Freshly baked scone

I walked into the kitchen at work today to the lovely smell of freshly baked scones. This is not a usual occurrence but was a treat provided by a colleague for all the staff.
It is interesting how memories can be evoked with something as simple as the smell of these scones

I am a mum of four beautiful girls and throughout their growing years I often came up against feelings of inadequacy in the area of creativity.

I tried very hard in my late teens and early married life to do all things thought to be attributes of a woman. I knitted, very badly, a jumper for my new husband but because he loved me he did wear it, even though it was only to keep warm whilst fixing the car.

Fancy dress costumes for the girls were always a cat, made easy with a leotard, tail sown on, and whiskers painted on their faces.

My eldest daughter Jen still cannot bear to look at the photo's showing the basin shaped fringe I gave everyone of them in their younger days.

I love flowers but when it comes to arranging them, I can’t even describe how bad I am at this. It was with amazement only recently that I stood talking to a male friend who was arranging some flowers his wife had been given. I kid you not he was chatting away without any thought he cut and arranged the flowers in a display to rival any florist.

The thought that the scones evoked in the end reminded me of many pleasant and funny memories. I was reminded how different we are all are, I have had friends over the years that have helped me by sewing clothes, cutting the girls hair, and baking cakes for their birthdays. In return I have baby sat for them, cared for them when sick with the knowledge I have as a nurse. I have also counselled and taught them as a church leader and hopefully brought some wisdom to difficult situations.

I still have days when the lack of practical skills is a frustration but I also love that we are different. I would love to think that we can learn to complete one another that we can do more together than we ever could apart.

Thanksgiving and Prayer
Philippians 1 v 3-6
I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

It's my birthday

It’s my birthday this week I will be 50 years old, according to most people it’s the big 50! I remember my mum telling me that inside she was only 25 and it was often a shock when she looked in the mirror to see this old lady looking back at her.


I have had a good almost 50 years, some lows and lots and lots of amazing highs and I am very happy with where my life is today, but 50. It seems so old and just like my mum I feel so much younger inside. I am not fishing for compliments because as I say to those who kindly say nice things, a classic being ‘you only look 40’ I have to point out I don’t even want to look 40, I really want to only be 25 (not too old, not too young).

I have been counting down my age each evening this last week on my Facebook page and the reason for this is that it will be the last times I can write a 40 something number in my age, and to be honest I have sort of missed this year. In fact this year as not been ‘I am 49’ but 'I’m 50 next', how sad am I, missing out on being 49 worrying about this next birthday for the whole year.

As I write this I am 49 years 11mths and 25 days old, my lovely husband Alan as just pointed out to me that I should not worry too much about numbers as in fact I have just coming to the end of my 50th year and I am now fast approaching my 51st year of life. Oh dear I just have to hope that my moisturising routine will have worked to keep the lines around my eyes at bay for at least a little while longer!

Beverley