Strikes

I'm sad to read about the huge strike protests in England today.

Two million public sector workers are walking out of their jobs to protest about the Government's proposals about pensions.

With the proposed changes, people will have to work longer before retirement, may well face a two year pay freeze, and in some cases have had a 1% wage cap. With the recession as it is, this makes a big difference to some families.

(Photo Reuters)

Today the strike will affect airports, hospitals, trains, Government offices, ports and schools.
It's a very unhappy state to be in, and I'm not sure that striking will change Government's mind.

It's the time for writing Christmas cards again. It's something I really enjoy doing, even though we have cut back on the numbers a bit this year.

As France is a secular country it is almost impossible to find cards that are about the true meaning of Christmas, so I bought most of mine in England when we were there.

When I took my first batch to the local Post office, the lady was astonished. 'You are sending for Christmas already?' she asked. I explained that most of the cards were for Australia, USA and Canada, and that they would take a while to reach their destinations. 'It is', she said, 'a very English tradition to send all these cards?'

The French send very few cards and are always amazed at the number of birthday cards and Christmas cards that we receive. I love to see my cards arranged cheerfully at Christmas, and I love to think that some of my Christmas wishes have gone winging over the ocean to friends and family.

PS, I've lost my background and in trying to get a new one I end up with just the written code. Any ideas? Sigh......

Advent 1

Once again Floss is leading some of us in 'A pause for Advent', thank you Floss.

It is a time when it's easy to leap through the weeks, being terribly busy with this and that towards Christmas. So, as Floss suggest, a pause is what is needed.

Advent is inextricably linked with candles, and this brings me back to a favourite childhood hymn. Jesus bids us shine

With a pure, clear light,

Like a little candle

Burning in the night.

In this world of darkness

So let us shine

You in your small corner,

And I in mine.

My mother used to sit on the end of my bed, and teach me the little hymns and songs that she had been taught. This one has always remained with me. Its words are simple and childlike, and maybe that's what is needed nowadays.

Thank you Floss for the pause.

Red-fabric Day!

A while ago, a very talented quilter known as Cottonreel, asked for some special fabrics for a quilt she was making. ( She does make the most beautiful quilts.)

She needed velvets and satins. I had some silk pieces that I offered her, and in turn she sent me these wonderful pieces of fabric.

I am making a wall hanging using lots of red, so these are perfect, and such a generous collection. Thank you Cottonreel!

Happy Thanksgiving.

Happy Thanksgiving to all my friends in the USA!

So much is written and published about the meal, the turkey etc, that I thought it would be a change to see this picture. Might it show the pilgrims first Thanksgiving in 1621?

Imagine the life then, the desperate need to harvest everything possible, fish, vegetables, venison and of course , the wild turkeys
No wonder they gave thanks in this new land.

Paper whites.

I was given this Paper white 'kit' when we were back in the UK recently. I have never succeeded in finding them in France, so it was lovely to have them.

They came with their own glass container and glass pebbles. All I had to do was to place the bulbs and give them water. They have grown very quickly and drink lots of the water.

I do hope they have flowers on them, as the last ones I grew were not very successful.

Paper whites do have a very strong scent, and not everyone likes them, but I love to see them in the Winter.

Wings.

Sheep may safely graze........., on my table watching the craftwork. A semi finished pair of wings.
And here is my friend who will be playing 'Angel Angelica', modelling her wings.
Flying is such hard work....

Christmas box.

This exciting box arrived with the postlady this morning.

We have said to our family , bearing in mind the recession, that we wouldnt send important presents this year. So my dear daughter in law has filled the box with tiny presents, far more than I would ever expect. She is thoughtful at present giving.

In general, we are limiting our Christmas wishes this year to nice cards, some handmade gifts, and a couple of donations to local charities.

It's hard, but our friends are all feeling the same way. Present giving has become so different these days. I remember the thrill as a child, of feeling the orange in the toe of my stocking, of opening the book which would have been my main present, and of making so many of the gifts we gave to friends and families.

Cards, calendars, decorations, funny knitted things for my grandma....have we lost those excitements now?

Oh for the wings.........

What's on my worktable today?

Piles of white lace, actually a curtain that I found in Emmaus for 75centimes. Super glue. Pins, needles, white thread. Scissors. A slightly scruffy whitish feather boa, bought half price because it was scruffy etc. Glisteny little beads. Garden wire....and so on.

I'm making Angel wings. We need three sets for the Church play, and I have gone back to the days of Blue Peter, cutting and sticking, and hoping to produce one I 'made earlier' for my little group of helpers who come tomorrow.

The wings that I am producing bear no resemblance to these beautiful ones below (175 $), but will, I hope, look fairly good in a Blue Petery sort of way.

There are also three sheep on my table, just practising....being sheep.

There will be photos at some point.

Oh dear.

This is what I found today in a secluded corner of our garden. Please forget any romantic notions of elves and little people living under these horrible toadstools. As soon as I can bring myself to do it, they are going to be destroyed.

They are called Fly Agaric, and when I googled them I found that they are also known as Magic Mushrooms. They are not deadly but can be harmful, but they are hallucogenic.

I am expecting the Mushroom police any day now.

The fireman/lady cometh.

Just as I was making coffee, and wondering what to write about today, there was a knock at the door. There stood a delightful young lady in full firefighters uniform. This is the time of year when we expect the 'Pompiers'. They call with the gift of a calendar, and hope for a donation, though it isnt obligatory.

