Ann's story covered the second world war where Joe spent most of it as a prisoner of war before returning to his family. Rosemary told of all the effort to arrange her mothers beans to find out later it was bind weed. Pat gave an account of being raided while taking a shower. Brian told us of the time when Spaniards raided our coast line kidnapping and killing but not burning down village pubs that supplied them with drink. Sheila all about the pleasure of gardening. John's tale about the bad lad Billy and his horrible fate. Sue cleaning up for the arrival of the creative writing group. Joan Read about a sister named April because she was born on first of that month. Joan all about the delights of gardening.
Two winners this month Sally and yours truly.
Sally's story
Curled around, plenty of scope here I thought but that was two weeks ago when things were different. Since then I had an eye test and the Optician told me my cataracts had
worsened and a nerve from behind my ear was the cause of pain down my jaw and face.
Next day I awoke with a bruised and swollen right eye. I was unable to wear glasses
because they were the cause of the pain.
I looked out of the window and saw this thing on the concrete outside, it was a dirty white
colour and it looked like something a dog had deposited. I cannot cope with that right now and I hoped that one of my sons would visit me later and remove it
Meantime I had to telephone the singers and let them know that one of the songs that we
would be singing in August for the U3A, was going to be on TV later today.
I rang about three singers, no problem. Then the next two the answer phones politely
asked me to leave a message. As it was Sunday morning I knew the next two singers
would be in Church. So I tried the next number and a young man answered and by this time I was struggling with eye strain and I had forgotten who it was that I called.
So I said “Could you please tell me who I am speaking to?” He replied. “Who do you wish to speak to?” There was a long pause and I said,” I don’t know“. There was silence. “Is there someone there that sings?” I said timidly. “Oh do you want Bernard? Dad someone for you” he called.
Oh! We did laugh about it.
I looked out at ‘the thing’ again, this time it looked like a thick stick without the bark curled around it, perhaps a dog had got fed up carrying it and dropped it.. So I got on with my French homework.
When I read out my French homework to the class I was quite pleased with it. I answered any relative questions and I was relieved when it was over. Then one of my friends who adores her cat talked about his lovely little habits and then it came too question time. I asked her if her cat had been muted instead of neutered so consequently I had silenced him instead of asking if he had had the snip. The French teacher was delighted with this malapropism and asked if she could use it. My day was in ruins.
I went home feeling dejected, and looked out of the window at ‘the thing’ and it had changed dramatically. I was keeping a friend up to date with ‘the thing’ so I rang her and said “It looks like an animal foetus I can see three bent legs an ear and two brown eyes. The skin is shredding from it in little patches.”
Just then a knock came to the door and the warden came in to have a chat. So I told her
about ‘the thing’ on the step and as she went out to look at it. I offered her a bag as protection for her hand. “What is it?” I asked. “A rather large piece of grubby tissue“ she replied as she picked it up. “How long have you been worried about that?
Sure enough where it was twisted and dirty in places it did look as if it had legs and two eyes. It is not my fault I am getting old.
My Story
Curled Around
Liz's finger curled around her wedding ring and gently moved it up and down as she studied the flour spotted recipe book open at a menu for making little frosty iced cakes. "Butter, for greasing 1 quantity Easy apple fruit cake, uncooked, 2 tbsp apricot jam 500g pack natural marzipan 500g pack ready-to-roll white icing 16 fresh cranberries, bunch rosemary , broken into small fronds". "What did that mean, never mind all will become clear" she thought., "50g caster sugar 1 egg white 50g icing sugar approx 1m gold ribbon".. She had all the ingredients. Just then a groan came from the lounge followed by another even louder groan of despair. Liz dusted her hands and went into the other room. Her husband John was lying on the sofa where he had plonked himself down after a terrible night of discomfort. He certainly looked unwell and his face pinched from the pain and his colour a tinge of yellow. "I've called for an ambulance" he said dropping the phone onto the floor. Liz picked it up and put it on the sideboard. "What did the doctor say" Liz said. John cursed aloud "I said I called for an ambulance I didn't speak to the doctor."
"I don't expect they will be long then" Liz said and went back into the kitchen tomorrow the grandchildren were coming around for tea. That was Lucy and Miranda and her mother Lilian so she would need a lot of cakes. "Heat oven to 180C/fan 160C/gas 4.Done that now what next Butter eight 150ml ramekins and line the bottoms with circles of non-stick baking paper. Divide the cake mix between the ramekins, transfer to a baking sheet and slide into the oven. Bake for 30 mins until springy and dark golden brown". A loud knocking on the front door interrupted her work. "Who could that be?", she thought. "Let them in Liz" John moaned, " I can't get up."
Liz made her way to the front door brushing her hair back as she went giving her a rather dusty appearance.. The two burly ambulance men moved swiftly in carrying a collapsible stretcher. "Where is he? "In there on the settee." Liz left them and returned to the kitchen.
"Melt the jam with 1 tbsp water and brush over the top of the cakes. Lightly knead the marzipan and shape eight golf ball-sized pieces." Liz was not familiar with this recipe and it was hard concentrating especially with the interruptions.
One of the men called out for her to come to the lounge where they were about to take John who was now almost comatose out to the ambulance. "Are you coming with him" they asked. "No I can't I have cakes to cook the grandchildren are coming for tea tomorrow." Both paramedics looked at each other and one said "OK Mrs we'll be off then. I expect you'll see him later then." "Oh yes I'll come later tell him I'll bring some of the cakes ."
She closed the door after them and returned to the kitchen her fingers absently plucked at her wedding ring she glanced at the offending object and then smiling she pulled it off her finger and placed it on the drainer. It was such a relief.
Next month "Tried to explain" 30th April
