Jenny Wren Crafts
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28th February 2020

2/28/2020

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Well, nearly the end of February already!

Have spent quite a lot of time this week working to get projects finished and spent Thursday in the office.

Last weekend I decided to sort out the pictures for the hall, stairs and landing. I took them down to decorate last year and didn't put them back up as I wanted a change. I decided I wanted mostly black and white photographs in gold or black frames. I have an RSC calendar with some good photographs in of old performances with the likes of Peter O'Toole, Richard Burton, Vivienne Leigh and Michael Redgrave. Unfortunately the calendar is square and although I have loads of frames not many of them are square so I spent a couple of days trawling the charity shops to try to find some. I managed to find 5 wooden and 1 gold finish (which turned out to be exactly the same as one I already had, so that made a pair). The next job was to dismantle them and spray the wooden ones black, which I did outside. Unfortunately the can ran out on the last two and they could do with another coat so I have to get more paint. The others though came up quite well though and I now have 6 ready to hang.
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I also have quite a few very old photographs from the 1920s and 30s and a collection of small frames so I thought I could create some collections to go in the three panels in the hall and on the landing. Still working on that one.
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While I was on the subject I decided to paint the frame of the mirror over the (mock) fireplace in the living room. It was gilt which went nicely with the previous colour scheme of the room and the brass ceiling lights but not so well (I thought) with the new lighter colour scheme. Anyway I have painted it white and distressed it a bit so that the gilt shows through a little. No too sure about it but there's no going back now!
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Went to the theatre again in Malvern on Wednesday, this time to see Lady Chatterley. I wasn't quite sure what to expect as I didn't really know the story except that she has a wild affair with the gamekeeper. Anyway it tuned out that there was more of a story than that.

After last week I decided not to go through Worcester and stuck to the motorway which turned out to be a good move as the bridge in Worcester was completely closed to traffic due to the flooding. The floods around The Ketch were just as bad. There are some construction works going on along that road with a big compound for the construction vehicles and workers, half of which was under water with a crane and a digger marooned on little islands.

As the weather was bright I thought I would take a few photos around the theatre.

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20th February 2020

2/20/2020

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Trip to Wales went off OK. I thought we might encounter some problems with the roads after all the rain but they were fine and although there was some snow on the hills we managed to avoid that as well. 

Wednesday was spent in the office and the rest of the week working. This week is half term so both sons and their families are away, one in Weymouth and one in Devon. Shelagh is now home but has a nasty cold. Her new bathroom is lovely and she now has level access to the front door.

It was the Historical Society meeting today and I went on my own as Shelagh didn't feel up to it. The subject was The Origins of Nursery Rhymes which was fascinating. Most of them seem to be about real people and events such as Georgie Porgie about King George 1st, Baa Baa Black Sheep about the wool tax, Goosey Goosey Gander about  a man with the surname Gander who was sent to search houses for Catholics in the time of Oliver Cromwell, Mary, Mary quite contrary about Mary Queen of Scots and her ladies in waiting, Ring a ring o Roses about the plague, See Saw Margery Daw about an attempt by a politician to introduce an fixed wage for apprentices, There was a Crooked Man about the man who was sent to mark out the division between England and Scotland and was 'persuaded'  by various landowners to include them in either England or Scotland which resulted in a very 'crooked' line.

Cinema on Monday to see Emma. I had already seen a version on TV and found it a bit boring but I thought the new big screen version might be a bit more interesting. Not really. Not one of Austin's better novels.

Theatre in Malvern on Wednesday this week to see The Cat and the Canary with Britt Ekland, Marti Webb and others. Staging was very good. Lots of howling wind, thunder and spooky goings on!  Decided to take the A449 through Worcester to get there as it is the straightest route. Never gave a thought that Worcester might be flooded till I turned to go down the road by the racecourse which was closed. Found my way through the town by a combination of intuition and sat nav and over the bridge. The water was right up on both sides of the road. The racecourse and the cricket pitch were both under water. It would only have taken another inch or two to have been across the road. It was impossible to see where the river was by the Ketch as all the surrounding fields were under water. Luckily Malvern is on somewhat higher ground and I arrived in time to have a look round the town which I have not done before. I think to describe as 'hilly' would be a bit of an understatement. Any steeper and I would have needed ropes and crampons! Nice town though and a coffee and toasted tea cake in Costa was welcome.

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10th February 2020

2/10/2020

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Another two trips to the cinema and one to the theatre. Last week I went to see 1917 about trying to get a message through the trenches in the first world war. It certainly captured the horrors of the battlefields. My grandfather spent some time in France during that war and it makes you realise what it must have been like.

This week's film was a little more lighthearted, The Personal History of David Copperfield.  Not quite how Dickens intended it I don't think but very enjoyable. 

The theatre trip was to the Rep to see Asking for It, a hard hitting Irish play about a rape victim, was she to blame and the effect on her and her family. 

Last Thursday I took Shelagh to the shops as I had promised and we had a good day. She was able to get quite a few things that she needed and we had a nice lunch in the town. The builders seem to be getting on well with her house and she is hoping to be home for the weekend.

On Sunday I popped over to see Richard to take his birthday present ready for Friday 14th. He was my Valentine day surprise as he was not due for another week. He has been working on the house since Christmas and the wall between the kitchen and the living room has now gone, making the ground floor of the house all open plan. I stayed and had tea with them, cuddled the (four) cats and then back to watch Call the Midwife.

In Wales for a meeting tomorrow and the office on Wednesday. Hoping to get back to some serious crafting soon. Knitted another pair of fingerless gloves from some very weird wool that Michelle had given to her and started a tea cosy from a kit I had for Christmas. 

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1st February 2020

2/1/2020

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February already! 

Last week I went to the cinema twice. On Wednesday I saw The Good Liar with Ian McKellen and Helen Mirren which was very good and on Thursday I saw Official Secrets with Keira Knightley which was excellent.

Roman went on a skiing trip with the school last Saturday and is now back having had a good time and no injuries. More information and pictures on Michelle's blog.

This week I have mostly been busy working to get projects completed but took time out on Wednesday to take Shelagh and Sarah to see Blithe Spirit at Malvern with Jennifer Saunders as the medium, Madame Arcati. The production was excellent and  a good laugh. Shelagh has settled into the care home quite well though my hopes that there would be people to talk to has not quite worked out as most of the people in there have dementia. Still the food seems good and I've said I will take her to the shops this week. 

Remember my first 'top secret project' to make the squares for Michelle to crochet into a throw for the bed, well she has finished and it looks great. 


I have knitted a pair of fingerless gloves in some black wool with sequins which I shall give to Anais.
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Bathroom now in it's early spring colour scheme.
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    Author

    I am Jenny (when I was little my dad always called me Jenny Wren) and I enjoy making hand crafted things. Watch this space to see what I am working on.
    I have two sons - Mark, married to Michelle with children Anais 19 and Roman 15, and Richard - married to Debbie with children Brendyn 15 and Olivia 12.

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