Blog Action Day - Food

This year, Blog Action Day will be held on October 16, which coincides with World Food Day, so naturally our 2011 theme is FOOD. 

I spotted the details for this event quite late, so am writing off the hoof! Initially I did wonder  whether to utilise an earlier written post, which was submitted to the Carnival of Genealogy and was titled "Foods and their links to the Past", but somehow that felt like cheating!

As I re read the original posting, my thoughts turned to past generations of my family. As I contemplated the question. Did they go to bed hungry? They probably did. In the 19th Century it was common for only the man to earn a wage, and even then the wage would have been minimal. Families would have been much larger than we see today, with a much higher child mortality rate and lower life expectancy than we are used to.

What I find exceptionally sad is that parts of the world are still facing the same issues 200 years later. Going to bed hungry and low life expectancy. How can that be right or even acceptable? I guess, if you don't know any different do you feel aggrieved by the situation?

We spent some time in Kenya in 1994. The staff at the hotel were very friendly and we often chatted to them about their homes, families and alike. We arranged to go on a tour organised by the operator. A member of staff was sick and we were asked if we minded being accompanied by a member of staff from the hotel instead. There was 8 of us on the trip and none of us minded so as we set off we were informed that we would need to make a small detour so to inform the family of the member of staff who was breaking his routine. Some of those on the trip felt that this was a ploy to show us the poverty the locals lived in. We felt that it was perfectly acceptable to inform his family, especially when most of the locals living in rural settings would not have access to a phone. We stopped in the village he left to inform his family and was back within a few moments. While he was away we observed that the children had gathered around the bus, curious. Many had never seen someone who was white! We smiled at that. We watched the women ground maize in a huge tall pot and asked the chap from the village how often they did this task. It looked hard work and we were told they did this every day.

The tour passed without incident and was enjoyable. We got to know Francis over the course of our holiday and found that he was very knowledgeable and interested in life in the UK and how it compared with Kenya. From that day we forged a friendship and we still send him a card at Christmas and a few nice, practical items from England. There was nothing sinister in the behaviour that day. We have developed a friendship and there was no degree of wanting. He did share with us proudly that his salary was £7 a month, (in 1994) and that he was able to provide for his family. He loved working at the hotel and that he had a small family. He still works at the same hotel and his children are obviously older now, but they send us pictures in with cards and we in return send them a few bits from England. He is proud of his achievements and we are better for having met him. What was very clear was that the people who lived in this village knew of poverty, yet nothing on the scale that we saw in the 1980s and since, and they had relatively little compared to us in the Western world, but what they did have they would share and I think that there is something rather refreshing in such a simplistic life.

Postcard Friendship Friday - Stoke Church Guildford 1904

Submitted as part of Postcard Friendship Friday hosted by The Best Hearts are Crunchy

Tea Cup Tuesday - Nice Cup of Tea!

Welcome to Tea Cup Tuesday.

I thought that as I am going to be away for this edition of Tea Cup Tuesday I would comment on an earlier post from my blog, back in 2006.

For me, 44 pages into the book, I relived some happy memories. The book talks about storing buscuits, that accompany tea in an old biscuit tin. Old because it adds credibility.

I remembered the biscuit tin that my late Aunt had when I was a child. During a visit, I was offered a biscuit, which I declined, and asked if she still had the biscuit tin she had always had. Although showing a puzzled look, Aunt produced the said buscuit tin. It was the same one, and it has been in use for more than 30 years.

I don't actually know when I first starting drinking tea. My grandmother always had coffee and for 11 or thereabout and a cup of tea mid afternoon. Before she went to bed she always had hot chocolate. My mum doesn't drink tea, and rarely coffee, but does make an excellent cuppa! and I always drink tea, and rarely coffee, unless a generous Tia Maria is added to it! My tea preferences are probably verging on the boring side. I like Tetley's and am not fond of flavoured teas or Earl Grey. Although I did towards the end of last year receive a book box with some flavoured teas and I did remove and drink one that was a citrus flavour.

