Macmillan Cancer Support World's Biggest Coffee Morning - Thursday, 25th September 2015

We are all Macmillan Cancer Support charity enthusiastes on this 25^th Birthday Anniversary Fundraising day Friday, 25^th September 2015 and here I am in Banbury’s Overthorpe Road at the charitable premises of  John Nicholls (Trading) Ltd, Banbury OX16 4TB, for all things plumbing as well as building materials through their outlets Banbury Building; and I am here with Grace Grineaux, Head of Human Resources, who is showing me around their offices, showroom and sales area for Sarah Payne, Host of  Nicholls Macmillan Coffee Morning. 

I sadly missed Sarah who was out on a mission so Grace kindly toured me to their Accounts Office where busy staff were happily looking forward to their coffee break for tucking into their spread of gorgeous cupcakes, millionaire shortbread, macaroons, brownies plus a lemon sponge cake and a vanilla sponge cake.......

We left everybody hard at work and made our downstairs, around corners and out into Banbury Building sales area where, on a wide counter was another fantastic array of sweet baked cakes……

Jovial counter staff and keen customer appreciation, balloons, bunting and cheerful banter were the background for my photo-shoot before I was kindly ushered towards their showroom once more by team member Tom to whom I bade sincere farewell and warm thanks for John Nicholls splendid Coffee Morning Event for Macmillan Cancer Support 25th Birthday.                                                                                                                                 

My next stop was at Pizza Express Banbury, 39 High Street, Banbury OX16 5ET, to meet up with Coffee Morning Host, Leah Man who, so badly wanting to get her friends together over coffee and cakes but finding home spacial limitations a great nuisance, was able to encourage her Pizza Express bosses to see how good it would be for all concerned to hold a jointly hosted Event.....

So, here I was, in the middle of a roar of chatter, munchings and sippings of steamy hot coffee.  Little ones were scampering about, friends were reaching out for just one extra more-ish mouthful and .....

generous supporters were filling in donation papers.   Great was the enjoyment and merriment of the occasion and wonderful the display toothsome crumbs of comfort.   

My farewells to this lively throng were tinged with regret for I’ve good memories of very happy occasions at Pizza Express Banbury  which will, undoubtedly include their tremendous 25^th Birthday anniversary Macmillan Coffee Morning today, and thanks to Leah Man who so wanted to share coffee and cake with all of her friends.

And then I was off to Marks and Spencer of 36 Bridge Street, Banbury OX16 5YA.......

for their Macmillan Coffee Morning in their 6^th year as “Official Partner of Macmillan Cancer Support World’s Biggest Coffee Morning”.  M & S have produced a wide range of items for this year’s campaign including a bright green tin for biscuits or cakes and a lovely coffee cake, tasters of which were available to try in their 10p. Cake Pots ready and waiting on their Macmillan promotions table in their first-floor coffee shop.

 Staff member Karen was standing duty over the Cake Pots and other promotional material, bunting and balloons and Coffee Shop Manager, Sinead Hibbins was on hand to kindly give permission for my next photo-shoot.  My sincere thanks to Marks and Spencer, Sinead Hibbins and Karen for their positive reception of me and my camera and questions....

Then I came across a fourth Coffee Morning event for Macmillan Cancer Support World’s Biggest Coffee Morning at Anker and Partners of High Street, Banbury OX16 5ER...... where Kim Wattam, Office Manager, generously allowed my interruption of their busy morning. giving me leave to take photos of clients, luscious baked crumbs of comfort......

and staff members in their bright corner premises ……………….cheerful with posters, bunting and balloons.

 My grateful thanks to Kim and her staff colleagues for so kindly sharing their Anker and Partners 25^th Anniversary Macmillan Cancer Support World’s Biggest Coffee Morning event....

I hurried away home to unload my cameras of their photo-booty for I was anxious to see what images I’d managed to create out of my morning’s coffee morning adventures about Banbury.

My fifth Macmillan Cancer Support World’s Biggest Coffee Morning took place on the following morning Saturday, 26^th September at Banbury Rugby Union Football Club, Banbury OX15 4AF......

with Host Philippa Button who had organised a  very joyful and well attended coffee gathering.  There was a grand display of cakes, bakes, flapjack, biscuits and all manner of delicious cake items.  

Kind friends had generously helped with the cake baking and Philippa had hung the large reception room with Macmillan bunting, balloons and posters and promotional material – their cake flags, collection box, donation forms, green pink and white spotted table coverings, sticky labels, recipe cards, Baked or Faked “No Peeking” game blindfold, Spot The Cake game for guessing the number of spots on the cake, M & S Treat Yourself to Gourmet Coffee or Tea literature and helpful details for fundraising and paying over your raised funds to Macmillan.

