Things in the library 10th Sept...

 Things about child well-being... 

The Children’s Society has published its annual Good Childhood report, looking at the wellbeing of children in the UK in 2021. Findings from a survey of around 2,000 10- to 17-year-olds between April and June 2021 include: 7% of 10- to 15-year-olds in the UK are not happy with their lives; the areas causing the greatest dissatisfaction are school, friendship and how they feel about their appearance; and 85% of children who rated how well they had coped during the pandemic gave themselves a score of above five out of ten. Children's happiness is in an alarming state of decline. 

"Society is tragically failing our young people. School, friendships and how they feel about the way they look are causing the greatest dissatisfaction in adolescence."

 Things about art... 

Evening in Benares, India
Sir William Rothenstein (1872-1945)

For the past six months there’s been a lot of work going on behind-the-scenes to renovate, redecorate and redisplay works at the Graves Gallery, and they are now open again.

They have transformed four of the galleries in the Graves – walls have been re-cladded, spaces redecorated and over a third of the artworks on display have been changed over.

Currently you will be able to see Phlegm’s Pandemic Diary, a new exhibition of work by sculptor Mark Firth, an exhibition curated by pioneering artist Keith Piper, and a new display on the theme of landscape.

Things to buy... 

We have over 100 second-hand books for sale, the list and prices are on this spreadsheet. Now that we can take card payments it is easier than ever for you to come up to the library to browse and buy.  You can also ring us with your choices and, if they are still available, we can take your card payment over the phone and either keep them for you to collect or send in the internal mail (at your risk). Please make sure all transactions take place 30 mins before our closing times. 

Things about opening hours... 

A reminder that we are now back open on two evenings a week  Tuesday and Wednesday until 19:00 - it seems to be popular and we have a few regular attendees.

Things about ultra processed foods... 

A cohort study, published in JAMA Pediatrics, of 9025 British children assessed longitudinal associations between UPF consumption and adiposity trajectories from childhood to early adulthood.  Ultraprocessed foods tend to be more energy-dense and nutritionally poorer (ie, high in levels of free sugar, salt, and saturated fats but low in levels of protein, dietary fiber, and micronutrients) compared with less processed alternatives and are designed to be cheap, palatable, durable, convenient, and appealing. The findings suggest that higher UPF consumption is associated with greater increases in adiposity from childhood to early adulthood. 

Robust public health measures that promote minimally processed foods and discourage UPF consumption among children are urgently needed to reduce obesity in England and globally.

 

Things about everything... 

 Whether you want to know more about our training, what we do, how to request an article or what services we can provide for management then our website is the place to look. Including useful links to Book a Librarian, finding e-books or searching our library catalogue.

Things to book and attend... 

Sheffield's brilliant 'Off the Shelf' literary festival is back 15th-31st October. With speakers and events for everyone including comedian and writer Andy Hamilton, Former Labour MP Helen Jackson, Black Women Write Now – curated by Désirée Reynolds' Lady Hale (who was the first woman and youngest person to be appointed to the Law Commission, President of the Supreme Court and a pioneering reformer), Miriam Margoyles and  Poet Laureate Simon Armitage performs a newly commissioned piece in celebration of the Peak District National Park’s 70th anniversary. This brochure has all the events at a glance.

Things to make... 

One of my jobs this weekend is to make crab apple jelly. This year my fairly new tree is heavily laden with fruit. If you don't have crab apples then other UK apples are coming up to their best season - one of my favourite apple recipes is Dorset apple traybake.

 

Things in the library 20th Aug...

 Things about Sure Start... 

The Institute for Fiscal Studies published their research which finds that one of England’s biggest early years programmes delivered long-lasting health benefits for children through their teenage years. Taken together, ​the savings from reduced hospitalisations up to age 15 offset around 31% of spending on the programme.

Established in 1999, Sure Start Children’s Centres brought together health, parenting support, childcare and parental employment services into a one-stop shop for families with children under 5. At its peak in 2010, Sure Start received £1.8 billion a year (a third of overall early years spending), but spending has since fallen by more than two-thirds as many centres have been closed, scaled back or integrated into Family Hubs.

The research, funded by the Nuffield Foundation, builds on previous IFS analysis and provides the first evidence of how this major initiative affected children’s health up to age 15.

