September

What a month it has been....warm and sunny right to the end....

Busy, busy, busy, so busy I have not had time to update my blog....

Poorly, I seemed to have strained/damaged my right hand and it is only just getting better.  So much so that I am considering dropping some activities.  I've learnt to use pain killers and wrap and strap it so that I do not use my thumb so much.  Go through my Pilates class doing exercises on my elbows rather than my hands after all, the rest of me still needs the exercise!  Of course, we have continued to enjoy our walks.

I've decided that I am not going to do my huge library run up to Attleborough and Nuneaton.  I tried it once, and with all the drops and visits, driving and getting in and out of the Library Van, I was exhausted by the end of the day.  After doing several runs around Warwick and filling in, I thought I would be able to do take up my own run, but this one is a huge one, starting just after nine and not back to the Library till nearly five...a bit too much for this volunteer!

I'm baking far less frequently, and even had a complete rest from making bread...but we both found the shop loaves a real let down.  I'm developing a left handed kneading technique, as even the mixer did not develop the dough quite to my liking, but for two batches it was the only way I could manage to make the bread.

After more than five years on the Kenilworth in Bloom Committee and two years Chairing the Committee, running the Annual Competition for Schools and the Town for two years, I've decided to step down, to give me more time during the summer to pursue all my other activities....

At the beginning of the month, we had our lovely daughter in Law and Grand daughter to stay.  What a joy they are.  All of us, including hubby went on a great day out on a Severn Valley Railway.  At Bridgnorth, we went up the funicular railway, then popped into the seventeenth century Town Hall, where this trainee judge presided over the benches.

Our Plum Tree this month very nearly broke its branches so heavy were the fruit.  At the start I thought that the whole crop had been damaged by pest, but it was those fruit which were damaged which 'ripened' first.  We had a good harvest, and several friends received sufficient to eat and to make their own jam or chutney.

 

September is my busiest month with respect to making preserves...and the fruit this year, has been bountiful.  I could not resist buying a tray of figs to make some jam.  This was my father's favourite jam, we would get tinned green fig jam in Mauritius.  I like the dark fruit equally.

A short break organised to take in Yarndale in Skipton, took us to a great Bed and Breakfast in Harrogate, as even weeks before, all accommodation in the Skipton area was fully booked.  We had the most magnificent weather.  On the way up we stopped at Nostell Priory and had a guided tour.  We were amazed by the extensive and well looked after Chippendale Furniture, and the paintings particularly the Breughel's Procession to Calvary.  We would have liked to stay for the free flow when we would have had more time to look in depth, but we had other things to do.  This is such a wonderful National Trust Property, that we are sure to take this on in again some time soon.

We spent the rest of the day at Harlow Carr on the outskirts of Harrogate.  I felt a little underwhelmed, but maybe I have been spoilt by the likes of Wisley.  The wonderful gardens in Harrogate were great and the wonderful central Valley Gardens were best of all.  We sat by the little Café, and later by the fountain.

I was dropped off at Yarndale in Skipton....there were so many stands that it took me quite a long time to go round.  I'm not sure of this Venue though.  It was literally in the sheds where cattle are brought together for Auction.  If it had been wet and windy it would have been a disaster.  I think many more people turned up that expected, and it was difficult to move around....and there was a loo disaster.  Something was wrong with the loos, but with a queue longer than 20 mins, there was just no way I could wait, I was even trying to work out where was the nearest wall I could hide behind, and on my way I managed to find some port a loos at the father end of the site.

During our full days and evenings in Harrogate, we left the car and walked everywhere. 

H is for Harrogate caught here in the roof decoration:

and on the paper carrier bags:

The Villas with the wonderful stonework and iron work gave an insight to the quick development of this spar town.  During our visit to the  the Royal Pump Room Museum, we went down to the basement and viewed two of many of the town's wells where we had a sniff of the sulphur fumes coming off the water! 

