What exactly does happen "Under the pier"....

Well under Southwold pier not v much, you'd be a bit wet! On top of the pier though there a few things to attract the attention! (Don't worry Margaret and Adrian I shan't post "that" photo!!!) We rolled some pennies, looked at the funny amusements, including a zimmer across the motorway, automatic dog walking machine and an automatic groper, I MEAN FRISKER! (... groper!! :-) and a fab water-clock!





It was great! The men on the second layer "pop" out of their trousers and when they have... finished - or the water has run out (same difference I suppose) they drop back into them!



Later on that afternoon on our way back, we stopped at Thorpeness, a lovely little place. We parked by the boating lake, shouted "come in number seven, your times up!" just like Ringo Starr in A Hard Day's Night.



Can anyone see what is on the boating lake???? - yep, that's right - more birdies!!! We then went for a little walk to visit the "House in the Clouds" a old water tower converted in to a holiday rental! You need to save your pennies, It costs between £2K and £3K a week to rent...... It is fabulous however and you'd definitely remember your trip!



There is a very friendly local cat too!!!

We had a more sedate second day, Sophie and Adrian got up early for Mass in Chelmsford and Margaret and I (well I suspect it was only me really! ) had a lie in! After breakfast we had a walk through their fab garden, went for a walk and watched a glider being launched. They took me by surprise and so I didn't have my camera for that!!! We picked Damson's currently residing in some gin (quelle surprise!) and some conkers to ward off Spiders, but we left the blackberries alone (something to do with what the Devil and Cornish Witches had been doing to them) and sat down to a lunch of Roast Lamb and Summer Pudding. So as you can see we were completely spoiled!

After the Madness of the M6 and a stop off at Bertie's in Stoke we arrived home still full!

This weekend has been quiet in comparison, Farmer's market, Autumn fair and Borders! (I've saved the excitement of the washing for tomorrow) I shall show and tell on my next post what goodies the Autumn fair provided!

Hope everyone else is enjoying their weekend!!!!

Quick Thursday evening post!

What is with all this crazy weather???? I left the house this morning - beautiful sunshine - I get to work the same! Then 9.30 hits - I walk round to the other building to see my boss (for my appraisal - which was fine!) and the sky was black on one side of the road and sunny on the other. I prayed that it wasn't an omen of impending doom and gave thanks for the sensible bone that being a Librarian has endowed me with due to the fact I'd remembered to take my brolly!

There are lots of things that I really love, ribbon, peach jam, toile du joie, tea, reading, buttons and French brocantes, but this photo sums up something else I adore... bubbles... I'd forgotten I'd taken this, a quick snap that I didn't think had worked, but it has... sort of so I'm going to show it!

Just look at that sky, you wouldn't think it was thundery the day after....

Happy Solstice everyone, enjoy the light!!!!!

and so Tuesday comes around again!!

I do suspect that it'll be wednesday by the time this appears its 8 mins past midnight and I'm shattered.

LSM has we really pleased with the feedback for her blog and has just posted again!! I'm so glad she decided to do it! She is becoming more and more concerned with environmental matters and I found this little book for her that she can keep in her handbag! The ISBN is 9781903998403 and it cost just £3.95!!! Bargain I say

A little update on my patchwork project. I've decided to make it into something else rather than a tablecloth, however I can't say what.. so I'll just have to post the pictures and keep schtum!!! I'm being good and using my scraps and offcuts, the squares are 5 cm by 5 cm and are a pain to tack but after the 2cm by 2cm square mini one I did its nothing!!!!

Anyhow, I'm off to bed now with my book and a cup of tea I'll post again very soon! Enjoy the rest of the nice weather before the rain hits! I'll leave you with this picture taken in the garden, I wonder who's flying this and where they are going....

LSM has finally gone and done it!!!!

Heaven help us all.......Long suffering mother now has ablog of her own, why not pop over and say hi!!!

http://marymaryfairlycontrary.blogspot.com/

a little preview for you!!!! Mother's mock orange!

The post with no name

Nope - I haven't been watching Clint Eastwood, I've just to many things happening in this post to name it properly (I know it doesn't usually stop me!)

Firstly I discovered a new blog via LSM a few days ago Sophie Honeysuckle. It is a fab blog go and look this instant if you haven't already! She really likes wedding photo's so I said I'd post ones from my Grandparents. I can't get a good one of them both in this light so I'll post this one of my Grandma on her own and then the both of them another day!

That is my Grandma Eileen, LSM's mummy, doesn't she look happy!!! You can't really tell, but the photo has been touched up with colour and she has proper rosy cheeks and rosebud lips! quite apt really as she became Mrs Rose!

Its been rather a strange weekend all in all. Like a game of two halves, yesterday it was beautiful, sunny, warm and fab. Today however has been another matter, rather grey, muggy and yup, you guessed it, raining... still Sophers, LSM and I took the opportunity yesterday of a trip to Lady Heyes craft and restoration centre which is out near Frodsham in Cheshire. We had a great time spent our pennies on buttons, ribbon a dinky table and craft supplies. One of the friendliest places there is Crab Apple crafts, they have lots of supplies to make you squeal with glee! I got some fab paper and some gorgeous ribbon, as did LSM and the lovely lady Tracy let me take some photos to show you!

