Barbecue Nuisance

 Fine evening ruined by neighbour lighting barbecue in tiny urban courtyard by my house.The clouds of billowing ,choking , acrid smoke and burning flesh forced us inside ,had to close all windows on a warm evening, this lasted 2 hours.

Time some regulation was brought in about use of these supermarket BBQs in densley populated urban areas

There was a serious fire caused by an idiot lighting one on a balcony in a block of apartments nearby last year.

Music Hall Star and WW1 Connections

Queenie Leighton and Great Uncle Fred 

Investigating the original  owner some flamboyant family jewellery I found that it had belonged to the wife of my husband's Great Uncle Fred, an officer from Northampton in 1914-18 War

Queenie Leighton-- not her real name -was a well known  musical comedy actress appearing regularly as Principal Boy in several Drury Lane pantomimes .During WW1 she would round up young men after her stage performances and take them to the nearest recruiting offices.

Fred was wounded and had to return home to Northampton to recover , Queenie appeared in numerous productions at the New Theatre, Northampton wearing Freds's cap.She was a keen cross dresser!

Attitudes  were different in the 1914-18 War-- we may find Queenie's actions repugnant now but she would have considered it her patriotic duty to encourage young men to sign up.

I have references for all the details of the above information .

Wedding Day

Fred Injured

                                                                     

DDay and The Northamptonshire Yeomanry

Like many people of my age I find it almost unbelievable that our fathers were fighting the Nazis in France in 1944 when we were children .

My father was in the Northamptonshire Yeomanry and took part in the assault on the  beach  known to the allies as Sword proceeding overland driving a tank to seize the town of Caen in Normandy.I found a number of carefully kept documents after his death which my mother gave to me.These are some of the most interesting .

One of his worst memories was the incapacitating seasickness he suffered on the landing craft and his relief that it disappeared as soon as he was on dry land.

I have the names of the soldiers in the photo that was taken before they left if anyone wants them.

                               

As the war progressed and the Germans were driven back the soldiers were given leave in Brussels in Belgium.
This was the advice given to them

         

Leslie Green

Advice for Bloggers

                                                           

       Another UK blog to read with well presented content

       http://bloggers-lounge.co.uk

British Blogs I Like

Had a look at some UK based blogs in the  most successful category

I found these three the most entertaining in the beauty and health section

www.badscience.net

britishbeautyblogger.com

www.viviannadoesmakeup.com


Stress entertaining  not necessarily accurate.

Making money from a blog

Articles appear almost daily about people who have made a fortune from their blogs.
Much advice given online so I am going to read through some of these advisory blogs and see what I can learn-- will not be coughing up any large sums to get this advice.Click on the titles for a link (hopefully)

1           Income Diary

2.          A Selection of Noted Blogs

3.          Tooth Problems

War Memorial Chapel St Botolph's Cambridge

It is 100 years since the start of the 1914-18 War.

For anyone who is researching soldiers who were killed in the war these are the names that are listed in this Church.The church is usually open between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m ,the chapel is locked but arrangements may be made for anyone wishing to view the chapel upon request.
Donations to help with the upkeep of these memorials are always welcome.



                                                         

Spring Comes to Cambridge

Warm dry weather has brought the spring flowers out in the University Botanic Gardens



                                             

Easter Bonnets for Grandchildren

If you have to make an Easter bonnet for a child Poundland have plenty of cheap materials and hats.




                                                                                     

I decorated a basic hat --pink as this is for a girl -with a big pile of Easter decorations both stitched and glued into place.I added some extra feathers from a craft shop.
It took me about an hour to make.

Mothers' Day UK

 Different from the date in USA ,this is Mothering Sunday, the fourth Sunday in Lent when traditionally servant girls were allowed to visit their families and take a gift, usually a Simnel cake made with ingredients from the big house kitchen (think Downton Abbey) or wild flowers from the woodlands around.

Simnel cake is saved for Easter these days
Happy to receive lovely flowers from my daughter.