These results highlight ​the importance of integrating a range of services during the early years to improve child health ​in both the immediate and longer term. These are important lessons for existing services (such as Family Hubs) and ​should inform the government’s approach to the recommendations in the recent Leadsom Report ​on the first 1,001 days of life. While this autumn’s Spending Review will be a tight one, these results highlight the importance of considering the long-term benefits of early intervention policies, not just their up-front cost.

Things about RCPCH... 

The General Medical Council has now approved the plans for new two-level, run through specialty training programme from summer 2023, which will be "flexible, fulfilling and fit-for-purpose" called RCPCH Progress+. As a trainee or a educational supervisor these FAQ may be of interest to you to find out more.

Things about Covid-19... 

Recent article in JAMA Pediatrics looked at whether there were differences in the odds of household transmission by younger children compared with older children. The ages of children were grouped as 0 to 3, 4 to 8, 9 to 13, and 14 to 17 years. The study suggests that younger children may be more likely to transmit SARS-CoV-2 infection compared with older children, and the highest odds of transmission was observed for children aged 0 to 3 years. Differential infectivity of pediatric age groups has implications for infection prevention within households, as well as schools/childcare, to minimize risk of household secondary transmission. Although children do not appear to transmit infection as frequently as adults, caregivers should be aware of the risk of transmission while caring for sick children in the household setting. As it is challenging and often impossible to socially isolate from sick children, caregivers should apply other infection control measures where feasible, such as use of masks, increased hand washing, and separation from siblings.

Things in the gardens... 

Held annually in the Sheffield Botanical Gardens, Art in the Gardens is an outdoor art exhibition, with artists, craft makers and visitors coming together from across the UK.

This event on 4th-5th September is an opportunity to buy a piece of art or craft direct from the artists, whilst enjoying the surroundings that the gardens have to offer. Thousands of pieces of art and craft are on show and for sale.

From premier artists in the pavilions and marquees, sculptures on the lawns to the Open Art Competition, a dedicated 'Home and Gardens' area and a host of professional artists and craft makers. Go along to explore the gardens, meet the artists, enjoy some locally sourced food and drink, beautiful artwork and enjoy your day. Online pre-sale tickets available  and it does sell out. there will be two sessions each day. This will be 10.30am-14:00pm and 14:00pm-17:30pm. 

Things to eat... 

I think aubergines are a wonderful vegetable lending themselves to many cuisines. Here is a recipe for the vegans amongst you...or anyone else who wants a meat free tasty burger.

**** No blog next week as I will be taking a day off ****

Things in the library 12th March...

 Things about obesity... 

The WHO European Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative (COSI), was  recently published in an article in the journal Nutrients and in a WHO/Europe factsheet which summarizes the data.

According to the findings, which present the dietary habits of 132 489 children, 78.8% of children eat breakfast, 42.5% consume fresh fruit every day and 22.6% consume vegetables every day. 10.3% of children consume sweet snacks and 9.4% soft drinks on a daily basis. However, there are significant differences between eating habits from country to country.

Overall, the WHO findings from this study highlight that action is urgently needed to promote healthy eating habits among children in all the countries of the European Region, especially to increase daily consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables.

“A healthy diet includes high consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables, daily breakfast consumption and discouraging routine consumption of nutrient-poor foods that are high in sugars, saturated fats, trans fats and salt,” said Dr Kremlin Wickramasinghe, ad interim Programme Manager, Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity, WHO/Europe.

Things about women's health... 

An online consultation has been launched by Department of Health and Social Care which is seeking to collect views on women’s health. It will run for a period of 12 weeks and is open to everyone aged 16 or over. This consultation closes at 11:45pm on 30 May 2021. This to help inform the development of the government’s Women’s Health Strategy. The easiest way to participate in the call for evidence as an individual is by completing the public survey. 

They also welcome written submissions from individuals or organisations who have expertise in women’s health, such as researchers and third-sector organisations. Written submissions can include the contribution of data, research and other reports of relevance to women’s health.

Things about women's safety... 

In the news at the moment but you may not be aware of  'Our Bodies Our Streets' campaign in Sheffield on practical ways to help women feel safer.

The Sheffield based campaign is tackling the issues of catcalling and sexual harassment in our city. They are using art, conversation and protest to empower victims of harassment to celebrate their bodies and exercise without fear.

Kerry Lindeque, a member of the group who is studying at the University of Sheffield, says: "Everybody has the right to exercise and everybody should have the right to go for a walk, especially in lockdown because it's so important and has such a big impact on our mental health. But as soon as it gets dark a lot of women don't feel safe on the streets because you have people stalking you, you have people catcalling you, you have cars driving slowly past you."

