AS: Tea and biscuits and GIN, the British thread

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  • (Slightly moved on but I'm having no luck with knitting or sewing lately. I have an overlocker but it's chewed up the fabric for my new jacket, so I ordered a new part and got knitting, but made a hat that was not just too small for me but also too small for the 4 year old. I see some unravelling in my future).
  • PigletPiglet All Saints Host, Circus Host
    My mum, who was an excellent seamstress but rather less confident with knitting needles, would occasionally start to knit something, and if it had a pattern (cable or whatever), something wouldn't go right, and she'd unravel it and start again. With one particular cardigan, this happened so often that by the time she'd finished it, she was so fed up with it she didn't want to wear it, so I got it.

    I must stop faffing round on here now and turn sone dough into bread. I didn't really need to make a batch today, but we're going to be busy tomorrow - helping the ladies of the ACW sing Christmas carols (and throw in a few anecdotes on the way) in the afternoon; and in the evening the choir has to be part of an Advent* choral thing at a local United church.

    * It involves several local choirs, singing individually and collectively; we'll probably be the only one to do actual Advent music (we're singing the Magnificat from Gibbons' Short Service).
  • O frabjous day! Calloo! Callay!

    I have been designated an Official Disabled Person, and my beneficent local council has today granted me a Blue Badge (to make parking near Useful Destinations easier). It arrived in the post this morning.
    :grin:

    As did my new Wheelchair, courtesy of my good friend Mr. eBay. It is a lightweight folding chair, which fits neatly into the back of the car, and will be useful for getting around the Church and the Supermarket (also the Pub or Restaurant, if/when I go out for lunch).

    It's one of the mandraulic, or self-propelled, versions, but if anyone wants to help push me around, they're very welcome.
    :grimace:



  • Might I be so bold as to ask how you will get said Chair in and out of the Episcopal Ark Palace?
  • Good question, but I can still walk a bit, albeit only a few yards, so the New Episcopal Chair will be kept in the car, for use as described above.

    AIUI, I am an 'Ambulatory Wheelchair User', i.e. someone who does not need to be in a wheelchair all the time, but can stand, walk about etc., at least for a few minutes.

    Alas, the Ark does not have space for such an item, though it might be possible to construct a convenient Shed or Outhouse (on shore).

    I'm hoping that I will only need the Chair temporarily, but it makes sense to plan ahead, IYSWIM.

    Apart from anything else, it might well be an instructive experience to see at first-hand how wheelchair users are treated in public places.....
    :worried:
  • Baptist TrainfanBaptist Trainfan Shipmate
    edited December 2018
    Depends of you deliberately run over peoples' toes, I suppose ...

    Seriously, I hope it's a big help to you.

    Or else you should be a Proper Bishop and seek to be born about in a litter (or should I say "palanquin"?)
  • Sounds really good news, Bishop's Finger.
  • Or else you should be a Proper Bishop and seek to be born about in a litter (or should I say "palanquin"?)

    I believe it is only disabled soil scientist visiting foreign field sites that get such treatment.

  • Bishops FingerBishops Finger Shipmate
    edited December 2018
    O.

    And there was me just about to see if palanquins were available on-line...
    :disappointed:

    IANADSS, and I don't want to visit any foreign field sites. Tesco's will do..
  • PigletPiglet All Saints Host, Circus Host
    Glad to hear you've got your blue badge, and best of luck with getting used to the wheelchair (and I hope it won't be permanent!).

    The ACW thing went off very well - D. has a really nice way with little old ladies*. They all laughed politely at any attempts we made to be funny, and sang quite nicely in the carols. They also, TBTG, did not, when given the opportunity, ask for O holy night, which IMHO is an Abomination Before The Lord™ and makes the Baby Jesus cry.

    * which is just as well, because one day he'll be married to one ... :mrgreen:
  • We sang that song at a Christmas concert. I share your opinion of it. Choir director (fromUSA) could not understand why hardly anyone knew it and why none of us liked it.
  • PigletPiglet All Saints Host, Circus Host
    The trouble with it is*, it's really meant to be sung by an operatic soloist - it's got too big a range to be singable by a congregation.

