A Day Out!

This post is a bit late, but I wanted to write about a lovely day out that I had on July 2nd.

A few weeks ago, I received an invitation, as a blog writer, to attend the Press Event for the release of the new Autumn/Winter/Christmas items from Rex London (DotComGiftShop).

If you've been a follower of my blog for a while, you may remember this post about bunting, which Rex London (DotComGiftShop) sent me, with a request to review it on my blog.  I'd been a fan of their lovely retro-feel bits and bobs for some time (see also this post from 2009!) and responded to a call for submissions from blogs, when they were compiling a list of favourite blogs that they had found.  
 

Anyway... It seems that they kept my blog on their list of favourites, because I received an invitation to attend the Event and bring a friend.  The Press Event was in London, so I set off in the train and met Keri-Anne at Euston Station, where she had arrived on her train.  

We walked down to the gallery where Rex London (DotComGiftShop) were holding their event and were made very welcome.  

Drinks in little jars, sweets to nibble... very welcome after our walk from Euston. 

...

Then this is what we saw...

...a roomful of wonders and treasure!

There was So Much Lovely Stuff, that it would take several blog posts to show you all of it (of course, you can go to their website/shop and have a browse for yourself).  Here are some of my own favourites from the Day: 

There's a big wildlife theme going on - in various styles - and I loved these little storage suitcases, with wild birds painted on them. Who could resist? 

There was a whole range of lovely items with the wild bird designs all over.  Coasters, mugs (in lovely giftable boxes), storage tins, a tower of lovely lidded glass bowls, glasses and drinking bottles, even a flour or sugar dredger for your kitchen.  Oh, and not to forget the pretty case for my glasses... Tempted again! My favourite is the Blue Tit design - I really like blue-tits.  

Still on a wildlife theme - Rusty and Friends.  A second set of suitcases, this time with woodland creatures on them, along with a number of other goodies, including these brilliant breakfast sets in melamine.  I could cope with eating my porridge, toast and orange juice from these and I'm sure my little nieces would love them! 

Then there were some great retro-themed items: 

Kitchen timers!  

A row of adorable and gorgeous china cups, that look like old-fashioned enamelware (memories of camping, anyone?).  The red one is my favourite, though I remember my mum having a white enamel mug, with a blue-painted rim... and actually, I love all four colours.  Have been trying to think of a good excuse to buy these - perhaps an "accident" will occur with our existing mugs (all 20 or so!)?  Maybe I can find someone to gift them to next Christmas! 

Alarm Clocks! Old-style clocks, like the ones I used to have on my bedside table when I was a very little girl.  Updated now to have a battery-powered clock and a beeping alarm, instead of the old bell-alarm that I had in mine; still just as appealing and I love the colour range! 

Then there was the Japanese Design Porcelain... 

Look at these!  They draw inspiration from Japanese pottery designs, each one being different and special.  I would love to have All of them in my china cupboard.  They are just lovely... sigh... There's a Mediterranean Stoneware range too, which is also gorgeous! 

There were items to appeal to all tastes - it wasn't just "pretty things" and items for children: 

For the Bicycle Fan in your life... 

For the Dapper Gentleman... 

For the Gardener and Nature Lover....

Keri-Anne and I had a lovely time browsing the little Aladdin's Cave full of treasures. 

You can see that there were loads more things to look at - I just haven't room to tell you about all of it!  If you are interested, do go and browse their website shop - it's full of great items, for yourself or to give as gifts.  After all, there are only five months to Christmas! ;-)  

We were sent on our way with a little shopping-bag full of goodies - aren't these lovely? And look, blue-tits on a cover for my new tablet pc! 

Many thanks to Rex London (DotComGiftShop) for your invitation and hospitality.  I had a really fun time and a lovely day out.  

...

And then we had Pizza for lunch before heading back home (spot the Selfie in the mirror!).

The End. 

Storytelling Sunday - May 2012 : A Day Out in Cambridge

I'm late for Sian's Storytelling Sunday.

I am also very late at blogging this story, about a lovely Day Out in Cambridge, which I had nearly 2 weeks ago! 

Wednesday 25th April - A Rainy Day in Cambridge

Diane - better known in Blogland as Dinahmow

Celia of Purple Podded Peas

Diane has been travelling in Britain, visiting friends and relatives. Her father was English, but she was born in New Zealand and currently lives in Queensland, Australia. 

Diane also likes to make art - printmaking, books, poetry, sketching - you can see some of her work on her blog.  She has been following my blog for a while and has left me some very kind comments!

Diane contacted me in February, to ask if I'd like to meet up while she was here.  Seemed like a very nice idea, so we agreed that I would meet Diane in Cambridge. 

A bonus was that I also got to meet Celia, an artist whose work I admire very much and whose lovely blog I have also been following for a while now, as Diane had arranged to meet her on the same morning. 

Harriets Cafe, Cambridge - we met here for morning coffee and chat.

Me and Celia at Harriets

Cambridge in the rain...  They were bailing out the punts on The Backs...

Lizzie and Diane in the rain... (note the raincoat - I sacrificed elegance to necessity, so no red coat!)

It may have been rainy, but Celia was still smiling!

