tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5942364356067391752024-03-13T23:13:12.008-07:00StreetcomberStreetcomberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05029151833679911644noreply@blogger.comBlogger526125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-594236435606739175.post-43525895055107259562015-12-28T00:11:00.001-08:002015-12-28T00:11:06.402-08:00After Christmas<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I love the quiet days between Christmas and New Year. I'm lucky enough not to be working this week. A friend is staying for a few days and we're walking, cooking and chatting. The family are home. A busy full time job starts on January 4 so I am relishing these relaxed moments.<br />
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The garden is still growing as it's been so warm. I cut the grass a couple of days before Christmas. Nothing seems to be hibernating, there are small green shoots everywhere. My bulbs are through.<br />
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2016 is going to be the year that I try to make an impression on our garden. I have lots of plans for it.<br />
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I hope to add to my sketch books and do some more printing.<br />
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But mostly I'll be adjusting to a new routine. Luckily my office is only 15 minutes from my home across some country roads, so my commute won't be stressful.<br />
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Wishing everyone a happy and peaceful New Year.<br />
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<br />Streetcomberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05029151833679911644noreply@blogger.com68tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-594236435606739175.post-20324436476487554052015-10-16T08:30:00.004-07:002015-10-16T08:30:54.007-07:00Inspired by autumn: leaf prints<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #b45f06;">I've had a few weeks away from my office job, so it's given me a breathing space and chance to do some printing. It all started when I picked up some leaves and put them in a leaf press which my son bought me last Christmas. I became quite fascinated by them. This year, the colours seem especially beautiful and intense. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #b45f06;">For the first prints, I just inked the leaves with printing ink which I buy from my local art shop or from Great Art Supplies online. It was trickier than I thought it would be. Too much ink is the problem, it needs to be a thin coating so you can see the veins and patterns.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS6sqqQp3IAMtoUf0ye7drtvDaF_PG0VaAimrcKerB7sMPW30iR2K7GvgzTMk7bGSgohVGXN_zOuvqZbCkzxyPu5BAeRKdldYB4ZCQvW9A2MRe2PcQp0riPGXbwvpsVsTM11iADD6QJ6l6/s1600/IMG_6767.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS6sqqQp3IAMtoUf0ye7drtvDaF_PG0VaAimrcKerB7sMPW30iR2K7GvgzTMk7bGSgohVGXN_zOuvqZbCkzxyPu5BAeRKdldYB4ZCQvW9A2MRe2PcQp0riPGXbwvpsVsTM11iADD6QJ6l6/s640/IMG_6767.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06;">Then I decided that I would do a lino cut print. I figured that leaves should be straightforward. Well, no, they weren't! The first effort was a disaster, I didn't dig out the lino deep enough and the result was no good. So, I had another try.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcaCbibgcjohyphenhyphentT9HOrOED9lUM_grTuuAJWXBvBO4SZXrK83u3bOC5XElqotqwUNi037lBSIXWuk1918u5h28DHxeH8gkcq2k3rk9CUMko8pUHEbtIEb2MRHvzE0yRE4DsE958DglZ1iKV/s1600/DSC_0573.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcaCbibgcjohyphenhyphentT9HOrOED9lUM_grTuuAJWXBvBO4SZXrK83u3bOC5XElqotqwUNi037lBSIXWuk1918u5h28DHxeH8gkcq2k3rk9CUMko8pUHEbtIEb2MRHvzE0yRE4DsE958DglZ1iKV/s640/DSC_0573.jpg" width="506" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06;">Here is my basic kit. Some cutters given to me by my Dad, white cartridge paper (Tiger's is good value and good quality) and some block printing ink. I use a glass panel on which to squeeze the ink, and a small roller to spread it evenly over the lino. I then place the paper on the top of the lino and smooth it down firmly using the back of a spoon. (that was an invaluable tip I got from doing James Green's excellent course in Sheffield earlier this year, see earlier post for details). </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDU7avTIUbOmiewM6g1Q0L-6iW-IpxpDJT5QFp_20XKkmgUFYsSHnJzq-kOnGT8NDGNuWG3iZdNg1wXPpDzMoxGB-nCpn09T2g7qRpkdys7XKP7MP0MXM9nF0p1LY8h2sKiDXEguB1loME/s1600/IMG_6877.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDU7avTIUbOmiewM6g1Q0L-6iW-IpxpDJT5QFp_20XKkmgUFYsSHnJzq-kOnGT8NDGNuWG3iZdNg1wXPpDzMoxGB-nCpn09T2g7qRpkdys7XKP7MP0MXM9nF0p1LY8h2sKiDXEguB1loME/s640/IMG_6877.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06;">My lino block is at the top of this picture, and I've displayed it on an article in one of Country Living's early bookazines, which gave me the idea for my design, along with this beautiful shot from the current issue of LandScape (I am a contributor and I love the magazine too!).</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Riq5UgHy-1KajXQaBQD9_1NJrbrKZcO8bMVndvU8H4wOIsIVXFBGPZOnH29FtHMo2isg1HWOKHwY1j-HeAIcKALMDdtT1wRQzkORnC8VUfiwt0AYXIlYHcyyFGUZ8BH_WkJRf0PAy-yz/s1600/IMG_6872.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Riq5UgHy-1KajXQaBQD9_1NJrbrKZcO8bMVndvU8H4wOIsIVXFBGPZOnH29FtHMo2isg1HWOKHwY1j-HeAIcKALMDdtT1wRQzkORnC8VUfiwt0AYXIlYHcyyFGUZ8BH_WkJRf0PAy-yz/s640/IMG_6872.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06;">I was quite pleased with the results, but not bowled over. Too much ink is always the problem. I had various tries.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2-A6VEWCN40BLUUtLL5e2QRaPoXd1zWQMk6Agb_dnc7Vwubfhpf1E5yKakXAbHUW6uUxLWSktj2IJ8DX81lJOuWGfaqvH0XlAOLDnyKh1DsQcVQlng_yLkH_aLy0V6_E_lYNarZCh4Ojb/s1600/IMG_6876.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2-A6VEWCN40BLUUtLL5e2QRaPoXd1zWQMk6Agb_dnc7Vwubfhpf1E5yKakXAbHUW6uUxLWSktj2IJ8DX81lJOuWGfaqvH0XlAOLDnyKh1DsQcVQlng_yLkH_aLy0V6_E_lYNarZCh4Ojb/s640/IMG_6876.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06;">I was just about to put everything away and wash my roller and glass when I thought I would just use up the leftover ink on a piece of linen. I've tried fabric printing before and really enjoy it. </span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06;">It worked! I was really pleased and I do prefer this to the paper prints.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4kqmQGjPPFeigV8y3Gk-wx8w7y8FfPVjJbPwCP_AmA1Ea442ZztY6la9PiTvWWbUGyGnltQ1g0u-k7p3ymYX-qd6Py1omwcPqRnjGSSxjZZJwaSiWohmKmFOC3L8736hae8N3rgiQaFQa/s1600/IMG_6878.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4kqmQGjPPFeigV8y3Gk-wx8w7y8FfPVjJbPwCP_AmA1Ea442ZztY6la9PiTvWWbUGyGnltQ1g0u-k7p3ymYX-qd6Py1omwcPqRnjGSSxjZZJwaSiWohmKmFOC3L8736hae8N3rgiQaFQa/s640/IMG_6878.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06;">And here:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJx4COn0-uUi_fP8GYOdVAM739aG47L0MqjQm7FZU58tqojVLmK7ClwerpC7u-1vRvEJsJFDZ4ldmP75Q0FKsd1XjMfd91TVkM-yjAM9HWgaPEp0UX4h0Sg0qP8_WzpOxYndKxx4wYubLf/s1600/IMG_6887.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJx4COn0-uUi_fP8GYOdVAM739aG47L0MqjQm7FZU58tqojVLmK7ClwerpC7u-1vRvEJsJFDZ4ldmP75Q0FKsd1XjMfd91TVkM-yjAM9HWgaPEp0UX4h0Sg0qP8_WzpOxYndKxx4wYubLf/s640/IMG_6887.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06;">It's purely decorative as the ink is water based, but I might try some fabric ink next time. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #b45f06;">I really recommend lino cutting. It's relatively inexpensive, and there are so many techniques to try. You can trace on a drawing if you don't feel comfortable doing it freehand. It's also incredibly relaxing because although it takes concentration, you can't think about anything else at all. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #b45f06;">Thanks for visiting my blog. I'm also on Instagram, but try to post here about once a month or so. </span></div>
Streetcomberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05029151833679911644noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-594236435606739175.post-59287650421848929812015-09-14T04:20:00.001-07:002015-09-30T13:55:10.262-07:00A B&Q she-shed!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpXyKHDhdYAZO4woLhjxzqovE205-PO5fJca4_Q4vf-22TOahFu7xKeiME2n8zq_qObwL1y-LasVJnSjm2efpxkxODQed2S8SrHggY7djwb8-htlT-ye4y89OkNItkAIFfXRKyQ7sQ_z2h/s1600/IMG_6549.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpXyKHDhdYAZO4woLhjxzqovE205-PO5fJca4_Q4vf-22TOahFu7xKeiME2n8zq_qObwL1y-LasVJnSjm2efpxkxODQed2S8SrHggY7djwb8-htlT-ye4y89OkNItkAIFfXRKyQ7sQ_z2h/s640/IMG_6549.jpg" width="580" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">For some time now we've had tumbledown shed in our garden. It was here when we moved in 19 years ago, and somehow we've never had the time or money to do anything about it. But things became critical when the shed started to sag alarmingly, and our neighbour made it clear that the ivy cascading over the roof into their garden was becoming annoying. Time to act. Here is the 'before' shot....</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;">After a long trawl online, I'd found a replacement at B&Q. I chose this one mainly because of the log store, and the fact that it's the same size as the existing shed, so we wouldn't have to build a new base for it. For the princely sum of £212, it arrived within two days of ordering. </span><br />
<span style="color: blue;">I asked the friend of a friend to build the shed for me, as I knew the instructions would defeat me. He fitted it in between other jobs and the shed quickly took shape.</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;">It's an unattractive part of the garden with an oil tank, shady areas, and a not so nice fence, so I wanted the shed to look as good as a shed can. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIhOmd9uLCOZNf9WPt8AnEl_DEMBfNYHYgw7JzOd1G85HJF3v0dj5-6-S4ttBpAI8-DCNHBWdA7QCAqymykwFHwtKBQoGdmnjl5XZMULyA8BCtFCTiJwwb-bAfJY48h57KlK-w5cIKvTQi/s1600/IMG_6515.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIhOmd9uLCOZNf9WPt8AnEl_DEMBfNYHYgw7JzOd1G85HJF3v0dj5-6-S4ttBpAI8-DCNHBWdA7QCAqymykwFHwtKBQoGdmnjl5XZMULyA8BCtFCTiJwwb-bAfJY48h57KlK-w5cIKvTQi/s640/IMG_6515.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">A lick of paint helps - so many to choose from, but in the end I went for a Homebase French gray.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrtC_zGW_WEkb7omthi7XgtP1FnNwyZc-iXlABuRkEzw-2LUBNYaNjxHqvfw4NxIyPsozVSpyjHNCU5GeR1kXoqQtRtpFUIHfDuKOEp90jZTIok9jvYYmQPFdQARdoK1DiOcKpgQE_O92C/s1600/IMG_6540.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrtC_zGW_WEkb7omthi7XgtP1FnNwyZc-iXlABuRkEzw-2LUBNYaNjxHqvfw4NxIyPsozVSpyjHNCU5GeR1kXoqQtRtpFUIHfDuKOEp90jZTIok9jvYYmQPFdQARdoK1DiOcKpgQE_O92C/s640/IMG_6540.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">Then it was time to add some decorations. I used this beautiful plasma cut rusty wreath from my friend, artist Jeni Cairns. I found a tiny olive tree at a local market for £5 and potted it in an old dolly tub which I bought at a car boot sale last year for a tenner. A vintage 'Auction' </span><span style="color: blue; text-align: center;">sign from the US was the final touch. We've made a little stone path to the door, and re-seeded the grass around the edges. Some plants in pots at the corners, and it does look so much better, and will keep our logs dry for winter. </span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;">I added some succulents for decoration too, as they seem to be pretty much foolproof. </span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;">Unfortunately, there's no electricity inside my shed, or I might move in, just in time for the start of the football season :) </span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;">Have a good week.