It's the first time I have seen female firefighter, as usually a smart young man comes in the evenings. But apparently around 12% of Pompiers are female now.
The term Sapeurs Pompiers has its origin way back in Napoleon 1's time, when he formed a unit which was part of the military Engineering arm, the Sappers. The word pompier refers to the old manual pumps that the firemen used to use.
Whatever the name, as I said to my visitor, we are delighted to make a donation to their work. Not only do they deal with fires, but if there is a medical emergency they have ambulances and trained staff who will race to wherever they are needed, whether it be in a home or a major emergency.

Guidel War Graves Cemetery, France

11.11.11.11

A 'one -off' date.

At 11am , on the 11th day of the 11th month in 2011 there will be services of Remembrance all over the nations.

This is the time when we give thanks for our lives, made possible by the bravery of so many young men, many of whom perished in the two world wars.

It's a time to remember those who have died in more recent wars

Here in France, where there is a thriving British Legion, there will be a gathering at Guidel, a little seaside village, where there is a cemetery with 108 war graves. Many are graves of British men, but there are Canadians and Americans amongst them. My husband, along with other members will be there today, and the ceremony will be followed, in true French fashion, with a lunch

There is so much to be thankful for.

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Just a bit of Autumn colour.

My Eleagnus, now 5 years old ,is growing into a good sized bush. I love the way it gradually turns red, starting at the top and working its way downwards.

It won't be long before it is all glowing.

I think it is also known as The Burning Bush.
As most of our other trees have lost their leaves now (as you can see on the lawn), it is cheering to have this in the garden.

I went to market.................

I went to market (actually Emmaus) and bought a sheep.

We need three sheep for our church Christmas play, and there he was, waiting.

I may have mentioned Emmaus before, but it's worth another murmur. Emmaus is an international chain of Communities giving help to the homeless, backed up by their charity shops.

Emmaus was started in France, 1953, by Abbe Pierre, a Catholic priest, MP and an ex resistance member. He fought to provide homes for the Parisian homeless. Over the years the organisation grew and grew, until now it has 115 Communities in which are housed the Companions. These are people who have been for whatever reason, homeless and who are beginning to rebuild their lives with hope and pride.

Our Emmaus shop is comparable to a good English charity shop, or maybe a Goodwill thrift shop, clothes clean and nicely arranged, toys, childrens clothing put out attractively.

The difference is that on one rail there are oddities that you wouldnt see in England or USA, namely beautiful old Breton national costumes, headresses, exquisitely embroidered pillowcases, heavy hemp sheets. I guess they have been passed on after the death of a member of the family.

Why the name Emmaus?

Luke 24, vv 13-35 tells the story of the road to Emmaus, when Jesus walked with some of
His disciples after he had risen from the dead. They did not know Him until later, when they realised that He had come back to give them hope for the future.

Out of a meeting with an 'ordinary ' person we may learn something creating hope and confidence.

Eggs, anyway.

I had a letter from my son in Australia this morning. He was replying to one of mine, in which I described the joys of English Pub lunches. 'Mum', he said, 'You mentioned pub food. I've just found a recipe for pickled eggs, and they turned out really well. Probably they'll be even better next time'.

Now, seeing pickled eggs on pub counters has always sent shudders through me, and I wouldnt know how to , um, pickle an egg, or an onion for that matter (another pub staple). But my son has always been a bit of an experimenter, so I guess they are good.

It brought to mind the eggs that my grandmother used to preserve just after the war. Eggs in waterglass (sodium silicate).

In an enamel bread bin just like the one below she would mix the waterglass with water, place fresh eggs in, cover them, and they could last for up to 9 months. Apparently the waterglass seals the skin of the egg, keeping out oxygen and moisture.

Sadly I have absolutely no memory of the taste, so maybe there was no noticeable difference. Or possibly Grandma just used them for the many and delicious cakes that she baked.

Those were the days before freezers, though I remember that we had a huge curved fridge, one that would probably be called 'retro' now.

A simpler life, I think.

M 5.

I am sobered by the terrible news of the crash on the M5 today. Not least because we almost came back on that route less than a week ago. The M5 motorway runs from Birmingham through Exeter in the South West of England, and is a very busy road.

I know how terrifying I find English motorways. We drove the M3, the M40 and lesser roads, but still very fast and crowded roads.

People do take risks. We saw examples of lane changing, undertaking, speeding and other inappropriate driving. Of course, I am sure that the majority of sensible people do their best to stay safe.

Today I thank God that we are safely home, and I can only offer prayers for the families of the many people who perished,.

I do not want to post photos of the crash, so have just shown the M5 on the map

Teacakes.........

For Lorrie, and those of you in other countries where the teacake is not indigenous, here is a photo of the delicious things.

Imagine it, warm and toasty, covered naughtily in butter, scented with currants.......oh dear!

Nothing else is needed, no jam, marmalade or cream. Just toasted teacake and butter.

Now I'm going to have a very boring Ryvita with my coffee.

I dont think I have ever seen the trees in England looking so lovely as they were last week. True Autumn colours were everywhere, but especially on the motorways, the one place where I couldnt take photos!

We did all the things that we can't do here.

We strolled round National Trust gardens, Lyme Park being particularly beautiful. We had coffee and toasted teacakes in their restaurant. (I wonder if I could single handedly introduce the teacake to France?)

We went into the hills and dales of Cheshire and Derbyshire and had lovely lunches at hidden away Inns.

We did family things with daughter and grandaughter, home from Uni for the weekend.

Oh, and of course, we went shopping....Marks and Spencer, John Lewis.......

Most of the shopping was just gazing, but such fun.

Now we are back, and re-aadapting to our quiet life in Brittany - and missing the family, of course.