Life must be filled up

I’ve just been reading Joy and Josephine by Monica Dickens. In the book, she emphasises just how irritating one character is by having her refer to her crochet work as ‘crosher’. I don’t share this snobbery about people who call crochet, crosher and here’s why.

I learned to knit when I was about six and never forgot how to do it. In the seventies when crochet was suddenly fashionable, I decided to teach myself, with this very book which cost 20p.



Oh dear, I didn’t get on very well and so, on top of all the million other things I did at the time, I enrolled in an evening class. Our teacher was lovely. She did exquisite work herself but was endlessly patient with our clumsy efforts. And she always said, ‘crosher’.

As a result, I embarked on a crochet storm of shawls, multi-coloured cushion covers and a tea cosy. The shawls were either presents or were later given away (fool!), the cushions ended up lining cat baskets until they were just fur pads and fit for nothing. All I’ve got left is the ancient (vintage!) tea cosy.



Now I look at it and ask, How you did that? There’s a new crochet part work out. As the first issue is only 99p and includes pattern book, DVD, yarn and hook I thought I’d give it a go. So yesterday evening, a warlike evening of The Wartime Farm followed by The Bletchley Circle, I tried making a square. First it was a semi-circle. The next attempt was wedge shaped. Then the yarn got knotted. I gave up. I can do all the stitches, I just can’t make them into anything! I think it will be back to the old Patons book, which gives much clearer instructions than this new magazine. Also, the yarns and hook supplied are cheap and nasty, which you’d expect, really. Luckily, I already have every size of crochet needle there is and a fair amount of yarn. All I need is to recover my long lost skillz.



I won't make this, though. Ha ha!

There’s been a lot of publicity about the release of the Mike Leigh at the BBC DVD set. Of all Mike Leigh’s films, my favourite is Nuts in May and with good reason. ( Picture this… )

Surprising thought it may seem, some people are enjoying the recession. 'Reminds me of my childhood.' is a typical comment. There's a grisly relish in all those articles in the press telling us how to save money; articles written by people who have jobs and are not about to have their homes repossessed. We've been here before, of course, in the seventies, which was also the age of self-sufficiency. Richard Mabey's book Food For Free (1972) is such a classic that it's been reissued. In 1975 The Good Life burst on to our screens, with Tom Good attempting self-sufficiency in Surbiton. Funny how when I watch the programme now, I much prefer Margot and Jerry. The daddy of grow-your-own was John Seymour, whose The Complete Book of Self-Sufficiency (1976, also reissued) was so influential that people are now writing books about the book.

I don't have to look far for free food as the grass is covered in apples which I don't have the time or the energy to pick up. I used to put them outside the gate with a 'help yourself' notice but people would take the whole box until I ran out of boxes, so I gave up. I feel guilty if I make no use of them and my current plan is stewed apples the easy way.

Peel and core 1lb apples (not that I weigh them). Chop quite roughly; no need for fiddling around with neat slices. Place in a large glass bowl with two tablespoons sugar and one tablespoon water. Microwave on high for six minutes.

You can eat it hot or cold (delicious with Greek yogurt) and you can freeze it for later. Cheap, easy, good for you!