</span>Streetcomberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05029151833679911644noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-594236435606739175.post-17515895629421084072015-08-11T08:54:00.000-07:002015-08-11T08:54:32.412-07:00New England Summer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXstahE6v0gg3LD9B-7wMqR26SbmvpJAZc1TpLl6pkdcj-tCKgJiF0zjn5QLLLBJdS-QzmNwKKC3lBCcte9OroRs2MsK8Fhk6oSxdwZMrC-XmAU1pFYeEObsqm5Kyt0Xu14okFl_RApF1F/s1600/IMG_6277.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXstahE6v0gg3LD9B-7wMqR26SbmvpJAZc1TpLl6pkdcj-tCKgJiF0zjn5QLLLBJdS-QzmNwKKC3lBCcte9OroRs2MsK8Fhk6oSxdwZMrC-XmAU1pFYeEObsqm5Kyt0Xu14okFl_RApF1F/s640/IMG_6277.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;">We had a wonderful trip to New England, USA. One of the most striking and beautiful things about it are the buildings. We drove from Boston to Vermont, and then to Connecticut and back through Massachusetts, and everywhere we saw these amazing clapboard houses. Some are grand, some are small, some are pristine and some are scruffy, but they all have immense charm. I don't want to bore anyone with tales of a family holiday, but I did think that a tour of some of the beautiful buildings might be of interest. So here we go. This house was in Stonington, Connecticut, and came at the end of our trip. This is an old whaling port. It is now rather a quietly upmarket seaside town, I suspect that lots of these houses are second homes for some very lucky people. The high street was also very charming. I loved the jaunty colours everywhere.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;">Grey and lavender works a treat here.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;">Stonington's quaint high street. We stopped in a cafe with a view over the harbour and had lobster sandwiches and iced lemonade. Lobster isn't the luxury item it is here, as it is the local catch, so we were able to have it a few times and it was delicious.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;">We noticed how patriotic the majority of residents seem to be. There were stars and stripes everywhere!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;">This converted Baptist church was especially beautiful. When I was taking the photo, a man was walking back from the beach with a towel over his shoulders. "I should charge you for that picture," he joked. "Do you live here?" I asked. He said he did. "You are very lucky," I said. "I know," he replied. "It has been in my family for 50 years. The master bedroom is at the top of that tower, the sides are open, and we're woken every morning by the dawn light." At this point I probably turned 50 shades of green. I should have asked him if he ever needed a house sitter. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;">Essence of a holiday....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;">Rustic decorations outside an antiques shop.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;">Up in Vermont, things look a little different. There are lots of red barns, rust coloured wood and cladding. This little dairy bar at Arlington is 62 years old, according to the owner. We loved it. After a day of swimming in Shaftesbury lake, we came here for fried chicken and homemade potato salad. Nothing tastes as good on a hot day cooled by the fresh water.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;">The covered bridges are a special feature of Vermont. They're built like this to be more weather resistant. Despite the shimmeringly hot summers, winter is long and cold. Does anyone remember a cheesy film called The Bridges of Madison County with Meryl Streep and I think Clint Eastwood? I am sure they used to hook up in a bridge like this but I can't remember where it was set. Anyway, no Clint here, in fact the place was deserted. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;">The Blue Benn diner is in the town of Bennington, where we stayed for five days. It's a converted rail carriage, serving fantastic breakfasts. I recommend the pancakes with Vermont maple syrup or the French toast. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;">Bennington splits into many parts. We stayed in the village area, which is quite a mixture of houses, shops, restaurants etc. Up on the hill is Old Bennington with many colonial style houses, built by the folk who made their fortunes in the pottery trade. This is the First Church, up in the old town. I walked up here one day when Perry and Carey had gone on an overnight hike, and I was the only pedestrian. Nobody seems to walk anywhere. It was quite ghostly padding around these gigantic houses. And none was more spooky than this.....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;">It was the only derelict building for miles. I was snapping away, when I saw a movement at the window, and I realised that it was inhabited. I was out of there in a nanosecond, knees knocking. I had a sudden image of ending up in the basement...</span><br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;">This was an aerial view of Old Bennington, taken from the top of the war memorial.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;">This was a special place. The poet Robert Frost lived here and wrote some of his most famous poems in the farmhouse, which we visited. It's still set out as a home, although there were rather a lot of 'do not touch' signs everywhere which I thought was a shame. I am sure visitors would respect the space.</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">My 17 year old son, had, by this time, had enough of historical homes. He stayed in the car. But I loved this place very much.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;">By contrast, this is our little motel room in Bennington. We chose very modest accommodation to make the trip affordable, and this was really cute. Run by a lovely couple, Al and Annie, who come to Vermont each summer to work in the motel. They spend their winters resting on an island in Florida Keys. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;">Here we are in grandeur again. This is Harvard. While we were staying in Boston, we took the metro, or 'T' to see the university. I grew up with the movie Love Story, which was set here, and I've always wanted to see it. It was very beautiful, and very, very busy with tourists. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;">And this is on the route of Boston's Freedom Trail. We did a very long walk following the Trail to see some of the city's most important historical places (and soon realising that we did not know our American history very well at all). There were so many beautiful buildings, and Boston is a lively and flourishing city.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;">Here it is seen from the water. We were on a whale watching trip, which was one of the highlights of our holiday. It was amazing to see the city from a different perspective.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;">Hope you enjoyed the whirlwind tour of some of New England's sights and stunning buildings. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><br /></span>Streetcomberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05029151833679911644noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-594236435606739175.post-90977491583160705632015-06-21T14:25:00.000-07:002015-06-21T14:26:31.775-07:00Summer home and away<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">The rhythm of my days has changed, for a short time at least. I've started working in a magazine office for three days a week for the next couple of months. It's my first time in an office for 20 years, so I am still getting used to the change. I take a packed lunch. I rush out of the house in the mornings looking vaguely presentable, I have set hours and sit at my computer all day without jumping up to put the washing out or nip down to the post office....it's very different. With one son away, and the other now 17 and very independent, it seemed like the right time to take up the offer which was made to me.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">I continue to edit the local magazine, so my days are choc a bloc now. But there have been plenty of opportunities to get out and about. We spent a lovely weekend in Norfolk last weekend, and yesterday I went to a traditional village fete in the neighbouring county of Rutland. Actually, to be strictly accurate, the village is in Northamptonshire, a few metres away from the Rutland border (someone kindly pointed this out to me on Twitter :))</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">This was a proper old fashioned fete with a brass band playing, cream teas, plant and cake stall, books, bric a brac and a Tombola. It was drizzling when I arrived, but the sun soon came out and the cagoules came off. We sat in the sun on a garden bench and ate our scones and drank tea. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Harringworth is the village, and it is famous for this rather wonderful viaduct.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">It is such a rural county. There is no McDonalds in Rutland - or any other fast food chains! I felt as if I had stepped back in time. I soon had some company on my stroll. These ladies had squeezed out of their field and began to follow me. The pied piper of chickens, that's me.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Once they realised I had no food, they lost interest, but they did keep me company for some way!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">We also had a great weekend away in Norfolk last week. It was a drizzly couple of days, but again, it was still very beautiful. One day we walked over the salt marshes at Thornham to the beach and on the second we did the same, this time at Burnham Overy Staithe. There were so many wildflowers, and so many birds. My Dad was with us and was able to tell us the names of everything we saw. These included a Spoonbill, Egret and Avocet. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">While Dad was spotting birds, I was fascinated by this bank of wildflowers. The others left us way behind! I even spotted some wild lupins.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">It's such a dramatic landscape, like nowhere else.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Loved this little boat.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">And this red one...</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">We walked miles. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">And blew the cobwebs away....</span></div>
