Saturday 26 July 2014

Pre- Burwell Post!



A quick post, just to fill you in on this week's events, as we hurtle headlong into Burwell Bash week. (The mood on the BB facbook page is verging on the hysterical!)

It has been a beautiful week weatherwise, here in West Norfolk; we've had temperatures in excess of 28 degrees several times. The herd in the nursery field next door has been glad of the shade afforded them by our wall and the large beech tree. There are a couple of suckling calves there now, and Jim took some shots for me.




The veggie garden is doing nicely, green beans, broad beans and courgettes are romping away, and we are enjoying them by the plateful.



Those of you who remembered the awful pain and infection I suffered last winter in my jaw - first identified as a dental problem, then a sinus problem, finally a specialist dental surgeon diagnosed a split tooth which required extraction as it had grown another root, and then I needed a replacement. I've just had the final stage of the implant completed, and can now smile widely again!Hurrah, just in time for Burwell! The dentist actually timed the 2nd and 3rd stages so as to be complete before Burwell, honestly! What a guy!

I've been stitching furiously this week , mainly for the Craft Fair at Back to the Garden in August (tell you more about that later) and also to finish this commission for a shoulder bag. Again, the green colour doesn't show too well.


I
I do hope the recipient likes it! It is messenger bag size, with a pocket on the back and one on the inside.

Now I have got out of sync with The Year in Books, I'm afraid, but I have been reading - about four detective novels so far this month, and also I am tandem-reading this mighty tome with Jim.



It is a very large book, and we are both reading it, using individual book marks to prevent confusion. We don't fight over who gets to read it. If you enjoy a bit of non-fiction and enjoy history, and most of all WORDS, you could not do better than to try this. It isn't a book to whizz through at great pace,  but it is fascinating, covering such topics as English writing, mythology, religion, symbolism, the Anglo-Saxons - obviously! A book to totally immerse yourself in. If it takes me a month to read it I don't care. Oh, I might just add - though why I should feel the need is a sad indictment on the age - I should stress that the book has absolutely NOTHING to do with jingoism, Far Right politics, or plug-ugly skin-heads wearing bovver boots and fascist slogans.

And speaking of books, I have such a pleasant little tale to tell you. I had been searching for a book of small embroidery patterns, and eventually found one on Amazon second hand. The seller was a lady in North Wales, who answered my query about delivery dates with a lovely personal message - to which I replied. (I know, I know, you just DON'T do that normally do you?) My book arrived promptly and inside the package was this envelope:


And inside, this:


With another lovely personal message inside. Now that's what I call good service! Thank you so much Dr. Dorothy Griffiths, the book and your gesture has been much appreciated. 

I expect many of you will be enjoying watching the Commonwealth Games. I can't ay that sporting events figure largely on my list of favourite things, but JIm likes to watch, so I sit and sew with it all going on in the background. (When we come indoors to cool down!) But next week there will be radio, tv, and newspaper silence, as ever at Burwell. We cut ourselves off - apart from the occasional phone home - and leave the rest of the world to carry on while we exist on Burwell Time! This year I am forsaking the fiddle class - though I will take my fiddle for the sessions - because I shall be part of the brand new MELODEON CLASS and as I have intimated previously, our tutor will be ANDY CUTTING!!!!!! Forgive the excess of capitals and exclamation marks, but I am just thrilled to bits. I'll tell you all about it next time. 

Meanwhile enjoy this lovely suns and heat, you Brits, and to my Antipodean readers/friends/relations I hope it isn't too wintery for you down there! 

23 comments:

  1. I'm sure you will enjoy Burwell no matter what. It must be so nice to play an instrument.

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    1. Hi Dc, I have never NOT enjoyed Burwell, t'is true. Making music, as opposed to simply listening to it, is a wonderful thing. Making music has given me so many wonderful friends and so much fun and pleasure. xx

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  2. Hi Sue, it really is a 'mega-book', but I'm sure you will not be put off by its size or scope. I just love words, prose, poetry, whatever. And I also love finding links and connections. I'm only 3 chapters in but I am hooked already. No, haven't seen that one but will surely check it out, thanks!

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  3. Fabulous bag, all those tiny stitches... WOW.

    Oh my word... Andy Cutting! What a fantastic tutor, you will have a great time.

