Those Were the Days. A Poem by my Mum

Today, for a change, instead of posting my own writing I thought I'd let you see a poem written by my Mum. She died in 1992, but would have been chuffed to see her poem on the net. She had a terrific sense of humour.

This one is one of several she wrote about growing old.

Everything is so much further
Then it ever used to be.
The little shop around the corner
Seems twice as far to me.

The buses were always punctual
I could go with the greatest of ease.
But now they seem to be early
And my legs do just as they please.

The stairs are made so much steeper
I’m flat out when I get to the top
Amd the print in the papers is so small
That my eyes are beginning to pop.

I can’t do with the way people mumble.
I only hear half of the tale.
They tell me the news in a whisper,
Or shout till I feel I could wail.

The dresses are made so much tighter
Especially round waist and hips.
And diets are all in the fashion.
No goodies, like good fish and chips.

Even people are different this day and age
They all seem to look so much younger.
Yet people my age seem old and withdrawn
And look to be dying of hunger.

I met with a friend the other day.
She really looked old and withered.
I’m sure I look younger than that, I thought,
And I know I’m not half so bothered.

I looked in the mirror to see for myself.
For I’m really not ready to go on the shelf.
But a grey-haired old woman was looking at me.
Even mirrors are not like they used to be.

If you enjoyed this poem, please leave a comment.

The health benefits of Honey

Cook from Scratch with Sally Cronin and Carol Taylor – Honey – Nectar of the Gods

Posted on March 19, 2019

This post talks about the health benefits of Honey. I’m glad something nice is good for us.

Spring. A Poem

Dandelions, like gold, cover the meadows.
Newborn lambs frolic in fields.
New leaves on the trees are casting their shadows
And winter’s cold grip quickly yields.

At the edges of woodland the primroses glow
And cowslips their scent fills the air.
Anemones dance when the breezes do blow
And birds sing with never a care.

Then bluebells and campions come into bloom
Their colour the blue of the sea.
The cuckoo, that herald of spring, will come soon
His call echoing over the lea.

The song of the blackbird is like molten gold.
His notes are so pure and so clear.
Hearing him seems to banish the cold
And brings joy to all those who hear.

Robin is nesting, and other birds too,
The hedgehog is active once more.
The young of the deer and the badger and shrew
Play their games as in old days of yore.

The sun climbs higher and higher each day
Giving more of his heat and his light.
It sparkles like stars fallen into the bay.
All smile at the beautiful sight.

Hope and excitement come with each spring morn.
What blessings will come with this day?
New starts can begin once again with each dawn
And send us all hopeful away.

I hope you like  this spring poem. Please tell me what you think in the comments.

Savoury Pancake Recipe

Today is Shrove Tuesday, or, as it is sometimes known, Pancake Day.

Traditionally, this is the day when Christians indulged in food they would be unable to eat in the fast of Lent, which begins tomorrow with Ash Wednesday.

On Ash Wednesday, many Christians go to Mass and are shriven, or absolved of their sins of the previous year. To show they have been shriven, they have ash rubbed on their foreheads. These ashes are often made by burning the palm Sunday crosses from the previous year.

The eating of pancakes and other foods containing fat, eggs and other things forbidden during Lent gives the name Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday in many countries. In those places, there is often some kind of carnival as well as eating plenty of food as they won’t have much to eat during Lent. Well, that’s the origin. Nowadays, fasting is not so prevalent as in past eras.

Lent is a period of 40 days before Easter. It commemorates the time Jesus spent in the wilderness, being tempted by Satan. During this time, Christians are supposed to give something up and think about their lives and how they can be better people.

But we still like to eat our pancakes. Some people like them with lemon juice and sugar. Others prefer golden syrup. Some eat them with fruit, and/or brandy (think crepes suzette. Oranges and then brandy poured over and set alight.)

My Grandmother made delicious savoury pancakes. Some time ago, I did actually post her recipe, but as it’s Shrove Tuesday on the day my post comes out, I thought I’d post it again. So here it is.

Ingredients

125g large open capped mushrooms
2 onions
2 tomatoes
½ x1 teaspoon of Herbes de Provence
Salt and pepper

Method

Fry the onion for a few minutes and add the mushrooms and tomatoes.
Continue cooking until all vegetables are cooked, and add salt and pepper to taste.
Serve hot on pancakes, rolled up. This makes an interesting first course or light lunch.

You can use bought pancakes, but please ensure they are not sweet ones, or you can make your own batter.

Pancake Batter.

Ingredients

100 grams flour (4 ounces)
300 millilitres milk (0.5 pints)
1 egg
A little oil for frying.

Method

Put the flour into a basin and add the egg.
Beat well, and add the milk slowly.
Continue beating until you have a smooth batter.
Heat the oil in a frying pan and add a small amount of the batter, enough to just cover the base of the pan.
When the underside is golden brown, turn the pancake and cook the other side until that, too, is golden. (You can try tossing it if you like!) Keep the cooked pancakes warm.
Add more of the batter to the pan, and keep on making pancakes until all the batter is used.
Divide the filling between the pancakes and roll up.
Serve and enjoy.
These can be eaten as a lunch, or as a starter at the beginning of a meal.

If you would like some more of my Grandmother's recipes, and also others from my family and friends, buy Viv's Family Recipes by clicking Here.

These recipes date back to 1909 and show how our eating habits have changed over this time.