Gosh my new year resolution to write in my diary regularly seems to be slipping by the wayside already. I resolve to do better!
I had a baking disaster yesterday. I decided to try a recipe for banana bread from Good Housekeeping. It's normally such a reliable source of recipes. I got distracted by the phone ringing half way through making it and clean forgot to put the baking powder in. The end result was a banana brick that was so solid it could have been used for building. W has been stoically working his way through it but it is almost inedible! I think I will give the rest to the chickens and hope they can digest it. I'm assuming that as they happily eat grit they will be able to cope with this culinary mishap.
I discovered more about the saga of Margaret's love life when Mrs Cox came to do the ironing this week. I'm not one for gossip as I have to be so careful given William's position but I will admit that I do suffer from the very human trait of curiosity.
Anyway I digress. Apparently Margaret has been seeing two different men at the same time. I tried to keep my face expressionless on hearing this information. The conversation ran thus.
"Well you see Mrs Eastley, she says she wants to marry one of them but only if she can work out whose baby it is." said Mrs Cox whilst vigourously ironing one of Willam's surplices.
"Yes, that seems wise." I replied trying not to think too hard about the moral ramifications that brought the situation about.
"I told her that if only she kept track of her dates better she wouldn't be in this pickle but then she was never much good at maths at school."
At this point William came into the kitchen and we changed the subject. He's not the shockable sort but I don't think he needed the level of detail that was coming out. Hopefully the situation will be resolved soon and we will have a wedding before she needs an enormous bouquet to disguise the situation.
I must write about my visit to Mrs Grant but it must be another day as I'm too tired to continue tonight. Must be up bright and early tomorrow as I'm hosting the Mother's Union here. I really can't have another baking disaster.
Tuesday, 10 January 2012
Thursday, 5 January 2012
5th Jan 1962
The pantry is now well stocked with marmalade. I'm very proud of my industriousness. It's such a long job, cutting all the orange peel up but well worth it in the end. W was very pleased to have marmalade this morning with his breakfast. I rather guiltily made myself a couple of pots of shredless marmalade by straining the peel out as I just don't like eating my toast with bits of peel on it. As W likes the shred he can have extra in his.
Tabitha is well ensconced into vicarage life and looks like she has always been here. She's losing her skinny look already and shared our sardines that we had for supper. I can see that she'll eat better than us soon.
Called in to see Mr and Mrs Grant today. They really are an interesting couple. Their knowledge of the village is wonderful and they both have so many interesting stories. Mr Grant's knowledge of the church is particularly useful for both W and myself. I suppose it comes from being verger for so long. I'm glad he has retired now as it was such a lot of work for him but I'm not sure he's that happy about it. I think he's so used to being active and working hard that this recent inactivity is not so good for him. I must think about it more and see if there's anything I can do.
W was at a meeting with the Rural Dean today. I asked him to look out for flea bites. W refused saying he would look odd if he starting staring intently at him looking for bites and that I should stop thinking about it. I agree - I won't think any more about it.
Mrs Cox was in today and mentioned that Margaret was thinking of getting married - if she could decide between two suitors. We were interrupted before this conversation could go any further. I'm looking forward to hearing the end of it.
Tabitha is well ensconced into vicarage life and looks like she has always been here. She's losing her skinny look already and shared our sardines that we had for supper. I can see that she'll eat better than us soon.
Called in to see Mr and Mrs Grant today. They really are an interesting couple. Their knowledge of the village is wonderful and they both have so many interesting stories. Mr Grant's knowledge of the church is particularly useful for both W and myself. I suppose it comes from being verger for so long. I'm glad he has retired now as it was such a lot of work for him but I'm not sure he's that happy about it. I think he's so used to being active and working hard that this recent inactivity is not so good for him. I must think about it more and see if there's anything I can do.
W was at a meeting with the Rural Dean today. I asked him to look out for flea bites. W refused saying he would look odd if he starting staring intently at him looking for bites and that I should stop thinking about it. I agree - I won't think any more about it.
Mrs Cox was in today and mentioned that Margaret was thinking of getting married - if she could decide between two suitors. We were interrupted before this conversation could go any further. I'm looking forward to hearing the end of it.
Monday, 2 January 2012
2nd January 1962
Disaster has befallen the vicarage! I think I've given the Rural Dean fleas. I feel much shame and embarrassment!
It all happened because this morning a stray cat appeared outside and I let it into the house. It's been a horrible rainy and windy day and the poor thing appeared on the terrace outside. I was drinking my morning coffee and I couldn't sit in the warm inside and ignore it. It was shivering and soaking wet and all I could see was a little pink mouth appearing as it mewed through the window at me. After I let it in I took it through to the sitting room where the fire was laid and lit it to get the cat dried off.
I think she's a girl and a pretty little thing once she was cleaned up a bit. A tabby with a gorgeous white chest and paws. I cuddled her on my knee while she was warming up and it was at this point I heard the doorbell ring and then heard William in the hall talking to someone. I laid the cat on the hearth rug and stood up to investigate and to my horror watched a good number of fleas bounce off my apron in different directions as I stood next to the sofa! The next moment William brought the Rural Dean into the room who then sat on the sofa where the unwanted guests had just alighted!
It was an uncomfortable time on my part as I watched anxiously to see if the Rural Dean did any unnecessary scratching while he drank his coffee. I think he did - so am now worrying he has fleas.
