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Category Archives: Words

Note books, Marina Lewycka and A Poem

In 2008 my lovely SIL gave me a beautiful box of twelve little note books. I was known for always carrying a notebook and they had become known as SallyBooks. I am coming to the end of the set having just started no 11.

I was looking at the first book today and the first notes I was taking were at a book event, Readers’ Day at  Falmouth University,  where Marina Lewycka was talking about her first novel, “A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian,”  recently serialised on BBC Radio 4. I was reminded by my detailed notes, of her warmth and easy discussion style while talking with Mac Dunlop, and was sorry to hear that she had died yesterday. I also made notes of some of her comments – “Humour is the gift that lifts you out of the sh!t. It enables us to keep our humanity.” We need to remember that in these difficult times.

I’ve shared poems by the American poet, Billy Collins before and here’s another for you, taken from his collection, Questions About Angels.. I just love the ‘glass bottomed boats.’

 
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Posted by on November 14, 2025 in Postaday2025, quotations, Uncategorized

 

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Quiet Day, A Poem and Almanac Entry

A sore throat kept me away from singing this afternoon, not wishing to share any germs, but I did make a lemon cake for tomorrow’s volunteers.

John Dryden has the right idea here, live each day for itself. It’s a skill I am trying hard to master.

I like checking Sandi Toskvig’s Almanac from time to time. Here is today’s entry and a link to the music Sandi suggests. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1OJvqKNGg4

 
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Posted by on November 10, 2025 in baking, poetry, Postaday2025, Uncategorized, Words

 

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Old Books, Cuttings and A Film

I’ve been sorting through books we inherited from my parents, some real beauties there, many picked up at auctions in Truro many years ago. I was charmed to find some personal notes in the margins and cuttings from the Manchester Guardian of 1887.

Published 1870

Here’s the opening of one essay, The Guillemot,  containing the wonderful word, ‘nidification’ which I take to mean the nesting habits of the birds.

Page 62

Rather gruesome cat’s head on his desk!

Just been to see the film, Downton Abbey, The Grand Finale , thoroughly feel good!

 

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Strawflower, Caterpillars and A Poem

I love the vibrant orange of this strawflower, Helichrysum.

I don’t know what these dancing caterpillars are but they were all over the red leaves of our Corkscrew Hazel. The nearest id I can get is maybe they aren’t caterpillars at all but Sawfly larvae. Perhaps a knowledgeable reader out there can help..

This lovely poem by Seamus Heaney came my way today. I loved the memories it evoked of lifting sheets off the line with my Mum and folding together. We two still fold line-dried big bedding this way.

 

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Seed Head, Berries and Words

I posted these words five years ago and they still work for me.

 

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Jigsaw, Topper and New Yarn

We’ve just finished our latest jigsaw. It’s been really good fun.

There’s a new post box topper in our street, an Easter Bonnet!

I decided I needed a new knitting project. I read about some research into the benefits of knitting and thought that sounds as if it’ll do me good.

“Knitting has been cited as a therapeutic technique known to reduce anxiety (Anderson et al, 2016) and historically has been shown to “reduce chronic pain, boost mood, reduce stress, treat panic attacks, combat loneliness, boost confidence, curtail caregiver burnout and more” (Medaris Miller, 2016)

Off I went to my local wool shop and bought some rainbow baby wool to make a little cardigan. You can read more about the research by clicking on the red link.

 

A Posy and International Women’s Day

Today is the wedding anniversary of our lovely neighbour, Sue,  and I always take her a little posy made of the same Spring flowers that they had at their wedding and with a sprig of Rosemary in remembrance of dear Bill-next-door.
We love our shopping bag which commemorates many women who changed the world for the better.  .
I saw this quotation today and thought, how apt.
“Each time a woman stands up for herself, without knowing it possibly, without claiming it, she stands up for all women.”
Maya Angelou
 

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Camellia, Good Words and A Special Invitation

There being no choir today as it is half term, a good friend from the tenors came round for coffee and we spent a happy couple of hours ‘putting the world to rights’ – if only we could! P brought me some beautiful Camellia blooms from her garden.

The following quotation is one to be treasured and acted upon.

Our choir leader, Claire Ingleheart, has spent the afternoon at Buckingham Palace!  Since both her choirs started raising money for Shelter Box in 2015, even despite the ‘covid years’, between the two choirs, we have raised £7,800 and as recognition of this, Claire was invited as one of the ShelterBox contingent to a reception being held by the King and Queen at the Palace for four Humanitarian charities. What an honour! We are looking forward to hearing all about it next week.

 

 

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Balls of Light and A New Book

I saw this quotation from Ezra Pound in the bookshop today.

Here is the ball of light we saw setting on our journey home.

And, I have a new book, ‘a ball of light’ in my hand. I read the first ten pages or so while I was waiting for another book to be chosen, giving it the ‘ten page test’ I used to suggest to children in my classes. Books and cats on the cover drew me to pick it up.

 
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Posted by on February 4, 2025 in nature, Postaday2025, quotations

 

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Cat, Jigsaw and Luxuries

We were out for breakfast this morning and met another ginger cat but this one wouldn’t keep still for the photo!

We are working on our jigsaw and escaping the horrid winter weather.

I love this list of true luxuries.