I bought one of the cakes made by Philippa's friend and, before we ate a slice or two at home, took another photo or two just for you to see in my blog post......

I shall post some of my photos to Macmillan via their link - #CoffeeMorning – and send them copies of my Blogger Posts too, and also send copies to all kind Hosts and Coffee Morning Event holder Banbury businesses and firms, for whom once again I offer my thanks for their generosity in allowing me to access and photo-shoot their Macmillan  Coffee Morning events for Macmillan Cancer Support  World's Biggest Coffee Morning 25^th Birthday Anniversary year of 2015.

I hope everybody, everywhere, enjoyed a wonderful Coffee Morning event as I did...

Daisy xxx       .

Saturday Morning Chatter - Saturday, 26th September 2015 - A busy week and Macmillan World's Biggest Coffee Morning Events still to visit

It's a bright sunny morning and I'm still tied to my desk, trying to write a quick post for this morning, hoping to find my mobile 'phone which I think is in my car, endeavouring to drop in to JS Auction's public auction at the Bodicote Sale Room this morning, visit Philippa Button at Banbury Rugby Union Football Club, Oxford Road, Bodicote for her Macmillan Coffee Morning from 9am today and drop in to see Andrew Barnes and Friends at Adderbury Lakes for their September Tidy-up Session.

It's been a busy week for meetings, Coffee Mornings yesterday in Banbury for Macmillan World's Biggest Coffee Morning at John Nicholls Trading Ltd., with  Grace Grineaux (Head of Human Resources) for Sarah Payne who had to dash out just as I arrived  and I am so sorry we missed each other and Tom who showed me out thru' their most attractive Showroom, to  Pizza Express, Banbury with Leah Man and Pizza Express Management team at Banbury, with Marks and Spencer Restaurant Manager, Sinead Hibbins and staff member Karen manning their Macmillan World's Biggest Coffee Morning promotional stall at M & S Banbury and then to Anker and Partners Estate Agents for their Macmillan Coffee Morning at their High Street offices where Office Manager, Kim Wattam, kindly allowed my photo-shoot of cupcakes, clients, staff and premises.

And Deddington Farmers' Market is happening today also so...

a picture of Deddington in August...

Last Saturday most unfortunately I missed attending the Charlbury Street Fair for we had to dash over to Lakeland at Bicester for jam jars, lids and labels for I'd picked a huge amount of crab apples at Katharine House Hospice last Thursday and I'd run out of supplies.  What a great shop they have at Bicester and we'll go again, also to have lunch, but today we were short of time for the dear SO needed to get home to watch his beloved GP from Singapore.  And the crab apples were calling to me to pot them up.

On Sunday, the GP and crap apples still held sway over our movements but we were out for a GP viewing then home for me to make more jelly and then to watch the first of the last  ever series of Downtown Abbey.  OMG how shall we live without its dulcet tones and gorgeous fashion...not to mention the food!

Talking about food, I've only managed a little view of this week's GBM show featuring London and the South East fish course and their pudding course, so have no idea who has gone thru' to the next round out of Mark, Matt and Lee!

The rain on Wednesday cleared for our lunch date with friends at Adderbury's The Coach and Horses where they present an excellent and economical plate of food, then fell again until late afternoon when I was able at long last to dash out and walk friend's dog Rupert. We had a great walk and whilst out I discovered a wonderful harvest of elderberries for picking, which I hope will not all have gone by the time I get back.

The dear SO has just found my 'phone left perched on top of my car all night phew.... aren't I the lucky one!!!

Well, must dash off.  Have a great weekend everyone and let's chat again soon.

Daisy xxx

PS  Oh the agony of not getting to Deddington Farmers' Market and being without making purchases from their wonderful range of gorgeous goodies  especially when I just may miss October's Farmers' Market too ..... oh dear me .... gosh and bother xxx

Macmillan Cancer Support World's Biggest Coffee Morning - Friday 25 September 2015

Macmillan Cancer Support World’s Biggest Coffee Morning 2015 – Friday. 25th September 2015.

In this 25^th Birthday year Macmillan Cancer Support has several Banbury events rolling out to raise much needed funds to ensure “no one faces cancer alone in Oxfordshire and across the UK”.

Macmillan Cancer Support and their “official partner, Marks and Spencer” have once again invited cake baking enthusiasts to host their own events inviting family, friends, neighbours and work colleagues to raise funds over a slice or two of delicious homemade cake, even store-made cake, with that essential cup of steaming hot coffee, for Macmillan World’s Biggest Coffee Morning.