After he departed I gave Tabitha (she's staying and W decided on her name) a good scrub with some rather potent soap which we always used to use on the old vicarage cat when she came back from a night on the tiles covered in all sorts of dubious substances. I have also given the sitting room a good going over and hope I've managed to catch any left over fleas now.
She's currently curled up on the kitchen chair fast asleep after a good meal. It's good to have a cat back in the house.
Must be good and do visiting tomorrow. Tabitha took up the time I'd allotted to do it today.
Need to dig out my marmalade recipes tomorrow. We have been given a crate of Seville oranges by a parishioner and I must get to it. Time to dig the preserving sugar out of the cupboard and find the stash of jam jars that are precariously balanced on the shelf in the larder.
I must try and sleep now and put all thoughts of fleas from my mind.
It all happened because this morning a stray cat appeared outside and I let it into the house. It's been a horrible rainy and windy day and the poor thing appeared on the terrace outside. I was drinking my morning coffee and I couldn't sit in the warm inside and ignore it. It was shivering and soaking wet and all I could see was a little pink mouth appearing as it mewed through the window at me. After I let it in I took it through to the sitting room where the fire was laid and lit it to get the cat dried off.
I think she's a girl and a pretty little thing once she was cleaned up a bit. A tabby with a gorgeous white chest and paws. I cuddled her on my knee while she was warming up and it was at this point I heard the doorbell ring and then heard William in the hall talking to someone. I laid the cat on the hearth rug and stood up to investigate and to my horror watched a good number of fleas bounce off my apron in different directions as I stood next to the sofa! The next moment William brought the Rural Dean into the room who then sat on the sofa where the unwanted guests had just alighted!
It was an uncomfortable time on my part as I watched anxiously to see if the Rural Dean did any unnecessary scratching while he drank his coffee. I think he did - so am now worrying he has fleas.
After he departed I gave Tabitha (she's staying and W decided on her name) a good scrub with some rather potent soap which we always used to use on the old vicarage cat when she came back from a night on the tiles covered in all sorts of dubious substances. I have also given the sitting room a good going over and hope I've managed to catch any left over fleas now.
She's currently curled up on the kitchen chair fast asleep after a good meal. It's good to have a cat back in the house.
Must be good and do visiting tomorrow. Tabitha took up the time I'd allotted to do it today.
Need to dig out my marmalade recipes tomorrow. We have been given a crate of Seville oranges by a parishioner and I must get to it. Time to dig the preserving sugar out of the cupboard and find the stash of jam jars that are precariously balanced on the shelf in the larder.
I must try and sleep now and put all thoughts of fleas from my mind.
Sunday, 1 January 2012
1st January 1962
My dear William gave me this beautiful leather diary for Christmas this year. I have never been able to keep a diary going even as far as February in the past but this year I'm feeling determined. Perhaps I will be able to vent my frustrations into it rather than at poor W, I'm sure he will feel much relief if that becomes the case.
Mrs Cox came in to do her usual ironing this morning. She really is a godsend and I don't know how the vicarage would function if the cleaning and ironing ever became too much for her. She brought Charlie with her as Margaret was busy. He is a delightful little boy and happily played in a big box of straw (left over from lining the manger in church) for hours while Mrs Cox ironed. She mentioned that Margaret wasn't looking well when she left this morning and I'm very much hoping that it is not what I suspect. The village has been very forgiving of her lapse but I'm not sure how they will take another. I suppose there's not much point in worrying when there may be nothing to worry about.
I must remember to call on Mrs Frobisher and Mr and Mrs Grant in the next couple of days.
My garden is looking rather morose at the moment. After all the autumnal clearing and trimming back, it all looks rather weary and dead right now. I must dig out my huge gardener's bible and plan my planting for the spring. I'm probably behind already, but I can dream of spring days as I sit by the fire.
Julia rang me this evening to wish us a happy new year and we reminisced about old times. It was good to catch up with her. We don't manage to meet enough and I resolve to try and change that in the coming year.
From the snoring from W beside me, I conclude that it's time to put my diary to bed and get some sleep.
Mrs Cox came in to do her usual ironing this morning. She really is a godsend and I don't know how the vicarage would function if the cleaning and ironing ever became too much for her. She brought Charlie with her as Margaret was busy. He is a delightful little boy and happily played in a big box of straw (left over from lining the manger in church) for hours while Mrs Cox ironed. She mentioned that Margaret wasn't looking well when she left this morning and I'm very much hoping that it is not what I suspect. The village has been very forgiving of her lapse but I'm not sure how they will take another. I suppose there's not much point in worrying when there may be nothing to worry about.
I must remember to call on Mrs Frobisher and Mr and Mrs Grant in the next couple of days.
My garden is looking rather morose at the moment. After all the autumnal clearing and trimming back, it all looks rather weary and dead right now. I must dig out my huge gardener's bible and plan my planting for the spring. I'm probably behind already, but I can dream of spring days as I sit by the fire.
Julia rang me this evening to wish us a happy new year and we reminisced about old times. It was good to catch up with her. We don't manage to meet enough and I resolve to try and change that in the coming year.
From the snoring from W beside me, I conclude that it's time to put my diary to bed and get some sleep.
A Departure into Fiction
The following diary is my creation of a fictional vicar's wife from the 1960s. I can't guarantee historical accuracy but hopefully it will be an enjoyable read!
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