Surrey Jaunt

Huzzah the weather broke and the sun shone as we made it across the Surrey Sussex border safely to our intended destination of Cranleigh....

As one might expect when us ladies get together there was a great deal of gossipping, perusing of retail outlets [some goodly charity shop bargains for us both] along with tea and buns. Now my chums are very tolerant of my slightly idiosyncratic ways and thankfully, some seem to share my slightly strange love of exploring churches and churchyards....

St Nicholas is a 12th century church with several later additions. It underwent an extensive restoration programme after it suffered severe damage from a flying bomb in August 1944 which took out many of its stained glass windows. As a direct result of this the interior of the church is much lighter than you would expect for a church of its age.

The churchyard boasts a marvellous selection of different styles of gravestones including some interesting shaped iron ones and a wooden bed head marker which I saw but doesn't make a very thrilling photo somehow! I loved the way the moss was growing on the last one.

Inside it's an attractive church [although not quite gloomy enough or musty smelling for my liking!] with a stunning hammer beam roof

The wall hanging is called "From Darkness To Light" and was designed by Lucinda Johnson and her team. It's made from different fabrics- unfortunately my Janet and John photo does not do it justice.

As for this chap he's a 12th century carving and is known as "The Cheshire Cat"- rumour has it that he inspired Lewis Carroll. This was actually why I had wanted to visit and he didn't disappoint!

Some things don't change from generation to generation examples here being graffiti and recycling. The old broken gravestones had been given a new lease of life as paving slabs in the floor of the lychgate.

Arilx

Old Man's Beard

A lot of my joblets are on the outskirts of the town where I live which means I am forced to drive through the beautiful Sussex countryside. My mind ambles about whilst I am behind the wheel [I am concentrating on the road at the same time I hasten to add!] and yesterday, seeing all the water in the fields from the recent heavy rains, I wondered what you might see if you went for a walk in the countryside in January. The answer came quick enough as I passed by the hedgerows. This

Old Man's Beard or to give it its proper name Clematis Vitalba. Long stretches of its fluffy seedheads putting on a pretty feathery show but largely unnoticed by moi. However, as one of my aims is to celebrate the ordinary, the overlooked, the everyday I've been off for an internet trundle to find out more.....

It's one that has rather mixed associations- on the one hand it is said to do the work of the Devil by the way it trails into other plants and strangles them yet it is also called the Virgin's Bower because of its virginal white appearance. One of its more familiar names is Traveller's Joy but sometimes it is known as Shepherd's Delight, Love Vine and Herbe Aux Gueux [meaning beggar's or rascal's beard]

Southerners named it the Baccy plant after poor country folk would cut its small wood into pieces and smoke it like tobacco. Beggars were known to rub its acrid sap onto their skin to cause ulceration so that they persuade sympathetic passers by of their plight and be given money.

It seems to have been of little medicinal use but it was used in Slovenia to weave baskets for onions and binding crops and used in Stone Age Switzerland for rope.

Arilx

Merrie Monday

First Monday of the new year so time for a cheesy track methinks. I guess many are going back to work after the festive break- in my old life I would have been one of those but now as a self employed bod I went back on 27th December. It was rather nice not to have that Sunday night of dread this time. I had a bit of a scare first thing this morning though as I thought someone had mistakenly released a baby elephant upstairs so was mightily relieved to discover that it was actually the small person trying to coordinate his limbs after his early start. Bit of a shock to the system when you've not emerged from your pit until 11.30 these last two weeks! Anyway here's Scissor Sisters with "I don't feel like dancin'"

Arilx

Unsanitary Upcycling!

As the weather is to be,quite frank, a little on the naff side today I thought perhaps a little silliness for those ladies of a certain age like myself who no longer have need of specific ladies items. If I had an unused stash of such glories remaining I might perhaps choose to while a wet afternoon crafting......

Perhaps a toupee for Mr GBT who is folically challenged

Or a bouquet for Valentine's day

Or even slippers

I have got a new pair of slippers today- but erm bought in the sales from a retailer on this occasion!

More marvellous ideas to while away the hours from here

http://www.tamponcrafts.com/

Never let it be said that I don't spoil you!

