Somewhat bizarrely, I need to tell you about knitting needles, some wool, a feisty ladies committee and the tick-tick-tick which seems to have suddenly invaded my life. Also my Toddington People project progresses.
A while back I had been invited along to something in the church hall, it was something loosely pitched as a bit of woodwork being needed.
I went into the church hall and there was already quite a gathering going on. Lots of ladies, all of a “certain age” all talking knitting things. Sitting behind them were life sized knitted mannequins which, to be honest, gave me the creeps. They looked as if they’d escaped from a Doctor Who film set, or perhaps a weird dream.
The general idea was to display the knitted mannequins in the church, later on in the year and this is what the stands are for. All kinds of views about this and that were being mooted and it reminded me of the Calendar Girls film featuring a WI group. But I wouldn’t go quite that far with these, if you get the drift.
At one point things got a bit heated when the subject got on to money. The cost of flowers for the church alongside the knitted mannequins was hotly debated and then the conversation got around to asking how much the admission charge should be. The opening price was suggested as £5 per person.
I then threw my hand grenade in. I suggested it was “wrong to charge people for going into a church”. The pin dropped on the floor and everyone could hear it, loud and clear, jaws dropped open. Then it was explained to me that unless they raise lots of money through this kind of thing, the 800 year old church would fall apart. I mentioned Jesus turning over money changer’s tables in the temple and that the church should be there for every one, after all, God is there for everyone, free of charge.
I knew I had lost my argument. Not the first time and certainly not the last time. At least someone did come up to me afterwards and said she “sort of agree with you Doug”.
The other bit of knitting invading my week has been Rachel finding lots of wool upstairs in the Quirky Museum’s pink room. She has taken it upon herself to knit as many children’s bobble hats as she can for the Shoe Box appeal which takes place each Christmas. So at every opportunity Rachel’s knitting needles can be heard tick-tick-ticking away. This happens at the dining room table, before and after a meal, watching TV and even in the car!
I am sure things will return to normal before too long. I think I’ll be missing it when the time comes.
After a couple of false starts, I have sold my old bicycle. It felt quite odd seeing the new owner cycle away on it, wobbling as he tried to get his foot into the toe clip on the pedal.
The new owner had come from Ampthill to buy it, having walked quite a lot of the way, he also had a lift and a bus ride. He was a teacher who had recently resettled into this country and I think had quite an interesting story to tell. Luckily he was about my height and was perfectly sized for the bicycle. I took some pleasure in telling him about the history of the bike, the story behind having it resprayed and the places I’d cycled to.
Seeing it go was like selling off some of the family silver, or perhaps flogging off a good friend. I decided, in my mind, to be pragmatic and see it as some unused clutter being liberated from the house, in exchange for some cash. The cash? Well it was for more than it cost back in 1984.
I should say the bike itself was a bit like Trigger’s broom (think Only Fools and Horses) with so many bits being replaced it was almost a new bicycle – even the frame had been replaced.
Good to see it has gone to a new home, with plenty of life left in it. It will be funny if see it in Ampthill sometime!
Here’s my latest portrait for the Toddington People project. We know Avril well and she’s such good fun.
We agreed that I would photograph her at the village hall, where she is the bookings secretary. I couldn’t help but think that was such a boring place to photograph her as it’s a bit drab. When I saw Avril looking so brightly dressed, I knew it would work.
My only challenge was keeping her in focus and allowing the background to blur. As the lens was set at 24mm (wide angle) this was going to be difficult even on the widest aperture setting. I think I have just got away with it. Either way, capturing Avril’s smile has been exactly right, so I’m quite pleased!