Susie's red Citroen 2cv had an outing today, we had a trip to Ikea in it. The Deux Chevaux is 21 years old today, happy birthday! Susie is holding her Ikea comfort rug.

There used to be a hosiery factory in St Albans on Hatfield Road called Ballito, Morrison's supermarket stands there now. I wondered if this packet of stockings I bought in a charity shop on Hatfield Road was made there. I was attracted by the packaging, dated 1963. I was a graphic designer and this small piece of 60's memorabilia is a perfect piece of social history, I want to frame it. The term Young Miss is demure, the packaging is selling stockings but there are no legs on the packet. I like the drawing style executed in flat colour. The typography is a bold block, but by using an outline type face in white it suggests femininity. In 1963 Britain hadn't yet got in to full 'swing' and the mini-skirt had yet to be indroduced by Mary Quant (1965). The mini-skirt saw the decline of stockings it was bare legs or tights. 1963 was the year John F. Kennedy was assassinated, Martin Luther King gave his "I Have A Dream" speech, the Profumo and Christine Keeler scandal, the Great Train Robbery, Beatlemania was just being coined and the first episode of Dr Who was broadcast. An interesting year.

I had this idea for an easy to make practical and useful key ring, one that you can just slide over your wrist to keep both hands free. A piece of personal safety advice from the police is " Always have your keys out and ready as you approach your house or your car. Fumbling through your handbag for keys after you've reached your car provides criminals an excellent opportunity to sneak up on you." Not wanting to create paranoia but this key ring solves that particular problem! To make the key rings I  deconstructed a fluorescent orange high visibility vest. One I made from the fluorescent fabric (this one is so bright you couldn't fail to see it) and one in the reflective grey fabric (be seen at night!).  With a piece of the fabric measuring approximately 5 cm x 52 cm (2" x 20") make a tube. Threaded 2 mm (1/2") wide elastic through it (like making a hair scrunchie!) The length of the elastic will depend on the size of your wrist, measure and cut accordingly. Sew it together and just inserted a split ring. You can make them in any fabric, I also made one in tartan.

I was really pleased to buy this antique crochet hook from a charity shop. Crochet hooks now are just utilitarian but this one is decorated, carved and turned bone. I showed the hook to Alice and was surprised at her squeamish reaction when I told her it was bone. At least I know she won't want to borrow it.

When we go to Yorkshire we always bring back a Yorkshire curd tart, they are delicious. I have found a recipe for the tart that sounds authentic so if you never get to Yorkshire you can still try this delicacy. Making the curd doesn't sound too difficult I guess it's a bit like cottage cheese. The photograph is a bakers shop in Bridlington.

 
INGREDIENTS  
250 g (8 oz) curds*
2 eggs; beaten
125g (4 oz) caster sugar
60 g (2 oz) currants
Small knob of butter; melted
A pinch of grated nutmeg
250 g (8 oz) short crust pastry
 
Mix curds with dried fruit and flavouring. Beat eggs in with butter and sugar, add curds. Line a 20 cm (8") flan tin with the pastry and put in the curd mixture. bake in a moderate oven, 400F Gas 6 for about 25 minutes or until set.  
*To make curds: heat a pint of full cream milk until almost boiling; then add a tablespoon of lemon juice. Remove from heat and stir until it curdles. If thick curds have not formed, leave overnight in a warm place, covered. Strain off whey through muslin.