As Seen On TV (or 15 Minutes Of Fame)

From Facebook Archives

19 April 2015 at 21:10

Ms Exlibris Just seen you on Vera Bentonbag

Bentonbag You mustn't have blinked! I only recognised me by my blouse and top 😀

Ms Exlibris That's how I recognised you! You stood out from the crowd. It was difficult to capture again to show the other half - fleeting!

Bentonbag Their wardrobe lady chose it - we had to take up a "small suitcase of clothing suitable to wear at a Sunday Farmers' market". The fairlise sleeveless jumper was one Phil's mum knitted for him.

Bentonbag or even fairisle!

19 April 2015 at 22:36

Drummerman  Bentonbag: was that you we saw wandering about the market in tonight's "Vera"?

Bentonbag Yes - if you were quick sighted - red blouse fairisle sleeveless jumper

Mind you the wandering was quite choreographed to look like natural wandering.

19 April 2019 at 09:09

Ms Exlibris‎ to Bentonbag  Have I just seen you on Northern Cross pilgrimage across to Lindisfarne with Gareth Malone on BBC1?

Bentonbag Yes, and the great yellow hulk next to me was Thunderthighs

Ms Exlibris  It was Thunderthighs I spotted first!

Bentonbag  My humungous son and I appear very early on.

Mrs Leftfoot  I've never seen that cap before?  Why didn't he speak to you two?  SOMEBODY really does stand out in the "crowd"... And good for him.

Bentonbag  My cap? I wore it when I did Northern Cross in 1978 and there are few occasions when it's appropriate.  He did speak to us but not on film.  I thought "I'm sure I know this bloke from somewhere - was he a runner on one of the quizzes - or one of the production crew on a Vera" then someone called his name.  Thunderthighs recognised him at once and was star-struck and tongue-tied - apart from "I've come to give her emotional support."

Mrs Leftfoot  You have such lovely children.  A real credit to you and the doctor. X

Bess Cavalier  I was still in bed at 8.00 am this morning!  Will have to have a look on i-player.

 

More Northern Cross and Holy Island of Lindisfarne posts

https://bentonbag.blogspot.com/2020/05/to-holy-land.html 

https://bentonbag.blogspot.com/2022/04/misty-causeway.html 

https://bentonbag.blogspot.com/2024/04/holy-island-memories.html 

https://bentonbag.blogspot.com/2021/10/the-causeway.html 

 

 

 

 

 

Ffa A Cwtchdanstar

From Facebook Archives

18 April 2018 at 19:16

Seeing as the ffa I planted months ago has finally come up, and it's been sunny and warm (!!!) today I planted: the other packet of ffa (broad beans), carrots, beetroot, turnip, Brussels sprouts, lettuce, onions, chives, garlic chives, parsley, sweet pea and morning glory all in raised beds. Gardeners Delight and yellow tomato seeds have also been planted and are sitting in seed trays on the front windowsill.

Mrs Lasagne  Oh it sounds lovely in your garden Benxxx

Mrs J W  You were taught well by your parents Ben as my brother and I was xx

Mr GJ  Da iawn Ben, ffa yw ffa

Bentonbag  It's the same with cwtchdanstar. I just can't say cupboard-under-the-stairs.  We all say cwtchdanstar in this house now, and Fester has to translate for visitors.

Ms Telyn  Phonetic pronunciation please for the non Welsh! Looks like a fab word.

Bentonbag  Cwtch with a short oo and ch as in chuff.  Dan as in karate.  Star as in the night sky.  And you have to say it swiftly in three short syllables.

Cwtch has many meanings (including cuddle) but in this instance means a small space that you can't stand up in: a hen coop would be cwtchiâr.  Dan means under.  Star means stairs

Ms Telyn  So chudanstar then?

Bentonbag  Hard c in Welsh unless followed by an h - so more kutchdanstar.

I was brought up in a truly bilingual part of Wales, although we were an English speaking household.  When, aged 5, I started Cwmifor school at least half the children were mam-iaith Cymraeg (first language Welsh) and most of our neighbours would slip from English to Welsh depending on who or what they were talking to or about.   

Dad would sometimes do this and I treasure the memory of a letter he once sent with a line in Welsh about something too close to the heart for English.

Henffrind (my oldest best friend) and I have only recently started using Welsh together.  For most of our childhood it was English, however in the kitchen with her Gran both languages were used and flowed into each other with everybody following the conversation.

So there are some things that I still only use Welsh for:-

Ffa because a regular conversation starter at this time of year was 

“Is your ffa up yet?”

Cwtchdanstar because we lived in a bungalow so I only ever heard the Welsh word.

 

Three In One

From Facebook Archives

17 April 2016 at 16:29

Today I wore Phil's old tweed jacket which is multi-pocketed so I didn't take my handbag out with me to the Quayside, and forgot to take my camera.

As Bigbrother once said "The things you see when you haven't got a gun"; 

or in this case camera.

First the French cheesemonger the Coven and I encountered in Milton Keynes last Christmas.  He seems to have recovered and forgotten us; and lives in South Shields.

Then Batman and a chilly looking Robin striding up the riverside from the coast end.

Finally two Indian ladies in black full-body leotards and swirly colourful chenille silky robes and ankle bell pads making some sort of promotional video opposite the Baltic.

17 April 2022 at 09.57

Fester and I have exchanged Easter eggs

Mine Maltesers Bunnies

His kippers & piccalilli

McChurch   Woaaah! Just a cotton picking minute-aroony here.  Where do you get kipper and piccalilli easter eggs?  I want one of them.

Bentonbag  The Holy Island of Lindisfarne.  

Drummerman  Well, fish is traditional at Easter…

17 April 2022 at 09.59

The thermometer under the pottisserie recorded 20⁰C yesterday.  

It was so warm I put on a dress and little else and did quite a lot of gardening.   

Thunderthighs put on his summer pyjamas last night and I think I may dig out my summer nighties.  

I'm now going to soak in a mineral bath before deciding how much or little to wear today.

Ne’er cast a clout…….

Frogs, Fine Weather and Farmville

Facebook posts are thin on the ground during school holidays due to us going away and me not wanting to be bothered with laptops and wifi codes.  So this blog post is not on the appropriate date.

Also we’re away for a very long weekend so there’s little chance of a blog next week.

12 April 2009 at 12.31

I’ve just spotted 2 adult frogs in the garden 'pond' (thanks again Squireen) but they don't appear at all interested in each other.   

How do you sex living frogs?

Squireen  Don’t know just wait for the frog spawn..... thanks for the card

Bentonbag  In which case, according to Fester, we have two females

12 April 2010 at 11.46

What a glorious day, came back from Lidl with all the car windows and sunroof open.

12 April 2010 at 12.02

I’ve given up Farmville for good.   

It's a Facebook thing where you have a virtual farm, plant crops, tend animals, earn coins, give neighbours gifts.   

Takes ages to load or for anything to happen but can be addictive.  

Besides which I have enough trouble tending my own life without having a virtual one to worry about.