tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83628361387117544902024-03-13T08:45:51.864+00:00I'm Trying, Honestly!Winifredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12415302188575538163noreply@blogger.comBlogger305125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8362836138711754490.post-21550345265694913722022-09-08T18:43:00.005+01:002022-09-08T18:44:35.410+01:00The End of a Reign & the Passing of an Era<p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg4TKEx5EYzxOLS5qCvWqdYpC_uspyu1itphwqkP5pLTX0sFcb7zPCqfCYjFx422sopGgtd1gf-szQvUm629JJqV6EzF51uGPHQCIX1gf0eDBpgFmqgSKkt694JMEag7zpGNtFEzdhDUCbIQyvadhwKJDSI-MJ0W5dVhUfhrYEov9qI3dzo0A_mfbEmEQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="800" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg4TKEx5EYzxOLS5qCvWqdYpC_uspyu1itphwqkP5pLTX0sFcb7zPCqfCYjFx422sopGgtd1gf-szQvUm629JJqV6EzF51uGPHQCIX1gf0eDBpgFmqgSKkt694JMEag7zpGNtFEzdhDUCbIQyvadhwKJDSI-MJ0W5dVhUfhrYEov9qI3dzo0A_mfbEmEQ=w551-h275" width="551" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">It's the day that most of us have dreaded even those who are not royalists. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Many of us grew up with her and have seen a long momentous reign in her life of service. It's such a massive loss and a shock. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">She will never be replaced.</span></p><p><br /></p>Winifredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12415302188575538163noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8362836138711754490.post-78618980428324882492022-05-29T22:24:00.002+01:002022-05-29T22:30:20.287+01:00The Platinum Jubilee <p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis_gKo4TNd_9ZmGzdwADFfRPY_rqbhiDhkyoWzLVlKdkz9wUOMI8LMgR9uTHhpsolBr4VRak2EzAAcx3sQkk5zJwqKiNGJs4utcPsAOJoXrCdPh2GQSJM7iBh0ik6bS4EZ18YJrfP1o_q70tIJGhFj6oUhlpXEcMBIx9uGYajOY5AaPHdI4U4e5qAhhw/s800/70%20800.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="800" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis_gKo4TNd_9ZmGzdwADFfRPY_rqbhiDhkyoWzLVlKdkz9wUOMI8LMgR9uTHhpsolBr4VRak2EzAAcx3sQkk5zJwqKiNGJs4utcPsAOJoXrCdPh2GQSJM7iBh0ik6bS4EZ18YJrfP1o_q70tIJGhFj6oUhlpXEcMBIx9uGYajOY5AaPHdI4U4e5qAhhw/s320/70%20800.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;">Hard to believe it's 70 years since the coronation. I remember it well, it was the time that the sales of televisions really took off, that we collected royal photographs at school to make scrap books, we got new dresses to wear for the day & were given coronation mugs. </span></div><p></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I'm not an ardent royalist but have to say the Queen has been an admirable </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">monarch, we won't see another with her qualities. </span></div><p></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">T</span><span style="font-family: verdana;">onight I </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">watched a </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">delightful programme on telly about her. The BBC's </span><i style="font-family: verdana;"><b><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-61585182" target="_blank">The Unseen Queen</a></b></i><span style="font-family: verdana;"> shows the </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">Queen & her </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">f</span><span style="font-family: verdana;">amily's private life in videos, many of the </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">photos & videos </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">were taken by the Queen herself & her family & have never been shown publicly. </span></div><p></p></blockquote><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span><br /> </span><span> </span> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgae1lt0dicAhjHiPFPjNorCGv6jZmADI0B8BeCS-sNN2Vjm_BxcD-lvm12um52BrhkL7Oew_YquErA9Ifehck34LMb9G3NeAE0PXT6764ipTmvdW_tlQCq7pOOSz35SDw_CXZqHcBt-DSsxfLapFzjXarg8VZbjqniNrc0tcRNHyfI6K-Pi6ipAKIK4w/s2000/1171094.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="2000" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgae1lt0dicAhjHiPFPjNorCGv6jZmADI0B8BeCS-sNN2Vjm_BxcD-lvm12um52BrhkL7Oew_YquErA9Ifehck34LMb9G3NeAE0PXT6764ipTmvdW_tlQCq7pOOSz35SDw_CXZqHcBt-DSsxfLapFzjXarg8VZbjqniNrc0tcRNHyfI6K-Pi6ipAKIK4w/w537-h202/1171094.jpg" width="537" /></a></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span> </span><span> </span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>There are extracts from a number of her speeches and some lovely comments <span>& qu</span>otations which show her wonderful qualities & strength of character.</span><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>My favourite quotation she used is this Australian Aboriginee proverb:</span><br /></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span><span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> <i><b>We are all visitors to this time, this place, </b></i></span></span></span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><b>we are just passing through. </b></i></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><b>Our purpose here is to observe, lo learn, to grow, to love .... </b></i></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><b>and then we return home.</b></i></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Watch it if you get the chance, it's well worth it compared to the depressing stuff we're subjected to. </span></p>Winifredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12415302188575538163noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8362836138711754490.post-83691100725284347562022-02-16T23:07:00.003+00:002022-02-16T23:32:07.616+00:00Fettle Those Finishes!<p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://archiethewonderdog.blogspot.com/2022/01/fettle-those-finishes-link-party.html" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1777" data-original-width="1777" height="341" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjXFqAp6mN9k-sK6oNL0wmV15qHJr3wHALu1lHwhQYvzAQ38vzlTY9_fDq6NRjw2fm8C7VxcrlMVQ6zSJknXEx2nWX65n0wVragS6ln8US3N_AoV2gBOoAOyRUwZh3DwoYToI6XWABv188FiMKyRZ86m06I4txYysLDCy6lglCkcW46RmL0ctfRYf5Kog=w341-h341" width="341" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Just in case you're wondering what "fettle" means well in this case it means to sort and complete the unfinished things I've started that are lying about the place. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I came across the idea<a href="https://archiethewonderdog.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"> here</a> on the lovely <a href="https://archiethewonderdog.blogspot.com/p/fettle-those-finishes-list-2022.html" target="_blank">Archie the Wonderdog</a> website. It's basically a group of people linked by that picture above who are fettling their finishes. I'm hoping that joining this link of people doing the same thing will spur me on when I see how they're doing. Well that's the idea.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I started to go through all the items I've started to make and are now languishing in the place I call the "sewing room" (it's not just for sewing) and there's so many so I'm making a list. That should shame me, Catholic guilt no doubt!</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The list isn't comprehensive and it's limited to sewing!!!!</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I apologise for the photos, some are terrible as mostly they're from my Nokia phone which isn't fantastic & neither am I at using it! Must get a new USB for my camera!</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b>THE LIST</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>1. Log Cabin Square - </b>Started about 2 years ago </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEieO8uRKzBYf3_a0YjPyVm_MBAli7wuPY8MXs6wwU3MX_BuxizFHe-bcn98wrm1aP4bM4ELxQk28qAmenJsWpdJhbq3qdjhBXN4tHz_Q2-axqNB8vXmRlD5-TAxCE_8-Y4Aa3xCkpgOaPAdQ_Xr9Cjo9pOxYq5I5p-CpRGC3rsdCuEv19NC_CWrP-VWjA=s3648" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="447" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEieO8uRKzBYf3_a0YjPyVm_MBAli7wuPY8MXs6wwU3MX_BuxizFHe-bcn98wrm1aP4bM4ELxQk28qAmenJsWpdJhbq3qdjhBXN4tHz_Q2-axqNB8vXmRlD5-TAxCE_8-Y4Aa3xCkpgOaPAdQ_Xr9Cjo9pOxYq5I5p-CpRGC3rsdCuEv19NC_CWrP-VWjA=w596-h447" width="596" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">I started this about 2 years ago after I found an old BBC Book which had covered a TV series on patchwork. It's been lying about as I couldn't decide what size to make the cushion. Like Topsy it just growed! Eventually I stopped at 26" but needed a backing & at that point the Lockdown started. So it's been lying around since then. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Now I think I might make it into a firescreen cover as I've got sick of the existing embroidered ship picture. If I make it a loose cover I can change it, maybe at Christmas. Well that's the current thinking.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>2. Campervan Cushion </b>- Started early January 2022 </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiLDhd5pZABfWB7mirtw3so3MCBpSqNhDBgfaC6Gmrsz35zFdzCsLzSQxJ7QCCn2qFDxkiMwLHc_-Md_Lfqd6ZnMKugxMNASKk0pGeKTWMzUT-nlJQb8CIvAwmf7Q1h3nIy-tW8eifwLDICNLoNFESLo0ES3URBIGBFaiqYsnM2B6kiQ6YSQHXUxP8glg=s3648" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiLDhd5pZABfWB7mirtw3so3MCBpSqNhDBgfaC6Gmrsz35zFdzCsLzSQxJ7QCCn2qFDxkiMwLHc_-Md_Lfqd6ZnMKugxMNASKk0pGeKTWMzUT-nlJQb8CIvAwmf7Q1h3nIy-tW8eifwLDICNLoNFESLo0ES3URBIGBFaiqYsnM2B6kiQ6YSQHXUxP8glg=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">A friend gave me this piece of fabric which is sweet. Just the size for a cushion but trying to decide how to quilt it!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>3. Bag for the Rulers - </b>Started 3 years ago </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgFZn1cQn9Sq7eZDTghulJ5nfjwiDWJbPoDRX2EV6yHWTZ73RnLBjp1j2sBPmdikK4ff2zP1MWpJq0ZryXSw6jKFpiXCrhh6Pqct0WBdj80UThf3EkHnN39N_J93PD9Nwq5bynj6w4GjtRe_2aXke548faXuFB2BJTvpK4-B0kAONZtuRaeCRBrzWxnmQ=s3648" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="473" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgFZn1cQn9Sq7eZDTghulJ5nfjwiDWJbPoDRX2EV6yHWTZ73RnLBjp1j2sBPmdikK4ff2zP1MWpJq0ZryXSw6jKFpiXCrhh6Pqct0WBdj80UThf3EkHnN39N_J93PD9Nwq5bynj6w4GjtRe_2aXke548faXuFB2BJTvpK4-B0kAONZtuRaeCRBrzWxnmQ=w630-h473" width="630" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I started making this as I needed something to hold my rulers when I was going to classes. The idea came after I saw someone break a big expensive ruler in the boot of her car. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiIiYohaByRdi0SNmHAyiYw3f-UAxRFj_431mzI5r9cZNwZxtrgbfAg_Qgqpqetlcayp7ETqHvHuz1hgnFA4MoSsyotEn-NOGU08DLDYuKGpkyLDgleqIdlmyKRTXQJ01XIPQaHef6mgxszlriL5GSvxlBu6GggG9hUYZKHvLFObsNGh4RHuPULUlEstA=s3648" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiIiYohaByRdi0SNmHAyiYw3f-UAxRFj_431mzI5r9cZNwZxtrgbfAg_Qgqpqetlcayp7ETqHvHuz1hgnFA4MoSsyotEn-NOGU08DLDYuKGpkyLDgleqIdlmyKRTXQJ01XIPQaHef6mgxszlriL5GSvxlBu6GggG9hUYZKHvLFObsNGh4RHuPULUlEstA=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">On a trip to one of the Harrogate quilting exhibitions a friend & I had bought one of those rolls of 2</span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; text-align: center;">½”</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> fabric strips which was cheap. However it wasn't the bargain we thought as the strips were not too straight. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">My friend had stitched hers into two large rectangles to make a big bag to hold her rulers. So I decided to do the same. At the moment it's two pieces of quilted strips waiting for the lining & straps to be added. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>4. Hexagon Sewing Case </b>- Started December 2021</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEheDDa2leRMf-Kb_uOcL8FZzrSip7B1q--iV7a8QzvtvowM-s0aEN8vBcd8nnIBKiie8hxfKjpMMfImz1xNCD4K5POqr9xBrsEYztMQokPYLULFljeChy5V3C5W_b186fYNrQ1RdhMMaqTFIcWf7sijJqkv_oFA0xHyondvuaAsaOdn5yPPUVCYuwJX0Q" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEheDDa2leRMf-Kb_uOcL8FZzrSip7B1q--iV7a8QzvtvowM-s0aEN8vBcd8nnIBKiie8hxfKjpMMfImz1xNCD4K5POqr9xBrsEYztMQokPYLULFljeChy5V3C5W_b186fYNrQ1RdhMMaqTFIcWf7sijJqkv_oFA0xHyondvuaAsaOdn5yPPUVCYuwJX0Q=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">On the web I came across a lovely lady, Emma. She makes beautiful items mainly using Liberty fabrics. She is absolutely delightful, her videos are so inspiring and she is so calm and clear in her instructions on her website </span><a href="https://www.vintagesewingbox.co.uk/about.html" style="font-family: verdana;" target="_blank">Vintage Sewing Box</a><span style="font-family: verdana;">. I'm adapting my sewing case from one she has made and using some of my Liberty Tana Lawn to make the teeny tiny hexagons on a lovely chambray I've been saving. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>5. Numerous Hexagons </b>- Started abut 4 years ago</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg9v6GrPQSXaWNoWZZ6g4IoCHMo-b4QqCThOtVaTCRlIVYKvTnnvvqNuHq1LNBUnqtdqicI-gLcPSiByzg8JZi8MAY80NHWzwiuUJ0ZRrNXYI1M6N0WvoOWZFPlP4sE59m5DO5fbbLiwY3MJPTBQnqNKpb6KiF7P_p5uvufkIPvkXjllqYfKmBWMnDsmw=s3648" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg9v6GrPQSXaWNoWZZ6g4IoCHMo-b4QqCThOtVaTCRlIVYKvTnnvvqNuHq1LNBUnqtdqicI-gLcPSiByzg8JZi8MAY80NHWzwiuUJ0ZRrNXYI1M6N0WvoOWZFPlP4sE59m5DO5fbbLiwY3MJPTBQnqNKpb6KiF7P_p5uvufkIPvkXjllqYfKmBWMnDsmw=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Goodness knows what I'll do with these, I just keep making them now and again. There's LOTS more!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>6. Little Quilted Sewing Case </b>- Started summer 2020</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I needed a little sewing case to carry a pair of scissors, seam ripper, hold pins & needles & maybe some embroidery threads. Started this & got sick of it. