Good Food Keeps People Happy

It's a foodie kind of day today.
I had forgotten that there was a Church fund raising spring Lunch organised in the Memorial hall around noon today and had already organised to meet my sister in law for lunch at the Potting Shed Cafe at Jackson's garden centre just outside the village.Feeling guilty I popped in to the Hall before I went,  paid my 10£ and collected my lunches as a takeaway, Chris can have them for his tea tonight.

The Vicar is looking for new ideas to raise funds in the village and I see that Chris has already told him and the PCC that I ( me!) will be organising something later in the year .( which was nice of him)
I am toying with the idea of organising a Village supper at the Hall, something warming and fun in the Autumn when the entire village can be invited . A lunch is fine but as most people work during the day, only the grey hairs and lucky old pongos like me can attend....

The food today at the Spring Lunch was simple and tasty, and all was served at tables covered with neat white tablecloths and small vases filled with spring flowers  and I suggested that the Church ladies could have provided a much better funeral tea for Bob's funeral on Tuesday instead of the dreadful spread put on by the village pub, The Crown, which is now under new management.
Bob's family was mortified by the "buffet" which consisted of a few cold pizza slices, tired egg sandwiches , sausage rolls and crisps and I felt their embarrassment acutely. Grieving people need a funeral to run smoothly and without complication and feeding mourners well, is not rocket science.
You provide good tasty food and make sure there's a lot of it.

I'm now warming to the idea of the supper in the hall thing
Here is a couple of photos of a recent wedding held at the hall....I want indoor bunting for this Year's flower Show!.....bunting would look nice at any hall meal too!
Time for the flower show committee to invest me thinks




64 comments:

  1. The hall looks charming in that photo. And what lovely big windows!

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  2. It looks so inviting, John.

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  3. To raise funds for the church, how about starting "Going Gently" coach tours aimed at North American visitors? Guided by friendly blog aficionado Tom Stephenson, the visitors would explore the landscape of "Going Gently", taking pictures of the famous sights - including Aunt Gladys, the village hall and the Ukrainian Village. The vicar would get them all singing "Land of My Fathers" and they'd pay a bit extra for photos taken with Albert or Winnie. Just a thought. Tom Stephenson would be issued with a smart peaked cap and also a megaphone to keep the visitors in check.

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    1. Loved this , my imagination is running riot
      Gaynor , the mad organist on the piano in the corner ( there is a grand piano in the hall)' the vicar and mrs trellis serving champagne.................

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    2. Let me know when the guided tour for North Americans (Canada) is scheduled. I would love to be included. Mardy

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    3. What a wonderful idea !
      I could come with the Canadian group.

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    4. Why would you want a total stranger as the guide even if it is TS?

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    5. Total stranger? No way Rachel. Mr Stephenson is John Gray's biggest fan. You can drive the bus if you want to. A highlight of the tour would be when visitors file upstairs at the corner cottage to see The Professor on his sick bed reading "Good Housekeeping".

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    6. Great idea! You could have flannels embroidered WFF (Winnie's Fanny Flannel) for visitors to purchase as a souvenir too!

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    7. Good idea Simone. The flannels would surely be very popular with North American women (even Canadians!).

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    8. Mrs trellis is busy knitting them as we speak

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    9. I love this thread!... my mind is running rampant.

      Can you also do a tour for NZ ex pats too please, I feel a savings plan coming on.

      Jo in Auckland, NZ

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    10. Sorry Jo. New Zealanders don't tip as well. Go to Greymouth instead. Much cheaper.

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    11. Sorry Jo. New Zealanders don't tip as well. Go to Greymouth instead. Much cheaper.

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  4. Oooh! oooh! Yorkshire Pudding has it!
    I was just going to say that I'd attend any event at a hall that lovely, but that thought is eclipsed by the idea of a photo with Winnie.

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  5. A supper would be lovely. I wonder if you could get some of the choir to sing, I cant remember properly but did you say there was an all Male Choir somewhere near you? Maybe some local businesses could provide some prizes for a raffle.

    I would say I would knit you some bunting, but I cant knit or crochet. Sorry

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    1. The trelawnyd male voice choir is too big, but we could have mad organist gaynor on the hall's grand piano

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  6. What about a car boot sale every week in the summer John? The Countess of Chester hospital raises lots of money this way.

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    1. Another idea for the pcc to think about?

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  7. We made bunting for our hall out of wrapping paper and thin ribbon - 2 sets, one for December and one for the spring and summer. It was dirt cheap and looks fab in abundance. x

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    1. I'll approach the Friendshio group for some help

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  8. Bunting is a good idea, very jolly, but, ummmm, I really did have to take several long looks at the bunting in your photo, only I thought that they looked liked ladies knickers hanging on the washing line. So perhaps stick to triangular flags...easy to make, and I am sure some of the local ladies could help out.

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    1. That's exactly what I thought when I first looked at the photo! Definitely stick to triangular bunting for the flower show.

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    2. No, i am going for traditional bunting!

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    3. looks like Kylies undies. (I'm spinning around...)

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    4. Oh yes, definitely frillies, Not a good look.