I just love ribbons on reels like that it reminds me of jewels and sweeties and craft afternoons at School and Charlie and the Chocolate factory!

Then after an afternoon in the garden I was looking forward to similar today, but had to spend the time trying to sort out my house before Kim and Aggie come a knocking on the door!!!

One of the things about this blog that I didn't expect is rather than inspiring me to make more, which in a way it has, it has made me shy, I've got a sort of crafting stage fright after seeing (and receiving) some of the fab things that the people out there make. In an effort to ease myself back in gently, I'm making a little patchwork tablecloth for my garden table (only v small enough for tea and book... and maybe a little sewing) out of all of the scraps that I've got. I'm doing it the "English" way with papers, so it's going to take a while! So today I'll sign off with the beginnings of its construction.

Background

I've always wanted to live in the countryside. There are some beautiful places all over the UK and one of my favourite places is where my Grandparents used to Live in Mid Wales. They lived in a very small place called Dolanog. They have both died now, but about 5-6 years ago after my Grandfather came to live in a nursing home about 10 mins away from us (rather than an old house unsuitable for his needs about 80 miles away) it was entirely apparent that he was never going to live there again and we spent all our holiday entitlement and most bank hols/weekends there filling skips and sorting out not only a house full of generations worth of stuff, but a small business and post office. (My grandfather was known in the village as "Newton the post office"!) There was lots to clear out. Regardless of lovely incidents such as hunting for and finding an old rusty service revolver (we had asked him where it was... he told us "its in the Hampshire"... helpful? - not really!) wrapped in newspaper in my grandmothers sewing box and assuming because we knew what my Grampy was like, it was loaded (it wasn't) ringing the police and asking how we should dispose of it and them turning up to collect it! oh and a suspicious substance (I shan't tell you what) which necesitated my father getting a police escort to the nearest small town! (oh the fun! - and it was!) Well about 10 skips, a ripped out kitchen, bathroom, shop, store, two garages, a large garden, a piano, three piece suite and sooo much rubbish later we sold the house. We did however save this as a momento, it is a picture of the house when it was two houses and a blacksmiths many years before my grandparents bought it.


I'd loved to have seen it then, I wish we'd kept it, but times change and I'll just have to keep my fab memories of clearing it out, taking mallets to piano's (to this day I'll never know how they got it in...) scrubbing old quarry tile floors, having baths with the window open whilst watching the cows and sheep in the field opposite, sewing and playing cards with the others by dodgy electric and sometimes candlelight, calling Dad to remove the MASSIVE spiders that sometimes chased you out of rooms and eating breakfast sitting on the wall outside the front door.

Life chez Ma and Pa's house

Today I went to Mr & Mrs Long Suffering Mother's house after work. I'm being allowed to post from LSM's laptop (am behaving myself) Sopher's went to make a drink and walked towards the kitchen to be greeted by the following sight...

Yup, that's right, all three of them (from front to back Dougal, Lucy and Hamish) with their best "oooh we are ever so good please feed us" faces on...so I couldn't resist taking a few snaps!

I had another nice surprise, the peonies that were transplanted from my Grandparents garden 5 years ago have started to bloom and as requested by the lovely Sara here is a picture of the first opening bloom!

As this is my second post of the day I've not a lot more to add really! (makes a change doesn't it!!!)

Still we are now waiting for the festivities that will fall tomorrow when a certain baby brother has his birthday!!!

missing weirdness

My lovely sister Sophers wishes me to add an 8th to my list of things......

She wishes you all to know about my ability to "switch my ears off".... (not nearly as odd as it sounds) Ever since I was a little girl I've been able to "switch off" and not take any notice of the world around me. I can go off into my little world not hearing a thing or seeing anything other than the internal machinations of my tiny mind. This has been infuriating to lots of people and is partially one of the reasons I was not allowed a bike as a child and why I don't drive now. In short when I switch off I'm a liability. It happens in meetings, on the bus when I "come round" in the wilds of Speke or Runcorn, at home, in the car when I'm supposed to be giving directions. Once many years ago whilst doing the washing up, Sophie came into the kitchen, took her boots off by the back door, had a conversation (one sided granted) with me, I turned round, saw her and screamed as I didn't realise she was there..... not good. I was left not once but twice as a child at school (there was a minibus as we lived in Hale just outside Liverpool) in the corner reading, not having realised ALL the other children and most of the teachers had gone half an hour ago.... I don't do it deliberately... honest....

I'm going to leave you with weekend piccies from Mum and Dad's to try and make up for my madness.....(if that's possible!)

Hamish, isn't he cute!!!

Lovely old school desk (£1 car boot sale!)

Fabulous Liliac!

