Friday 3 March 2017

A Week of Days

Hello, thank you for calling in, and thank you if you left a comment on my last post.  I was surprised to see how many of you had never heard of a mermaid's purse, but then again, there are lots of things I have never heard of until I read about them in Blogland, it's one of the reasons I like it so much.
 
So, today I am linking up with Amy at Love Made My Home for Five On Friday so if you have time, please hop over there and see what everyone else is sharing this week.  Here are five days of this week:
  
1.  Shrove Tuesday

On Tuesday evening, the Best Beloved called in at the supermarket on his way home from work and arrived home bearing...a packet of pancakes.  Never before has a ready-made pancake crossed my threshold and I was, shall we say, extremely surprised.  He said that he had bought them because he wasn't sure what my plans were!!!!  So, we heated them up in the microwave oven, on the plates off which we then ate them.  It was quicker, easier and much less messy than making them, for all of which I am grateful, and they tasted perfectly acceptable...and at the same time, felt all wrong.  After all, the whole point is to use up the luxurious butter and sugar which are in the house before the onset of Lent, and buying a ready-made pancake doesn't really fulfil the brief, does it?  Still, the Best Beloved's pancake need was met and he was happy.  But honestly, I can't show you a photo of a shop-bought pancake, can I?
 
2.  Ash Wednesday
 
Do you give up something for Lent?  Like many people, I used to give up something indulgent like chocolates or biscuits, but a few years ago I decided that I wanted to do something which demanded more discipline and give up something which I have every day so I gave up bread.  I found it very difficult and took some satisfaction in that.  The period of Lent lasts for forty-six days of which forty are fasting days: the Sundays of Lent don't count because in the Christian tradition, the Lord's Day is always a day of celebration.  Honestly, it's true, not just a cop-out!  This made my "deprivation" bearable: no bread from Monday to Saturday but on Sunday, scrambled egg on toast for breakfast and sandwiches for tea, for six weeks.  The Best Beloved ensured that the bread was homemade so it really was a treat.  In a perverse sort of way, I enjoyed the rhythm of it so I did the same the following year.  Last year, I decided it was time for a change so I gave up...tea.  This was very challenging for a person whose name, it is joked in our house, means "Grumpy 'Til I've Had A Cup Of Tea".  Fortunately, I was surrounded by sympathetic people who understood how difficult it was, but I was surprised by the number of people who suggested alternative comforting, delicious drinks and while thanking them, I reminded them that my denial was supposed to be a bit difficult. 
 
On Tuesday evening I said to the Best Beloved, "I'm thinking of giving up tea again for Lent this year.  Was I a nightmare last year?"  "Yes," he replied, a little too quickly, "I think you should give up smoking."  I was nonplussed.  "But I don't smoke,"  I said.  "Exactly!"  he replied.  Hmmm.  So, after a lot of thought and discussion, I decided that as I already have quite a lot on my plate at the moment, and adding in a physical challenge might just tip me over the edge, I will instead participate in one of the online Lent photo challenges.  This will give me a daily discipline and rhythm and perhaps help with the reflective process, too. 
 
3.  St David's Day
 
Of course, Wednesday 1st March was also St David's Day.  I think I like St David; I certainly like the fact that, unlike the patron saints of England, Scotland and Ireland, he was a native of the country which adopted him as its patron saint.  He lived a simple, frugal life in the sixth century and his last words to his followers were,  "Lords, brothers and sisters, Be joyful, and keep your faith and your creed, and do the little things that you have seen me do and heard about. And as for me, I will walk the path that our fathers have trod before us."   Do the little thingsI like that. I don't think I can do big things but I can do little things and make a difference that way.
 
By the twelfth century, St David was considered to be so important that the Pope declared that two pilgrimages to St David's  Cathedral in Pembrokeshire were equal to one pilgrimage to Rome and on a gloriously sunny day in 1990, I made half a pilgrimage to Rome.
 