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Streetcomberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05029151833679911644noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-594236435606739175.post-29301116719156268792015-06-02T04:46:00.000-07:002015-06-02T08:49:48.524-07:00Early summer days<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">This photo sums up the last few weeks in our area. Unsettled weather, intense sunshine, pouring rain, amazing clouds and colours. I take this back route home from our village shop, and the farmer has just cut a path through the grass. I can hop over the fence into our back garden.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">The first thing I see in the garden is our old plum tree, now dead, but covered in these white clematis flowers. This is one of the first things that I've done in the garden which has actually gone according to plan! It has taken about four years to scramble over the tree, covering it with foliage and flowers. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">In the veg garden we have lots of rhubarb at the moment. I've been stewing it with orange zest, brown sugar and a little water, and serving it with baked ricotta and honey, a recipe I found in my Riverford recipe book. I highly recommend this combination. Last week, I bought English strawberries on the market and added those to the rhubarb before poaching, the flavour was fabulous.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">I am supposedly decluttering (again) and I have managed to move some of my stuff along. But I saw this chipped, crazed old blue and white bowl in Age Concern for £2 on Friday and could not resist it. Despite the high winds and rain, seasonal flowers are everywhere. It's always this time of year when a house in my parents' village puts out bunches of lupins for sale. I look forward to them, as they are such a burst of dramatic colour and shape. When mum rang me to say that she'd seen the lupins and bought me a couple of bunches, I leapt in the car to go and collect them. Lupins don't last long, and they probably look best in the midst of a cottage garden, but I had a go at painting them to preserve the memory. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">I had a lovely couple of hours doing this.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">Incredible shapes and colours.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">Just love this time of year, when even some of the most neglected corners of my garden look almost pretty.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiddBoSIPRCZf50sz7wYaGLxTpd37iD8rmPrx_nv5xMXifg-qxnZKqQshHXF8pmM9L3S1ae_TDA5-Oj5RpjXxDX3Q-pxRGA0AcpnITauJNcgu-H9vEMYhqJrkoOXMLDdjITI6TBQirgu-52/s1600/IMG_5266.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiddBoSIPRCZf50sz7wYaGLxTpd37iD8rmPrx_nv5xMXifg-qxnZKqQshHXF8pmM9L3S1ae_TDA5-Oj5RpjXxDX3Q-pxRGA0AcpnITauJNcgu-H9vEMYhqJrkoOXMLDdjITI6TBQirgu-52/s640/IMG_5266.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">And you can pick a posy from the garden in a few minutes. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span>Streetcomberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05029151833679911644noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-594236435606739175.post-12734715037779451182015-05-19T09:15:00.001-07:002015-05-19T09:15:08.448-07:00Garden Flowers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZI75rbM7CkPaxc9poqGZ-_oPIi4x3BRM7FyP6rBkg-FE9YDQ8e3SzvmgiOSQRn0bbXUnPeJu0L9IRpMluPrB62hx_98-fQNPI8mI2lQJl-CPwmuUtWj3UDAPg67suxX2ug7zhtUayBy6N/s1600/IMG_5192.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZI75rbM7CkPaxc9poqGZ-_oPIi4x3BRM7FyP6rBkg-FE9YDQ8e3SzvmgiOSQRn0bbXUnPeJu0L9IRpMluPrB62hx_98-fQNPI8mI2lQJl-CPwmuUtWj3UDAPg67suxX2ug7zhtUayBy6N/s640/IMG_5192.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">Just as I don't like anything too shiny and bling, I like my flowers simple too. It's lovely at this time of year being able to snip a few stems from the garden. I had a real urge to paint this jar full, but again have struggled to find time. So the other night I stayed up late and went ahead. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">I used my new watercolour paper from Tiger Stores - highly recommended and very economical. I've also mixed in a few of their cheap and cheerful watercolours.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">I was inspired to have a go at this after revisiting a couple of old books in my collection.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6InZLc7xl4Bu-PUxI78RAjyylRRsA_7BqFav3jlgko-QNRYPOmBlpsAo6G1_0RYh6d0FmcUvhgEKM-fM0SFSYTzoMlS6HAYMo5V0ooMRnFlydXxMrKMb6g0IvtbzRBr_AA3hd8TebVfx-/s1600/IMG_5150.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6InZLc7xl4Bu-PUxI78RAjyylRRsA_7BqFav3jlgko-QNRYPOmBlpsAo6G1_0RYh6d0FmcUvhgEKM-fM0SFSYTzoMlS6HAYMo5V0ooMRnFlydXxMrKMb6g0IvtbzRBr_AA3hd8TebVfx-/s640/IMG_5150.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">And this beauty:</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">Swoon. </span>Streetcomberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05029151833679911644noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-594236435606739175.post-43662526908423510102015-05-10T02:11:00.003-07:002015-05-10T06:20:38.284-07:00The beauty of Coton Manor Gardens<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">On Friday, as the country was waking up to a new political landscape, I was heading west for a day out with my oldest friend. We had arranged to meet at Coton Manor near Northampton, which is a direct mid point between our two homes. The Manor is famous for its gorgeously landscaped gardens (and quirky wildlife, of which more later).</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">The sun wasn't out, but it was a mild day, perfect for walking and talking.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">As usual in all the most impressive gardens I've ever seen, there are plenty of different 'rooms' which lead enticingly one to another. I love this old brick path and arch combination.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">Though the gardens are immaculately tended, the owners are not too precious to allow their chickens to roam freely. I don't think I've seen a happier or healthier bunch of birds!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">Down by the lake, we encountered this pair. Trying to ignore the election results too :)</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">Another shot of colour from these tulips...</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">A gate takes you into a field leading to a bluebell and beech wood. Lovely how the light filters through the trees enhancing the blue.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">Back to the formal borders, and now the sun was coming out. Just time to visit the excellent (and very popular) cafe for home made soup and sandwiches. You can sit outside in the courtyard to eat. There are also lots of plants for sale and a small shop. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;">A lovely day out in the English countryside. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">And a great spot to meet a friend.</span>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span>Streetcomberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05029151833679911644noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-594236435606739175.post-48948399794573916662015-05-05T06:31:00.001-07:002015-05-10T02:14:12.547-07:00Hello spring, hello blog<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">The other day my mum asked me if I had given up writing my blog. It made me think. The answer is no, I haven't, but there have been lots of extra demands on my time recently, so it's been difficult to find a space. I do post a lot on Instagram too, as it's easy to sit in a chair and pop a single photo online. But I do miss writing longer posts, and using my DSLR. So, this post is a bit of a catch up. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">I've been trying to make the most of the spring, walking when I can, and occasionally running. I've teamed up with a friend in the village and we motivate each other to exercise. We do Pilates, one or two Zumba classes a week, and also some circuit training. For me, it's much easier to stick to the routine when you know someone is relying on you for a lift, or vice versa. Much less tempting to kick off the shoes, curl up on the sofa and think, "oh, I'll go next week...." </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">It's not just about losing weight, although that's very welcome. I just think exercising makes me feel better generally and appreciate where I live. On Saturday morning, my friend and I went running through some bluebell woods. Neither of us finds running very easy, but how could we not enjoy this sight! It was simply amazing.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">I've turned my crafting away from sewing and towards painting. I loved Emma Bridgewater's dresser print fabric and when I read about her mother in law, the designer Pat Albeck, describing how it had been created, using collage, I decided to try the technique with my own dresser and china collection. I had great fun doing this: I was obsessed, sneaking in a quick painting session whenever I could. I like how it turned out, being able to layer things up and also move them around until I am happy with them. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">I'd love to try this in a lino print too, but I do find that lino is more time consuming, and I need to plan a whole day to work on that, which just isn't possible at the moment.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">We're clearing my late father in law's house, ready for sale. So we've been decluttering at home, in preparation for some of his furniture coming to live with us. Bank Holiday Monday saw us at a car boot sale, with a boot full of items to shift. We got on well, and of course I came home with a few small finds including the Victorian bottles at the top of this post. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">Drawing and painting the china makes me appreciate it more. Here's a posy of garden flowers in a charity shop jug. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">Back soon!</span></div>
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Streetcomberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05029151833679911644noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-594236435606739175.post-43206156028731666532015-03-15T05:27:00.000-07:002015-03-16T05:55:43.848-07:00Cooking up a storm<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS6IORuhyKIBKLHjIrLyX0Z6c1ccgUzjC7uQFxedbBwW-nyEZVt-RQbPlDb79K98QE93pzmNaQajbcptMbs47mCst2hg1vSCi2ahoS0K_v2bEyKnkTgzFo1CGttjScfkCXH4eImvd3iNM2/s1600/IMG_4604.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS6IORuhyKIBKLHjIrLyX0Z6c1ccgUzjC7uQFxedbBwW-nyEZVt-RQbPlDb79K98QE93pzmNaQajbcptMbs47mCst2hg1vSCi2ahoS0K_v2bEyKnkTgzFo1CGttjScfkCXH4eImvd3iNM2/s1600/IMG_4604.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">A couple of years ago, I followed a gluten free diet for about six months as a way of trying to alleviate the symptoms of colitis. One very good thing which came out of that time was discovering this amazing recipe for lemon polenta cake, which I found in a magazine. I put a photo of it on Instagram recently and a couple of people asked for the recipe, so here it is. It is a very easy cake to make, and it also looks beautiful. It is great served with fresh cream.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">250 g butter, softened</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">250g caster sugar</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">3 medium eggs, beaten</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">250g ground almonds</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">1 teaspoon vanilla essence</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">grated zest 2 lemons</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">juice 1 lemon</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">125g polenta, sifted</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">1 level teaspoon baking powder (gluten free if you are following a diet)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">For the syrup:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">4 tablespoons lemon juice</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">125g icing sugar</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">200g soft fruits e.g raspberries and blueberries</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">Icing sugar to dust</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">23cm/9 inch tin, lined with parchment</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">Set oven to Gas mark 3, or 160 degrees</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">Beat the butter until soft and pale. Add the sugar, beat until light and creamy. Whisk in the eggs a little at a time, making sure you beat the egg well. Fold in the almonds, vanilla extract, lemon zest and juice, polenta and baking powder. Put into the tin, smooth the top and bake for 50 mins to one hour. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">To make the syrup, place the lemon juice, 2 tablespoons water, and icing sugar into a pan and stir until the icing sugar has dissolved. Spoon over the cake while the syrup and the cake are still hot. Leave in the tin to cool. When the cake is cold, arrange berries on top and dust with icing sugar.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">I'll be serving the cake to my Mum later today, along with some home made scones, clotted cream and raspberry jam. