Impasse...or...A Pointless Post

What does one do when one reaches an impasse with the quilt in progress?

Hmmm, does the Seminole work really go or
 do I need something different in that panel? Hmmmmmmm...

One goes out to hoke at the window boxes...

Is that really the kale seeds germinating or is it just weeds I wonder?
 

...do a spot of much needed weeding, a SPOT, I said...

Golly to goodness, better mind out for lions and tigers and bears ha ha!

...dead- head the rambling rose and discuss with the lovely climber what exactly it is...

Are you a Virginia Creeper because I've
always wanted one of those on my house, I think they're lovely:
 please be a ginny creeper?

...admire the fuchsia which is still going strong and quite a blaze of colour...

...and finally plant out the winter pansies which I bought this week in a fit of extravagance (they were on special offer so I saved €2.50 by buying three, but I could have saved €11 if I'd left them in the shop!)

Yup, those are the old grape punnets re-used! Who's a pretty pansy then?!

I know the middle one is a sunflower! I just put the pansies in next to it for when the sunflower karks it, its called multi-purposing, or maybe thinking ahead...or maybe just stingy!

And finally, several hours later when one has done all that and the solution to the quilt impasse has become clear, one realises that one has been out wearing one's clean sewing jumper and indoor shoes and is now quite filthy.

Darn.

Solve one problem, create another.

Screw it! and one brushes off the worst of the dirt, scrubs the mud out of the fingernails and returns to the quilt, much dirtier but really no wiser.

Flattened Friday!

Firstly, thank you for the Birthday wishes for Dilly, and get well wishes for meself- it was lovely of yez all to send them!

By all accounts Dilly had a mad birthday: morning working in the Theater with friends, then a very posh lunch in town courtesy of my sisters, further shenanigans in the course of the afternoon, winding up with a Theater hooley in the evening in which she sang excerpts of 'Oliver!'...would you say that was an enjoyable birthday for a Drama Student???

Secondly I want to thank all of you who commented on my previous query (golly, this is beginning to sound like the Emmys or something!) which I am working on/ thinking on. I found a post on Etsy to help with writing an Artist's statement in which I have to interview myself, which sounds awfully schizophrenic to me...

Heckety: Good morning, I hope I find you well? Take a seat please.
Heckety: Don't mind if I do.
Heckety: You are in the process of composing an Artist's Statement for your Shop Profile, am I correct?
Heckety: That's so.
(Notice; the Irish don't use yes and no in conversation, there's no equivalent in the Gaelige.)
Heckety: Now I'm going to interview you with some very carefully considered leading questions, and from your answers you will compose the Statement.
Heckety: Right so! Fire away!

Hmmmm, is that confusing?
Well I thought on Monday I'd post the first draft for your input...or amusement- if I haven't imploded trying to think about it!!!

Last two days I've been trying to catch up on myself, but still coughing and 'chesty' so when little black spots begin dancing before me I have to stop and rest...or are they bugs?

I re potted some raspberry canes as I can't decide where to plant them out...the tall yellow plant is cress gone to seed. It withstood the entire winter- I was knocking off snow to cut it, quite amazing!
Sorted out the salad bed, hopefully there will be rocket, mixed salad greens, coriander and Swiss Chard...oh, and a pansy!! Its so happy I couldn't bear to move it! The strawberries behind the bed are going to be planted out into...

... tyres. We went and got them before I got sick, the garage let us have them free. I read in the Permaculture Mag that because tyres heat up in the sun and rubber holds the heat, they are a good way to keep plants warmer than just in pots. Its worth a try since a) they were free, and b) I have two compost bins worth of home made compost to use. The people in the garage didn't half laugh at us though!!

I finished the 'Retro Baby' Quilt before I got sick, so yesterday took photos for the shop...I'll be putting it in later today.

And I made two summery handbags, lightweight but useful sizes, I hope...

I had fun trying to photograph them because Bertie-dog seemed to think his big black furry nose ought to be included! Its difficult to keep the camera steady and fend off a large dog simultaneously!!

I've decided I'm into ricrac (rikrak? rickrack? how DO you spell it?) at the moment- its just so cheerful!

While I still had the gardening gloves on last night I picked me some nettle tops to make tea as I've read that its very fortifying. Well that's as may be (thought I don't feel any better armoured than I did before) but its not exactly my cup of tea (ha! ha!), kinda rich and bit odd tasting. Still, I'll try most anything once!! And its free!!