4.  St Chad's Day
 
St Chad died on 2nd March 672 AD.  A humble, devout man who is said to have always travelled on foot, he became the first Bishop of Mercia and was given land in Lichfield on which to found a monastery.  Now, there is a cathedral there and it and many churches in the Anglican Diocese of Lichfield are dedicated to him, as well as the Roman Catholic Cathedral in Birmingham, while he is represented in stained glass and in statuary in many others - including my own parish church, as much of Shropshire lies in the Diocese of Lichfield.  In England, St Chad's Day is said to be the best day of the year on which to sow your broad beans!
 
5.  FriDay
 
I LOVE Friday evenings, at least, I have done for the last nine years or so, now that neither the Best Beloved nor I work at weekends.  Friday evening is a time to light the fire and the candles, open a bottle of wine and get excited about the weekend ahead, two whole days of being on our own time rather than somebody else's.  I love it.

So now it's almost 9pm on Friday, the fire is lit and it's time to light the candles and open the wine.  Cheers! 
 
See you soon,
 
Love, Mrs Tiggywinkle x
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

42 comments:

  1. Enjoy your candles and wine! hope you both have a fantastic night and a wonderful weekend :)

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    1. Thanks Tricky. It's always a good way to start a weekend. x

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  2. Loved reading your five, in fact I read them out loud to my Dear. We have given up alcohol for lent...what were we thinking!? I have a friend who did a photo challenge last year for Lent, it was interesting. Have a great weekend and enjoy your tea!

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    1. I ALWAYS enjoy my tea, Ellen! I take my hat off to you two for giving up alcohol - what were you thinking indeed?! x

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  3. I haven't given anything up for lent but I like the idea of a photo challenge. Boxed pancakes? At least you had some, I forgot we were having them at the church and missed out altogether.
    I've enjoyed your five, Have another good week.

    Diana

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    1. Oh Diana! Will you be able to have pancakes another time or are you a pancake-day-only person, like my mother? x

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  4. Friday sounds like a great thing to look forward to. Enjoy your wine!

    Happy Five on Friday

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  5. Your Friday nights sound wonderful.

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  6. A fascinating post. I laughed about the ready made pancakes. For the first time in years I didn't make any this year because we were in London. I remember being in labour with my eldest and still tossing pancakes so that my husband didn't go without. It's a family joke now! B x

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    1. Saint Barbara, I think, but you made some wonderful family folklore. I've just read your post, made me giggle. x

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  7. What a busy week! Pancakes are rather messy and time consuming but I always mean to make them again during the year but Shrove Tuesday always comes round again before I've got round to it and this year it's come right after Christmas! Have a good weekend. x

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    1. Thanks Karen. When the children were younger and had sleepovers I sometimes made American-style pancakes for breakfast, and years ago I often made stuffed savoury pancakes for dinner, but nowadays it seems to be Pancake Day only. Shame. x

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  8. My children have both given up snacking and junk food. This could be an interesting 40 days...

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    1. Sounds like lots of patience may be required in your house! If it's too much for them, they could have them on Sundays only... x

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  9. I saw some ready made pancakes in the supermarket today and thought of you as I had read your post earlier but hadn't had time then to leave a comment. The fire, candles and wine sound lovely, I hope you enjoyed them:)

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  10. Enjoyed your post, how nice of your husband to buy the pancakes, but I understand how that would not be as satisfying. Giving up something you really care about, your tea, must be really hard, some folks I know donate something each day for Lent.
    I like your St. David for I too try to do the little things.

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    1. St David was a very good man. A friend of mine is donating money each day to the Alzheimer's Society as her mother has that illness. x

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  11. I don't "do" Lent. What can I say, my Christian upbringing was a bit unorthodox. Loved the pancake story. I always make my own pancake mix, and laughed when one of my friends said "you can make it without a mix?!".
    It was interesting to read about the saints. I strive to do the little things too.
    Have a great weekend! Saturdays are my favourite days, we have pizza and movie and fire :)
    Wendy

