I said that I would post some more about Leanne, the worthy winner of my little competition, once I had spoken to her. 

Well, it would seem that my work is done for me:  there's a great article on the Parkinson's UK web site that says just about all that I know myself, so I won't subject you or her to any more of my waffling.

Hope you enjoy the pendant, Leanne.

When I looked a few minutes ago, Cooksongold (my bullion dealers) were showing the closing price of silver for 29th April at £502.709 per Kg.

So, the calculation goes 502709 / 5 = 100541 remainder 4.    4+1 = 5

The 5th nominee was Margot's friend Leanne.  So, congratulations Leanne, even if you probably don't even know that Margot nominated you.  I'm not sure that Margot knew that she had been nominated herself, but that's another story.

Once I have been in touch with Leanne, hopefully I'll be able to share some more of her story.

In the meantime, thanks to each of you that took the trouble to say thank you to a friend.

BTW, in case you were wondering, that is the price of fine silver on the commodities market, probably as ingots.  The price of sterling silver formed into sheet or wire is around twice that.  No, I don't buy it by the kilo.  I've a page on "Silver and Caring for it" if you are interested.

Here are the nominees for the chance to win the prize in my "Say Thanks to a Friend" competition. 

Listed simply in the order received, they are:

Nominated by Sabine Little, via facebook:.  "At the danger of this looking like/sounding like in-breeding, I would like to nominate Rachel. The amount of support she has given me - in the name of friendship - for the Follies for Follies project, is simply amazing. Almost
every folly so far has relied on her time - and her van, ranging from a quick trip to Wentworth to me stealing her Easter Sunday for a trip up to Lancaster to set up my exhibition. She is a sounding-board for both ideas and frustration, and picnic-packer extra-ordinaire, ready to feed the Rapunzel-helping masses. When people say "I couldn't do it without x, y, z", it's sometimes a glib statement, but in this case, Follies for Follies would not be as big, daring, or successful without her. (She'll also be mortified about this, but she's off Facebook for two weeks ;))

Nominated by Jane Hornsby, via my blog: " I'd like to nominate that this beautiful piece of jewellery be given to the organisers of the Richard Walker Hellstrom Memorial Football Match that is being held on 26th May 2013.  Richard was my step brother and lost his fight with cancer in 2012.  Along with the football match there is an auction with all proceeds going to Cancer Research.  This pendant would make a fantastic addition to the auction and hopefully help make money towards research for an illness that affects so many families."

Nominated by Val Lewis, via facebook: "I would like to nominate Margot Cutt for your give away.  Margot is a lovely lady & a wonderful human being.  She has her hands full looking after her husband as his illnesses progress, yet she has time & patience to also think & care for others.  She was supportive to me through the trauma of parent illness for which I shall be ever grateful.  In addition she is also supporting others through their challenges EG the 20+ mile walk in aid of Parkinson's.  She can always find time for others, so gets my vote."  There were 2 others seconded Margot's nomination.

From Kirsten Basram, via my blog:  "I would like to nominate my friend B, who despite undergoing intensive treatment for cancer herself, supported me throughout my late mother's terminal illness recently. Although we had to move 400 miles away to look after my mum, B always 'phoned, sent cards and gifts. Some other friends with much less on their plate let us down but B was there despite her own suffering."

Nominated by Margot Cutt, offline: "Leanne, who organised and completed the same walk [for Parkinson's UK] that I did, skydived [for the charity] last year, and helps organise 2 support groups for Parkinson’s sufferers and their families”.

To which I added "one of those afflicted is Margot’s husband.  Oh, and Leanne was apparently diagnosed with Parkinson’s when she was 43.  So, a good friend, and an inspiring lady.  Yep, Leanne goes into the draw with the others."

So, that's it so far.  I've added the detail of how I will make the draw in a "comment" below.

It's Easter, and here is a chance to bring a little sunshine to someone.  All you have to do is post a "thank-you" to them and write a little bit about why they deserve to win the pendant shown.

There's no catch, no conditions, no commitment, no cost, and no complex rules.  You don't win a prize yourself: it goes to the person you think deserves a pat on the back.  

They don't have to be a potential Nobel peace-prize winner - any simple act of kindness, support or help can qualify.  

Anyone can enter anyone else (except me).  You can do it here (post a comment below), or on my facebook page. 

Tell me why your nominee deserves the prize:  not more than 500 words, but do them justice and use at least 100.  You need to convince me, after all.

Your don't have to include your nominee's name if it wouldn't be appropriate, and don't include any contact details for them.  If the time comes, I will contact the winner via you.  If you enter via Facebook I'll get to you that way. If  you enter here, include your email address as part of the comment form (it won't be visible publicly, nor will I keep it to bombard you with emails later). 

I will decide the winner on the basis of whatever criteria seem reasonable at the time I get round to doing it.  If I can't make my mind up, names go into a hat and will be drawn with absolutely no independent supervision whatsoever. 

What, you have several people you'd like to nominate?  Lucky you.  OK, I'll accept up to 3 nominees from each person.

Closing date for entries is Sunday 28th April.  I'll be picking the winner by pulling a name out of a proverbial hat.