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    5. I thought it was knickers as well!
      Helen

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  9. yes, i am one of them
    http://melodyjacob1.blogspot.com/

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  10. At first I thought that was lots of washing lines full of knickers .... stick to triangles and avoid confusion ..... or just go the whole hog and buy lots of cheapo knickers from the market!!

    The funeral buffet sounds dreadful, didn't the pub realise that this sort of function would have lots of locals and a good buffet would have been brilliant advertising for them.

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    1. This is an example of my new game for the church funds. It's called "guess the comment".

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    2. This comment has been removed by the author.

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    3. Only if you guess mine!!

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  12. Dinner t the hall when Fall comes sounds wonderful.
    Many many years ago we held a dinner a month at my church in Laguna Beach. It was always well attended. Go for it.
    Love the Wedding Reception that the church ladies set up. Beautiful.
    Your readers always have such great ideas.

    cheers, parsnip

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  13. Tried and true fundraiser for the schools stateside is selling tee shirts. Just imagine how many your little church could sell. Cute design with the town's name. Bet they could raise a small fortune from the sales.

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  14. The various churches in our town have the women of the church's prepare dishes to serve to the families of the deceased at the church halls. Soup lunches are popular once a month and the money goes to mission service. The local Catholic church do Lenten fish fries on Fridays during Lent and donations are used for the needs of the children of the Catholic school. So much good food and a chance to see those who you haven't seen for a while!

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    1. The church ladies from the churches in my area prepare a meal for the deceased family after the service. All you have to give them is the number of people that will be attending. They are always a feast.

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  15. the hall looks loverly!

    some of the churches round here do spaghetti suppers, or pancake breakfasts as fundraisers.

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  16. Anonymous5:38 pm

    The hall looks lovely...anything would taste good in such delightful surroundings.

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  17. The hall is decorated simply but beautifully in that photo. A village supper sounds like fun and also like a good fundraiser.

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  18. I'm sure you will do a wonderful job.

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  19. Quite a few years ago, I wanted to raise funds for the Sunday School at our church, and make the fundraising into a fun get together. People had to sign up so I'd know how many to expect. We gathered in the basement of the church for a pizza party, and then we had a talent show. It was so much fun--one of the most enjoyable things I've ever done in church.

    Love,
    Janie

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    1. I think you are right...we need to get something " funny" involved......i may ask affible despot jason to get involved

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  20. Maybe you should retire from nursing and be an event coordinator! From the picture the bunting does look like bikini underwear! White lacy triangles may have been a better choice. Of course, it may have looked a lot different in person.

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    1. I agree...i think i shall buy some PROPER bunting

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  21. One successful fundraiser: local school children offer a list of "services" to help with cleaning out the garden, washing windows, move boxes (light weight), carry in groceries, etc. Each would have a price cost for each service.
    The elderly parishioners might appreciate these services.
    A % of money earned could be given to their school.
    When I was in middle school, we did this to raise money for a field trip. Had a load of fun, the community appreciated it. Went on the field trip.

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    1. I'll put that to the prof who is church warden x thank you

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  22. The hall looks really special. I could crochet you some bunting if you like.....just a little bit to start you off? Let me know. x

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    1. Yes please but dont spoil your flower show entries!

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  23. The hall looks very neat, festive, and inviting. I like the flowers.

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  24. The hall looks gorgeous. In my experience when church ladies do the cooking it is the most delicious array of home cooking . Bit sad about the funeral catering , the church ladies would have made a beautiful array of food.

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  25. John, I just met the most delightful lady! She is originally from North Wales. A village called Llansilin near Clwyd and Oswestry. Her name is Eirlys and she lives here in SC now. She will be looking for your blog. Small world, huh?!!


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    1. Llansilin has a lovely church..with a tower as i remember xx

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  26. Spaghetti Suppers and Perogie Suppers are big in my town.

    Spaghetti, salad and garlic toast $10/head. Simple, cheap, and most people will eat it.

    Saturday nights and usually over by 7pm.

    Gone to a few over the years at my friend's parish hall. Always had a laugh as well just meeting new people.

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  27. The hall's looking lovely - what a shame about The Crown. I've heard the new people could be on their way out as business is pretty poor now. Let's hope that's the case, although we don't want to see it close, just be better run for the community's sake.

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    1. You and peter would be good landlords!

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  28. re fund raising: How about a village Scotch Egg Hunt? For £5 all the participants could buy a very cryptic clue as to its location, and you'd have to sell as many clues as possible before the Egg was found. Could be fun!

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  29. I have to agree that good food makes everything better

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  30. Food is my drug and I know what you are talking about :-)

    What or who is a 'Pongo' by the way?

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    1. Its just something i picked up KK , I think it means a low ranking soldier

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  31. Crisp white table cloths & jamjars with freshly picked flowers, pretty bunting & tissue paper bunting is delightful.

    I was disappointed at the buffet the local pub provided for my mum's 80th - cold pizza, quiche & sausages not nice. It's mum's 85th soon & we will be celebrating in my home this time with husband cooking Paella & daughter making that Jamie Oliver Hummingbird cake you saw on my blog when we just had to have one to make sure it was OK !!!

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  32. Pancake breakfasts are a common fundraiser here. On a Saturday morning, people can pop in, participate and donate, and be off on their own busy days.

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