and I really like a meeting with a speaker  - always different and usually interesting.

At last I can add a  book to the books read page after  racing through "Shadow over the Fens" by Joy Ellis. Another good crime story featuring DI Nikki Galena and DS Joseph Easter, the second in a series and published back in 2011 and I'm still puzzling at how I'd not come across this author before - but better late than never. I've got the next 2 on order from the library.

I'm enjoying the charity shop except for one thing............the overwhelming chaos and muddle upstairs! People are bringing in tons of stuff and there isn't enough volunteers to sort it. Then every week someone brings more stuff from the other charity shop in Eye because its so teeny and they've been storing everything for our new shop. So all in all chaos! with no idea where to start sorting but as I've now got the workings of the till sorted (mostly!) the manager lady left me downstairs while she made a start upstairs. She spends quite a lot of hours a week on her own in the shop at the moment so never gets time to sort things out.

And the best news HE'S GONE, FINISHED, I never have to have him in the house again....... The kitchen man is who I'm talking about!
I'm going on a small........ actually a BIG rant here to explain how close I got to screaming!

I have been driven to complete madness, by his faffing about, worrying over nothing, preciseness and losing things! He has been doing all the cutting of the worktops, plinths, skirting board etc etc in the workshop which is about 50 metres from the house and I reckon he must have gone back and forwards about 50 times every day.
He worried about anyone he saw walking down the footpath and started locking and unlocking the workshop door each time he went in and out until I said "for goodness sake just put the key on the inside of the door and shut it, then it looks locked anyway".
He worried one day when he saw someone walking dogs across the field in the distance - he thought they could be hare coursing! I said they were probably just walking their dogs along the footpath that crosses the field.
He worried every time a van drove up the lane turned round and went back again - usually they are delivering something to one of the other houses or to me and it's the easiest place to turn round - he thought they were "Looking for something to steal".
 He was constantly losing things and having to turn out his van and toolboxes to find whatever.
 When I said I didn't want some tiles regrouted he said he had his reputation to consider! Gawd know why as I'm certainly not going to recommended him!
 I've had the kettle at the other end of the kitchen while he's been working where it usually is and he said I should leave it where it was and move all the cups; coffee etc to a different cupboard - Er NO!
 He almost had heart failure when he discovered the existing wall tiles in one place were not level, which meant there would be a slightly bigger gap between tiles and worktop at one end. I said it wouldn't matter as that was were the toaster stands but he kept on about it for days.
 Everything is double, treble fixed and I feel sorry for whoever takes out these units sometime in the future - For instance a piece of skirting board which was fixed with 3 screws is now fixed with 8!
 He was disgusted at the poor workmanship of what was there already which was nothing to do with me!
 He kept hinting at how many things he would like from the workshop when I clear it out - Sod That! there are several family members who will get first dibs on Col's tools and workshop stuff when I clear out in the spring.


Phew ........apologies for that - good to get it off my chest! Although I've already ranted about him to everyone I've spoken to recently. He will never be mentioned again


The  plus side is that the  kitchen does look very good, the lighter units and smooth wood effect worktops have made the room look much bigger. Now I just have to put everything back in the new cupboards......... pay the other half of the bill..........and get on with some Christmas baking.

Many thanks for comments yesterday and sorry to everyone who got "God Rest You Merry gentlemen" stuck in their heads for the rest of the day!

Back Tomorrow
Sue

December 5th and a Christmas Carol

One of the Christmas books I've collected over the years is this..............The Country Diary Christmas Book.

Published in 1993 after the success of The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady and The Nature Notes of an Edwardian Lady, this book features some of the drawings from these books plus lots of other pictures and writings  from the Edwardian Era and earlier.

I thought it would be interesting to show a few pages from the book in my December posts

This page shows the hymn God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen with  a French Happy New Year postcard

The hymn is very old traditional, I found this about it

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen was first published in 1833 when it appeared in "Christmas Carols Ancient and Modern," a collection of seasonal carols gathered by William B. Sandys. The lyrics of God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen are traditional olde English and are reputed to date back to the 15th century although the author is unknown.

It is believed that this particular carol was sung to the gentry by town watchmen who earned additional money during the Christmas season. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen continues to be enjoyed. The lyrics to this simple carol are reputed to be one of the oldest carols.

The carol is referred to in Charles Dickens  'A Christmas Carol', 1843: "... at the first sound of 'God bless you, merry gentlemen! May nothing you dismay!', Scrooge seized the ruler with such energy of action that the singer fled in terror, leaving the keyhole to the fog and even more congenial frost." 

 Thank you for all the comments yesterday about the Crib displays.

And a special  PS to Elaine.......They are gorgeous, love them. Thank you so much.

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Sue