Dusting seagulls . . .

Yes, desperation creeps in and as I remove the contents of the bathroom windowsill in order to paint the inset ceiling, I give it all a little dusting . . . Someone has to do it, after all, and I know it won't be my dearly beloved!

Yesterday was a lovely day out, although tiring.  I was delighted to notice, just as we had driven off the bridge and were heading towards the M5 link, two Pussy Willow trees sporting little silver pussy paws.  They made me smile. Spring can't be too far away now.  

We picked up our purchases from the auction, and then parked in the town to get some lunch.  We were early enough to get the sofa seat in The Edge, the little coffee shop we go to there, and had toasted cheese and ham sandwiches with a little side salad. They were quite substantial, and certainly filled a corner - good quality thick ham too, none of your pink plastic stuff.  I was amused to notice a sign on a pub at the bottom of the High Street which said "Come in as a customer, leave as a local". It sums up the friendliness of the residents.

We did a tour of the Charity shops before leaving, and this Pachamama top came home with me.  New and unworn, £9.50 (rather than the £50 or so they are new).  Hand knitted, pure wool and fleece lined.  Should keep me cosy.  I also found a new and reduced Thermalite hat, so for £1.80 that also came home.  It will give you an indication of tiredness levels, as I bought what I thought was a game of Scrabble (I can't find the board for ours, but have all the rest of it), only to find out when I got home that I had bought a game of Scruples . . .  Keith also struck lucky and found a military book to suit his tastes.

These may not look very exciting, and certainly need a clean up, but these are the oak panels we bought.  They date to around 1640 - 1660 and were probably the panels for the doors of a standing cupboard.  I think, as they came from Gloucestershire, they were probably made there.

No age at all to the brand new globe on stand, but hopefully it will attract a buyer when it goes in the Unit.

I love this bronze Japanese flask and have to do some research on it now.

Another Japanese piece, which matches something we already have so will join those.

Above and below, a couple more African pieces.  These are brass and the bottom one is much darker, so probably bronze.  Different anyway.

Well, all sorts of things were in my head as we were travelling back yesterday and now they have fled like snow in an oven . . .  Back tomorrow with book chat.