She said that those who decide to go into parks to avoid those slow-driving cars then don't feel the parks are particularly safe either. The group have also created an online map, documenting people's experiences of harassment in Sheffield. Kerry, 20, says the aim is to "validate" people's experiences so they feel listened to, as well as to highlight the extent of the problem.

Keeping up to date... 

There is so much information available 'out there' that it can be bewildering and overwhelming. In terms of your work in SCH we try to help by sending out a monthly bulletin with information about articles we have found in which you might be interested. We currently send this to over 600 people in the trust so if you are not receiving it and want to give it a try please register with the library  and select 'Yes' for receiving the latest evidence. Also be sure to check out our Library Bulletin which is sent out every Monday morning to all staff in the trust.

Virtual Arts & Culture... 

Whilst we are all longing to be able to go out and about more and away from our screens it will be some time before that is possible. 

If you haven't previously discovered Google Arts & Culture you might be interested in some of their offerings, from online jigsaw puzzles to going on some explorations.

Things to eat... 

I have been trying hard over the past few months to avoid buying out of season air-freighted foods. We are so used to having everything available all the time but I love the seasonality of foods...and don't get me started on hot-cross buns in the shops at Christmas! We had this Harissa cauliflower pilaf last night which was really tasty and the recipe worked well.

Things in the library 15th May...

Things about mental health...
The Mental Health Foundation have picked 'kindness' as the theme for  Mental Health Awareness Week 18-24 May 2020. In his blog their CEO states

"Kindness strengthens relationships, develops community and deepens solidarity. It is a cornerstone of our individual and collective mental health. Wisdom from every culture across history recognises that kindness is something that all human beings need to experience and practise to be fully alive." 

We have seen so many little acts of kindness in the current pandemic from local groups organising shopping and help in their neighbourhoods, little gifts left for people or simply a heartfelt 'thank you'. Their CEO goes on to say their reports show as child poverty rises, children and young people in the poorest parts of our country are two to three times  more likely to experience poor mental health than those in the richest. After the 2008 credit crunch it was the most vulnerable in our communities who experienced the severest consequences of austerity, with devastating effects on their mental and physical health. This not the hallmark of a kind society

"Applied kindness could have a transformative impact on our schools, places of work, communities and families. As the former Governor of the Bank of England, Mark Carney, has said, now is a time to put values above valuations. We must seize this time to shape a society that tips the balance in favour of good mental health, for all of us, but especially for those who are most vulnerable."  

Things about rice...
More than half of rice varieties sold in the UK contained levels of arsenic higher than regulations allow for babies and children under five. A University of Sheffield study published in the journal Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety finds brown and organic rice contain more inorganic arsenic than the others. More than half of rice varieties sold in the UK contained levels of arsenic higher than regulations allow for babies and children under five Scientists call for labelling to warn of particular risk to infants and young children Scientists have called for labelling to warn the public about levels of arsenic in rice, after their research found half of rice varieties studied exceeded maximum limits on the deadly toxin.

Things about arts & culture...
University of Sheffield and Sheffield City Council have partnered with 'Our Favourite Places' to launch Sheffield Culture Hub this allows events in the city to be accessed for the first time through one digital route, providing visitors with a one-stop online arts and cultural events guide. Many events in Sheffield have already made the move to online delivery due to the Covid-19 lockdown. The new hub will help make these events accessible to more people as well as provide a platform for smaller events and cultural groups that don’t have access to digital delivery systems. It includes digital resources from theatres, Museums Sheffield, music and dance.

Things about e-books...
To thank everyone in the NHS across the country who are working so hard to protect us during this crisis, Hachette UK is offering all NHS staff a free e-book to download. Simply enter your NHS email address, choose a book from the selection available, then validate using the link sent to your NHS email address and create an account. The offer is open till Sunday, May 31, 2020.

More free books...

Amazon have a page which give an overview of some of the Kindle Books and digital magazines that are currently available for free download. This selection includes public domain titles as well as Kindle Books and digital magazines which publishers are providing for free download for a limited time. If you don't have a Kindle you can read on any tablet or smartphone with the free Kindle Reading App.





Things to do in the library...
As a Covid-19 conversation free zone the library is supplying free drinks, leisure reading and colouring sheets. Sarah has now started a gallery of completed artworks.






