My corner of England: The River Thames

I've lived in Essex since I was three years old and always by the coast. Canvey Island is a small island measuring approx 3 x 5 miles and sits just off the mainland in the Thames Estuary. Before it became the island it is today, during the first half of the century the only way onto the island was by means of stepping stones over the muddy creek when the tide was out or by a dinghy ferry when it was in. Now a bridge carries the heavy traffic onto and off the island.

From the age of about 7 or 8 years old, I spent many happy days playing in the sand and paddling in the rock pools on the beach at the top of my road with school friends - it was quite safe but I hasten to add something that would never occur these days, apart from anything else I couldn't even swim ! Mum always knew where to find me though and even though we didn't have watches we always knew when it was time to go home for dinner.

Courtesy of Canvey Island.org

The river played a huge part of my growing up as my parents always owned their own boats and belonged to the local yacht club.

This was one of the first - a converted fishing boat named 'Pegasus' 

This was our last boat named 'Amola' which dad built himself

Champagne for all as she was launched (note the 1960s bouffant hairstyle)

Most weekends were spent on the Thames off the coast of Leigh on Sea and Southend with several trips to the River Medway in Kent when we visited towns such as Chatham, Rochester and Maidstone.

Courtesy of Google

Once we even motored up the Thames to London - and us girls were absolutely amazed when dad told us that Tower Bridge was opening for us (only to find out within minutes that a huge ship was cruising behind us and was the cause of the opening !! )

That's me fourth from the left on the top row

I belonged to the Sea Rangers aged 14 and was always messing about on boats - canoes, dinghies, sailing boats - and I still couldn't swim!

As I said the river was just at the top of my road and just 800 yards off the foreshore was the Chapman Lighthouse on the Chapman Sands a series of mud flats which had been a problem for sailors and their vessels for hundreds of years.  

Courtesy of CanveyIsland.org

This red iron framed structure rang a bell every fifteen seconds during foggy weather and believe me when I was a child, London and its environs suffered many "pea soupers"  I can tell you, and that darned bell would be ringing all through the night. Nowadays a bell bouy has replaced the old lighthouse which was demolished during the 1950s. 

As a family, most Sunday afternoons during the summer we'd be seen walking along the sea wall, watching all the boats cruising along the river and looking at the fishermen catching their tea. Often mum would pack up a picnic and we'd walk over to the salt marshes beyond the sea wall when the tide was out - being very mindful that the tide would come in again within an hour or two - dangerous as we'd be cut off from the mainland. 

 c.1950 with dad. mum and auntie Rosa on one of our picnics

This area is known as "The Point" and takes you literally to the furthest point of the island from where you can see Leigh on Sea. Here beautiful purple sea heather grows in abundance and us girls took great pleasure in trying to pick some for mum. The aroma is still with me today.

Courtesy of Google

Well that's just a little snapshot of my life as a child on an island in the Thames which I hope you enjoyed. I'll be back soon with some more of my "My Corner" soon.

A blast from the past

Yesterday I wanted to make a meat loaf with some pork mince I had in the freezer, so started to look for a recipe. I normally make one with beef so I roughly knew the ingredients but knew I had a recipe somewhere. Well, I was now on a mission to find one and an hour later with nothing found I went to a cupboard out in the garage and there in the deep dark depths of a long forgotten drawer FULL to capacity with old recipe books - I found this one covered in dust and in a very sorry state, dating back to 1980.

does anyone remember these M&S cook books? I used to collect them on a regular basis back in the day.

I served it with mustard mash (as all the tv cooks seem to do it this way) and fresh runner beans and gravy, as opposed to the barbecue sauce.  Mmmm it really was nice but I forgot to take a picture. So today we had the cold leftovers sliced with salad and this was equally as good.

Now my hubster is a serious hoarder, he won't throw anything away - storing stuff in the garage, loft space, boxes, cupboards - you name it, its there (although he hasn't realised yet that I am apt to sneak stuff out of the house in the direction of the local charity shop from time to time) - but that's neither here nor there. So bringing in this cook book was no mean feat I can tell you. I mean it was a case of Pot calling the kettle black! Anyway this book has got so many lovely recipes that I haven't cooked in years that I haven't the heart to put it outside again and it's now going to take pride of place on my kitchen shelf. 