    We will be on our way up to the Yorkshire Dales tomorrow with the caravan, I hope the weather will be a little cooler, I'm a bit fed up of the heat now.
    Enjoy your time at Burwell xx

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    1. Hi Karen, isn't it brilliant - my favourite melodeon player coming to tutor us! Yes, I think the weather is die to cool a little -not too much I hope, the sunshine cheers me up no end, but I do know if you are having to do stuff it can get you down. A nice compromise is what I like!! Have a lovely time in Yorkshire - we will be off to ours in Wales in a few weeks I think.xx

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  4. Lynne what is Burwell bash?

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    1. It 's a summer school for guitars, flutes whistles fiddles and now melodeons, int the village of Burwell in Cambridgeshire. I go every year. It is madness and fabulous. If ou check my archives each year for this time (last week July first in August,) you can see photos and read all about it. xx

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  5. i remember you going last year so i must have been following you for at least a year now!!!! how time flies ...... have a wonderful time and try to get as much rest/sleep before you go!!!! i really like your bag - hope it's a success with the buyer!!!!! it always makes me want to attempt embroidery when i see your work BUT i could really do with a lesson or two - i can't remember how to do blanket stitch for a start so i MUST look at you tube sometime for a few pointers - the heat is getting to me and so i am only doing the absolute minimum work - i'm off to coventry to see one of my sister's in a week - i am hoping for a nice cool day to travel!! take care xx

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    1. Hi Lynne, as I type, it is Sunday morning, just having breakfast then need to do some "proper" ironing (i.e., not quilting fabric!!) and get packed. I don't leave until about 3.30 get there just over an hour later. The 'elite' arrive on Sunday! We have a scratch supper and a nice little session, lots of catching up etc etc, then it all kicks off Monday morning. We usually have good weather but we do get showers. Very hot nights are a feature but you aren't in bed very long!!
      I never learned to embroider - I use a handful of very simple stitches, and my stitching is not tiny or even if you examine closely- there is hope for everyone!!
      And you just do the minimum, Lynne! More important to keep cool. That is what the holidays is all about - pristine housekeeping is NOT on the menu! HAve a good week with your sister if I don't speak to you before you go. (It's a bit like being penpals this blogging, isn't it!) Lxx

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  6. Goodness sakes, but you are one busy girl. I love that you are excited about Burwell. In fact, that is what I love about you most of all . . . the fact that you are enthusiastic about all things. Life is a gift to be enjoyed and you certainly do that with gusto.
    Have a fun week!
    Your blogging sister, Connie :)

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    1. Hi Connie, I have had a tremendous time, still so full of it, and have to get my mind sorted before I write the Burwell post. I really need a week to get over it! xxxx

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  7. I am so glad that your saga has now come to an end and you can smile confidently once again, especially being this close to the Burwell Bash! The weather has been quite hot and humid so I am looking forward to the rain coming hopefully soon, so it can wash away these annoying thrips! Take care xx

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    1. Yes, I can smile with confidence now! Still sunny at the moment here, but we have had some rain. I am getting my photos sorted for the next post about the Burwell Ash so watch this space, Chel! xx

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  8. Have fun next week. Now that my mum has moved away from Burwell I doubt I shall see it again. Seem weird after living there on and off since 1983.
    Take care.

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    1. I actually only know Burwell House, and the Co-op! But it seems a pleasant village. Ah well, we all move on, there are quite a few old haunts I shan't ever see again, either! xx

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  9. I love the messenger bag Lynne, I hope you're having lots of fun at the bash, how nice to be cut off from unwanted phone calls and computers for a while!

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    1. It has been wonderful, Jay, and yes, the entire world goes away, no news gets through at all - and there wouldn't be time to take notice anyway. Wait for the next post and see what happened! Lxx

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  10. Oh I have dithered about the Peter Ackroyd book, but after this, it will have to go on the list. I have enjoyed other books by him and it sounds right up my street. I don' t think it matters about keeping to the Year in Book schedule - what's brilliant is the way so many new recommendations are coming up as people comment and discuss - what a literary lot we are!

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    1. So good that we are sharing like this! We (Jim and I) are both enjoying reading the Peter Ackroyd.Lx

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  11. Happy for you re. the tooth and happier still re. the great Andy C. How was it Lynne? We need a Burwell Bash report!

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    1. Oh Annie, it was wonderful! I am afraid I have still got my Burwell head on - need some space to marshall my thoughts and emotions. Won't be long!! Lxx

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  12. Love that bag - messenger bags are my fave shape, so handy. I remember days gone by when we were up to our eyes in courgettes in our veg plot and there were always some hiding away turning into marrows! Hope the Bash goes well. xCathy

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    1. Bag went down well, Bash went down well, and just about to publish next post! Very late! Lxx

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