A little Christmassing . . .

 

Keith would have been 86 today.  I decided I would get myself out for a short while, and do some Christmas shopping and buy myself A Treat at the Old Railway Line Garden Centre at Three Cocks.  I was mostly going to enjoy their Christmas Department, and allow the child in me a little indulgence.  Having been a career soldier, Christmas didn't mean much to Keith and had he been on his own, he wouldn't have bothered celebrating at all.  Poor man - his birthday outing one year was being dragged around Abbey Cwm-Hir Hall - which made a point of doing Christmas in Every Room - all 52 of them!  (Well, in my defence, all the NT properties I thought of shut at the end of Oct.)  At least it got him out of the house!  My trip today gave a nod to that :)

The Santa Express.  It's the truck I have shown before, now in Christmas mode.

Lots and lots and lots of Cyclamens.  I bought 6 last month, but had 4 to decorate a copper fish kettle I was selling (and it sold), and the other two are doing well in a pot in the front.  Along with a self-seeded Borage which is flowering, would you believe!

I loved the deep deep wallpaper with these gorgeous lights against it.

A pretty blue tree with Owls . . .

Large Christmas rat, anyone?  Not quite sure how they fit into Christmas  . . . or the knitting sheep, below!

Some really cute things here, but the meeces in the tree, bottom left, were £14.99 and I couldn't justify that.

Temptation here, I like fungi . . .

I bought a little mouse rather like this one.  It's a Christmas ritual for me, to add to my family of meeces.

And I couldn't resist the cream-topped one of these.  Hah - a Russula delica!!  (I used to go on Fungi Forays when I first got together with Keith.  He thought I was mad!)

I got Garlic to plant as well, which was my "official" reason for going.  I didn't allow myself any leeway when I got back and went straight out and dug over/weeded the garlic tub, added half a sack of fresh compost, and planted I think it was 25 garlic bulbs.  Hopefully they will grow.  The ones I had last year were spring-planted (odd) and never came to anything much.

I will go and pin the back of the quilt now.  When that is sewn, it will be finished.  I am quite pleased with how it has turned out, but by gum, I've sewn a LOT of stitches.  I will get back to my embroideryt for a bit before I start on the other auction quilt, which I replaced the centre in.

Last night, having watched Kate at the Last Homely House with her (home sewn I assume) modern take on a hay box, where she put her casserole in to carry on cooking for 6 hours, I am rather tempted to try making my own.  I will try and find her video where she makes it now.  My neighbour Ed cooks in a hay box too (proper hay in a box for him), as they used to in the Army.  Worth remembering if we have sporadic power cuts . . . as long as we can time them so we have our casserole piping hot ready to go in said hay box when the power goes out!

Gabby is on her way and it will be a fish and chip supper - in memory of Keith, as that was his favourite meal, especially if bought in Scarborough, where the fish was SO fresh and sweet.

Letters from the Front - Bertie Ward Harrison

This post was originally put on in July 2016, to remember Keith's grandfather, Bertie Ward-Harrison, who died on the Somme.  This is Bertie's story, which I think gives a vivid portrayal of what life was like on the front - and how much worry he tried to protect his family from.  Keith inherited his filmstar looks and cheeky character, and his love of a bet (Bertie was a bookie's runner at one point prior to the War).

From the 2016 blog post:

"I have had these posts in mind for all of July.  100 years ago on 31st July 1916, my husband's great Uncle, Captain George Brown Bird, was killed in action.  I will remember him tomorrow, as the 3rd August is the date that his commanding officer wrote to George's sister to inform her of her loss.

Just 3 weeks earlier, his brother-in-law, my husband's grandfather, Bertie Ward Harrison, had been badly injured.  Initial news was that he was expected to live, having been shot in the back and the legs.  This is the information which had been given to George Bird, when he asked after him, knowing his Company had been involved in house to house fighting in the village of La Boisselle.  It was a rum do - no-one knew from one minute to the next whether the house which had been held by the Germans shortly before, was still in enemy hands or had been captured (briefly) by the British. The village was captured  and held by the British on the 4th July, and it was on this date that Bertie was injured.  If you visit the La Boisselle Study Group page, you will see a map which is copyrighted, so I can't show it here.  Here is a link to some of the information about the area, and the huge crater (The Glory Hole) which was never filled in and is still in evidence to this day.

In the confusion of the dressing stations, perhaps George was misinformed, but sadly Bertie's injuries proved too great and he died on 5th July.  Initially he was listed as "Missing".  The news of his death was not passed on to his widow for some weeks.  Within days of this she was to hear of the death of her brother.  Her hair turned white overnight.

