Cakes and Ale (&
Home)
Actually, scones and
beer!
Back in the dawn of
time, when dinosaurs roamed the earth, and I was about 10, I won
third prize at Poynton Show in the junior section for my scones. Last
Friday, I was forced to delve deep and hard into the memory to recall
all I used to know, as we'd volunteered to produce some for a book
launch (of which more anon).
Luckily, it seems I
haven't lost the knack, probably owing to some assistance from St
Delilah of Norwich. Which turned out to be fortunate as P. was lying
hors-de-combat, struck down with her particular brand of dreaded
lurgi.
A friend, the
delightful Liz Fenwick, has a new book out, and her publishers had
arranged for a launch at a small independent bookshop in Urmston. Why
Urmston, you may ask? Liz's publishers, Orion Press, suggested it.
Liz's new book, A
Cornish Stranger, has a music thread to it, and Liz got a lot of
her information from a student friend of her son's who attended
Chetham's School of Music – also in Manchester. All of which was as
tenuous a connection as you can get, but still made for a really nice night. A nice crowd of some 36, Liz
spoke for an hour, some good questions and all the scones went!
BTW – I really
recommend her book – it's the best she has written, and I really
enjoyed it. I spent a large part of my childhood in Cornwall. Liz
really “gets” that bit of magic that starts when you cross the
Tamar, and it shines through her books.
Meanwhile, back at the
house, we are still knocking off those little jobs left from the
move. The carpet fitter comes tomorrow to fit new stair carpet, we
have new curtains, the garden is coming on a treat, and we have
ordered some new double-glazing. Bit-by-bit we are
getting there.
I am off to Belgium again next week for
the last committee meeting before the big Hash
House Harriers “do” in July. 2500 people coming, and a LOT of
beer organised!
When Liz was talking
she mentioned how she looks on her house in Cornwall as “Home”.
And that got me thinking. Both Pam and I are really feeling the new
house is "Home" already. Perhaps because we both chose it, and made all
the decisions about it.
Just for once, we were
able make all those decisions purely on their own merit. All the
other houses we have had, for the last 30 years, have either been
because they went with the job, or because my work was in the area.
THIS time, we are here just because we want to be – and that is a
great feeling!
