The Only Way to Begin Ash Wednesday

At the beginning of a very long day – the sleep barely wiped from my eyes – my first job? -Making ash to use at the Ash Wednesday services.

Now I’ve heard clergy complain that palm crosses don’t burn very well and need baking before they will ignite and turn into ash. It is not surprising that the palms don’t burn readily, as most are impregnated with fire retardant. However, follow the recipe below and you will have plenty of ash in abundance.

Be warned work in a well-ventilated kitchen and keep doors to the rest of the house closed. Otherwise a bonfire smell will be left throughout the house.

Heat the heaviest pan you own (mine is a cast iron variety). Cut the palm crosses up with scissors and drop in the pan. When a high temperature is reached the palm fronds will smoke – at this point ignite with some burning kitchen roll. (this also adds to the finish ash). Once the flames die down I us e a pestle and mortar to complete the ‘smooth’ effect. Adding some olive oil prevent the total dispersal of said ashes over Mrs. Smith with one sneeze as you  inhale while putting a cross on the first forehead.

‘Hash’ Wednesday

A small group of people gather each week in Huddersfield – they are fondly known as the ‘Moppers’, from a time when they would make mops, for whom and why I am not privy. The group meet each week for conversation and food, or ‘company’ as it used to be called.

Each week one of the party provides a different supper for the group. What did the roistered chef provide this Wednesday?

Corn Beef ‘Hash’ – nothing could be more appropriate on ‘Ash Wednesday!

Smooth stones and Pretty Shells

“Even Newton had no idea he was going to change the way folk looked at the universe when he set out. Not that he saw it that way. He ended up saying he felt like he’d been a boy playing on a seashore, occasionally finding a smoother stone or a prettier shell, while the great ocean of truth lay undiscovered all around him.”*

What pretty things have we found today? In the scheme of the universe our smooth stone or a pretty shell is beyond tiny and so insignificant.

Yet, the universe is made up of such shards of star light and perhaps our lives are held together with such radiant filaments.

And the undiscovered? – waiting to be discovered!

 

 

*Reginald Hill – The Stranger House p.286

Pancake Party

Off to a social gathering for Shrove Tuesday. If my memory serves me correctly pancakes were eaten to consume all the good things before a Lenten fast.

There will be many choir members present so I assume a lot of preparation will take place. Not that they will be shriven, but the calorie intake could be vast.

You Must Be Out of Your Brilliant Mind.

“I love it when a plan comes together.” An ‘A’ Team line regularly spoken.

Sometimes you can sit and think all day and a stream of consciousness just never develops. Walking through porridge is a comparable sprint.

But then sometime, a line links with a memory, links with a sentence briefly spoken in passing, links with a news bulletin, links with dream before sleep, links with what you actually thought about last month.

Noting the passing references together and a simple argument or rational lineage unfolds before your very eyes. Sheer brilliance?

We’ll see…or at least the punters may….or not!