Keith has passed me the letters Bertie sent to his wife.   Just three remain. They sound so down to earth but all the time you can see he knew that the outlook for the fighting Tommies was not good. When he was in hospital it is clear he was dreading going back but all the time he tried to keep positive.  I guess many men wrote in a similar vein.  I have added a little punctuation as Bertie often missed it out, but I think you will see something of the man in these letters.  He was so good looking and apparently when he came home on leave, all the neighbouring wives would be round, as they thought he had film star looks and he brightened up their lives.  Knowing what we do of him, I think he was quite a character and I am sure Keith has inherited his wicked sense of humour from Bertie.  He was brave - he once had a shave in a lion's cage (for the money, which was always tight). He was a Bookie's runner for a while, but had some problems with that as on occasion he wouldn't put the bet on as he knew the horse and thought it couldn't run an inch, and then the blooming thing went and won, and he had to go to the Boxing Booths in Blackpool to fight and win the stake money back . . .

He and George will never be forgotten in our family.  Here are the letters:

March 14th, 1916:

Dear Maggie

I got writing pad and twist alright.  The Twist was a God send.  I had just finished my other.  Well dear, people seem to get alarmed over a bit of an air raid.  I don't now what they would do if they had been like us for 34 days within a stone throw of the Gers and seeing your mates go under every day.  Thank God we are out for a 10 days rest and then we shall be among it again.  It's a treat to get away from it a bit if its only to get a clean change and a bath.  I think George's Reg. is following us for a rest.  I am going to try and find out today. . . . . .

I hope Edie  is keeping alright.  Also the rest of Friends.  I am glad Alice is getting a clever girl.  Let her write me a few lines next letter and see if she is improving.  Tell George to be a good boy and go to school and then he will be able to write to his daddy.  I hope baby and Agnes is well, also yourself.  I must close now.  Good bye and God bless you all.  from your Loving Husband Bert xxxxxxxxxxxxx

Over the page he wrote asking for a weekly paper after Maggie had read it, as "we never see one".

Undated:

Dear Maggie

Just a line to let you know I have been here (the Gen. Hospital) nearly a fortnight, got a wound in the hand and it turned to poisoning, but glad to say I am nearly better.  I shall be leaving here any day but write back to this address by return.  it will follow me on.  I haven't heard from you since September 9th.  I feel so miserable.  I came down here from the firing line after the big advance so I expect my letters will be there for me when I get back.  I sent a letter from here a week on Saturday with a young chap, he was coming to England.  I told him to post it when he arrived but I think he must have forgot it or lost it. If you had received it I know you would have written back straight away.  I do hope you have got over your illness alright and that you are up again, its been hard for me not been able to get any letters.  Of course if this had not have happened I should have got them alright and got to (k)now how you were getting on.  I feel sorry at giving him the letter to post but I thought you would get it sooner.  Now dear don't fret about me I am alright again.  I shant be in the trenches for a week or so until I get moved.  Have you heard from George yet.  I would like to hear from him.  It looks as if the War will last a long time yet as we gain ground here we seem to lose it on the other side.  Its a treat to here our Guns sending the shells over our heads into there lines , the noise was terrible but the sights were worse.  I never want to see it again.  Well dear, I would like to tell you more about it but you will have to wait till I come home which I hope wont be long.  Write straight back.  Remember me to Mrs Wood and all.  Has Jack come out yet if not tell him to hurry up, we can do with the big guns.  I most close now, from Your Loving Husband Bert xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

March 14th or 15th (I don't know which he wrote)

Dear Maggie

Just a line to let you know I got your letter.  I also receives twist and handkerchief last night.  Well dear, I am glad you are alright.  Sorry to hear Mrs Wood is bad again.  Poor old Mrs.  Tell her to buck up, the War will soon be over I don't think.  Well Maggie, our Division is on Pass so in a month or two if I get through I shall be looking at coming home for a few days.  Men thats been in hospital have to wait till the last I believe, but it wont take our company so long to get through as theres only a few of us left, its the Bombers thats touching out every day, you see we have to get very close to the Gers before we can reach them with our bombs but its God help them same as it is God help us when they drop among you, there terrible things.  I have only just got my nerves right from the last big battle, what with their bombs and ours its a bit nerve recking.  I hope I come through alright for your sake and the childrens.  Tell Alice and George to be good children and go to school and then they will get on alright.  Poor Samy Brotherton I only saw him in the trenches two days before he got it, he laughed away and we had a s(h)ort talk.  I never thought it would be the last time but its a old saying in the midst of life we are in Death and now I must close and Good bye, from your Loving Husband Bert. xxxxxxxxxxxxxx


Bertie died on 5th July 1916.  He was 27.  Many years before, In Scarborough, a gypsy had told his fortune for him and told he he would die when he was 27."