    The choral bash this evening went very well - nobody sang any horrors - and at the end D. played Vom himmel hoch by Garth Edmundson, which is very impressive and jolly, and everyone loved it, so
    I've been basking in reflected glory! :heart:


    * apart from it being a bit rubbish :mrgreen:
  • Piglet wrote: »
    The trouble with it is*, it's really meant to be sung by an operatic soloist - it's got too big a range to be singable by a congregation.
    Or by an aspiring operatic soloist who just can't quite reach.
    :anguished:

  • Pigwidgeon wrote: »
    Piglet wrote: »
    The trouble with it is*, it's really meant to be sung by an operatic soloist - it's got too big a range to be singable by a congregation.
    Or by an aspiring operatic soloist who just can't quite reach.
    :anguished:

    My eldest daughter (career in musical theatre) sang it once in a church and it is the only time I haven't winced listening to it being sung in a non-professional performance.
    I think of it as a "musical theatre meets Christmas" song in style.
    Also my daughter has a range of three and a half octaves with full power at both ends which helps!

    ION Little Beaky has just got his blue badge too which will make life so much easier for them all.
  • you have all heard the ( spoof and deliberately) out of tune, out of time and incredibly impassioned version of OHN, haven't you?
    If not, here it is

    i know it may cause major offence to musically trained ears (and others) - but please endure what you can, for the comedic purposes.

    When our choir was set to sing this at a Christmas concert, it was introduced to us as "don't sing it this way"....
  • Just be careful, BF with that wheelchair, and don't try to reverse! I have vivid memories of being on a scooter for us mobility impaired people, and backing in order to do a three point turn, in Marks and Spencer and bringing down a big rack of cards!!!

    I apologised profusely and made a hurried exit!
  • Piglet wrote: »
    The trouble with it is*, it's really meant to be sung by an operatic soloist - it's got too big a range to be singable by a congregation.

    * apart from it being a bit rubbish :mrgreen:

    Not a female one either. Jussi Bjorling delivers it so well that it is hardly offensive at all.
  • Thomasina wrote: »
    Just be careful, BF with that wheelchair, and don't try to reverse!
    Especially if you're on your river bank, with your back to the water ...

  • Or at least go 'beep beep beep'.
  • Ha! The Chair will have to be fitted all round with buoyancy aids, lifebelts etc., to forestall such an Occurrence....

    ....actually, I probably won't need to use it here on the river bank etc. (said he hopefully), but only when venturing further afield.

    @Thomasina's warning re 3-point turns duly noted, however.
  • All wheelchairs take a certain amount of effort to get the moving, then quite an effort to stop quickly. People who stop in front of you tend to have their legs bruised mid-calf as they act as brakes. And they need surprisingly large turning circles.
  • This is true - I've used a wheelchair myself in the past, and (as you might suppose) pushed them about quite a bit, as motive power, when working for the Ambulance Service!
    :grimace:

    Fortunately, my arms and hands are in good working order at the moment.

    Perhaps a nice Bell (or a little Foghorn) might be useful attachments....
    :innocent:

    .....but I promise to be careful....
    :warning:
  • A foghorn would be useful. It's only when you use something like a wheelchair or a scooter that you realise how random people are when walking.
    All the scooters I've tried which have bells have silly little "peep peep" bells. You really need something which goes "BAARP". Oh, and reversing mirrors and a reversing alert like you find on lorries - "caution - this vehicle is reversing, peep peep peep "
  • Bishops FingerBishops Finger Shipmate
    edited December 2018
    There are available some neat little gas-powered portable foghorns.

    They are VERY LOUD INDEED.

    I know this, as I supplied one (on her earnest request) to a former colleague, many years ago. She used it, I found out later, as part of her contribution to an anti-homophobia demonstration in Southwark Cathedral.
    :naughty:

    I shall purchase one or two.
    :wink:
  • PigletPiglet All Saints Host, Circus Host
    You could always try singing ... :mrgreen:

    I'm currently in mid-sugar-rush: they serve afternoon tea in the Cathedral on the first Thursday of the month, and there's always a plethora of wee buns. Today, because there were some birthdays being celebrated (including D's, which is on Monday), there was also CAKE.

    As it was the last one before Christmas, D. played for the singing of a few carols, which everyone seemed to enjoy.
  • There are available some neat little gas-powered portable foghorns.

    They are VERY LOUD INDEED. [...]

    I, at some point, was seriously tempted to get one of those for my bicycle. (There is one make which works with air pressure, and you affix it to the frame of your bike.) - Alas, I fear they may be illegal...!

