I’m very sorry to say that we have lost someone special from the Confined Kitchen. Liz Marley, better known to some of you as @greensideknits, died at home earlier this week.
It’s a horrible shock to everyone who knew Liz, who worked with her and shared her many hobbies, interests and sources of joy.
Some of you may have spotted that in the Confined Kitchen strapline, it says “Thought of by Melinda, set up by Liz”. In other words, I said something positive in a tweet, and did nothing to make it happen. While Liz took that idea, combined it with her years of getting stuff done online, and presented me with a website and a plan for how we could make it a group effort. In, ooh, about an hour. In the middle of that awful pre-lockdown week when we all began to twig what was really happening with the pandemic, she sorted out this anchor for us. Without Liz, none of what followed (#ArchivedIngredients, #ConfinedCocktails, #UnconfinedWalks, and the rest) would have happened. It’s a very Liz contribution to the world.
I’m desperately
sad at this loss. I am also very grateful to Liz for giving us a space to share
the news. And I’m thankful that instead of drifting apart Amidst All This, with this activity we’ve spent the last year-plus keeping in touch, checking in,
saying hello, creating shared jokes and shared support. Not just the two of us,
but everyone who has ever used the hashtag, the blog or contacted someone else
because of the togetherness Liz made possible.
 |
| One of the many ways Liz and I were compatible is in not taking photos of each other, even when holidaying together. We went to the amazing La Piscine in Lille a while back, loving its sculpture and fabric work. Just after this photo, I went off to look at some mediocre Flat Art while Liz went off to a hardcore textile museum where she had a guided tour by one of the retired workers and asked complicated questions about looms. Sounds about right. |
I’ll be online
tomorrow at 7pm, if you were wondering. I badly need the company, which has always been the point of Confined Cocktails, more than any fancy beverages. If you’re
around, please consider raising a glass, mug, snack or salute to Liz
appropriate to one of her many enthusiasms. From France to gin, from splendid
woolcraft and stitchery to cycling and cricket, from well-defined metadata to the
West Wing, beautiful flowers, intoxicating cheese, classic crime fiction and much more, there are many things which we can remember Liz
by. I hope some of you can join me.
What a beautiful summing up. It's the thing that's totally broken me, but in a good way. We have much, very much, to be so grateful for and to remember with such love.
ReplyDeleteI thought I was going to struggle to write it, but it turns out I had a lot of good things to remember. Which was something to be glad of, though yes, crying again of course.
DeleteYour post makes me wish I knew her better so many of those things are also things I love. Even through only knowing her through twitter in the last year I could tell she made the world a better place.
ReplyDeleteIt's true. I love knowing people with a zillion genuine enthusiasms, they brighten the world.
DeleteI knew Liz in person, but mostly we lived on different continents and she was my one stalwart Christmas card sender. I know she and her family has not seen each other for a year; they must be devastated. SquareMary.
ReplyDeleteThanks Mary. I can imagine Liz being determined with cards when all others had failed.
DeleteYes, it's dreadful for her family of course. We will pass on any information about memorials and how people can share their memories of Liz when we can.
Liz & I had been friends for over 20 years, we shared many similar passions but her skill set far exceeded mine!This last year was difficult, she missed her family, I missed being able to talk to her - being deaf & having hearing malfunction at the start of lockdown was not good planning. On Monday we were talking about plans, she’d offered me a weaving lesson to help me get on better with the loom I bought in lockdown. I’d joked that as the government were about to start paying my pension I might be able to afford her hourly rate for 1:1 teaching. I’ll raise a glass & tasty food to her tomorrow night & in a couple of weeks time on her birthday.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like a perfect way to celebrate Liz. I'm so sorry this past lonely year hadn't let you have as much contact as you'd have liked, especially when you've been friends for so long. And especially sorry that you won't get that weaving lesson, which I know she'd have loved doing.
DeleteWhen I mentioned to Liz that I was thinking of learning to weave - she laughed! I know that she planted that seed in my mind a good 5 years ago when she gifted me a woven scarf using many of my favourite yarns. She was generous with her time helping me decide what loom would work for me and helped me through my first attempts by sending messages & photos. Yesterday my loom was empty but this afternoon I plan to drag the loom outside, into the sun, start warping up with a large glass of a French Dry White to help me along - what could possibly go wrong?
DeleteI didn’t know Liz by person but I’ve been so thankful to her for our #ConfinedKitchen this year. I wished I would have met her when no-travels and social-distance time is over. A big hug to you, her friends.
ReplyDeleteThank you. We're very sad, but it's good to know she left good vibes in the world.
DeleteThank you for sharing this - I only knew Liz online, having followed her for ages, but seeing her chatting was always a reassurance that somewhere wit and good sense were being shared. I'll be raising a something this evening x
ReplyDeleteThank you. We're going to miss her a lot.
DeleteLiz was delightful. I hope she knows how much we'll miss having her goading us on.
ReplyDeleteYes, that sounds right. She'll be missed by a lot of people.
DeleteI didn't know Liz, but a friend of mine met her at various spinning and crafts events and asked me if I could find out when the funeral is and whether there's a charity she might donate to in Liz's memory...thanks.