Fed up

From yesterday's walk.

 I fancied going somewhere today and thought of going to the Garden Centre to see their Christmas display, but talked myself out of it as an unnecessary indulgence.  I also thought of going to Merthyr Tydfil shopping centre to try on Bra's at M&S and get my shopping down there, but talked myself out of that too.  I am going to Carmarthen next week and will tie up several things together on the same fuel usage.  I just went to Llandod for groceries in the end.

I have been working on the quilt and have got to the swearing and cussing and absolutely fed up with it stage now.  I have unpicked the last side, and sewn one half back together, and am now pinning on the strip down the middle of the back which is taxing, to say the least, doing it on my lap.  I am needing a break from Outlander too.  

Fingers x'd that a lady interested in my spinning wheel will have it when we meet up tomorrow.  That would help the exchequer.

Perhaps tomorrow will be a bit more positive, and hey, I finally found the fishing rods rack I knew I had bought back from the Unit, but searched the house for 3 times before I found it merged against a bookcase at the back of the library. . .

Lulu has been resting upstairs as usual most of today.  Not sure what she has eaten or drunk though but she looks bright enough.

Lulu update

 I'm back from the vet with Lulu now.  She has been resting all day, her favourite spot on the single bed (quilted of course) which has Tam's blow-up mattress laid across the top as nowhere else for me to put it.  I "lost" her many times (Pippi too) before I discovered this hiding place.  Anyway, she did a tiny offering of poo of the right colour and no longer diarrhoea this morning, and has been eating.  I had trouble getting her into the cat carrier and after she escaped once, had to upend it and feed her in, with her still trying to double back and escape.  

Gosh, I need to vacuum the kitchen floor!  And put the polishing rags bag away.  

Here she is "tinging" the water bowl with her claws.  It makes a musical ring.  The vet said she had had a very bad allergic reaction causing Diverticulitis,  to something in the PURINA FELIX ORIGINAL MIXED SELECTION IN GRAVY sachets.  Do NOT buy these for your cat as there is something in the ingredients which can make certain cats very ill indeed.  She said she didn't need any treatment, but I did right to bring her in to get her checked out.  

I hated sitting in the vet's with her. Last time Tam and I were there to have L. Whale pts.  My nerves were twanging - love makes you so vulnerable.  My nervous system/stress levels have never really gotten back to normal after the state I was in during Keith's final weeks.  

I shall go back and work a bit more on the quilt after tea.  It will now have to have a stripe down the back too!  Oh what fun :) 

(I had some curry sauce left over from last night's king prawn curry so tonight it will be chicken curry, with mixed grain rice incl. red and wild rice.  Yummy.)

I have had one expense.  The 2nd is a new microwave (I will wait for Black Friday to get the Panasonic one I fancy - pointless buying the cheaper ones as they only last 3 yrs).  What will the 3rd expense be?

A poorly Lulu

 The two quilts sewn together - you can see the brown strip, but whichever sides I sewed together, all were edged in brown as clearly she had lots of brown left over . . .  Name of Quilt, "Brown Stripe"!!  I clearly didn't have my thinking head on as that would have removed another strip either side, but then I would have been left with incomplete paler hexies.  Can't win I guess.  If I had just removed the valances, although generous, the single tops wouldn't have been sufficiently wide enough to go over a bed.

Lulu has had a very poorly upset tummy.  I'm not sure if it was the sachets of meat in gravy that did it as that has upset Pippi's tummy in the past, or whether she has just got an inflamed gut, but she was passing bloody diarrhoea last night and sicked up some slightly pink foam.  Needless to say all this happened well after the vet's had shut.  She spent the night on my bed, snuggled into my back as usual, purring, and has seemed quite bright this morning, and eaten some biscuits and a little of a different sachet.  I have tried to get an early (morning) appointment at the vet's but although I phoned dead on 9, when they open, all the morning appointments are already taken.  Just like the GP . . .  don't know how it happens unless people turn up on the doorstep to book animals in. 

I will have to keep busy as obviously I am worried.  They said as long as she wasn't lethargic, she would be ok to wait.

