Devon Part 1

 I've already mentioned that we broke our journey to Devon in Gloucestershire spending an afternoon and evening with my sister and borrowing jigsaw puzzles, and we spent the night in Cirencester which was a bit further south and therefore slightly nearer to our eventual destination. We got an early start which allowed the OH to indulge in a bit of a trip down memory lane. We had already passed the church where we got married on the way to see my sister, and next day we passed the place where he was born, then he visited the family plot in Cirencester graveyard and made a detour to a small village to look at the house where his grandparents used to live. There he feel into conversation with the Aged One who lives there now and really he was at the gate for so long I had visions of us getting no further than Bristol that day. 

Because it was the beginning of the holidays we expected the motorway to be busy so rather than take that I navigated with the help of a Real Road Atlas all the way from Cirencester to Okehampton. Because of a closed bridge on the outskirts of Bath we wended up having to crawl our way through the city centre, which wasn't optimal(!), and to avoid the same  sort of thing happening in Taunton we used the motorway for two junctions, which also allowed us to queue up for a long time for some not very nice fish and chips. Overall though we made good time and arrived at our destination not long after 5.00.

It looked lovely 

For some reason I never got around to taking a photo of the downstairs but the bedroom upstairs was huge!

It lacked that feel that holiday cottages often have which is that it is furnished and filled with things the owners can;t quite bring themselves to be rid of but which they don;t want to see everyday themselves. In fact I could quite see a single person living there quite happily. So that was good. It did put me off ground source heat pumps though as that was how it was cooled and heated and honestly it resulted in such a stuffy atmosphere that most evenings we sat with the door open to get some movement in the air. Which was fine while we were there as it was a very warm week, but I wouldn't like it much in the winter. 

The real downer though was the absence of the promised rowing boat. It was not available because of 'Covid'. Since this was the only reason for picking this particular cottage over several rivals I was not at all happy to hear that it wasn't actually available. In fact I have written to the booking company expressing my disappointment, suggesting that they let everyone else who has booked any of the four cottages on the property for the rest of the season know that this advertised amenity is not actually to be had, and also asking for a small refund. I have so far only had an automated response, promising my comments will be addressed 'in the next 28 days'. They have about 14 left. Honestly, while not wanting to minimise Covid related disruption in any way, I do think a lot of companies have seized upon it as an excuse to cut down on their customer service. 

The lack of the boat, to which we had so much been looking forward, did cast a shadow over the first few days of the holiday. But it was a fun time nevertheless ....

That's More Like It

 

We spent some time with my sister on our way to Devon and she took me through her jigsaw collection. I ended up borrowing three of the ones she had, two of which I have contemplated buying for myself in the past and now I don't need to. 

As an antidote to the horrors of The Fantasy Bookshop I knocked off this little 500 piece-r showing vintage travel guides on Tuesday. Very quick, very enjoyable. The other two will take me rather  longer. 

Done At Last, Done At Last

 Gordon Bennett I was pleased to get this one finished.

I started it before I went away, wasn't enjoying it and therefore ignored it for a long time after I got back. Then a few days ago I got a bit churned up about something, so went back to the puzzle to calm me down and get it finished. 

On paper it is exactly the sort of picture that I like on my puzzles so I am at a loss to explain why I disliked doing it so much. Probably too many books in too many places and finding it difficult to match up the bits to the picture - too much fine detail that my eyes do struggle with. 

Anyway I finished it in the early hours of this morning and very shortly I am packing it up in its box and taking it off to the library. 

A Week in Leeds (part 2)

So we're going backwards because that's the way the computer decided to put the pictures up and I'm not well today so I can't face deleting them all and then working out how to get them on here the right way round. 

These were Thursday when the Dorthy Dunnett group met up in a member's house in Harrogate. We hardly talked about the books. We've been friends (most of us) for 35+ years; anything we wanted to say about Lymond or Niccolo we said a long time ago. It was a good day though with a lovely lunch provided by A. and lots of post Covid catching up.

Wednesday - the two people up above have been a real inspiration to me. I met them on my first tentative steps back into academia when I did my M A in Victorian Studies. That's waaaaay back; we started in 1999. In a creepy foreshadowing, I graduated a year later than they did as I had had to take a year off because of problems with my eyes. We've been good friends ever since. We had lunch in a lovely Italian Restaurant in Ilkley on their roof terrace; great views of the surrounding countryside. The weather closed in half way through but they had moveable windows and roof. Amazing to watch them automatically come into play. 

