Orient Express Steam Day

Took a trip on an Orient Express Pullman service train from London to Bristol to celebrate a significant birthday.This was a train ride done the way things used to be with a steam engine and ultra comfortable coaches .A table for two with immaculate service for  brunch and dinner  were included in the ticket price.

Leaving Victoria station at 9 a.m. we ambled through the English countryside stopping to pick up water supplied by a fire engine .Passengers could get off and see this.Remembered what hard work it was seeing the stokers and fireman shoveling coal to build up steam.

Our destination was Bristol.Taken by coach on arrival  to see Brunel's suspension bridge and then a guided tour of his steam ship in dry dock, beautifully restored. Back to the train for the return journey to London to find our table ready with canapes and cold champagne, followed by a good dinner.If  like Grandpa you like  trains you will love this.

Tunstall village, Suffolk ~ watercolor demonstration

The Wizard of Oz

A brilliant show  at the London Palladium for Grandmas to visit with grandchildren.Witches fly round the auditiorium, snow flakes fall on the audience, the tornado is terrific and the music is hummable .Treat them to a pair of Ruby Slippersocks as a souvenir.

Danielle Hope has a nice voice and is sweet but  this Grandma first saw the film 65 years ago aged 5;there will never be a Dorothy as charismatic as Judy Garland again.

Full house when we were there,this is an experience children love, get them away from the TV and computer screen.

Cambridge Restaurant Midsummer House

This restaurant has 2 Michelin stars. Eating here is a lovely experience.The menu is served as a range of small quantities of utterly delicious dishes over about 6 courses to everyone at the table.Professional restaurant food- not home cooking.

Be careful with the array of wines-- better to choose one good bottle to enjoy throughout the meal than be overwhelmed by about 5 glasses .I saw one lady with her head in her hands unable to cope.

Check the price of the wines before choosing--champagne can be £ 350 per bottle.

Attention is paid to every tiny detail, perfect service.

http://www.midsummerhouse.co.uk/

Cambridge and Tourists

Are you going to visit Cambridge, England this summer? I hope you enjoy my lovely city but:-

If you are accompanying a group of young people please tell them to show respect  when entering churches and chapels

• Photography is generally permitted but not during services.Posing for photos in mocking positions in front of paintings or a cross may seem funny to you but is very offensive to Christians who worship in the churches-Japanese visitors please note this.
• It is the custom to form a line when waiting to be served in a shop or cafe.Pushing in front of waiting people  is considered rude.
• Crowding the entrances to streets and buildings, pushing  people off the pavement (sidewalk)is inconsiderate to frail older people and mothers with small children.
• If you hire a bicycle learn the traffic signs.

GRANDMA DAILY: News of The World -Vince Was Right

GRANDMA DAILY: News of The World -Vince Was Right: "See how easy it was for Murdoch to close down this piece of popular culture. You may not have liked the NOTW but a free and challenging pr..."

News of The World -Vince Was Right

See how easy it was for Murdoch  to close down this piece of popular culture.
You may not have liked the NOTW but a free and challenging press is part of a democratic society.He has taken this action to protect a small number of his favourites and their corrupt malign influence.Murdoch has had  little regard to the employees who have been instantly dismissed, the newspaper sellers and vendors who have relied on it for their income  and the public liked reading it.

I remember my grandmother enjoying this paper and I am seventy years old.

Our government must address the issue of BSkyB and halt the dealings for Murdoch to take it over right now.

Remember Vince Cable's comments a few weeks ago-- he was then banned from bringing his influence to bear in the matter. Vince was right.

Favourite Jams

Summer fruits are now as cheap as they will ever be.Dig out those glass jars you have been saving and save the taste of summer in them.
You do not have to make huge quantities as many recipes suggest.
A  sugar thermometer is a big help.

Sterilise the jars first. Give them a good wash in hot water ( or dishwasher) , stand them upright on a baking sheet and dry them in the oven for 30 minutes 100 C while you make the jam.
Put a saucer in the fridge.

Gooseberry and Elderflower Jam is my favourite. The trickiest one is Strawberry Jam. An easy one is Greengage.

Gooseberry and Elderflower Jam

2lb gooseberries
2lb sugar
half pint water
juice of 1 lemon
2 tablespoon Elderflower Cordial Essence

1. Top and tail the gooseberries.
2. Put them with the water and the lemon juice into a large pan.Simmer until soft and mash down slightly --use a potato masher if you have one.
3. Add the sugar and elderflower essence, bring to the boil, continue to boil until the temperature reaches 105 C or 221F.Test a teaspoon of jam on a cold saucer to see if it wrinkles and sets.
4. Cool the jam for 5 minutes .
5. Fill the warm jars with the jam.
6. Put a wax disc on the top of the jam and cover with very clean lids or cellophane covers.
7. Cool and keep in a dry place. Homemade jam is best eaten quickly .Fantastic on toast  for breakfast or scones for tea.

PHONE HACKING SCANDAL OVER MILLY DOWLER

I never thought I would agree with John Prescott but the view he expressed yesterday about  Rupert Murdoch controlling  BSkyB being a matter of grave public concern is right.
The alleged phone hacking and interference by one of Murdoch's employees into the phone of a missing 13 year old girl thus meddling with a police search  was beyond merely shocking.Her parents were given false hope of her being alive while in reality this child lay dead, brutally murdered.
Stop the negotiations with Murdoch immediately before this meglomaniac controls all our news.

Vince Cable was correct when he expressed similar concerns a few weeks ago.

Family Tree Magazine Article

My article about Great Uncle Fred Cockerill and his show girl wife Queenie Leighton has just been published. Very pleased with the way it looks. Queenie was quite famous in her day as a principal boy in many pantomimes.