On a sober note, here's a thought-provoking post from Maddy Harland I want to share with you. Regrettably, all too many folk can identify with her.

Challenge Check #8 and Newses

Well firstly I'd say last week's lack of wordses was a yowling success! And I truly thank everyone who visited and left such kind comments on the daily photo-blast; I enjoyed your comments, and they helped with the week, which was fairly garbage, actually.

Secondly, the out-laws are alive and spitting. Here's the MIL's text from Saturday night:

'It sure was scary wading through the strong current almost waist level. A lot of damage was done- 14 out 0f 20 tents plus the Gift Shop were ruined. I had to clean out a muddy desk drawer and re-construct a wet muddy file and launder wet muddy money notes. There's a problem getting tap water back. M's been running round like a scalded monkey.'

(She's always rude about the FIL!) I guess all those Triathlons finally paid off?

The damage was considerable (if you're interested Google 'Samburu floods') and it'll be a while before the infrastructure is ready for guests again. Sos suggested their Granny should set up a professional money laundering project to tide them over the slump!

And now for the Challenge roundup:

At end of play on Sunday Heckety beat Henman 6-1, 6-2, 6-0. Weather permitting she will play Venus Williams later today, when she hopes to thrash Williams and prove once and for all the world superiority of Irish tennis players....yeah, yeah, and last time I played tennis 'properly' I lost three balls into the river and was banned indefinitely...

So- Dottie Angel Challenge:

The Hub decided to move the sewing junk from the kitchen to the spare room on Saturday so I had to put everything away properly afterwards. As a result I organised my fabric stash tidily and have re-found some great stuff!
OK, by your standards that may not be tidy, but I assure you that by mine it's 'practically perfect in every way'! (C'mon, who said that???? First correct answer gets a spot prize!) So now I can begin a new quilt!

The theme for Creative Every Day this month is 'Story'. I may be bending the rules here because although this quilt doesn't tell a story there is a saga attached to it:
I made the top before leaving East Africa when we were experiencing a shocking drought and we had forgotten what the colour green looked like. It had been about 18 months since rain fell. The orange and patterned fabrics were given to me from a friend's scrap box, dating from the '70s. The yellows were from various people and are a combination of satins, cotton and silk. The ivory silk is very beautiful; this is from the hem of a friend's wedding dress! Another friend made it and cut it longer than necessary as C couldn't decide what shoes to wear.

I packed it as an unfinished top as batting was very expensive there and I had no immediate need for it. Then about a year after arriving in Ireland I received a request for a quilt from someone organising an Exhibition so hauled this out, quilted it, and posted it to England where it was hung! It was the first time I'd had a quilt hung and I was thrilled skinny!

So there you go- story of a quilt, but sure doesn't every quilt that was ever made have a story?!

By the way, this coming Wednesday I'll post March's Barter/Swap, which will include a bunch of books, as promised, but if you just would like books without a swap then specify the title(s) and first come'll get it! The early bird catches the book!!

There was another thing to tell yous but I've forgotten so it'll have to wait until tomorrow!

My house was tidy yesterday, sorry you missed it!

Thank you my people for your comments on yesterday's post...I was VERY comforted! Strange as it may seem all my friends have tidy houses- toys in the playroom, food prep the only items in the kitchen, and the sitting always ready for guests. I don't understand how they count me as a friend, OR how they manage it...

Yesterday's interview went sort of ok, I think. The Hub was told he needs much more experience in various fields and to try get it, and if that doesn't work then this guy will see what he can do to help. So it wasn't an 'No' and it wasn't a 'Yes'; in Kiswahili the word would be 'bado' which translates sort of as 'not now'.
I can't say I'm sorry because firstly, I need time to accustom myself to change, and secondly, I can't hear God's will for me and the girls yet in this, and I can't do a huge thing unless I'm sure it's God's plan.

But the house is IMMACULATE! So I invited my Mom and big sister to tea this afternoon so they can be impressed!!! Don't laugh, this is a Red Letter Event!

The Hub is outside cutting up all the old wood he can find to keep us going in firewood till the end of the month as they say there's another week of freeze on the way.
There was a terrible accident on our road yesterday when a car went out of control on ice- I keep thinking of the family, though I don't know them, who won't hug their little girl again in this life, and possibly the mother too as she's in ICU. It breaks my heart.

I'm reading 'A Single Thread' by Marie Bostwick at the moment, and its a bit harrowing too. I saw it on some one's blog but I forget whose and it centers round a woman who is going through breast cancer. Its very good, I guess if it wasn't so well written then it wouldn't pull at me, would it?

