My Trip so far

Hi Guys!!!

I'm missing you already...

The drive down was fine, made great time, then hit the Dartford/Thurrock Crossing and waited half an hour to cross. Then couldn't get into the right - by which I mean left- lane and so couldn't get onto the M2 to East Kent- too many cars/lorries/trucks etc.  I had to follow the road to Maidstone. In the city centre, I couldn't see any familiar signs, so like ET I phoned home. My husband told me to follow any  Chatham signs, doh! Ive done this a dozen times and never stuffed up before.  In Chatham I found myself out side Toys R Us and I asked a man, as you do, where I should go - he was not tempted by the open line I fed him and gave me directions. I was  all set. Then I realised as it was darker, darker still, I had on my sunglasses, I then couldn't find  my new Missoni varifocal spec's, as they were missing from the dashboard. So I had either dropped them in the loo or  at Costa's at Scotch Corner 300 miles away ... Duh! Or perhaps as my car was apparently unlocked when I returned to it,  I thought I may not have locked it properly, so the guy in the car next to me...? Oh dear.

Anyway I am at my parents' home, all safe and sound and well fed as usual. So far I've enjoyed a variety of  superb fayre! 

AND... whilst checking out the loacl TK Maxx, it HAS to be done ... I popped into my mobile phone providers store and bought myself a broadband 'dongle' and now I have internet access on my laptop, away from home.  Am I sad or wot?

So you see,  I'm not really gone - but I have heard it whispered that I am long gone judging by the loss of so many objects lately! Currently I am all tucked up in cashmere layers including one pashmina following the breakdown of the central heating. We do have a blazing fire going, but it is a BIG room...

More later....

p.s. Mum says she is missing you too!

MY PHOTOSTORY & SKY WATCH Friday - AWAYDAY

For other participants in Dot’s concept, go to Sky Watch HQ.

Today's brooding sky hovered above us down the motorway...

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

A regular away day I thought,

 as three colleagues and I set off from 

Carlisle to Preston in our hire car.

We had been asked to attend a training day,

'Getting to know you- Understanding our visitors and developing audiences'

this was being held at the Lancashire  Conservation Centre, Preston.

The course was  seemingly pitched at marketing managers & assistants and I thought it  

would not be of practical use to me  in my role at  front of house.

 However,  I was interested and it may offer me  some

 tips that may benefit my online business. 

The weather was overcast and brooding,

the traffic appeared fine.

We missed junction 31  ( Stewart is emphatic  its no longer there) and so we arrived just as they were  starting.

The Centre is in an inspiring and spectacular Grade II listed Victorian Church, (St. Mary's, 1836-1996)  which to our surprise and delight held some wonderful original features.  Which were sympathetically preserved within the renovation and strict controlled environments of

 the  now Conservation Centre.

Upon arrival in the car park I noticed two tree photo opportunities and I like how they turned out!

The Centre with the imposing Mill chimney over the road

 (which we were told later is the busiest road in the red light area!)

This is the room we were in for the day with a partial view of some old windows... 

an unknown hint of things to come!

We broke for lunch and adjourned to the top floor and found a sculptural relief of The Three Graces by Bertel Thorvaldson  propped up in the luncheon room.

 As well as several stained glass windows on view behind protective glass.

The Three Graces by Bertel Thorvaldson 

 (very fuzzy sorry)

some original features

We were taken on a tour of the centre. For me this was an unreserved pleasure. I saw textiles, costume, paintings, sculptures and wild animals being preserved and restored. It was as marvellous as it was an unexpected addition to the day.

The old window in the new kitchen

The old window in the new ladies loos

The early Victorian Church, soars Gothic like in the fading light as we left.  Sorry about the angles ... I only had the phone camera with me again, is that David tutting?

Verity with  a large object in the garden, Verity is on the right! 

Does anyone know what it is? We don't! A stove perhaps?

Photostory friday Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

For other participants in Dot’s concept, go to Sky Watch HQ.

We're off on a road trip ...

Oh bugger it! I just realised that I saved this post to draft instead of publishing it before we left last tuesday... here's what I wrote!

We're all packed, the car is stuffed to overflowing and my sister in law is here to dog and house sit, in that order!

We each have our own bag full of road trip basics, foamy fruits, wine gums, bananas, assorted sarnies and raspberry muffins, to be eaten in any order in the first two hours, then everyone will be high on sugar and then we'll hit a low 5 hours before we arrive.

We will be staying in a vintage AirstreamTrailer, known as a silver bullet, courtesy of Vintage Vacations uk and then we will explore the island and have some fun.

Hopefully we will relax sometime too, as have some great books packed, including Rushdie's Midnights' Children, l'm determined to master the Booker master, and a favourite author of mine is Joyce Carol Oates, her latest paperback, The Gravediggers Daughter and the latest hyped book, The Private Lives of Pippa Lee by Rebecca Miller, which is a Richard and Judy Summer Read choice. It has some literary creedence apparently, as the author is the daughter of playwright Arthur Miller, (and is the wife of Daniel Day Lewis why that's of any import, who knows!)

I will also turn 50 while we're away! So when l come back l shall know how it feels.

See ya soon!