Wednesday 27 March 2024

Time Travelling

On our way to Mr. Straw's house the Mr and I popped along to take a look at Clumber Park. It is a 3,800 acre estate set within Sherwood Forest. For over three hundred years it was the country estate of the Dukes of Newcastle, now looked after by The National Trust. Sadly no trace of their house remains, it was taken down in 1938. But the parkland and especially the huge glasshouse were an absolute joy to visit. The weather wasn't being very kind whilst we were there but we will visit again when the sun is shining and picnic in hand we will explore the rest of the parkland. Of course the rain couldn't put a dampener on our visit to Endcliffe Villa, the house of the Straw family. The house itself told the story of the simple and contented lives that were led there through much of the 20th century. It was a strangely moving experience, I could feel deeply the humbleness and quietness of the family that had lived there and may still be there? The family didn't live a 'big' or worldly life but I could feel the richness of their experiences. Simple, hard working and ethical folk who lived their lives well. Wish that we could all say that.

Wednesday 20 March 2024

I'm Stepping Back in Time

Tomorrow the Mr and I are stepping back in time to the 1920s with a visit to Mr Straw's house. I've been meaning to visit for years but have never managed to get there. It is owned by the NT and is not open very often, add the fact they only let 4 people in at a time you can understand why. We had planned to go to the Victorian Radicals exhibition in Birmingham, but I couldn't face the journey and the trials of spaghetti junction, so Nottingham it is.

Monday 18 March 2024

Real People Real Times

Hello blogging chums, it has been a while. A horrible bout of ill health, now under control has prevailed, it mysteriously took my blogging mojo with it. Today though I saw a little film of Steve Harley singing in 1975. It reminded me that I am a very lucky person to have lived through that era, when people were all individuals making their own kind of music and developing their own sense of style. Real people in real times. Sad that he has passed.

Monday 19 February 2024

Just Saying

New collection gold TWP coat. I had EXACTLY the same coat as this in 1975, I wore it with a rich dark brown Kangol cap. I would put all my hair into the cap and make a big display and flourish when I removed the hat. What it is to be young eh?

Monday 12 February 2024

A Trip To Norfolk

<
The Mr and I have just spent a few wonderful days in Norfolk. The sea air was bracing, the nosh delicious and our little rental cottage a delight. We saw many creatures on our travels around the country lanes including a tiny Munjac deer no bigger than a rabbit, peacocks three at once, horses, goats and hundreds of piggies all out in the fresh air. If we ever needed convincing of our next move, we surely don't now. Our house will be on the market in a couple of weeks and we hope to make a move to Norfolk asap. I really can't wait to live by the sea again.

Sunday 28 January 2024

Box Love

I had a couple of lovely homeware deliveries this week. Morgana Mittens loved all the boxes.
She could barely fit in the small one but she was determined to hunker down in it.

Sunday 21 January 2024

A Mindfullness De-clutter

I have been 'at it again'. Decluttering that is, selling, gifting and recycling. Because we hope to be moving this year I have been quite brutal in letting go off stuff I have had around me for years. It's always that feeling of, I'll hang on to that just in case. But no, I have taken bags of paper and cardboard items to the recycling centre, including very nice work references that go all the way back to my first jobs. My wedding cards and old anniversary cards, all gone. I have donated home wares and tons of books to various local charity shops, who I have to say have been very grateful for my donations. I hope they will be just as happy to receive about 200 CD's tomorrow, I did mention I'm being ruthless? It feels good!! I also Freegled my hand made crochet kimono housecoat which I made last year. I hoped it would go to someone who has had the heating reduced in their home and it did.
I gave it a wash on the wool cycle and it came up beautifully. A lot of people responded but it went to a good home. Yesterday I decided to clear out my herb and spice drawer. My goodness what a lot of out dated spices and herbs. Juniper berries BB 2015, shocking I know.
I've decided that in future I'll buy spice and herb blends, in that way I think they will be used more quickly with less waste. I've put a few things on Ebay and Marketplace and hopefully they will sell and pay for my latest 'must have'. I've ordered an Hotel Chocolat Velvetiser, a Valentine's present for the Mr and I. It's made by Dualit so I know it is good quality and will last, our Dualit toaster has been going for twenty three years.
I joined their VIP list, (for free) and got a £30 discount, plus £7.00 off their chocolate flakes. Very exciting. Anyone else decluttering?

Wednesday 10 January 2024

How Does Your Trendy Garden Grow?

The Garden Museum in Lambeth Palace Road, London SE1 is next door to Lambeth Palace itself, overlooking the Thames. The Museum has been on my radar for quite some time and I enjoy receiving their newsletters, as they are usually full of tasty arty horticultural titbits. Just recently I learned that the museum has been gifted a very interesting dwelling, by The Pinchbeck Chritable Trust, Benton End in Suffolk.
Cedric Morris and his partner Arthur Lett Haines set up the East Anglian School of Painting and Drawing at Benton End in 1939 and in some form it remained open to students until Arthur died in 1978. Most famously Lucien Freud and Maggi Hambling 'trained' there when they were both still teenagers. It seems everybody that has had an association with the school has been dusted with a little bit of starlight. Cedric Morris is viewed as a very important figure in the worlds of both art and horticulture. His bohemian methods of teaching are reflected in his own paintings. He was mad about Irises and frequently painted them. I first heard about Morris through the art dealer Philip Mould who is a big fan, Philip is also on the board of trustees at Benton End. Plans are afoot to open the house and gardens at Benton End to the public, they hope the walled garden will open in 2026. I think it will be a really special place. In the meantime you can visit the Garden Museum and the 10 acre gardens of Lambeth Palace itself which were founded in 1197. Check the opening times before you go though as the gardens have resricted opening times.
Credit, photo of Benton End, Matt Collins. Cedric Morris self portrait, NPG. Cedric Morris both flower paintings.

Sunday 31 December 2023

2024 Is Upon Us

I'd like to wish you all a very happy new year full of vim and verve. A new year chock to the brim with joy. New beginnings and fresh undertakings. Thank you for pressing the follow button so I can see who is listening to my musings and ramblings, that includes my latest follower Jules, a warm welcome to you. May we all continue to engage, entertain and support all of our wonderful blogging chums. I shall raise a glass to my blogging community folk tonight. Cheers.

Time Travelling

On our way to Mr. Straw's house the Mr and I popped along to take a look at Clumber Park. It is a 3,800 acre estate set within Sh...