Tennants Lager Girl

I was working in LouLesBelles today and a lady came in for a browse.    We got talking after she hear heard my accent.   She told me she used to work for Scottish Television and had appeared as one of the 'Tennants Lager Girls' in the late 1960's early 1970s.      This was a long running series of different model's pictures on cans of lager.     The ladies name was Susan.    Tennants Lager girls on cans

It brought flashbacks of my upbringing in Scotland when it seemed quite normal for parents, uncles and aunties to gather and get unco' fu'.    I remember the Tennant's tins lined up (empties!) with all the different girl pictures and my Dad and Uncles Jack, Joe, George, Ecky and David liking to look at them.   I think they were considered quite racy in their day (the tins not the Uncles!).   The word sexist has not even been thought about at least in our part of Scotland.  

When 'the crowd' gathered we children (me, my two brothers and my sister) and various cousins were usually left at a loose end to amuse ourselves.    I have many, many memories some hilarious and others horrendous of what nowadays would probably be considered abuse. Nothing really bad, but just being 'looked after' by daft drunk (kindly in their way) adults - all smoking like 'lums' and either singing or snoring sometimes quarrelling over nothing.     It was particularly awful when we were on holiday in the caravan and there was no escape.    I used to dread the clink of the whisky bottle and still feel the same anxiety today.

On the other hand - I can proudly say I never had a school dinner in my life.   I was driven to school and back every day in a lovely Wolseley, or Jaguar or Rover car.   My mother cooked wholesome food and we lived in a 'posh' new bungalow, had holidays and many happy days out.    My Dad was born in 1910 and my mother in 1921.    He lived to 79 and she to 53.    When Mum died suddenly in 1974 I was a rebellious surly 17 year old caught up in the tail end of the swinging 60's and the start of the 1970's 'awakening'. against a back drop of power strikes, miners strikes, unions strife surrounded by adults who liked nothing more than to recall war time memories, 'hae a wee nip' (and a Tennant's Lager) and tut tut at the state of the world and the length of our skirts.    I lived in my false eyelashes!   I was insanely jealous of my 'big' sister and let her know it by behaving badly.    

I am sure the Tennant's tin pictures were a huge influence on me - something I thought I was supposed to aspire to.    I don't recall anyone telling me there was a different path - or maybe i didn't listen.

Gosh Susan of Tennant's Lager - a lot of powerful memories have been unleashed today.

Happy Birthday to my big sister

Dear sister Mary you are fair pretty

So I thought I’d write you this wee ditty,

You have a special birthday soon,

With all your boys in Tbilisi Toon

You are Mary Poppins to everyone

Riding your bike and never done

Now this wee gift is not a stick

But to help you walk and get there quick!

For going up hills it will be a boon

Or prodding John if he sits doon

I hope you like it and walk many a mile

With this walking pole – do it in style!

Happy Birthday Mary – here’s a virtual hug

Have a wonderful Christmas – nice and snug

We will go walking in the New Year,

With plenty of laughs and a glass of beer!

Ginger has arrived

This evening we went to our neighbours farm (Jean-François et Christine) who have kindly donated another chicken to keep Mrs Mac company.     It is amazing as she looks just like the character Ginger in Chicken Run, so no problem thinking of a name for her!     
http://dreamworks.wikia.com/wiki/Ginger?file=Ginger.jpg


No pictures of Ginger yet as she was quite traumatised with the journey and seeing her new home.    The two of them are now ensconced for the night and we just hope they get on ok.     Ginger is a lot younger and hopefully she will enjoy hearing all Mrs Mac's adventures this summer....

Moon shot on Ginger's first night....

Fright night!!

Last night I was walking down through the garden in the pitch dark to put Mrs Mac to bed with her hot water bottle and two large plastic bottles filled with hot water - to keep the chill off.    

