Write like nobody's reading...

I loved The Great British Bake Off and feel in a slight decline now that the series has ended.

Our household was so delighted that Frances won we actually cheered when her name was announced (note to self - apologize to next door neighbour!)

My faith in the programme was restored with that result.  I too had heard the rumours that Ruby had already got a TV series and book contract, and the insinuation on social media was that she had won - thanks Raymond Blanc.

But no, it was dear Frances, a lovely local lass - OK she's from Market Harborough, but that's not far away - who shyly cooked her little socks off and produced style with substance for Mr Hollywood and the fantastic Mary Berry (surely a 'Dame' in the making?)

Frances was never big-headed, never cocky or over-confident, she just got on with the cooking and left the flirting, crying and dramatics to other contestants (mentioning no names, you know who they are).

Tuesday nights just won't be the same.  However, to cheer myself up I'm joining a singing group.

A local lady is setting one up, and I think that this may just be the tonic to get me through the winter nights - well, either that or sloe gin.

But joking apart, as a wise friend of mine once said, there's nothing like singing for raising the spirits, it's second only to dancing in her book.

So, our adage for life has become:

"Sing like nobody's listening, dance like nobody's watching, and write like nobody's reading."

The last part was my contribution, although I do hope somebody is reading this...

 

To be a good writer, you first need to be a good reader...

"To be a good writer, you first need to be a good reader."

Not sure who told me this, or if I read it somewhere, but I think it's true (and, before anybody else says it, I probably need to read a lot more!)

Anyway, I was pleased when my daughter came home from school and told me that they were all taking part in a Readathon to raise money for children's cancer charities.

Encouraging children to read - good;

Raising money for sick children - v good.  Everyone's a winner with this event.

My daughter's class also organized a book sale to finish off the Readathon and raise more money too.

I duly attended and purchased yet more books - not a great hardship, granted, as I love books and I can't ever see myself switching to an E-reader.

One section of the sale had books for the grown-ups - with some surprising choices.

As my daughter was in charge of this department I didn't make any comment at the time, however a couple of books caught my eye and made me raise an eyebrow as to who had donated them to a primary school booksale.

Sitting pride of place were copies of Jilly Cooper's 'Polo' and 'Riders'.

Later that evening, over family dinner, I mentioned this to my husband.

"Yes" my daughter piped up.  "We noticed that there were some books about horses for sale!"

Let's be thankful for small mercies - it could have been 'Fifty Shades of Grey', which they would hopefully have decided was a Farrow & Ball paintchart!

They wanna pave paradise... update on protest song

For a while now there have been protest songs.

Music is a powerful medium with which to get a message across.

A beautiful aerial shot of Brookfield Plantation - showing the large area of trees in all their glory - had been posted on Facebook with the comment 'as the song goes, you don't know what you've got til it's gone'.

As I lay awake early the next morning, the lyrics of Joni Mitchell's song were going round in my head.

I then had an idea - as the Gretton Music Festival was such a success this summer, why don't we ask local musicians to do a cover version of 'Big Yellow Taxi', changing some of the lyrics to fit the Brookfield cause, and put it on YouTube?

So, as I sat at my computer early one Sunday morning, I suggested the idea on Facebook, not sure if anyone would agree.

The feedback was instant and positive, which was encouraging.

But sadly the first plan to use a local band didn't quite work because they didn't have a female vocalist.

So when a friend told me about a lady keen to set up a singing group, I asked her if it was possible for them to perform the protest song.

Thankfully, she said yes straight away.  I'm thinking it's going to be something along the lines of Gareth Malone and his choirs, taking people like me, who probably haven't sung since school, and making us sound good!

Rehearsals start soon, and when we're ready it will be filmed and posted on YouTube for (hopefully) the world to hear. 

The message about the campaign to save Brookfield Plantation is literally spreading far and wide!

Remember "You don't know what you've got till it's gone,

They paved paradise..."

 

Paying the price for education

Parents taking children out of school for holidays – it’s a modern-day dilemma I believe. 

I certainly don’t remember anybody at my school disappearing for a fortnight’s holiday somewhere exotic, but then again I was at primary school in the Seventies, so Brighton was seen as somewhere exciting.

The story of Malala Yousafzai gave me food for thought on this topic.

As you are no doubt aware, Malala had spoken out against the Taliban in her homeland of Pakistan, had campaigned for three years for a girl’s right to education, and had been shot in the head on her school bus by the Taliban as a result. 

This led me to then think about how we take for granted the free education system we have for all in this country. 

Whatever your gender, income, social status, religion or national heritage, our children can go to school, free of charge, and be educated.

We all need to make the most of the education system on offer here – because there are children elsewhere in the world who are literally dying for the same opportunities.

But having said this, I would like to add that I think the holiday companies are also at fault in this scenario, and we shouldn't just blame parents, many of whom are struggling financially during difficult economic times.

Yes, I've heard the 'supply and demand' argument for the huge variation in holiday prices, but it's truly disgusting how they blatantly profiteer. 

I saw evidence for myself recently how a break at a well-known UK holiday park during October half-term was £300 more than the same holiday, but taken a week later, when the children return to school.