A short detour on our way out of Harrogate took us to Knaresborough...what a delightful small town.  Everything was quiet on the Sunday morning, and in the sunshine we enjoyed a walk around, up to the Castle and down toward the river.

On our homeward journey, I had planned for us to stop at Brodsworth Hall.  This English Heritage House was so very fascinating.  We had a great walk round, with music from the brass band playing on the croquet lawn.  The gardens were interesting and very unusual, with interesting collections of ferns, roses, and clipped shrubs. 

Roses Grace and Ghislaine de feligonde come up trumps in local show

Two new roses in my garden.  Grace was planted in a pot last year, and Ghislaine de Feligonde only this year.  I bought Grace during a visit to David Austin last year.

I only got the rambler Ghislaine de Feligonde, this year after hearing it being lovingly described by Mrs Ann bird, Vice President of the Rose Society at the Kenilworth and District Horticultural Society.  She gave the lecture in March, and the very next day, I went to visit Hinton's Nursery .  They were expecting an order from David Austin the following week, and with a phone call and an email they managed to get me Ghislaine de Feligonde.   I have been amazed by this beautiful perpetual rambler.  I love going into the garden and picking a few flowers for the house, or for posies for friends...and with a new rose, I feel it is kinder to cut the flowers quickly and allow the shrub to grow good roots and leaves rather than spend energy on blooms...well that is my excuse.

I was delighted to win two first prizes for these and also best in Classes 1 - 4.

Grace is a beautiful apricot colour, and already in late August, a whole second flush of roses which my Aunt admired yesterday.  Aunty Pat has failing eyesight, with macro degeneration, but she had to stop at this rose...she thought at first it was a large dahlia plant, the flowers were so numerous and colourful.

The past few months have been so busy for me....and I am now having to take it a little slowly due to a sore thumb joint...and whilst I was sorting through a pile of papers, whilst dear hubby was doing the heavier jobs, washing up, hovering, well jobs which hurt my hand....I came across my certificates etc. so I looked up the pictures I took at the time, and decided to put them up.  Nice to look back on during the winter months!

Homeward bound

This was our first cruise, and we shall be cruising again, most definitely.  On this seven day holiday we had four full days on land.  The first day really only started half way through the day.  We had two further full days on board.  The first few hours we spent walking around and getting a feel for where everything was.  The day travelling there and the day travelling back were packed with plenty of entertainment, as well as opportunities to sit and read and knit on our balcony!

We went to ballroom dancing lessons and also watched a cookery demonstration.

The shows were magnificent, with one every other night alternating with comedians and singers including Clem Curtis.  The theatre was so comfortable with plenty of leg room.  During the day there were all sorts of activities too.  Each evening we had the 'Horizon' delivered to our cabin, listing all the activities for the following 24 hours... it took us a couple of days to get into the habit of looking through this carefully and planning our day around 'not to be missed' items. 

I joined a table tennis tournament.....

There was dancing, from disco to ballroom in different venues all going on at the same time.  One bar we came across on the stern had lovely music on a grand piano.  I thought it would be worth going on a cruise for the entertainment and dining alone!  Each evening we had a wonderful selection, with starter, soup, main, dessert, coffee and varying hand made petit fours/chocolates/sweetmeats.  We had wonderful choices ranging from half lobsters to steak done just as one likes it.  The décor and the standard of cleanliness was top-notch in all areas.

For lunch and breakfast and tea we had a range of options...except we were bared from Noddy's tea party as we did not have a child to accompany us.  Just the once we went for the formal afternoon tea.....wonderful.  Such wonderful sandwiches, pastries, cakes, scones, tea etc, all beautifully served.The age range was surprising.  We had expected many older people, but this cruise had many young families, people in their twenties, thirties and older.  We spoke with many people.  Many of the young set had been on cruises with their parents when they were younger, and just loved it so much that they continue.  They certainly dressed up for the occasion and from the look of some who turned up for self service breakfast as we were having lunch, must have been partying nearly all night!  It was very quiet in our cabin area...with even no engine noise..only the coat hangers sliding along one night when we were in the North Sea!

