First Fluting

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As you know, I am trying to get my life back in order now the caudal epidural steroid injections are kicking in.

Today, my fluting partner, Mandy, came round for lunch – a quiche with unidentifiable filling (was it basil or spinach, no one knows!) and then we retired to my wee shed for a play.  Despite the injections which were lower down my spine, I find holding the flute increasingly difficult as it exacerbates my brachialgia – the pain in my neck, shoulder and arm.  But I plumbed in my Painpod (EMS/Tens machine) strategically placed the pads, turned the zapping power up and we had a go at playing something nice and easy.

As we played, we saw out of the window the sheep drifting past. They like music and we played a few pieces in between chatting and many cups of tea.  We haven’t seen each other since before Christmas so there was lots to catch up on.

And then we realised that we actually had a proper appreciatiive audience, which was nice.  The others were out of shot.

And, as it’s Muzzah’s Day, I even had a cuddle this morning off Lambie which, as Floss remarked, he hasn’t been near me all the times she’s been here.  So that was the icing on the cake.

Back to the Vegetables

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Today, feeling stronger, I returned to my usual job of packing vegetables.

There was lots to do and the old muscle memory kicked in as I filled poly bags with salad and other leafy veg, labelled them, distributed and counted what was going where.

The sun was shining, although it was bitterly cold, and I was well-prepared – I took my Christmas-present hand-warmers with me and they were a god-send in the cold packing shed.

Later this afternoon, there was a bit more running around and I am now lying in bed considering what painkillers to take and how strong.   I am beginning to think that I probably over-did things today. I must learn to say no and to pace myself.  Flossie can’t stay forever picking up the pieces.

Still, I have Monster with me lying on my bed.  He came indoors soaking wet, so I dried him off and I took a quick picture of his audition for the Nativity.

No one is talking to Pepper (again). She tried to kill a duck.  Not our best day then.

The Last Push

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Well, this is the last push on these signatures in Polly Barnard’s Birthday Book c. 1888 and onwards.

A quick recap, Polly lived in the Broadway enclave (Gloucestershire) of fashionable artists of the time – John Singer Sargent, Frank Davis Millet, Alfred Parsons, the Alma-Tademas, Paul César Helleu.  Also included were many caricaturists and portrait painters as well as their models. Polly’s father, Fred Barnard, was an illustrator for Dickens.  They also lived in Hampstead, London.

So the names Polly diligently collected in her Birthday Book (given to her on 14th birthday)  are an insight into her world.

I very much want to research the book as much as possible but I’m having problems with these last few signatures.  Your research last time was invaluable and achieved a great deal but I need more help, please.

G. H. or G. K. Fullwood / Tallwood / Tullwood
(I think it is ****wood)

This one…. I am stumped.  I know the firs tword is Alfred but is that Jr at the end?  Look at the capital A for Alfred.  If the surname begins with A, it doesn’t match.  Elfraby?

Back again.  Marie, Maris, a really badly written Mary?

The initials.  Are the M. Wedgwood?  John Singer Sargent painted “Mrs Robert Wedgwood and Mary (Halsey) Wedgwood was born in 1827 and married to Robert Wedgwood.  That would work.

This is a difficult one too.  Margaret H. Derrell, Serrell.  What is the capital letter of her surname?

Now, considering this gentleman’s handwriting is so precise, what are his initials?  V. C. ? I can find no record of a V. C. Miles.

I am stuck on Sadie‘s surname.  HELP! Watere / Natere / Matere

Another Wedgwood.  Looks like a P. N. but there are not P. N. Wedgwood’s that I can find.

These are the children of Mary Wedgwood. Husband Robert was dead by 1888.

Anyway, if anyone has any ideas.  Please help.  I am desparate here.

In other news, everyone is doing fine in their rugs or not, etc. The weather remains vile, which is why I am concentrating on transcribing and researching the Birthday Book. It has been fascinating and very worthwhile.

So How Old Is He?

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When Daisy and I first met Monster in April 2018, we were told he was approximately 2 – 4 years old.  Our Shetland vet at the time and I disagreed with this estimate and thought he was more like 6 – 8 years old as Monster was one big confidant cat who did not look like he had just been around for a couple of years.

Meet n’ Greet – Day 1 at the SSPCA – on his throne

Does this look like a 2 year old cat to you?

First day at home

I don’t know. I suppose Monster could’ve been 2 – 4.  He had been a Tom cat (swiftly neutered by the SSPCA) and certainly built like one.

So that brings us swiftly to 2026.  By my calculations, we’ve had Monster for 8 years (of total joy, obviously) so at best he is 10 – 14 years old but these days we are all noticing that Monster is getting increasingly stiff when he gets up out of his many beds and I think he might be older than we were told – more like 16.

And I know there are supplements like Yumove for cats but they are all fish-based and he absolutely loathes all fish so I am not sure what the answer is.

Help Needed, Please

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I need your help.  Between us, I think we can succeed.

I was in my shed, looking for a book that I had inherited from my mother’s bookcase, when I came across a small leather and gilt bound book.  I have had it for a while and never looked in it so didn’t know what was inside.

The book belonged to Marion Alice Barnard, also known as Polly.

This is John Singer Sargent’s sketch of Polly in preparation for the painting, Carnation, Lily, Lily, Rose.

This is Polly’s birthday book and there are some fascinating names in there so of course I am now busy transcribing it.  Most of the names I’ve worked out but there are a few I could do with some help, please.

(yes, John Singer Sargent)


Anyway, so here goes…. (ones in red are the ones I need help with)

Leonard Barwick (at the top)
****** Barnard – possibly Anne? (there is a Mary Anne in the family tree)
Ellen Terry (yes, The Ellen Terry).

N (?) Eyton Roller – is that an R or W (famous cricketer). Looking at it, I am now thinking that’s a W.
Ethel Margaret Baumer
Sybil Baumer

Mary Alice Miles
C (Charles) Trevor Roller (I think I’ve just worked that one out)

Absolutely no idea G. H Tallwood?

Again, no idea – Jennie Seloces?

Dear God, help me now….
Alfred …….
Ellen Vincent
J.M. Barrie (as in Peter Pan)

A close up if that helps.

L Barnard or L. C. Barnard?

First initial for Buchanan, please.  J. B. Buchanan?

Mary Miles?

A. J. Boyd or an F.

Agnes Daden Caffin or Naden or Baden (according to Ancestry.com it’s Haden). I suppose that could be an H.

A difficult one – I think it is M. Wedgwood 1827, or maybe not or even W. Wedgwood

Go on, knock yourself out.

Lily Millet (wife of Francis Davis Millet, artist who died on Titanic)
Barre J. Bacon or Blare or ? J or S?

What a superb find.  I am all of a quiver and not quite sure if it should be sent somewhere.  I can’t believe that little book has been sitting in my bookshelf, ignored and full of amazing names.