  • Wesley JWesley J Shipmate
    edited December 2018
    Piglet wrote: »
    You could always try singing ... :mrgreen:

    I'm currently in mid-sugar-rush: they serve afternoon tea in the Cathedral on the first Thursday of the month, and there's always a plethora of wee buns. Today, because there were some birthdays being celebrated (including D's, which is on Monday), there was also CAKE.

    As it was the last one before Christmas, D. played for the singing of a few carols, which everyone seemed to enjoy.

    Yay for sugar rushes! I unvoluntarily tried Coca Cola Zero the other day (other brands are available), which to me tasted absolutely ghastly. I think it's all those artificial sweeteners. Blimey! Give me a good ole sugar rush any time. At least you know what it is and where it comes from!

  • MooMoo Kerygmania Host
    When my mouth tastes artificial sweetener it tells my digestive system that sugar is on its way, and my body releases insulin to
  • MooMoo Kerygmania Host
    handle it. The insulin rush has almost made me pass out sometimes
  • Wesley J wrote: »
    There are available some neat little gas-powered portable foghorns.

    They are VERY LOUD INDEED. [...]

    I, at some point, was seriously tempted to get one of those for my bicycle. (There is one make which works with air pressure, and you affix it to the frame of your bike.) - Alas, I fear they may be illegal...!

    They may well be. The gas-powered one I referred to earlier led my colleague to spend some time in Police Custard, but I suspect that's what she had in mind, anyway...

  • Perhaps a nice Bell (or a little Foghorn) might be useful attachments....:innocent:

    Perhaps some furry dice?
  • Yes! Or maybe some of those dangly fir tree smellies!

  • Perhaps a nice Bell (or a little Foghorn) might be useful attachments....


    does it have metal spokes, like bicycle wheels ? You could stick on a playing card so it gets hit by the spokes and makes a noise like a football rattle, or get some of thoseSpoke Beads which will clitter-clatter as the wheels go round
  • Crane bicycle bells are superb traditional bells with beautiful clear ring.

    So far today I've been to the dentist and then wandered round Cambridge unsuccessfully trying to find a rather specific gift my youngest wants. I then walked home in the rain (my watch says I walked nearly 6 miles today). I'm now having a cup of tea before giving myself up to 3 hours of marking.
  • Today, we have seen blue skies and sunshine! First for weeks and weeks. And no rain!
    What is the world coming to?
  • It has rained here - a lot! But it cleared up this morning just in time for me to join a community litter pick. (All right, then - we did get drizzled on slightly).
  • Yes, much rain here, too - finding its way through tiny leaks in the roof (or deck) of the Episcopal Palace-Ark.
    :cry:

    Thanks, all, for useful suggestions for Appendages to the new Chair. I think perhaps a Bell is the best one to adopt - a friend suggested spikes a la chariot of Boadicea, but maybe not...
    :confounded:
  • A friend suggested spikes a la chariot of Boadicea, but maybe not...
    You might have problems getting it on the bus ... on the other hand, they could prove useful for Cutting through Crowds.

    (N.B. Despite that splendid statue on the Embankment, it seems unlikely that said lady actually did have spikes on her chariot wheels. And, anyway, I don't believe that you're in Iceni-land but "Sarf of the River").

  • I'm on Iceni land, well the borders thereof, and, when my daughter was in a wheelchair, wanted to add blades to the wheels. Particularly for cars parked on pavements or over dropped kerbs.

    Today is the Christmas market and it tipped down all morning. It wasn't too bad when we were setting up the Girl Guiding stall at 11am, but I still got soaked pushing the water off the top of the market stall before it collapsed inwards and soaked us anyway.

    I'm on duty after 6:30pm so wandering back up again for the third time in a minute. It'll be interesting to see how many of the Christmas decorations have sold. (I spent yesterday making red felt and tartan decorations.)
  • PigletPiglet All Saints Host, Circus Host
    Perhaps a nice Bell (or a little Foghorn) might be useful attachments....:innocent:

    Perhaps some furry dice?
    Not south of the river - furry dice are for Essex men. (An Essex Man's Wife Has Spoken). :mrgreen:
    Thomasina wrote: »
    Today, we have seen blue skies and sunshine! First for weeks and weeks. And no rain!
    What is the world coming to?
    We've had plenty of blue skies and sunshine - it just isn't warm sunshine (currently -2°, due to go down to -15° tonight). We won't be getting shot of the snow at this rate. :cry:

    Nice appreciative audience at D's concert, many of them still raving about the piece he played on Wednesday, which he finished off with again today. And one of the regulars gave us a jar of her husband's home-made grape jelly. :)
  • I got completely drenched today and then had to go and do my shift at the Foodbank. Am now nice and warm at home and consuming Prosecco. (Fizz on Friday is a thing in our house!)
  • MrsBeaky wrote: »
    I got completely drenched today and then had to go and do my shift at the Foodbank. Am now nice and warm at home and consuming Prosecco. (Fizz on Friday is a thing in our house!)

