Where has the week gone?

Where has the week gone that's what I'd like to know. Seems to me that after the landmark birthday last year the days are not just running or flying by, oh no, we are talking speed of light here. And yet more birthdays loom for us both, here in the small town.
Herb has his biggie coming up and try as I might I cannot raise a spot of interest in celebrating it. I've tried tempting him with the thought of a free bus pass and free swimming but he wont have it. I should have married a younger man not an older one me thinks if I wanted enthusiasm!

I tell you what finally raised a smile, someone told him that we look about the same age despite the almost decade between us.......how should I feel about that?

On Friday we had a lovely trip out with both girls to Grantchester for lunch... Here are the meadows made famous by Rupert Brooke, with a lovely little museum and more importantly, tea rooms that serve wonderful lunches in a beautiful setting. We had ours in the orchard sat on those deck chairs(not actually the easiest place to have soup) but oozing charm. The sun was shining, the apples dropping..........wonderful. The girls loved it and after food we ambled along the river which you can follow all the way to Cambridge. If you are in the area, do go. The museum is very small but crammed with letters and pictures of Brooke and of course all his poetry. What a gorgeous looking chap.....and such a tragic death.

Sunday Herb and I went for little drive and ended up in Finchingfield, one of Essex's prettiest villages. Obviously a meeting point for silver haired bikers on a Sunday, but with oodles of English charm. It even has a windmill.

On the crafting front, the university blanket is finished, bar a few more ends to sew in. It will be winging its way to York in 10 days time with eldest child to its new home....and god help it. I know it's probably destined for that spot in the corner or under the bed or at the bottom of the wardrobe. but you never know, when she has a moment that she misses us she might drag it out and think of home.

I saw a picture of this needlepoint in a magazine and thought it was beautiful, so have blatently copied it. Hardly creative I know, but it's been fun to sew. Do other blog friends copy stuff like that? Do let me know.




Another uni visit this weekend, Newcastle if you please and apparently there is a home game, so traffic and parking should be horrendous. The things we do.....................

A Midweek Jaunt

Quite often when the mood takes us Herb and I get in the 'microwave'-what my friends laughingly call my beloved Ka- and scoot off for a little jolly. Maybe to the beach, but more often to a not too distant small town or village to have a little tramp round. This often takes the form of a coffee in the nicest tea shop we can find, take in the charms of said town or village then refer to the ordnance survey for a little walk. Not too arduous you understand but hopefully some nice views, clean air and no traffic noise.( I have a real issue with the distant hum of motorways as Herb would tell you. Every trip involves a moment of stopping and listening.)Yesterday we went to a village with no hum. Just the wind in the trees and lots of birds.

First we went to the wool shop I told you about. I bought more yarn for the granny blanket; the owner was particularly good about discreetly writing down the total as Herb was in the vicinity. While I was there I looked at the dk cotton for my next project. The most beautiful colours but I mustn’t jump the gun, treats in store. I couldn’t spend as much time as I wanted because I could hear a little impatience behind me but I will be back soon, this time on my own.

After the wool shop we drove to a village I had been to before and had a good trek. The church yard was beautiful with the graveyard having been turned into a meadow. And right by the church was the oldest yew tree we have ever seen. The markings on the inside of the hollow trunk were beautiful; my picture can’t do it justice.

As we were leaving I spotted a stall by the roadside advertising the wares of the local farm shop and as we stepped up to have a look noticed the pigs in the field behind charging towards us. A small electric fence blocked their way but we realised the stall also sold pig food which was why they were showing so much interest. A £1 well spent for these magnificent creatures but it won’t stop me ordering from the farm. Youngest child cannot believe I can eat the bacon after stroking the pig, but i can!!