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">Have a lovely Sunday. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">PS I should clarify that I didn't paint that beautiful watercolour above. It's a photograph of mine which I changed using the Waterlogue App on my iPhone to give a painterly effect. I wish I was that good at watercolour :)</span>Streetcomberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05029151833679911644noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-594236435606739175.post-46442816098348820262015-03-01T03:31:00.004-08:002015-03-01T03:32:02.877-08:00An arty adventure<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">One of my Christmas presents was a day at a lino printing course in Sheffield. I've been looking forward to it hugely,and finally the day arrived. I travelled to Sheffield on Friday night, and met my brother who lives in the city for an early dinner. Up early on Saturday morning and we went to Hunters Bar, the area where the course was being held. As well as having a brother who lives in Sheffield, I feel strong links to the city. I was a student there in the 80s and have very happy memories of that time. It's just one of those places that will always have a really special significance.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">As students, Hunters Bar was the place we often came on a Sunday. There is a beautiful park here, with a river running through it, and there have always been lots of interesting shops. The art school was once sited here, although that has now moved into the city centre.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Things have changed, but not too much. In those days, it was 'second hand' not vintage, and there were many little shops selling old clothes. Pre-Primark, this is how we shopped! I distinctly remember buying a pair of leopard skin hobnail boots from a second hand shop along this road, which I wore proudly with a pair of old long johns and a large pinafore dress. Anyway...the printing workshop was set in Cowlishaw Works, behind a pine shop and next door to a vintage china store.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">There were eight of us on the course and the tutor was James Green, who is an amazing print maker. Most people had come along with a design in mind, and we got straight down to tracing it onto a lino tile using carbon paper.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcNV0SPEjAnLJJYmh2vBHdmnXHTRr4Igfm7yihwxCkZZoxmOLGjqV4ykvHjZjTUTxSaN3nRTNbsBckPpLXp_bAliLCtK4jqPEed5iztjVODwGhOrS3JldfhtRQQbd2thjwEPmSGHe3CGlc/s1600/IMG_4516.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcNV0SPEjAnLJJYmh2vBHdmnXHTRr4Igfm7yihwxCkZZoxmOLGjqV4ykvHjZjTUTxSaN3nRTNbsBckPpLXp_bAliLCtK4jqPEed5iztjVODwGhOrS3JldfhtRQQbd2thjwEPmSGHe3CGlc/s1600/IMG_4516.jpg" height="640" width="574" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Then it was time to start carving the lino. James provided all the tools for us. Some people had come up with really intricate designs: mine was pretty simple by comparison. I still found it quite tricky though. It was great to work alongside other people, we chatted and helped each other along, with sound advice and help from James.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Slowly it took shape. A break for lunch and chance to try some of the lovely local cafes and bakeries.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Finally, time to ink up! I chose black which I thought would suit my graphic design.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHkAIak2GcAfukhyphenhyphenxxMHu7YVmfQq99b8DRNTwhoJpj57DWRsecpkPI7Fv14dzj9mX5O6Nk7pz2rzZo9lfNejE9k8esq1E1Ave-jsuXpWP95reDudLk0ILKtnzutQa8cDc7-SQK-QqnR66_/s1600/IMG_4526.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHkAIak2GcAfukhyphenhyphenxxMHu7YVmfQq99b8DRNTwhoJpj57DWRsecpkPI7Fv14dzj9mX5O6Nk7pz2rzZo9lfNejE9k8esq1E1Ave-jsuXpWP95reDudLk0ILKtnzutQa8cDc7-SQK-QqnR66_/s1600/IMG_4526.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">A few test prints are done first, and any adjustments made. For example, if there are any messy bits where the ink catches in the wrong place, or a chance to add some more detail. The patterned print above was by Susan, who was sitting opposite me.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">And then, time to print on a piece of cartridge paper, to make the final picture. It was so satisfying! Everyone had a little moment as they revealed their design. It's a lovely thing to see. Each print was so different. Some people worked from photos, others had gone for pattern. Mine was probably the simplest style. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">A few of the other prints drying on the floor. Loved the frog and the street scene.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">We finished by about 3.30pm, just time for a final cup of tea and a chance to let the ink dry. I headed off to the Millenium Gallery in Sheffield and saw a beautiful exhibition about bird illustrations, well worth seeing if you're in the area.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Then just time for a quick snack in The Crucible Theatre cafe and back on the train home. Pretty much a perfect day. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><br /></span>Streetcomberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05029151833679911644noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-594236435606739175.post-47660871690848267642015-02-05T08:42:00.001-08:002015-02-05T08:52:17.201-08:00Exploring <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #0b5394; text-align: center;">I've been out and about this week, researching an article about the county of Rutland, and including Rutland Water, the huge reservoir that lies within. It's been very cold, but there have been some beautiful sunny spells for me to explore walks, pubs, villages and tea shops. This is a cottage in Hambleton, on the Hambleton peninsula, the most picturesque of the villages I've visited so far. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394; text-align: center;">You can stand on the peninsula road and see water on both sides. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394; text-align: center;">Heading into Oakham, the market town, I visited the Castle Cottage tea room. It's tucked away just behind the castle ruins.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394; text-align: center;">A nice welcome in the garden, which opens properly on March 25. And inside, it's very warm and inviting.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394; text-align: center;">The county museum is fantastic. I spent an hour or two in there getting information and thoroughly enjoying looking around.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394; text-align: center;">Some lovely old farm carts, and lots of domestic history about this rural county.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394; text-align: center;">Then back out to the nature reserve: I like the heron standing guard at this site.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394; text-align: center;"> Moody skies, and a keen wind whipping across here!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394; text-align: center;">Quite glad to be at home in the warm working today.</span>Streetcomberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05029151833679911644noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-594236435606739175.post-28885729940978271212015-01-13T07:57:00.001-08:002015-01-13T07:57:29.643-08:00Craving some colour<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">It's always around this time of year that I start wanting some colour in my life. The fields are brown, the garden is brown (and very messy), the skies are low and grey and the house is looking a little unloved. Colour makes it all better. Maybe that's why I'm reaching for vivid daffodils on the market, bright Seville oranges for marmalade, and these beautiful scarlet pomegranates.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">I saw these in Manchester at the weekend when we took Jack back to uni. We treated him to a curry for lunch, and were enthralled by a wedding party at the restaurant, the women arrayed in sparkling saris and an amazing drumming accompaniment. We</span><span style="color: #134f5c;"> came out and I went into a vast international superstore full of fruit and vegetables. I bought these pomegranates and a big box of mangoes.</span><br />
<span style="color: #134f5c;">All week, I've been wanting to paint these, so yesterday I finished work a bit early and had a go. It was so nice to sit down with these paints and mix up the reds and oranges. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">Couldn't quite get the texture, it was harder than it looked. I'll try again. These little sketches all go into my journal, which I have continued since the one I completed for the local exhibition. I'm really enjoying it, but it probably accounts for the fact that I haven't been blogging as much as before. The trouble is, I like doing both....need more hours in the day.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c;"><br />On the kitchen top are Sevilles waiting to be turned into marmalade and the Manchester mangoes which are destined for chutney. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">The dresser gets the colour treatment too.</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Back again soon, hopefully with jars and jars of preserves!</span></b><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c;"><br /></span>Streetcomberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05029151833679911644noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-594236435606739175.post-12151559528165164082014-12-31T09:45:00.000-08:002014-12-31T09:45:17.423-08:00Happy New Year<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7HXfLZyJjy6EnHHagJOTAzNODieGyszIMfOkm43Ehpej6Kxf_kjwxq7bVWG1IftFE71JZ1U0ZeYocNakek4vpKwbyVD-ZM5STudxBPFxU_ECv3o9dcIoaUg08wu9-aCRuSNAIglV0-E4j/s1600/new+year+prints+020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7HXfLZyJjy6EnHHagJOTAzNODieGyszIMfOkm43Ehpej6Kxf_kjwxq7bVWG1IftFE71JZ1U0ZeYocNakek4vpKwbyVD-ZM5STudxBPFxU_ECv3o9dcIoaUg08wu9-aCRuSNAIglV0-E4j/s1600/new+year+prints+020.JPG" height="414" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">Happy New Year!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">Wishing everyone a peaceful 2015. </span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;">I've been enjoying time off work to mess about with some lino printing. As one of my Christmas presents, I've been booked on to a day's course in Sheffield to find out more about this technique which I love but have yet to really get the hang of. I am very excited for February when I'll be taking part.</span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;">I love the break between Christmas and New Year when there is usually time to do some painting and drawing. I've been reading some of my inspirational art books too. I love these two.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">Generally, things have been quite low key around here, as my father in law is very ill. But we've seen family and friends and that has been lovely.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFjwXLpif68XQC99xF6liXQVidqL0HYlSus4INciboL2IZVQlfEiEK0q_KfTnrMInbfYk0Ao304nmyxRJcSaTsqZXUfM9QNcZGnFDQJzNBBUoYrNmZSZ5UArLQM0l-ovHKdVa1jgD1tRoj/s1600/books+004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFjwXLpif68XQC99xF6liXQVidqL0HYlSus4INciboL2IZVQlfEiEK0q_KfTnrMInbfYk0Ao304nmyxRJcSaTsqZXUfM9QNcZGnFDQJzNBBUoYrNmZSZ5UArLQM0l-ovHKdVa1jgD1tRoj/s1600/books+004.JPG" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">This chair is a recent acquisition which I'm planning to re-cover in the New Year. I loved the carved back, and it is also very comfortable.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">More of my scribbles. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">See you in 2015 when I hope to be back here on a more regular basis.