February

The sun is still low in the sky but daylight hours are slowly lengthening. Since the loss of Rufus I haven't been out for a walk, he was the incentive I needed to get out on cold miserable mornings. But Sunday was a glorious day so I took myself out. I didn't do any of my favourite routes because it would have made me feel sad so I chose a road route alongside the fields. It was a nice walk in the sunshine. And today I joined a Heart & Sole group for a short walk.

I'm always impressed by Mother nature, she creates these darling little snowdrops, so delicate but they survive harsh winds, frost and snow.

I'm hopping between a few things at the moment, a bit of quilting, a bit of art, but mostly work on my Lake View dolls house which is taking soooo long. My current projects are making a TV and an armchair.

Tonight's tea was a jacket potato with beans and cheese and a dollop of branston pickle, always a favourite because it's quick and easy to prepare, and tasty. Another easy, quick and tasty meal is tomato soup with a Greggs vegan sausage roll, Iceland sell them to cook straight from the freezer. I think I will have that tommorrow.

I've just realised the winter clematis didn't flower, it looks ok but this is the first time it hasn't flowered in quite a few years. Perhaps I didn't prune it properly 😞 

∼ Be safe and well∼ 

Polly x

A Good Read

Love Marriage by Monica Ali tells the story of two people, two cultures, two families.

Doctors Yasmin and Joe are engaged to be married. Their families are quite different. Yasmin is part of an Indian family and is a second-generation doctor while Joe was raised by his mum, Harriet, a world-famous firebrand feminist. However, both Yasmin and Joe are harbouring secrets, and as the wedding day draws closer both families are forced to confront the unravelling of those secrets.
   
I enjoyed this, there’s a lot going on, it covers a lot of territory and multiple storylines. But it is mostly Yasmin’s story, how her view of the trajectory her life is taking makes her realise that what she truly wants may not be what she thought.

∼ Happy Reading∼ 

Polly x

Burns' Night

Burns Night (January 25) is a celebration in honour of the Scottish poet Robert Burns (1759–1796). He is best known for writing "Auld Lang Syne."  Many Scots celebrate Burns' Night with a traditional reading of some of his works. One particular favourite is the "Address tae the Haggis," where everybody stands as the haggis is brought in on a silver salver whilst a bagpiper leads the way towards the host's table. The host or a guest will then recite the poem while slicing open the haggis at the right moment with a ceremonial knife. 

   

At my village celebration last night we didn't have a silver salver, a bagpiper or a ceremonial knife, but we did have traditional Scottish music playing as our wonderful, indefatigable host and her husband led a small (2) procession of helpers around the room up to the top table and then sliced the first haggis open with a very old impressive looking knife. 

   

The food was delicious

the dancing was lively. Everyone had a good time

It's said that Burns was a notorious womaniser, thought to have fathered at least 12 children by four separate mothers, including women who were essentially his employees. Seven of his children were illegitimate, including the first four by Jean Armour before they were married in 1788, when she eventually made an honest man of him!

∼ Be safe and well∼ 

Polly x

My Pub

Our village pub is almost ready to open for business. It's been a huge undertaking involving volunteers and trades people.

In it's heyday it had been a lovely old pub. But over the years as patron numbers dwindled and old became it's downfall the owners decided to retire. Before our community owned it a local business person bought it with a view to selling it on as two seperate dwellings but as a 17th century listed building that would have been very difficult.

Last May volunteers started clearing out rubbish and stripping wallpaper.

        The wiring was very old

Some walls had multiple layers of paper and blown plaster

Me stripping wallpaper. I can't take credit for all of this, my friend J did some too, along with lots of other volunteers.

   

This was found under some of the wallpaper. It reads "Decorated by Peter" I thought it was Valentine but I think the first letter of the surname might be an O. I can't make out the date but the year is 1989. Then it says "I know it's bad ??? strip - Ha Ha" and the drawing.

We also did lots of other areas. Then I started working in the cafe and some of the work became a bit more difficult so I didn't do any more. 

And when contractors arrived volunteers weren't allowed in because of health and safety and insurance issues.

The focus of the work then turned to the garden

    

where the volunteers worked very hard

Tea break delivered by one of our cafe ladies

Everyone did a stellar job

The tarmac guys did a great job

A lot of contractors kindly offered generous discounts or freebies

It was a good idea to refurbish some of the original furniture to save money

Cleaning the floor in preparation for the carpet fitting

Just before Christmas the volunteers were invited to a pop up pub evening.

This was the tree that we entered into the Christmas tree festival. It was a tribute to everyone who has stripped, scraped, scrubbed, filled, painted, swept, cleaned, dug, planted, built and upcycled to bring our pub back to life.

                        Before

                        Before

                        Before

                        Before                          That seat on the right could be as old as the pub.                                                                            Everyone agreed to leave it there as homage to all the old                                                             boys who have sat on it over the years, drinking their beer                                                             and putting the world to rights🍺

We were blown away with how lovely our pub looks.

Last Saturday was a pop up pub night for everyone. It was a huge success. It's taking a while to get a tenant in but the committee don't want to rush into it, it's vital to get the right one. Until then there will be regular pop ups.

Phew what a long post, if you're still here thank you for your staying power!

I hope you have enjoyed it.

∼ Be safe and well∼ 

Polly x

Lunchtime Concert

John Pierce

Tenor

Tim Carey 

Piano

    

In stark contrast to last week's concert yesterday's was magnificent.

John Pierce was superb. 

And the programme was wonderful, I recognised most of the pieces and after singing O Sole Mio he sang the Wall's ice cream advert lyrics to it and invited us to join in! During one of the pieces he moved around the audience and directed the song to various of us ladies, and during another he produced a rose from his inside pocket and presented it to one lucky lady🌹After a standing ovation we were treated to an extra piece.

My friend M didn't arrive in time, we met later and I had to inform her that she missed a brilliant concert.

   

 ∼ Be safe and well∼ 

Polly x