A brilliant day out - Malvlern Flea AND a fabulous church

 Well, what a difference a day makes.  Yesterday my friend Pam and I headed off to Malvern at first Sparrow's fa*t.  We are taking it in turns to be the driver, so went in her car and I got to look at the scenery for a change.  We separated when we got there as she wanted to have a slow walk round looking for things she needed for her bungalow as she is planning redecorating and revamping several rooms - and she knows I like to whizz round, looking for bargains.  It worked well.

Loved this (and it's a look I could recreate myself here at home) - it would save £799 anyway! A shame I haven't got room for one.

There's always some Taxidermy . . .

Two tables of a fabulous array of old horse brasses, some on martingales, some not.  I loved the brass-front breeching strap at the back.  I've not seen one of those before.  I did actually buy a couple of small martingales and old brasses from another stall, to hang in the hall on the stable partition, and some crotal bells from this stall.  Photo to follow.

I fell in love with this.  I have often shown you pieces from the Country Style stand in the past.  They are generally in the barns, but in the summer months he said he does better outside. This old barn door has been wonderfully repurposed and I would love it in my kitchen!  Not for everyone I'm sure, but it spoke to me.

This was a sensible price and is JUST what we could put in our kitchen to replace three glazed panels where they have used squared-pattern glass.  It's meant to let light through from the Utility, which it does, but we had been thinking about putting stained glass stick-on panels over the glass to make it look prettier. This window would be much nicer, and we can have one painted to our designs.  He has a couple of sash windows this size left but I think it's too narrow.  I am now wondering if we could just replace the glazing with painted panels which he could do for us? I have his card so will get him to measure up, as we will do here, and then discuss things.  Just one problem - I would like a design similar to this - perhaps with wildflowers though - but Keith wants Saint George and the Dragon!!!  A mixture of the two would not be a good marriage :)  Discussions needed . . .

This is the window which needs improving upon.

Pam modelling a Victorian children's (invalid?) carriage. What a rare find.  

I loved this little watercolour, which was on an entire table full of folios of drawings and lesser art.  They were marked £6.  I'll treat myself I thought, and picked it up. All of a sudden THIS piece was £85 -he shouldn't have put it over there as it was confusing. Well, needless to say, he still has it.  Do I have MUG written across my forehead?

The usual really UNusual finds on our friends' stand in the Avon Hall.  I always love seeing what they have found in their travels.

What a very useful piece, but price too rich for me and again, no room at the inn for it here. A price to make you wince too.

There were quite a few Samplers at this Fair, but this was by far and away the largest - poor Eva M Clarke must have despaired of EVER finishing this.  My goodness, a yard of Sampler to sew and all that bare fabric must have been so daunting at the start and she didn't get to sew some fun things until the very last couple of lines.

I bought a painted piece like this (whose purpose was to cover an empty summer fireplace) with tulips on.  This was more detailed and prettier, but was £75 (and mine was not!)

        So, a great time was had and Pam found just the things she was looking for including a neutral palette rug approaching half an acre in size and just what she needed to cover the green carpet she dislikes, a lovely hall table, cushions etc. at car boot prices too.

        Tomorrow I will share St Margaret's Church with you.  OH WHAT an amazing little church, just so beautiful with an amazing rood screen. I've now got Pam hooked on old churches too!

The Wartime Farm

 Do you remember this programme?   I watched the last 15 minutes or so of the final programme yesterday.  I have the book too - Peter Ginn, Ruth Goodman and Alex Langlands at a lovely unspoilt farm near Hedge End in Hampshire (just outside of Southampton). It brought a big lump to my throat, seeing it, as it's an area we roamed as children - through nearby Cricket Camp, wandering the banks of the River Hamble, on foot and riding our ponies through the woodland.  There were the skeletal remains of Henry V's Grace Dieu buried in the mud the other side of the river from where we roamed. She was the last and largest of his four Great Ships, which were to be used against the French.  We never knew we were so close to such amazing history.

