I'm Back! - Monday 15th April

Hello Friends!

We're back from our 4 day stay in the Capital and despite some very mixed weather we had a great time - and a very cultural time too! No art work today, but a few photos quickly downloaded to share with you!

No photos from Thursday, our first day..after dropping our hens off at their 'holiday home' we got a late morning train, checked into our hotel near Trafalgar Square, had a cuppa and walked to Geo Trumpers..this is a little shop where they sell shaving stuff for men and have been doing so for over 100 years and Tom loves it..he even had a birthday treat of a shave there once! Whilst Tom was being served I chatted to the woman who I kind of thought was the manager, until she shook my hand and introduced herself as Ms Trumper! The guy was also telling us that he taught Johnny Depp to cut throat shave for Sweeney Todd..and that Mr Depp was a really nice person and very nervous! That evening we went to see the play 'One Man Two Guvnors', billed as the funniest play on the planet..well I'm not sure about that, but it was funny and very enjoyable!

Friday we set off for Kew..We both love Kew and with Westonbirt Arboretum membership we get in FREE! W-hey! It was a strange day, sunny one minute and torrential downpours the next. There isn't too much colour about at the moment, so most of my pictures were taken in the succulent house, though I did manage a few outside...

no one else saw this chappie, not even when I spent ages taking  photos of him!

The skywalk - being totally afraid of heights, I waited at the  bottom whilst Tom went up!

After Kew it was back into town for an evening at the Tate, primarily to  see the Lichtenstein Retrospective, which we both thoroughly enjoyed and has even given Tom lots of ideas...for me to try!

Saturday we got on the tube for Ally Pally and the Big Stamping and Scrapbooking Show - I only had my phone and the photo above left was the only one I took: this was outside the demo area so it was fairly clear, but I think the show was the busiest  I have ever seen it. The first couple of years we went it was really easy to get around, but it is getting huge!  Last September we got there for opening, walked in and I had a nice chat with Ali Reeve about our hens, with no one  else around! This time we got there 20 minutes before opening, joined a massive queue and I couldn't get anywhere near Ali! Same with Sue Wilson - goodness the poor lady must have been worn out by the end of the first day, let alone Sunday as well... a bit different to Stitches in February, where we  could chat for ages! I did manage to snatch a quick hello with Sam Poole and Julia Watts, who both had some wonderful samples of their work.

 I still prefer it to the NEC for a number of reasons..the focus is stamping, which is my first crafting love; it's well organised by Creative Expressions and they have some excellent demos. Sadly on Saturday, a couple of demos I really wanted to see were in the afternoon after we left, but we did see Kay from Indigo Blu demoing Slap it on with a dress form - a project I have had on my desk half-finished for weeks and now have the inspiration to finish!

I did spend my pocket money on some stamps, some art parts, some paints and I got some ice resin and bezels which I can't wait to try! I felt so sorry for the ladies serving on the Creative Expressions stand..the queue was massive from first thing and the lady who served me was already losing he voice by 11am!

Saturday afternoon and evening were very wet - we nipped back to our room and then popped next door to the National Gallery ...unfortunately with the weather everyone had the same idea and it was packed, especially in the galleries displaying those iconic Masters we all know and love. 

I have seen them all many times, since Dad and I used to spend hours there whilst visiting my mum's family, but I still always see them as if it's the first time...and then of course there was that dam demo in Trafalgar Square. I was on my 'soapbox' about this at the weekend and am not going to go on about it too much now..but the fact is that most of these people weren't even born during Margaret Thatcher's governance. They were there as an excuse to get drunk and shout about something they know nothing about. They made visiting this tourist destination impossible and scary. I have never ever seen so many police..so how much has that cost the tax payer and yesterday morning we went for a walk after an early breakfast and the poor street cleaners were still clearing up and wiping graffiti from phone boxes..I could go on, but this I won't, I think you know how we felt!

I have the day off today..lots to catch up with and then hens get some free range. They have their little break and now are pleased to be home and roaming again. They did look well chilled when we turned up to collect them yesterday though and they were in a pen  a few feet away from the Buff Orpington pair that are Penny's Mum and Dad, though sadly, I guess none of them knew it?

Will be catching up with all your blogs later!

Love,

Carole X

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