</span>Streetcomberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05029151833679911644noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-594236435606739175.post-26770906124581222982014-12-05T07:22:00.000-08:002014-12-05T07:22:42.703-08:00A trip to Burwash Manor<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM9ywb7wmTepuArGg4ITvxlB_DIKF1rpSkpcFTFJd2qpng0-JCEr8og8BmROC8WE3vwH02L90wLCNb356erhqZAntJwOz9j8FGw9P7eUdBAiIsVFaIL0p3W0MPOnE4bxTzY8Pg6Uq5Vf4S/s1600/burwash+019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM9ywb7wmTepuArGg4ITvxlB_DIKF1rpSkpcFTFJd2qpng0-JCEr8og8BmROC8WE3vwH02L90wLCNb356erhqZAntJwOz9j8FGw9P7eUdBAiIsVFaIL0p3W0MPOnE4bxTzY8Pg6Uq5Vf4S/s1600/burwash+019.JPG" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">I quite often hear people talking about why they don't like - or use - social media. But I must say, I am a devotee because of the networks it creates. I've found out about some fantastic places via Twitter, blogs or Facebook, and last weekend, I visited one of them. Burwash Manor, near Cambridge, is about 40 miles away, and I spotted it popping up on my Twitter account about six months ago. Last Sunday, my friend Jo and I decided to go and explore. Burwash Manor is an organic farm, which has about ten independent shops based in the barns. It's so charming.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">No big crowds, easy parking and a tea shop on site too. Couldn't really ask for more. We were lucky it was a sunny, crisp day. We loved a shop called Providence which sells made to measure furniture, but also utilitarian household items, such as lavender beeswax polish, big wooden chopping boards, all sorts of brushes, reconditioned lighting and plenty of vintage items. Another favourite was Homestuff with History, where my first photo at the top of the page was taken. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFcNpuktUpRqa_QryTuPtE5LwHKbjvYUh3ZElLMZW3PT2VF736T4_pJS_DXOX6HThtzVO-0ocIEyKCvoryokIx8LwM0wxpA8ZGNmeNo9SaZbmDx3a1MBgRFbfaOHQm0au9pw9MqytSR5_Q/s1600/burwash+012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFcNpuktUpRqa_QryTuPtE5LwHKbjvYUh3ZElLMZW3PT2VF736T4_pJS_DXOX6HThtzVO-0ocIEyKCvoryokIx8LwM0wxpA8ZGNmeNo9SaZbmDx3a1MBgRFbfaOHQm0au9pw9MqytSR5_Q/s1600/burwash+012.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"> I thought the shop was so beautifully styled. I bought some of the black and white letters...</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzkXwJAJXfoUuJ3V76gfTdTvn5Q_jWe8Ccz5HFPVU4-stjI4ZMYcCiT-DfrImmcjZb21i6I07jydJFB4BUrHQBWr59dfpYB6ZGniPNqgnbU6Qq8381l-ZS9kMW7jr6QzpeCKocZleOA_5i/s1600/burwash+c+006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzkXwJAJXfoUuJ3V76gfTdTvn5Q_jWe8Ccz5HFPVU4-stjI4ZMYcCiT-DfrImmcjZb21i6I07jydJFB4BUrHQBWr59dfpYB6ZGniPNqgnbU6Qq8381l-ZS9kMW7jr6QzpeCKocZleOA_5i/s1600/burwash+c+006.JPG" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">There are Christmas trees and decorations, a food hall, deli and butchers, and a few clothes shops too. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhef0cgA9CyqsHqzWKmHLTenqy_0yGcCu1mRwhEpEDWsDA3x9gQ9B6LdQKruKCb-Bfr-9GWlpBlvLfT4qQWwbYNS-jdGq3wUu7byHCO3DBqOJG4bLL8y9xQ1sOdTdfNOlJOKDwpMyW2BoAX/s1600/burwash+c+003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhef0cgA9CyqsHqzWKmHLTenqy_0yGcCu1mRwhEpEDWsDA3x9gQ9B6LdQKruKCb-Bfr-9GWlpBlvLfT4qQWwbYNS-jdGq3wUu7byHCO3DBqOJG4bLL8y9xQ1sOdTdfNOlJOKDwpMyW2BoAX/s1600/burwash+c+003.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">If you like to avoid the high street at this time of year, and prefer to choose some really individual gifts, I'd recommend a visit. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTr_LYg45AFx4GffoHEG-F8OfNdCAXN2RO_8COYojld-DlwH-KThPzoIgilzEZVySH00YuOTRKma8rQWB_Ure6JSqhGfRBJxbmLKq7DisXycTwm-v4a9LhxY9gHHgyM_aas9AvrUNE7UPz/s1600/burwash+013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTr_LYg45AFx4GffoHEG-F8OfNdCAXN2RO_8COYojld-DlwH-KThPzoIgilzEZVySH00YuOTRKma8rQWB_Ure6JSqhGfRBJxbmLKq7DisXycTwm-v4a9LhxY9gHHgyM_aas9AvrUNE7UPz/s1600/burwash+013.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">A day rounded off with a pot of tea and a slice of coffee and walnut cake in the popular tea room. And all thanks to Twitter!</span>Streetcomberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05029151833679911644noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-594236435606739175.post-41351974120798020142014-11-26T04:05:00.002-08:002014-11-26T04:05:36.956-08:00Here, there and everywhere<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxNuQ7PVgOGrGnIehQPBYw0w4sS9K8iglI2DaJnqnJlfZD1AjNns4SoknznETJMI4OW920xHmSayg9iVLQmmrMuOQT9lqxZXCZUYsXa-Dm7jo9Lpaj70GTHXB6zKp8fVaeGi_CsU2UoRil/s1600/wedding+pics+060.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxNuQ7PVgOGrGnIehQPBYw0w4sS9K8iglI2DaJnqnJlfZD1AjNns4SoknznETJMI4OW920xHmSayg9iVLQmmrMuOQT9lqxZXCZUYsXa-Dm7jo9Lpaj70GTHXB6zKp8fVaeGi_CsU2UoRil/s1600/wedding+pics+060.JPG" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">It feels as if November has been a very busy month. I've travelled to Brighton, Dorset, Cambridge and the Cotswolds for a combination of work and family commitments. I like nothing better than being on the move and seeing different places. It's been great. Last weekend was really delightful, we drove to Burford, on the edge of the Cotswolds, for my cousin's wedding. We arrived on Saturday lunchtime, checked into a motel and changed into our wedding clothes ready for the 3 o'clock ceremony. The venue was a very old and beautiful pub just off the historic high street. The whole town is so picturesque, it's almost unreal. It was looking especially pretty as the light faded and shop fronts were illuminated.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">A real mix of shops: always good to see an independent bookshop thriving.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9eV5TxgTwaCsBUFA-khp_DsQ_B_QbiosQvKK9VquQyiH5pDPgMcXvbdrk4PzH7Ne7faQ3-vtU_1FXW4fGz_MPokd30KjhCK7aw1kSEAfFJOXyBpotDcZ7midLSGsQEmCWi_5R8vLzntQf/s1600/wedding+pics+065.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9eV5TxgTwaCsBUFA-khp_DsQ_B_QbiosQvKK9VquQyiH5pDPgMcXvbdrk4PzH7Ne7faQ3-vtU_1FXW4fGz_MPokd30KjhCK7aw1kSEAfFJOXyBpotDcZ7midLSGsQEmCWi_5R8vLzntQf/s1600/wedding+pics+065.JPG" height="640" width="460" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">The sweetest cottages, and enormous price tags on all the houses in town! This is, after all, David Cameron country....</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzGwlDP-4Xg63UDAHrGEyDOl5mBo0yyo6NACF0yYratkStyoNCoTfsvrG10CDxH0EXIsV0s6fwfADkXM-ZafL064_Sv4XzFzcV4ZHl-Myjx4Q73oHLBhdfOFQhzJB5LjJd4WFOkQwyEmKs/s1600/Burford+007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzGwlDP-4Xg63UDAHrGEyDOl5mBo0yyo6NACF0yYratkStyoNCoTfsvrG10CDxH0EXIsV0s6fwfADkXM-ZafL064_Sv4XzFzcV4ZHl-Myjx4Q73oHLBhdfOFQhzJB5LjJd4WFOkQwyEmKs/s1600/Burford+007.JPG" height="340" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">I'd love to come back with more time to explore. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGtpcgGFsxsCxkap4TcfutK32zZfBn-FniaH4QwE-hpLMwjWWbh7yG1CfTkxu5RqeHhnfC9GhNyfI8-V-SBsGz_ftx0QA-UmleigV1Jo94HOYIUN_-iNu394n6Cj9lpTs9B2v_MeFuNhSo/s1600/wedding+pics+046.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGtpcgGFsxsCxkap4TcfutK32zZfBn-FniaH4QwE-hpLMwjWWbh7yG1CfTkxu5RqeHhnfC9GhNyfI8-V-SBsGz_ftx0QA-UmleigV1Jo94HOYIUN_-iNu394n6Cj9lpTs9B2v_MeFuNhSo/s1600/wedding+pics+046.JPG" height="640" width="372" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">Me and the boy in our wedding clothes. I can't say he was wildly enthusiastic about wearing a suit, but once he'd gone off and chosen one himself, and realised that it made him look older than his 16 years, he came round to the idea. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">Twinkly wedding breakfast. It was a lovely occasion, and so nice to catch up with the wider family.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMfnKNs1M6VS1bMtdmS17-TDAmTzc4pRBEeGM92SUSlsKfmQIone2PIvwp_tHwQvArI_7r1gv3EqSqyoz5BfDEXt8A1aEEDRR2CgWmhWb0Hpi2HKBU1F0IkZtBQ31ImEzv7Kz5mV8yX5Wv/s1600/wedding+pics+051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMfnKNs1M6VS1bMtdmS17-TDAmTzc4pRBEeGM92SUSlsKfmQIone2PIvwp_tHwQvArI_7r1gv3EqSqyoz5BfDEXt8A1aEEDRR2CgWmhWb0Hpi2HKBU1F0IkZtBQ31ImEzv7Kz5mV8yX5Wv/s1600/wedding+pics+051.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">The following morning was rainy and grey, so I didn't take as many photos as I wanted to, but it is somewhere to return to. Meanwhile, here are a few highlights from my other travels:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1EGknw2so_GV8mm1LpUgRw3T5SEFqxs9X1W60jreYdziUCgxQccsM6LNdD2CsQCP7GLqdf7WNxlWo6UCfQnm-OrdPG8nljocZ3hNLm43zIFtU5G3JhF5AGhaAXH5xopOKFnucxTXrcNFn/s1600/dorset+006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1EGknw2so_GV8mm1LpUgRw3T5SEFqxs9X1W60jreYdziUCgxQccsM6LNdD2CsQCP7GLqdf7WNxlWo6UCfQnm-OrdPG8nljocZ3hNLm43zIFtU5G3JhF5AGhaAXH5xopOKFnucxTXrcNFn/s1600/dorset+006.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">Broadwindsor, Dorset. A really flying visit but a spectacular day which started with this sunrise....(below)</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDM7y5CrJ5lyj7xV2tFW2HtDc12qtyqPSwFwu1Hobt-839nmp5dmjaDBBGxjbnLOkZlGYdynAMs-u9WIGtWoRdN6fAwvwxE2o3am21ThLfsYwfAAqGqLqdO7C0fa8yOczQWg5So7ZimCii/s1600/dorset+005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDM7y5CrJ5lyj7xV2tFW2HtDc12qtyqPSwFwu1Hobt-839nmp5dmjaDBBGxjbnLOkZlGYdynAMs-u9WIGtWoRdN6fAwvwxE2o3am21ThLfsYwfAAqGqLqdO7C0fa8yOczQWg5So7ZimCii/s1600/dorset+005.JPG" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">Cambridge is close to where I live, but I always love visiting and I never tire of even the most touristy sights. I've been going there since I was a young girl and have always found it an intriguing place. Everyone around town always looks as if they are leading incredibly interesting and cerebral lives!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf3wHxhES7WHqpfPkpmLbcDn7u8SzoM5Pi4qcbJl4pm0SgQOpOPc4QIlICjaySFVSh8fRGsaHODBxS4uqJekNkByAkLzXA_OiNotvw2edbIwAAi8tJy8Gj3NOYQVUJIUXgFXhTboZIvks1/s1600/wedding+pics+026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf3wHxhES7WHqpfPkpmLbcDn7u8SzoM5Pi4qcbJl4pm0SgQOpOPc4QIlICjaySFVSh8fRGsaHODBxS4uqJekNkByAkLzXA_OiNotvw2edbIwAAi8tJy8Gj3NOYQVUJIUXgFXhTboZIvks1/s1600/wedding+pics+026.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #0b5394;">I went to this beautiful shop, Catesbys, for their Christmas preview. There is a small cafe inside, selling the world's best tasting cheese on toast.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYdxB6hUupyULzzPSrvOIqkpJ2RJfHCppm4zIUamKsz1zGmNmU76jRXvygAs9fixLKoheY4Bw65Amn_eIuLrjV5Q9CtDa-RajlEBhJRega2I6u3SIjUZzuu5_-HHvC6hy0h0iQ6-LraDrP/s1600/wedding+pics+036.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYdxB6hUupyULzzPSrvOIqkpJ2RJfHCppm4zIUamKsz1zGmNmU76jRXvygAs9fixLKoheY4Bw65Amn_eIuLrjV5Q9CtDa-RajlEBhJRega2I6u3SIjUZzuu5_-HHvC6hy0h0iQ6-LraDrP/s1600/wedding+pics+036.JPG" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">I would like pretty much everything in this shop. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPoIAy7uE78fXGiIpOXJ-uWIx4eWilTsYT4hGWrnX_0Socy4nmi-pgRbhofQVc22ZYXpGMPZKmaAC3vBOsOBNDqkUSVSowPhzJcFJZ-DVfDBf6T8qNSlzTR9xQ-XW02g_O8XKGdwdvaslm/s1600/wedding+pics+033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPoIAy7uE78fXGiIpOXJ-uWIx4eWilTsYT4hGWrnX_0Socy4nmi-pgRbhofQVc22ZYXpGMPZKmaAC3vBOsOBNDqkUSVSowPhzJcFJZ-DVfDBf6T8qNSlzTR9xQ-XW02g_O8XKGdwdvaslm/s1600/wedding+pics+033.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">I bought a few of these bowls as Christmas presents, but now I need to persuade myself to part with them...</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6-zxKgAYmXi2YtbNx5rTEJ-u_etijc5mPFhgQ8vUpeRencuiSiTFqDm_eYLdHi5RfmLvkeN2xb9PhJA84BOqpW3BmhnUkvh7kZ4uVhE9Mdh0HV1aT-dnTuQI8YWaRDK3ss59_2eR0TEe6/s1600/wedding+pics+034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6-zxKgAYmXi2YtbNx5rTEJ-u_etijc5mPFhgQ8vUpeRencuiSiTFqDm_eYLdHi5RfmLvkeN2xb9PhJA84BOqpW3BmhnUkvh7kZ4uVhE9Mdh0HV1aT-dnTuQI8YWaRDK3ss59_2eR0TEe6/s1600/wedding+pics+034.