As usual I 'chatted' to her in a loud sing, song voice as I approached.   It was very, very dark and my torch batteries were fading.....    I thought I heard a rustle in the hedge and fleetingly thought maybe a fox or big feral cat was prowling.   I talked louder

"Hello Mrs Mac" I boomed into the dark, feeling around for the catch to the hen house.   "coochy, coochy coo.   So how are you wee hen?" I shouted  

"are you cold?   It's a frosty one tonight" I told her

"look here's your bottle there's a good girl" I clucked

I caught a flash of her tiny wee eyes and carried on making loud cluck, cluck, clucking noises (this to comfort her) as I carefully laid the hot bottles next to her nesting box and then locked the hutch for the night.    I shouted 

"night, night then Mrs Mac there's a good wee girl - see you tomorrow"

 ... and then I heard a car engine and loud hooves like a stampede - which it was!    It was the French farmer herding cows in the dark up our lane to the back field.    By the light of his car headlights I could see two farm hands who must have been standing in the bushes waiting on the cows - and listening to me!!     

I was mortified and fled to the house!!

drawing and napping

I have been going to a lovely beginner's drawing class for a few weeks and find it very relaxing. We are learning about techniques and different pencils/papers.   

I love the power of the pencil and the look of it on paper - kind of like black and white photos, they always seem more detailed?         After sketching for an hour, I feel like I have had a little nap - refreshed and chilled.

This is a little sketch of cart of straw we had to copy for our homework..... 

Des hommes et des dieux (of gods and men)

We watched an amazing film that will stay with us for a long time.     It tells the story of nine French trappist monks of The Monastery Notre-Dame de l'Atlas of Tibhirine in Algeria during the Civil War in 1996.

They led a simple life living in harmony with the Muslim population serving the poor community that was raised around the monastery. They were threatened by terrorists but decided to stay in Algeria and not return to France with devastating consequences.

The Tragic Romance of Africa

It has been a really thoughtful week world wide as Mr Nelson Mandela passed away, which has highlighted the plight of Africa.   

I just happened to read a really good book written by my step daughter-in-law's grandfather Dennis Hubbard:

The-Tragic-Romance-Africa-Adventure

It is a tender true story revealing the memoirs of a young man setting out from his daredevil ‘Dennis the Menace’ upbringing in post war Sheffield to work for a railway company in the little mining town of Broken Hill in Northern Rhodesia in the early 1950s.    The book is a real page turner with laugh out loud moments as the story beautifully unfolds.   The descriptions of Africa in the 1950s are breath taking and I felt as though I was there.    The narrative brings to life an amazing country and the wonder of seeing wild, wild animals – up very close!    

The tragedy unfolds against the shocking backdrop of Apartheid through the eyes of a plucky young adventurer, unbelievably naïve in the world of complex adult relationships.   The author develops influential and powerful allies but is tragically blind to an illicit love tryst involving his closest friends, until it is too late, with horrid consequences. 

It was a privilege to read this honest and heart felt coming of age account in contrast to today’s usual unbelievable gory best sellers.

If you have received a stack of book vouchers this Christmas – this is an absorbing insight to another life, another place, another time.

Mrs Mac made snug

I have just been down to tuck Mrs Mac up for the night and even though Jeff has put down a thick layer of straw, I think she might be cold as it -2 at nights and she looks so lonely in her wee coup.    So I went and made up a hot water bottle for her and wrapped it in one of Jeff's old pillow cases (he will never know) - so hopefully that will keep her frost free.    I might go down later and top it up.... here is the sunset and the moon rising on the way back to the house....

The mysterious Mrs Mac....

Well, well, well!     readers may recall that in September my three gorgeous chickens (Mrs Mac, Val and Mick) started behaving strangely - refusing to go to bed, roosting up in the trees and running amok with the cows in the field.... then they disappeared and were never seen again.     I wept a bit as I scoured the local forest and bushes and eventually accepted they were gone and had probably made a fine dinner for Mr and Mrs Fox and their family - survival of the fittest?

Then about two days ago I spotted Jeff lurking down by the chicken shed.  I thought he was measuring up to extend the run in readiness for new chickens planned for next spring.... then today he led me down the garden to 'see something' and there was Mrs Mac in her coup!!

It seems in the last few days Jeff had seen fleeting glimpses of a sleek, black Mrs Mack zooming in and out of the garden near the coup.   Unbeknown to me he had gone down and opened the gate a little to allow her access to the coup.   Then today in she went and..... slam Jeff shut the gate!