 It's often Pippi in the photos, but Lulu likes to be upstairs, that's her domain.  She doesn't often go outside either and when she does, she doesn't go far.  She would e perfectly happy to be a total house cat.

So now I have to worry until 3.30 when she is booked in.  

Angels on my shoulders?

 . . . or perhaps on my fingertips, as I imagine these little old wrinkled faces smiling as I work on the quilts they once made and need restoring, or finishing, or altering.  I sense they would be delighted to see them put to rights, ready to be loved and treasured again.  So many hours of stitching went into their creations and - heavens - a good few into putting them to rights again!  I can vouch for that.  I have done quite a few down the years.  

They might touch with angel hands a fabric they remember buying, or which started off life as a dress or skirt, they might think of what they were listening to on the radio or tv whilst they sewed (Z-Cars or Gardeners World or the A-Team or Fawlty Towers perhaps, with this current hexi quilt).  

I have had a busy day today, stripping and remaking the guest bed with a winter duvet and brushed cotton bedding, and washing the used-once set and hanging it up to dry.  I baked a lovely loaf of bread, and made a Spicy Dorset Apple Cake to take to my friend tomorrow, but it smelt so good that I weakened and had a piece and then had to make her another (Manderin Orange Cake).  

I have been sewing - joining the loose backing on the quilts, and now I am on the borders.  One went smoothly but this current one has a join in the middle and that hexi-angel bodged it a bit and so I am having to try and unbodge it.  Bless her, we all do things like that.  

I am still happily watching Outlander, but skipping the awful scene in Wentworth jail with that barsteward Black Jack Randall. . .  They'll be escaped and off to France shortly.

I must try and avoid any click bait posts on Microsoft Bing when I sign in.  I did not want to see that a White House adviser is saying that the next 8 weeks could be the most dangerous of our lives and lead to WWIII. . .  That sort of thing haunts me rather when I wake up for a call of nature at 3 a.m.

Well, my day out tomorrow is off as Lulu has an upset tummy and just been sick, with a tint of blood in it so I will have to take her to the vet tomorrow.  

Amalgamation

 I've got the car back from the garage, and I can cope with Porlock Hill again now - but only if I am driving.  Couldn't blardy walk up there - I think it's a 1 in 4 hill.  (That's a 25% grade in American terms).   No worries anyway, as it's in the West Country and haven't been down that way for many a long year.   I have had problems with the handbrake on the car - it just wouldn't hold on a steep hill.  The car was overdue an oil change anyway, so got both things attended to at the same time.  I was surprised when I put the handbrake on and it only came up less than a cm!  Phew.  I had to drive into a very steep driveway on a narrow lane on the way back from Tam's recently and thought I'd end up going through their gate!

Without a car and knowing I was going to have to walk to the garage to collect it later, I sat down after breakfast and started stitching the two single quilts together.  I will need to put a nice binding on it too, later.  I am using a tiny 1" quilting needle and tiny stitches on the tiny 1 1/2" hexies.  I have sewn about 2 1/2 feet of it now.

I have been rewatching Outlander from the start to keep me amused.  I sped up through the bit where Jamie is flogged though.  Looking at her gorgeous wedding dress, I really don't know how it stayed up.  It must have been glued in place!! It's nice to get lost in history, and forget about the current world worries.  Though, to be said, it was so good to see Trump starting to get his comeuppance . . .

I have tried to keep the heating off most of the day.  I had it on for an hour and a half first thing, then half an hour at lunchtime.  Alfie was looking cold though so I made him up the small hotty botty which I put under the quilt on the sofa where he was.  He snuggled up onto that.  Pippi was snuggled beside me and if she'd had her way, would have been inside the quilts as usual.   It's 15.3 deg in the kitchen, not warm - not quite 60 deg. Fahrenheit, so I will put the heating back on shortly.

I filled up with diesel on Monday, but prices haven't gone up yet.  Perhaps the situation with  America v. Iran will now calm down a bit and prices may even drop.  We are ALL paying for that war.  If only this Government would stop trying to destroy farmers and destroy farmland, for we are getting into dangerous territory.

Right, back to Outlander and the quilts.  

Jigsaws and hexagons

 Well, I have had a couple of sales on Ebay, one on Marketplace.  Some bod queried about a chair and then asked was I going to be selling anything else, so I sent him photos of half a dozen items.  Total value of items over £1200.  He offered a thousand pounds less.  Do I LOOK gaga?!  I am meeting up in town later in the week with a lady who is interested in my spinning wheel, so hopefully that will be a sale and a nice chunk of money to my stash.