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">Also loving that blue and white plate, although I didn't buy it.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>So there we have it, a few snapshots from my travels around the English countryside. Thanks for sticking with me if you're still reading. </b></span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span>Streetcomberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05029151833679911644noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-594236435606739175.post-31305696812566252052014-11-05T05:41:00.002-08:002014-11-05T05:41:21.244-08:00A painting<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKm-c7V9-HFzpV0oCKMHVHLAns8CL_566mtR0G3EFA9uOmfssA6TaxChFA0yPNr8zFqqjmxhKVNaDXBrh8Fg1EuTiyZUkNj3C2Dn1qC45sJb2X6nd5T28_Og8Sck8LuiaDyoJPp4zNRQtr/s1600/dresser+painting+027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKm-c7V9-HFzpV0oCKMHVHLAns8CL_566mtR0G3EFA9uOmfssA6TaxChFA0yPNr8zFqqjmxhKVNaDXBrh8Fg1EuTiyZUkNj3C2Dn1qC45sJb2X6nd5T28_Og8Sck8LuiaDyoJPp4zNRQtr/s1600/dresser+painting+027.JPG" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">I had the urge to do some painting last night. I'd had a busy day writing, and then I popped out to see my friend who is not well, and I just felt like coming home and chilling out with my watercolours. I'd loved the Emma Bridgewater Christmas catalogue which dropped onto the mat the other week, and was really inspired by her photo of a seasonal dresser. I decided to merge her dresser image with bits of my own dresser, and this is what I came up with. Usually, I paint a watercolour and then go over the top of it with pen and ink, but I wanted to try and just use paint this time as the other method looks very flat sometimes. I think this is more three dimensional. </span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;">I did this while the rest of the household watched a football match. I get my head phones, plug my iPod in and off I go, painting to music!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span>Streetcomberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05029151833679911644noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-594236435606739175.post-49330431427164939992014-10-31T08:51:00.000-07:002014-10-31T10:49:46.650-07:00If you go down to the woods today....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB0FldExOHypdKDze6GzXx7EYCzzBZJu_5JJk7sx5ZHLWTFq-54Qx_skLHTXKFxiM1d2LQzs4OvMZI2G1G6LZdC2ePJrKcTfba9FIFVUd8hl-d-oPjS6b6QbIdIqjHhLXq1348CCemSSiJ/s1600/woodland+walk+013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB0FldExOHypdKDze6GzXx7EYCzzBZJu_5JJk7sx5ZHLWTFq-54Qx_skLHTXKFxiM1d2LQzs4OvMZI2G1G6LZdC2ePJrKcTfba9FIFVUd8hl-d-oPjS6b6QbIdIqjHhLXq1348CCemSSiJ/s1600/woodland+walk+013.JPG" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">Yesterday afternoon I was en route between two destinations, and the sun was shining through the car windows. I had 20 minutes to spare, so I took a detour along a tiny country road and stepped into the woods. I often go to these woods, but for some reason, I've never noticed this particular footpath, running through some silver birch trees. It was late afternoon, about 3.30, and the light was incredible. There was no wind, either, it was pretty magical.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8ipInbqQy6-RAvl2JLDTjVwQ1FtrXA4Qs0VPv3q_UKSAOHKBRf-7hLOPzkpYDqxVn7AJiDUCWC65QN4N_z4EvfsrreJa3UfbEgVuxgWfQswZgYld0chU7uwBhptOliLDEi35pZIXxa1h-/s1600/woodland+walk+006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8ipInbqQy6-RAvl2JLDTjVwQ1FtrXA4Qs0VPv3q_UKSAOHKBRf-7hLOPzkpYDqxVn7AJiDUCWC65QN4N_z4EvfsrreJa3UfbEgVuxgWfQswZgYld0chU7uwBhptOliLDEi35pZIXxa1h-/s1600/woodland+walk+006.JPG" height="640" width="472" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">I did not have my big camera with me, so phone had to do. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2YUx96DgfjvJzfz7XlYaYM88Abi-L1MwQi_X_3h_5NlkEOuDjpxKLaxwDliu2G8wJ6QKD6U6_fcrLSXG9fQdfxtG30N8s0a0p0Zo8TBBFUgktH9rLSQjIuXUF-R8ehgHBamO9j1LefGNY/s1600/woodland+walk+005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2YUx96DgfjvJzfz7XlYaYM88Abi-L1MwQi_X_3h_5NlkEOuDjpxKLaxwDliu2G8wJ6QKD6U6_fcrLSXG9fQdfxtG30N8s0a0p0Zo8TBBFUgktH9rLSQjIuXUF-R8ehgHBamO9j1LefGNY/s1600/woodland+walk+005.JPG" height="640" width="462" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #0b5394;">I recently spent time with a friend who is very poorly. It sounds like a cliche, but it does make you think, and appreciate. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3FAuDoX3TNv1D15L-AqCuNUaFSC9iMAJ0d6kArDimQ-xw4CB5uCsHb1wn3973KHKGa9nWfsZKI4srxo2t2K8HnxThyokICvYCCi_YwwiphccELlkbaTm_O0VZqawv87uNzMFoV4qzKz6S/s1600/woodland+walk+012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3FAuDoX3TNv1D15L-AqCuNUaFSC9iMAJ0d6kArDimQ-xw4CB5uCsHb1wn3973KHKGa9nWfsZKI4srxo2t2K8HnxThyokICvYCCi_YwwiphccELlkbaTm_O0VZqawv87uNzMFoV4qzKz6S/s1600/woodland+walk+012.JPG" height="640" width="478" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">So that is why I turned off the main road and took 20 minutes out to watch the sun go down.</span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span>Streetcomberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05029151833679911644noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-594236435606739175.post-42963456706063253502014-10-27T14:14:00.000-07:002014-10-27T14:14:57.819-07:00An autumn celebration<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiNTmSMBj6Hhw8BjltCv35vYJGc6djElAYKlQGZw_qTUnofxd7Ix3aKPehOB57MSufBJVxmMT7sGcoefJ9dbHnX8LsweqlzayFRLv-bLSvdY2Eh5V2jAOwX8cPT1ocTgb49lUjlTIZ2OP2/s1600/autumn+lunch+007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiNTmSMBj6Hhw8BjltCv35vYJGc6djElAYKlQGZw_qTUnofxd7Ix3aKPehOB57MSufBJVxmMT7sGcoefJ9dbHnX8LsweqlzayFRLv-bLSvdY2Eh5V2jAOwX8cPT1ocTgb49lUjlTIZ2OP2/s1600/autumn+lunch+007.JPG" height="640" width="380" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">It was my mum's birthday yesterday, and as eldest son is home from uni for a few days, I thought it would be nice to have a family gathering. I had a leisurely day to cook. The main course was rib of beef with all the trimmings, and I also made a chocolate fudge cake with frozen berries and a plum and apple crumble with amaretti topping.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRiwfGdB6fNHPcf7GKnvVgt-gA5YHzpi8Ce7RXKzdjJNosBFIdSNqzvRs5HRwWXwTLIpbobsh5KY0qtx_p0RcTPlerwLfQXpOHbVW_eda-lOla2SXL5zwPcAuY_gU6BWItDeBLROLDI4Y3/s1600/autumn+lunch+005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRiwfGdB6fNHPcf7GKnvVgt-gA5YHzpi8Ce7RXKzdjJNosBFIdSNqzvRs5HRwWXwTLIpbobsh5KY0qtx_p0RcTPlerwLfQXpOHbVW_eda-lOla2SXL5zwPcAuY_gU6BWItDeBLROLDI4Y3/s1600/autumn+lunch+005.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #0b5394;">The chocolate cake is a family favourite but only makes an appearance on very special occasions. The crumble is a delicious new discovery, made with apples from our tree.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigLciCvv6pP2ELfPfWVN2_JETksVRcIOfgGe3d2Tybszc5S3RVaOT_Rzcr048Epk9kXNs126ofgzly3GbVbMjhm3Lwb4qqqkAPyl0TBbk1YkRZQr5npA44JkLLsNkSN68IjkoJiSVPjD69/s1600/autumn+lunch+013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigLciCvv6pP2ELfPfWVN2_JETksVRcIOfgGe3d2Tybszc5S3RVaOT_Rzcr048Epk9kXNs126ofgzly3GbVbMjhm3Lwb4qqqkAPyl0TBbk1YkRZQr5npA44JkLLsNkSN68IjkoJiSVPjD69/s1600/autumn+lunch+013.JPG" height="564" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">It was good to get everyone together. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMWFXHv2k4lQEGsMysplLfdv7gXugDO8xqcGEir3YjP1zJrCQ38Cfc4RpVpWTD5hSoTwFtz0qky_KZ4TGaSQm11U_abhyphenhyphenNIKe2-_gCVNGUu_neLYWSa87xbzjo7-3WySQ90mBL-vSZPYCt/s1600/autumn+lunch+021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMWFXHv2k4lQEGsMysplLfdv7gXugDO8xqcGEir3YjP1zJrCQ38Cfc4RpVpWTD5hSoTwFtz0qky_KZ4TGaSQm11U_abhyphenhyphenNIKe2-_gCVNGUu_neLYWSa87xbzjo7-3WySQ90mBL-vSZPYCt/s1600/autumn+lunch+021.JPG" height="482" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">The chimney has been swept and we're all ready to light the fire, but it's been so warm! We'll wait for colder weather....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span>Streetcomberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05029151833679911644noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-594236435606739175.post-37944081142473061432014-10-25T01:49:00.000-07:002014-10-25T01:49:21.755-07:00A taste of autumn<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">Last week I had to drive to Norfolk to do an interview. This wasn't the pretty Norfolk by the coast, but deep into the Fens. The landscape is completely flat but it's not featureless. Once you start to appreciate the big skies and the sweep of the flat fields, it is very atmospheric. Lining the route are various farm shops, small holdings, and fruit and veg for sale by the side of the road. This is prime agricultural land. The road followed the old River Nene. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">Long ago, before the Fens were drained, Fen folk got around in punts. You can imagine the network of waterways if you stand and look across to the horizon.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">Once I'd finished my interview, I drove home, stopping off occasionally to have a look more closely at the landscape.</span><br />
<span style="color: #134f5c;">I found a fantastic farm shop, The Orchard Tea Room at Wisbech.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">I bought some Comice pears which are the best I've tasted. They are from an orchard nearby, and came in all sorts of shapes and sizes, no supermarket uniformity here. I made them into a salad with blue cheese and walnuts and they were just the best.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">Then I tried painting them as they're so pretty (didn't really do them justice but sketches don't always work, just have to keep experimenting). I'm still trying to keep a journal, although it's hard now I haven't got a deadline. But it does happen from time to time. A bit like my blog! I don't want to stop writing the blog, and I will aim to be back here more regularly. Thank you if you still stop by sometimes. </span><br />
<span style="color: #134f5c;"><b>You are much appreciated.</b></span>Streetcomberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05029151833679911644noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-594236435606739175.post-43008979873176764162014-10-09T10:03:00.003-07:002014-10-09T10:03:40.995-07:00Apple pressing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #38761d;">I've been away from my blog much longer than intended. I've been busy writing my journal and that is finished now, so hopefully, I can be back here on a more regular basis. One thing we did recently which I wanted to write about was this apple pressing day at The Kings Arms, Polebrook, a local pub. We had so many eating apples from our tree, and they taste amazing but they don't keep. We really didn't want to waste them this year as it just seems so wrong. So, we took them along to this community apple pressing day. It was one of the last really warm days.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d;">Lots of people arrived with apples. We pooled them and set to the task of juicing them. First, they had to be washed. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d;">Then the apples need to be roughly chopped and put into a 'mincer' to break them down before they're pressed. They come out broken down and mushed up.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d;">You have to chop fast to keep up!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d;">Into the mushing machine. Husband enjoyed this part!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d;">These two were operating the apple press. It's an old one, but it did the job perfectly. The juice trickles out in a steady stream.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d;">Ready to be decanted into the bottles we'd brought with us. It's not an appetising colour, but the taste is simply amazing. Sharp and tangy. We had about 10 litres to bring back. We drank some, gave some away, and popped a couple of bottles in the freezer to be mulled in the winter. Some people were planning to make cider with theirs. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d;">After all that hard work, we settled down to some butchers sausages, chips and apple sauerkraut at the pub. Just rewards...</span></div>