I love this entire series and have the Victorian, Edwardian and Wartime Farms, the Tudor Monastery and the original one which started it off (and the best to my mind) Tales From the Green Valley.  Gosh, I could have moved into that house straight away!  I have DVD's of a couple of them too.   I think I was definitely born out of my true time, as I live in the past.

From what I recall, the old Manor farmhouse didn't look quite as smart as this when we walked past on the footpath to Hedge End and Botley.  It leant itself perfectly for the role of the Wartime Farm though.  We used to walk through to Hedge End (then much smaller - it's like a small town now as there's a huge out-of-town shopping centre there I believe), coming out near the Maypole pub (now a care home).

Near the entrance to Cricket Camp (used in WWII, and then subsequently to provide  accommodation for bombed-out families - my parents and grandparents were there for a while) were wooden cabins, set in 10 acres or so, where "old boys" would still keep a few sheep or pigs, grow soft fruit and a few vegetables, have a small orchard, plough a bit with ancient tractors.  I think these must have been some of the parcels of land sold cheaply to returning soldiers from WW1, like an area near I think it was Duxford I once visited. One of my school friends looked after an old pony (Snowy) kept on one of these near Cricket Camp and we would ride him in the woods there.

    A vivid memory comes back to me of riding Snowy (bareback as ever) beneath a low branch, wearing a new knitted jumper - pale blue it was - and snagging it on a broken branch.  I remember my mum was very cross with me when I got home.  No proper riding clothes then (apart from jods for riding at proper riding stables) - just stretchy nylon trousers with a stirrup of elastic which went under the instep to stop them riding up!

    Just those few minutes of filming took me right back to being 12 or 13 yrs old and walking miles and miles in a day with nothing more than jam sandwiches wrapped in tin foil and just water to drink.  Happy carefree times - no wonder we hanker for them when life puts pressure on us.

Update on Keith today - walking good AND - I nearly fell off my chair - he can TURN much easier.  One turn was almost on his heel!! instead of stuttering fearful inch at a time steps.  Blimey!  

 

Good days and bad days

 . . . it's rained, steadily I think, overnight and the garden has suddenly perked up and my Malvern Hills climber (requested birthday present from our son this year) has suddenly shot up, and more buds to open now.  A cool 14 deg. C today - perfect walking weather.  I can now empty the washing up bowl down the sink, but I will still use most of the water to top up in the garden as the soil will still be so dry and as you can see, the Hollyhocks have been struggling, despite my watering them more than anything in pots in the yard. (I chose NOT to share the bottom foot of dead and yellowing leaves or in another pot, one which has just become totally dessicated.)

We are trying a new tack on the slow-to-work medication now.  Given that dairy products can interfere with the Levodopa take-up, especially milk, we have changed from cow's milk to Almond Milk.  Two days in, Keith found it easier to walk yesterday.  So, we will see how this progresses - it may just be a coincidence and the meds are finally working.  Whichever, K was walking well up and down the kitchen yesterday, on the flat tiles (the yard is covered in large stone chippings and he finds that a difficult surface) so is going to try and increase this daily, along with his "chair squats".  We are still waiting to hear when the Physio is going to come back but perhaps it won't be until they see how well the medication is working. It would be lovely to go and walk in the Groe each day - I miss walking along by the Wye, and seeing the wildlife.

I'll grow these pretty pink Nasturtiums again.  I'll save seed this year.

        One other new thing - K has suddenly changed holding his walking stick from his (good) left hand to his (bad) right hand. Not an intentional decision - he just picked it up with the disabled right hand and is ok using it on that side now.  

    Anyway, my heart goes out to anyone suffering from this horrid disease - effective treatment seems to vary from person to person and it seems so random.  ((HUGS))  

. . . There's a coach trip comin' in!

 A    P.S. at the top!  Forgot to mention that the open urinals in Builth have now been hidden behind some metal fencing with plastic "canvas" over so you can no longer see them in use!  I think there must have been a lot of complaints in the town - I don't think my blog is THAT widely read!!