To this end, a brand new Coffee Morning Kit for 2015 has been despatched to all hosts comprising special invites to personalise, a cake duster for decorating your special bakes, a bright green table covering, money box for donations plus balloons, cake name tent cards, cake flags, their thank you table talker and all necessary paperwork to enable you to send in your Event cheque or Gift Aid form.  There is a Spot-the-Cake sweepstake game to enter and even a text-to-donate kit to apply for.

M & S – Est.  1884 – now in their 6^th year as official partner to Macmillan Cancer Support, have raised over £4 million to support people affected by cancer and this year, have produced a great range of store goods to buy with a donation from each purchase  going to Macmillan.  And customers may also treat themselves to an in-store coffee and cake and help raise even more funds for Macmillan in this 25^th Birthday Anniversary year, since beginning their fund-raising campaign in 1991 after a “first local charity coffee morning event donated the cost of their coffee to Macmillan”.

“In 1991 2,600 people registered to hold coffee mornings across the country” since when over £138 million has been raised in total, all based on the “simple idea of getting people together with family, friends or colleagues over coffee and cake to raise money for people affected by cancer.”

Go to macmillan.org.uk/coffeeshop for Macmillan online store to buy cups, napkins and bunting for your special event and post and share your event pictures to #CoffeeMorning then follow Macmillan on Twitter - @macmillancoffee for latest news of this year’s World’s Biggest Coffee Morning.

I hosted a Coffee Morning Event myself a few years ago and was delighted to send them a cheque from funds raised with the help family and friends.  It was all great fun and very lovely to think we could help others just by making, eating and selling hot coffee and homemade cakes.  Regrettably I am just not able to host such an event again and when Macmillan called me to enquire about my event for 2015, I was delighted to tell them that I would do a Blogger Post for this year’s Campaign and follow up with photos of local events attended.

With photos to follow from all of those Events I attended, who very generously allowed my photo-shoots to happen, Blogger Posts to Macmillan and all local Event hosts and firms involved, I shall be posting again very shortly and look forward to sharing my photos with all concerned.

And to all Coffee Morning events still to happen today Saturday, 26th September, good luck wth your happenings everywhere and I'm looking forward to visiting more local Banbury-based Coffee Mornings today.

Daisy xxx

PS  Some promotional figures and facts have been taken from letter-posted Macmillan material  which my use of  will not, I trust, offend in any way whatsoever.

Daisy's Diary - Thursday, 24th September, 2015 - Update for September

Daisy’s Diary

Thursday, 24^th September 2015

Friday, 25th September 2015

Macmillan Coffee Morning Hosted by Leah Man at Pizza Express, 39 High Street, Banbury OX16 5ET – at 10am

Macmillan Coffee Morning Hosted by Sarah Payne at John Nicholls (Trading) Ltd., Overthorpe Road, Banbury OX16 4TB - at 10am

Macmillan Coffee Morning Hosted by Marks and Spencer 36 Bridge Street, Banbury, Oxon OX16 5YA at 10.30am

Formula One Racing – Japanese Grand Prix Friday 25^th – Sunday 27^th September

Saturday, 26th September 2015

Macmillan Coffee Morning Hosted by Philippa Button for Banbury Rugby Union Football Club, Oxford Road, Bodicote, OX154AF – at 9am

Deddington Farmers’ Market – September Market Day – 9am – 12.30pm – Market Place, Deddington, Oxfordshire OX15 OSE.   Contact: www.deddingtonfarmersmarket.co.uk

Next Deddington Farmers’ Market – Saturday, 24^th October 2015 - 9am -    12.30pm

JS AUCTIONS - Marine, Militaria & Motor vehicles Public Auction Sale – at - 10 am – at JS Auctions at Cotefield Auctions Rooms, Oxford Road, Banbury, Oxford OX15 4AQ. Contact: 01295 272488 or email: enquiries@jsauctions.co.uk

Viewing Day - Friday, 26th September, 2015.

HAVE a HAPPY WEEKEND Everybody...

Daisy xxx

Saturday Morning Chatter for Saturday, 19th September - a Great Week for Anniversaries, Crab Apples and Damsons...