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgDkeRkqm-o7SjYykC1dNcmgnIX2oUAUTBnEYTYa3wn4ockxA_W3v7dRr5BEi4Z2n7UGZoxoszadIkmQgFouj1n0LxkqHmfjk6s_SK3FO12gUQ47-psY3kk29isTIlomARY-tJpMLbuMmCDihrFh_REtpM8qBAF2fTNo_J6OwsSOBCRiNu829DOXQonTg=s4160" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="3120" height="597" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgDkeRkqm-o7SjYykC1dNcmgnIX2oUAUTBnEYTYa3wn4ockxA_W3v7dRr5BEi4Z2n7UGZoxoszadIkmQgFouj1n0LxkqHmfjk6s_SK3FO12gUQ47-psY3kk29isTIlomARY-tJpMLbuMmCDihrFh_REtpM8qBAF2fTNo_J6OwsSOBCRiNu829DOXQonTg=w447-h597" width="447" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>7. Some Purple & Green Squares? </b>- Started December 2018</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Made these when I first started a quilting class then I left them. No idea why think I just forgot about them & no idea what I'll do with them. Yet!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgwbzmzKzkgnmd5zB-4XfkPoaYlwnPxGgbmS5fT2KRfp3sCLJrByQQYSiynVdLwuDrZb90GB9aUAbZWA7ucXKetmuowa6kbfVFCCoouy0sx9MNmR8iOC632e48uo7UhVpFw-rkRJ_5Mw7QfoQX9-sZ23F8hZyw5AmPeIWKSaE0YS6EH6scX8L_OMY5VgA=s4160" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="3120" height="613" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgwbzmzKzkgnmd5zB-4XfkPoaYlwnPxGgbmS5fT2KRfp3sCLJrByQQYSiynVdLwuDrZb90GB9aUAbZWA7ucXKetmuowa6kbfVFCCoouy0sx9MNmR8iOC632e48uo7UhVpFw-rkRJ_5Mw7QfoQX9-sZ23F8hZyw5AmPeIWKSaE0YS6EH6scX8L_OMY5VgA=w460-h613" width="460" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>8. Christmas Yo Yo Picture </b> - Started October 2020</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">A couple of years ago I saw this lovely Christmas picture made from rich silky fabrics. Took me too long to collect the fabrics so I put them away & then winter forgot about them until I pulled out the box with all my unfinished stuff for this list! I have about twenty yo yos (or Suffolk Puffs as some people call them) made!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhEArhvxtd9VdJ-gHuvryR5cQCZdGPhazTsHL403PSqlgtP6S33t5mQ_WDtxXLHwhYVBNXEtIga3fkOyZAbXEoCxlpWq2JKAH10UaE719WVKQ9xe62D3EKKTnBJAjxW3w8My0adn9rB9ssVqHAw2x_jcmMKc0oSqcg4EEMyvhXYd7JGUQuX_ZL7DeSIVA=s564" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="564" data-original-width="503" height="536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhEArhvxtd9VdJ-gHuvryR5cQCZdGPhazTsHL403PSqlgtP6S33t5mQ_WDtxXLHwhYVBNXEtIga3fkOyZAbXEoCxlpWq2JKAH10UaE719WVKQ9xe62D3EKKTnBJAjxW3w8My0adn9rB9ssVqHAw2x_jcmMKc0oSqcg4EEMyvhXYd7JGUQuX_ZL7DeSIVA=w477-h536" width="477" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>9. Foundation Paper Piecing </b>- Summer 2019 </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I haven't taken to FPP, </span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> I find it a struggle. I'm sure it's down to my lack of spatial awareness which seems to deteriorate as I age.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I tried a couple of cat ones but didn't have much success. This was a mystery pattern from a German lady. I have sewn a few pieces but gave up. </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">I must try harder!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">No idea what I'll make with it, I just liked the picture.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi8XTGuWHbVYQhxq_PaAS9N-fHDrlZdIi8dllEGRLdGdAfnNE0564Eu5ryxA7EpmPdpOWL5XzqbrHuGbfS_Dci0drfW9wrnJbB779AD__1v_eOuC4bx6nmENIdfsKqpBWdvtNNi07wuJtwayq9UaDH_1QMQyO2ki1fW948Y-eW0eRG6ulzb2iyOYvtv4w=s658" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="658" data-original-width="494" height="501" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi8XTGuWHbVYQhxq_PaAS9N-fHDrlZdIi8dllEGRLdGdAfnNE0564Eu5ryxA7EpmPdpOWL5XzqbrHuGbfS_Dci0drfW9wrnJbB779AD__1v_eOuC4bx6nmENIdfsKqpBWdvtNNi07wuJtwayq9UaDH_1QMQyO2ki1fW948Y-eW0eRG6ulzb2iyOYvtv4w=w377-h501" width="377" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"> <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj77CeIAIq6OdGagd3ZBeimhkx0NytI8MshTTPI1JLmYA7daFLjoQ_Wt00nhonkP0u2MoOAj53tlJFzpMoGXxx6jMjVrPX3UZld_5eVcaG65MR_mRvKwR8p7BWPc_dd5rN8Chss1gw_yHW1TO5yk4cxbOuNEhQXJbVCN3AOQ5ogrOYLpHXnHkryJghi6w=s800" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj77CeIAIq6OdGagd3ZBeimhkx0NytI8MshTTPI1JLmYA7daFLjoQ_Wt00nhonkP0u2MoOAj53tlJFzpMoGXxx6jMjVrPX3UZld_5eVcaG65MR_mRvKwR8p7BWPc_dd5rN8Chss1gw_yHW1TO5yk4cxbOuNEhQXJbVCN3AOQ5ogrOYLpHXnHkryJghi6w=w380-h285" width="380" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>10. Mini Quilt - <a href="https://www.elefantz.com/2020/07/a-quiet-life-free-pattern.html" target="_blank">Mini Quilt - Jenny of Elefantz</a> </b>- Started Summer 2019</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I love Jennifer's website she has a wonderul way of writing about her family life in Australia and her faith. She is really inspiring and has lots of free patterns for quilting and embroidery as well as fantastic recipes. It's a real treat to read her blog. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This is Jenny's photo of her mini quillt. It's a mixture of patchwork, applique & hand quilting. The pattern is free <a href="https://www.thebowesmuseum.org.uk/Exhibitions/2021/North-Country-Quilts-In-Celebration-of-New-Acquisitions" target="_blank">here</a> on her blog.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhYfhzHrNkUWvbODx6RxQEkY1sGnN77PCkabteO2HzrWTh0Gf_bDhluhyRvBlo8Vmvn6Pp4yAZJ4ayO-6TsZoHR66T_9hE8hwTevS4GdcnzLA0ciIEcb_Mug09lCauYsqam9hBbdFv-BOM04CmGeBp76BjOsPQ-cETJzeqkN7gyoYkvv1G8_51Ch7fLuQ=s640" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="607" data-original-width="640" height="508" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhYfhzHrNkUWvbODx6RxQEkY1sGnN77PCkabteO2HzrWTh0Gf_bDhluhyRvBlo8Vmvn6Pp4yAZJ4ayO-6TsZoHR66T_9hE8hwTevS4GdcnzLA0ciIEcb_Mug09lCauYsqam9hBbdFv-BOM04CmGeBp76BjOsPQ-cETJzeqkN7gyoYkvv1G8_51Ch7fLuQ=w534-h508" width="534" /></a></div></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This is as far as I've got. Hopefully it will eventually reside in my downstairs loo!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi2KrNfaFtTAI-rXgn_vJ-KUiJxayX2i2Vcr94ychOHc1gUWJwLCAMKaIuOb98nh7qox-LzJD0vfLsoVIswSB7T30Ufz_kTcvi8Lbk6uZMdZa5U2j9ui_8tYgWy6BI7ZhvHHD7ujrAZL-dwWuydSCB87PlYfCBmVS_vwbynP84QHoneDdoE8iDx0wWO0A=s4160" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="3120" height="489" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi2KrNfaFtTAI-rXgn_vJ-KUiJxayX2i2Vcr94ychOHc1gUWJwLCAMKaIuOb98nh7qox-LzJD0vfLsoVIswSB7T30Ufz_kTcvi8Lbk6uZMdZa5U2j9ui_8tYgWy6BI7ZhvHHD7ujrAZL-dwWuydSCB87PlYfCBmVS_vwbynP84QHoneDdoE8iDx0wWO0A=w367-h489" width="367" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>12. Christmas Cushions </b>- Started December 2021</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgGpiljSKm1LC9pnKYLwbNUHHJjcxBw1-zVIZHo-O7bs0FNkEvbcKgwVH5T9NpvINwXfl60f0D0htHqT-yUl1ce1HqxPuYea4xpC70eLBjbgmINPg-1l7OCa0S_IRzp-poU6Pv3GvZqHJPHOtWSbYES98TUPMrnuVfDgLpKRPjd1QuOOE7Hju-j88NriA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgGpiljSKm1LC9pnKYLwbNUHHJjcxBw1-zVIZHo-O7bs0FNkEvbcKgwVH5T9NpvINwXfl60f0D0htHqT-yUl1ce1HqxPuYea4xpC70eLBjbgmINPg-1l7OCa0S_IRzp-poU6Pv3GvZqHJPHOtWSbYES98TUPMrnuVfDgLpKRPjd1QuOOE7Hju-j88NriA=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div>I've already completed one in traditional colours here </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi3XzEOPFYYdB5bkh-XPWd2SeNwZ5VY_YYyOIsvQqfZP7jqHaCTHfHJoNowfqgSsQ6WHfYYXifw0KsrtasJdtfeN7kigZeuUu0vRkuAlzP6WZ76XFlzfGOZhz7MJWmU9i2_fJJytz-mUlCrO6SHmwvLxQr6OqvHYMXlPQa0BMD3KMK8HKctFWF2KmM4zg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi3XzEOPFYYdB5bkh-XPWd2SeNwZ5VY_YYyOIsvQqfZP7jqHaCTHfHJoNowfqgSsQ6WHfYYXifw0KsrtasJdtfeN7kigZeuUu0vRkuAlzP6WZ76XFlzfGOZhz7MJWmU9i2_fJJytz-mUlCrO6SHmwvLxQr6OqvHYMXlPQa0BMD3KMK8HKctFWF2KmM4zg=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">but fancied trying softer shades. Not so keen on the blue one but will need to finish it. </span></div><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>13. Sanderson Star Cushion - </b>Bought Pattern - now awaiting fabric</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgF0dytmUJPsGDD1X4ISbZ7kRrNRoFw9ANL7JCKNG_50r3wAkgeik5geAMIZpmIqjaXzDxBQuyzAFVgk6NM5fpBkikqMSDzF7PdRIf1y1B_uAI0H5FULIfhvclVR7WrlmJxEcxqcxLLf84nCrheSzgvwyqOQ0CE9pRv9q44NwO9h_UqBtSJx2p3OF2AIQ=s187" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="187" data-original-width="182" height="528" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgF0dytmUJPsGDD1X4ISbZ7kRrNRoFw9ANL7JCKNG_50r3wAkgeik5geAMIZpmIqjaXzDxBQuyzAFVgk6NM5fpBkikqMSDzF7PdRIf1y1B_uAI0H5FULIfhvclVR7WrlmJxEcxqcxLLf84nCrheSzgvwyqOQ0CE9pRv9q44NwO9h_UqBtSJx2p3OF2AIQ=w514-h528" width="514" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I bought the pattern for this cushion at the Northern Quilts Exhibition at Bowes Museum last month & am waiting for the fabric to be delivered. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The pattern is still available on the </span><a href="https://www.thebowesmuseum.org.uk/Exhibitions/2021/North-Country-Quilts-In-Celebration-of-New-Acquisitions" style="font-family: verdana;" target="_blank">Bowes Museum Shop</a> <span style="font-family: verdana;">for anyone interested in handquilting. </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">It's a bit ambitious for me but I want something to sit and quilt at night when the evenings are light.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Maybe this one should be in the Waiting List as it hasn't really been started yet but I'm trying to avoid starting any more things. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;">14. M</span><span style="font-family: verdana;">ultiple Cross Stitch things!</span></b></p><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I'm ashamed to say I have loads of these and some are over twenty years old. At least my sewing stuff isn't that old! I doubt I'll get many of these finished but I'll try. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Hopefully I'll finish some of these items on my list and report back on my progress. Well that's the idea!</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Think I'll finish now & will go and check on my fellow "fettlers" to see how they're getting on.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p></div>
Winifredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12415302188575538163noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8362836138711754490.post-47857847780083120672021-10-12T23:29:00.004+01:002021-10-12T23:29:47.506+01:00The Earthshot Prize: Repairing Our Planet<p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizdLFJIz48MZ_y5JaThfLKp1WblNSXkOULJwtZw63tYrB20aJotQg_YC-3eO56XLRXb41gY5dCecTZz4AdZttC5RFmetvVbp_PGefZDNmtAIWSLjCyLaSzN8PFU1vmpugXF7-3eVapLWxd/s905/Earthshot.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="635" data-original-width="905" height="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizdLFJIz48MZ_y5JaThfLKp1WblNSXkOULJwtZw63tYrB20aJotQg_YC-3eO56XLRXb41gY5dCecTZz4AdZttC5RFmetvVbp_PGefZDNmtAIWSLjCyLaSzN8PFU1vmpugXF7-3eVapLWxd/w640-h450/Earthshot.png" width="640" /></a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">If you get the chance, watch this BBC programme about repairing our planet. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">It's introduced by David Attenborough & Prince William and it's a wonderful series about the damage we have done across the world but it's also an uplifting programme too looking at ways to repair the damage caused by nature and by greedy people and companies.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Tonight Shakira spoke about what the ocean means to her and some of the issues and solutions available today. Fishing or rather overfishing is just one of the problems and how technology can help to manage the monitoring and protection of the seas. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><p></p>Winifredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12415302188575538163noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8362836138711754490.post-8752333955142412342021-10-11T01:57:00.001+01:002021-10-11T01:57:35.281+01:00A Sunday Morning Autumn Walk<p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVn5ic20pras97PcaBOVXSjSe-wVP40G7pAPqEyfUvnMewT88Ka3V_t9ClyXrZ6dqOC8YQ4Ugbx-O9kUSvx1wJKwDtmYuXsciIZTtgTtP7QOEFz6EnHB1rmoT792RbJPSSaNHddId4oQi3/s2048/00.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVn5ic20pras97PcaBOVXSjSe-wVP40G7pAPqEyfUvnMewT88Ka3V_t9ClyXrZ6dqOC8YQ4Ugbx-O9kUSvx1wJKwDtmYuXsciIZTtgTtP7QOEFz6EnHB1rmoT792RbJPSSaNHddId4oQi3/w640-h480/00.jpg" width="640" /></a><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">My daughter asked us to look after her dog Esther this morning. It was such a glorious morning we decided to take her for a walk. Can't believe how sunny and warm it was for October, hardly a cloud in the sky.</span><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">These are just some random photos I took along the riverside walk. My camera is still on the blink so I used the phone although its camera isn't brilliant. I must remember to remove the Nokia watermark from the phone and ask Santa Claus for a new camera!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5985uXWfKJgstfvXWilehtmz3LY7P926_zXNB7QylMmjmsbBSluQoqwJjsxAzJ4xGzAm4usqCLIxYd2Cujhn92qk8E3NhytZpZlOiEtiALKiXAREFvU5KfhP9dXxiGjY-b7UX5DfZIyZB/s4160/IMG_20211010_120118.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3120" data-original-width="4160" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5985uXWfKJgstfvXWilehtmz3LY7P926_zXNB7QylMmjmsbBSluQoqwJjsxAzJ4xGzAm4usqCLIxYd2Cujhn92qk8E3NhytZpZlOiEtiALKiXAREFvU5KfhP9dXxiGjY-b7UX5DfZIyZB/w640-h480/IMG_20211010_120118.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">My main worry would be what if the river floods! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEHYsBBuunSss0izRsCSiCwLsidD4zNcElZRBa6GnK1BhsS0uGBJ0yYw1F7sBOgK6g7pbJrqq3vQbU0_TMnfOXUGRz4TjjmLit-mQVeeaDDAAS3KgZfftzQsKIdfCiN_cCfjrm_Wr1tEhN/s4160/IMG_20211010_115715.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3120" data-original-width="4160" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEHYsBBuunSss0izRsCSiCwLsidD4zNcElZRBa6GnK1BhsS0uGBJ0yYw1F7sBOgK6g7pbJrqq3vQbU0_TMnfOXUGRz4TjjmLit-mQVeeaDDAAS3KgZfftzQsKIdfCiN_cCfjrm_Wr1tEhN/w640-h480/IMG_20211010_115715.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">The houses on the opposite side are nice too but there's a road in front of them.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6xHJa_fh-kzXpx8r2TpVGVxSm5ceCC28C06RPvJ_FgmMl9RXNtMcxfDmc9bhRzjem6GEcjo7mt3IvJYo5RQifnWuUyc4eoYvJGe5WKgx_2iNlT4bgom-R6b8v42Hdjw-4-VjDBCZgZAnP/s4160/IMG_20211010_120316.