A few years ago I was on a course and  after dinner we were offered coffee or tea. I selected tea. About 10 minutes went past and the waitress arrived clutching a nice wooden box, the sort of box that hubby would store fishing flies in!, she opened it and revealed about 20 different flavoured teas. My colleagues, knowing that I like plain tea, of which I prefer Tetley's were looking in amusement at what I would select. Much to everyone's horror I said, "I'll have the nearest to Tetley's" to a rather bemused waitress.

I like my tea to have milk added, so it is a medium to dark brown with no sugar. I am not keen on powdered milk added to my tea, long life or UHT milk. Tea made in hotels using those little pots of milk never tastes quite right.

The section about tea pots is accurate. Why do they always leak? Actually hubbys says they don't and that I pour too fast. A few years ago we were in the Army & Navy store in Guildford. This has been rebranded as House of Fraser. We went up to the rather snazzy resturant on the 5th floor and I had a pot of tea. It arrived in a lovely solid metal tea pot that had an oriental feel to it. I asked if they were sold in the store and was told no. I was disappointed, but left it there. Then about 4 months later we spent a day in Honiton, having a wander through the antique shops, and there I spotted an identical tea pot. I bought it, and have used it only about twice, but I like it and its a nice addition to the kitchen and it doesn't leak when I pour.

The web site that accompanies this book is HERE

 

Submitted as part of Tea Cups Tuesday hosted by Artful Affirmations & Martha's Favourites

Guildford & District in 366 Days

Introducing Guildford and District in 366 days.

I was born in Guildford and am very proud of my heritage and links within the local area. Over the last 20 years or so I have collected a vast archive of memorabilia relating to Guildford and the rural parishes surrounding it that are linked to my family history.

About 10 years ago, I was approached to edit a book entitled Guildford and District and for a whole host of reasons which I will not go into here, I did not publish the project. I have though, kept the material and added to the collection.

A chance pondering, and I contemplated this project; to publish the collection over the course of a year, commencing today, 10th October 2011 with a completion date of 9th October 2012. A total of 366 days because 2012 is a leap year.

I hope that you will stop by the Guildford and District in 366 Days and enjoy the collection as much as I have compiling it.

Sunday Stamps - Europe

Welcome, to the latest Sunday Stamps posting.

I missed last week, the weekend seemed to arrive and leave with speed and before I knew it Sunday had gone! For this week I was able to rummage through my envelope of stamps still attached to envelopes and the albums. There are a few pictures this week -

From Germany

 From Italy

From Belguim

From The Netherlands

From Spain.

The first row shows stamps before Spain entered the Eurozone.

From Finland

From Italy

This one is a favourite!

From the Republic of Ireland or Eire

From Romania

Lastly, From Austria

Submitted as Sunday Stamps hosted by Viridian's Postcard Blog

Bonnets & Convicts

Last week when we visited Killerton House there was a display of bonnets. The display was titled "Roses from the Heart" and was inspired by the Australian conceptual artist, Christina Henri. Each bonnet embroidered with the name of a convict who had been transported to Australia.

The exhibition has been contributed to from across the world. The exhibition left Australia during August 2010 and is currently being shown across the UK, before heading to London and then onwards to Australia. I hope to try and catch up with the complete exhibition next year when I am in Australia.

In the meantime, HERE is the website, which is inspirational. You can even download the Patten and send an authorisation form to submit your contribution to the exhibition. Here is a further blog about the bonnets

I say inspirational because each bonnet represents a woman who was transported to a Country thousands of miles from home. There was no easy means of communication. Unless you could write and could get a letter on a ship back to England, and that someone could be trusted to then forward the letter on, once you left the shores of England it was forever. Some did make it back to England, but only the minority. Forever, is such an emotive word. Think about never seeing a loved one again. Sent on a ship to where? It sends a chill down the spine doesn't it?

