Thoughts.

Simple Woman's Daybook: 8th November 2011

Outside My Window ... grey, damp, raw cold. Funereal cold which was fitting as I attended the funeral of a parishioner today. He would have been 102 in a few days time.

I am thinking ... about the TV programme we watched about Christianity in Europe. Still available on iPlayer & here. http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01785f8/Our_World_Europes_Christian_Exodus/ 

I agree with some one who said that it wasn't so much they were against Christianity but against the man made church. It is all the regulations, who can and cannot take communion, the rules nowadays that seems to say that every service must be Holy Communion/Mass/Eucharist. Who decides? Why no morning prayer any more? Who decides about all the extra bells that jangle away during the services? Services? Surely they have become a performance sometimes with much annoyance if not everything is done 'right'. Although I cannot sing, I enjoy hearing hymns and 'sing' them inside myself if that makes sense. This links in with my theory that the fewer the congregation the longer and drearier the hymns - and no the theory applies to both modern and traditional hymns.  As an ordinary Anglican in that broad church I wonder if we have drifted away from what Jesus taught and those commandments about loving God with all your heart and your neighbour. Maybe it is me having doubts, for example, I no longer believe one goes to Heaven after one dies but as Wordsworth said "Heaven lies about us in our infancy" and maybe in all our life if we can see it. To me Heaven can be the views of and from Richmond Hill, it can walking and holding hands with my husband, or the scent of a rose in our front garden in November. 

From the learning rooms .. as Ian is not studying maths. at present he has been grabbed to make things for a Christmas tree. It has been decided that each group at church will decorate a tree and these will be around for all of Advent. Ian is well known, and rightly so, for his model making and woodworking skills so he has to make miniature hymn books for the choir tree. Not sure whether other decorations will be required but a brilliant prototype is ready for inspection.

From the kitchen ... we are about to prepare supper. We purchased locally produced Italian pasta from Waitrose so will be trying that. I intend to stew cooking apples.

I am wearing ... black East dress, charcoal grey Uniqlo cardigan and coloured scarf.

I am creating ... Hexipuffs. I have purchased new needles, then a new cable as the spare cable I had was just so long. Have abandoned temporarily the complicated cardigan. I had made an error and could not face unpicking about 16 rows. It happened at the same time as losing my hexipuff knitting, feel so upset still about that but exhaustive searches have revealed no sign of  the half completed hexipuff on magic loop in cotton yarn.

I am reading ... Henry's sisters, by Cathy Lamb. The first few chapters are not encouraging but I will persevere. This "worst read librarian" (quote) needs to read more fiction.

I am hoping ... the Cox's apple Pippin that we planted will prosper and grow. It was an offer from Copella Apple juice to encourage more of us to grow and eat English apples. Just had to purchase three bottles of Copella products, plus payment postage and packing.

 Tree soaking before being planted in the garden, mid way between two other apple trees.

Apple tree in the earth.

I am hearing ... Ian tapping away at his computer, as is his wont he is working on an Excel worksheet.

Around the house ... lots of clearing going on, have contacted Society of Indexers to see if my copies of The Indexer from 1981 can be of use to some one. Very friendly reply from the Society. Any one interested?

A Picture Thought I Am Sharing ...  about ten days ago we went on one of the Strollers walks around Puttenham, a village on the Hog's Back and part of the South Downs Way. It was a good, if slightly challenging walk for me but I managed it. (My lung capacity is just below 40%) A coffee break had been planned. After coffee at Manor Farm café, we looked in the Seale Craft Centre. Lots of beautiful items for sale, there was very little yarn about 8 balls of this Pure Jacob double knitting of which I bought these three. 

I was so delighted as the church in Seale was where my great grandmother was baptised in 1855. As the church was open I was able to see and photograph the font that must have been used for Frances Barnes. According to the literature in the church the font was medieval although the church was remodelled in the later nineteenth century. 

Lunch on the walk was one of the best. We had a copy of the menu for The Good Intent pub in Puttenham so orders were telephoned ahead for our party of 8 so when we arrived about 2pm our only other consideration was the choice of drink to accompany the excellent food. Only downside of the day was the heavy traffic jams we encountered on the A3 coming home and for me, rather achy bones for a couple of days. Worth it for the exercise, fellowship and laughter these walks give.

Well, I guess I've said enough, sorry for rambling on folks.

November

Just a brief resumé for my readers: good and not so good stuff.

Firstly, have finished scarf made from black acrylic from stash. (I know there is some dislike of acrylic in posh knitting circles but it is good for avoiding itchiness with real wool)

Anyway, some pictures taken of Ian in our hall before he went out yesterday, wearing scarf with coat.

As detail not clear, the scarf is knit 2, purl 2 rib and is a long as the two balls of yarn.

Haven't done much of my jumper yesterday as was trying to put words together about Stan for the funeral tomorrow. The minister who is taking service rang about lunchtime, rather short notice,  and yes, I knew I may have to do something like this but didn't. It was all in my head. Ian has been brilliant sorting pictures of Stan to accompany the notes to be emailed to minister.

Now have to find a CD with suitable music to play as we leave chapel for the grave, given Stan and his wife loved ballroom dancing something Victor Sylvester would be appropriate.

Need to plan meals too, family back home after funeral, joined by DiL so will have to have meal prepared. 

all very stressful, I'm so good at procrastinating, like doing this.

Will go now, report back. 

Madeleine PixieMum

Jam

FOR TODAY Monday 23rd August 2010

Outside my window...grey skies, humidity and lots of noise as our neighbour's front garden wall is being rebuilt. We had hoped that theirs and ours could be done together but the builder didn't come back to us. We thnk the price has now gone up to an unacceptable level.

I am thinking...whether there will be time to make another batch of damson jam this morning.

I am thankful for...my home as it fits so well with our lifestyle, its location is ideal.


From the kitchen...breakfast clearing to be done, diswasher emptied, jam to be made?
I am wearing...cream trousers (lots of pockets for puffers, hankies and mobile) and blue patterned blouse. Will be changing later.

I am creating...jam.

I am going...to the funeral/ celebration of life for Gemma aged 27 who has died from pancreatic cancer. She was primary school friend of Martha and fellow chorister at church in teens. The church yesterday was decked with flowers and greenery everywhere and more will be added today. Gemma had planned her own funeral, down to every detail.

I am reading...Bill Bryson still.

I am hoping...today is not too upsetting. There have been many church funerals this year but this is the saddest, for grandmother, parents and sibling as well as the whole of our local community.

I am hearing...banging and shouting from builders.

Around the house...Ian has said he is off the cut a piece of wood. Why?

One of my favourite things...watching birds at our bird feeders. Do wonder how they manage to empty the feeders so quickly.

A few plans for the rest of the week: Local studies digitalisation project tomorrow; visiting ancient relative; more jam making; continue to organise family history papers

Here is picture for thought I am sharing.. Eastbourne a typical south coast resort on a windy day in August. However the town is redeemed by the fantastic Camilla's bookshop. Do Google it, unbelievable collection of books..


Mentioning   blog and offering a link back to the main page of  blog. that started this great template for our thoughts.  http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/

Off to do  stuff now.

Byeeeee, Madeleine.