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3120" data-original-width="4160" height="479" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6xHJa_fh-kzXpx8r2TpVGVxSm5ceCC28C06RPvJ_FgmMl9RXNtMcxfDmc9bhRzjem6GEcjo7mt3IvJYo5RQifnWuUyc4eoYvJGe5WKgx_2iNlT4bgom-R6b8v42Hdjw-4-VjDBCZgZAnP/w640-h479/IMG_20211010_120316.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijpPXpnupPCrXs5QbsA3L8lPpZX7054JAMRXpbwSXZIK7M5TRIpfwHux6EYMCktiHnRIf6RzTIUhxE4LbXtCXQGGoKadHROpWgk2X7EwGhYumMasrcVTNE-GtTWruyZrBI5yP9X8QgYsxu/s4160/IMG_20211010_115402.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3120" data-original-width="4160" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijpPXpnupPCrXs5QbsA3L8lPpZX7054JAMRXpbwSXZIK7M5TRIpfwHux6EYMCktiHnRIf6RzTIUhxE4LbXtCXQGGoKadHROpWgk2X7EwGhYumMasrcVTNE-GtTWruyZrBI5yP9X8QgYsxu/w640-h480/IMG_20211010_115402.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">There's a lovely park and lake nearby but today we were just following the river as we've never walked this far along the riverside.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbRGAXqWZYjcOucZYYsR0SaFL4rFvtEoNZiaDQLCjf-4G5mY9ejALbi9Ooe9bizlv-ZoZaGCgPMYPmfOFCrLrBYtgtFDysDcLLZq-4GW1l6xEbyGAaFqpigT25m-tG3q5YI__zBLtQ-35x/s4160/IMG_20211010_120417.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3120" data-original-width="4160" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbRGAXqWZYjcOucZYYsR0SaFL4rFvtEoNZiaDQLCjf-4G5mY9ejALbi9Ooe9bizlv-ZoZaGCgPMYPmfOFCrLrBYtgtFDysDcLLZq-4GW1l6xEbyGAaFqpigT25m-tG3q5YI__zBLtQ-35x/w640-h480/IMG_20211010_120417.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMTA7zjPOKiawnz1h7rwYVYS-EqEaWrf9Qz1dUEczHZ7U8qa_XZnGa4wWKaDIstB7737DAsKHNmAYSoeT6HuzEmnuETLSfMG__p227Gz1JrRbjcy_hfHLmPe3N-UeGzpKtRxDldJY7ThNC/s4160/IMG_20211010_120406.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3120" data-original-width="4160" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMTA7zjPOKiawnz1h7rwYVYS-EqEaWrf9Qz1dUEczHZ7U8qa_XZnGa4wWKaDIstB7737DAsKHNmAYSoeT6HuzEmnuETLSfMG__p227Gz1JrRbjcy_hfHLmPe3N-UeGzpKtRxDldJY7ThNC/w640-h480/IMG_20211010_120406.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt5t9TSzbAjo4oWxWJmh7rgjNXx-ygXHhfXNbWhFD1vgASVSoJsECZC3kSwFxoMlV7Rm3OImsJy1U_f6AorXAJ4QKdZLowYArw8RFU8EbAAbradjt4XJktLdXmQ2pUUfvZ4xYMONTPJ2gb/s4160/IMG_20211010_111138.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3120" data-original-width="4160" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt5t9TSzbAjo4oWxWJmh7rgjNXx-ygXHhfXNbWhFD1vgASVSoJsECZC3kSwFxoMlV7Rm3OImsJy1U_f6AorXAJ4QKdZLowYArw8RFU8EbAAbradjt4XJktLdXmQ2pUUfvZ4xYMONTPJ2gb/w640-h480/IMG_20211010_111138.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Sf7FK_69IswQeNIRdr5VPJniX74xgvDEDYSjzBdiFVtXe7qh-pa9p2Dd7C7nzpi1e6I9FZ6K2Tl9WaSRaKaIN5B1l_-Y2GLRqEWWX6PjcuaOAvdInQkedo__mGtxU1X9rcKqiEbwnwm0/s4160/IMG_20211010_111936.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="3120" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Sf7FK_69IswQeNIRdr5VPJniX74xgvDEDYSjzBdiFVtXe7qh-pa9p2Dd7C7nzpi1e6I9FZ6K2Tl9WaSRaKaIN5B1l_-Y2GLRqEWWX6PjcuaOAvdInQkedo__mGtxU1X9rcKqiEbwnwm0/w480-h640/IMG_20211010_111936.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">It felt like being in The Lord of the Rings scenery. The trees were amazing. They would have looked better if I had stood still to take the photos instead of trying to keep up with my husband and the dog.</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuBXmQvN8DRfSj_dHe2Z-Et_6S0BfMGJJWcasgQ5KThNpuXIguMjwrejPOmVsRo5OX7dve6mb653TH2OAFU9rYsdVRKG5Z7EtGET7ntQWm4t2pauTm-xgyeOV0KuIfj26DFl9BgeWuBHLq/s4160/IMG_20211010_111121.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3120" data-original-width="4160" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuBXmQvN8DRfSj_dHe2Z-Et_6S0BfMGJJWcasgQ5KThNpuXIguMjwrejPOmVsRo5OX7dve6mb653TH2OAFU9rYsdVRKG5Z7EtGET7ntQWm4t2pauTm-xgyeOV0KuIfj26DFl9BgeWuBHLq/w640-h480/IMG_20211010_111121.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCJnVcRr19PyFxve0gxBRbpqpoM-3HvxObqIMjw0zxuBH4DtALiy1AEf8aiZBNgCc4A7qj7Nbd9_t7oPCGLDQoO1feT6HaT93UlVVo7xvJjxptn4gBdbTkxzGcglYIq5tVyiebAj5yR5X4/s4160/IMG_20211010_111111.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3120" data-original-width="4160" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCJnVcRr19PyFxve0gxBRbpqpoM-3HvxObqIMjw0zxuBH4DtALiy1AEf8aiZBNgCc4A7qj7Nbd9_t7oPCGLDQoO1feT6HaT93UlVVo7xvJjxptn4gBdbTkxzGcglYIq5tVyiebAj5yR5X4/w640-h480/IMG_20211010_111111.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhJiVBCT_UFYM1OqZTC28-sEMHDVc5uTLBlpJ0HH3-U8LKgRaTxefl3Lf_KIZzCEw0K0kkQHMy6K0_-PfbA_o73i9ZIntB4-4lTI22uA6uyPO2VjI6tIdNQ9rhrkUTntYz_pYJjUdBZaWJ/s4160/IMG_20211010_113007.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="3120" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhJiVBCT_UFYM1OqZTC28-sEMHDVc5uTLBlpJ0HH3-U8LKgRaTxefl3Lf_KIZzCEw0K0kkQHMy6K0_-PfbA_o73i9ZIntB4-4lTI22uA6uyPO2VjI6tIdNQ9rhrkUTntYz_pYJjUdBZaWJ/w480-h640/IMG_20211010_113007.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSaVto3Bp2wnuRfGQr12TZVhGzMm5D_hXr67KRYLi6Tbr_jLioIjy-wG-1CzzObyp4WYSL46EG7neMQS3guWx0MXss-VPLlDYRaDEas4ZF11-5kt1Ux-NUVwvMFyMxVNvNr-uMIiOVYovz/s4160/IMG_20211010_113050.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="3120" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSaVto3Bp2wnuRfGQr12TZVhGzMm5D_hXr67KRYLi6Tbr_jLioIjy-wG-1CzzObyp4WYSL46EG7neMQS3guWx0MXss-VPLlDYRaDEas4ZF11-5kt1Ux-NUVwvMFyMxVNvNr-uMIiOVYovz/w480-h640/IMG_20211010_113050.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">These roots were totally weird but I would have loved to hide in their when I was little.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHumxzM0o19ty9FVFrS61_cZlyDHVN-LQVnjsb6ioWLPQ1t5SPFHf5i7l_ZwLsl83Whic5JScmZOj7YT04dqv5I4cwsXVwelnNlcT4wZuyip6mNz4tXfEUgMggMBPN-Z36WGCjBhck0Nhyphenhyphen/s4160/IMG_20211010_113130.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3120" data-original-width="4160" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHumxzM0o19ty9FVFrS61_cZlyDHVN-LQVnjsb6ioWLPQ1t5SPFHf5i7l_ZwLsl83Whic5JScmZOj7YT04dqv5I4cwsXVwelnNlcT4wZuyip6mNz4tXfEUgMggMBPN-Z36WGCjBhck0Nhyphenhyphen/w640-h480/IMG_20211010_113130.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIPNC7tdu6m_9AKXLP_9-PIwKp_uegX04JZKNRdbzsfK657y-m5a1yjMmKzC3Z22Xy77caS6vhMHajq0cAFLVfr2go1hOjBTQ7Vh2ZGp5ZGX7YYZwwt0JvS_v64v_OQFmwmLQr5tRNFigY/s4160/IMG_20211010_111446.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3120" data-original-width="4160" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIPNC7tdu6m_9AKXLP_9-PIwKp_uegX04JZKNRdbzsfK657y-m5a1yjMmKzC3Z22Xy77caS6vhMHajq0cAFLVfr2go1hOjBTQ7Vh2ZGp5ZGX7YYZwwt0JvS_v64v_OQFmwmLQr5tRNFigY/w640-h480/IMG_20211010_111446.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Apparently that viaduct was built in the 19th century for the main London to Newcastle railway. I wanted to take a close up photo as the blocks of stone were absolutely huge but the trees were blocking the view when you got near it. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Maybe we can get a better photo next time from the opposite bank of the river. Don't think we'll get such good weather again until next year.</span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><br />Winifredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12415302188575538163noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8362836138711754490.post-82311044769686625712021-10-01T14:57:00.004+01:002022-01-29T21:40:57.588+00:00It's Knitting Time & Time to Learn Something New!<p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://www.deramores.com/products/julie-cardigan-in-patons-fab-dk?variant=21287469416530&utm_source=pinterest&utm_campaign=Julie+Cardigan+in+Patons+Fab+DK" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="548" data-original-width="385" height="486" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhhpkkUw4DguMFpBKHEIHIJFXxWjmSuOg7L__fFR6-_Rn2MZZPAfzX1EtQ6KLxmzwQOTURqHc9D2VWZITIkdeLjebeeLVlib4z_R1cNbY4eVOBXS8MoCXadoLQpCRImpKR_dQ3TZIpPB0b/w342-h486/Free+Patons+Longline+Cardigan.png" width="342" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://www.deramores.com/products/julie-cardigan-in-patons-fab-dk?variant=21287469416530&utm_source=pinterest&utm_campaign=Julie+Cardigan+in+Patons+Fab+DK" target="_blank">Free Digital Longline Hooded Cardigan Pattern</a> <br /><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Well now the nights are cutting in seems like time to start knitting again.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">A few months ago I went a bit doo-lally and bought loads of wool in a website sale. </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">I still say wool, can't get out of the habit & call it yarn which shows my age!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Last week I thought it was a good time to get that big box of wool out of the bedroom & get cracking! </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I saw the free digital pattern when I bought the wool and have started knitting it. Might get it finished if I can keep going with the back & fronts that I decided to knit in one piece up to the armholes so that I didn't have to stitch up the side seams. Not the best of ideas as I don't like knitting on circular needles so in Double Knitting the stitches (over 240) are squashed tight which makes it hard to see if I make a mistake. I do make them because I am usually watching telly when I knit. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The second problem I had was joining the new balls of wool as there are no side seams and no joins at the the front ribs. So this is where I learned something new! After 70 years of knitting there's always something to learn. I did a bit of research on the "tinterweb" and found some good videos showing you how to spit or split splice. They work best on pure wool but after trying a couple of methods I liked <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orQ_FvWx45M" target="_blank">this one by Suzanne Bryan</a> best and have used it three times on acylic now & you can't see the joins which is amazing. It did take a fair bit of rubbing in your palms to get the friction as I have cold hands but the result was good.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Only 4" to go now! I'm making it a bit shorter than the pattern as I'm not very tall. I think I'll be making the sleeves shorter than in the picture too.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I can't find the pattern in Ravelry so I've used the link to it <a href="I still say wool can't get out of the habit & call it yarn which shows my age!" target="_blank">HERE </a>on the Deramores website where I bought the wool. They have quite a lot of free patterns for knitting & crochet and some great Christmas patterns if you haven't already seen this site.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I'm not on commission by the way!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Update</b>!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Finally finished it!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I had problems with the hood. Didn't like the size of it so took it out and started again. I did that twice but still didn't like it so I got out a hoodie and used that as the shapre and knitted it to that. Thankfully it worked.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I still haven't worn it. For some reason it feels fractionally small. Not the length, the arms could do with being an inch or so wider. Might be because I've been wearing really baggy jumpers for a few weeks. It's probably be more of a cool summer day cardi!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><br /></p>Winifredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12415302188575538163noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8362836138711754490.post-58927604728307434862021-09-26T01:38:00.000+01:002021-09-26T01:38:43.500+01:00The Cruise<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1lwfZR_BXV83N8lm6QWS356oKtraVo4yJIP14b8yF3H9_kPMsnRPZVRWPHKWkOSZLdZ3m-Lp59ED4t5xyWZkXEBI2v7e4Ronkmc4VQTxOqnb9BRxtHxy5YYSAv6VWTJzxRkniUO1sZf_c/s3616/North+Shields++adjusted+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2151" data-original-width="3616" height="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1lwfZR_BXV83N8lm6QWS356oKtraVo4yJIP14b8yF3H9_kPMsnRPZVRWPHKWkOSZLdZ3m-Lp59ED4t5xyWZkXEBI2v7e4Ronkmc4VQTxOqnb9BRxtHxy5YYSAv6VWTJzxRkniUO1sZf_c/w640-h380/North+Shields++adjusted+.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">Port of Tyne</span></i></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Well we did get on the cruise after all, Scotland lifted their restrictions to cruise ships entering their ports a few days before we sailed. I should have posted this earlier but have only just managed to download the photos!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I don't have many as we couldn't get off the ship in Shetland and it was a bit misty so the photographs from the ship there were poor. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Well we haven't sailed from the Port of Tyne since the 'eighties when we took the car & sailed on the DFDS ferry to Sweden for a log cabin holiday which was great. Now the ferries only go to Amsterdam so we haven't bothered but maybe we should try a trip next year. but without the car. It's a really small port which is nice to sail from, no horrendous traffic jams or huge queues!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">It was an easy car trip to the port about 45 minutes, should have been 30 but the roadworks struck again as they always do on main roads in the UK in summer. There was an absolutely huge marquee set up in the ferry terminal car park to do the Covid testing which was fairly quick and very efficiently completed.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">We boarded and went to our cabin which was smaller than ones I've had before but it was clean with a small balcony, adequate storage, a big shower & the essential kettle, tea & coffee! This was a Tui ship with primarily UK passengers so they know our habits of needing kettles! </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">It was good sailing out of the port, a lot of new houses and offices have been built along the river. Wish my photos were better!</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgO2NVIDrSTypUt2xjGryDddIom6_Zbn5hvvG4evU97PBcktbPhdFXfiOZI5hU4StYjqT11qCPGYSMvwg2fpHOxR4uk2KbmpI28qx3RaD-B3PtAWZ_qMndf814kZP7dVMCf0RbrgZJq2Gg/s3648/P1130997.