The reason for the transportation is to some degree irrelevant. It was to the women involved,  just as bad as being confined to the dreadful prisons of the 19th Century, or the noose. These women, and of course the male convicts, were instrumental in making a nation. I somehow doubt, that the politicians of the time had any idea just what Australia would become. To me, it is paradise!

Sunday Salon - New Additions.....

I nipped into the library on the way home from work last week, grateful of the extended opening times, only to discover that Devon County Council has sliced just over 8 hours from the opening times at the library. I am still very lucky that the library remains opens and whilst it does not extend beyond 6pm it does still open Saturday mornings. Sign of the times I guess.

I found a few interesting books -

Researching British Military Medals by S. Dymond
The Last Letter from Your Lover by Jojo Moyles
Requium for a Mezzo by Carola Dunn

Then, I was reading a posting on a fellow book blogger's blog, (where else!) and spotted a challenge, which has definite bookish appeal! - The 30 day book meme. Now, that sounds great!

Here are the prompts:

Day 01 – The best book you read last year
Day 02 – A book that you’ve read more than 3 times
Day 03 – Your favorite series
Day 04 – Favorite book of your favorite series
Day 05 – A book that makes you happy
Day 06 – A book that makes you sad
Day 07 – Most underrated book
Day 08 – Most overrated book
Day 09 – A book you thought you wouldn’t like but ended up loving
Day 10 – Favorite classic book
Day 11 – A book you hated
Day 12 – A book you used to love but don’t anymore
Day 13 – Your favorite writer
Day 14 – Favorite book of your favorite writer
Day 15 – Favorite male character
Day 16 – Favorite female character
Day 17 – Favorite quote(s) from your favorite book(s)
Day 18 – A book that disappointed you
Day 19 – Favorite book turned into a movie
Day 20 – Favorite romance book
Day 21 – Favorite book from your childhood 
Day 22 – Favorite book you own
Day 23 – A book you wanted to read for a long time but still haven’t
Day 24 – A book that you wish more people would’ve read
Day 25 – A character who you can relate to the most
Day 26 – A book that changed your opinion about something
Day 27 – The most surprising plot twist or ending
Day 28 – Favorite title(s)
Day 29 – A book everyone hated but you liked
Day 30 – Your favorite book of all time

Doesn't that sound great? I am pondering on completing the meme through November 2011. Does anyone one to join me?

Weekend Cooking - Bacon & Egg Surprise!

This recipe was originally produced with breakfast in mind. I thought, that this would make an interesting change to a quick dinner, and made a few adjustments!

The first thing I did was pop some goose fat in the oven to melt and then added some potato to it, cut up, rather like small roast potato or sauté potato.

I then extracted the mushroom, bacon and egg and tomato from the fridge and turned on what I knew when I lived in Australia as a fry pan. It's a pan, electric and does not specifically need any fat. I regularly cook bacon in mine and never use any fat! So, I added the bacon to the fry pan and let it cook. Once cooked I took out of the pan and placed on a plate.

I then extracted the tomato's from the vines and cut them in half and placed in the fry pan. I sprinkled with ground pepper and added a drizzle of olive oil. There is something wonderful of smell of fresh tomato complete with the vine.

I then cut up the mushroom, again a smattering of ground pepper and added to the pan.

Then I prepared a muffin tray. There was three of us for dinner, so that was six slices of bread, with crusts removed and then placed into a greased muffin dish. Press firmly down in the middle. Then crack the egg over the slice of bread and add a slice of bacon to each of the muffin sections. Pop in the oven on 190 or 375 degrees for between 10-17 minutes, depending on how runny you like the egg yolk.

The muffin tin was not the best tray. It needed something with a wider diameter, as I lost some of the egg white.

.....And here is the finished dinner. Hubby scored it 10/10 so I guess it must have been okay!