BBug is going to the cinema with friends this afternoon to see 'Valentine's Day' which is being released here today. Her best friend said he'd go with her if no one else would, which I thought was ever so kind because he much prefers political or intelligent movies. She's lucky to have him I think.

This morning I was messing with my hair, after chopping most of it off, and asked B what she thought? Straight faced she answered: 'Mom, the 1980's called and they want their hairstyle back.'

HOO!

Now I feel a quilt coming on which I've been denying all week but just won't wait any longer...I think its going to be a pink and floral Log Cabin design. I've mislaid one of my main quilt books which I always use when deciding so its a bit discombobulating deciding without it.

Have a good weekend you people!

Black Frisbees!

Does anyone still have this?
Or these?

A few years ago a young neighbour wandered into a friend's house whilst her Dad was sorting his music collection and exclaimed: 'Janey Mac! you've a lot of black Frisbees! Haven't you any coloured ones?' Ever since then we all call records 'black Frisbees'!

Anyhow, since we are well into December now, I think it's alright to start playing the black Frisbees- I so enjoy Christmas Music!

My amaryllis is beginning to flower. Each year I am amazed afresh at the huge, intricately coloured flowers! I'll keep you posted on its progress...

And look! I made the cranberry sauce for Christmas...despite it being out of focus I didn't add any booze! Isn't the colour so rich?
And finally, progress is being made on hand quilting the earlier mishap.
I spent the day designing and constructing a Christmas Elf but I'll show you that when it is finished.

Fumblin' Friday

Last night I finished the pinny I've been making to go with the doll. I lined the bodice with the doll's apron fabric and attached ties at the back to close the pinny so that it will fit her for some time, even with a Spring growth spurt!
Last two Thursdays Ulla has posted about her old patterns, and although this is not one of my really ancient ones, I thought it would amuse some of you. A friend and I used to make the overalls for our girls, who are now 20 (aargh!) and it had been passed around the Mission Station for a good many years before that!

And just to point out WHY I so enjoyed making a nice LITTLE cotton pinny- remember this? It was the previous piece of dressmaking....I did so like it when my girls were SMALL!

Today I pieced a back for the TTTF quilt and started machine quilting it.

After about two hours' work and some dithering I decided that it just wasn't coming out good enough for putting in the Etsy shop, so I spent the rest of the afternoon ripping it out. I should have stopped sooner. Anyhow the girls want to watch TV so I'll sit in with them and rip, at least it won't be quite so boring. That's what I meant by Fumblin' Friday!

Thankful Thursday!

Thou hast given so much to me,
Give one thing more- a grateful heart;
Not thankful when it pleaseth me,
As if thy blessings had spare days,
But such a heart whose pulse may be
Thy praise.

George Herbert.

Last Thursday I came across this 'Thankful Thursday' meme (http://truth4thejourney.blogspot.com/2009/10/thankful-thursday-47.html), then LMB wrote about keeping a Gratitude Journal (http://littlemsblogger.blogspot.com/2009/10/five-simple-words.html) and I thought I would do both! I think that being grateful for what one has is very, very important!

So here are my 'Thankfuls' for this week, but since it was a good week it has been difficult to choose- other weeks may be difficult for the opposite reason!

1. This morning we got up to a fabulous sunrise. It had just been raining but the clouds cleared as the sun rose and the day became diamond sparkly and then golden. When I took the dogs out before breakfast the only sounds were hens, birds, snuffling dogs and the cows doing that huffing noise they make on cold mornings. It was a very serene start to the day.

(below) Can you see the sheep coming down off the Commonage? Time to get the unhardy plants in as there must be a frosty snap on the way- I love country signs like this.

I took this almost into the sunrise which is why its a bit overexposed, but also there was a cold mist rolling up the valley from Lough Doon which fuzzed it. Who could be ungrateful on such a morning?

2. The next one sounds really silly...I found a new packet of knickers in the back of my drawer! Oh the bliss of new knickers! When will manufacturers learn that a good pair keeps the elastic attached to the top for the entire lifetime of the knicker- i.e. until the seat wears out? Its awfully disconcerting when the body of the knicker slides slowly down your posterior in the course of the day but the elastic stays put...especially when I'm teaching and can't either take on the spot remedial action or rush out to the loo...