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgO2NVIDrSTypUt2xjGryDddIom6_Zbn5hvvG4evU97PBcktbPhdFXfiOZI5hU4StYjqT11qCPGYSMvwg2fpHOxR4uk2KbmpI28qx3RaD-B3PtAWZ_qMndf814kZP7dVMCf0RbrgZJq2Gg/w640-h480/P1130997.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhalE1_8Hr1iNXyFzqf85xENOIeKPUjUklciWyOVq3RI54SZ6WYIgYWZIadcRHGL3XUxqsXMrDM23kzJIEh5Nbwl5m5KYbEa9_XLUZAG2c5VwoKmMfNHR1f6MCR40H-UnipwqsQc0xTKali/s3648/P1140002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhalE1_8Hr1iNXyFzqf85xENOIeKPUjUklciWyOVq3RI54SZ6WYIgYWZIadcRHGL3XUxqsXMrDM23kzJIEh5Nbwl5m5KYbEa9_XLUZAG2c5VwoKmMfNHR1f6MCR40H-UnipwqsQc0xTKali/w640-h480/P1140002.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQRBzyhlWqKmCOhUur5zLQnI_0jf21-pW4p0FzkGQFhG6f6YRdj1ZVCOfMs2E6fXDfcaxeOy4NpiOLcRHYkKfUyIs_V04HIZPBTh02jtm998Vl3zOG59KxqK1Q6k8jYTCpmp0rro9Gw4tJ/s3648/P1140004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQRBzyhlWqKmCOhUur5zLQnI_0jf21-pW4p0FzkGQFhG6f6YRdj1ZVCOfMs2E6fXDfcaxeOy4NpiOLcRHYkKfUyIs_V04HIZPBTh02jtm998Vl3zOG59KxqK1Q6k8jYTCpmp0rro9Gw4tJ/w640-h480/P1140004.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_ast7xy-WCzj7o2uXkL2lx1CGZpDrtkSVlP6dds0Dwfqu3rq0KPOQlOk-qWWTy7i85X9p55XskU7liZqS47uNS9ApVpw1Xb-CLT-PJbOpOzy4_lqEgfG2HuOK50k2TflPKiZ6K0lSeUx7/s3648/P1140005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_ast7xy-WCzj7o2uXkL2lx1CGZpDrtkSVlP6dds0Dwfqu3rq0KPOQlOk-qWWTy7i85X9p55XskU7liZqS47uNS9ApVpw1Xb-CLT-PJbOpOzy4_lqEgfG2HuOK50k2TflPKiZ6K0lSeUx7/w640-h480/P1140005.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzUns8dgpKSusdj1EvFY3COYTMI9W73upCTCgbgyqkFwTUs0KKrgOvH1Vj-YAEoEgbF-Csr7L47g4oWcN-boW42HEHUGZ8fNucInZwhQVNF87Wij_vk9rcIBqp9hHFwmYmsNdkeIvIuBLd/s3648/P1140008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzUns8dgpKSusdj1EvFY3COYTMI9W73upCTCgbgyqkFwTUs0KKrgOvH1Vj-YAEoEgbF-Csr7L47g4oWcN-boW42HEHUGZ8fNucInZwhQVNF87Wij_vk9rcIBqp9hHFwmYmsNdkeIvIuBLd/w640-h480/P1140008.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><br /></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I've never sailed with Tui or Marella cruises as they are called now and I'm not doing a cruise review here as there are lots of them around on the cruise sites. What I will comment on are the things that struck me sailing in a time of a pandemic.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">There were numerous regulations which had to be adhered to and the ship was only half full as they weren't booking the inside cabins. Not sure I could hack one of these at the best of times we like a bit of fresh air especially in the morning and we hate air conditioning. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">You had to wear a mask walking around the ship, in the shops, theatre and only four people at a time were allowed in the lifts. You could take your mask off once you were seated in a restaurant or cafe but had to put them on if you got up to get food. All food, drinks & cutlery had to be served by staff to you even in the buffet and cafes. This seems a great idea & one that they should continue with to reduce the problems of the common Norovirus on some cruise ships.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">They were not allowing people off the ships in the ports we were sailig to unless you were booked on a ship's excursion. I suppose this was to minimise the risk of bringing infection back to the ship and we knew this before we booked. The only ports we were visiting were all Scottish, Invergordon, Dundee and Lerwick and to be truthful we weren't bothered about going on the ship's excursions. It was great just to be on holiday with no shopping, cooking or housework and watching the sea from the balcony.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">We did an excursion to Glamis Castle in Dundee which is the home of the Earl of Strathmore and it was the home of the Queen Mother before she married King George VI and Princess Margaret was born there.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQv-ANxYlV9YF-7ibKizem4PnQP7Qgkh0T7xza7vQyPLt1LP9tFThrAbk8Mv8VXQBw6CTGcY3FxYn1YXQApFml0UjZ_ebaG0I2S0dPGVg4DdT8Pf2-3168WaRsoMy4qRAQEsOINE7ac3YR/s3648/Castle.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQv-ANxYlV9YF-7ibKizem4PnQP7Qgkh0T7xza7vQyPLt1LP9tFThrAbk8Mv8VXQBw6CTGcY3FxYn1YXQApFml0UjZ_ebaG0I2S0dPGVg4DdT8Pf2-3168WaRsoMy4qRAQEsOINE7ac3YR/w640-h480/Castle.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Glamis Castle</i></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">It was the inspiration for Macbeth as King Malcolm II was murdered on the site of the present castle & Macbeth became king in 1040. The building of the castle as we know it today began in 1400.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEQ9dDNmTbSUPVCRB3xh6IcFHpOpNtSD25_WS2iQTniiePSucCXk83wYVj-peIIBQY3rHMxN3HgbNlGazDuTwcDtGvt17-DmSQ3sB4oSHrFFs6Nx2WuxWGzAdKJUwIod4ZFlPwB3Y-_xCd/s3648/Gardens.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="481" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEQ9dDNmTbSUPVCRB3xh6IcFHpOpNtSD25_WS2iQTniiePSucCXk83wYVj-peIIBQY3rHMxN3HgbNlGazDuTwcDtGvt17-DmSQ3sB4oSHrFFs6Nx2WuxWGzAdKJUwIod4ZFlPwB3Y-_xCd/w640-h481/Gardens.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">It's not a huge place but it is rather sweet and it was really good to see the rooms which are exquisitely decorated and furnished.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBCrqefmGtiDAdc3L9oSJQQ7vj9jDP2yxcDr6O1Y-yfSfnlWMCUVxfNSdXDTINo68QDHfOvAA4X4IieFAHOBTJtN1qrWrTqA09uUi4t4iD_2lm-3ckQFSKE9uJjMSgbvKpyUtAXlLNsuNP/s3648/P1140041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="481" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBCrqefmGtiDAdc3L9oSJQQ7vj9jDP2yxcDr6O1Y-yfSfnlWMCUVxfNSdXDTINo68QDHfOvAA4X4IieFAHOBTJtN1qrWrTqA09uUi4t4iD_2lm-3ckQFSKE9uJjMSgbvKpyUtAXlLNsuNP/w640-h481/P1140041.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I loved the ceiling in this sitting room, sorry the photo isn't very good. Think my camera is on its last legs.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv5suw26lV_z1TvkxAdH9rYS6rQ6X93q17AwDelNLazlYOX1eWigPvTwuL6itQ8lxTc4J-doT_TDXluebwJoDKSu1J-yQrSIw-egeMIQYpvXdV_4D1ZcK50zVnn1Yo1OlbwBxqEz_qWZiY/s3648/P1140040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv5suw26lV_z1TvkxAdH9rYS6rQ6X93q17AwDelNLazlYOX1eWigPvTwuL6itQ8lxTc4J-doT_TDXluebwJoDKSu1J-yQrSIw-egeMIQYpvXdV_4D1ZcK50zVnn1Yo1OlbwBxqEz_qWZiY/w640-h482/P1140040.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg80Th_uUXrBe1M8qg7qkraPaA9i8wSqwt1olFgAf-u1FJHId-QHjMpux6bOtH7dxXKbx3LntethIZA2iCftYGDe6nN_N765vAL4Fy3RMUGmYIyplzBlAs78wgZihxZNh-yYUD2adLwsNao/s3648/P1140047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg80Th_uUXrBe1M8qg7qkraPaA9i8wSqwt1olFgAf-u1FJHId-QHjMpux6bOtH7dxXKbx3LntethIZA2iCftYGDe6nN_N765vAL4Fy3RMUGmYIyplzBlAs78wgZihxZNh-yYUD2adLwsNao/w640-h480/P1140047.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Not sure how they kept it warm, the room was huge.</div></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEBitVV-4t7NM3vtipNMjc-ygGsG5QD0GQHKJFdlCLz4Uz9cdveEH5IGhuAzMBp1B_WhA30xogzVT5zfuHOGQlPOcKnYmiQZ3b9znbSwFG7ttBOFe8rgoDwsAClodviRBYiKQztcS0ZhD0/s3648/P1140042.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="2736" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEBitVV-4t7NM3vtipNMjc-ygGsG5QD0GQHKJFdlCLz4Uz9cdveEH5IGhuAzMBp1B_WhA30xogzVT5zfuHOGQlPOcKnYmiQZ3b9znbSwFG7ttBOFe8rgoDwsAClodviRBYiKQztcS0ZhD0/w481-h640/P1140042.JPG" width="481" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The little chairs in the fireplace belonged to the Queen & Princess Margaret.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSABka_LDL8zxKQCyFG9MFUwWoZAV2M3U6SjyasMkSYM_FDJiEjObBnbwC72z8wEOk5T7XJx0Y7ViT56aKTgl_zOA4W3Amth5mOzRkJ8rKxMMe189O01Uw0JoyBXQDpR2LYFtdIfyR838E/s3648/P1140043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="481" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSABka_LDL8zxKQCyFG9MFUwWoZAV2M3U6SjyasMkSYM_FDJiEjObBnbwC72z8wEOk5T7XJx0Y7ViT56aKTgl_zOA4W3Amth5mOzRkJ8rKxMMe189O01Uw0JoyBXQDpR2LYFtdIfyR838E/w640-h481/P1140043.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijVGJNme-SYW9PD9HWJzpEcOc2VMkH70WGCpoa5KYqpvZT259FOodjH6FuHwK7CVi3F6Au-7nAIe_rUCS4xvtV7D2Wo8TJE-ESdk4Qea36UCape5nRL9anlb4Ys3APw85CYik-wkrV3AsQ/s3314/P1140055+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3314" data-original-width="2736" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijVGJNme-SYW9PD9HWJzpEcOc2VMkH70WGCpoa5KYqpvZT259FOodjH6FuHwK7CVi3F6Au-7nAIe_rUCS4xvtV7D2Wo8TJE-ESdk4Qea36UCape5nRL9anlb4Ys3APw85CYik-wkrV3AsQ/w528-h640/P1140055+%25282%2529.JPG" width="528" /></a></div><br />Early sketch of Queen Elizabeth, the Queen's mother.</div><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_9oaKtaHpVDtOmwiLkUXIefNzZhU6sNemWS_Wd4IOPvN6XXap3ycrbiiWCTzoP9WfsvV9ga24M6dnRFy4txCSrJ0AkxovxtqsIWkYejagIcSiT_mhtCTo4T7v1j8e4GRzWXq_6Zz4QdXp/s3648/P1140054.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_9oaKtaHpVDtOmwiLkUXIefNzZhU6sNemWS_Wd4IOPvN6XXap3ycrbiiWCTzoP9WfsvV9ga24M6dnRFy4txCSrJ0AkxovxtqsIWkYejagIcSiT_mhtCTo4T7v1j8e4GRzWXq_6Zz4QdXp/w640-h480/P1140054.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8G2OvtNXcUoe2pVcwo2V2CMNN6LOLtES3z5n63Wb4MYeFhAmi7tN4M3J_iIpQDVEOzf44jZmgZoW3SAOgi4Ty0Tz8vfVVCfpgec5Gpi2jZ6nD7VJ6X7E4wKpY_R7eFREN2nUw323Gz14e/s3648/P1140053.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="481" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8G2OvtNXcUoe2pVcwo2V2CMNN6LOLtES3z5n63Wb4MYeFhAmi7tN4M3J_iIpQDVEOzf44jZmgZoW3SAOgi4Ty0Tz8vfVVCfpgec5Gpi2jZ6nD7VJ6X7E4wKpY_R7eFREN2nUw323Gz14e/w640-h481/P1140053.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Another smaller sitting room.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKIpC9NA9_ERqgpYOFtZdxRZ2Kasll7B7Ag9uMzIvm7cDHhy5VynDi8nPR3Rmqdt7fWvlfieGxYp69KUbBvyrIn1x2qDm2xC35bK8TdQDxYsovYqVgk5tQ2dCzrssEFhXsi8Uu9Ep81Mzk/s3648/P1140056.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKIpC9NA9_ERqgpYOFtZdxRZ2Kasll7B7Ag9uMzIvm7cDHhy5VynDi8nPR3Rmqdt7fWvlfieGxYp69KUbBvyrIn1x2qDm2xC35bK8TdQDxYsovYqVgk5tQ2dCzrssEFhXsi8Uu9Ep81Mzk/w640-h480/P1140056.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />This was the Queen Mother's bedroom. The cot to the right of the bed was the Queen's & Princess Margaret's as babies, the rocking horse too.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP5N8ar-3OcV-n00bZy8ERafHmd109gtoK0Mdf5CEwoK-UzXosOVUzX5O3AhkEkdxNz9MVcRDL5r-d0sM3CVcM2TzTVE6sAgm12V7eMk5Im4q72_yrP9CtEfHyRxqwSltTtwJONqDgWgxG/s3648/P1140058.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="479" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP5N8ar-3OcV-n00bZy8ERafHmd109gtoK0Mdf5CEwoK-UzXosOVUzX5O3AhkEkdxNz9MVcRDL5r-d0sM3CVcM2TzTVE6sAgm12V7eMk5Im4q72_yrP9CtEfHyRxqwSltTtwJONqDgWgxG/w640-h479/P1140058.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This was King George Vl's bedroom.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">As the visit was during Covid there were no guided tours, we had to use an app to self guide. When it worked it was really good but it kept losing the information and you had to keep reloading so that was time consuming. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">There were lots of parts of the castle we didn't have time to see. You can book lunch there and it seemed reasonable, £16 for two courses, not bad for eating in a castle. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">There was quite a good shop and what looked like a great children's playground. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I would have liked to see the gardens, they looked lovely and the estate is extensive but we only had about two & a half hours which really isn't enough.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The North Sea was amazingly calm for the six days of the cruise. On the way back to North Shields the ship was moving so slowly that I was sure I could have swum faster!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Just hope Marella operate more cruises from Newcastle next year.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKIcbMwWtbh_oOJ6oW6q5N2JI2zOOnX4o268-pUyaRVfaakaAtRdhPkoT5GS3dRLBo4JA4eyc1CTGGeTQKdcgqoLoIfAeQjaSrfo6ytsSsydbG5QYIdfXja2aHbV7FWrjzWESHUq-FBWkC/s3648/Sunrise+North+Shields.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="2736" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKIcbMwWtbh_oOJ6oW6q5N2JI2zOOnX4o268-pUyaRVfaakaAtRdhPkoT5GS3dRLBo4JA4eyc1CTGGeTQKdcgqoLoIfAeQjaSrfo6ytsSsydbG5QYIdfXja2aHbV7FWrjzWESHUq-FBWkC/w480-h640/Sunrise+North+Shields.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Sunrise, Port of Tyne, North Shields</span></div>Winifredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12415302188575538163noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8362836138711754490.post-26205528033423736612021-08-25T11:39:00.001+01:002021-08-25T11:39:20.986+01:00Tokyo Paralympics 2021<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigwTELptrq4O76vrX7JOEePBQaxjZfE9TiAUFnhalZGRoNFQibdHrrWyjb1CWX5gl2_syZ8WiBS1-FQUYO9gbqL4xe9o-liOtNHaSwk800OG6a5MXKQyc4YU72zdNV75iZ8-D7ZZ8i4grh/s2048/Tokyo+Paralympics.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigwTELptrq4O76vrX7JOEePBQaxjZfE9TiAUFnhalZGRoNFQibdHrrWyjb1CWX5gl2_syZ8WiBS1-FQUYO9gbqL4xe9o-liOtNHaSwk800OG6a5MXKQyc4YU72zdNV75iZ8-D7ZZ8i4grh/w356-h267/Tokyo+Paralympics.jpg" width="356" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Anyone else enjoying watching the Paralympics?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Stayed up last night or rather this morning to watch the swimming and have to say they're absolutely incredible. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Some of the levels of impairment are really high and you just wonder how on earth they manage to swim at all. They are so inspiring. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The TV presenters are really good at explaining how the disabilities are categorised and the issues that the particular swimmers have completing their stroke.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb6j6RwyPyVyxg54rHw9So6Sp24u2uYzVFD478kZrTkZZCL_abRsejefL-fOEe3Dag7uCRf6Q13vA1ZlQFHDjQu6WHOEIBDunuZYU6a80URWTHl7NN-dXXnX_uVFAyH8D8MjrBzJFd3Xh1/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="568" data-original-width="757" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb6j6RwyPyVyxg54rHw9So6Sp24u2uYzVFD478kZrTkZZCL_abRsejefL-fOEe3Dag7uCRf6Q13vA1ZlQFHDjQu6WHOEIBDunuZYU6a80URWTHl7NN-dXXnX_uVFAyH8D8MjrBzJFd3Xh1/w362-h272/image.png" width="362" /></a></div><br /></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The back stories are great too hearing from their families at home and how they've fought to overcome their disabilities using sport. It's sad the families are not able to be in Tokyo supporting them but wonderful to watch.