Hello Jerry,

Seems an ages since we chewed the fat. I see you are looking for some recipes. My Mum used to make the best cakes....they came from a packet mix.....good though!

Dad was the real cook in our family. His cherry pie was to die for. It has gone down in family legend as the lode stone by which all ventures are judged.

We have been through the rememberance time of year here in rural Suffolk. The village bell ringers rang a muffled peal for the fallen. For those of you who do not know what a mufled peal might be, let me explain. The bells have a leather muffle tied to them so that, as they swing, one side rings clear and the other side rings with a muffled sound.

There is only one thing more poignant than hearing a muffled peal ringing out over a village where a generation died for their country, and that is to ring a muffled peal for some-one you loved. I had that priviledge in the days when I was a member of the bell ringing team. Our next door neighbour died and, as two of us lived near her, we asked permission to ring her a muffled peal. The most uplifting and heart-rending thing I have ever done.

Best wishes,

Peter