    Yay!

    It’s red wine o’clock here - cheers! 🍷

  • I’m having a beer (Saltaire Cascade).
    I’ve a busy weekend ahead, I’m teaching tomorrow and unusually I’m teaching in a classroom not online. It’s a module on young people and families and we’re looking at social capital and community relationships (most of my students on this module work in social care or education).
    On Sunday I’m doing a Victorian re-enactment in Suffolk. I play an evangelical surgeon’s wife with an interest in temperance (lol) and the plight of poor women. I’m unusual in that I have a middle class role, the other villagers are working class and the house are either posh or servants.
    So an interesting weekend in that I’m doing social policy from a modern and a Victorian perspective.
  • Apart from anything else, it might well be an instructive experience to see at first-hand how wheelchair users are treated in public places.....
    :worried:
    @Bishops Finger and instructive it may well be. I was lent one in the summer and it got used just once - first I was taken by a very determined and well meaning friend to an exhibition at the Big Church where everything had been hung at eye height (if you are 5 ft something and standing up) and was pushed so close that even if I looked up I couldn’t see it. Then I was taken to the local emporium that sells Essential items and had a real “does she take sugars moment. And constantly being reversed without warning - I was quite seasick by the end of that trip. I’m sure it was what made me determined to find a different mode of mobility,

    Today, however, has been one of Much
    Walking, as have the previous 2 days - I’m up in London seeing the lights and being vaguely cultured (Christmas at Kew, Good Grief Charlie Brown at Somerset House and Cats in Literature at the British Library are On the itinerary). I am staying at an AirBnB and am astonished at how my hosts have got used to planes flying so low overhead that you can see the undercarriage. It’ll seem so quiet back in the Country (relatively speaking).
  • NenyaNenya Shipmate
    Boogie wrote: »
    MrsBeaky wrote: »
    I got completely drenched today and then had to go and do my shift at the Foodbank. Am now nice and warm at home and consuming Prosecco. (Fizz on Friday is a thing in our house!)

    Yay!

    It’s red wine o’clock here - cheers! 🍷

    Adding this to Wine Wednesdays and Thirsty Thursdays.
  • We had our amazing "Carol Aid" event last night. Two local primary schools bring their choirs to sing, we also have some congregational carols and raise money for two charities (this year Alzheimer's and the Welsh Children's Hospice), I also have the opportunity to share a simple Christmas message. Church jam-packed with friends and relations and some of our own folk, children sang really well, great atmosphere. We normally have three schools taking part but one had had to drop out - I'm really thankful as we wouldn't have been able to get them in! I wore clerical shirt plus Christmas jumper and that seemed to go down well!
  • I wore clerical shirt plus Christmas jumper and that seemed to go down well!

    I must suggest that to our Rev.!
  • Wot?

    No Geneva gown or preaching bands?

    Is Outrage!
    :wink:
  • Baptist TrainfanBaptist Trainfan Shipmate
    edited December 2018
    We're not in Geneva, I wasn't preaching and the music was recorded or played on the piano - no bands in sight! [Devil].
  • PigletPiglet All Saints Host, Circus Host
    I reckon a clerical collar and a silly jumper is probably exactly the right mode of dress for such an occasion, possibly especially if said jumper is adorned with fairy lights ... :innocent:

    We're having a lazy afternoon prior to the Guild of St. Joseph (aka the Holy Joes) annual roast beef dinner, an event much looked forward to. I'm not sure who does the cooking, but it's very good indeed. We were monstrously pissed off last year when it clashed with the dress rehearsal for the local Choral Society's concert, for which D. was playing, and we had to miss it.

    Memo to self: don't have too much wine - we're doing This is the record of John in the morning, so I need to be fit. :smiley:
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