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR79l9ZzAXLGd1YcTN3QXDoUliKgQpsZJeUmwAgMJz1TzE3N1cxV-UUDiITeuGph_CIN387l1jd1Wgj8C0q5y7ekp1r2m9_8TDzITUOiH-yRtOZRelUDVL_vALhU01schBtrPIPEvnww0A/s4160/IMG_20210825_105726.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3120" data-original-width="4160" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR79l9ZzAXLGd1YcTN3QXDoUliKgQpsZJeUmwAgMJz1TzE3N1cxV-UUDiITeuGph_CIN387l1jd1Wgj8C0q5y7ekp1r2m9_8TDzITUOiH-yRtOZRelUDVL_vALhU01schBtrPIPEvnww0A/w349-h263/IMG_20210825_105726.jpg" width="349" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />It's amazing that there are any British swimmers competing after all the swimming pools here have been closed to everyone for over a year. T</span><span style="font-family: verdana;">here are very few outdoor pools so t</span><span style="font-family: verdana;">hey have had precious little opportunities to train until recently. Few of us in the UK have our own swimming pools and let's face it the climate doesn't lend itself to outdoor swimming in lakes or the sea. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The only problem I have is that the broadcasts are not on the BBC so you have to suffer advertising. The breaks are annoying but never mind I'll just have to make drinks or go to the loo more often!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Anyway I'm just going to enjoy them, they're amazing to watch. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpK_c1JKmXHhZN9UIqiZ7N33ZuzVO2o5S-B34J7-OZRxovUlMU8fnm2b7FGbqLKqYa3MYAVBtlxY6PQz5brzw7fj2gYhyphenhyphenP_VRdyZY3N7WUUxhXVzA767abKRN-Xo436FlQkxuVz6b1_nQq/s512/Logo_of_the_International_Paralympic_Committee_2019.svg.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="378" data-original-width="512" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpK_c1JKmXHhZN9UIqiZ7N33ZuzVO2o5S-B34J7-OZRxovUlMU8fnm2b7FGbqLKqYa3MYAVBtlxY6PQz5brzw7fj2gYhyphenhyphenP_VRdyZY3N7WUUxhXVzA767abKRN-Xo436FlQkxuVz6b1_nQq/w202-h149/Logo_of_the_International_Paralympic_Committee_2019.svg.png" width="202" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: small;"><br />Source: International Paralympic Committee, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons</span><p></p>Winifredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12415302188575538163noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8362836138711754490.post-49817764458762962972021-07-21T23:07:00.000+01:002021-07-21T23:07:27.626+01:00Shetland Here We Come!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw1q2gRw2cA7wFjO5dEwpNybdzV42FO69hefvEwBg3ZRSeo1V2yb2W4S2HcZAp_WDGadhim4ysEHmT1ABxnPenicIg0WEoiCsEGE-U9OR1CU8ef_LhLPL3-z-hPETvZgNVwDVUBTmpt5gX/s2048/Jarlshof_%252832564091937%2529++By+Tom+Parnell+from+Scottish+Borders%252C+Scotland+-+Jarlshof+Wiki+Commons.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw1q2gRw2cA7wFjO5dEwpNybdzV42FO69hefvEwBg3ZRSeo1V2yb2W4S2HcZAp_WDGadhim4ysEHmT1ABxnPenicIg0WEoiCsEGE-U9OR1CU8ef_LhLPL3-z-hPETvZgNVwDVUBTmpt5gX/w400-h266/Jarlshof_%252832564091937%2529++By+Tom+Parnell+from+Scottish+Borders%252C+Scotland+-+Jarlshof+Wiki+Commons.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> Jarlshof, Shetland</span></p></blockquote><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;">Photograph courtesy of <a class="external text" href="https://www.flickr.com/people/97595808@N00" rel="nofollow" style="background: url("/w/skins/Vector/resources/common/images/external-link-ltr-icon.svg?48e54") right center no-repeat rgb(248, 249, 250); color: #3366bb; padding-right: 13px; text-decoration-line: none;">Tom Parnell</a><span style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122;">from Scottish Borders, Scotland - Creative Commons licence </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">A few weeks ago when our Covid rates were really low & I was feeling a bit low so I decided to book a short UK cruise up to Shetland. Well we'd had our vaccinations, all the rates were pretty low in the UK so it seemed like a good idea at the time!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Well now I'm not so sure but at least everyone on the ship has to be vaccinated and tested at the port and it's an adult only cruise so we'll see.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">A few days ago we found out that Scotland wasn't accepting cruise ships from England even though everyone is vaccinated & a recent cruise has had its Scottish ports cancelled.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">It seemed daft as you can drive into Scotland, get a train or bus over the border whether you've been vaccinated or not and nobody checks anything. We have been expecting the cruise itinerary to be changed to English ports & </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">have been waiting to hear what's happened to our cruise but have heard nothing from the cruise company.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Well I checked the Lerwick Port Authority website which is where the ship would dock & surprise, surprise, from 19th July they are accepting cruise ships!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">So come Saturday if all goes well we'll be on our way to Sheltland. I'd better get the thermal underwear & the waterproofs out, it's never very warm there and they do get more than their fair share of rain! It will be some respite from this heat which we aren't used to.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>I lost all my photographs of my trip to Shetland in 2015 courtesy of Windows 10 & my BT Cloud backup. They may be there somewhere in the ether but I can't find them so thanks to Wiki Commons I found a similar photograph by Tom Parnell to one I had taken on a visit to Jarlshof. I think it's better than mine!</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p>Winifredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12415302188575538163noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8362836138711754490.post-28376816575794863422021-06-10T14:36:00.003+01:002021-06-12T23:13:32.375+01:00A Good Kick up the Behind!<span style="font-family: verdana;">Well that's what I really needed but I knew I needed more exercise which would help my health as well as my mood. My ankles were swelling a lot and even the walking I forced myself to do wasn't really helping. I can't stand gyms and I knew I couldn't face the risk of going to the pool for a 30 minute swim so I found a great set of videos on Youtube.</span><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">The exercises were reasonably easy (there's often an easy version), the trainer Lucy Wyndham-Read is really experienced, very nice, not a total fitness freak and they are very short, 7 minutes! You don't have to lie on the floor (I tried Yoga but can't manage lying down) and you don't need any equipment. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">There's lots to choose from at different levels and different lengths.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Here's my favourite video, a run/walk in the mountains </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJSQ0Lv5P9s" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMcsWCStk6xvAJwFs4EEz7VLuB4vMHhEUK9-3wkg8-Ur-CwFIPI9PuyxB9Aeu0ogw76qrjDanJcazTSguEYxeWy7nTQWgwttNV8FU9k-4vrHR_CuU8OLdUZtyN5wehmnD_WFEeuhztZt7Y/w400-h225/image.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I've been doing them for a week. I have to say I feel a bit more positive & have more energy plus my ankles are not so swollen!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Let's hope I can keep up the momentum doing these exercises!</div></span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div></div>Winifredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12415302188575538163noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8362836138711754490.post-82395394878748665622021-05-30T15:47:00.003+01:002021-05-30T15:47:41.108+01:00What a Wimp!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/51/Looking_north_from_Sumburgh_Head_-_geograph.org.uk_-_347327.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="520" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/51/Looking_north_from_Sumburgh_Head_-_geograph.org.uk_-_347327.jpg" /></a></div> <span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: verdana;">Photo Wiki Commons:<a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/51/Looking_north_from_Sumburgh_Head_-_geograph.org.uk_-_347327.jpg" target="_blank">Mike Pennington-Looking north from Sumburgh Head</a></span><br /><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Have to say I wasn't too sure how I felt about the lockdown ending soon, it felt safe staying at home and doing the shopping online. I have been to the hairdresser and had both vaccinations but hanging on to go to the dentist for a check up. I haven't been to church for months as you have to book online and then I'm not sure whether I'll pluck up the courage to go on the day. Watching services on telly is so much easier, I'm such a wimp!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I do go for a walk most days but have to really push myself. I'm not too keen to go to a restaurant or a cafe just yet and I've only been to two shops in over a year. Been thinking I really need to make the effort to get back to a more "normal" way of life whatever that might be or I might end up agoraphobic! </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I was looking for a break in Northumberland or Scotland but the prices are quite high for a week in June or July just booking a cottage or a basic hotel even without breakfast was as much as a trip to Spain. Not that I want to go there yet!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I saw that the cruises to Scotland from our local port had just gone online for the summer so I spent a while checking them out. Eventually </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">I played it safe & just booked a 6 day cruise up to Shetland, Invergordon & Dundee in July. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I've been to Shetland before & I know the chances are the weather won't be great but I'm not a sun lover so it will be fine for me & my husband. I think I just want a break from the housework & some different food that I don't have to buy or cook! </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">It was just as cheap as booking a decent UK hotel although </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">I don't even know if we'll be allowed off the ship. To be honest I don't care! I love being on a ship even though the North Sea can be pretty rough. Just hope by July I'll have more courage to go than I have now. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Sorry the photo above isn't one of mine. I seem to have lost the ones I took when I visited Orkney & Shetland (courtesy of the Cloud when my computer went berserk the photos of that tour have all disappeared). </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I really don't know why I can't motivate myself to complete anything. I have to force myself to do housework & only the absolute necessities are being done! It's partly because I don't sleep very well & feel tired a lot of the time & maybe it's the beta blockers who knows! Even days when I feel OK I find things to fiddle about with on the computer or look at new patterns of things to make.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I keep starting new bits of knitting & I have a big pile of sewing that's lying around waiting to be finished never mind the sail blinds I need to make for the conservatory. I need to get bits & pieces from the shops to finish some things but I can't pluck up the courage to go. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The weather is really lovely now but the garden needs so much work doing before I can sit outside to knit, sew or read. I need a good kick up the behind to get me going. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Now the lockdown is easing I'm hoping my granddaughter will want to sew with me now she's left school officially. That might help get me going. I've missed seeing family for over a year now but I'll be looking after my daughter's dog if they get to go to Disneyland in August so with that & the cruise maybe I'll get myself together again this summer. I can only hope & pray I do as I don't like the me I am at the moment!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Take care, I hope you're feeling more chipper than I am!</span></p>Winifredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12415302188575538163noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8362836138711754490.post-79545606347432413462021-03-20T15:31:00.004+00:002021-03-20T15:47:37.866+00:00Welcome to Spring<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvMY3dd_IE59liyOOHGFrKjPgHgpaHdVpmYhHESPE6T7y7XMNDF5SnMdbOOkqDbyUXcSgpvizFiNi_H9Ny7m9RpRCrg04NYf7Tbqy79tz_4iaV30IVVY9XIjjJDA-YVtx4FH5Sc3zu_aV7/s2048/April+2010.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvMY3dd_IE59liyOOHGFrKjPgHgpaHdVpmYhHESPE6T7y7XMNDF5SnMdbOOkqDbyUXcSgpvizFiNi_H9Ny7m9RpRCrg04NYf7Tbqy79tz_4iaV30IVVY9XIjjJDA-YVtx4FH5Sc3zu_aV7/s320/April+2010.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Hard to believe it but finally Spring is here and it's a gorgeous day here in the North of England. We usually get the duff weather but not today!</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I'm hoping the nicer weather will get me going again. Haven't had the energy or the inspitation to do anything for months. Not really sure why, don't think the lock downs have created a mental health issue, could be an age thing but I think it's more than a touch of lazyitis, more like a wallop!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Here's hoping I can get motivated this year, I certainly wasn't last year. Maybe the thought of being able to go to places will help. Well not too far away as a Med cruise or a holiday to Lake Garda which I really fancied are on the cards even if we've had the Covid vaccine.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I haven't been to the Western Highlands of Scotland for a while so that would be nice, if they'll us in! If not it will have to be Northumberland or the Lake district, both are very nice.