Finally got around to making some new lampshades for the dining room. They are made from a pretty quilt cover that I picked up from a charity shop for £1.
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A couple of weeks ago I had some meetings in Scotland for work so I thought I would combine them with a short break in Edinburgh. After the first couple of meetings which were in Perth and the outskirts of Edinburgh I took the hire car back to the airport and took the tram into the city. I stayed in student accommodation which is good as you get the use of a kitchen so don't have to keep eating out. On the Saturday I walked up the Royal Mile to the castle where they were setting up for the Edinburgh Tattoo. Edinburgh is made up of the 'old town' (very old) and the 'new town' (Victorian) roughly separated by Waverley station. The old town runs down from the castle on a sort of ridge so the ground on either side falls away quite steeply and the main road through the old town is the Royal Mile. Off the mile are lots of little closes. I did a tour of the real Mary King's Close which is actually underneath the Royal Exchange. Rather than demolish the existing buildings they just took the tops off and used them as foundations. Unfortunately we were not allowed to take pictures. I then walked down the mile to Holyrood Park, Holyrood Palace and the government buildings at the bottom. Unfortunately it was a bit drizzly that day so a lot of the pictures are taken from under the umbrella. On Sunday the weather was better so I walked down to Leith to visit the Royal Yacht Britannia which was fascinating. On Monday I checked out and went back to the airport to pick up a hire car again to get to my next meeting in Cumbernauld. On my way there I stopped off at Linlithgow Palace (where Mary Queen of Scots was born), The Kelpies and The Falkirk Wheel. A few weeks ago (Whitsun) I needed to go to Durham for a meeting for work so I decided I would make a long weekend out of it. (My meeting was on the Tuesday). I have always wanted to visit Durham, I have passed through on the train a couple of times and it looked so picturesque and interesting. I must say it did not disappoint, it was lovely. The cathedral, the castle, the little lanes, the river and even the weather! The castle is part of the university and is used regularly by students, some even have accommodation there. I have to admit that I have been very busy lately and have not done a lot of crafting. (I did turn up six pairs of trousers while I was away in the Yorkshire Dales but that doesn't really count!). (Oh and I painted a wall unit and a trolley table for the dining room).
I am currently working on my second 'Road Trip Scarf' (Zooty Owl's pattern). The first one I started in Weymouth at Easter using Katia Stella and this one is in James C Brett Twinkle. I much prefer the Katia Stella one, it is softer and prettier so when I saw some Stylecraft Caberet in beautiful Autumn shades I couldn't resist. Will be starting that next. They are so easy to do while you are chatting or watching TV.
Last week I had a fabulous time with the caravan in the Yorkshire Dales. Weather was glorious and the scenery amazing. I stayed on the Bolton Abbey Estate just outside Skipton in Wharfdale which is owned by the Duke of Devonshire. The estate is beautiful with priory ruins and church, manor house, old hunting lodge and of course the river Wharf running through the middle.
On the Sunday I decided to explore the area and walked along the riverside to Barden Bridge (about a mile) and back and through Strid Wood to the Strid. On Monday I went into Skipton as it was market day. I have been to Skipton before a couple of years ago (see post for May 2016). On Tuesday I decided to visit the priory ruins which were about 3 miles from the caravan site so I drove to the main car park and had to pay £10 to park the car! Ouch. From there I walked along the river as far as the Cavendish Pavillion where I stopped for tea and cake (has to be done). It was very busy with lots of people picnicking, paddling and even swimming in the river. On Wednesday I went to Ilkley and Otley. Both very nice but quite different. Ilkley is an affluent spa town with designer shops and Otley more of a country market town with a square. Didn't take any pictures of Otley, was too busy scoffing a cheese and onion pasty and coffee in Greggs. On Thursday I revisited Haworth (home of the Brontes) and Hebdon Bridge, both of which I visited in May 2016 (see additional photos) when they were setting up to film To Walk Invisible, the story of the Brontes which was shown on TV over Christmas 2016. The scenery along the journey was absolutely stunning. On Friday I ventured in the opposite direction, past the old hunting lodge, through Burnsall and over the moors to Nidderdale, Pateley Bridge on the river Nidd. All in all a thoroughly enjoyable holiday. Check out the blue skies!
Last day today but first more about that intriguing sign in Haworth. I asked a lady in a shop if she knew what was going on and she said they are filming something that will be shown at Christmas and they have built a whole replica of the parsonage over the moors and she gave me directions so off I went. They have taken over the top car park at the visitor centre and seem to be still working on it but no one was around (except some more nosey people like me!) The location was actually quite stunning.
Now back to today. I decided to work my way home stopping off here and there. First stop was Last of the Summer Wine country of Holmfirth. I have been before many years ago but managed to remember where to find things. I then headed down towards Glossop with some pretty amazing views and some nutty people jumping off the top of the hill with parachutes. Final stop before heading home was Buxton. Started my exploration of the Calder Valley with Sowerby Bridge which was not too impressive and a bit run down. Nice river running through though and a very substantial church. Next stop was Hebdon Bridge which was lovely, very pretty with both a river and a canal and the obligatory mill building. Next was Haworth, home of the Brontes which was not at all what I expected and very interesting. It is a steep hill and the church and parsonage are at the top.
Staying in a Travel Lodge in Halifax for the next two nights. It looks like it used to be part of a mill which has been turned into offices. Exploring the Calder (Happy) Valley tomorrow.
Had to come up here for a meeting for work yesterday so decided it would be a nice idea to stay here for a couple of days so here I am. I am staying in a lovely B&B in Aysgarth.
Later I went to Hawes which is a lovely old town which still has some cobbled streets (they play havoc with the suspension) and pretty waterfalls running though the middle of the town. It is also the home of Wensleydale cheese and you can visit the factory which has a museum, shop and viewing area. The photos are taken though glass so they are not wonderful but show the cheese being made. Just up the road was a pretty little village with a ford and a sawmill. On the way back I took the road over the top of Swaledale which had amazing views and stopped to take a look at the 'buttertubs' where apparently the locals used to store butter and cheese in the summer because it was cool. Finally I came past Bolton Castle which is quite impressive and very old (1399). I was too late to go round but I stopped to take a couple of photos. All in all a good day! Yesterday was my last day in Wales and it was beautiful and sunny. Friday was a bit dull and rainy so I decided not to go out. I did go to the games room though which is in the next block as there is internet access in there. As I went out there was a sheep in the garden (I did say they were everywhere) and when I came back it was on my door step peering in though through the glass door!  A pheasant also came to say hello. (Picture taken through the window).  Before I left I thought I would take a few pictures of the apartment. On the way back I stopped off for a walk round Ludlow. I haven't been for years. Lovely town, full of really old buildings and little streets and passageways. |
AuthorI am Jenny (my dad always called me Jenny Wren) and I enjoy making hand crafted things. Watch this space to see what I am working on. Archives
July 2018
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