I went to Ilkley on the bus and came back on one too. Sadly I did not come back on the 4.15 which had been my plan because the 4.15 simply vanished. One minute it was on the 'next bus at this stop is...' sign, and the next minute, well at about 4.12 it wasn't. And it never arrived. Fortunately I had armed myself with my charity shop book purchases, so I had something to do other than shiver in the rain and luckily the 4.45 did pitch up more or less on time. 

Tuesday I was collected by a former work colleague and we went to a local Garden Centre for a substantial 'afternoon tea' aka my main meal that day. I should point out that that photo was taken very close to the tea tray which makes everything on it look way larger than it really was. 

So that was my lovely week in Leeds and there were still several people I didn't manage to see. I know from experience that I cannot cope with seeing more than one person/set of people in a day which is restricting, but trying to do more than that is not a good idea so I no longer try. Next time ...

The OH joined me on Thursday evening and on Friday morning we set off on the next stage of my adventure. 

Baking Subscription August

 

This was Blackberry Coconut Crumble Squares. 

You had to make your own blackberry jam which created its own drama here as fresh blackberries were not to be had for love nor ready money locally and even frozen ones took two trips to the supermarket to get hold of. And when they'd been found and bought the jam proved, as so often with things I boil up in pans, resistant to thickening. 

In the event it did thicken up after several hours cooling, which I suppose is a step better than the lemon curd I made for the Viennese whirl biscuits which took several days and was too late to be of much use. 

After the jam you made and baked the base, then you made crumble with oats and coconut and stuff, and spread the jam and then the crumble on the top, and then sprinkled it with flaked almonds and then baked it all again, and when it came out of the oven you topped it with icing sugar. 

Can you tell it was all a bit of a faff? 

But apart from that Mrs Lincoln...? well, yes it tasted good. we had it warm with custard for pudding yesterday and we all agreed it was delicious. Delicious enough to justify the time and effort spent making it? Imagine a hand held flat and wibble-wobbling. 

A Week in Leeds (Part 1)

I'm going to do my Leeds week in just two posts because it was mostly  one long round of eating and drinking with friends. 

This was my one really uncomfortable moment all the time I was away; Preston station where I had to change trains. Very few masks and precious little social distancing. However I did have the delight of seeing someone chucked off the train I caught from Preston to Leeds for having the wrong ticket, refusing to pay to put it right and mouthing off at the conductor. He and his mate were escorted off the train at the next station. 

I tried to get some pictures of the Penine countryside from the train, but wasn't notably successful! It is hard to take photos from a moving train though. 

Return to The Weetwood, where I always stay when I'm in Leeds, if I can get a room. It's important to book early most of the time or you fall foul of weddings. Not this time though. 

On Sunday I had lunch  in Saltaire with an optometrist  friend and his wife. I had time to wander round Saltaire for a brief while before they arrived, and took some photos. Sadly when Titus Salt built his model village for his workers to live in he didn't foresee the advent of the motor car, so the streets tend to get clogged up these days with cars, which rather ruins the perspective for photographs. I did my best though. 

On Monday I should have been going to York, but the person I was supposed to meet sadly couldn't make it so I went into Leeds City Centre, partly to see how much it had changed and partly to do some shopping in some 'proper' shops. I got a Le Creuset oven dish for my brother-in-law in John Lewis, who apparently no longer do 10p carrier bags so I had to fork out 50p for a sort of jute one. It's still about somewhere, and I shall attempt to use it to death. Annoyingly their restaurant, where I had planned to have lunch was closed, but that was the end of the annoyances for the day. I went off to choose  a new perfume in L'Occitane de Provence, and really the girl I spoke to couldn't have been more patient, pleasant or helpful. I have said harsh things here before about being pestered in the Meadowhall branch so I feel I should praise where praise is due. I needed a new perfume because of course the one I had before they no longer do; I find this constantly happens with perfume - and lipstick colours, as well. Obviously I don't wear either often enough. My next and last stop was Waterstones where I bought a book, of which more later. I  did have time and cause to wonder when the centre of Leeds became  50% jewellery shops, there were always a few, but I was gobsmacked by how they had multiplied. 

Inconsiderately West Yorkshire buses or whoever they are have changed all the bus numbers since we lived there (come on guys, what are you thinking? It's only been sixteen years!) which explains why I got on a wrong bus on my way back to the hotel. It said it went to West Park, and I wanted to be just past there, but it turned out the bus went to a different part of West Park. So when I got off I had a bit of a walk, which you know was fine because exercise. On the other hand I had walked quite a long way in town and it was very hot, so I could have lived without the extra steps. But despite that and the other minor inconveniences it was a Good Day. 