I was going to type the recipe out but I guess if you tap on the picture it should enlarge. Enjoy.

Bye for nowx

A Year in Books: May

Linking up and many thanks to Laura at a Circle of Pine Trees for arranging this monthly read. I'm a tad late in posting this month but 'better late than never'.

Firstly, April's choice - The point of rescue by Sophie Hannah

Last year, a work trip Sally had planned was cancelled at the last minute. Desperate for a break from her busy life juggling her career and young family, Sally didn't tell her husband that the trip was cancelled but instead she booked a week off and treated herself to a secret holiday just wanting a bit of peace and some time to herself - but it didn't work out that way...

I'm not one to read many crime novels but it had been recommended so I gave it a go. The storyline certainly kept you on your toes throughout with a very cunning plot and an unpredictable outcome. A good read and a couldn't-put -it-down kind of book.  Definitely worth a read.

My choice for May is - A week in winter by Maeve Binchy.

The Sheedy sisters had lived in Stone House for as long as anyone could remember . Set high on the cliffs on the west coast of Ireland overlooking the windswept Atlantic Ocean the house was falling into disrepair - until one woman with a past she needed to forget, breathed new life into the place.......

I've just been introduced to Maeve Binchy by my daughter-in-law who is quite a fan and lent me the book. Looking forward to settling down with this one and I'll be back in June with a short synopsis and another book choice.

Have a great weekend and I'll see you all soon x






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Oh my goodness.....

....where did that time go? I cannot believe it is four weeks since I posted here. If I say my feet haven't touched the ground since the Hubster retired, believe it. I think we've been through a kind of  "honeymoon period" where we were initially making the most of the good weather - days out, picnics, camper-vanning etc - you get the picture don't you. To say I've not had any time to myself is an understatement. However, enough is definitely enough. Love him as I do, I'm really in the need of some "me time" every week. I have so many things I want to do - craft, photography, writing, visits or even simply sitting down to read a book. Don't get me wrong we're really enjoying this time together but I want to get back to my old routine again.

That being so, I'm aware that I've definitely neglected my blogging of late and keeping in touch with you all. In fact I've really got out of the habit of writing altogether - in fact when I do plan to write, I think to myself "I'll do it tomorrow" and of course tomorrow never comes.

So, this is just a short post to say that yes I am still around blogosphere and raring to get going again.

Before I go, I went on a one day photography workshop last week and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. I went to a class once before but it didn't really sink in.  This time it was more or less on a one to one basis (just two students) in the morning, learning camera skills and then out on location (his words not mine) in the afternoon to put into practice what we'd learnt.

Our 'location' was at Maldon a pretty town on the Essex coastline

Home of many Thames Sailing Barges

So many shots to take - surprising what a rusty piece of metal can look like through the eyes of the camera !

We then went off to another popular place called Heybridge Basin - where the River Chelmer flows out into the North Sea.

What was going to be a quick short post to say Hi to you all, has now turned out to be a tad longer. Writing for me is either all or nothing -  watch this space.

We're off in our campervan this weekend. Have a good weekend and I'll see you soon.

So proud....

Why?   Our son Jonathan ran in the London Marathon today and completed it in 4hrs 17mins raising nearly £5,000 for his chosen charity which he explains in the testament he wrote for his fundraising page -which I thought you might like to read. (Ive taken out the links to his fundraising - this wasn't the object of this post)

"Hi All

Many thanks for vistitng this page.

Running the London Marathon has long been a challenge I have thought about undertaking. I am privileged to be running for Action for A-T. This Charity was set up by my colleague Toby Read in order to help his daughter Evie and others suffering from this degenerative childhood disease. http://www.actionforat.org

Toby and his family have done a truly incredible job with the charity to date and if I can do my small part in making some form of contribution then I will feel I have accomplished a great deal.

Training really started last year when I ran the Royal Parks Half Marathon in October (..when you finish the half it is almost incomprehensible that you then have to run another half in the full Marathon).