We went up to Kettle's Yard, a very special old house that has been made into a gallery.  There was an exhibition of work by Alfred Wallis, which Celia and Diane wanted to see.  It was great to see this man's work. He was just an ordinary mariner and fisherman, living in St. Ives, who took up painting in the 1930's, after the death of his wife.  His paintings are simple, but he painted what he knew - often from memory.  I loved how every detail on the boats was correct. His colours were interesting, his choice of materials was unusual, but he has left a set of work that is very special. So glad we went!

Then it was lunchtime.  We went to the famous Fitzbillies, where we had a very nice lunch.

While we were eating, the sun came out! So, here's Fitzbillies in the sunshine!

Celia felt she couldn't leave, without buying some famous Fitzbillies Chelsea Buns - the big warmer where they live is known as "the Dalek"!

Smiling in the Sunshine!

Unfortunately it was getting late and Diane & Celia had to go.  I said goodbye and headed off to catch my bus back to the Park & Ride (best way to get into Cambridge if you don't need to drive around there etc).

 

Sunshine on a showery day - Cambridge looks nice in the sun.  And all the tourists suddenly rushed to the river, to punt on The Backs!

I nearly forgot:

I asked Celia to bring me a print of hers that I wanted to buy - This is "March Hares" - isn't it great?

I bought it to go with "Night Flight", which I bought last year - you can spot it here, on my Art Wall!

Celia also gave us some of her cards, printed from her original linocuts.  Fabulous, aren't they? (She sells these via her Etsy shop, MagicCochinsEmporium - there are some lovely ones there just now.

And Diane very kindly gave us each a lovely glass pendant.  Isn't this pretty?

So I was very spoiled.

I had a lovely day out in Cambridge, despite the rain (and cold!).  It was lovely to meet Diane and Celia - I hope to meet them again some time - Celia at least. 

And it reminded me why I used to go to Cambridge very regularly, as a child and before I was married.  Haven't been for such a long time... yet it took me less than an hour to get there and was a very easy drive, despite the rain.  Must go again very soon!

So, this was my picture story for Storytelling Sunday.  A bit out of date, but I hope you enjoyed it all the same!  

Out for "A Bit of a Blow" by the Lake!

The weather here was very nice, until the middle of last week, when it turned really chilly and quite rainy.  Some parts of UK have even had quite a bit of snow (we are lucky to have avoided this).   In any case, the sudden change in temperature and drop in light levels had a bad effect on me and James. We were both feeling dull and "tired" - listless, no energy, little enthusiasm.  James was looking pale, wan and a bit miserable - unusual for our cheerful young man. 

So, this morning I decided we would do something about this.  The sun was out first thing, with just a few fluffy clouds, so it seemed a good day for a Walk to Somewhere Nice - or in the more graphic speech of the area "a bit of a blow", to clear our heads and wake us up. 

I discussed with with Davey, over my nice breakfast in bed (he is so kind... I overslept and he brought me my breakfast).  We decided to head for a local Country Park, where there is a lovely man-made lake, with plenty of trees and wildlife, paths to walk on, grassy areas and, best of all, a very nice cafe that serves great little meals!

The weather did turn rather dull mid-morning and we were afraid our walk might be spoiled by heavy rain; we decided to risk it and were lucky enough to avoid the rain - it started raining as we were driving home, after a lovely walk, an equally enjoyable lunch and another "blow" by the lake, before we headed back to the car. 

A little photo album:

The lake at the Country Park.  Even on a dull day, it looks quite lovely.

The river flows past the country park also and you can walk along its banks.

Dave and James rambling about on the lake shore.  James found a stick - as usual! (he put it back where he found it, on the way back)

The Country Park office sells bags of grain, that you can feed to the water birds.  James still enjoys doing this and found quite a few "friends" today!

Father and Son - see how big James is getting?

We also saw quite a lot of wildlife and plant life on our walk:

The bee looked as if he'd rather have stayed in bed today - too cold.  This robin had a beak full of insects - we could hear his babies in the nearby hedges, squeaking for their food.

The nest is a left-over from last year - it would have been well covered by leaves and greenery, which are only just returning now.  I should think its erstwhile owners are busy building a new one just now!

There was a lot of fungus growing all over the tree, in these sort of overlapping scales. 

The willow trees are beginning to sprout leaves and there are catkins everywhere.  Quite a lot of teazels, bullrushes and reeds are left over from the winter, but the new ones will be growing soon.

I found a patch of primroses, nestling under some trees and a cowslip coming into bloom.  There will soon be a big variety of wildflowers blooming, but it's quite exposed by the lake, so only the very brave and hardy are out just yet!  The hedges are also beginning to flower - the May Blossom (Blackthorn) is out, but I forgot to photograph it!

We had been admiring various pieces of wood sculpture, dotted around the lake and car park area.  We came upon the wood carver's yard, with the carver himself, hard at work.

A Giant Tortoise, an Owl...

...a squirrel, a badger...

...hedgehog, barn owl...

a leveret (or rabbit?), a grass snake...

and a dog named Danny - presumably someone's pet.

We had a lovely time today and I do think it's blown away most of the cobwebs.  It's still rather dull and rainy, but I certainly feel more awake than I have for days - James seems more lively too.  It was definitely worth making the effort to get out into the fresh air and countryside.

But this is what Sherlock did while we were out!

Wishing everyone a Happy and Blessed Easter!  We have the family coming over tomorrow, so it will be a busy day.