I had a looong day yesterday, an early start - out of the house by 7, and got back gone 7 in the evening.  I absolutely HATED the drive back over the mountains in the dark, as I don't know the road that well and it is so bendy and hilly, and headlights in your eyes.  I am sure the cars behind me when I got close to Llangurig were delighted when I pulled into a layby to let them pass me as I had been going steady.  Rosie was a joy, and in eating mode once again.  She was full of beans, and missed out a daytime nap but still wasn't ready for bed until 9 pm.  I nearly beat her to it, I was so tired.  Had to de-stress first though.

My friend Pam in Carms gave me a charming 300 piece jigsaw to do - quick to make up but not SO quick as it had small words on it so had to work on those.    It has fired me to want to do another and I got a couple down in the charity shops in town this morning.

I don't know why it turns them sideways when I have taken them right way up.  Gives you an idea anyway.  Bottom one is the done one.

I am planning to rest up later and start sewing together the two patchwork (hexagon) edges of two single quilts I bought at auction, which were rendered uninteresting because they were singles with a valence border of fabric - very antiquated!  They will go to the last Fair of the year as a very generous colourful king size quilt.  This is one of them, below.  Very vintage 60s/70s.

Anyway, still weary as a weary thing today, so am going to make myself a cuppa and go into the living room and festoon myself in hexagons!

Autumn colours on the Canal. Come for an even better walk!

 I asked friend Pam if she wanted to come along today, and she did, so we went to check out the Vintage/Antique/Collectibles Fair, and it was, shall we say, pretty much as I expected.  Not worth the effort for me.  I bought a couple of pieces of very old Cypriot copper, one is a beaten copper bowl, deep red with age. The other a little mug, with character.

Some lovely paintings in the window of the Ardent Gallery (building circa 1579 I believe).  The top one was my favourite.

This used to be my Bank, back in the day.  Never really noticed the Cupola on the top before.

After walking round the town, and a bite to eat and drink at Gregg's, we headed off towards the canal.  We had an absolutely lovely walk - it was really quite warm by the canal (town felt quite cold, as it always seems to feel colder than where you set out from) and we walked for an hour, taking in the colours, and the scenery, and saying hello to the many people, like us, out for a walk.  Fox (Pam's dog) thought it was wonderful too.

Mallards, in tens and nines.  It was roughly two drakes to every duck.

Those sherbert yellows were amazing.  There were a couple of these little pleasure hire boats out on the canal.

Reflections.

What I was trying to capture in these two reflections was the sort of visual refraction of the water, which had broken up into horizontal stripes across the canal.  It was fascinating to see, but I needed a camera better than the one on my phone. The 2nd photo shows it better.

We walked and walked and really didn't want to turn around and come back, but needs must.  It was such a magical walk, the sunshine and the colours, and the countryside - just absolutely lovely and we both really benefitted from being out.  We forgot all our troubles and the worlds' troubles and it just felt good to be alive.

Come for a walk . . .

 

As you can see, I got out for some fresh air today.  The courier for the parcel of carved wood panelling arrived just after 10.  I woke early and was out emptying the car, slowly, and now have everything put away bar the bookcase, which is just a bit too heavy for me to manage on my own.  Will get some help over the weekend.

I took myself to task, and began listing things on Ebay and Marketplace.  I have decided my spinning wheel has to go, and that is on Ebay now.  Hopefully it will sell, as it was completely overhauled and serviced back in June.  I've taken photos of a vintage Maasai beaded fly whisk, which is going on in the morning.  On Marketplace, I have put the "Grandfather" Windsor chair which has been here far too long.  I don't need it, and even at a giveaway price it hasn't sold at the Unit.  I've also listed the Indo-Persian tray (a really pretty one) I have had some years now (we moved with it).

I will do some book listings over the weekend too, and try to pass on Keith's scarcely-opened set of militaria books on German WWII daggers, and other collectable books he had.  I will sell what I can and then get my book-seller friend to come and offer on some of the others I no longer need.

It was a lovely day for a walk (the old railway line).  I was down to a 3/4 sleeve t-shirt after I'd gone half a mile.

Greatly enjoying the latest JD Kirk, Stateside.  It's making me laugh on just about every page, which is a positive.  Nicely distracted over on Instagram by a young couple who have gone to live on Bardsey Island (wardens I assume) - baptism of fire as storms Austen and Boelo arrived within hours of them landing and getting in the farmhouse.