One evening we got back to find that our valet had left new extra towels along with the night time chocolates!

Stravanger

Although the weather had changed from bright blue skies to misty grey with light drizzle, we had a wonderful time in Stravanger.  There is so much in the town of interest. 

The first part we hit on disembarkation was Old Stravanger, very neat, beautifully kept traditional 18th century wooden buildings lined the narrow cobbled streets.  This cannon was within a few metres of our quay.  Up a little steep road, the houses had pretty gardens, and planters outside the front doors.

 

This little street with pretty gardens had two liners overlooking the precision clipped espalier fruit trees.

 

As we wandered round the town we came across some delightful street scenes and liked the bronze statues.

 

 

 

 

This one with the little boy and ducks was close by the Breiavatnet, a lake in the centre of the town which was surrounded by smart houses, and which had a large fountain.

 

 

Even though we could have gone back to the ship sooner, we decided to wander round the newer part of the town, still with some old buildings. 

 



 
When I saw a couple of people enter this pretty old house, I walked close to the window and realising that it was had people sitting inside, we stepped into this old merchant's house, and enjoyed a drink and a local pastry, made of sweet dough with a custard flavoured with cardamom and topped with coconut icing.

 

Not all the buildings are white, down a few roads, we found some very bright colours!

 

 

We paid our money and joined the visit to the Cathedral of St Swithun.  There was so much to admire in the building, wonderful stone work and carvings

 



 

as well as a pulpit and and five epitaphs of which this is just one.

 

 

The pulpit depicts the story of the bible from Adam and Eve at the foot of the stairs  with the triumphant Christ crowning the top of the canopy.

 

 

These were executed in the 17th century by craftsmen from Great Britain, with Andrew Smith the wood carver who came from Scotland.

 

There was a little time left for looking around the shops and admiring handicrafts....

 

 

 

We could have visited a number of museums and other interesting places, but left these for next time!

 

This was our last stop and thereafter we were homeward bound.



Olden

Again another very small village, with pretty paths.  We set out for a walk up the valley, visiting first the Old Church and then the New One.  Each very different, much loved, and a peaceful place to reflect.

The 'current' old church built on a site which has been a place of worship since the 13th century, was built in the 18th century.  The cross shaped church has some pretty carved pews and lovely hat stands.  The oldest pew has 1672 carved on its hat rack. 

Each member had his or her allocated space, with men sitting on the right side, and women on the left.

The Altar was pretty

and worth stepping into to area and it was surrounded with a collection of early paintings.

We followed the trail up the valley to the New Church, looking at the local wild flowers, listening to the bird song and looking through the clear water of the brook.

Afterwards we made our way back down the valley passing some farms

the cows were out for their annual holiday...yes by law they must spend time outside in the sunshine during the summer, and they have beds, proper beds in their barns, with music and they get to lie down by their friends.

Down in the village we went to the local store and spoke to one of the shelf fillers about the famous Norwegian Brown Cheese.  We had located the cheeses but not understanding Norwegian, needed some guidance.  He was very helpful and we bought a large block of the goats brown cheese which is the most highly prized....it is delicious, quite sweet, and lovely on a cracker with some nuts with a port as 'pudding'.  There were quite a variety of the brown cheese on the shelves from cows milk, to half cows and goats, and then whole goats milk.

We also met up with the outing from the local Kindergarten and I chatted with one of the minders.  I loved the big buggy they used and they were very happy for me to take this picture.

As we walked the final stint to the ship along the road, where there was absolutely no traffic of any sort within site we decided to cross the road about 50 metres past a crossing and we were told off by a lady on her bike who came out of a side turning!  I wonder whether she was a local who had campaigned to have the zebra crossing put in for the tourists, and then we did not use it?  Even this old lady spoke English!
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