Things about Reading Group...
Our next book is God’s Own Country by Ross Raisin on Wed 3rd June via a virtual link at 18:15 to 19:15. Sam Marsdyke is a lonely young man, dogged by an incident in his past and forced to work his family farm instead of attending school in his Yorkshire village. He methodically fills his life with daily routines and adheres to strict boundaries that keep him at a remove from the townspeople. But one day he spies Josephine, his new neighbor from London. From that moment on, Sam's carefully constructed protections begin to crumble—and what starts off as a harmless friendship between an isolated loner and a defiant teenage girl takes a most disturbing turn.


Things to eat...
A meal we ate this week was Spinach, sweet potato & lentil dhal...I was afraid it might be a bit 'worthy' but it had such high ratings we decided to give it a go and it was truely delicious.

Things in the library 16 Nov...#

Things about instant messaging...
New guidance for the NHS will help doctors, nurses and other staff use instant messaging safely to co-ordinate patients’ care during emergencies.
Medics have turned to communication channels such as Whatsapp to deal with emergency situations like the Croydon tram crash, Grenfell Tower fire and terrorist attacks in London Bridge and Manchester Arena. The "Information governance considerations for staff on the use of instant messaging software in acute clinical settings"  guidance will help NHS organisations and staff to make a judgement on how and when to use instant messaging safely in acute clinical settings, taking in to account data sharing and data privacy rules.
Simple steps that staff should take include:

• Only using apps and other messaging tools that meet the NHS encryption standard
• Not allowing anyone else to use their device
• Disabling message notifications on their device’s lock-screen to protect patient confidentiality
• Keeping separate clinical records and delete the original messaging notes once any advice has been transcribed and attributed in the medical record.

Things about babies...
This report from  Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists presents key findings and recommendations based on the analysis of data from 2016 relating to the care given to mothers and babies throughout the UK, to ensure each baby receives the safest possible care during labour. Each Baby Counts: 2018 progress report

Things about health inequality...
The Institute of Health Equity report A Fair, Supportive Society highlights that some of the most vulnerable people in society – those with learning disabilities – will die 15-20 years sooner on average than the general population – that’s 1,200 people every year. The report commissioned by NHSE highlights key facts, stats, and interventions. Much of the government action needed to improve life expectancy for people with disabilities is likely to reduce health inequalities for everyone. Action should focus on the ‘social determinants of health’, particularly addressing poverty, poor housing, discrimination and bullying.

Things about painting pigs...

Schools across Yorkshire & Humber, Derbyshire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire and beyond are invited every year to submit pupils’ art work for a competition to celebrate Chinese New Year! It is the school who organises pupils to create an A4-sized picture of Chinese Zodiac of the Year that is inspired by China.
The school makes a judgement on 1st, 2nd and 3rd winners per category and submits these winners' artwork.
Overall Winners across the same category are judged by the Confucius Institute.

Things about Gluten free food on prescription...
The DHSC held a public consultation on seeking views on proposed changes to gluten-free (GF) Prescribing Regulations and has now published its response.




Things to make...
This Spanish meatball & butter bean stew is a really nice gluten-free dish and it does freeze well.

****Update on the last week's baking...it worked ok but the madeleines were not as good as my usual recipe  - stick with simple!****

Things in the library 31st Aug...

Things about mental health...
Health chiefs have drawn up new guidance to encourage doctors to place mental health therapists in practice surgeries – bringing more mental and physical health services under one roof. These new therapists will be integrated into primary care teams and focus on common mental health disorders such as anxiety and depression, particularly where this occurs in patients with a long term physical health condition such as diabetes, respiratory or heart problems. Evidence suggests nine out of 10 adults with mental health problems are supported in primary care and broadening the range of services for patients, means local health services are better equipped to deal with patients’ physical and mental health needs.

Things about well-being...
The Good Childhood Report 2018 has been published by The Children's Society.
This report examines the state of children’s well-being in the UK. It finds that one in six (16 per cent) of more than 11,000 children aged 14 surveyed reported self-harming. It looks at the reasons behind the unhappiness which increases the risk of children self-harming. The report urges the Government to make sure that every child can talk to a counsellor in their school.

Things about Duchenne muscular dystrophy...

• This article in Acta Paediatrica looks at parent-child communication and the timing of interventions in Duchenne muscular dystrophy care.
• In the news this morning a possible treatment option is hitting the headlines - it is based on research using gene editing in dogs - if you want to read more the the details of the study are here and some comments on it here

Things about prenatal opioid exposure...