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Time will tell whether we'll get anywhere. We might even have to do the garden and sit there! It certainly needs a lot of work doing. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p><br /></p>Winifredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12415302188575538163noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8362836138711754490.post-71457224115497680902020-12-31T20:31:00.004+00:002021-02-05T19:22:16.177+00:00Bring on 2021<span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dx8iSXthSGJnFBFhg-Ja0eP0mw3Jooup18yImJZD5Gp2ha2ElIu805W1JapTTw9f-eXTAFKSNUkcKnHPhP6zA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Normally on New Year's Eve I think back of all the good things that have happened and times I've enjoyed and I always hope & pray that the next year will bring health and happiness. </span><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">There have only been two years that have brought more sadness than joy when I've been glad to see the back of them. The first was 1970 the year my Mam died & my son was diagnosed with serious heart problems and now this year. Not bad I suppose only two out of over 70 years. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">This year has been OK for me & my family but I lost a good friend of over 50 years and a couple of other friends. It has changed our lifestyles but that's nothing compared to the grief and sadness brought to so many families with loss or being unable to visit relatives in care homes. My friend whose 100 year old Mum is in a care home has been unable to see her since March. She has fought for months to get the visits resumed as her Mum has deteriorated so much and they did resume two weeks ago but now they have been cancelled again.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">However there seems to be light at the end of the tunnel with the new vaccines which seem to be being given out very quickly. Just hope that it comes in time to save lives and <br />restore some normality to the lives of those in care homes and their families. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">I look forward to 2021 and hope that people will respect the rules imposed on us so lives will be saved and together with the new vaccines people's lives can return to some kind of normality whatever that is.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Happy New Year!</span></div>Winifredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12415302188575538163noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8362836138711754490.post-4994730191649092182020-11-11T13:20:00.003+00:002020-11-11T13:25:02.110+00:00The Tomb of the Unknown Warrior<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8QHQb_1RfUaWT9uN8nYAea6MDUxAb6s7pI3wssf6p7lJEX9jtGJDnnIbrLrODkx9UXuanv4lzaZUQ-b3BjR4pemEFasogw1apW57FRCh_NM_ldWmbs0JYIdVCqe1D2zZn83XrGdm4bDeC/s2048/2048px-Tomb_of_the_Unknown_Warrior_-_Westminster_Abbey_-_London%252C_England_-_9_Nov._2010.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8QHQb_1RfUaWT9uN8nYAea6MDUxAb6s7pI3wssf6p7lJEX9jtGJDnnIbrLrODkx9UXuanv4lzaZUQ-b3BjR4pemEFasogw1apW57FRCh_NM_ldWmbs0JYIdVCqe1D2zZn83XrGdm4bDeC/s320/2048px-Tomb_of_the_Unknown_Warrior_-_Westminster_Abbey_-_London%252C_England_-_9_Nov._2010.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Tomb of the Unknown Warrior - Westminster Abbey</b> (<a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons" target="_blank">Photo Mike from England)</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Today is Armistice Day and it also marks the 100th anniversary of the day the Unknown Warrior was buried in Westminster Abbey. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f42; font-family: verdana; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"><br />The idea of the Unknown Warrior came from the Rev David Railton, who had served as a chaplain on the Western Front during World War One. In 1916 </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1e1e; font-family: verdana; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">he noticed a grave in a back garden in Armentieres which had a rough cross marked "An Unknown British Soldier.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="css-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i81" data-component="text-block" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3f3f42; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 1rem 0px; max-width: 36.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="css-83cqas-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2" style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><p style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-style: inherit;">The bodies of four British servicemen were exhumed from four battle areas, the Somme, Ypres, arras and Aisne, one was selected and was transported back to Britain where he was placed into a coffin made of </span><span style="color: #1e1e1e; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">two-inch thick oak from a tree which had grown in Hampton Court Palace garden. </span><span style="font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">The coffin plate bears the inscription "</span><span style="color: #1e1e1e; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit; text-align: justify;"><i>A British Warrior who fell in the Great War 1914-1918 for King and Country</i></span><span style="color: #1e1e1e; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit; text-align: justify;">". The warrior could be from the </span><span style="color: #1e1e1e; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">Army, Navy or Air Force, and from any part of the British Isles, Dominions or Colonies. He represents all those who were killed and have no other memorial or known grave.</span></span></p></div></div><div class="css-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i81" data-component="text-block" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3f3f42; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 1rem 0px; max-width: 36.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="css-83cqas-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2" style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><p style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">On 11 November 1920, the coffin was draped with a Union Flag and taken on a gun carriage to the Cenotaph, where the Queen's grandfather George V placed a wreath upon it. From there the coffin was taken to Westminster Abbey and he was buried in the west nave. </span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">After the service on 18th November the grave was filled with earth from the French battlefields and a temporary grave stone with the inscription:</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: #1e1e1e; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit; text-align: justify;"></span></span></p><blockquote><span style="font-family: verdana;">A BRITISH WARRIOR WHO FELL IN THE GREAT WAR 1914-1918 FOR KING AND COUNTRY. GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS.</span></blockquote><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The <span style="color: #1e1e1e; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">United States of America, conferred the Congressional Medal of Honor on the Unknown Warrior on 17th October 1921, it hangs on a pillar near the grave. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The present black marble stone was unveiled on 11 November 1921 at a special service. It is the only grave in the cathedral that noone is allowed to walk on.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://www.westminster-abbey.org/abbey-commemorations/commemorations/unknown-warrior" target="_blank">More information about the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior -Westminster Abbey </a></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span face="Lato, sans-serif" style="color: #1e1e1e; font-size: 25px; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p> </p><p></p></div></div></div>Winifredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12415302188575538163noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8362836138711754490.post-34642692697262947492020-10-18T16:38:00.002+01:002020-10-19T00:48:42.986+01:00Finally Finshed a Quilt!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYYMi4h3CwUsKz1-b015axow5VB4QrzkJk_7kRJNA61TvsO_-7lkrexJenMSt4TLLdMm4aWSdv9BCLGDazXKLInClJ-EDF8j9z5YrWmjMtTTw2V1q6kJCL3oQ8PqfW7TDiXADk4fI4_2z7/s4160/IMG_20201001_110916.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3120" data-original-width="4160" height="410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYYMi4h3CwUsKz1-b015axow5VB4QrzkJk_7kRJNA61TvsO_-7lkrexJenMSt4TLLdMm4aWSdv9BCLGDazXKLInClJ-EDF8j9z5YrWmjMtTTw2V1q6kJCL3oQ8PqfW7TDiXADk4fI4_2z7/w547-h410/IMG_20201001_110916.jpg" width="547" /></a></div><br />I haven't posted in a while, it's getting to be a habit unfortunately.</span><br />
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">Well last time I posted I was really disappointed that here in the UK the only TV channel we had that was dedicated to sewing was closing down. Well there was a massive reaction to it from viewers and the great news is that it has been resurrected with a new name Sewing Street. It's on Freeview channel 74 & I think it's now on Sky which is great & it's on Youtube too so that's brilliant news. </span></span><br />
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">I and obviously thousands of others responded to the closure and voiced our disappointment at the Harrogate Quilting and Sewing Show in Oclober so a group of designers and other staff from the channel have got together and it's coming back with some of the original presenters. </span></span><br />
<span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">Haven't done much sewing recently but have just finished a small winter quilt from some Robert Kaufmann charm squares I bought over a year ago & didn't know what to do with them. The fabrics are lovely shades of blue, grey and silver.</span></span><span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><br /></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5aNYv-xeuGz4bwtGDhgMvHnEFSn4WH66CXVIDkzMDD18F9ijY5wtSrOxVuwBFxi_jYruPhiL4D-9H2EMwqZa1vED5VMkwM2lVnUreLJw444LC0pbXbrilJPLznWys5cgys-Sszi014lkQ/s1600/On+Point+Winter+Quilt++IMG_20200305_102808.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5aNYv-xeuGz4bwtGDhgMvHnEFSn4WH66CXVIDkzMDD18F9ijY5wtSrOxVuwBFxi_jYruPhiL4D-9H2EMwqZa1vED5VMkwM2lVnUreLJw444LC0pbXbrilJPLznWys5cgys-Sszi014lkQ/s640/On+Point+Winter+Quilt++IMG_20200305_102808.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">Apologies for the photo quality I still haven't managed to find my proper camera's cable to download photos and the phone's camera is not brilliant. Well maybe it's me not the phone camera!</span></span><br />
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">I love the fabrics but had problems finding matching ones for the borders and to back it. I think the original must be out of production now so had to try some plainish ones. Probably better as the squares are pretty busy! </span></span><br />
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">I used the On Point pattern from the Missouri Star Quilt company and followed the video <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uyd3jbTXRS0" target="_blank">here</a>. I love Jenny Doan's videos she's such a charmer. Trouble is she makes it look so easy but it's not! Well not for me anyway. </span></span><br />
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">So it's on to the quilt as you go with hexagons another idea I got from Jenny Doan. I didn't use the templates being shown just used my own and followed the method of making the hexagons with the layers of backing, wadding and top fabric layer. The Jenny Doan <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCWFH94kvwg" target="_blank">video is here </a> and she machine stitched hers but I'm doing mine by hand </span></span></span><span style="font-family: verdana;">as I'll have a bit of manipulation to do you can see they're not perfect but I like them.</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXCNXdpoK11uUhMQr7ssTnj-wyDtkf3yFzc09xDq2RVwDN6nHd8yCNgNqkJXGKiT2YdxGFC2wyyr6cQihl8it07W51KCZGEfV3RIAdjj3xK1gmzg3n5nU6x2ctKlpcx-y1kaUAW1bqDAhz/s1600/IMG_20200308_160255.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXCNXdpoK11uUhMQr7ssTnj-wyDtkf3yFzc09xDq2RVwDN6nHd8yCNgNqkJXGKiT2YdxGFC2wyyr6cQihl8it07W51KCZGEfV3RIAdjj3xK1gmzg3n5nU6x2ctKlpcx-y1kaUAW1bqDAhz/s640/IMG_20200308_160255.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;">Not exactly sure what I'm going to do with them yet probably some cloths for coffee tables or even one forthe dining table if I can manage it. Might have to make the hexagons bigger for that as the ones I've made are only 3</span><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;">½"</span><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;">. Well we'll see how it goes.</span></span></div></div></blockquote><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><span face=""calibri" , sans-serif"><br /></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Now I think it's time to do some stuff for Christmas. </span></span></div>
Winifredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12415302188575538163noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8362836138711754490.post-75435400385514852442020-06-06T01:30:00.002+01:002020-06-07T00:24:15.962+01:00Should Have Been on the Way to Norway Today!<div><img alt="Midnight sun.jpg" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b5/Midnight_sun.jpg/800px-Midnight_sun.jpg" /></div><div><font face="verdana"><b> <br /> Land of the Midnight Sun, Norway </b></font><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Yan Zhang </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12.88px;">Wikimedia Commons</span></div><div><br /></div><div><font face="verdana" size="4">Yes we should have been on the way to the North Cape of Norway & the Land of the Midnight Sun on a cruise today but thanks to the virus we aren't. It was our 50th wedding anniversary last September but due to numerous health problems we didn't make the cruise we fancied in September so we booked to go to Norway this year.</font></div><div><font face="verdana" size="4"><br /></font></div><div><font face="verdana"><font size="4">We were looking forward to the cruise as I haven't been to Norway for over fifty years and I've never been that far North in Norway. Nordkapp or the North Cape as we know it is the most northerly part of Europe &</font><font size="4"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: sans-serif;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122;">is the point where the Norwegian Sea meets the Barents Sea and I have to admit I was looking forward to it. </span></font></font></div><div><font size="4"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122;"><font face="verdana"><br /></font></span></font></div><div><font size="4"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122;"><font face="verdana">We're lucky living so far north in England with our lovely long light nights in summer, well when the weather's good it's light until after 10.30pm & the sun starts coming up at about 2.30am. We went for a walk tonight at about 9.15pm & the sun was going down & was brilliant but not the midnight sun.</font></span></font></div><div><font face="verdana" size="4"><br /></font></div><div><font face="verdana" size="4">Never mind maybe next year but it's hard to tell what's going to happen with cruising or travel abroad anywhere. Maybe it will be Scotland, it's about time I went back there.</font></div><div><font face="verdana" size="4"><br /></font></div><div><br /></div>Winifredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12415302188575538163noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8362836138711754490.post-67674275151445763462020-03-17T20:46:00.002+00:002020-03-17T20:53:47.204+00:00Keep Calm & Carry On<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">It's a difficult time for all of us but especially the "Golden Oldies" amongst us who are most at risk.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I think the most difficult thing about it is all the unknowns, how the nasty little virus is actually spread, how long it will take to go away, can you get it again, when will they get a vaccine, how can businesses survive. All really frightening stuff but the it reminded me of the saying that was developed during the war to help boost morale which was to keep calm & carry on.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">We've become used to so many nice things in our lives and quite a lot of certainties too so the unknown is truly scary. Yet our parents lived through much more frightening times. They had:</span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">No antibiotics to ward off the nasty infections we used to get </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">No NHS to ensure we got free treatment</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">No welfare state to support us in our old age, in sickness or unemployment</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">No telly or phones & no internet </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">No peace and a horrendous war to fight</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">No wonder they needed the morale boosting posters. Looks like we have a war to fight now which involves trying to keep healthy and helping others and ourselves to keep safe and sane too.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Our daily lives have to change and it's a bit frightening not knowing how long this will go on. I'm sad to miss meeting up with friends for quilting, </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">meeting my sister for lunch and friends </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">for coffee, volunteering at the</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> cathedral, going to church</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> and not being able to see my children & grandchildren</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> face to face. However we have so many good things in our lives to keep us going. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Time to count our blessing and have some faith. I remembered the poem that Minnie Louise Haskins wrote that King George VI quoted during the war in his 1939 Christmas speech: </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f7f7f7; color: #111111; font-size: large; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And I said to the man who stood </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f7f7f7; color: #111111; font-size: large; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">at the gate of the year: </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f7f7f7; color: #111111; font-size: large; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"Give me a light that I may tread safely </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f7f7f7; color: #111111; font-size: large; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">into the unknown." </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f7f7f7; color: #111111; font-size: large; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And he replied: </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f7f7f7; color: #111111; font-size: large; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>"Go out into the darkness </i></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f7f7f7; color: #111111; font-size: large; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>and put your hand </i></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f7f7f7; color: #111111; font-size: large; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>into the Hand of God. </i></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f7f7f7; color: #111111; font-size: large; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>That shall be to you better </i></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f7f7f7; color: #111111; font-size: large; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>than light and safer </i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: #f7f7f7; color: #111111; white-space: pre-line;"><i>than a known way."</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: #f7f7f7; color: #111111; white-space: pre-line;">We're relying on governments and scientists to help us. However the Dean of Durham Cathedral has written to all the volunteers and he sent this prayer asking us to remember all the people who are affected by the virus and the amazing people working in the NHS helping to protect us.</span></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Keep us, good Lord, </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">under the shadow of your mercy </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">in this time of uncertainty and distress. </span></i></blockquote>
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<i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Sustain and support the anxious and fearful, </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">and lift up all who are brought low; </span></i><i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">that we may rejoice in your comfort </span></i><i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">knowing that nothing can separate us from your love </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">in Christ Jesus our Lord.</span></i></blockquote>
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Winifredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12415302188575538163noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8362836138711754490.post-76298178238410625992019-12-03T19:54:00.003+00:002019-12-03T20:09:58.517+00:00Happy & Sad Day<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRtFKBudxd2A237RZHZOgKzbILWdLaUpVZTvihAeWJq2h5SQC1PA0b4xQdga6-gTxTVY9nha304jUqLAQUJ02V-uj87lLROdWayd-tRNAvHhgpxdz_D_31Kz7H-3rOMXJhoqgcDKpAy4Ta/s1600/Advent+calendar+%2526+mug++adjusted.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRtFKBudxd2A237RZHZOgKzbILWdLaUpVZTvihAeWJq2h5SQC1PA0b4xQdga6-gTxTVY9nha304jUqLAQUJ02V-uj87lLROdWayd-tRNAvHhgpxdz_D_31Kz7H-3rOMXJhoqgcDKpAy4Ta/s640/Advent+calendar+%2526+mug++adjusted.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Had a great day last Friday when I went on a coach trip to Harrogate with our quilting group to the Knitting & Stitching Show. Now I love a coach trip, takes me back to when I was little in the days before nyone had a car & I went on trips with my Nanna & Granddad to various places for the day. We didn't have holidays in those days, no money around to do that other than maybe a couple of days to Blackpool to see the illuminations.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I loved the atmosphere with families chattering, eating their sandwiches & singing songs on the way home. Well today we certainly did a lot of laughing & chattering & on the way home showing the stuff we had bought at the show.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">There were lots of smashing things </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">on show or to buy</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">. I didn't take my camera as I was trying to keep the weight of my gear to carry down so my phone camera's photographs are not brilliant & it was often hard to get near enough to take a photo. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">However the sad news of the day was we discovered that Sewing Quarter which is my favourite crafting telly channel is closing down. They show such great products & with some brilliant folks showing you how to quilt, dressmake, embroider, make bags & lots more. The programmes are all available on YouTube so doesn't matter if you miss one.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I had noticed that for the last couple of weeks there has been mainly sales of stuff rather than the mix of how to make the things they sell. </span></span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The sale of stuff is masquerading under Black Friday when really it seems to be a closing down sale.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Well it's big shock as it's such a popular channel, we chatted to some of the designers & staff at the exhibitions & it's come as a shock to them too. Sad that so many people will be out of work just before Christmas.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I only bought some dress fabric, a couple of little bag handles, the </span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Sewing Quarter Advent Calendar & a Sewing Quarter Scissor mug in the photo above. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I've opened three of the boxes in the Advent Calendar so far, I got a thimble, a brooch styled like a black Singer featherweight & today it was a seam ripper. Twenty two more to go! Just hope I am not tempted to go mad & open them all at once.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I've opened them out so you can get a better idea of what they're like! </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5VA8w3xfTkyFJebKRrjg5UK5fNTPtNmNQ97EzdxSlgRz2SqK3PhXEy-L0c_z5vaHwKEAPg7DZ2fNKHF1LAdWPQDTX27J98q3a8jrTtJ-rIu3o0-_CvsrE_Vn_OTXKYJVmlvh40XXm1vdh/s1600/Advent+calendar+%2526+mug+2+adjusted.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5VA8w3xfTkyFJebKRrjg5UK5fNTPtNmNQ97EzdxSlgRz2SqK3PhXEy-L0c_z5vaHwKEAPg7DZ2fNKHF1LAdWPQDTX27J98q3a8jrTtJ-rIu3o0-_CvsrE_Vn_OTXKYJVmlvh40XXm1vdh/s640/Advent+calendar+%2526+mug+2+adjusted.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The mug is lovely with rose gold finger holds like scissors. Very nice! Think the original price was £39.99 for the Advent Calendar & £8.99 for the mug. I got the pair of them for £10 at the exhibition, I wouldn't have paid the full price for them even though I do like them. For a tenner they're an absolute bargain!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Now I just have to resist opening the rest of the Advent Calendar boxes.</span><br />
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Winifredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12415302188575538163noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8362836138711754490.post-76621040607015342512019-10-26T00:31:00.000+01:002019-10-26T00:31:32.579+01:00Corpus<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26859967-corpus" style="padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="Corpus (Tom Wilde #1)" border="0" height="200" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1478028349l/26859967._SX98_.jpg" width="131" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have started to read eAudiobooks borrowed online from our local library. It's quite handy as you can listen to them on your laptop or phone & it's all free. I never buy them!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I've never managed to enjoy reading ebooks on the tablet or the phone but I quite like being able to listen to the audio books when I'm knitting or sewing & it makes mundane housework like ironing much easier.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The library doesn't have a huge range of audio books yet but it's improving. It's so easy to flick through their list & get a good idea of what the books are about & listen to the reader to see if you like their voice. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I think I've been reading books that are a bit different to what I usually read & the book, <b style="font-style: italic;">Corpus </b>written by Rory Clements, falls into that category. It's the first of three books & is a </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">historical spy thriller set in 1936 as political events take place in Europe prior to the second world war. Stalin is unleashing terror in Russia, Spain is in the throes of civil war, the Nazis have marched into the Rhineland in Germany which was against the terms of the Treaty of Versailles after World War 1 just as the new King of England, Edward is making his decision about whether to marry Wallis Simpson or to abdicate.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I enjoyed this book although the </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">occasional</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">use of the F word irritated me. Now will have to see whether the library has the other two books.</span><br />