3. Have you heard Rhydian's album; its just called 'Rhydian'. He's a Christian and has chosen to sing not specifically Christian songs but they are all meaningful. The Hub has used some as a starter for the Message when he is taking Services, and we often play the CD at home in the evenings. B had it out last night as she intends singing the track 'What if' in her Music Exam and was working on intonation. I taught the children at school 'I believe' too. Its just uplifting music.

4.I am especially thankful that the Hub arrived safely at his Aunt's house last night. He left here about 4.30am yesterday morning to get the 8.20am ferry from Dublin. He texted a few times during the day when he stopped for coffee, once in Wales and once somewhere near Reading I think when roadworks brought him to a halt. He arrived safely in Surrey about 6.30pm, and I don't know who was more thankful, his Aunt or me! No small feat for a little African boy to drive all the way across Ireland and England in one day! His Mom arrives from East Africa this morning for a two and a half week holiday and is he excited! They are spending ten days in UK travelling to see all the relations, then coming across here for the last week. Granny Africa is the ultimate Mad Hatter and we all can't wait to see her!

5. And the last thankful is very personal: we've finally got the house finished enough (and tidy!) for me to be able to put my quilt frame up and hand quilt a new quilt. I love hand-quilting, I feel as though it connects me with the generations of women who have gone before and done the same thing, who stitched their hopes and dreams and fears and sorrows into their quilts over long days and weeks, who have made do with what they had, who have watched the seasons pass and children grow, and just been thankful for their blessings however small. I love the serenity of the stitching and the fact that it makes me accessible to the family while still keeping my hands busy. And I love the finished product, the look and feel and satisfaction of a hand-quilted quilt!

And there you have it!

And a final 'Thankful'- I'll be heading to school shortly to finalise my Singers for the Harvest Service on Sunday morning and I know they were beginning to get excited yesterday when they heard how much they had improved. I love shiny faces singing their hearts out and being allowed to work with them is a blessing in itself...although it has its moments of anxiety, as with small people things NEVER go quite as planned! Sunday's Service will be 'interesting' for all the wrong reasons!

Old Hat! New Hat!

I just received an email about this Online Open Studios Event being hosted by http://www.interweavestore.com/Mixed-Media/Magazines/Studios-Fall-2009.html.?a=qa090928. What a fun idea!
On Saturday Oct. 3rd all the participants (including yours truly here!) will he hosting virtual tours of their studio space: can't wait- I love seeing how other people organise themselves....or don't....
So that's the New Hat!
Now for the Old Hat!
I know these are about a week old, but I was about to post these photos when I got sick, so here thy are. When I drew up at the folks one day the sun on this acer and gladioli were just lovely, but I think I over exposed the photo as here it lacks the dense coppery sparkle it really had.
This lap quilt I finished last week. I pegged it to the hall curtains to photograph! The navy blue fabric is some wool blend which makes it very tactile. I took it into the living room when done to show the family and B asked could she have it while she was sick as her 'downstairs' Quiltey. I washed it yesterday, but it will probably stay on the sofa. It never ceases to surprise me how comforting a quilt is when one is poorly, or just cold.

The Hub finally put up this old wall shelf, which came from our last house in East Africa. Its nothing special really but I just like it and I like the continuity of objects moving with us. The pictures are paintings a great-great aunt did many years ago, which have travelled with me since I was a student, and the photos are of family. I just thought it looked nice...

...apart from the wall which looks like it's had one too many collisions with something! Isn't it annoying the way things show up in photos which you don't notice in real living?

This morning I got out the jelly roll of fabric I bought at the Festival of Quilts and am looking at patterns to use it on. I feel like beginning something new and beautiful!

It wasn't me, I didn't do it

It wasn't so much a bad day, as just the sort of day you hope isn't repeated too often.



Firstly, B is improving slowly. She still sounds like an antiquated steam engine but she is breathing more easily. She spent most of the day on the sofa again because doing anything leaves her breathless and exhausted, but her eyes have a bit of a twinkle.



I fetched my car from the garage last night and it is going beautifully now. Poor thing, it must have been struggling for ages.



This morning I took out a partially quilted top which I'd abandoned several years ago and started to sort it out, quilting it on the sewing machine. All was going fairly well until I caught my shirt front in the fabric and proceeded to quilt myself into the quilt...Not recommended...



After extracting myself from that (a bit of ripping and a bit of dodgy language) I decided it must be a judgement on me for not doing the chores first. So I went and cleaned the bathroom. All was going fairly well until I was cleaning the shower and turned it on with me under the shower-head...cold water too...