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    1. Your Saturdays sound fab! Lovely to have pizza and a night off from proper cooking, or do you make it yourself? I once cooked a pancake breakfast for 30+ people at church and some people were "very impressed" that I did it without a mix; I was astonished! Doing the little things makes a big difference, I think. Hope you've had a good weekend. x

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  12. I hope you're enjoying your weekend. The pancake story made me smile! Jx

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    1. I am always pleased to make people smile, Jan. x

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  13. Love your 5 dear Gal! I gave up late night snacks for Lent and it's been such a sacrifice!! It's my "me" time after no kiddos around (when they go to bed) and I get to watch my tv shows. But it's probably a lot healthier for me too. Plus I pray instead - also a healthy thing. Lol ;)

    Blessings on your weekend and I bet that wine and cheese hit the spot! xoxo

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    1. It certainly did, Carrie, thank you! Praying is indeed a healthy thing and well done for making a sacrifice. It will make Easter all the sweeter, I think. x

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  14. An interesting five. My pancakes weren't the best this year as I had mislaid a measuring jug and had to think of an alternative way to measure out the milk using a measuring spoon. I think St. Chad and St. David are inspiring. It must have been quite an experience walking a pilgrim way in Wales. I hope your weekend went well and you have good week.

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    1. I had a lovely weekend Linda, and made a pilgrimage to an ancient holy site in Wales. I can't tell you where yet as I want to write a post about it, but it was very special. Take care. x

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  15. Thank you for your comment. Your header is stunning - Happy week!

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    1. Thanks Riitta - I can't take the credit for the header as the Best Beloved took it, but it's our local woods, only about two miles away. x

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  16. Ready made pancakes are so easy I never do pancakes myself, yes maybe 100 years ago when I was freshly married. They taste so good here that you can say you did them yourself ! The only thing I give up or rather get rid of are clothes. I go through my wardrobe and throw (good old) stuff out and give it to a charity shop.

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    1. Giving to charity is always good, Gattina. I don't think I'd ever make pancakes again if only I could get over the guilt! x

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  17. I'm not christian, so I don't 'do' Lent but I did make pancakes. We sometimes have those thick ones - with raisins and things in - that I buy from the supermarket, but like you, I wouldn't dream of buying 'proper' pancakes. If they tasted good, don't worry too much.

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    1. It's the guilt that's getting to me. Ridiculous, isn't it? I have much bigger "sins" than buying pancakes! x

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  18. I hope you had a great Friday evening and lovely weekend. I had never heard of St Chad before.

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    1. Thanks Annie, it was lovely. I hadn't heard of St Chad before I moved to Shropshire. I don't think he's well-known. x

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  19. Love to read all the five days.. I also don't like to work on Weekends.. We only work in our garden..

    Thanks you for visiting my blog.. Love.

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    1. Thanks Krishna. Working in the garden is always very satisfying, I think, and can be absolutely joyous when the weather is kind. x

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  20. We celebrate here in Finland the Shrove Tuesday - go outdoors and enjoy the snow sports and have fun. Then we drink hot chocolate and eat shrove buns with whipped cream.

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  21. Hello Mrs Tiggywinkle
    I love that name - I'm a great Beatrix Potter fan too!
    I enjoyed your five, each piece was a gem to read, thank you.
    I should be 'giving up' lots of things for Lent, but again I've failed.
    I do try to be extra kind and considerate - but deep down I know I should be doing more.
    You've pricked my conscience Mrs T and that's a good thing - God in His wisdom
    has spoken to me through your post today!
    I'm following you now and I look forward to your next post.
    Shane
    PS Thank you for popping in to read my blog too!

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  22. I love this post. I made a pilgrimage to Rome once and it was fabulous. I went with my Sister, Mom and Dad. I didn't give anything up for lent. I have a friend who decided she was going to do something nice for herself every day. That will be hard for her! My husband works afternoons so Friday is like any other day around here, although I took myself out last Friday and enjoyed it. I might start having date night w myself on Friday!

    Cindy

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  23. Mrs Tiggywinkle, I could no more give up my tea than I could give up breathing! I drink tea about 8 times a day.

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