Tuesday 30 August 2022

A Malvern Monday

 

After several nights of VERY disturbed sleep - I woke  every hour and a half - I had another disturbed night AND was in a deep sleep when the alarm went off at 4.45 yesterday morning.  I really DID NOT want to get up, but it was Bank Holiday Monday at Malvern, and needs must.  Breakfast was a cup of tea and hot cross bun.  I had prepared my breakfast/lunch and Keith's lunch on Sunday evening, so I was ready at the end of the lane in my trusty car when Pam and her daughter arrived in theirs.  I had the offer of going with Pam in her car, but wasn't sure how long I was going to be wandering round, so we went separately.


We had a lovely day at Malvern, and amongst the things that came home with me was a very unusual wooden stirrup with metal embellishment.  Probably Spanish and about 1850ish.



I bought a Turkish pot from this stand - he showed me the kilns where they fired them and we had a lovely chat.  They have chopping/dough boards of various dimensions - some still covered in dried dough where they had been offered on/purchased whilst still being used!


A few photos from our favourite stallholder this month. The face of the statue below looks like someone was sculpted without their teefs in!





This unusual leather bucket originally had its working life in a Cotton Mill.


All sorts are on offer. Some stalls are more themed than others, and some completely random.


Irresistible!  Drawn in 1898.


A lovely framed Cecil Aldin print of terriers.



A pretty Crown Ducal Deco vase.


    Keith and I have been doing PD posture exercises today, plus I have made up a couple of exercises of my own to help him with sideways movement/balance. The Physio, though a lovely lad, seems to be just going through the motions.  The posture exercises really seem to help and Keith can actually move sideways better as long as he is by the table to steady himself.  

    I am shattered though and not doing too much today. I have a good book which will see me through the afternoon, though K and I need to effect a repair on a small corner cupboard we got at the car boot sale.  It was very dead looking in the patina stakes, and a little rub down with 0000 grade wire wool had revealed a lovely red hue- it's made from Montgomery oak, which should help its chances, along with its size.



Here is a before photo of the little Corner Cupboard.  Keith and I have just been working on it and glued two slivers of wood where there is moulding missing. There's a wider bit missing on the other side which we'll do tomorrow, and also stain the replacement pine shelf inside.




It's had a rub down and the worst of years of dust and dirt brushed off.  You can see that lovely red colour. The Butterfly hinges are off an earlier piece, and the nails they've used to hold them in place look a bit like frost nails from a horse's winter shoe.

29 comments:

  1. I have had trouble sleeping as well. Friday night was a worry that kept me up and down all night. Sunday was an allergy that made it impossible to breathe lying down. Last night, I went to bed and slept so soundly. What a relief. That flea market looks amazing. I would love to see your cupboard when you are done.

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    1. Sorry we have been fellow insomniacs! Worry is just the worst thing to dwell on after the hours of darkness, but shedding that worry is easier said than done. Tam bought me a sleeping aid called the Dodow https://www.mydodow.com/bundles?gclid=CjwKCAjw6raYBhB7EiwABge5KkcSHbQGfPYJNE-Y-x5EhHL4yT0cdQrysLdw6-qetdn0MPJTEPRsyBoC1BEQAvD_BwE It does work, but won't help me when it's my breathing giving me problems. Glad you slept soundly last night. Going round the Fleamarket is like a giant treasure hunt - you never know what you might find, BUT on Bank Holidaysit is very much like an over-priced car boot sale - lots of junk! Have just taken a photo of the cupboard as it is at the moment . . .

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    2. Oh, I'm so glad for that last sentence. Scrolling down through the pictures today, I saw it and wondered how I'd possiby missed it yesterday, when I commented. It is beautiful though. Can't wait to see it shined up and in its place.

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  2. That wooden stirrup with the metal embellishment is beautiful. Such lovely treasures you found, sounds like a wonderful day.

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    1. Hello Sandra. I loved it at first sight too. I wish these things could tell you their stories.

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  3. Isn't it always the case that those of us chronically affected by poor sleep will have the worst of it when a more than usually demanding day is expected on the morrow! The thought of ancient dough crumbs on a board is mildly off-putting, but I daresay a good scrubbing would set them right. I have quite a large one that goes with my grandparents' Hoosier kitchen cabinet--its clean, but I have for years pummeled or rolled dough on Formica countertops surfaces.

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    1. I'm worried about the weekend already as I always sleep badly before a Fair and am starting from a low point already. I have to say, I wouldn't have bought the dough board in the state it was in! Fortunately there was a huge choice of others, but cram packed in so very hard to remove and look at. I have a big dough board (pine) which I've used for years.

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  4. You have better commitment to getting up than I do! That wouldn't stirrup looks like it would be very uncomfortable for the horse and rider. It certainly looks like a fascinating place to wander around, and you could come home with your wallet a lot, lot lighter!

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    1. I am an early bird as a rule (by 9 p.m. I have HAD IT!) but was already so tired after 4 a.m. risings through not sleeping. It's very easy to spend a fortune at Malvern - there were some pieces I was very interested in but the George II brass mortar was a bit of an unknown value-wise. Chap wanted £80.

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  5. Nice pots..and a cracking good cupboard!!
    It's one thing knowing that at an hour and a half you have done a full sleep cycle...but sometimes the body won't listen when you tell it that you don't need to wake between each one!
    Well done on the exercises..every little helps x

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  6. It's a lovely little cupboard which has been a bit abused down the years, but hopefully we can make it look more desirable again so it can find a new loving home.

    What was waking me up was an irritable bladder .. . Have been making sure I drink lots more water . . .