I am now up to 19 miles in training and with your help and sponsorship behind me this will quite literally push me over the finish line. At times you do question getting up 6.30am on a Sunday to run 16 or 17 miles in the wet and wind (and my word it has been wet and windy this winter). However when you are out running the streets and you think you are at your lowest ebb, you only need a moment to think why you are doing this and your pace gets faster, your legs feel lighter as you realise you actually have a chance of contributing to Toby's Charity and ultimately the quality of Evie's life "

I know I'm biased, and thousands do this all the time - but I AM his mum after all!! A fabulous day that will remain in our memory bank forever.

Oh, and I was just about to wrap up when Jonny sent me this that a friend sent him - and oh so true.

I really am going now. See you all soon.

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Back from a blogging break

Well, when I say break it definitely wasn't planned I can tell you. Since the hubster retired one month ago, our feet haven't touched the ground - added to which this glorious weather we've been having of late was simply too good to miss. So, many apologies if I haven't caught up with you recently but hopefully I'm back on track now, just need to be organised and get myself into a routine again. As for housework - Mmmm that's another story. Oh well, live for the day that's my motto!

Anyway I've cobbled together a few piccies of some recent good moments during the last month.

A trip to Rochester in Kent - a place very synonymous with Charles Dickens. Wonderful Cathedral and we used our English Heritage passes to visit the Castle.

A much awaited visit to London's Royal Albert Hall to see my favourite Puccini opera La Boheme - simply wonderful!

Visited a local venue for an Artbookart book fair, where I met the lovely Sandie from Itchifingers who designed and created these wonderful journals - a very awe inspiring morning to say the least.

Several trips out in the campervan - stopping for a brew along the way. Do you like the jar of places to visit that my sister Helen gave me? She'd cut out lots of articles of local beauty spots from magazines - a lovely homemade lucky dip.

and of course it goes without saying that we simply had to partake in the obligatory Monday Munch! Look at the weather too.

Anyway dear friends, I hope to be back very soon. Wishing you all a lovely day today.


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Year in Books - March

Firstly I want to thank all you lovely people for the wonderful comments you left on my last post about John retiring. I/we were very touched by the encouragement and inspiration you gave us both. I love blogging - its a very special place to be.

Another book to read and review for the Year in Books challenge which you can find here organised by Laura at a Circle of Pine Trees. For the month of March I am reading

  Wedlock 
a biography by Wendy Moore published in 2008 

which tells the story of  Mary Eleanor Bowes who was the richest heiress in eighteenth-century Britain. A compelling tale of her life and loves, where the torrent of biography sweeps the reader along. The research that went into this book must have been phenomenal as the author relates not only to Mary's story but others who came in and out of her life and many more besides. Lots of factual history about life at that time.

Precocious and indulged, Mary Eleanor Bowes (a distant 3xgreat grandmother of our own late Elizabeth Bowes Lyon - HRH The Queen Mother) fell under the spell of a handsome Irish soldier, Andrew Robinson Stoney. When Mary heard her gallant hero was mortally wounded in a duel fought to defend her honour, she felt she could hardly refuse his dying wish to marry her. Yet within hours of the ceremony, Stoney seemed to be in the grip of a miraculous recovery....and Mary found herself trapped in an appallingly brutal marriage - a remarkable tale of triumph in the face of overwhelming betrayal. More about this when I have finished the book - otherwise I'll spoil it for myself.

Another book that I've begun on my Kindle is The Virgin Widow by Anne O'Brien

(I know - I'm meant to be weaning myself off of historical novels - but this is part of the weaning off process !!)

Anne Neville is the heiress and daughter of the greatest powerbroker in the land, Warwick the Kingmaker. Trapped in a deadly tangle of political intrigue, she is a pawn in an uncertain game, used by the houses of Neville, York and Lancaster alike. Again, I need to read the book through before I review it. More about this next month.

February's book East of the Sun which you can find here ticked all the boxes for me. As I mentioned before I chose it because of its setting in India. Well, I definitely recalled all the wonderful smells, sounds, sights and culture of that memorable holiday. This was an utterly engaging novel and one that I couldn't put down.

Happy reading

Back soon x