Paul Temple and the case of the blog swap and the Sunburned Librarian

I hope everyone had a fabulous weekend! Wasn't the weather brilliant (more on that story later!) I'm so grateful to the lovely bloggers who participated in the swap we've just had. I feel terribly guilty that I only sent one out as everyone else has sent me one (lovely people!) I do have to beg extreme circumstances what with Mum's party and all, however you should look out for little surprises dropping through your front doors soon! Here they are in all their glory! What a talented lot you all are!

So to you lot - I'm holding aloft a cup of my best Royal Blend Tea and an organic oatcake biccie!

I will never lose my page again!

Gill@ http://lucysarah.blogspot.com The Red Rose one

Allison @ http://foxglovesinthebreeze.blogspot.com/ The Purple Floral one

Susan @ http://randomblethers.blogspot.com The Yellow and Orange Embellished one

Jo @ http://angeljemscitycottage.blogspot.com The Woven one

Wendy @ http://thewendyhouse.typepad.com The Classic Black and White one

Special Thanks to Jo of course for organising it all!

And on to the next part of the post...

Today people I'm am all a-glow... I'm creating my own little furnace with the heat generated by sunburn. Sophers and I went to visit some friends who live in a BEAUTIFUL little house in Wales. They have done all the work on it themselves and they have done a magnificent job. They are friends we met through mbira camp and we are very glad to have met them. They put on a lovely spread and provided a great place for us to gather and play. So thanks Eve and James, we'll be back!

Isn't concentration a wonderful thing - thanks Sophers.... I'm going to get one of your "mbira face" too!

Here ends yet another long post! I hope everyone else had a good a weekend as I did!

Sometimes I wish I had an outdoor job...

Its a bit chilly here in Scouseland this morning, but the sun is out, the sky is blue (there's not a cloud to spoil the view) I must stop this cue for a song malarkey! I'd love to be outside just for a bit longer today... still it will have to wait for my lunchtime trip to Azkaban..... (otherwise know as Aberkan) or colloquially as El Kilo given that you buy the fabric in the bargain basement by weight! If I find a bargain I'll post about it tomorrow!

Just downloading these photo's make me wish for the weekend again, these were taken across the road from my parents house.

I love blossom and I'm always surprised how far it flies when the inevitable winds will catch it later on this month!

I've been collecting conkers from this tree for YEARS, now I think I prefer the candle stage!

Ahhhhh, what a lovely weekend it was, bring on the next full of partying with friends and family!

Of mice and men......

Wasn't it a gorgeous weekend (pity about the grey today - well in Liverpool anyhow)

We got my Mother's presents, which she is just going to have to wait for (she's like a four year old when it comes to presents!!!) Then as all good plans have a way of doing, the rest of the days plans evaporated into lying on the grass in mum and dads garden, singing "what shall we do with the drunken sailor", "in my liverpool home" and "the black hills of dakota" with mum and sophers and then mbira and hosho playing (I think we worry the neighbours ever so slightly!!), drinking coffee and munching on Eccles Cakes. So the charity shops of Liverpool were safe for one more weekend! Then Sunday was spent cleaning and much more enjoyably having a fab dinner in a friends house (thankyou!) and drinking too much wine..... and now.... back to the working week!

I'm afraid this is going to be a photoless post as well... (I forgot the camera lead.....) So I'll have to post extra ones tomorrow.

Oh what a beautiful mooooorrrrrrnnnnniiinnnngggg!!!!

Sorry.... I'm in a singing mood today. I do sing quite often. As far as Sophers and myself are concerned EVERYTHING is a cue for a song. I'm really looking forward to the weekend now. We are birthday present shopping, doing a little bit of charity shop trawling and then going to have a picnic, play mbira and take photo's in the park as the forecast is for 24 degrees tomorrow! won't that be nice!


I'm leaving you today with a very unsuccessful photo of one of my fave things (I still can't quite get the settings right on the camera....I'll have a better play tomorrow!) I bought it on a visit to my Aunt and Uncles house in the Loire Valley, at a little brocante market along the river bank. It was a steamy hot day and after we had spent our Euros on vintage buttons, ribbons and pressed glass we sat in dappled shade and drank coffee and ice cold water outside a cafe in the town square watching the birds chase crumbs dropped by the other patrons..... mmmmm I wish I was back there (although in slightly cooler weather!) bliss

Colour

It seems to me that colour is the most wonderful thing. I was browsing through a beautiful magazine last night... and much as I enjoyed it and I thought most of the places looked amazing. They were all fairly bland. I'm not one for painting the walls mad colours, but everything I own seems to clash! I don't mind this too much, because everything I've got serves some purpose or I think is great (plus lots of other stuff which I'm just too darn lazy to throw out at the moment!!!)

So I'm having a celebrating colour day from my dark red sofa with its purple cushions and patchwork throw to my pink roberts radio and mossy green coffee cups and the gorgeous orangy - pink tulips on the mantlepiece in the chipped cornishware pot!

It seems most appropriate on the most lovely of "spring" days!!!!