My Recipe Book

I'm sure everyone has one - a book crammed with recipes found over the years and jotted down for future use. I am going to do some baking as we are going to Birmingham for a few days to see Graham and Annie and also to benefit from a few days' ministry with Apostle Andre and Prophet Nola who are visiting the UK.
So, I went to my trusty recipe book to decide what I should bake and it made me think and caused a bit of a trip down memory lane! As the date shows I began the book in 1982. I remember buying it in Habitat in Oxford when I was visiting my college friend Linda for a few days prior to going on to my sister's in Worthing. Happy days! I wonder what you are doing now, Linda. I so loved our times together, you were such an inspiration to me. You taught me the value of black pepper for one thing!
I started very neatly (as always) but as you can see, the splashes from countless ingredients over the years put paid to that. In fact, I think a new recipe might be: "Put entire recipe book in pan with a glug of olive oil and fry for 20 mins stirring all the time to prevent sticking!" There are so many different tastes on each page now.
So, I decided on the cakes to bake and then the other page, the menu page, fell out, revealing Harry's interest in food from a very early age. As you can see though, Harry was in charge of the menu!
He always was the boss, in all his imaginary games: School games - he was 'Mr Harry Corker, Head Teacher' with a string of letters after his name. Army games? Captain Corker at your service! Life boat fun - see Coxswain Harry Corker for info!! Looking at this menu brought the memories flooding back. I am in the garden at Glebe Gate and Duncan has just lit the BBQ (and, of course, it has begun to rain, the two actions were always synonymous!). I am in the kitchen getting the lamb "cutlers" ready in the mustardy coating that was so good on the BBQ and preparing the Banana Donkeys, as we called them. Happy days, happy days.
These bits of paper from the past are so precious, and I have drawers full of Harry's fantastic childhood drawings. But to come across such a treasure by accident, having forgotten all about it - priceless!
PS I hope he manages to use the apostrophe with more accuracy now!!

Teacups For Michelle!

Michelle loves teacups! She loves many weird and wonderful things but teacups come pretty high up her list of favourites! When I saw this novel in Waterstones I thought of her and knew I must read it!
It is actually a very good read and I recommend it for its content as well as it's cover!
After all, we know we should never judge a book by its teacups!

My Lovely New Pen!

Anyone who knows me will know that I have a passion for stationery and I particularly like pens - fountain pens, and I have quite a beautiful collection. I use them all, in rotation, and they each have different coloured ink - black, dark racing green, violet and Eclat de Saphir (or very BRIGHT blue to those non French speakers!)
So you can imagine my delight when Duncan came in with a present for me today! He had been to Harrogate on a trip that I should also have been on but was poorly and stayed in bed! My "Get Well" present snuggled up in it pretty tin immediately made me feel a bit better.
Now, I wonder who would really appreciate a letter written with my beautiful, new pen????

Mail from ZA!

Look what we got today! Waiting on the doormat when we returned from the physio was another post card from Michelle! Lovely, lovely.
I presume she will be enjoying her time at the Summit in Simonstown today but I must get on with another letter for her. We are so pleased we are keeping in touch with her. She is a very special young woman and we love her dearly.

Now That's What I call A Chorley Cake!

Look at the size of this whopper! Yummy yum yum!
We were in Hebden Bridge this morning as I had my aforementioned appointment with the physio and on the way back to the car we stumbled upon (and into) this beautiful baker's shop where these Chorley cakes of Frisbee-size proportions, beckoned to us through the glass!The loaves were too good to resist, as were the rhubarb and gooseberry crumble tarts and when Duncan spotted the hot pie emporium we were lost and a piping hot pork pie was also added to the bag! Only a small one as I was determined to reserve a little self restraint! Well that lasted until we got home and the pie was cut and tasted. MMMMMMMMMMMMM. THE best pork pie I think I have ever tasted! We were sorely tempted to get back in the car straight away and fetch more!!
Anyway, the main import of the blog - what was the physio's conclusion? An acute frozen shoulder! He examined and tested me and manipulated me to a certain extent (OUCH!) and has suggested exercises I should do until my next appointment. (One of which is that Duncan should massage my shoulder! Yes! Result!)He is also going to contact my doctor to arrange for another steroid injection. He was so nice! Informative, caring and helpful; he had a lovely manner and was careful not to hurt me too much!
So, as I said in my previous blog, I am not moaning about tha NHS, far from it, I am delighted by the way I am being cared for. And cake to boot on the way home!

Comparisons are (not necessarily) Odious!

