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Category Archives: charity

Bonding Squares, Sketchers and Roger McGough

Bonding squares are provided to mums whose babies are in a neonatal unit.  Each mum is given two squares, one is put with her  baby and one is kept on mum’s body. Every twelve  hours they are swapped over.   They help the Mother and baby to bond by smell in cases where they can’t physically touch.   I have made two pairs so far to go via Caring Crafters of Cornwall, with my little hats, for our local hospitals.

bonding squares

Bonding squares

Redruth was filled with children from Trewirgie School today, all sitting and sketching some of our beautiful buildings. I asked if I could photograph one girl’s work and here it is. They were having such fun and were making all the shoppers smile with delight at seeing what must have been nearly the whole school out working in the sunshine.

Boesti

Boesti

I just love this poem by Roger McGough, ‘First Day at School’

A millionbillionwillion miles from home
Waiting for the bell to go. (To go where?)
Why are they all so big, other children?
So noisy? So much at home they
Must have been born in uniform
Lived all their lives in playgrounds
Spent the years inventing games
That don’t let me in. Games
That are rough, that swallow you up.

And the railings.
All around, the railings.
Are they to keep out wolves and monsters?
Things that carry off and eat children?
Things you don’t take sweets from?
Perhaps they’re to stop us getting out
Running away from the lessins. Lessin.
What does a lessin look like?
Sounds small and slimy.
They keep them in the glassrooms.
Whole rooms made out of glass. Imagine.

I wish I could remember my name
Mummy said it would come in useful.
Like wellies. When there’s puddles.
Yellowwellies. I wish she was here.
I think my name is sewn on somewhere
Perhaps the teacher will read it for me.
Tea-cher. The one who makes the tea.

 

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Sun Hat, Baby Hats and Rabindranath Tagore

Today I have bought a new sun hat. Ever the optimist, I just know I will be needing it this Summer.

Sun hat

Sun hat

With one ball of yarn plus a little I have made nine tiny baby hats for the Caring Crafters of Cornwall group who are knitting and making for premature babies born in our local hospitals.

Hats for premature babies

Hats for premature babies

The words of  Rabindranath Tagore are always interesting. This piece is particularly lovely. Savour it and enjoy it.  It is called The Source.

The sleep that flits on baby’s eyes-does anybody know from where
it comes? Yes, there is a rumour that it has its dwelling where,
in the fairy village among shadows of the forest dimly lit with
glow-worms, there hang two shy buds of enchantment. From there it
comes to kiss baby’s eyes.
The smile that flickers on baby’s lips when he sleeps-does
anybody know where it was born? Yes, there is a rumour that a young
pale beam of a crescent moon touched the edge of a vanishing autumn
cloud, and there the smile was first born in the dream of a dew
washed morning-the smile that flickers on baby’s lips when he
sleeps.
The sweet, soft freshness that blooms on baby’s limbs-does
anybody know where it was hidden so long? Yes, when the mother was
a young girl it lay pervading her heart in tender and silent
mystery of love-the sweet, soft freshness that has bloomed on
baby’s limbs.

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Walking and Singing Together

Dylan Thomas once said of Mousehole (pronounced Mowzel) that it was the prettiest village in England and it was here that we started our walk today with singers from two Cornish choirs, Levow an Bys and Dawn Chorus, in aid of Freedom from Torture.  Join us all on this chilly walk as we make our way through Mousehole into Newlyn and thence to Penzance stopping at various points along the way to sing. What a splendid afternoon. Thank you P for inviting us along.  Click on any photo for detail and the caption which will tell you what we sang at each point. Sorry I don’t have any recordings for you. Stopping to take photos was quite tricky in the midst of fifty walkers!

 

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Cornwall Rising – A Million Stories of Sanctuary

What an incredibly moving, informative and inspiring day we have had, hearing from ‘ordinary’ Cornish people who are doing extraordinary work both here and abroad to ease the plight of those who have had to leave their homes in Syria, Afghanistan, Somalia and other places where life is unimaginably hard.

Our own St Piran was a refugee made welcome here and we, those who live in this beautiful county, want to help and are helping in Lesvos, in Calais and in Cornwall, each in her own way and all volunteers.  Here follows a gallery of the day, photos taken from the back of the hall of the projection on the wall.

 
 

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Baby Carrier Kits

On Friday afternoon a group of my lovely friends are getting together to make some more Baby Carriers and today I have prepared three ‘kits’ with all the pieces cut out and ready to sew.

Baby carrier kit

Baby carrier kit

Baby carrier being modelled for me

Baby carrier being modelled for me

 

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Yotam Ottolenghi, Seaside and Snoods

I read a recipe in The Guardian this morning that sounded delicious. It was one of Yotam Ottolenghi’s, Cauliflower and Chickpeas with Warm Tahini Yogurt and it was as delicious (and easy)  as it sounded. I chopped the tomatoes though rather than grating them! If you would like to try the recipe, here is the link http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2016/jan/30/tahini-recipes-yotam-ottolenghi-chilli-fish-roast-cauliflower-sprout-burnt-butter-black-garlic  It’s the third recipe in the article.