The New Knitting Bag

If you've been following my mail order tales of woe recently you will know about the knitting bag bungle. I have to report that the right bag, now that it has arrived, is a total success and I love it. 

Here's a picture

It's a lovely size, sturdy, with inside pockets for  the pattern, and other necessary bits and pieces like stitch markers, sewing  needles. scissors etc. It was a really good buy.

I did say in an earlier post that the firm concerned were polite,. apologetic and immediately sent out the right bag before they had the wrong one returned to them. This makes a refreshing change from some of the really rubbish customer service we have received elsewhere recently (Seasalt, Country Cottages, IKEA) and so a big shout out  to Laili at Emily Foulds. 

If you're in the market for a new project bag, you could do worse....

 

Glasgow Time

I didn't really do  a lot while I was in Glasgow, it was too hot. But I managed to catch up with three friends for coffee in three different locales, so I'm slowly getting to know  more good coffee places in Glasgow. Which has to be a good thing.

I did go over to Edinburgh to see friends a couple of times too. The first time I met up with V and D and we had lunch at Contini in the National Gallery. It was lovely, although the portions were large! 

Probably not the best picture of Contini there! but it gives an idea. 

After lunch we went on to the City Art Gallery. I'm pleased that  at last I know where it is, because it has some interesting exhibitions and I can foresee many future visits. The one we went to see was work by Charles H Mackie, a prolific C19 Scottish artist of whom I had remained ignorant until this exhibition. I quite liked this little picture of a corner of Venice, but really the lighting in the gallery was not conducive to either taking photographs or indeed  actually seeing the pictures and prints themselves properly. A great shame. 

                                        

After the gallery we went off to explore the new Toppings book shop which was huge and lovely, but exhausting. Since I had to get back to Glasgow on the train and then walk I didn't buy anything as it was too hot to be lugging heavy books around, but other things being equal  I'd be tempted to go again and spend time and money there. 

My other trip to Edinburgh took me to lunch with G followed by a visit to the National Library to see their two current exhibitions. We went for the one on Henrietta Liston since G is a specialist in Women's Travel Literature, but decided on a whim to take in Petticoats and Pinnacles, about Scotland's female mountaineers as well. And we both enjoyed that one rather more. 

I've mentioned before that son no 2 and I spent some time exploring the Marvel Cinematic Universe together, and I managed two Iron Man films, Two Thor films, the first Avengers film and (sadly) the truly deplorable Guardians of the Galaxy. 

And then it was time to move on to Leeds. 

Two Books

I just want to blog about these two books now because I'm about to given them away and if I don't do it before that then I'll never remember their names.

I picked these up in a charity shop in Ilkley for reading on the bus (and no the journey isn't that long but I was a bit concerned that I might have read one of them already, and anyway the hotel, for obvious reasons, no longer had a shelf full of books left behind by previous guests for current ones to read).

Anyway there was a hit and a miss, and so that I can end on a positive note I'll do the miss first. 

This was Messenger of Truth by Jaqueline Winspear, number a trillion and three (actually fourteen) in her Maisie Dobbs series. If you haven't come across these, Maisie Dobbs was a 'domestic', then a nurse in World War 1 and when she came back from the war she set herself up as a private investigator. I read the first one many years ago and wasn't impressed, but often series improve over time as the writer gets better or more comfortable with the characters so I thought I would give this a go. I regretted it. There was nothing major wrong with the plot, and it's quite well written, but the character of Maisie is very unsympathetic; hard, self absorbed, and arrogant. I really don't want to spend any more time with her. 

The second one was Peter Robinson's Careless Love. I was very uncomplimentary when I last reviewed a Peter Robinson so I was a bit wary of this, but in fact I really enjoyed it. Intriguing, quite tense in places and with a slightly unexpected twist at the end. Robinson back on form is what I would say about this one. 

As for why I was in Ilkley, well that's a story for another day. 

Time Away and the Things I Did (2)

The day after Falstaff, we did something that I've been wanting to do for ages, and that's go to Kirkcudbright to see Broughton House, once the home of the Scottish Artist E A Hornel.  I like Hornel's art very much and there's a lot of it in the house, and Broughton is as famous for its garden as for the  house so both of those were a draw. In addition the local gallery was having an exhibition of art by the Glasgow Girls and I was keen to see that too. So off we went to Kirkcudbright. 