I had to go to Hereford yesterday, to check out mobility scooters for Keith.  Sadly he was too tired to go, but at least now I knew what we needed, what questions to ask and what have you.  It is all chosen now, so watch this space.

I had promised myself a long slow browse in Doughty's.  I got my knickers in a twist trying to find it as although I'd downloaded the directions to my phone, the Bluetak wouldn't hold the phone in place in front of the car radio, and so I had to lay it down on the seat and couldn't really see it - by the time I got to Hereford and needed directions, the screen was black and there was nowhere I could pull over to check it.   

        I had gone there first, but gone over the  old railway bridge instead of round to the right, and gone round in a big loop, then driven past it as it's set back from the road with understated signage.  Anyway, 2nd time lucky. BUT there was a big coach with some ladies sat in it and glumly I thought, oh heck, the shop is going to be so full of customers, I'll be ages.  Then literally as I opened the car door to get out (and noticed, thankfully, that the coach load of ladies was actually coming OUT of the shop and heading back to the coach) my phone rang.  It was Keith, telling me I needed to get back soonest as a meeting with a "them" (the organizers and doers in caring help) had been brought forward to 3 - 3.30.  It was 1 p.m.  I had to dash.

Photos rather than time to browse.  Some fabulous batiks - a whole room of them in fact.

Other lovely fabrics, but not the colour way I was trying to match . . .

Somehow in moving house I have managed to lose the last pinned-up but un-quilted piece of border.  I've looked everywhere - found everything else, but not that one piece, and of course, no spare fabric other than small scraps in that stippled pattern.  I don't know how I managed that.  I had bought (from Doughtys, the shop I went to yesterday) a couple of metres of a likely-matching colour but it turned out to be slightly too green.

This was a very good match - just slightly too dark, but the linen finish makes it near enough to be used. So I need to crack on with that - it's been a work in progress too long.  I have to say, with Keith's health going downhill any urge to sew or stitch has been drained out of me.

A treat - selected in a minute FLAT! I am amazed they have any tonal link at all!!!  More for my stash at present but I need to get going again - my William Morris heirloom quilt to start with for the next big project, once the previous quilt is done.

        I will be back Doughty's, now I know where you are, and next time I will have a leisurely visit.

            I had planned to visit Abbey Dore in the Golden Valley on the way back - that of course had to be abandoned.  Ah well, such is life.

Out to the Elan Valley

 We decided we needed some fresh air yesterday so after a something-in-a-roll type meal, we set off to Rhayader and the Elan Valley beyond.  Our plumber had been this week to repair (again) the Foul Drain from the bathroom which was once more springing out of the wall and had broken the plastic bracket used to repair it last time (whatever happened to metal ones?)  He mentioned that the two bottom reservoirs at the Elan valley had been drained for repair work and everything which had been hidden beneath the waters (sites of old buildings) were revealed.  "You could walk from one side to the other" he told me.  Unfortunately, that  might have been the case at the end of June/beginning of July, the reservoirs had water in again although pretty low.

The shores looked like the rings on an oyster shell.

No, someone's not pulled the plug again - this was water coming IN from the top reservoir.

We were amazed at the sheer number of caravans and motorhomes parked up for the show in fields along the Rhayader road.  You can't see them from here but they'd have been there all week - hundreds of them.  Then there was the Young People's Campsite further out of the town towards Newbridge-on-Wye.  I can understand why they would prefer to be separate and have a hooley out there - but still not too far to walk into town for a beer or 12!

This morning as I went out for the wheely bin (Tuesday is bin day here), I noticed a hot air balloon taking off from the showground.  I quickly went back to the house for my camera, by which time it was a good way up, and there were two other hot air balloons to the left of it.  We used to see them regularly in Carms.

I wish I could report that Keith's meds have taken off and he is firing on all cylinders, but 2 weeks in with the add-on medication, not much sign of a breakthrough.  Sometimes he walks better - mainly in the mornings - but by teatime any benefit seems to have worn off and last night his mobility was very poor - he could hardly move once he got out of the car, his balance was so poor. Such a worry.  I know yesterday he didn't drink enough so we will put it down to dehydration.  The trouble is, you don't feel thirsty with PD and he is most reluctant to drink the full amount because then he has to get up more often for bathroom visits.

