Worplesdon(liquidamber)

I bought  brand new tree today-Liquidamber( sweet gum) Worplesdon.It is a truly fine specimen and, according to the label-should grow 4.5m tall and 3.5m spread in 10 years I will be almost 89 then, but I will measure the progress of this cheering tree and post it here. More, I will do the measuring on my birthday-8th January-make a note now

Toast v Flu Jab

Butter with toast and marmite is-I assert with absolutely no evidence at all-as good as the flu jab. And you can do both-eat the toast when you get back from the surgery=double protection. Do try it.

Butternut squash, butterscoth icecream and balance

This is the season to eat  food with a bit of a glow-butternut squash baked and filled with Cashel Blue cheese, then butterscotch ice-cream-maybe with bread and butter pudding. For a starter guaranteed to bring tear-filled tributes to the cook-or assembler in this case-what about radishes? No sneering. Wash the radishes a bit, and trim them. Then place in a bowl of iced water and then in the fridge. Just before you eat them, dry then off a bit, give everyone a small plate wit 8 or 9 radishes, a slab of unsalted butter and a puddle of sea salt. Dip the radishes into the butter, then the salt. Eat. Your status as a domestic  princess/prince is assured

Brexit from Sikorski

I listened to Radek Sikorski, former Polish foreign Minister  peaking on Channel Four news  21st Oct. He said[on Brexit] that strengths and bargaining positions are being tested; that in his view the Irish border question was insoluble; that it was a British illusion that anyone else, anywhere, was interesedt in internal UK politics;; that 'key figures 'among UK government reps had now understood that there is a difference between the  Customs Union and the Internal Market; and he equated  Downing street  with Central Casting-ouch!; I feel more and more embarrassed and ashamed

Drove down to Market Harborough to Gildings Auction. They are showing four samplers in the on line catalogue-estimate £100-£150. I left without leaving  bid, but I am tempted to ring and do the deed. One is dated 1826-a little girl sewed-by candle light-and I can see her licking the silks as she tried to thread her needle. and I think thimbles were compulsory. I learned to sew at the age of nine-only the girls in those days-we were taught how to hem stitch, how to make a placket and a run and fell seam. we were forces to wear a thimble. The lessons seemed very long. and later, at Bishopshalt school, we made a   paper pattern for knickers and then used it to make blue knickers. They were voluminous, and lasted for several years. The Brownies taught us how to sew on a button, with a proper shank. I discovered recently that there are those who take garments to the dry cleaners to have a button sewn on. Where are you now, Brown Owl?

Wood smoke is from the lilac tree-the bark and logs smell sweet-not like the flower, but more like Rowntree s  wine gums  Add in the perfume from the Bramley apples baked with honey and cinnamon-it makes for a night to stay by the fire.
Encouraging election results in Nottingham,. Three new and excellent Labour Councillors returned, all with an increased share of the vote. Warm thanks to the many who campaigned in the cold rain. We are facing a bi election here in Leicester in November.  Lets hope we can deliver. We do not need what my old dad used to call armchair or lavatory Socialists, nor the new epithet-keyboard warriors. Although I fear this is what I am becoming. Mind you, I can still boss comrades around a bit when necessary .But we have every intention to deliver a great Labour win. For more on this follow me.
I need followers anyway, preferably up into double figures, before grandson disappears

OK-having help from Nate today-he is the expert. Trying to post onto Facebook and get some followers for my re launched blog. Hope this works. Thanks in advance for following