This american article discusses direct neurotoxic, indirect, and stress-related pathophysiologies of prenatal opioid exposure on neurodevelopment of children.

Things after a no-deal Brexit...

The Government has put together a collection of information and guidance relating to health and care organisations and industry about planning for a potential no-deal Brexit.

Things to do...

The annual Art in the Gardens event, held in Sheffield Botanical Gardens, is arguably the largest outdoor art exhibition in the north of England with artists, craft makers and visitors coming from throughout the UK. This event is an opportunity to buy the perfect piece of art or craft direct from the artists, whilst enjoying the perfect surroundings that the gardens have to offer.  Thousands of pieces of art and craft on show and for sale. Sheffield Botanical Gardens, 1 - 2 September 2018 10.30am - 5.30pm

Things to eat...

September always makes me thing of autumn woods and fungi.....not suggesting you collect your own unless you really know what you are doing...but this Jamie Oliver vegetarian and gluten-free Mushroom Bourguignon sounds worth making.

Things almost back to normal...

We will be open evenings again next week Mon-Wed until 7pm.

Things in the library 9 June...

Things about cystic fibrosis...
An article in European J Pediatrics was published this week on 'Factors associated with changes in health-related quality of life in children with cystic fibrosis during 1-year follow-up' the authors conclude:

"In the group as a whole, HRQoL improved significantly over time. However, changes over time were significantly influenced by age: below 12 years of age, HRQoL improved in most patients whereas a deterioration was observed in most children >12 years. Strategies how to preserve or ideally to improve HRQoL in adolescence should be developed"


Things about antibiotics...

The World Health Organisation has released the latest edition of its essential medicines list which is updated every two years. WHO has grouped antibiotics into three groups—access, watch, and reserve—indicating which can be used for common infections and which should only be used in rare circumstances.

• WHO recommends that antibiotics in the access group, which includes amoxicillin, be available at all times to treat common conditions.
• The watch group includes antibiotics that are recommended as first or second choice treatments for a small number of infections. In this group are ciprofloxacin to treat cystitis and upper respiratory tract infections which, WHO says, should be dramatically reduced to avoid further development of resistance.
• The third group, reserve, includes antibiotics that should be considered last resort options and used only when all other drugs have failed, such as for life threatening infections from multidrug resistant bacteria. The antibiotics colistin and some cephalosporins should only be used when all other treatments have failed in a bid to combat anti-microbial resistance

Things about chronic illness...
Serious chronic illness can have a detrimental effect on school attendance, participation and engagement, leaving affected students at risk of failing to meet their developmental potential. An improved understanding of factors that help to explain or mitigate this risk can help educators and health professionals deliver the most effective support. This meta-review 'Understanding the school experiences of children and adolescents with serious chronic illness: a systematic meta-review.' critiqued the available evidence examining the link between six chronic illnesses (asthma, cancer, chronic kidney diseases, heart diseases, cystic fibrosis and gastrointestinal diseases) and children's and adolescents' school experiences and outcomes, as well as investigating the medical, school, psychosocial and sociodemographic factors that are linked to poorer or better school outcomes.

Things to read...
If you didn't manage to make it to our  Reading Group this week now is the time to start reading the next book 'Elizabeth is Missing' for our meeting on Wed 5th July at 17:15.  Our last book 'Black Diamonds' scored 67% from the group.
'Elizabeth is missing', reads the note in Maud's pocket in her own handwriting. Lately, Maud's been getting forgetful. She keeps buying peach slices when she has a cupboard full, forgets to drink the cups of tea she's made and writes notes to remind herself of things. But Maud is determined to discover what has happened to her friend, Elizabeth, and what it has to do with the unsolved disappearance of her sister Sukey, years back, just after the war.'

Things to see...
At the Graves Gallery, above the Central Library in Sheffield  (next to the Lyceum), they have an exhibition entitled 'An Earthly Paradise: Gardens in Art' which explores the diverse ways artists have represented these uniquely personal spaces in their work.
The exhibition sees the return of a major work to the city, Stanley Spencer’s Zacharias and Elizabeth (1913-14). The painting, co-owned with Tate, goes on display alongside highlights from Sheffield’s visual art and Ruskin collections, including paintings and works on paper by Paul Cézanne, James Tissot, Evelyn Dunbar and more. The exhibition is on until 12th August and is open Tuesday - Saturday 11am - 4pm  (Wednesdays 1pm – 6pm), entry free.

