Jill Sparrow

If I can't sleep, I play word games. I have to find, for example, a poet, an author, a composer, a pianist, etc for each letter of the alphabet. If that's too easy, I have to find five! Doesn't usually take me long to fall asleep! Zzzzzzz

That sounds delightful, jonab! A cherished memory.

Brings back memories. I lived there for 13 years!

Is that two cakes, nonna?

I have a damson tree in the garden and give the fruit to a friend who makes damson gin. I like neither damsons nor gin. When the damsons have done their stuff with the gin, she makes alcoholic damson jam with them! Waste not, want not!

If there's a party, Rog, you'll be invited...as long as you bring that drizzle cake! Have to fight Carni off though!

I'm told that it's also one of the most effective spermicides ever invented. Given the number of people who imbibe it, you'd think the world population would be declining. Sadly, not!

It's to cover the costs of replacing the pipework every month!

There is a rumour that he had six hands and four feet!

I don't drink coca cola either, Rod. Lethal stuff! Even rots the pipes at the bottling plant! It's good for dissolving superglue though!

You don't know what you're missing, Rod!

I always think that cheese and wine go well together. Both products of a fermentation process. I suppose cheese and wine evenings have gone out of fashion...temporarily. Like most things, they'll be back when someone thinks they've discovered something new!

I remember my father making his own beer when I was a child. After the fermenting process was over, he'd spread the hops on the garden and then dig them in. One autumn, he made some marrow wine. I remember the marrow hanging up in the kitchen. Obviously, I didn't sample the results but dad was ill after a couple of glasses...it was so potent! He never made any more. The wine makers in our family were Emily and George Ward at number 4 Garden Street. Both originating from farming families, they scoured the hedgerows for wine making materials. Their elderberry was excellent, apart fr

I'll bet J S Bach did!

Eastwood branch. Just as I remember it.

Apparently, they opened the Heanor Branch in 1895 and it closed in 2007. That's a lot of liberty bodices!

They've got nowt like our Ben in Canada, eh Loppy?

Bet they'd give their eye teeth for a trip to Bulwell!

Sad news. Always sad to hear of the passing of an NS member. Hope he finds his way to Chulla's Nottstalgia Bar in the Ethernet. That'll soon have more members than this set up!

Not sure but wasn't it called Marshall & Rowell? The Heanor branch was on two floors. Very quaint. It was the type of shop that would have stocked liberty bodices. Did they have one in Bestwood, Ben?

How she's got away with that I don't know. I had my Clearview fitted 3 years ago. Bought it from Robey's in Belper. It was fitted by HETAS registered engineers and the fitting cost as much as the stove, although I got a sizeable discount on both because my next door neighbour, who is a builder, also bought one and they were fitted on the same day. The liners are expensive, it's true. After fitting, I was given a sheaf of documentation to prove it was DEFRA approved and fitted in accordance with the regulations, should anyone ever query it. No one ever has! They have si

Rowells had a shop in Eastwood. Still there, I think. One in Stapleford. Still there earlier this year. Their Heanor shop is now a hospice charity shop.

Keeping a record is essential, Rog. Dates, times, photos and her responses when challenged. Hopefully, you won't have to do so alone.

I've had my multi fuel going a couple of evenings but I'm a good girl and only use authorised smokeless fuel or kiln dried wood. I suspect your neighbour's appliance may have a blockage somewhere. Does she have it swept regularly? Not everyone does, nor do they stick to what they should burn. Gets the rest of us a bad name.

Yes, I know,Oz. I'm a regular visitor due to my interest in traditional upholstery. It's a good source of materials.