Later I needed to do washing up so I took the flowers out of the sink which Mum had brought B yesterday, and arranged them in a glass jar. I picked some extra flowers from the garden to go with them. All was going fairly well until I accidentally knocked over the full jug of water from which I was about to top up the jar...two liters of water over the counter including my mobile phone and a lot of papers...



(remains of quilt top and shirt!)

Sos came home briefly to eat and collect her flute as she wanted to enter 'Sligo's Got Talent' which is on in town tonight! What a noodle! She has spent most nights of this week at my parents' since she is taking every opportunity to socialise, if that's what you'd call it? I'd say it was burning the candle at both ends!



At tea-time Dilly phoned to persuade me that I really wanted a nine-month-old donkey and several geese...



And at quarter past eight this evening (after dark) I went through the front hall and discovered the front door standing wide open...weird! The dogs were wandering around the kitchen un-fazed, so obviously there was nobody there but...



I forgot to post this yesterday as I finished it the previous day. Its just cot quilt size, but I took a photo to show the quilting from the back too. The quilting turned out middling I think, but it was so much quicker doing it by machine even if the workmanship is not nearly as good.



This evening when I took the dogs out Foaly was on the edge of the boreen and delighted to pose for photos! I took quite a lot as he has grown so much. He's such a character!

http://hecketyathome.blogspot.com/2009/07/photos-at-last-long.html -this is the size of him in July:



One last thing: the Bro sent me an incomprehensible email about his intended trip to South America in December, using airport codes to indicate destinations (like LHR-London Heathrow), which, if you don't know which country he's going to makes it a bit difficult to figure out. I emailed back ??? and he had the audacity to email ME back asking me had I never heard of Google? HUH! BROTHERS!

Music and a Quilt-top finished!

Yesterday I began the Michaelmas' Term Music. It was good to see all the classes back, and even though it was a rather rowdy start, at least it was a start! When I got to school I discovered that there was a Music student to shadow me, who happened to be someone I taught when he was in Primary school! He is now at College studying to become a Music teacher himself. He taught half of each of the last two classes, and did well too. He has a wonderful singing voiceand the children enjoyed him as much as I did.
After supper Sos wanted to go in to town to a friend's house-warming evening, so I spent a few hours with the folks which was good.

Today I sewed, finishing up a partly cut-out quilt top. It began from left-overs from a double-bed quilt I was comissioned to make several years ago, but it is now a finshed top! Throw sized, though I have not yet measured it. This afternoon whilst B was buying schoolbooks and tights (how does she ladder so many so often?) I nipped into the Thrift shop and got two nearly new cotton pillowcases which I am taking apart to be seamed as backing. At one euro each its good value! There are odd shrieks and giggles coming from upstairs...it sounds as though B is having to beat her pyjamas into submission in order to wear them! She asked whether she could have a 'Social' on Saturday from midday till 10 pm. Since the weather forecast is good she wants to climb the hills behind us before the winter closes in. I said fine, but to let me know how many I need to feed, as Sos is having at least one friend to stay for the weekend, and I have a horror of running out of food (or loo-paper!). After much texting she announced there would probably be ten friends! Yikes! I didn't think to set a limit! I often tell people that my children are rarely disobedient, I just have to be one step ahead of them to imagine what they'll do and if necessary, forbid it! Ten is ok, they'll be out hiking for a few hours with any luck!

A friend at the Hub's workplace suggested what might be the problem with my car, and he's correst: the cylinder-head gasket has gone. It is now in the hospital for sick cars awaiting surgery. Luckily, since they think it'll be at least Tuesday before its ready, they can lend me a car until mine is better! Since the Hub is away on training all next week, it looked like being akward, but all is well!

Flower Power Shower!

The Hub was really impressed with me this evening when he went to have a shower after a very weary day and discovered this:
...how else am I to remove the dust off my precious plants?

It was a long day, you know how some are. I have a theory that time is like a concertina and it warps and shifts; just because every day has twenty-four hours doesn't mean that every day is the same length. But then I also think that the roads in Co. Claire move so you can take that as you like...
Anyhow this morning the Hub took Morning Prayer in the Nursing Home at 10 o'c, followed by another Church at 11 o'c. His homily concerned the teachings of Paul and how the Epistles have been passed down to us to help us live a Godly life. The part of the readings which seemed particularly relevant to me was 1 Kings Ch3 v 9, wherein Solomon askes the Lord for a discerning heart. I think it demonstrates how few truly wise and discerning leaders there have been through history in that Solomon remains a giant of excellent judgement. Perhaps if more of us ran decisions before God, or even 'gasp' listened to His wisdom there might be more to write home about.
The organ playing went ok, except in the second hymn when I accidentally knocked on a stop which produced unexpected extra volume, and nearly jumped out of my skin!

