You DO bring Me Flowers!

I am so grateful that Duncan loves flowers and more specifically, that he loves buying them for me. There aren't many days that I don't have some blooms in a vase in our lounge, and we both get real pleasure from their beauty and, in my case, their perfume. Poor Duncan is a martyr to his hay fever in the Summer months!
I know some people would argue that flowers should be left growing in the ground and not picked to grace someone's living room, but now that we really don't much that we can call a garden, my vase, of roses, in this case, are even more dear to me.
My only regret about our wedding day was that I allowed myself to be talked into having artificial flowers that would "look just as good" and that I could "keep for ever"! Well, they did look OK but they smelt of...nothing, and they didn't feel like have the delicate silkiness that real petals should be to the touch. And as for keeping them forever... they disintegrated into a dusty heap in a box on the top of the wardrobe years ago, and they still didn't smell of anything - well nothing pleasant! But that was the only regret in an otherwise wonderful day. And I have had many, many flowers since that have made up for it.

My sister had real flowers! Red gerberas were the choice for bridal bouquet, bridesmaids' bouquets and spray on the Pastor's hat! The fact that my sister lives in Turkey and got married at the hottest time of the year (August 21st) meant that to have anything but wilted blooms was an impossibility! Added to that the fact that they arrived from the florist jumbled up in a plastic supermarket carrier bag meant that the flowers were not the desired centrepiece that Chris had imagined!
But, as Chris always says..."This is Turkey!"

PS You should ask her about the wedding cake!

In the Wars Again!

So I had a "Frozen Shoulder" and it was very, very painful. I had hardly any mobility and I suffered excruciating pain. The physio, Karl with a K, suggested that I needed another steroid injection as the first one had had no effect. The doctor gave me an injection and the effect was almost instantaneous. The pain was vastly reduced and I could move my arm and it no longer woke me in the night if I rolled on it! Fantastic and I was very happy...... until I bent down to put my boots on last Wednesday and suffered the most searing hot pain down my right buttock and into my thigh! I put the other boot on and experienced the same pain. Terrible!
The next day I was in agony, not knowing what to do with myself so I stayed in bed and dosed myself up with Cocodomol. Spaced out or what!
I noticed that my leg was numb and when I went to go upstairs my leg gave way and I fell down in a crumpled heap in the hallway!
The numbness intensified and by Saturday there was no improvement so I rang the "Walk-in Centre" who gave me an emergency number to ring. I was so very impressed with the service. I was asked several questions and told a nurse would phone me within the hour. Ten minutes later Melanie phoned and she was lovely! She asked me lots of questions and led me to do a self examination which, in turn, led to her saying that she wanted me to see a doctor and that someone would call within the hour to tell me where to go and when.
Less than ten minutes later and I had an appointment booked at the hospital for less that an hour's time. The doctor there was very reassuring and he examined me and prescribed stronger painkillers and unsuccessfully attempted to get advice from orthopaedics. He sent me home and said he would check on me later. Sure enough, at about 9.45pm he phoned to see how I was. I saw my doctor on Monday and have been referred to physio again (so look out Karl with a K!)and have even more pain killers!. A trapped sciatic nerve the cause of my pain and numbness. Wonderful, caring service from the NHS! I salute you Calderdale Care!

Farewell Jack!

So we say a fond farewell to Jack Duckworth, and I must confess I did shed a tear! I think his exit was well managed, and seeing Vera return for him wasn't as tacky as it might sound! Or am I just sentimental? Probably. After all I have grown up with the morose signature tune, which hasn't changed over the many years of broadcasting the programme. The tune that sends Duncan running for the cover of the study and a copy of Private Eye! But love it or hate it, Coronation Street, or Corrie,as it is affectionately known, is part of the British way of life - well it is up North!
Jack has mellowed over the years, as I suppose we all do. He took over from Stanley Ogden, well he did in my thinking, as the lovable rogue who was always having to avoid the tongue lashing of his wife. Ah, and could we ever forget Hilda of the permanent rollers? Or the three birds ascending her chimney breast and the DIY serving hatch that grew in proportion as Stanley failed to get the hole straight? And what of Elsie Tanner? Len Fairclough? Jack and Annie Walker, Minnie Cauldwell and of course, Ena Sharples! They, and many more, are part of my growing up.
So I do say a fond farewell to Jack and am pleased he danced his way off the set for a final time in Vera's arms.

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.