The Birthday holiday

We set off early on November 20th for Thursford Christmas Spectacular, 

stopping at a cafe for a quick bite to eat.

We had tickets for the afternoon show and the place was packed.

As you enter the show grounds the display of lights and little gift shops really set the mood.

A display of wolves complete with howling amid the many different trees twinkling with lights

Love the displays, which looked even better when it got dark

Next to the restaurant a beautiful Nativity scene

Thursford has the largest collection of traction engines in the world
They were all decorated for the Christmas season 

Mechanical organs stood silent as we prepared to watch the show

Seating was arranged in the centre of the building and every seat was taken by the time the show started.
Musicians, dancers, Irish dancers, bagpipes, opera, story telling, and a really good comedian/ compere 
made for a wonderful afternoon in a spectacular setting.

Love the sign in the loo!

Onward with our journey to Cromer Country Club for three nights. We were amazed how nice it was in our self catering studio apartment, and will definitely put it on our list to visit again.

Next day we wandered around the shops and took a look at the sea and Cromer pier.
It was very cold and damp in the air so a nice meal was called for.

A drive along the coast and we stopped at The Ship in Mundesley for dinner.
We had been before and were not disappointed.

Our ground floor studio apartment at the Country Club

Felbrigg Hall was our choice of place to visit on Thursday. Wrapped up warm in my new coat, bought in Cromer we had hot chocolate and shortbread in the National Trust cafe.

Stable Yard and building converted into a cafe and shop

The walled garden was very well kept and surprising how many plants were still in flower.

Even the many chickens wandering about had a 'posh' residence

The vegetable garden with its central pond

In the orangery I stood in my new coat next to the dolls house

Felbrigg Hall, not open at the time of year.

We finished this day with a meal in the Country Club bar, which I must say was very nice and good value.

Back home on Friday via a visit to Colemans Warehouse to buy some fabric... a great birthday holiday.

Birthday Time

Thank for to the family for a lovely birthday meal on Saturday.

The BEST cheesecake made by Richard

Followed by a lovely birthday cake also cooked by Richard

11th - 17th November

Sunday 11th we remembered the men and women who fought for our country 100 years ago.

My own Grandfather took part in WWI although I know little about his time during the conflict.

A contact through Ancestry.com informed me that a distant relative was named on the War Memorial at Sibbertoft, where many of my family came from.

After church in the morning Chris and I went to Sibbertoft to see the WWI exhibition and visit the war memorial and pay our respects.

Pte Alfred Kenny, 8th Middlesex Regiment.
We share a third Gt Grandfather.

Other names on the memorial I would like to research.

Monday I continued with a Financial Course that I started last week. It is organised by my church and most interesting. Keeping the old grey cells working!

Tuesday my friend Penny called and we chatted and sewing in the afternoon.

Wednesday I suddenly decided to remove the large TV, which never gets switched on, in my Happy Room and have a serious clean up and sort out. Two crochet wreaths are covering up the holes left by the TV bracket! This is an on going project.....

Happy Thursday in the Happy Room. Christine and Penny joined me for a sewing day.
We all seemed to be working on UFO's and actually accomplished quite a lot.

It is now Saturday [ no idea what happened on Friday other than a walk around the cemetery!] and I have a free day
plus no cooking as we are going to the family for dinner.
Decided to make a start on wrapping Christmas Presents, not exactly my fun job.
Happy to report I have almost everything I need bought and wrapped.

Stoke Bruerne Autumn Floating Market

In years gone by Chris and I have spent many happy hours on the Grand Union Canal and always have a love for walking alongside it. Today there is a Floating market and we went early again as the weather looked promising. In fact the sun was so bright it was hard to see the many boats selling their wares, Everything from leather items, wood carved items, knitting, crochet, paintings and many interesting items were for sale and their was a very friendly happy atmosphere.

Stoke Bruerne narrow boats moored to show off and sell their wares

Loved the knitted Christmas Elf

The weather was ideal for photographing the lovely autumn colours

The Blisworth Tunnel in the sunshine

Early morning walk and sock finish

Friday up early and off for a walk by 8.15am along the Brampton Railway line. Not actually on the line I hasten to say. I love how everyone you pass speaks and cyclists, many taking a short cut to work, also acknowledge you. I am sure the same people you pass in the street never even look at you let alone speak.

The idea of the early walk was to get some much needed exercise while the weather is fine and to leave the rest of the day for housework and hobbies.

My problem is by the time we get home and I have a much needed hot chocolate I am too tired to do very much!

I did however manage to complete the latest pair of Pairfect socks.

The yarn is worked from the centre of the ball starting after a waste piece of yellow. When completed you just pull the yarn until you reach the next yellow strand and start again... that way they will both be exactly the same. For some reason everything matched except the wide turquoise band just after the ribbing. I guess if anyone is bothered to look up my trouser leg to see they are different only I will know.

Sewing, Knitting and the Temple

Tuesday: Three friends and I busy in the Happy Room. Dorn, Christine and Clare.

Wednesday: Busy knitting on the M40 [ no I was not driving!] heading for Newchapel
and the London Temple of Jesus Christ and the Latter Day Saints

A couple of hours at the Temple, always a treat.
Chris dropped me off and went to Croydon to collect four tyres for the Range Rover.

Beautiful blue sky and autumn colours on a rather wet day at the London Temple.

This and That on Saturday

I seem to be meandering from one thing to another, I was working on my star blocks and discovered I only have 29 so need another, found one half completed so just need to complete it and then quilt as you go  and finish the whole thing.

29 Carol Doak USA stars, plus backing

Black white and a dash of red needing its papers removing.

Only trouble is I found another long lost in the memory quilt so got that out and it needs work, so started on that… then I remembered the scrappy ribbon blocks I was working on so started on them went to the ironing board and was disgusted by the state of the cover so found fabric and just recovered that!  There is no hope for me !

Carolyn Forster scrappy ribbon blocks needing completing

New ironing board cover using recipe fabric, only problem I have made it back to front!
Oh well I doubt I will ever use any of the recipes.

My whole room needs dusting and there is stuff EVERYWHERE…  I need a maid

November has arrived

November has arrived with vengeance, the weather has turned very cold and there is frost on the ground every morning. Time to light the fire, draw the curtains, light the candles and put my feet up!
Oh no! wait a minute I have a very busy week planned no time for any of that...

Liza from church has invited a few of us to a craft evening and we need to take Maple leaves, so I better go on a Maple leaf hunt...

One of the old railway tracks is lined with trees, there must be some Maple here somewhere.

No time to stop for a rest, even though we have walked quite a way and still no Maple trees.

I wonder who Amit Bhattacharyya story teller and healer is?
I love that a seat has been placed to commemorate him.

We walked further than normal and not a single Maple tree, so head for home and hot chocolate.

Halloween and Chris prepares to go to help out with his 4x4 rescue service.
I stay home and pass out sweets to the many Trick or Treaters.

Thursday is our November IAM meeting. Seven of us enjoy each others company, and after lunch, thank you Clare for the delicious desserts, have our usual Show and Tell.

Clare has completed her Christmas quilt, which we all admire.

Maureen is making a crochet covered coathanger for a friend.

We all ooh and aah over Penny's English Paper pieced table runner.

A cushion made for Penny's daughter

Penny also finished a couple of jolly Christmas cushions.

Jenny showed us her beautiful hexagon quilt

Dorn was working on her crochet blanket, such lovely colours.

 Maple leaf day! I still do not have any but luckily there are plenty to share at Liza's.  Folding and rolling the leaves into rose shapes was fun and I managed to make this bouquet and a smaller one.