One thing was amusing though. After the Service when people were standing around talking a lady came up and asked did I know either of her sons? I recognised one name as being a school-friend of my brother's and said so. 'Ah,' sez she, 'They'd have been ahead of you then, you being so much younger.' Yah-hey! Score! I emailed my bro to tell him and he sent back a denunciation of the lady's eyesight, and a written snort! Reason? I'm nine years OLDER than the bro!!!

Broga nua? In Dublin on Saturday the Hub finally bought himself a new pair of takkies so he's bouncing round like Tigger at the moment! 'Runners?' sez you, 'Trainers? What's so special about new runners?' Forget not, my fellow blogospherics, this is someone who grew up in the African bush and shoes remain one of life's wonders!
The quilt is put together now, and one border on. I can't decide whether to add some more hand quilting, or whether it would look silly with the machine quilting on the main part. Yesterday I unpacked the trunk holding our pictures. This is a MAJOR event! It has been packed since 2000. When I opened it it smelled of our shack in East Africa which was rather nostalgic for all of us. It was such fun though discovering pictures I'd forgotton but meant a lot, and also several of the girls' paintings from when they were little. When we were packing up I tried not to be too ruthless and to save items which I thought would be meaningful to them in years to come. Meaningful? They were roaring with laughter! So much for that notion.

The Hub worked on the shed all afternoon and now has three of the four windows in. Its looking good! I'll give you a photo tomorrow as I am not going out in the drizzle in my pyjamas to take one now! Contain thy souls in patience until then!

Yippee! and I've been Tagged...

As usual I've managed to load the photos in the wrong order, so my finished quilt is at the bottom of the page. This was meant to be at the end- the Hub dancing with Ben!

This is just for a laugh; its the contents of the Hub's trouser pockets on Saturday, ie a week's accumulation of detruitis. Is it any wonder he complains of having holes in his pockets? I don't know whether you can see, but there are a number of screws, nails, a line of connectors, and a USB there amongst the screwdrivers, stanley knife and maglight...

And herewith one small quilt finished, the whole thing, and then some close-ups. Its going to a friend at the end of the month as a wedding present- a teacher marrying a farmer.

Yesterday's Morning Service was quite intense as we had a celebration and a good-bye. Our Minor Canon, a non-stipendary member of the clergy, is moving to another Diosese as her husband's work location has changed and she found the commute to the west just too far, especially with the winter coming on, icy roads, storms, and all that. So reluctantly the Congregation bade her farewell. She has been with us two years and been involved in everything that's gone on, especially the preparation of the Confirmation Canditates.

The celebration was of another order: our Reverend was Ordained 25 years ago exactly! Our M.C. had unearthed a photo from the day, and he and his wife looked so young! The M.C., in preparation for Sunday had baked a cake and, with the Select Vestry, had organised a stay in a lovely retreat up North near Larne for the Rector and his wife during September. She preached from the Book of Joshua, as there are many well-beloved Scripture quotes from Joshua's exhortations to his men. The best known is probably:

'Choose you this day whom you will serve,...as for me and my house we will serve the Lord.'

Her point, of course, being that our Rector had chosen who to serve and devoted his life to serving. I played all the Minor Canon's favourite hymns and Canticles, and although the Congregation wasn't huge (due to one of Ireland's main Agricultural Shows being on this past weekend) the singing was mighty and I was able to really open up the Organ. It surely was a 'joyful noise unto the Lord', and everyone was wrung out by the end of the Service!

On Saturday there was a funny request from Dilly in Dublin: one of her productions in the Dublin Fringe needs an old travelling trunk as a 'prop' so could she please borrow my Dad's old school trunk? (which houses the Christmas decorations)...Hmmm...I am rather attached to that item, it has a long and venerable history. My Dad grew up on a remote farm on the then Mozambique/Rhodesia border. Getting to his Secondary School involved a five day train journey to and from Grahamstown in South Africa at the beginning and end of each term. Then he came to Ireland to University, by boat. Same trunk. Dilly promises they will look after it and added-'just think of the stories it can tell its grandchildren about being on stage...' Do trunks have grand-trunkie-babes?

This has become awfully long, so I'll continue tomorrow with the 'Tagged' answers!