Netherwood

I recently reconnected with a long lost school friend via a chance meeting with her lovely Mum in my local village hall. I gave her my email address to pass onto my school pal, and within a couple of days, I had received a lovely long email from her detailing what she was up to and generally catching up on the last 30 years (I last saw her early in 1982!!). We exchanged a few emails, arranged to meet up when she ventures north to see her parents, added each other as friends on facebook, and then she mentioned that her sister had written a novel which I might like as she has based it on the area that she grew up in - Hoyland Common and also Wentworth. The book is called Netherwood by Jane Sanderson.

I really loved it and can't wait for the second book in the series (which is out in September). I don't want to give the plot away, but it is the tale of a big house who's owners discover coal in seams beneath their land - like the Fitzwilliams of Wentworth Estate did, and the folk that live in mining villages that spring up around it. Whilst it is a novel, a lot of the names of the people, the roads that they live on etc are very familiar to me, and the story of a mining tragedy is so very familiar too, as I was brought up in a mining village. You can buy the book in Waterstones and from Amazon. I hope they turn it into a Sunday evening TV series - I could even audition to be an extra!! Jane, if you read this, you MUST insist that I get a part - write it into the terms and conditions!

It made me really think about how my female relatives coped loosing the breadwinner of the family back in the days when there were no state benefits, and no jobs for widows to do - other than take in washing. I think that both my great grandmothers lost their husbands young, and both re-married. In a lot of instances, this would have been the only way to stay out of the workhouse, as the rent on a miners tied cottage would still have had to be paid.

The man that my great grandma Ottway married after her husbands death was a hard drinking bachelor called Jerry. She died herself not many years after marrying him, leaving my dear grandma - only about 13 years old - to take care of her brothers and sisters, and her step father - Jerry. "T'owd Jer" as he was known to us all, lived to be a grand 94 years old - I remember him well as he lived with my grandparents for the rest of his life. My grandad did not get on with him at all, but he put up with living with him for almost all his married life. He did once suggest putting him in an old peoples home, but the response he got from grandma is unprintable! T'owd Jer was a cross between Steptoe and Compo (from last of the summer wine). Up to the end, he would dress every day in his suit and tootle off along the road to the pub at lunch time, and then after a pint or two, would amble back to sit in his wooden chair. Like most men back then, he never lifted a finger to help in the house, and so it really was a blessing to him that he had married my widowed great grandmother. I loved him to bits - my mum says that he was on his last legs until I was born, but my birth seemed to revive him! When he was ill in bed near the end of his life (I would have been about 10 years old), I used to read the newspaper to him and play the radio for him. He died whilst we were away on our weeks holiday to Blackpool, and I felt sure he would have got better by the time we got home.

The Sheffield Chronicles by JP Bean

As a special treat, the people that run the "Off the Shelf" literary festival in Sheffield, decided to run a "history" special weekend. I wish that they had run it over a month, because they crammed so much really good stuff into a weekend that it was impossible to get to much of it! Anyway I found myself with an opportunity to go and listen to local author JP Bean talking about his book "The Sheffield Chronicles" which took place at the Long Gallery in the Winter Gardens/Millenium Galleries - a delightful place to spend a Sunday morning.

As I wandered through, I thought I would remind you that a cutlery dragon lives here!
I also love the huge rusty "Made in Sheffield" bells.

Mr Bean researched his book by reading old newspapers etc in the library across the road. He has listed some historical Sheffield fact for every day of the year. There are stories about celebrities who visited the city or who are from the city, ordinary everyday local people, buildings long gone, newer buildings, old events, events from more recent times, funny stories, sad events etc

He was great to listen to, a very entertaining story teller. I'm glad I made the effort to get out of bed and go.

I had left hubby in bed as he had been on a night shift. I am always amazed when I do things on my own that so many lovely people make the effort to speak to me - something that doesn't happen as much when I am out as part of a couple.

Gifts from Italy

Hi All.
This week is proving to be far more exciting than last week. The dancing queen got to dance at a concert for World Aids Day (too dark in the club to take decent photos). As usual the dancers were really great. On Wednesday, hubby and I went to see the really lovely Jo Brand talk about her Autobiography " Look back in Hunger" which is about her life up until she became a comedienne. It is one of the first events to be held in the recently renovated Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, so it was great to get back in there for a nosey around. Jo Brand herself was very entertaining, she is a great story teller and she is really lovely. I was quite surprised by the audience. I thought that they would be all around my age, but many were much older.

I also received a great Christmas Prezzy from the little ray of Italian sunshine that is Michela .
As well as the lovely necklace, she sent me beauty goodies (how did she know I needed them?!) and Chocolates - which disappeared before the camera came out!!!. She also sent something for the Dancing Queen - which thrilled her to bits!! She thinks that we should adopt Michela so that she can become her older sister!

I really loved the little card that came with my gifts. Many thanks Michela, you made my day!

Ive got a really great weekend planned - I'm taking my camera so I can share.

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Revealed at last!!!

I can finally reveal my PIF gifts as all the recipients have now received them.

Firstly, for BumbleBeeCottage I made a tote bag and lavender bag in a Christmas fabric as she has a bit of a thing for Christmas (if you pay her a visit, she appears to have her tree up already!!). I also added a button "B" and some snowball buttons to her bag. I also made her 3 Scottie dogs for her tree and a denim corsage with buttons in the centre.



For A Bun Can Dance I chose a yellowish theme as she also has another blog called I choose Yellow. I love the American "Jail house rock" panels so popped one of these on the pocket panel of her tote bag. I also sent her a daisy corsage and a grey felted one and a bag of yellow buttons.

For Andamento I embellished her tote pocket with white buttons and a few beads. I knitted her a neck warmer for her bike rides (you don't want a flappy scarf for such activities) and also made her a lavender bag and a denim corsage.

I have to say that even though I was short of time, I really enjoyed making something for each of these lovely ladies.

I have a new car - do you like it?

Yes - you've guessed it, I am only joking. I missed out on a trip to London on Saturday. I had organised a "Dad & Lad" excursion for the men to go to the MPH show featuring Top Gear Live at Earls Court. I was going to tag along for a lift and had planned to visit Borough Market (for starters!! ) but something cropped up and I had to stay at home. The car above is a Bugatti Veron and is worth approximately 1.8 million and is owned by an Arab Sheik who says he is prepared to sell it. Judging by the number plate, I think he is pitching this at Jenson Button or Lewis Hamilton!! Anyway, the boys had a great day out.

I used up the last of my birthday money in Waterstones last night. I love the Cool Camping books and have stayed at quite a few featured sites. Great browsing for a very rainy and blustery evening.

Batten down the hatches in St Ives Noelle!!