Instead of the Government fining parents for holidays in term time, could I suggest a better way of dealing with the problem would be to make holiday companies reduce the vast difference in price? 

Now, there's an idea Mr Gove...

Remember, remember, the Fifth of November...

Now, as regular readers are hopefully aware, I'm not a 'party pooper'.

 

I have a reasonable sense of humour and fun - yes I'm aware that everyone thinks that about themselves - and I don't want to rain on anybody's parade.

 

But I'm going to be completely honest with you all.

 

I hate Bonfire Night.  Loathe it with a passion.

 

Why such a vitriolic response, you're perhaps wondering, to a traditional British event?

 

Well, it wouldn't be so bad if it was just the one night.  If everyone gathered quite sensibly at the Boating Lake in Corby - other venues are also available - and watched an organized display, I would be OK with it.

 

What I cannot stand - and I don't think I'm alone in this - is the fact that it starts sometime in October, and continues right through November.

 

This year Bonfire Night is on a Tuesday, so we'll definitely have fireworks the weekend before and the weekend after, and many more nights in between.

 

I don't like the fact that people indiscriminately let off fireworks at any time of night.  It frightens animals, small children and older people too - including myself.  Last year a large firework went off near my home and I thought there had been a gas explosion.

 

Genuinely, if I ruled the world, after sorting out hunger, poverty and organizing world peace, I would ban the sale of fireworks to the general public and only let licensed displays purchase them.

 

I appreciate that this is not going to be a universally popular rule, but I'm sure the A&E departments would thank me, as would people with small children and animals.

 

So please, before you purchase your mini incendiary devices from the supermarkets, stop and think about what you're doing.

 

Wouldn't you be better saving your money and going to an organized display?  They have far more, and better quality, than you'll ever be able to buy, and it's a safer environment (hopefully) for everyone.

 

But if you do decide you're having your own fireworks, please have a thought for your neighbours, their children and animals.  Thank you.

 

Brookfield - they wanna pave paradise...

For a while now there have been protest songs.

 

Music is a powerful medium with which to get a message across.

 

A beautiful aerial shot of Brookfield Plantation - showing the large area of trees in all their glory - had been posted on Facebook with the comment 'as the song goes, you don't know what you've got til it's gone'.

 

As I lay awake early the next morning, the lyrics of Joni Mitchell's song were going round in my head.

 

I then had an idea - as the Gretton Music Festival was such a success this summer, why don't we ask local musicians to do a cover version of 'Big Yellow Taxi', changing some of the lyrics to fit the Brookfield cause, and put it on YouTube?

 

So, as I sat at my computer early on Sunday morning, I suggested the idea on Facebook, not sure if anyone would agree.

 

The feedback was instant and positive, which was encouraging.

 

Then Terry Forsey, organizer of the Gretton Music Festival, ran with this idea and is sorting out the musicians and venue.

 

Before we knew it, a musical protest was born!

 

At a time and date to be confirmed, local musicians will perform their version of Joni's classic environmental protest song, her lyrics more poignant than ever.

 

This will then be posted on YouTube for (hopefully) the world to hear.  The message about the campaign to save Brookfield Plantation is literally spreading far and wide!

 

Remember "You don't know what you've got till it's gone,

They paved paradise..."         

 

Thanks for reading!  Hx

 

Food for thought...

Apparently, most of us have just five dishes in our culinary repertoire.

 

We cook these in rotation, with the most popular being spaghetti bolognese.

 

When I read this in the paper I thought that couldn't be right, I must cook far more than that.

 

Then I was walking home from school with my daughter the other Tuesday and she asked me what was for dinner that evening.

 

'Pasta bolognese' was my reply.

 

'But it's not Thursday!' was her retort, which made me think that I must be getting far too predictable.

 

Cooking has never been my strong point.  Thankfully Mr Bach loves cooking so he's the chef at weekends, but weekday dinners remain my domain.

 

My food is always being critiqued - the only one that doesn't complain is the dog.

 

I took 'O' level Home Economics, and did quite well as I understood the science behind food - but Heston Blumenthal I'm not! 

 

Our cookery class was hilarious, as we had a great mix of characters and a very patient teacher.

 

We made a Christmas cake one year, and had to ice it.  The teacher demonstrated each step carefully, and told us to handle the marzipan with care - and exceptionally clean hands - because it picks up every speck.

 

Promptly after these words were uttered, one of my classmates dropped hers on the floor and it rolled behind the cooker.  She picked it up, dusted it off, and continued to roll it out.  I was glad I wasn't going to be eating her cake that Yuletide!

 

Trying to get your culinary creations home on the school bus was always a bit of a challenge - particularly as I had to change buses three times for the journey.

 

We made a Jelly Whip dessert once - jelly, condensed milk I believe - a bit like Angel Delight (which would have been far easier).

 

Unfortunately, the lid on my container worked its way loose on the journey and I arrived home with a PE kit soaked in goo.  Nice.

 

Still, as I watch the gamut of cookery programmes which grace our TV screens - The Great British Bake Off is my current favourite - I can sit there and make comments such as 'That looks like it's a good even bake' so perhaps I did learn something!