Blog Archives - Jenny Wren Crafts

July 31st - Clevedon

7/31/2019

The day started a bit cloudy but soon cleared to be lovely and sunny. Headed back up the motorway towards Bristol and the Clevedon area. First stop was Tyntesfield, a large Victorian Gothic style house set in beautiful parkland. It was the home of the Gibb family who were wealthy merchants. They were very religious and the house has its own church.

Apparently some episodes of Sherlock were filmed here.

After a picnic the next stop was Clevedon Court, a smaller but interesting house. It was built in the 14th century and has been the home of the Elton family for the last 300 years. The Eltons had a pottery factory and there is a collection of the pottery on display as well as a display of Nailsea glass. The glazing on the pottery is amazing.

Final stop was Clevedon itself which is on the Bristol channel and (we discovered) has the only grade 1 listed pier in the country! (As you can see it was a little breezy by the water. Anais is doing a good impression of cousin It).

July 30th

7/30/2019

Rained in the night and on and off during the day. Stayed in and did crafty things in the morning and then popped into Burnham after lunch to get tickets for the evening showing of The Lion King which was very good.

July 29th - Dunster Castle, Minehead and Watchet

7/29/2019

Another sunny day. Went to Dunster Castle first. We have been before but it's always nice to visit as there is a lot to see - the castle itself, the gardens, the village and the water mill. We did the castle and gardens first and then stopped for a picnic, then we walked round the village to the water mill.

Next stop was Minehead. There is a station there with a steam train which runs along the coast. By strange coincidence Michelle's cousins were staying in Minehead and we met up with them on the beach for an hour which was nice.

Final stop was Watchet which is a nice little fishing village with a statue of the ancient mariner on the quayside because Samuel Taylor Coleridge was local to the area.

July 28th - Weston, Sand Bay and Brean

7/28/2019

Lovely and sunny again. Went to Weston first which was not too busy. Lots of donkey rides on the sands.

Next we went to Sand Bay. We parked on the National Trust car park at the far end and had a picnic. There were some people there with a horse box and two beautiful horses that they took for a ride across the beach. We walked quite a long way back across the bay which was a bit breezy but very pleasant.

Last stop was Brean and Mark, Michelle, Anais and Roman went for a walk to the top of the downs. I chickened out and sat and ate an ice cream instead!

Back to the vans for a lovely tea which Michelle cooked of gammon, potatoes, carrots, broccoli and peas with cheese source. Then a walk round the farm and carrots for the donkeys.

July 27th - Bridgewater and Burnham

7/27/2019

Lovely sunny day again today. Went to Bridgewater in the morning. Looked round the shops and then stopped to walk round a mooring on the canal.

Came back for lunch and then went into Burnham. Looked round a few shops and then sat of the beach for an hour.

After tea we went to feed the donkeys some carrots and had a nice walk round the farm and along by the river.

July 26th - Somerset

7/26/2019

Enjoying a nice holiday in the van in Somerset. Mark, Michelle, Anais and Roman are here too. We were going to come the weekend but decided it would be better for travelling if we came on Thursday evening so we set off at about 4.30pm and got here at 7.00pm. We are staying at Westhill Farm Park at Highbridge which is just outside Burham on Sea. We have stayed here several times before. It is a working farm which has cattle, sheep, chickens and three lovely donkeys. It is beside a river and also has static caravans. They have just built a fishing lake so it will be open for fishing from next year. The pitches are large and fully serviced but very reasonably priced.

Mark was working today so we spent the day sitting outside sewing, crocheting and reading and then went into Burham to the supermarkets later on. Weather has been warm and sunny and we went for a nice walk round and to see the donkeys after tea.

We packed up and left Studley on Wednesday afternoon and I had to take the car for MOT on Thursday morning (it passed with no advisories - yay) so it was a bit of a rush to get everything ready but well worth it as we now get 10 days here.

July 21st

7/21/2019

Happy birthday Michelle! I can now reveal my top secret project which was for Michelle's birthday. I made some material squares for her to crochet round and make into a throw for the bed. There are 80 squares in all and each one is padded and blanket stitched round ready to add the crochet.

I have been working in the squares while catching up on Poldark. Also went to the cinema twice this week. I saw On the Basis of Sex, which was ok but a bit like a documentary, and Tolkein which I enjoyed. It showed how he got the inspiration for his books. Thursday was the historical society which was The Life and Times of Buffalo Bill Cody which was actually more interesting than I expected, and then Shelagh took me for a bite to eat.

Last minute decision to get the caravan out on Saturday afternoon but I'm glad I did and will be here until Wednesday.

July 14th - back home

7/14/2019

Came back from Leek to Studley for the weekend on Friday morning as it was Anais' 17th Birthday. Mark and Michelle joined me later in the evening as Roman was playing in a school concert in Birmingham city centre with some members of the CBSO.

On Saturday morning I had to go into Redditch to sort out a new phone as mine refused to charge on Friday. They didn't have the one I wanted in stock so it is coming tomorrow to home. Afterwards we went to Coughton Court where there was a summer fete. We had a nice picnic and a walk round the grounds.

Later in the afternoon Anais' other grandma and grandad came and her three cousins and we all sat outside and had tea and birthday cake. (See photos of the cake on Michelle's blog.)

Car boot this morning and then tidied the van and came home. Pleased to find the plants in the garden had survived. I left the hanging baskets sitting in buckets of water at the back of the shed in the shade and they had positively thrived!

July 11th

7/11/2019

Decided to stay local today as it's my last full day here. First I went to Leek which is a nice old market town with lots of independent shops. (Also lots of charity shops and I got a nice green dress).

Next I went to look at Tittesworth Reservoir and The Roaches which are both close to where I am staying.

July 10th - Little Moreton Hall

7/10/2019

Today I went to Little Moreton Hall which dates back to 1504. The building has a moat all the way round and beautiful gardens. The building itself was interesting to see how it was added to over about 100 years and how it has survived till today.