This vibrant leaves are the Guelder Rose and its berries.  SO pretty.

I may give myself a run over to Brecon tomorrow, to check out the Vintage, Antiques and Collectables market and see if it's worth doing to try and get rid of oldest pre-Covid things.  I want to empty the Library as much as possible and get rid of two bookshelves too (one is HUGE, used to be a wardrobe).  I was chatting to a friend in Dorset who has a wonderful social life, always going on interesting coach trips.  None of those round here - I'd have to be in Cardiff or Swansea I think.

I used to know what this little purple flower was - one of the Geranium tribe I think.  I am being too lazy to get one of my botanical books . . .

Right, this won't do.  Time to do a bit more stitching.

Just as well . . .

 . . . that I decided to knock the Unit on the head.  Last month I sold just two things, so took home £40.50.  It cost me £30 in fuel to go and pack it all away in the car and bring it home.  Rent was £150 a month, so I will draw a line under that and move on.  I have decided to list furniture items on Marketplace and see if I can make a bit of much-needed room.  I have also decided to call out my book-dealer friend and see what he will give me for surplus books, some of them Keith's militaria ones, some collectible ones virtually brand new and scarcely touched as they were gifts in the last few years of his life.  I will give some a try on Ebay and Marketplace first.

I did a bit of shopping on the way there.  I stopped at Chris Thomas's and got two giant cucumbers £1.20 each, a big cauliflower £1.50 (big for me anyway, for the same price I could have had one twice the size) and 3 big easy peelers for £1.  The photos of good produce (OK some imported as not many Mango or Pineapple farms round here) are a positive in the current world where it looks like farms world-wide are going to be destroyed/covered over with solar or wind "farms" and data centres and meat is going to be grown in the lab . . .

Then on to Tesco for Trail Mix, peanuts, toothpaste and mixed wild and LG rice.

I am feeling very worried and depressed by - and trying not to read - posts about Data Centres and how they seem to be going up regardless of any environmental worries/considerations (to put it mildly).  All of a sudden the reason for the bun-fight over wrecking the countryside from Land's End to John O'Groats with gigantic windfarms and pylons is all making sense as clearly this will be to feed the maws of the Data Centres.  Us lesser mortals have no say in the matter as it is clearly a done deal long before we ever got a sniff about it, let alone having our noses rubbed in it.  I don't really want to live in a world like this, and nor does anyone else I should think.  But money - American money and power that is - speaks.  

I think I will go for a long walk tomorrow to try and clear my head of negativity.

Rainbows

 I am back to just having the cats for company now.  Rosie has been exhausted today and they left mid-afternoon as the Tesco delivery was going to be early. I should think she is glad to be back home again.  She fell asleep on Tam's lap earlier, as she was so tired.  Tamzin is exhausted. I feel pretty weary too, from the worry and having a house-full to cook for again, though Rosie wasn't really in much of an eating mood.

I managed to get a short walk in, but of course I'd hardly gone 100 yards before it began to rain.  Hence I was only out for half an hour or so.  It was good to get some fresh air though.

Sunshine, showers and rainbows throughout the walk.

You can just about make out the shape of the church beneath those power lines crossing the picture.

DId I mention I had sold some carved pieces of wood on Facebook Marketplace but they were being Couriered rather than picked up locally?  I had wrapped them up in a very unflattering shape box as it wasn't long enough for the 2 rectangular pieces to lay flat.  Then I found out that the Courier wanted two layers of cardboard around the contents.  I got another box from town, but it looked even worse after I had used half a roll of sticky brown tape to beat it into submission.  The more I thought about it on my walk, the more I could hear Keith telling me I had made a proper lash-up of THAT job, so when Tam & co went home, I took the scissors to the brown tape, moved a box full of Pam's cooking apples into a Bag for Life, and got the wooden pieces packaged, lieing FLAT, and taped with the other half of the sticky brown tape.  Goodness, I felt like I had done a couple of rounds with Cassius Clay. . .

I have had a phonecall from chap who has the shop my Unit is in.  When am I clearing it?  Thursday . . .  He has someone new going in on Monday.  Good luck to 'em.

I am going to spend tomorrow taking photos and listing furniture type things on Marketplace, and then some of my old stock to try and clear it.  I am very disenchanted with Fairs etc at present . . .

I have just started reading one of the most recent J D Kirk books, Stateside, which is keeping me amused.  I read his Duty of Care over the weekend.

Thank you for all your kind comments.  Off to stitch and watch tv now.