300 children's frocks

Looking across the beautiful Wye valley yesterday.

 I am trying to spend less time on the computer - or rather less pointless time on the computer!  Not trying to outwit games such as Solitaire or Hexa Stack, relaxing as they may be, and good for the brain I dare say.  I am reading instead and now half way through Eve's War, which is very good.  I was surprised to find a real connection with the lady in the Vogue page included in that wonderful old Recipe Book from Totnes - Sheelagh Eastley.  During the War, Mrs Eastley had been the Hon. Organizing Secretary for the Personal Service League, which was sorting and distributing clothing for the unemployed in distressed areas.  Eve Shillington was a volunteer for the WVS depot in Reading, helping to sort and distribute clothing and comforts sent by the USA for the victims of badly blitzed areas.  It turns out it was pretty hard work - getting heavy blankets and woollen coats down from the shelves, as well as jumpers, shirts, trousers, rubber boots, shoes, stockings, socks, layettes, childrens' clothing (some frocks beautifully hand made and embroidered by American women keen to give some joy to people so badly affected by the bombing).    The poor bombed-out victims often had NOTHING - just the night clothes they were wearing when their homes were bombed.  It hardly bears thinking about does it?  

She writes: "I noticed with what loving care the little girls' frocks had been made.  In gay ginghams, they were beautifully smocked and trimmed with dainty lace or rickrack, with dear little pockets and belts.  My eye was caught by a piece of paper tucked into one of the pockets, and I stuffed it into the pocket of my overall  to read later."  It was from a woman called Mrs Fisher, in San Francisco, and Eve replied to the lady, and they became firm penpals until Mrs Fisher's death.  In her first reply she said she had shared Eve's letter with the Northern Californian British War Relief Association, and the letter appeared in the local newspaper.  Mrs Fisher went onto to say she had almost finished her third hundredth of little dresses!  Imagine!

M and I had a lovely walk around Pant y Llyn lake yesterday.  The wind was a bit chilly when we climbed up to it, but at lake level it was warmer.  She gave me another Thai massage this morning, quite intensive, and my shoulder has benefitted.  Then I took myself off for a brisk walk along the old railway line, came back and just needed to sleep, and was out like a light for an hour.

I have started a loaf (to dough) in the breadmaker and will put it in the oven shortly to get a nice crusty finish to it.  The breadmaker finish is a bit pale and wan and not the least bit crusty!  70% wholemeal it is, and now I need more Wholemeal and more 8-Seed bread flour.

Tomorrow I have a jaunt to Antiques in Tents at Burton Court.  I'm looking forward to that.  

I will do a little bit of Yoga whilst I wait for my tea to cook.  Trying to keep things moving.