I could be accused of cruelty.  Here's me publishing photos of the earrings I've made for someone, and she can't have them yet.  How evil is that?  What kind of heartless beast would do that to someone who already bought one of his favourite pieces?  And she's a lover of dolphins and doe-eyed spaniels.

Well, if I tell you that while we shiver in the cold of this unusually late snowfall (we still have 4" in our back garden), she is wallowing in the warmth and waters of the island of Tortuga.  Or was it Tortola?  Whatever, they're both in the Carribean.

Not only that but, as I write this, she may actually be swimming in those turquoise waters with the real mcoy.

Envy respects no boundaries nor social graces. 

I'm just going to have to rub it in by adding a couple more photos.

Dare I sum this up by misquoting  "because she's worth it"?  Well, she's put up with me long enough, so I reckon I can get away with it.  Yes, these were my wedding anniversary present to my dear wife, Lesley.

And, yes, she deserves these and more beyond. 35 years married to me.  Need I say more?

OK, it's not stopped me before and it won't now, even at a tender moment like this.

Neither will it stop me venturing near one of my hobby-horses:  the protection of our English language, principally from its incipient Americanisation (and, as timely evidence of such, I find myself unsure as to whether I should have spelt that with an S or a Z, but which latter option you  may be in no doubt that I pronounce as "zed").

I profess to holding some (albeit, grudging-) respect for our French cousins over the way that they fight to protect  their language (if not during 'le weekend'), and suggest that we should reconsider that we and the Americans are "two peoples separated by a common language".  Despite the normal exchange rate, I would be perfectly happy if someone would give me one of our billions of their dollars in exchange for one of their billions of our pounds.

Heck, the differences between us extend down to the very fabrics our societies, as exemplified by the tokens with which we commemorate our matrimonial  anniversaries.

For example, while we appear to agree that silver, ruby and gold are given to signify the 25th, 40th and 50th years, I can't help feeling rather superior over our British choice of linen or silk to celebrate the 4th annum.  According to Wikipedia, our cousins appear to favour "Appliances (Electrical)" for that event.  And isn't it strange how they appear to propose diamonds for  not-one-but-several anniversaries ahead of our requirement to achieve 60 years of marital bliss.  Do I detect the bejewelled hand of commercialism waving?

So, given all my preceding posturing, when everyone knows that British tradition is for 35 years of  marriage to be celebrated with gifts of coral (you did know that, didn't you), how is it that I sided with the US preference for Jade?

Reason 1:  Lesley told me to.

Reason 2 (and what lay behind her view) stemmed from 10 years earlier: we celebrated our silver wedding anniversary one of the tiniest of islands in the Maldives.  And I mean tiny:  the coral reef that surrounds the island of Athuruga lies maybe 50 yards off the shore, and it is possible to swim around the whole reef in about an hour.  An idyllic place, hosted by the friendliest people, teeming with fish of every shape and shade, and the coral glowing with every colour you could imagine....... so long as you dream in the colour grey.

This was the year after the Indian Ocean was beset by the ravages of El Nino, and only a few isolated creatures survived to hint at the beauty that the colonies of coral once had been.

While our holiday still rates as one of the best we have ever had, the memories of the smitten coral live with us, and so it was that we opted to go with a more environmentally friendly Jade. 

Besides,  it's a colour that goes brilliantly with gold.  I do have quite a few more pieces of jade left if you fancy some.  Looks good with silver, too.

This is the inaugural exhibition for the Guild of Jewellery Designers, and I'm delighted to be taking part, not least because I'll get to meet some of my fellow jeweller, many of whom I've only 'met' online.  I wonder whether they are all as devastatingly handsome/beautiful as their various web site avatars might suggest.

Their jewellery speaks for itself, though.  There's going to be some stunning stuff on show.  They're going to be stiff competition.

Hmm.  Now, where did I put that spray-can of "ACME Instant Tarnish".   Can't have their's looking better than mine, can I, Muttley?

It's taken me long enough, but my new web site is now live.  Same address (www.silverkiss.co.uk), but a cleaned down look.

The blog has moved, too (which you'll know if you are reading this on my site).  The old Wordpress-based blog is closing and I have moved everything here.  There were a few wrinkles with moving content across (comment dates were set to the time of the move).

Watch out now for a flurry of new pieces being added to my site:  ie. all the things I've been holding on to for the past however many months.

If you see any horrid bloomers with the new site, I'd really really appreciate it if you could let me now.

It’s that time of year again when our local arts group stage our annual exhibition at Silkstone Church, and I’ll be there as usual.

I may not have done much other stuff this year, but this event is just too good to let pass.

There are full details of all the exhibitors, opening times and directions for getting there on the Pennine Artists web site, but if you are wondering where Silkstone is, it’s about a mile or so from M1 Jct37, so dead easy to get to.

The web site  doesn’t give times for the Preview event, which is tonight (Wed 7th, 7pm to 10pm).  If you are reading this, then you can take it that you are invited.  Hope to see you there.

All set up and ready to go with friends from Pennine Artists. 

The Orangery in Wakefield is a delightful little building, just behind Westgate rail station.

Was busy setting up this morning, and the various displays look really enticing.