        He was going to come with me to Hereford today, to look at Mobility scooters and try them out but after last night, decided he would be best staying here as he wouldn't be able to walk the other end.  At least it is MUCH cooler today and they have promised rain.  I would like to visit Hereford cathedral again too, and perhaps a church on the way home, but don't like to be away too long.   

Open urinals in Builth?!

I was awake at 4.30 ish this morning - K and I fighting for the sheet!  I grabbed the first one I could find last night and it was fitted - but not fitted  on the bed of course, just loose - and I was getting too warm even that early.  After half an hour or so I got up and was rewarded with the sunrise, and although you can't see it as I saw it then, the sky was pretty red and the sun, through a slight mist, looked red and threatening.

I went down to get the paper early this morning, 7.15 ish and no problems with traffic or parking today.  Because it's Show week, there were a couple of portaloos put up where there are broad steps and a sitting area.  Fair enough - only loos apart from that are down by Eco Chic and The Strand Hall.  Imagine my surprise to see beside them two, ahem, outside urinals for blokes coming out of the pubs at night.  I've never seen the like anywhere, but someone thought it a good idea.  Shapewise they were a bit like a pyramid, and tapered to a point at the top but would accommodate up to 4 blokes at a time with 3 sides in full view of passers by . . . I just I just hope they don't get used during the day as there was  absolutely NO privacy! (For a photo, Google "Outdoor urinals of Charing Cross".  They are clearly in regular use in London!.

        Another day where we will be doing very little.  I shall continue - very slowly! - with my x-stitch.  Gosh, so many changes of colour, literally every other stitch, so I can only do little runs of 3 or 4 stitches and count to where the next insert is.  This is the Widdicombe scene I bought last year and will be stunning when it's done.

        21 deg. C here now (it was 32 at highest yesterday).  The forecast showed the Red Alert area to be the Midlands, South and East and we were to be cooler with cloud and possible showers.  Tomorrow is MUCH cooler - thank heavens!

The Royal Welsh Show

Viewed from our garden:  This is just parking and accommodation for a few of the competitors and trade-stand holders.  It will fill up as the week goes on - the show runs Monday - Thursday. The main parking is on farmer's flat fields out of the town, with the grassy fields in the Groe area also being put into use.  There were a few tents and mobile homes beside the A483 when I went to Cilmeri station to pick up Danny on Saturday, doubtless much added to now.

HERE 1

and

HERE 2

show you what you're missing. Wednesday is THE day to be there, as the Welsh Cobs will be shown in the main ring, and they are something else.  Gosh, to see them hurtling round the ring, power unleashed, trotting at 16 mph with their handlers running in trainers (plimsoles in the good old days), is an experience not to be missed.  There are always some photos to be found if you do a Google search. I used to go on the Tuesday, which was Arab day, when I had my Arab Fahly.  Just to watch, not to show him there, although he had been shown there by the lady I bought him from.

        I'm glad I'm not down there - it's a natural amphitheatre and in a heatwave, NOT a good place to be, plus it'll be Covid-central, that's for sure. It was bad enough trying to get into town to collect Keith's prescription this morning - the one way system was even more one-way as they'd blocked off the roads that cross the town and I ended up going round the block a 2nd time and parking right out near the Police Station.  So I got my exercise early.

        Meanwhile, my wild paddocks are in full bloom:

        Much work to be done once it's cooler, obviously, but that's work for the gardener that Pam uses - basic lawn cutting and strimming he does.

        Well, as soon as it's cooled down we have to go to Hereford again to look at and be advised on Mobility Scooters, and the sort Keith needs to go to Fairs but is still able to be lifted into the car via ramp/hoist.  

        I am going to spend this hot weather trying to keep cool with iced water, and reading spaced with getting back to my x-stitch.  

        Keep cool.