Saturday Morning Chatter…..and here’s one I wrote earlier, like last night because….I just knew by early Saturday morning my hands would be full of washed crab apples, perhaps like yours, for it's a compelling autumnal chore, this annual preservation of veggies and wild fruit into delicious larder goodies, which simply must be done right now…for those of a squirrelling nature, like me.  Our freezer is already happily packed with runner beans, ratatouille, soup and vegetable ragout, and shelf-stored jars of chutney next to those filled with the harvest of 2014 product.

elderberries and damsons...

my ratatouille mix bubbling away.....

crab apples and red currants cooking last weekend for jelly

In fact, they should have been washed, prep’ed and cooked on Thursday afternoon, dripped overnight thru’ a piece of butter muslin and suspended from an upturned stool, just like your Granny or Auntie used to do?  Or perhaps they might have used a jelly bag hung by three material straps connected to a ring holding onto a stout hook from the ceiling. I used to own one but it became lost in a house move somewhere along the line.  It had enjoyed a useful life of jelly making with crab apples, japonica and an array of other berries so I’m not too upset by its mysterious disappearance.

jelly-making equipment and...

dripping the jelly thru' the butter muslin using an upturned chair

Of much greater disappointment is the ending of the garden bean season with prize-winning runner beans, still hanging about but long-past their good-eating pot status, like those he cooked for supper last night….still tough and sharp after a long spell in the microwave…!

my runner beans are not allowed to get too big!!

And cooking….did you see Matt win last night’s round of TV’s Great British Menu for the North West round against fellow-competitor Eva whose dish “Twinset and Pearls” had me wondering what those ‘lemon pearls’ were.  Apparently, they are balls of flaked agar-agar plus flavouring and colouring, squeezed into still partially frozen oil, forming tiny ball-shaped pieces as they sink to the bottom of the pan; and as we all know, agar-agar is a thickening agent from seaweed!   I’m sure we shall meet up with Eva in the future.

I’ve not yet seen this week’s Great British Bake-Off episode but I’m looking forward to watching their game pie, Tennis Cake and Charlotte Russe challenge, while my crab apple mixture still drips out.

It’s been a big week for anniversaries with the Women‘s Institute Centenary celebrations happening everywhere.  Our local group were part of the massed gathering of about 750 members of the Oxford Federation at their special Christ Church Cathedral Service on Tuesday, with Banner-bearing Ladies processing about the Quadrangle and into the cathedral to rapturous applause, which was simply amazing.

processing outside Christ Church Cathedral on Tuesday...

Battle of Britain 75^th anniversary flight of Spitfires and Hurricanes, a Tribute to the Few from Biggin Hill in commemoration of their brilliant performance in 1940 when Britain’s young pilots were up against Germany’s air power and won, putting an end to Hitler’s invasion plan.   

Also for last week, the anniversary to mark the beginning of The Blitz of 1940, when many of our towns and cities suffered Luftwaffe bombing by Heinkel bombers, with London under constant air attack for a period of 57 consecutive nights of bombing plus daylight raids too.  We had a family garden shelter which my grandparents and elder sister used, but hiding under the kitchen table when they simply weren‘t fast enough to make the shelter.

A busy week with a little gardening thrown-in for good measure, cooking plus damson and crab apple gathering, my week ending on a high note with our WI celebratory Centenary party on Thursday evening, which was brilliant.  And Reflexology, we’ve been enjoying the effects of this wonderful treatment this week with hands-on usage for gardening self-inflicted aches and pains – ah well, on with life’s show!  See you next week...

Toodle Loo…

Daisy xxx

Oxford for Vintage Shopping & A Family Birthday Party - Saturday, 29th August 2015

Vintage Shopping in Oxford and 50^th Birthday Bash at Browns on Saturday, 28^th August 2015, and we had gone by car and bus from Pear Tree Park and Ride, riding on the upper deck for the inner man who drove us there; he simply cannot resist the impetus to watch everything going on around him and smile at what he views.

First of all a Latte at the coffee vendor in Cornmarket Street, just past St. Michael at The North Gate, on the corner of Ship Street, which was so handy when I realised that’s just where I needed to be.  Ship Street that is, for that’s where shop Unicorn - find them at - 5 Ship Street, Oxford OX1 3DE or via online at vintageoxford.com - I can find no telephone number presently;  full of vintage clothes and run by Eva, which is situated towards the end of the street and just past another handy coffee and food establishment.  I stood in the doorway of Unicorn and gazed in amazement for it was absolutely packed-out with clothes with customer standing room down to a minimum, for about two people, plus its owner and maybe one other.  That’s why I remained in the doorway, looking about me, quite dazed!  Well I was out of luck for 1940’s to 1950’s style items as Eva told me they were presently stocking 1960’s – 1970 style so that was rather disappointing.  However, imagine my delight at finding this rather good looking handbag in the window, squashed against several others of lesser quality.  Eva kindly took it out for me to check it out and yes, I thought, that just might do!  Well, I decided to leave it there for now  while we went on with my search for something suitable to wear, with the oddest of thoughts making themselves felt; perhaps I could make a vintage-style something to wear???  Here's my photos of Unicorn..

