Wednesday 30 August 2023

Woyww - Eeh! August you’ve been a busy month


My August has been a busy month. Tomorrow I’ll finish my ‘Walk 31Miles In August’ charity walk for Maggies Cancer Centres. Then I am walking for Dementia UK throughout September.  I’ve got new walking boots at the ready for that one.


We’ve had two lovely breaks with different friends in the Lake District, one at our little caravan and one stay at the beautiful family run Clare House Hotel in Grange Over Sands.  If I could live there I would, it’s so welcoming, relaxing and the food is some of the best I’ve ever eaten.



Lunch with best friend Sue 


It’s years since we visited the house and gardens at Holker Hall so we scheduled that into our plans during our Cumbrian break.  It’s a grande place that is still a family home to the Cavendish’s.  One of the guides told us that the family must have been playing billiards the night before as they found an empty wine glass. Everything in that room was large scale including the 16th century games table.  


The thing I loved best was all the textiles and patterns. In one room I counted ten different patterns of varying colours and designs.  No minimalism or matching up in there and it all worked together.



















In the library there were over 3000 books including this one 


Some shots of the gardens










Weird garden gnomes haha


LINK TO HOLKER HALL


We’ve also had another trip aboard the steam train at the East Lancs Railway in Bury, Lancashire.
This time we did the fine dining evening. Good company, a four course meal and good wine for the drinkers amongst us.




But the best thing about August is that my sister has at least moved five minutes
up the road to us from Oxford, after 15years away. The bad news is her furniture is still
in storage and will be until the house has been rewired, replastered and a new staircase fitted.


We can get through all that though because at the end of the day
at least she is home.

So crack on Philip there’s tons of work for you to do.


Hope August has been kind to you all.
Who knows I may even get to my desk at some point in September.









Wednesday 9 August 2023

WOYWW …… an accordion, a packet of crisp and a mile a day


No craft desk again this week because I’ve been
concentrating on the start of my Walk 31 Miles in August
for Maggies Cancer Centres.


I’m having great fun and it’s so nice to get
out in nature every day.


Here’s a few collage of my first week.


Sunday I was taken out for the day by
my best friend Sue for my birthday


Then I did a quick dash home to change into my Maggies
charity T-shirt and off I went again.


Walking around our local reservoir and waterski centre
is 1.5 miles and is a beautiful walk.


How many folk can see say they bumped into an accordion
playing ex football player while out on their walk.  Not
many I’d bet haha.

On Monday I found a packet of Quavers and five minutes later
found a tinfoil wrap of sandwiches.  Eh up I thought, I only need
a drink and a biscuit and I’ll have my lunch.

Someone’s rucksack must have been open and they had fallen
out.  Poor thing, imagine sitting down ready for your picnic after
a long walk, only to find you’d lost it all.


Well here’s me ready for another outing.  I’ll be joined
by my friend Jane today, wonder what we will encounter
this time.

Saying hello to all Julia’s desk hoppers and hoping you
have a good week.


Wednesday 2 August 2023

Woyww ….. petticoats, books and Pippa Dee



Where is the year going, July sped by and my sister is still not back up north with us.  If you’ve followed along, you may remember that she took the decision to move from Oxford back home after 15 years.  The house she chose to buy in March looks now like it might be hers within the next week or so.  Poor girl has had her furniture in storage and been living in Airbnb’s for weeks.  She’s a bit like Alan Bennett’s ‘Lady In A Van’.

I was determined to start working through my book pile



but got sidetracked when I found these two books on
the New Books stand at our local library.


The Couple In The Photo, was a good read. A thriller and a
new author to me,


On my desk there has been some action. I started a new
project. The Travelling Petticoat.


This vintage petticoat is making its way around the country.
Members of my textile group will each add a piece of their own
stitchwork before passing it on. Eventually it will go to members
in America, Portugal and Australia.  Eventually it will come
back to me.


Do you remember the clothing company from the 70’s ‘Pippa Dee’
They operated in a similar way to Tupperware, house parties held
by self employed housewives. I went to one held at my aunt’s house
and I bought this silk bra and knicker set and wore it as a bikini
on my first holiday abroad with a friend.

I’m creating a book about clothes that hold memories for me.
It’ll take the form of photos, textiles and script. I’ve got a story about
a beautiful full length emerald halter neck dress I bought my Mum when
I started work. She wore it for a night at the casino with dad and their friends.


And a story about this dress bought for my little sister from a
posh children’s market stall.  She loved it and was even happier
when the most popular girl in the class had the same dress on.


That’s all for now folks.
Hope all Julia’s lovely desk hoppers are well.
Thanks for letting me pop in and out of the group.

See you soon
Lynn

Wednesday 5 July 2023

WOYWW - June you’ve flown by


I can’t believe I’ve written three blog posts in as many days,
but I have.

June has flown by in a whirl of activity like the rest of the year
so far.

As you can see we’ve been on the steam train again. This time
it was a Murder Mystery Trip with the theme
Strictly Come Dying’

It was brilliant fun but we all agreed we were more the bumbling
detectives than Poirot. We were absolutely useless, despite Trish
doing her best to solve who’d done it.


Back on a more normal train last week but one with lovely
views.  We went from Grange Over Sands to Lancaster via
Arnside & Silverdale in Cumbria.

Friends had asked us if we would join them in their 25th
wedding anniversary celebrations.  Well not one to turn down
an invitation, we spent two nights in our favourite hotel Clare House
in Grange Over Sands, Cumbria.


So I’ve not been near my work desk and it’s not likely I will
be this week either as we have brought Mum upto the Lake District
for a little holiday.



On the way up we stopped off for lunch at Ingleton and I
asked the Wandering Welder if I could have this gorgeous
French market basket as an early birthday present. I may
have to go back for another in a different colour way.


There’s plans to meet friends at the amazing Buddhist Temple
and gardens near Ulverston and maybe a walk along the
prom if the weather is kind to us.


Another June day was spent helping my bestie choose a special
dress for her son’s wedding and afterwards celebrating with
lunch at a lovely garden centre near Clitheroe.


Wishing all Julia’s Workdesk Wednesday pals a happy creative
week.  Hopefully I’ll have worked on something by next week.


See you soon 
Lynn xx

Here’s a link to what we got upto at the weekend