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Streetcomberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05029151833679911644noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-594236435606739175.post-17469803429462551272014-09-21T06:55:00.003-07:002014-09-21T07:23:28.069-07:00An autumn day out<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">Yesterday felt like a good day for a trip. We were heading for Saffron Walden in Essex. It's only about an hour's journey from where we live, and there is an art gallery here which I've wanted to visit for a few years now. Once again, it's thanks to Twitter and the fact that I follow various artists and galleries, that I was galvanised into action as I read that it closes in October (until April). No time to lose. So off we went.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">I had no idea that Saffron Walden would be so old - or so pretty. But it's both. There was a small market in the old market square, very busy, and with some beautiful flowers, fish, fruit and vegetables.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">We bought takeaway coffees and had a good mooch around. I found a small bouquet of home grown dahlias from the community garden stall and Perry bought a sea bream to cook later. There was even an outside space to sit down and have some oysters and wine! But the art gallery was calling me. Here it is: The Fry Gallery.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">The small gallery was built in 1856 by Francis Gibson, a Quaker banker and amateur artist to hold his personal art collection. It was then inherited by his daughter Elizabeth Fry. Since the 1980s, it has housed a collection of the works of the Great Bardfield group of artists which includes Eric Ravilious, Edward Bawden, Kenneth Rowntree and John Aldridge, whose work I really love. Their pictures evoke England in the 1930s. They work in print and paint. I am particularly keen on Eric Ravilious and Edward Bawden and there are many examples of their work here. You can even see Edward Bawden's beautiful sketch books.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuFn8r3c0I8C89ypEmotrtWlWlpS4zukHzBy9RFSFV9cNc5q_Bz4wSd0CVA3ilfZf9SefxdwfR-moa2Fi-s4992fQeFr5XCuTwIqYCJrVXkDP_rTxBb1aTcS89SOYvBchGawd5_5zf79KT/s1600/saffron+walden+017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuFn8r3c0I8C89ypEmotrtWlWlpS4zukHzBy9RFSFV9cNc5q_Bz4wSd0CVA3ilfZf9SefxdwfR-moa2Fi-s4992fQeFr5XCuTwIqYCJrVXkDP_rTxBb1aTcS89SOYvBchGawd5_5zf79KT/s1600/saffron+walden+017.JPG" height="640" width="478" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">Wow, wouldn't mind having a few sketches like that in my book!</span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;">We spent a long time looking at the pictures and then browsing in the little shop which has a brilliant selection of books and cards. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7TqmSjMM5PuXZIbpg8hTdpleJuV1GmselKtKHf5BVHqyWwOPSM5mhVPM7o8LOEIHTd4EZRNGnpBknhPlCAxY3AOVHq0Kbi-uVo8NA4ufQi_nAM1AOx8DmeUw77AyhKqd38eQeQ4nsGTVS/s1600/saffron+walden+028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7TqmSjMM5PuXZIbpg8hTdpleJuV1GmselKtKHf5BVHqyWwOPSM5mhVPM7o8LOEIHTd4EZRNGnpBknhPlCAxY3AOVHq0Kbi-uVo8NA4ufQi_nAM1AOx8DmeUw77AyhKqd38eQeQ4nsGTVS/s1600/saffron+walden+028.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span><span style="color: #0b5394;">Next, we popped in on a small contemporary gallery in Church Street, where print maker Celia Hart has an exhibition. I had seen Celia's work in Country Living, and again, I follow her on Twitter. Some gorgeous prints here, and I am now saving up for one....(although actually her prices were very reasonable but I'd already spend my funds at the museum shop :) )</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">After a ploughman's lunch in the pub, we explored a bit more. Plenty of antiques shops and antiquarian books too, all in these gorgeous pale old buildings with timbers and decorative plasterwork.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic50q-0TzKo-YtbgnP9imHXSGF2kgeI__SJB7S2yQG5ZVKYNG-qivfrSkXfurzK3HLj8aO2JjmVwVE0Guz3vX7fQE1-utQ2fvjsXAcyJyxt047Y0DpyEDw2q8zF3LufFu3otCbpGtYXigU/s1600/saffron+walden+essex+009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic50q-0TzKo-YtbgnP9imHXSGF2kgeI__SJB7S2yQG5ZVKYNG-qivfrSkXfurzK3HLj8aO2JjmVwVE0Guz3vX7fQE1-utQ2fvjsXAcyJyxt047Y0DpyEDw2q8zF3LufFu3otCbpGtYXigU/s1600/saffron+walden+essex+009.JPG" height="640" width="472" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">Some lovely stuff in this one. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjElyBJj1Rs7mDzYfZtLXjvwQjMcf4ghvgcxNDQKXKt6o6yaoqUkp5e3RvZmuiLlKtDaHxicOQY_Dkl242KxMxlApVMtInvZxeRDxmgkuQBSv_2nM8lKomEJbUa-Vn0mL9kVUrFqOcIZtYY/s1600/saffron+walden+essex+015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjElyBJj1Rs7mDzYfZtLXjvwQjMcf4ghvgcxNDQKXKt6o6yaoqUkp5e3RvZmuiLlKtDaHxicOQY_Dkl242KxMxlApVMtInvZxeRDxmgkuQBSv_2nM8lKomEJbUa-Vn0mL9kVUrFqOcIZtYY/s1600/saffron+walden+essex+015.JPG" height="640" width="440" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">I've never seen houses with this kind of embossed decoration before. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVYPNZF33KdwrjiRwC0PsyCDe7c0eTqJlrXqZRSP3UC5LhaLkKyzYqnG4f99KEViz-kzDrZPqOCD18jxY4CrL03M2X7kwPm_U2f_N6Z83MfUpVomHv1hxPXnxonNQQLyyr_aPTNG9GNSGV/s1600/saffron+walden+essex+003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVYPNZF33KdwrjiRwC0PsyCDe7c0eTqJlrXqZRSP3UC5LhaLkKyzYqnG4f99KEViz-kzDrZPqOCD18jxY4CrL03M2X7kwPm_U2f_N6Z83MfUpVomHv1hxPXnxonNQQLyyr_aPTNG9GNSGV/s1600/saffron+walden+essex+003.JPG" height="404" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">It's the kind of town where I thought 'I could live here.'</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg946EVsmH14QkFM6_Dfp9iLDnjgXHHAYTptqyynYavUfKpLuVO7hz_1VMLoU-t4EUJbAeOIunbrF1ZZmEl8hwtbjEa1nv0PxHEzRIOWGv43ju1Y_0huT8wDM9SP7YsJD6FOJbn-Ar1Ac5t/s1600/saffron+walden+essex+004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg946EVsmH14QkFM6_Dfp9iLDnjgXHHAYTptqyynYavUfKpLuVO7hz_1VMLoU-t4EUJbAeOIunbrF1ZZmEl8hwtbjEa1nv0PxHEzRIOWGv43ju1Y_0huT8wDM9SP7YsJD6FOJbn-Ar1Ac5t/s1600/saffron+walden+essex+004.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">Will definitely return. Hope you enjoyed this short tour. </span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><u>The Fry Gallery is at Castle Street, Saffron Walden. Open April - October.</u></b></span>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span>Streetcomberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05029151833679911644noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-594236435606739175.post-25372264334180561732014-09-10T08:37:00.002-07:002014-09-10T08:41:24.337-07:00Seasonal pleasures<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_mbfn-aLIsmzHdfPUU80yBldWt91_dTt249zlMVZ6qSoUnpTIbQTz5B3ez1CRIPr0UxZyX47kQXF29rBQ0f2Qm13vQ7VGdG1ymSpkpd2Hpe1l-ud8I8ii6fqxKZ0bfBR3Nq_N6QgVxmdF/s1600/ig+september+010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_mbfn-aLIsmzHdfPUU80yBldWt91_dTt249zlMVZ6qSoUnpTIbQTz5B3ez1CRIPr0UxZyX47kQXF29rBQ0f2Qm13vQ7VGdG1ymSpkpd2Hpe1l-ud8I8ii6fqxKZ0bfBR3Nq_N6QgVxmdF/s1600/ig+september+010.JPG" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">I've been ticking off tasks on a list that has been sitting around for far too long. Last weekend, we launched an attack on the messy hinterland of our garden. It's here that nettles and brambles abound. We make half hearted attempts to tame it, but we're always defeated and it grows back (our garden backs on to a field so it's hard to stem the tide of nettles). It is amazing how much you can achieve in a day. We also picked up the windfalls, and mowed the grass.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">By the afternoon, Perry had had enough so he went to a football match, while I drove some of the green waste to the local dump. While I was throwing it into the skip, I spotted this huge flour bin in an area marked 'please take.' I snatched it up and popped it into the boot of the car. I have never before found anything interesting at the dump, so I felt quite delighted that I'd made this discovery!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9vRqfOeYXs67EFMlbCREvW-BKalLqw3RtWEQH2kp_lzWV4NEBJ0ajdrLAqC5RRrpHczoGm2vEN_b-XMU8fz1w9tI27-Y23MCPtcejPCt9n6l_eErA5zCjpaDy9Y3inLeKlQsxsqz73R8o/s1600/metal+opening+020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9vRqfOeYXs67EFMlbCREvW-BKalLqw3RtWEQH2kp_lzWV4NEBJ0ajdrLAqC5RRrpHczoGm2vEN_b-XMU8fz1w9tI27-Y23MCPtcejPCt9n6l_eErA5zCjpaDy9Y3inLeKlQsxsqz73R8o/s1600/metal+opening+020.JPG" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">Now on a roll, I picked some blackberries from the field, froze some and made some into crumble with some of the apple harvest. On Sunday, I did something else which I've been promising myself. I volunteered to help out at the arts festival in Peterborough. I worked in a pop up cafe for a few hours, washing up, serving cakes, coffees and teas. I met some lovely people, heard some live music, and it was a joyful occasion.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixR0OvswbofdQaPyP40bE5CW4VIb9aWMiWAvYcj_K6OEbDiPMnPlX-wcmD__-d7BVMxippW0I9sCjDLcvUdFQlKjn8Y_ntOZwsH_RDdxi-zAHmFn0wrtKmnBrDPEjoZQFfEdlXkdwrCpLi/s1600/metal+opening+056.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixR0OvswbofdQaPyP40bE5CW4VIb9aWMiWAvYcj_K6OEbDiPMnPlX-wcmD__-d7BVMxippW0I9sCjDLcvUdFQlKjn8Y_ntOZwsH_RDdxi-zAHmFn0wrtKmnBrDPEjoZQFfEdlXkdwrCpLi/s1600/metal+opening+056.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">Next on my list, I will go to some of the talks, readings and music events that I say I will attend, and never do. The Cafe is in an arts centre, and a lovely garden has been installed there. They had some very pretty yarnbombing going on, and some great ideas for planting.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSQf9MVg8wc6qy-8aVgKxBoK2-DeQuyaoXg9iIuBrtUIdriLTpSoUPnp-_e-w9iPc9W0xTy2Uz4W2jaIETijwHzV71mbLlYeL_WJQNmHoG4LL_w5zGol65QkX83-lXeA2ZvV5KCo2iwCtL/s1600/metal+opening+050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSQf9MVg8wc6qy-8aVgKxBoK2-DeQuyaoXg9iIuBrtUIdriLTpSoUPnp-_e-w9iPc9W0xTy2Uz4W2jaIETijwHzV71mbLlYeL_WJQNmHoG4LL_w5zGol65QkX83-lXeA2ZvV5KCo2iwCtL/s1600/metal+opening+050.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">This yarn bombed peacock hued bike was a picture.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiggdPvEBf9NLF3oDNmLjrhzZQJ-srNqStJHldroxwZFuPhM3aJG34T-ECE1pnSWVCZdF0og6H09iR_X2ryoY5utFkvRZRcRqV8TZiG2HM49nTNCR8uePYhEkgLkMAHsGUSDsjdMGEBGO80/s1600/metal+opening+058.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiggdPvEBf9NLF3oDNmLjrhzZQJ-srNqStJHldroxwZFuPhM3aJG34T-ECE1pnSWVCZdF0og6H09iR_X2ryoY5utFkvRZRcRqV8TZiG2HM49nTNCR8uePYhEkgLkMAHsGUSDsjdMGEBGO80/s1600/metal+opening+058.JPG" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">Tomorrow, I'm going to interview a textile artist in Kent for LandScape magazine. I am so looking forward to it. I will report back with a few glimpses of what she does, but I probably can't show too much until the article is printed. Already I feel that I am climbing out of my rut and making lots of new plans.</span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span>Streetcomberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05029151833679911644noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-594236435606739175.post-21228565934934379062014-08-28T10:31:00.001-07:002014-08-28T12:14:25.111-07:00A season sneaking in....