Holiday Week

Well this is where I spent most of Bank Holiday Monday : a small Norfolk village which I had never heard of let alone visited. It was the day of the Village Fete, and it was a glorious day. I'd been asked by a new musical friend Lesley whether I'd like to join them as the  comedy act  musical entertainment in the Tea Rooms.  It was a really lovely couple of hours, just sitting there, playing folk tunes and being fed tea and cake and being appreciated.

       OK, not the best of photographs, but thank you to the member of the public who took it for us.

After all the sunshine - when have we ever had TWO bank Holidays full of sunshine? - the week was chilly and dull here, rain at times. Sigh. But today the sun is back and it is gorgeous. Quick nip into the garden to get some herbs for dinner.

                   Look, my beautiful sage flowers are just about to burst forth, aren't they lovely?

And the sage, lovage and mint story continues. Soon be enough mint for a mahoosive bowl of tabbouleh - that's when I KNOW summer is on its way. Lovage and chives into the bacon and leek casserole for tonight. And some for a large quiche I'm making for a special event tomorrow.

Quick update on the lino carving - I've been trying to sketch hares - well, cheating by copying them.

OK, so the haunches on this hare would launch a heavy horse over a five barred gate, but I think the general gist is there, isn't it? I quite like the carving to be honest.

And now, for the REALLY exciting event of the week: Yes! My new melodeon has arrived! Everyone has had a good drool over it, and it has been responsible for at least TWO very expensive purchases by Other People who Should Know Better!

Isn't that beautiful?? A Beltuna 'Alex' 3 voice, two and a half row, 12 bass  D/G melodeon, in cherrywood, hand crafted in Italy. Custom lay-out. (We designed it by juggling the Andy Cutting/ Julian Sutton/ Nick Wiseman-Ellis layouts and coming up with exactly what I wanted/needed. )

I have played it, it's quite different to my Saltarelle, also bigger and heavier. But so many extras I shall need a lesson just to have them explained to me! I took it to the session last night to be ooohed and ahhhed over, but I played my Saltarelle, no way am I going to be up to session speed on the Beltuna for quite some time to come!

So all in all it has been a brilliant week, and more to come tomorrow. But I'll tell you about that next time. Now I must take some time to read all your blogs, I just haven't got round to it for days. Have good weekends, everyone.