Things to hear...
At the City Hall on Friday 30th June there is a concert 'The Music of James Bond with The Hallé' , the greatest themes and songs of 007 ...listen to the sounds that gave musical voice to the films in catchy title sequences and haunting songs performed by vocalists Alison Jiear and Matthew Ford with the Hallé orchestra.

Things to taste...
With the elderflowers coming into bloom I think we are going to attempt an elderflower gin this weekend at home! If I have enough flowers left I might try these fritters too.

Things in the library 24 Feb...

Things for sale...
We have a new selection of books we are selling (old editions) now available in the library. Please email for a copy of the list ...but first come,first served and we can't keep things for you unless you are registered with the library.



Things about children with complex needs...
The Council for Disabled Children and The True Colours Trust have published Understanding the needs of disabled children with complex needs or life-limiting conditions: what we can learn from national data? This paper shares the findings of a data analysis carried out between August and October 2016. The main aim of the project was to explore what national data reported by health, education and social services show about disabled children and young people with complex needs or life-limiting conditions. The figures estimate that numbers have increased dramatically by over 50% since 2004, from 49,300 to 73,000 children and young people.

Things to comment on...
NICE is producing new guidelines to help people who work with children spot and stop abuse or neglect. It outlines how social workers, teachers and police officers, along with others working outside healthcare, can spot the signs of abuse or neglect and how they should act faced with a range of differing circumstances.The guidelines includes physical, mental and sexual abuse as well as newly recognised forms of abuse such as female genital mutilation (FGM), sexual exploitation, child trafficking and forced marriage.It outlines soft signs that in themselves do not indicate abuse but warrant further consideration and harder warning signs that professionals should investigate. The draft is available for public comment in a consultation.

Things about hygiene...
NICE – the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence – has published final guidance recommending all children and young people, from pre-school to university age, be taught the importance of hand washing and managing some common infections themselves. These recommendations aim to educate the general public in how they can contribute in the battle against antimicrobial resistance.




Things that are smart...
Asthma UK recently published a report 'Smart asthma: Real-world implementation of connected devices in the UK to reduce asthma attacks' The report sets out the opportunities and possible pitfalls as we digitise asthma. They have consulted industry, expert clinicians, eminent academics and policy specialists in the course of developing this report. They state that "to make new technology stick it must help healthcare system efficiency and allow providers to make a fair profit. However, our overriding and unapologetic duty is driving improvement for the 5.4 million people in the UK with asthma, and the families who have lost a loved one as a result of a failure in asthma care. It is for these people’s sake that the recommendations in this report should be seriously debated and considered, and the future implementation of digital asthma care taken up at the highest levels of the NHS."

Things about the long-term future of NHS...
The Centre for Policy Studies issued a report this week authored by Maurice Saatchi entitled 'An NHS Royal Commission From fighting fires to lasting settlement'. They conclude:
"Whatever the view, however, a Royal Commission on the long-term future of the NHS would offer signifi cant benefits, not least because of the huge looming challenges, such as the ageing population, the increasing prevalence of long-term conditions and the inflationary pressures of medical innovation. Only a Royal Commission can secure the bipartisan support needed to establish the lasting reforms required to ensure the world-class 21st Century health system that we all want to see."

Things to flip...
Yes...pancake day or 'Shrove Tuesday' is next week on Feb 28th. Christians traditionally used up food that couldn't be eaten during Lent, which was a time for fasting and penance, by making pancakes. If you want an easy recipe to follow here is one from Mary Berry. I should point out one error though as the article includes the phrase "any uneaten pancakes " ...not something I have personally ever experienced in our house!

Things artistic...
In some areas of the world this weekend will also see carnival parades and celebrations which, when we lived in the Netherlands, were a great fun time indicating that spring was on its way. This painting 'The Fight Between Carnival and Lent'  by Pieter Bruegel the Elder (1559) depicts the contrast between two sides of contemporary life, as can be seen by the appearance of the inn on the left side - for enjoyment, and the church on the right side - for religious observance. The busy scene depicts well-behaved children near the church and a beer drinking scene near the inn. At the centre is a well, showing the coming together of different parts of the community, and other scenes show a fish stall and two competing floats.
The picture is full of symbolism (the meaning of some of which is now conjecture). I am always fascinated to look at the details on these paintings as a depiction of everyday life from over 450 years ago.