ReplyDeleteWe don't have any details about anything like that as yet, I'm afraid, but we do have contact with Liz's family and will pass on what we can when there's more information.
DeleteOkay. Many thanks
DeleteThere's a fundraiser live now: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/dominic-harvey4
DeleteHi Dave,
DeleteWe've heard the following update about Liz's funeral and charity donations: Some more details to share:
Liz’s funeral will be held on Wednesday 19th May.
Service at 1.15pm:
St Cuthbert’s RC Church
Ropery Lane
Chester Le Street
Co Durham
DH3 3PH
Then at 2.30pm:
Durham Crematorium
South Road
Durham
DH1 3TQ
Liz’s brother has set up a Just Giving page in memory of Liz: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/dominic-harvey4
Hi Dave,
DeleteAnother update about Liz Marley's funeral, if you don't mind passing it on. There will be a livestream available for those who can't attend in person:
It will be available on 19th May 1.15 Pm. www.dejavuvideo.co.uk/marley
There is also a you tube link at the bottom of the page which will
have the service recorded if someone cannot attend virtually “ Live “
So sad to log on this morning and see your post Melinda. Although I didn't know Liz, I always think of you both when I think of the blog because of the words “Thought of by Melinda, set up by Liz”. The blog has been and continues to be a haven in the midst of a mad world and has given me and I think all of us both comfort and community. Even when all this is over I will always be grateful for that and for Liz's skills and enthusiasm to giving us a platform to make that happen. Sending you and all our #ConfinedKitchen friends hugs on reading this sad news.
ReplyDeleteThank you love. It's desperately sad, but we did toast Liz this evening, and get 'together' with some cheer. And that's definitely the point of this space.
DeleteHello. I have subscribed to this blog because I knew Liz and I thought I ought to introduce myself. My name is Beatrice and I am a member of a knitting book group called Kniterati which is where I first met Liz in January 2009. One of our group picked up on Twitter that Liz had died so I searched the internet for more information and came across this blog. I have subscribed in the hopes of hearing about any memorial service or charity to donate to, which I can pass on.
ReplyDeleteWe are very sad at the news. As others say, Liz was so kind and so talented.
Our group usually meets on the first Tuesday every month in Central London but of course hasn't met since March 2020 which is when I last saw Liz.
We may be able to meet in person in June. Meanwhile we will meet virtually in May and remember Liz. I lit a candle for her in St Pancras Old Church.
My best wishes to your community.
(Tried to post this on 20th April but it failed...)
Hi Beatrice! There's a fundraiser live now: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/dominic-harvey4. I used to commute into London on the train with Liz sometimes, and I'd always know when it was nearly book club time -- she'd be tearing through a book at enormous speed while knitting at the same time. She really enjoyed meeting up with you all.
DeleteKatie, Thank you very much for the link. I will pass it on. Kniterati are meeting tonight, via Zoom, and we will be remembering Liz.
DeleteHi Beatrice, thanks for introducing yourself. I can see Katie has given you the fundraiser details. Liz's funeral will be in Chester le Street on 19 May. If we find out anything about an online service or a later memorial, we will be sure to pass it on.
DeletePlease give our best to the Kniterati. It's good to hear Liz being remembered in many different places. We will all miss her a lot.
Thank you very much, Melinda. On 19 May we can be there in spirit.
DeleteThank you all for your lovely memories of my daughter. Her funeral service will be transmitted live and can be picked up later on YouTube. The only information you are missing is the time of the service which is 1.15 on Wednesday next (19th May). My son Dominic has the details which he will be happy to send to you. Our life is complicated by the fact that my wife is in a late stage of dementia and is in hospital at the moment with an infection and I'm not allowed in to see her. God bless you all. Terry Harvey.
DeleteHello Terry, thank you so much for taking the time to find us here and say hello. We all loved Liz, and have been thinking of you and her mam so much over the last few weeks. I'm really sorry to hear that your wife's away in hospital right now. It must be so confusing for her, and very strange for you in an already awful time.
DeleteTo anyone else keeping up with the updates here: Dominic's just been in touch with me this morning to say that tomorrow (Friday) he'll be able to send me the details of the funeral service online, and I'll share them here and in the other places Liz frequented.
Dear Terry, I'm so glad you saw this. Liz is much missed by so many people and we keep her, and you, in our thoughts.
DeleteThank you for letting us know about the funeral livestream. We'll be glad to join you, however remotely, next week. She spoke about you both often, and I'm so sorry we can't be there to offer condolences in person.
Hi Beatrice,
DeleteWe've heard that there will be a livestream of Liz's funeral for those who can't attend in person:
It will be available on 19th May 1.15 Pm. www.dejavuvideo.co.uk/marley
There is also a you tube link at the bottom of the page which will
have the service recorded if someone cannot attend virtually "Live". Please do share this around with those who would like to remember Liz.
Thank you, Melinda.
ReplyDeleteAnd thank you to Liz's family for enabling us to share in the service. I will pass the details on to Kniterati, the knitting book group.
With my prayers,
Beatrice