I loathe these adverts! They are very long and played by actors who can't - act that is. The one I particularly dislike is the Man Friday Beach one as we see rather too much of this unpleasant little man in order to make our comparisons!
But - yes there is a but! Last week we got our quote/bill for renewing our house and contents insurance with another, equally poorly advertised, company, and it was a huge amount of money; so Duncan did what the advert says - he went and compared! The result? We are paying over 400% less for the same insurance! Yes, well over 400%!!!
So eat your pride and turn the volume down but DO compare! It does make sense!

Waiting!

This is not a moan about the NHS, really it's not. I am full of admiration for the service, especially after living in a country that has no such service and where you can't just turn up and get treatment!
The problem with my arm continues to be very painful and I am awaiting a call from the physiotherapy department at the hospital. The problem is that I have been waiting for 8 weeks now and the pain is not getting any better, in fact the reverse and I can't remember the last time I had a full night's sleep as every time I move the pain wakes me! The other problem is that I don't think that manipulation is the answer as the ache/pain is pretty constant. So I phoned the doctor's to make an appointment to discuss this and was told that the first available appointment with any doctor was in 2 week's time, much longer if I wanted to see my own doctor!
So, I'll wait.
Looking on the bright side, I wonder if I can expect to be called to have my tonsils out soon - I was told I was put on the waiting list - when I was 10!

Birthday Meal

We went to the Woppy Springs for steaks and all the trimmings and it was lovely. Lovely food and great company. Margaret and David have been following the Slimming World plan since they had a chicken meal from the plan when they last visited us! They have been good and stuck to the plan and Margaret has lost a stone! She is demonstrating the absence of several of her chins on one of these photos!! Obviously I can't be friends with her any more as I haven't lost an ounce!!!!
Great evening, as ever with our dear friends and we look forward to the next time.

PS If you scroll back to April "Looking Forward", you will see another photo of Margaret to compare. Well part of Margaret!

Look What We Found!

Look what we discovered in Hay on Wye yesterday! We were in The Poetry Bookshop and were really pleased to see they had a copy of this masterpiece!! Duncan was very shy about it, hence the secretive photography!!
Mark, your graphics and art work live on!

Church Sunday October 3rd.

We had an awesome time in church on Sunday. Stuart led worship and the presence of God was overwhelming. This church, this body, is the only place we want to worship and yes, a two+ hour drive is a long drive, but not when you know what's at the end of it!

Happy Birthday Duncan!

Just thought I'd share my Birthday Card to Duncan!
I made it this morning and I'm afraid only some of you will understand it! If you want to have a really good laugh - and you are not easily offended by the odd expletive - then check out Eddie Izzard's Lego funnies on U Tube. This card is based on 'Darth Vader in the Death Star Canteen'! I do repeat - beware language though!!

Michael - Our Hairdresser!

Just realised that my previous post didn't show you the man himself! So here he is with an old print of the salon in yesteryear and another one with an old customer of the present!!

We've Got Mail! Again!

Would you believe it? This post card managed to wend its way from Eastern Cape South Africa where Michelle and her family have been on holiday and when it arrives in Yorkshire the rain smudged all the writing!
Michelle is like me and loves to use a fountain pen and I suppose this is one of the penalties (no pun intended!).
We can still read the message though, and we are delighted to receive it! Thank you, Michelle, we love you! XX

Been a Little Bit Poorly!

My left arm and shoulder continue to give me a lot of pain and I still need help dressing! Then I did my back in - it went into spasm and I could hardly move without acute pain. Duncan was rubbing "Deep Freeze" ointment into my back on a regular basis to give me some relief as it literally froze my back and I couldn't feel anything until it wore off! The fumes knocked Duncan out but he still persevered! Then, as my back was beginning to recover I had a really bad upset stomach, and I mean REALLY bad! I won't go into any more detail as I can't spell dia.. dihor....NO! Can't spell it! Sufficient to say I was very poorly and had to spend the day in bed (between trips to the loo!). So that did for my back again! Today, Friday, I am beginning to feel a bit better and we are looking forward to seeing David and Gay this evening.
The picture? Well, when you're feeling low what better way to pass the time but to watch Coro on catch up! Have to wear the earphones as Duncan can't stand it!!

The Tools of His Trade!

After 40 years in the trade, in fact 40 years in the same salon, Michael Goldthorpe retired on the last Friday in September.It really is the end of an era. Michael met Liz, his wife as she sat in the chair having a hair cut at the hands of the master, and they married and have been happy ever since.
We were honoured to be among the guests in the salon to say farewell; honoured and sad. People speculated just how much hair had been cut over the years; and the steps up to the first floor shop - one person estimated that Michael would at least have climbed Everest the number of times he had climbed those steps!
We drank a toast to his health and said farewell; our sadness was alleviated by the fact that he is still going to work Fridays and we are booked in for next week! So the legend lives on!