Roasted Cauliflower and Chickpeas with Warm Tahini Sauce

Roasted Cauliflower and Chickpeas with Warm Tahini Sauce

Gylly Beach looked inviting from Castle Drive today but, in fact, it was very cold and we didn’t stay very long.

Gylly Beach

Gylly Beach

We were in Falmouth to deliver some warm clothes, and the four Snoods I have knitted, to Espressini, a local cafe that is acting as a Collection point for donations for refugees in Calais. The young woman in the cafe told me that the lovely local people have been very generous which is good to hear. Some people are driving over next week to visit The Jungle and to take all the donated items to those in need.

Snoods with labels to show people that they are being thought os with love and respect

Snoods with labels to show people that they are being thought of with love and respect

 

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Singing, Gingerbread House and Rumi

Singing was brilliant this morning! Claire phoned our friend and choir member, Paul, who is walking on a mission for Peace and Reconciliation from Rome to Jerusalem. I have told you about him before and many of you have now sent messages of peace to his website – thank you so very much from me and Paul. If anyone else would like to send a message, please do! Click on the website.
Back to the phone call! We sang a song of love and joy and peace for Paul and for ourselves and many of us had tears in our eyes. Here it is for you to listen to, kindly recorded by another good friend, J. You can hear some Choir-baby sounds at the start!
This delightful Gingerbread house was on the counter at Miss Peapod’s where we all have coffee after singing.
Gingerbread house

Gingerbread house

After singing today, it being the last this year, we all went out for lunch. Here is our beautiful choir leader, Claire, delighted with the Spa Day voucher we have just given to her in gratitude for all she gives us through her music.

Spa Day at St Michael's Falmouth

Spa Day at St Michael’s Falmouth

 On this day in 1273, Rumi, a 13th-century Persian poet, jurist, Islamic scholar, theologian and Sufi mystic died. Many of his words are so very wise and resonate with me. On this day in 2004, my lovely Dad also died. He, too, was a man of letters, an author and a man of great wisdom and I miss him.
Dance!

Dance!

 

 

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A Plea, Pooch Perfection and Primroses

People from 100 countries read this blog! Can I please ask as many of you  as possible reading today to leave messages of Peace for our friend, Paul, who is nearing the end of his amazing pilgrimage, walking from Rome to Jerusalem in the name of Peace and Reconciliation. (Last year he walked from Canterbury to Rome.) Please click on the link www.peacewalk2015.com to leave your message for peace. Know that Paul treasures every message of peace that he has with him, be it virtual or in the book he is carrying with him. They all add power to the message. Thank you very much to Patty B and to Nia for already doing so.

Paul's information for you

Paul’s information for you

We walked past a shop window today and the only ones in there were two delightful dogs! It was Pooch Perfections, a dog grooming parlour and they did indeed look beautifully groomed!  The little one took particular interest when I stopped to take photos!

Customers

Customers

What are you doing? Who is that with you?

What are you doing? Who is that with you?

There are delicately yellow and very beautiful Primroses in our garden.  It was so warm as we walked back up the hill from town that I had to take my coat off!

Primroses in December

Primroses in December

 

 

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Daffodils, Roots and Tomato and Two Cheese Torte

I bought our first Daffodils of the season yesterday, locally grown of course, and they are a beautiful bunch of brightness on a gloomy day.

First daffodils

First Cornish Daffodils

I have taken the glass grown Hyacinths out of the dark and into the daylight as they have very good roots now. I had hoped they might be in flower for my birthday in just over three weeks but I think that is unlikely. They will be with us in January brightening up those short days.

Hyacinth roots

Hyacinth roots

We are going out to an evening with friends and music and shared food tonight and I have made a Tomato and Two Cheese Torte. Click the red link for the recipe. The evening is to raise money for Paul’s chosen charity, Children of Peace, and for which he is walking from Rome to Jerusalem.

Tomato and Two Cheese Torte

Tomato and Two Cheese Torte

 

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Shadow, A Good Read and Graffito in Nicosia

The shadow thrown by our much loved quirky sculpture, by Jeremy Beswick, is pleasing this morning.

Man with a Dog by Jeremy Beswick

Man with a Dog by Jeremy Beswick

I have had a lovely afternoon away from the hoolie blowing outside curled up with books. I finished the very entertaining read,  The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett, this afternoon. What a delightful concept – our Queen Elizabeth discovers the City of Westminster Travelling Library in the grounds of Windsor Castle and she starts to borrow books recommended by the Librarian. Just as for the more common reader, reading can transform one’s life!

The Uncommon Reader

The Uncommon Reader

Paul, our friend who is doing a pilgrimage for Peace and Reconciliation, and is walking from Rome to Jerusalem  spotted this charming piece of graffiti in Nicosia.

From Paul, Peace Walker

From Paul, Peace Walker

 

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