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvIfcXeWMuz9iEdvz0EfdOFVYwN02yhC66gGhN_vz-sQewSKAbhXu0qGSRcxpTi5P8jcLmUZPHhG13DEqicmfU1oZRCB6hrhKCuLjfMRDhMIOHZAEPWyUsMaD8Cmi1pNEceAgpVT_45Mwx/s1600/journals+and+nature+table+015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvIfcXeWMuz9iEdvz0EfdOFVYwN02yhC66gGhN_vz-sQewSKAbhXu0qGSRcxpTi5P8jcLmUZPHhG13DEqicmfU1oZRCB6hrhKCuLjfMRDhMIOHZAEPWyUsMaD8Cmi1pNEceAgpVT_45Mwx/s1600/journals+and+nature+table+015.JPG" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;">The season is on the turn, although I think that summer may be returning next week. I hope so, I'm not ready for autumn yet. When I walked over the field to the post office just now, the bushes were full of berries, and there are hazelnuts in the trees and oak apples too. </span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;">Sorry for the blog break, I've been busy with work, and it has taken a long while to catch up after my holiday. Last weekend we had friends to stay, which was lovely, and we took full advantage of the sunny weather on Sunday, taking our new canoe down to the river.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">Then it was the village horticultural show, which went ahead despite the rain.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiLAhL6TzBiUmm40oVji2hruRrbhvWlBFqPXrg5h_sMA1_imj94n_kWrvgRyPYIgehEh35XtPpmOn3fr59RVUp3wQaThFVrzoXK8F0kHwh4wbEX9G5OVOhpBXZcMZ_rByKsIiUnHJNgsUQ/s1600/bank+holiday+weekend+14+078.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiLAhL6TzBiUmm40oVji2hruRrbhvWlBFqPXrg5h_sMA1_imj94n_kWrvgRyPYIgehEh35XtPpmOn3fr59RVUp3wQaThFVrzoXK8F0kHwh4wbEX9G5OVOhpBXZcMZ_rByKsIiUnHJNgsUQ/s1600/bank+holiday+weekend+14+078.JPG" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;">These are not my prize winning vegetables (definitely not!), but I did get a first prize for some yellow damson jelly and a second for raspberry and redcurrant jam. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbZQT1ZGH66Vg-i4TAtO8oEfCalHY4HyKsSS0GKgmvOQxgtDel5lYi2oSCx_8tx66myRqgOvMGSJPSqau5x5TzetJp3faGCyhN-u3Taye5PxnB6ENSERABvYeHWFUumv6PHf43z0DWhzIh/s1600/bank+holiday+weekend+14+018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbZQT1ZGH66Vg-i4TAtO8oEfCalHY4HyKsSS0GKgmvOQxgtDel5lYi2oSCx_8tx66myRqgOvMGSJPSqau5x5TzetJp3faGCyhN-u3Taye5PxnB6ENSERABvYeHWFUumv6PHf43z0DWhzIh/s1600/bank+holiday+weekend+14+018.JPG" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;">I did not do any cookery competition classes this year, as I was baking for our friends, but there were some lovely entries to see in the marquee.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDTuH6foSpt-RGg6pcHfH4JmA0LhI7S7dFAqW4iPFjeZjEOyZUxQEEXk3Axd5TD-byk6778OwKUpbTYwlb3Q9Cv96wuOPNqd6VU4k9UuhidHqUJngGg8-9xp6ap_QH2Bn_qAtgHnHj971N/s1600/bank+holiday+weekend+14+077.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDTuH6foSpt-RGg6pcHfH4JmA0LhI7S7dFAqW4iPFjeZjEOyZUxQEEXk3Axd5TD-byk6778OwKUpbTYwlb3Q9Cv96wuOPNqd6VU4k9UuhidHqUJngGg8-9xp6ap_QH2Bn_qAtgHnHj971N/s1600/bank+holiday+weekend+14+077.JPG" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;">So, nearly time for a new term, eldest back to uni and youngest starting sixth form.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_i1eHcHY8xqHAirUM7u050_ekJuR6TZnJ4ZfD5RbYRe_ik8_2wq8UyblfKgXOJzjBbTPCes486L-KF9mKzhgmBObmtYrqkDUtgitRW6IPTuCQVGlMqcWdnWvd0XsSk0hDBykzoRdw8GXQ/s1600/bank+holiday+weekend+14+012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_i1eHcHY8xqHAirUM7u050_ekJuR6TZnJ4ZfD5RbYRe_ik8_2wq8UyblfKgXOJzjBbTPCes486L-KF9mKzhgmBObmtYrqkDUtgitRW6IPTuCQVGlMqcWdnWvd0XsSk0hDBykzoRdw8GXQ/s1600/bank+holiday+weekend+14+012.JPG" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;">It always feels like a good time for a change in September. As a freelance, I have to make my own luck, so I'm trying to work out where I go next.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjACDd7feg9ZR5d-9RqCvdZu7z5LIkEdfSOl9jmQqS38lLAMgcYGmm76ALyCmQrh6-dMfXIjXu6p8Nxj84L1v3YNbEf3Yny1rG740O4DLryDnYWusFxiBP4b8Hd-IFddZdxtyuAXbJzAhcM/s1600/bank+holiday+weekend+14+033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjACDd7feg9ZR5d-9RqCvdZu7z5LIkEdfSOl9jmQqS38lLAMgcYGmm76ALyCmQrh6-dMfXIjXu6p8Nxj84L1v3YNbEf3Yny1rG740O4DLryDnYWusFxiBP4b8Hd-IFddZdxtyuAXbJzAhcM/s1600/bank+holiday+weekend+14+033.JPG" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;">Wandering around the fields with flowers in my hair isn't going to get anything done, so I need to get my focus back.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhurwmZG1SSZ2aH1fblObSoQ7ZvcS1nscMVIzDJjDRAhu_zRfjRfKLHkJ9M8r3tJnwSpVwsA7KKhtPcsh0NUTQeY22bXug48Ch0L7FMw8A59AnAmFtC8O05qzvWK7dJSuXfPkODuwVJRGiA/s1600/bank+holiday+weekend+14+038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhurwmZG1SSZ2aH1fblObSoQ7ZvcS1nscMVIzDJjDRAhu_zRfjRfKLHkJ9M8r3tJnwSpVwsA7KKhtPcsh0NUTQeY22bXug48Ch0L7FMw8A59AnAmFtC8O05qzvWK7dJSuXfPkODuwVJRGiA/s1600/bank+holiday+weekend+14+038.JPG" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;">I do have one lovely assignment for a national magazine lined up for early September, and the local magazine takes plenty of my time but still....</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit9XoUQV-F9K8WzfPU1eLWE41UuwzHiJ9J_czgCMCd5bBDuzc7vs9yAtYLkaIbm8JUd6TJqtp2iHjxYhQe4sQk4iCjvpg4hHtCrcCGfOpQPfndLe-lQ-5OccAyFaeiqPA2UiWzSCXkRd8t/s1600/bank+holiday+weekend+14+005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit9XoUQV-F9K8WzfPU1eLWE41UuwzHiJ9J_czgCMCd5bBDuzc7vs9yAtYLkaIbm8JUd6TJqtp2iHjxYhQe4sQk4iCjvpg4hHtCrcCGfOpQPfndLe-lQ-5OccAyFaeiqPA2UiWzSCXkRd8t/s1600/bank+holiday+weekend+14+005.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;">I feel like a new journey should begin....</span>Streetcomberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05029151833679911644noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-594236435606739175.post-10338746790372218272014-08-15T06:48:00.001-07:002014-08-15T06:48:21.951-07:00The colours of Greece<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwhAsBIh-0pKsgklBUS3V5oy6HMVL-qUDhhhxdMjacdKRbOdCnVU4-qP7elMXKl6tS3nh2NUbM8tYv0wgFsdaHHeLnM67R2UKLUvZVT6xO_WpHeglW2xhW88IW10T3lsuIpZ_10hhdUcz6/s1600/Paxos+010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwhAsBIh-0pKsgklBUS3V5oy6HMVL-qUDhhhxdMjacdKRbOdCnVU4-qP7elMXKl6tS3nh2NUbM8tYv0wgFsdaHHeLnM67R2UKLUvZVT6xO_WpHeglW2xhW88IW10T3lsuIpZ_10hhdUcz6/s1600/Paxos+010.JPG" height="640" width="404" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">We had a beautiful week in Paxos. The island is small, wooded and incredibly laid back. I was captivated by the colours of the paint, the turquoise of the sea, the old tiles and the changing light. Here are a few shots which sum it up.</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;">Arch by a 16th century church on a hillside.</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;">Church floor tiles. </span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;">Shutters in the island capital, Gaios.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitBslth8z0UbZLsjHUhk6gnR3wyXVTVN9N_X-YucP_LoK1_aGPIrSTUdnOOEAauEZ8DMaBUw1wLbU9bjdY8B98pMGFjKlHWGjOSjGbTiKVqJ_xHL8aJkCLRY5jag_T_j93mdK8UnowIVBv/s1600/Paxos+054.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitBslth8z0UbZLsjHUhk6gnR3wyXVTVN9N_X-YucP_LoK1_aGPIrSTUdnOOEAauEZ8DMaBUw1wLbU9bjdY8B98pMGFjKlHWGjOSjGbTiKVqJ_xHL8aJkCLRY5jag_T_j93mdK8UnowIVBv/s1600/Paxos+054.JPG" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">Lovely shop by the sea front in the tiny port of Logos.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxyW5S77tTpxdmYWxfOyWIXRy3-DkJCG3mn6-35TOL-kGObuPoDoj_zL-nNoqz99z-GvQ4-ZkDiK4lMADMOVbO3DNkJulHElvGySDC57n-VXOMP_XaABAFY5ONqPvPVZUgQeEyIa1w7W4x/s1600/Paxos+081.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxyW5S77tTpxdmYWxfOyWIXRy3-DkJCG3mn6-35TOL-kGObuPoDoj_zL-nNoqz99z-GvQ4-ZkDiK4lMADMOVbO3DNkJulHElvGySDC57n-VXOMP_XaABAFY5ONqPvPVZUgQeEyIa1w7W4x/s1600/Paxos+081.JPG" height="640" width="422" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">Ochre walls - and fresh peach juice!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinLwX5FMGRVCB9ZiPUcDrdiiAfg8GKdRI-zR7xDRExOsStSgbvbsGGpToriYMD17dy_6eKIzpTrSSQ6MRNZTFY5JhU9ezvjdKWHolVhxSGdSqi41Oc-q_YJXnkd0ia9Zbp9JXduGAg4lMc/s1600/Paxos+076.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinLwX5FMGRVCB9ZiPUcDrdiiAfg8GKdRI-zR7xDRExOsStSgbvbsGGpToriYMD17dy_6eKIzpTrSSQ6MRNZTFY5JhU9ezvjdKWHolVhxSGdSqi41Oc-q_YJXnkd0ia9Zbp9JXduGAg4lMc/s1600/Paxos+076.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">Stunning old villa in Gaios.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7IXShtMXazhCpi70N25aC3wv5q70GOQ6hw5D5YIpOXvROVHGDJ2A6T1HY6YmuzWoG_r18jjbXkGigNoTsWh1SqQRGtHCngf3IffXFg8EUxOIz779r0MrdmOQq5d08RV1dPytSYvwsn1L4/s1600/Paxos+089.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7IXShtMXazhCpi70N25aC3wv5q70GOQ6hw5D5YIpOXvROVHGDJ2A6T1HY6YmuzWoG_r18jjbXkGigNoTsWh1SqQRGtHCngf3IffXFg8EUxOIz779r0MrdmOQq5d08RV1dPytSYvwsn1L4/s1600/Paxos+089.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">Yes please!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAxhiUKcAvFklzDRCF7k45c9ellPaVJcKoMwdPJ9aaCEopGITNSN5ncfmphb9w5nLlrdXt-cxEqr9Bmu-YZUgXVGfCDgjQHcJciOh9glG1giUAKTQq4fO2DYqzxuns2xJNdyQjM0cZivvd/s1600/paxos+phone+pics+023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAxhiUKcAvFklzDRCF7k45c9ellPaVJcKoMwdPJ9aaCEopGITNSN5ncfmphb9w5nLlrdXt-cxEqr9Bmu-YZUgXVGfCDgjQHcJciOh9glG1giUAKTQq4fO2DYqzxuns2xJNdyQjM0cZivvd/s1600/paxos+phone+pics+023.JPG" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">Sunshine colours.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPHmBEk8KS2ceIV9aQO87Al30WojnfzN3fkGJ1dCWAfsC9UEQK-cg7olGp1Xwf_59dwwXS9Qo7joftaMweCu26Ekw_dSccLDBWjwmAWGdXr26lv4c5vGrzsj2tlqO5kZnRJZz6oAu7AD1D/s1600/paxos+phone+pics+112.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPHmBEk8KS2ceIV9aQO87Al30WojnfzN3fkGJ1dCWAfsC9UEQK-cg7olGp1Xwf_59dwwXS9Qo7joftaMweCu26Ekw_dSccLDBWjwmAWGdXr26lv4c5vGrzsj2tlqO5kZnRJZz6oAu7AD1D/s1600/paxos+phone+pics+112.JPG" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">Peeling paint.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwfMTCKAro0x1icXpyDDrH0s_K1A7qWaQILPQSmNHgxyJoxOLMny0iTuYhDm-oQU8Y7Bh8dWAM8SWT-EO_-ide4XLNsxCf4JKekbliVN9lFPGGzXtRyzZg1fe1LUekaHvgw0G-dR7y-xGo/s1600/paxos+phone+pics+049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwfMTCKAro0x1icXpyDDrH0s_K1A7qWaQILPQSmNHgxyJoxOLMny0iTuYhDm-oQU8Y7Bh8dWAM8SWT-EO_-ide4XLNsxCf4JKekbliVN9lFPGGzXtRyzZg1fe1LUekaHvgw0G-dR7y-xGo/s1600/paxos+phone+pics+049.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">Bell in the hillside church.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGt9y4jnFBr51CcoVTDxHnZQRzXveH-zGwm6gdphN6W5lAGLKUJeq8pA5bINQdRBhHJD2FpqJqKki_NQjw3Y8EDjrAU0KWJ1RPidkfkgO-Myg5MmoGWVdDLuZJ4Ap_YB-LTgsrIAkFVBOB/s1600/paxos+phone+pics+070.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGt9y4jnFBr51CcoVTDxHnZQRzXveH-zGwm6gdphN6W5lAGLKUJeq8pA5bINQdRBhHJD2FpqJqKki_NQjw3Y8EDjrAU0KWJ1RPidkfkgO-Myg5MmoGWVdDLuZJ4Ap_YB-LTgsrIAkFVBOB/s1600/paxos+phone+pics+070.JPG" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">The beaches aren't sandy, they are full of these polished white pebbles.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0pbGBkJAPcd7RCYyKOWZtjX6X7pRlNhLejBWEJEM94CjBgGd1gInvBWRh2dvOHXBrF2TLTWZcxMak-Epbo9cYq-kpeZ_KK0Wv3IbijrATNM-vjjoR837QsFobSjT1o6O31g8En8JUogtQ/s1600/paxos+phone+pics+099.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0pbGBkJAPcd7RCYyKOWZtjX6X7pRlNhLejBWEJEM94CjBgGd1gInvBWRh2dvOHXBrF2TLTWZcxMak-Epbo9cYq-kpeZ_KK0Wv3IbijrATNM-vjjoR837QsFobSjT1o6O31g8En8JUogtQ/s1600/paxos+phone+pics+099.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">I love these beach bar signs. Nothing better than a long swim followed by lunch in the shade.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCUIG7ycA4L6qk2QIJfqM-rRBb_plAX38IGeBvca-Lqpn7oX7QnunJLlP3HLJwwG2vB7o8TVemnwLeUmZF0atk3IiPXhfV4dD3qiwPtTOhm2kVFY4Qf0jlK2Tz0r4bCvfHZGvXSfKMMgFR/s1600/paxos+phone+pics+121.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCUIG7ycA4L6qk2QIJfqM-rRBb_plAX38IGeBvca-Lqpn7oX7QnunJLlP3HLJwwG2vB7o8TVemnwLeUmZF0atk3IiPXhfV4dD3qiwPtTOhm2kVFY4Qf0jlK2Tz0r4bCvfHZGvXSfKMMgFR/s1600/paxos+phone+pics+121.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: red;">Goodbye Paxos. </span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;"><br /></span>Streetcomberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05029151833679911644noreply@blogger.com11