Wednesday 1 January 2014

Crackers

I've pulled any number of Christmas crackers over the holiday period, worn paper hats and laughed at terrible jokes. Last week I looked round the lunch table at family and friends and reflected that everyone there had a background that was from somewhere else; first generation British Polish and British Nigerian, with Irish, Scottish, Welsh, Lithuanian and other Eastern European ancestry all happily sitting down to eat together.
Today is the start of a New Year. It is also International Peace Day. Britain is a small island, it has been refreshed and reinvigorated for generations by people of differing race and religion. I think it is absolutely crackers that race and religion continue to be used as a reason for inflicting harm on others.
Wishing you all, dear blogging friends,
 a peaceful, happy and healthy 2014.
The weather outside is frightful, as the song goes, so I've been snuggled up inside looking at the books that came as Christmas presents. I requested the Reader Digest garden book as I had borrowed it several times from the library and was always loathe to hand it back in. It is so full of useful information and recipes and is destined to become very well thumbed.
I'm a great admirer of the English writer, Elizabeth Taylor. Last year I had the paperback of her complete short stories and this year three of her novels. Today I read 'Mrs Palfrey at the Claremont' from start to finish - an absolute joy!
Himself was given a book of John Bulmer's photographic studies of Northern England. Mostly black and white, the photos are powerful and evocative images of the area where we spent our childhood and youth. They are mostly very bleak and remind me how poverty stricken the country was in those post war years. 
We have had only one day without electricity so far but candles and lanterns are at the ready as the wind continues to rattle round the house. Wherever you are, keep warm and well.

26 comments:

  1. Happy New Year. May this year find more of us at peace with one another.

    xo J

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    1. A good thing to wish for, Jane, and I'm also hoping that this is going to be your year! (Advert - big heart, space to fill.)

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    1. Thank you, Coulda, and the same wishes to you.

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  3. Hello! This is my first visit to Share My Garden. I thoroughly enjoyed this lovely post. The lunch table of family and friends looks quite fun. I almost felt as if I were sitting at the table as well. I love the white orchids (one of my plant addictions). Hope you're keeping warm over there. Happy New Year! May we all have our best new year yet. :-)

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    1. Hello and welcome, Beth. I've been looking at the colourful flowers on your blog, how cheering. The white orchids on my table were a present from a neighbour. I love white flowers and have in the past tried to grow an all white border. So-called 'white' flowers grew with blue throats and yellow throats or petals of pale pink - the result was anything but the hoped-for mass of white! My favourite annual is cosmos 'Purity' which is a 'good-doer' and lasts until the first cold spell.
      Gardeners always think that the year ahead is going to be the best ever!

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  4. How very sweet. We're a bookish bunch as well. A Happy Happy to You!

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    1. Wishing you a happy, healthy year ahead, Connie.

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  5. Love this! I just wore my last paper hat for the season and am ready to bid the holiday season adieu! Now I have to look up Elizabeth Taylor - have not read her work!

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    1. You have a treat in store with Elizabeth Taylor. Some authors can write good novels but poor short stories and visa-versa but I think that she excels at both. I'd love to hear what you think of her in due course.

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    1. Oh the same to you - I wish you kind weather, few pests, good crops, beautiful blooms!

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  7. A good post Rosemary. You have made me feel that there is more going on than you have shared with us. Have a very, very good New Year.

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    1. Blogging is fascinating, I think that we've all got 'more going on' than we write about. I've got such strong impressions of a number of you and feel that I know you well and that if we were geographically close that we would get on like a house on fire. (Of course I might be completely wrong!) We seem to be a bunch of cup-half-full people who might touch in passing on ill-health or heartbreak but who are positive about life. Like many others my reason for blogging is to record and celebrate.
      I have the feeling that 2014 is going to be good!

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  8. Happy New Year, Rosemary and Peter!

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    1. Happy New Year from us to you, Steve. Is this the year you come to Blighty?

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  9. No electricity? In December? Wow.

    Apart from the blackout I really like this posting. It is so fresh and full with good things: the novels, The North, the Readers Digest, your friends ... who need to go outside when you are surrounded by these?!
    Happy New Year!
    Paula

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    1. Paula, we are so lucky, only a few hours without electricity - no food ruined, no damage done. Other households in the country have had a simply dreadful time, I cannot imagine how horrible it must be to have flood water ruining everything in your home or days without power and food stocks rotting in the freezer.
      The best of wishes to you for 2014.

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  10. Warmest wishes for a happy new year and a successful one in the garden.

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    1. Warm wishes are just what is needed in this weather, Elaine, and I wish the same to you!

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  11. I think on a personal level different races and religions do get along, and then those in power mess it all up! The gardening book looks very interesting, and I will look out for the Elizabeth Taylor books.
    Wishing you a very Happy 2014.

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    1. If you read any Elizabeth Taylor do let me know what you think of her. The garden book has been in action today - using one of the soup recipes!
      Good wishes to you for 2014.

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    1. Dear Bozena, how lovely to hear from you. Sending you my best wishes for a creative, productive year ahead.

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  13. Hoping you and himself have a wonderful New Year Rosemary. Enjoyed this post

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  14. Thank you, Doc, and good wishes to all at Menagerie Manor for 2014.

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