Thinking thus, we made our way to Darn It and Stitch in Blue Boar Street, off St. Aldates – find them via ‘phone – 01865 242779  and via online – www.darnitandstitch.com and at – Blue Boar Street, 6 St. Aldates, Oxford OX1 1DL - which was only open-closed because they were having their frontage newly painted a nice blue colour.  One of their team members was on hand and she very kindly showed me their Vogue Catalogue of patterns for vintage style items, of send-away-for-patterns.  Now I’ve used their patterns before and they are not made for overnight sew-ups which was another disappointment to deal with yet this kind lady made another brilliant suggestion that I go to the Covered Market and look for charity shop Katharine House Hospice who just might have some suitable vintage item of clothing in store for me to buy.  Well, that sounded a good idea, so off we went again with the dear SO wondering aloud how soon it might be before we could find some interesting lunch venue!!!

We also visited Crabtree and Evelyn, another fave. shop, for photos, their Blackberry Green Tea and a cup of their Chamomile Tea with a crunchy biscuit.....

The Covered Market was bustling and busy with other seekers of that 'something special category' who always seem to congregate in this fascinating market place.  We made our way past a few gatherings, that good corner china gift store, a nice-looking coffee place where I suggested He might pause awhile and then, turning another corner, I came face to face with a bright looking Fresh Clothing Shop, which is, reputedly, one of Oxford’s best independent vintage clothing stores and – wow – I now find myself agreeing with this statement.  Fresh is owned and managed by Angela, who with her team of enthusiastic staff, provides an excellent customer experience, giving helpful advice on her wonderful array of both vintage and contemporary stock, with shoes to match, and enjoyment from start to finish.  I can’t wait to visit Angela again in Oxford but, of course, there is her online site to view and buy from, for when one is just too busy to go a’visiting!   Well, Angela found me several lovely frocks to trial and of course I definitely came away with one, although I could easily have bought two or three but…..that would have been rather naughty of me to buy so many.  I mean, a girl can only wear one frock on any occasion and, it’s always good to leave knowing a future visit is a certainty!

Here’s a few of my photos of Angela’s smashing shop which you may find at – 3&4 Avenue One, The Covered Market, Oxford OX1 3DX – on ‘phone 01865 243242 or via their email at – freshoxford@yahoo.co.uk or via – www.freshoxford.com....

Leaving Angela at Fresh we finally walked off for lunch, finding it at Morton’s of New Inn Hall Street, where he had a savoury Panini and I plumped for their polenta orange cake – Mmm. Delicious – plus two Lattes, watching the world saunter by from their open windows…find them at - 22, New Inn Hall Street, Oxford OX1 2DW …'phone 01865 721673 and online via - www.mortonsatwork.co.uk.....

Departing Morton’s we walked down to St. Michael’s Street to Arcadia for the prettiest of greeting cards, books, gifts, photo-frames etc. which they stock and display with great style.......

Find them at – 4 St. Michael’s Street, City Centre, Oxford OX1 2DU – on ‘phone 01865 241757 and via online at – www.yelp.co.uk/biz/arcadia-oxford.  I absolutely adore visiting Arcadia and once, long ago, found a pink chintz jug which I coveted and which my dear, late departed, sister gave me as a Christmas present that year.  Its presence now graces my grandmother’s Welsh Dresser alongside other precious bits and pieces…….

Well, we had now walked full-circle, finding ourselves once again by Ship Street, close by Unicorn’s jam-packed premises.  OK coffee time again for him while I fly down Ship Street to claim my super handbag.  Luckily, he’d finished his coffee in good time to rescue from me the embarrassment of no cash and no signature on my card, preventing cheque payment, which he solved by offering cash.  Phew…the handbag was mine and it was just about time to dash off to Brown’s for our family party’s birthday bash for my 50-year-young niece who arrived fashionably late but ready to party.

The party was great, we had some good eating and a lively atmosphere to enjoy and Annette enjoyed opening her many presents and…… suddenly it was time to come home.

We’d had a great day, enjoyed great shopping, great food and great photographic opportunities but after all that, it was jolly good to get home and watch TV for a while!

I shall be wearing my Fresh vintage frock this week for our WI Centenary Anniversary celebrations at Oxford and at our own Adderbury WI Centenary social evening for is very exciting for all members.  It's going to be a splendid week...

Daisy xxx