love those cupcakes

Blast from the past

My latest acquisition.

A Trimphone.

Just like the one my parents had. 

Introduced by the GPO in the 1960's.

With warbling ring tone.

And light up dial.

Fab.

Absolutely fab.

End of an era

We're used to living alongside heavy industry here in Teesside.  It's our heritage.  Shipbuilding, iron and steel, chemicals.  We're not called "Smoggies" for nothing and we're used to the odd brickbat being hurled our way.   Yet my home town was renowned internationally for its steel industry, and what was produced here has been used in the building of many well known structures within the UK and across the world.  The Sydney Harbour Bridge bears the legend "Made in Middlesbrough".  More recently, local steel made its way to  New York for the reconstruction of the World Trade Centre. 

A relatively new town, Middlesbrough's growth only started after the discovery of ironstone in the surrounding hills in 1850.  Consequently, most local people have their roots elsewhere.  My dad's grandparents came from south Wales and my mother's family moved north from the midlands, whilst the Husband's grandfather had been a tin miner in Cornwall.  All of them were drawn here because of the guarantee of work and a future in iron and then steel production, and Middlesbrough was to become one of the country's fastest growing towns.

Almost every family around here has some connection to the steel industry and each has its own memories and stories to tell.  When my dad left the army he was employed as a steel plate layer until he was involved in an accident at work (I was a baby at the time), which left him permanently disabled.  My father in law started work at 14 as a blast furnaceman's helper, ending his working life some 50 years later as blast furnace foreman.  My brother worked in the offices of what had become British Steel until he was faced with redundancy.  Most of my uncles were steel workers, one of them losing his life to an industrial disease.  Aged 33, my cousin's husband was killed in an explosion whilst working his shift at the steel plant.  Clearly, working in the industry does not come without significant personal risk.

But all of that history came to an end on Friday when the last blast furnace was shut down and steel production on Teesside ceased. 

It was a sad day. 

For us all.

Saturday

It was surprisingly sunny here yesterday (even the sunglasses had an airing), just the excuse to drive the 23 or so miles to Helmsley for coffee, sandwiches, scones and the papers next to a real fire,

 

yet more pastries,

a couple of bargain books,

another view.

The day finished with an unexpected dinner and catch up with friends.

Perfect.

It's the weekend

With nothing exciting planned, maybe I'll.......

• have a look at this new purchase

• manage a little house cleaning

• dig out the sewing machine

• find some new recipes for next week's meals

• indulge in the latest addiction

• prepare to return to work (albeit working from home for the first couple of weeks) after 3 months absence

• admire the Guardian of the Slippers (which, incidentally, are not mine)......

 

....sporting one bobby dazzler of an accessory.

Yes, Bea is wearing her first collar.

Under protest.

Blow out

You'd think hot pancakes with golden syrup would be enough to satisfy the greediest of appetites before a period of healthier eating but no, we had to pop into Betty's yesterday for some necessary treats including fat rascals and Yorkshire curd tarts. (Thanks to the Husband for posing in Northallerton's High Street). 

Today I've become reacquainted with this recipe book.

But I can't stop thinking about these.

The best laid plans

Lured by a glimpse of sun and blue sky, housework was ditched in favour of a visit to one of the many garden centres around here and a search for ideas to transform our outside space into a horticultural delight.  On the way, I couldn't resist photographing a local landmark which hasn't really been visible in the gloom of the last few days.

Back at home, I planned to spend some time with the laptop, catching up on your blogs.

Then a certain little tabby decided to settle down on the keyboard.

Meanwhile, in a just emptied shoe box.........

It's the only reason we keep buying footwear.

New favourite

The local gallery I mentioned in the previous post has a rather good gift shop which sells some of Virgina Graham's* ceramics.

I'm loving these "inside out" mugs and our motley collection in the kitchen cupboard could certainly do with a bit of reviving.

On a less happy note, the Seven Days of Specialness swap has ended, just as I was getting into the swing of starting the day with the opening of a surprise package.  But I'm sure you're itching to find out what I received from my swap partner so here are all the goodies. (The little cupcake is actually a delicious smelling lip gloss). 

Yes, seven special February days indeed.

* Photograph from Virgina Graham's website

This week

Apart from a routine visit to my dentist, I've......

.....been taking part in the Seven Days of Specialness swap which is doing just what it was intended to do - brightening these grey, early February days with a special little something to open each day over a week.  My swap partner (who has chosen really really well) had the brilliant idea of sending my seven colourful packages (photograph of everything I received to follow) in a spotty cake tin which matches our spotty plates and dishes. 

......baked a rather delicious looking chocolate cake as a change from the usual cupcakes for the Husband's birthday. Unfortunately, it was "sampled" by the new little tabby resident who was accidentally locked in the dining room with it.   For half an hour.  Who knew cats like buttercream?

......viewed the latest exhibition at MIMA*, a fantastic facility right in the centre of town. We're regular visitors  - admission is free and the coffee bar is excellent.

.......added some charity shop purchases to the book pile.  Although I read Hideous Kinky some time ago, I couldn't resist this pristine copy and the opportunity for a re-read.

......made no progress with the dressmaking plans since the previous post, apart from the purchase of a couple of reels of thread, though work has resumed on my autumn project (which could well become a project for spring and beyond).  I think my new mantra should be "I've started so I'll finish".

* Photograph from the MIMA website