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Winifredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12415302188575538163noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8362836138711754490.post-46120443620645858342019-09-28T22:59:00.001+01:002019-09-28T22:59:54.847+01:00Sisters<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sisters Freda & Finch do like to snuggle up together. After having cats that all slept in different places it's lovely to see this pair together so much. Love the feet crossed & on top of big sister Freda.</span></div>
Winifredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12415302188575538163noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8362836138711754490.post-31140255816273110372019-09-02T15:41:00.000+01:002019-09-28T23:03:06.260+01:00Welcome Back!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Over the last few years I've really missed the posts from bloggers I used to enjoy following. Crumbs that makes me sound like a stalker!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Some I've managed to check up on where they have an email and been glad to see they are OK. Many have gone over to Facebook which I know is not so time consuming but to be honest I always think it's just flashes of "stuff" that doesn't give a real insight to people's lives which blogs can do.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Today I found a new post from <a href="http://bunnymummy-jacquie.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">BunnyMummy</a> who posts such lovely photographs & great crocheting stuff. She hadn't posted for about 6 months so it was lovely to hear from her again especially as she had some brilliant photographs of Stratford upon Avon. Take a look if you have never been. I've only been once and it brought back memories of walking along the riverbank from the RSC Theatre and seeing a simple plaque on the grass below a silver birch tree planted in memory of Vivien Leigh. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Sorry the photograph isn't brilliant, you may not be able to read it but it simply says, </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">simply says:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">"In memory of Vivien Leigh, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Actress 1913 - 1961, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">A lass unparalleled". </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">It's at the base of a silver birch planted in memory of her.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The words on the plaque come from Charmian at the end of Antony and Cleopatra when she describes her dead mistress:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">"Now boast thee, death, in thy possession lies</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">A lass unparallel’d. Downy windows, close;</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">And golden Phoebus never be beheld</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Of eyes again so royal!"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Very apt!</span><br />
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Winifredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12415302188575538163noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8362836138711754490.post-8025140982662334072019-08-12T23:22:00.001+01:002019-08-30T22:37:55.547+01:00A Bit of a Day<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I <a href="https://stopprocrastinatingandjustdoit.blogspot.com/2019/01/freda-finch-well-im-feeling-bit-ashamed.html" target="_blank">posted </a>back in January about being diagnosed with atrial fibrillation & how great the treatment I had in hospital was. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Something like this is a wakeup call & has certainly made me think about things. I found a book my sister recommended called <a href="https://thedoctorskitchen.com/my-new-book" target="_blank">The Doctor's Kitchen - Eat to beat illness</a> which was written by a doctor, Rupy Aujla who developed atrial fibrillation & didn't want to have the procedures that normally would be offered to patients with this condition. Basically he has written the book which he describes as "a culinary journey through food in medicine". He takes a holistic approach and looks at how <span style="background-color: white; text-align: center;">food and your lifestyle can improve and maintain your health</span> and there are lots of recipes too. The book isn't just for dealing with atrial fibrillation it's for everyone even those with no health problems.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I've been trying to do some of the things recommended but changing your lifestyle isn't something you can do overnight. My main struggle is with exercise, I do swim a couple of times a week but I need to do more. I hate the gymn & our climate isn't always conducive to walking so I need to find another way to exercise.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The main problems I have day to day are with sleeping, walking up the slightest of inclines, carrying bags plus swelling feet & ankles. Not too bad compared with a lot of people & I was resigning myself to making the best of it as I had decided not to have a cardioversion procedure which was offered. Basically they they give you a light anaesthetic, stop your heart & then give you an electric shock or two to start it which may get your heart back into a normal rhythm. I wasn't too keen on the whole thing especially the risk of stroke & the fact it's not always successful & may not last.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Out of the blue I got a hospital appointent for the procedure & after some thought decided I was going for it as I was sick of having massively swollen anles & feet & was worried about the amount of medication I was taking. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Well the day was today & with a lot of apprehension I was at the hospital for 7.15am. It's a new surgical centre which is really lovely, I had a lovely view of a little patio. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC96Y2YksuutJruasvE3lkkc32kzFZaQBVl88Fohy7FEj_NISStbyfFq7cSiki5o8g331Mfy0rk8WtjtGWN0bsMcjq6w6uRKyGcwEenQornZs086vSzsEMql0kjBdK6-7zVfshCwk2MlTp/s1600/Peter+Smith+Surgical+Centre+PODS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC96Y2YksuutJruasvE3lkkc32kzFZaQBVl88Fohy7FEj_NISStbyfFq7cSiki5o8g331Mfy0rk8WtjtGWN0bsMcjq6w6uRKyGcwEenQornZs086vSzsEMql0kjBdK6-7zVfshCwk2MlTp/s640/Peter+Smith+Surgical+Centre+PODS.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I have to say the people were wonderful & thankfully</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">the whole thing went well, with one shock they got it back into rhythm. So it's thanks once again to the amazing NHS which gets so much unwarranted criticism.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Now I have to wait & see whether it will last. Time will tell, but in the meantime I have to follow more of the advice in the book!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Postscript:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Sadly the atrial fibrillation returned last Thursday so we're back to square one just using the medication. Don't really like taking lots of stuff but don't think I'll go for any other procedures if the medication route works. </span><br />
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Winifredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12415302188575538163noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8362836138711754490.post-60252421562448735052019-06-04T00:40:00.002+01:002019-06-04T00:59:38.031+01:00The Covers are Off!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Durham Cathedral</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The Tower covers are finally off, the scaffolding is down after 3 years & the main tower is open again! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This is what it looked like with the covers on and often a lot of stuff in front of it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvxC1AjaP5KwZ89TltCLzXTzDIWbh41MvpWsZkSeeJBagTF3QMldZqmf7rZjLSB2OJ8sLgVyni-Z8x263oGDqg0A-UfhpqVm9QorVOkjj_VP79MMlbHPx5AoUAmxEo-wp3tGELJM3efMLa/s1600/WP_20170508_09_23_55_Smart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvxC1AjaP5KwZ89TltCLzXTzDIWbh41MvpWsZkSeeJBagTF3QMldZqmf7rZjLSB2OJ8sLgVyni-Z8x263oGDqg0A-UfhpqVm9QorVOkjj_VP79MMlbHPx5AoUAmxEo-wp3tGELJM3efMLa/s640/WP_20170508_09_23_55_Smart.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It's sad that most of the time these lovely buildings have to have so much work going on which maskstheir beauty but it's the price of keeping them alive for future generations. <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-48474651" target="_blank">Here's the BBC article about the work.</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">St Mark's Basilica was covered for ages, I stopped taking photos of it when I was doing the Great Rail Journeys tours. I can't imaging what Notre Dame will look like as it is being renovated. Think it will take more than the 5 years they forecast but I'm sure they will do it even if it doesn't look like the original. It's hard to get the specialist people to produce the craft work necessary. Durham have their own team & train apprentices as I suppose all cathedrals do but the amount of work needed to renovate Notre Dame is colossal.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Now there's lots of work going on inside Durham cathedral providing new entrances to improve access and to show more of the architectural features of the doorways which have been hidden. Hopefully it will be finished by Christmas.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Today there were visitors from many countries including France, Canada, Australia & the USA. Hope they enjoyed their visit even though they are not seeing the cathedral at its best.</span></div>
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Winifredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12415302188575538163noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8362836138711754490.post-484552630355790212019-04-15T22:54:00.003+01:002019-04-15T22:54:47.081+01:00Notre Dame in Flames<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Notre Dame, Paris <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cath%C3%A9drale_Notre-Dame_de_Paris_2011.jpg" target="_blank">Image Wiki Commons - Licence </a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What a tragedy today seeing much of this beautiful Gothic building being destroyed by fire, </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">luckily the main structure has been saved.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The symbol of Paris survived 2 world wars and a revolution but today fire ravaged it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-europe-47942176" target="_blank">BBC coverage is here</a></span><br />
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Winifredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12415302188575538163noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8362836138711754490.post-72073354951225117842019-02-23T11:13:00.004+00:002019-02-23T11:13:58.757+00:00Computers!?*#?!!!!!!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLkwhwrcJl452h0B_ypF1sKu_G36BzhR6iDDySYrwBEFqjO40Nk6Qhjl8PUSCTQ-QBx-WJ-kGTfAwOdUMFnj31MUintAyUgbur8yQXZTb1EOxob55R9k0uALfOd0WJjvu4gboOGdLLfDmQ/s1600/Laptop2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="512" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLkwhwrcJl452h0B_ypF1sKu_G36BzhR6iDDySYrwBEFqjO40Nk6Qhjl8PUSCTQ-QBx-WJ-kGTfAwOdUMFnj31MUintAyUgbur8yQXZTb1EOxob55R9k0uALfOd0WJjvu4gboOGdLLfDmQ/s400/Laptop2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Well when they work they are great when they don't!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I've had this laptop for a couple of years now & mainly it's been great. It wasn't too expensive, it's easy to use, fast enough for me & has a lot of storage. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It has had one problem, the same one at least four times where it freezes and then won't boot up. This has meant taking it back to the shop to be repaired which is a pain, waiting a week or two & even more of a pain they wipe it so I have to keep reloading the software & getting all the settings back. Worse still they wouldn't tell me what had been the problem. All I was told was to leave it plugged in all of the time as it is set to do Windows 10 updates in the background & if the power is low it sometimes wrecks the update & causes problems. I thought that was the whole point of a laptop, not having to keep it plugged in all of the time!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Well it is now out of the warranty so I thought I was stuck last night when it froze again. So this morning I went onto the Tinterweb (as you do) and found a video explaining what you can do when this happens. I had been loathe to do any fiddling about with the laptop whilst it was under warranty as companies use any excuse to get out of repairing things if you have had the back off stuff!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Well I had to take the battery out which was a bit of a pain (not the easy external one) but I eventually managed to unscrew it slide it out without doing any damage and reconnect it again.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Well it took a while to boot up (I held my breath) but it did eventually. Whew!!!!! Apparently some kind of a charge builds up (you can see I am non technical) and unplugging the charger & taking out the battery can sometimes resolve the issue. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If it doesn't I also now know that there is a NOVO button which resets the computer back to factory settings. You don't get hard copy manuals now so if your computer isn't working you need a second computer or smartphone to access info on the Internet. Resetting sould be a bit of a last resort but worth a try.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Well I feel a sense of achievement getting it working and it's a bit of a relief to know when it's my turn to do the church newsletter in a couple of weeks I do have a computer that works. Well it does at the moment!</span></div>
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Winifredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12415302188575538163noreply@blogger.com10