Arilx

Friday Funding Fun

This week upon matters of selfies and puffs or maybe in this particular instance puffed up selfies....it's ok you're safe no selfies from me....no camera on my phone [can you tell my phone went out with the square wheel!] and besides, my face immediately contorts itself into one of my many gargoyle expressions the minute I am aware of having my photo taken....nope this is to what I refer!

This is the Gert, The Gnat Bottomed Purse, who has been on my case ever since I started the frugal bit as she feels she should be the star of the show as keeper of the money. She's the one on the left with the red hair- not natural I hasten to add, a while back it was a rather startling shocking pink. She is erm quite a force let's just say- she sounds like a sarf London used car dealer and is rather trappy to say the least although she has a heart of gold. She guards her money like a dragon with its hoard and wails like a banshee every time I attempt to extract some- you may have heard her?! This gives you some idea

For many years she was married to Big Bill but he's now gone to that great cashpoint in the sky but now she is engaged to Stormin' Norman the wallet. She wishes he was more like her hero Arkwright but he is a very easy going fella [he needs to be] and as she doesn't understand the concept of credit cards he's quite happy to release the snitch card [it has wings] for any necessary purchases. Shown with her are one of the purslings [the grandchildren]- they are identical twins and rather naughty. I can't tell whether that's Penny or Prudence and at the far end is her daughter Cashandra who does know about credit cards and gives her owner Spendy Wendy a very hard time. Anyway enough of them.....

Puffs- a frugal filler food. I'm not claiming any nutritional value for them but served with an otherwise healthy meal they are a great way to fill up hollow legged teenagers cheaply. I am not a fan but Mr GBT makes them like his Mum did and she had 6 children to feed. Mix self raising flour with a little water to make a very thick paste and season with salt and pepper [Mr GBT has also added herbs and dried fruit when he's made a sweet version] and then shallow fry big dollops in vegetable oil for 15 minutes turning so that they are golden each side. Serve immediately.

Arilx

The Blue Bonnet

Or to call it by its familiar name the Blue Tit.

It is the only tit with blue colouring and I think this recent photo taken by Mr GBT at our local nature reserve shows it well.

I was recently lucky enough to be given some back copies of the RSPB magazine which has furnished me with some interesting snippets.

Although every blue tit might look identical to the human eye, the birds themselves are able to recognise each other as individuals.Their blue cap gives off a strong UV signal which tends to be stronger in the males. The brighter the cap the healthier the bird is so is more likely to attract a mate. Interestingly though scientists have discovered that the birds tend to pick a partner with a similar intensity of colour to its own. The other factor a female needs to take into account is how bright a yellow is the male's bib as this shows how good a provider he is- the pigment comes mainly from the caterpillars he eats thus the more consumed the more eye catching his bib and tucker!

This does not work when translated into a potential human breeding partner- anyone with either a tinge of yellow or blue about them does not scream fabulously fit and healthy does it!

Arilx

A New Year's Resolution...

First and foremost may I wish you a most splendid New Year and on the matter of resolutions mine is very simple....I have resolved not to make any for I find them personally a negative, guilt inducing process at what already can be a difficult time of year. I shall be making some small tweaks and setting some achievable, modest goals but you can take your hair shirt and place it permanently in an orifice where the sun don't shine thanks all the same.

Nothing racy planned here just the decision to hopefully have learnt 6 new veggie main meals and 6 new puddings by the end of the year along with reading some of Ronald Hutton's books, a changing set up on my seasonal shelf when and as the mood takes me and finally to manage my anxiety/depression and to build upon the foundations I laid during 2013. Simples! What I shall not be doing is giving up anything that I enjoy doing so crisps will remain a firm favourite- in moderation but ooh the delight they give me!!

The making and breaking of resolutions is not a new phenomena as Pepys illustrated:

31 Dec 1661
"I have newly taken a solemn oath about abstaining from plays and wine, which I am resolved to keep"

20 Jan 1662
Pepys took delivery of "four gallons of Malaga wine; what it will stand us in I know not; but it is the first great quantity of wine that I ever bought"

Despite having a copy of Pepys diary in my reading pile I have oft opened it but erm may not as yet quite read any. This excerpt is thanks to Jane Struthers "The Book Of Christmas"

Now I'm sure that there is a tube of Pringles with my name on somewhere waiting for my undivided attention....

Arilx