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  7. I don’t know how you get up so early for Malvern, I guess it’s all in the years of training. But what treasures you find. One day soon I will go to Ford boot fair for the experience if nothing else. I have a theory that complete and utter exhaustion results in a poor night. The ideal for me is to be gently exercised, hydrated, not to have drunk more than one glass of wine and have a good book to read in bed after a warm bath. I had a terrible night last night btw and have been crotchety today. I blame the wine and dehydration during an 18 mile cycle yesterday. Whenever I put a Cecil Aldin doggie book in the window it always sells straight away. Usuallly they are well-loved and scruffy and I hope they aren’t being bought to cannibalise. Well done on the diy exercises - you know what K is capable of and where and when he needs to push himself a bit more. Just beware the PD Warrior videos. I always test drive these Video classes by myself first and actually ended up hurting myself. Also have just discovered from the Parkinson’s website that some leisure centres offer free gym sessions to PD people. Something to explore when iIt isn’t cycling weather. Although S is excellent at cycling, his upper body strength is much reduced and he’s lost lots of muscle - one reason why I think he often complains of a sore back. Do look after yourself BB - saying this aloud to you reminds me that I need to look after myself too. Sarah x

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  8. As I get older, it becomes more of a struggle and right now, with my worries about Keith, and the cost of living which is blardy ridiculous, it's more of a struggle. I don't know how well the Fair will go and worry I have tied up money to no good effect, but hey-ho, we shall see.

    You're right about the wine - I used to happily quaff half a bottle (each) with Tam but on the odd occasion I've done that this year I regret it. Gosh, 18 miles is a long way to cycle. I clocked up 23,000 steps yesterday, but some of that was very slowly as I looked for goodies. Cecil Aldin is always very popular - I have a lovely framed and signed print of his on the wall - a chestnut horse jumping a 5 bar gate. It is signed, but not numbered.

    I have quite a good idea of what Keith can and can't do now - just doing the exercises alongside him makes me realize how demanding some of them are. No point in him pushing himself as we have found that it means he gets knocked up for a few days and can't do anything. He IS improving though - it's a slow old business, but he enjoyed being in his workshop today and we did a good job of teamwork on the corner cupboard.

    Please look after yourself too as I know only too well how demanding and draining all this is. The worries never go away.

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    1. Well done on the corner cupboard, I am sure it is now glowing. Photograph when you can please. You are right about the worries. No. 1 is extricating S from his business partnership which has been rumbling on since he was 65 - he’s 70 in two weeks - and No.2 is that our son and his four housemates have just been served with a Section 21 notice (two months notice to evict them) from their rented house by their Singapore-based landlord. And, of course, the worries about our daughter never go away. Fortunately I have never been much of a drinker and I stuck to elderflower cordial at aperitif time today. I have loads to do in the veg garden especially on processing the harvest and a busy work schedule with the Fringe Festival next month. I need a holiday - smoothing calming and peaceful like a yoga and craft retreat with nice food made by someone else!

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    2. Oh goodness Sarah - you have a lot on your plate right now. I hope that everything gradually falls into place and things are for the better. I will say that actually, having a couple of glasses of white wine broke the wake every hour pattern and I have had two nights where I only woke twice, a great improvement. I hope that you and S can get a holiday soon.

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  9. Lovely corner cupboard, you and Keith are doing a great job on it. I really like the colour.

    Sorry you are having a bad time sleeping. I hope tonight is better.

    God bless.

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    1. I slept better last night thank you. The corner cupboard is slowly being mended. I will doa photo when it's all polished up.

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  10. It sounds like you had a good day browsing the stalls. I'd love a day like that! No such thing where I am. That cupboard is lovely, just the sort of thing I'd buy! I hope you rest well tonight.

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    1. It's my favourite day out, same for Keith, and I am hoping next time he will be with me, either in the wheelchair or the mobility scooter. Sleeping better now.

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  11. I meant to add that St Stephens Church does look like a gem. I enjoyed your post and photos.

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    1. It is. I am so fortunate to have so many interesting and historic churches on my doorstep.

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  12. Just a thought on dough boards. Aren't they supposed to carry the yeast from earlier breadmaking and therefore are not kept too clean. After all neat little packets of yeast wasn't available in medieval times.

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    1. You're probably right. Mine always gets washed! I have got recipes for capturing "wild yeasts" but stick to my purchased kind.

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  13. I made the mistake of having a can of cider last night, my first alcoholic drink in ages, it didn't help my sleep at all. I was up and drinking coffee by 5.30am this morning ... which would have been good if I had had a lovely antique far to go to.

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    1. The trouble is, when the alcohol wears off, you are then wide awake! I never learn! I'm sure there are antique fairs in your area. I know there's a gigantic antiques warehouse somewhere near Preston, as we've been there. Nearly as good.

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    2. There are places yes, and a huge car boot sale quite nearby but I just can't walk that far or stay on my feet for the time needed to enjoy it any more.

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    3. What a shame Sue. I was hoping you would be slowly mending. I hope that you are.

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  14. I would enjoy rambling around that sale with so many treasures on offer. I like the 1898 painting of the dog, I would want to buy that. The Turkish pots and the leather pail and several other intriguing items, I think you had fun. Keep doing those exercises, I have a short list of exercises I aim to do.

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    1. I think you would still be sleeping it off, as I am. I have just slept for 2 HOURS on the sofa. Each day since the Fair it's like I've taken knock-out drops!

      I bought one Turkish pot, and the painting came home with me too.

      Keith is cheered up by working on that corner cupboard, has done posture exercises and walked round the garden today. Back out for Round 2 with the corner cupboard shortly.

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