Finally - Time to Relax, at Least till Tomorrow!

What a hectic weekend...

...Saturday

went to the antiques and bric a brac market at Tynemouth, (stopping off at Just Harley's for Dave to get some more useless useful bits for his bike).

Not a lot of bargains this time, but I did get more pillowcases - think I might just have enough now! and the book "Deadly Durham" by Terry Deary

Then back home to add the heading tape to the curtains I have made for Flic's room and to sand and prime the chest of drawers ready to paint.

The finished articles.

Sunday

Car booting at Hexham.

A much needed bed guard for when little one comes to stay - BNIB and only £3.

A 1945 Bakelite fruit bowl - £5.

A pink gingham duvet cover - 50p. This will be cut up to make cushions.

A Disney Princess Duvet Cover and Pillowcase - 50p. Dear granddaughter has been asking for a Disney Princess Quilt for her bed at home which is a toddler bed, so needs a half size quilt. I have already halved an old quilt for use on her bed along with altering a duvet cover to fit, but I have been on the look out for a Disney Princess one to alter, so was well pleased to get one at this price!

Then home  to add a coat of Farrow & Ball to the chest of drawers & make Pasta Chicken Enchiladas for tea - recipe on this fantastic blog full of Slimming World recipes.

Then evening spent altering said duvet cover and adding  a final coat of paint to the drawers.

To-day

First coat of Danish Oil on top of the drawers.

Delivered altered Disney Princess Quilt then ...

...off to B & Q for screws to put handles on the chest, but none in the right size so back in the car and off to Homebase, where we bought the last packet.

Chose and purchased new carpet for little one's room.

Filled up on fuel.

Back home, helped dear hubby clear junk out of the room so he could fit the carpet and put the handles on the drawers.

Sanded and primed an old dining chair that will also go in little one's room.

Dear son turned up - he hadn't realised it was a bank holiday and so the shop in our village is closed - he has nothing in the house - can I just run him into the next village for supplies?

Back home - prepare and cook Roast Lamb dinner including Yorkshire puds.

Second coat of Danish Oil on top of the drawers.

Make bread.

Iron two large vintage cotton double bed sheets and four pillowcases then change bedding.

Finally - so shattered can't think straight and my old bones and muscles aching and groaning, dragged myself into a blissful warm soothing shower.

Now I'm beginning to relax I've also treated myself to some of the Elderflower Champagne I made back in June.

I'll leave you with the picture that my other half has set as wallpaper on the PCs desktop to remind me of our holidays and help me to relax - Ahhh!

Ring of Brodgar - Orkney

I'm Back!

Well we have returned from our trip to Orkney. What a lovely relaxing week. If ever you are up that way try and make time for an evening with  "Peatside Tales" These evenings are run by John and Lynn who offer unique storytelling evenings. You get the opportunity to sit around a peatfire and enjoy Orkney folklore and island legend via music, song and dance. We attended two of these evenings one in the Old Still bar of the Stromness Hotel and another in John and Lynn's studio, both were fantistic with Lynn telling folklore stories with real imagination and feeling. We also booked a guided tour of Stromness with John - it was fantastic to hear the history of the place where we were staying.

Stromness Harbour at Night

At beautiful Rackwick Bay on the Island of Hoy

We stayed in the "Peedie Hoose" (peedie meaning small), it's the second door up in the white building that you can see above.

 

Off to Orkney (via Kinlochbervie) Hooray!!!

This will be my last post for at least 10 days as we are off on our hols tomorrow morning leaving the house and cats in the capable hands of my eldest daughter.

First we will be spending two nights at The Old School House in Kinlochbervie.

Kinlochbervie is in the far north west of Scotland. We spent three nights in Kinlochbervie at the Old School House last year when we toured Scotland on Dave's Harley & loved it so much we decided to return again this year.

The view from the road near the Old School House

On Saturday we will get the ferry from Gills Bay to St Margaret's Hope on South Ronaldsay then drive over the Churchill Barriers to Mainland and on to Stromness where we will be staying in The Peedie Hoose (Peedie apparently means small).

The Peedie Hoose

The Churchill Barriers are a series of four causeways which link the Orkney Mainland in the north to the island of South Ronaldsay via Burray and the two smaller islands of Lamb Holm and Glimps Holm. The barriers were built in the 1940s as naval defences to protect the anchorage at Scapa Flow, but now serve as road links.

I am starting to get all excited so I have been looking back at some photos which we took when we visited Orkney three years ago - I thought I'd share one or two with you.

Bye for now xxx