So that is the end of free range and Mrs Mac is now safely ensconced in her coup.   We have sent pleas to the farmer nearby to ask for another chicken to come and live through the winter with Mrs Mac..
Of course this all has a very poignant feel as Val and Mick have not reappeared and Val was named after my good friend Val Midgley who died just a few weeks ago   
So here is the heroic Mrs Mac our intrepid bush dweller... after all these weeks when I have been out weeding and mowing and tidying I always had a feeling I was being watched - aha!

The return of Mrs Mack!  after 3 months exploring....

When we got the chickens in the summer we asked the kids to suggest names and Ella has suggested 'Lucky' for Mrs Mac - so maybe we now call her Lucky Mrs Mac.

Amy's boo boo

I was speaking to my friend Amy who is working hard with her partner Richard (the Punk) to run a splendid new Bistro 'Les Bistro des Amis' at Fomperron, Deux-Sèvres.     They serve gorgeous food and have delighted customers French and English with their Fish 'n' Chip nights on Fridays.    
Anyway yesterday Amy was practising her french language as she took orders for Sunday roast dinner which included lovely roast beetroot.    She was trying to think of the words and told Madame they were serving 'roasted beet'.   At which point Madame chocked and spluttered going bright red in the face.... seems beet in French is something to do with the equivalent of 'dick' in english.... oops!
If you are ever in this area (near St Maixent L'Ecole) well worth a visit!

https://www.facebook.com/BistrotDesAmisFomperron

Pies and Pudds

Well that Paul Hollywood has got a lot to answer for!     Jeff is hooked.    There is a gleam in his eye, or is it a bit of pastry?
    
We had a serious heart to heart about 1 month ago.   'No more biscuits Jeff' I said.   'Just don't buy them and then we won't eat them, right?'.    'Yes dear' he agreed (sensibly).  

 Next thing I know there is Jeff in the kitchen clutching a rolling pin and the latest 'Pies and Pudds' book by PH.   

Turns out he is a dab hand at pastry (yes Jeff you are) and now every other day is 'baking day'.   (normal folk bake cakes for celebrations or special weekends... oh no not us, we have to do it 3 times a week!!).      He started with some old tins, rusty from disuse and now it is like Silicone valley in this house!!    Jeff has discovered silicone rolling pins, tartlet cases, rolling surfaces - you name it.     I don't know how to break it to him, but this has got to stop!!   Groan.

baby Daniels first visit to a bouncy castle...

My friend Val

I had a very good friend called Val Midgley.     We met about 9 years ago when I went to live in her village - Thornton in West Yorkshire.   She had lived in the same house for 38 years and I was a 'newby'.     We met and took to each other instantly.    She was one of the most funny and fun loving women I have ever known.   We walked Hadrians Wall together for charity and laughed all day and night 'I can't sleep me' said Val every half hour, waking me from my deep sleep (snores she said).    We walked up the three Yorkshire Peaks our hair stood on end in howling winds.   She always hugged me tight and told anyone within hearing distance 'I luv 'er'.   'I love you' she'd say and laugh.    She was a strong Yorkshire woman and we just clicked.    She died suddenly in November.   I feel numb with grief.    She was a young, lively 69.    Everyone who knew Val will miss her like I do.    I know its Christmas and time for cheer and I know what Val would want... so there will be plenty of that.

  

Mick, me and Val at the top of Pen-y-Gent in 2010 - she was over the moon!
and not just because we had reached the summit......

In 2011 our friend Carol (yes the water baby) hosted a 'wee tea party' one saturday afternoon and we all dressed up for the occasion (just us girls).    Val loved any occasion to dress up! 

Val at Carol's tea party with my parasol

me, Val, Carol and Irish Mary at Carol's tea party

Sheila, Mary, Val and Carol in Carol's garden

Val, Mary, Carol and Sheila at the tea party

Val - what a wumin!!

I had three chickens living in the garden last year and called them Val and Mick.... Val thought that was hilarious and I so looked forward to her visit to see them.... not to be.

Mick (a bit hen pecked) and Val (the bossy one)