Weekend Cooking is hosted by BethFishReads

1902 Advert - Bowring & Company Red Cross Line

1923 Advert - Bowring & Co

52 Weeks of Personal Genealogy & History - Wk 34 - Smells

Week 34: Smells. Describe any smells that take you back to childhood. These could be from meals, fragrant gardens, musty basements, or something entirely different.

This challenge runs from Saturday, August 20, 2011 through Friday, August 26, 2011.

This is a late post; life has been busy!

The most wonderful smell has to be the smell of jacket potato baking in the oven. Even now when I smell that familiar smell I am plunged back into the Saturday's of my childhood, with my Grandmother grating a huge block of cheese and a super big jacket potato.

For me, that was a real treat. Now, with the invention of a microwave and the capability of having a jacket potato cooked within minutes it has lots its specialness, but regardless, I always cook mine in the oven, and hang the costs and time!

Postcard Friendship Friday - Elstead Mill

Submitted as part of Postcard Friendship Friday hosted by The Best Hearts are Crunchy

Wordless Wednesday - Quilts

Taking part in Wordless Wednesday

Tea Cup Tuesday - Royal Commemoratives 1887

Hello & welcome to the latest addition to my regular series called Tea Cup Tuesdays. I was so glad that I stumbled across this meme a couple of months ago. It gives me chance to share my treasures and have a wander down memory lane as I recall the story that accompanies the various tea cups.

This week is a Victorian coffee cup, produced to commemorate the Jubilee of Queen Victoria in 1887. I promise, I do have other non commemorative tea cups, but I am posting about them in the order they appear in the china cabinet in my breakfast room! I know your probably thinking that is organised, but it really helps my shocking memory!

Here is the little treasure

Isn't it sweet? This was my first purchase back in 2002 from a well known auction site - eBay! The little coffee cup cost about £5 and I was delighted with the purchase. It didn't matter that it had some damage to it, as that I feel simply adds to the character of such a little piece. I wonder who purchased this item and from where and how much. I do wish the little cup could tell me of its life before I purchased it, but that is not to be. So it sits in my china cabinet, amongst the china that I have either collected or inherited and is often admired.

Submitted as part of Tea Cups Tuesday hosted by Artful Affirmations & Martha's Favourites

Weekend Cooking - Mrs Beeton's Book of Household Management

,Back in March of this year I saw an interesting two part review of Mrs Beeton's Book of Household Management (Abridged version published by World Classics).

Here are the links to Review One and Review Two written by Bunny's Stuff.

I was interested in the review and as I had a voucher that I wanted to spend on books that would become part of my library collection I ordered it from Waterstones.

The book arrived and is really interesting and is currently resting on my cookbook shelf on the hall bookcase.

Last week there was a documentary broadcast on BBC 2 presented by Sophie Dahl about the life of Isabella Beeton. I recorded it, and finished watching it this morning.

Isabella was one of 4 children. Her father died when she was young and her mother, like many women of the time remarried to a widower who also had 4 children. Isabella's mother and Step Father went on to raise a total of 21 children. From early sources Isabella was aged about 12 years old and was instrumental in helping look after her younger siblings.

She then married Samuel Beeton and I think became a women of future generation. In addition to being a wife and later mother she also worked within Samuel's publishing business. Isabella knew grief. She lost two of her four children and sadly passed away aged 28 years.

What is sad, is that her headstone, (photographed from a live pause on the TV) reveals that she was a "fellow worker" in her husband's publishing world. There is no mention of her journalism and achievements as an author. Which was very much a sign of the times of Victorian England.

The program made some of the dishes that Isabella produced in her book. This one was a favourite of mine from the program, although I have no plans to make it!

Here is the recipe from the book

And here is the finished pie, suitably decorated!

The program ended with a dinner party. The table decorated in full Victorian splendour. The dishes were those explored on the program and the guests were all the experts who had given advice and insight in the life and times of Isabella Beeton.

Killerton House - National Trust 30th September 2011

Killerton House - National Trust 30th September 2011, a set on Flickr.