Iden

MINT CONDITION: An English garden seems bereft without a patch of mint. I love it when those little runners of mint decide to crawl under the fence, reminding us of approaching summer. Home made mint sauce always reminds me of scullery kitchens, and Granny's who once seemed to have all the time in the world to sit at a chopping board. Mint, is one of those smells that transports us right back in time isn't it? I often use mint as foliage too, particularly young, sprightly mint, which has that perky, healthy look [as though it's spent time in a herbal gymnasium]. It looks homely in a jug, amongst those small garden flowers we can't help picking when we go to put the lawnmower away. Flowers have to go in just the right jug though don't they? I have a thing about jugs. I have a cupboard full of them, but I know that I'll buy more, and then more still, because each one so suits it's purpose. There is a bright red one for the cranberry sauce at Christmas, a holly one for the bread sauce, and a gingham one with hearts for the Christmas gravy [and heaven preserve anyone who mixes them up!] They become household friends [well, they do] Open a cupboard, and right at the back will be a quirky little jug we haven't seen in ages, Each one has a story to tell about where we acquired it. Maybe from an elderly relative, a trendy friend, a holiday, or a jumble sale. .Bring out a quaint-looking, haphazardly-fired pottery relic, and it's like greeting an old friend, and we know it will look the bees knees on the kitchen window sill, holding a posy of daisies, and some mint, to accentuate the culinary side of things.. Fetch it out, dust it off, and we've brought a little bit of Iden summer inside!
By The Newsroom
Published 8th Apr 2016, 00:00 BST

This article contains affiliate links. We may earn a small commission on items purchased through this article, but that does not affect our editorial judgement.

THE NEXT IDEN JUMBLE SALE: On Saturday, 16th April, there will be a jumble sale in Iden village hall, at 1pm. Entrance 20p. There will be tea/coffee, raffle, books, bric-a –brac, and of course assorted jumble.

The jumble sale is on behalf of BACE, a Gambian charity, which does so much to support African families, so much in need of help. Sue White travels to the Gambia, and has helped to build a school and a medical centre. Her jumble sales are always tip-top!

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THE POP-IN: The next Iden Pop-In will be on Monday 18th April, at 11am, in Iden village hall. Do come and give it a try. It’s a chance to get together, and buy some bric-a-brac and books, and just put the world to rights, over coffee/tea and biscuits. Everyone is welcome.

BINGO: The next bingo session will be on Thursday 21st April, in Iden village hall. Doors open at 2pm, eyes down at 2.30pm. This is a splendid afternoon, with a raffle, a flier, a jackpot, and a light tea at half time. Anyone from the Rye area is welcome.

A GUARD OF HONOUR: This week we went to a family party in a church hall, and on the way back home, approaching Iden, we came upon this beautiful ‘guard of honour’, made up of daffodils, standing to attention at each side of the road. They were so ‘yellow’, and so very ‘prolific’, that my heart soared [it did, it actually soared] This latest planting has been a bit of a revelation. Every little corner of Iden has a clump of daffodils to show for their keep. Mary Philo, [our Parish clerk], and her band of helpers must all have housemaid’s knee, after getting all those into the ground. Thank you one and all!

A SERVICE OF HOLY COMMUNION: There will be a service of Holy Communion, in Iden Parish Church, on Sunday, at 9.30am. The Easter service was so well-attended, and enjoyed by all.

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NEVER UNDER-ESTIMATE: I’ve always believed that traditional roles in the home for men and women work best, but in saying that, most couples have to mix and match duties nowadays, don’t they, because women work too, and like many a woman, I would break off from doing a drug round, lock the trolley [when I was nursing on night duty], to quickly remind my husband to give the baby some Calpol, and put the washing on. When I retired though, it was understood, that I did the oman’s work, and he did the man’s work. I never expected him to cook, because it wasn’t his thing. I have to say though, since I’ve had a wonky hip, he has been like ‘Martha Stewart’. This morning he went out to choose embroidery silks, do the shopping, and even get my concealer- stick [make-up] from Boots. Last night he made macaroni cheese, and I asked for more. He’s turned me into Oliver Twist, and I am very grateful. I never realised that for the past, [almost fifty years], he has been hiding his light under a bushel .I’m married to Florence Nightingale. He has truly become ‘the man with the lamp’!

CONTACT ME: If anyone has anything to add to the Village Voice, please ring Gill Griffin [telephone 01-797 280311]

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