The journey there was a bit fraught. The OH didn't like the road - he had opted for the non-motorway route and in retrospect that was a bit of a mistake, as the alternative was a hard drive. It wasn't helped by the fact that there were constant signs for Gretna Green pointing in the direction we were going and which I thought must mean we were going in the wrong direction, as I couldn't see why we would be making for GG. The OH does have occasional form for putting the wrong thing into the satnav so I was worried, but not wanting to say anything as that would display a Lack of Trust and just be Yet Another Irritant. So I kept quiet.

And of course we got there fine as the satnav had the right directions after all. I think part of the reason we were both a bit on edge is this thing where you have to book a slot to visit many places these days  (and Broughton House was no exception) which puts you under pressure because you are worried you will miss your time. In the event we had time for lunch before our slot at BH, and the gallery you didn't have to book a time for, even though I had. 

Broughton was lovely. here's the outside. 

Sadly you're not permitted to take pictures inside the house so you'll have to take my word for it that it was comfortable, a bit cluttered in that late Victorian way and the studio was interesting and had lots of Hornel's pictures, many of which I would be perfectly happy to hang on my own wall given the chance.

The garden was beautiful, even on a damp day. I took lots of pictures there and here's a selection 

The exhibition at the Galleries was good too. I was very taken with some prints by someone called Annie French, of whom I had previously been ignorant and I keep meaning to look her up and find out more about her. There is a very very nice cafe and an equally good shop at the gallery and honestly, if you're in the area, it's well worth a visit. I'd go back in a heartbeat. The OH not so much, I don't think; the memory of the road lingers, even though we came back via the motorway. 

The next day, which was the OH's last one in Glasgow before he returned to Orkney we spent going into town for what turned out to be a less than successful shopping trip, although to be fait it was lovely just to see shops!. On Tuesday the OH set off quite early to get back to Orkney and I settled in for ten days hanging out with my boy in Glasgow. 

Baking Subscription July

 

So this month was Sticky Toffee Cookies. 

We have son no 2 with us just now. He had his second vaccination just before we passed through Glasgow on our way back to Orkney so he's staying for a wee while. It makes a pleasant change for him after spending lock down more or less totally alone in his flat, and it's nice for us, and the cats, to have him here. 

As always when he's here we did the bake 'together', which means he reads out the instructions and I follow them; I enjoy that because it gives me company while I bake. So that works. 

Not too much faffing about with decoration on these (although we skipped the crushed walnuts that are supposed to go on the top because none of us retally likes them). They were delicious. And sadly, considering how many calories they must have, very moreish. 

Time Away and the Things I Did (1)

 

The start timing of our trip south was determined mainly by the dates for the Scottish Opera live performances of Falstaff. As previously noted it was designed and directed by (Sir) David McVicar, and it was performed under a roof in the car park at the Scottish Opera Production Studios in Glasgow. Above, a photo of the set. I totally understand why you're not allowed to take photographs during a performance but it does mean that the blog is (not very) enlivened sometimes by less than exciting photos of opera sets. 

When we first started supporting the Scottish Opera Emerging Artist Program we sponsored a young tenor called Elgan Llyr Thomas, who was cast as Fenton in this production. We were looking forward to hearing him sing again, but alas! it was not to be as he was indisposed. We were only disappointed for the blink of an eye though as  it turned out the cover was a young man by the name of Sheng Zhi Ren - who just happens to be the Emerging Artist we are currently sponsoring! Such a coincidence, especially as we haven't sponsored a tenor in the intervening period. 

The production was great; wonderful playing and singing but my favourite aspect was the costumes. They were fabulous - as you can see. 

Happy Birthday To Me

 

The blog is on hold just now because I  find I really don't like blogging without photos, and I have no way of transferring photographs from my camera to my tablet. I am sure there is a way, but I'm struggling with very slow internet speeds and also trying to learn how to take photos with  my new smartphone (for which read the OH's old one. ) I can't deny that a smartphone is actually quite a nice thing to have,  now that I've got one, but I would never have gone out and bought one 'for my own self' as my Danish pen friend would say. 

Anyway this photo was taken by the OH this morning as we took a walk around the lake adjacent to the property where we are staying and it's quite a nice one so possibly worth all the hassle of getting it from his phone to my tablet and then on to here. 

We're off shortly for a celebratory lunch with his brother, their cousin and his wife and I'm looking  forward to it. 

I get home next week and then there will be lots of things to catch up on - and lots of photos to share.