Car Boot Sale

Car Boot Sales are a lot of fun.  If you go often enough I'm sure you could find just about everything for you and home.

My sister and friend wanted to sell some items, so we got up very early Sunday morning, leaving at 6:00 AM, even so we waited in a long line of cars to get in.  The fee is 7 pounds sterling for the car boot at Woolpit, don't you just love the name of that little village.

We landed up with a spot basically in the middle of the field, not a bad spot.  The weather was gorgeous, but because it was so lovely everyone decided to sell, it was one of the first nice weekends after a terrible rainy summer.

Above is our set-up, nothing fancy.

Now what did I find.  I was in a very thrifty mood and with only one suitcase was very limited.  But I found a lovely Pandora style bracelet which turned out to be silver, I wasn't sure when I bought it for 50 pence, but you could hardly go wrong.  I also bought a little jam spoon for 10 pence.  Passed by a beautiful Japanese Tea Service for 4 pounds, but I just couldn't face the packing and hauling.

Especially if I had to go back to Heathrow on the bus.  As a couple of years ago I had a very nasty experience with a bus driver from Eastern Europe who was the rudest, nastiest person I have ever met.  Most of the bus drivers are nice and courteous and help you.  He seemed to have a giant chip on his shoulder, flung my luggage on the bus, so it skidded to the very back of those giant holds, so then he has to crawl to the back to get it out and when he does he threw it across the pavement.  I really should have reported him, but by then I was back in the States.  So no china.  In the end I did not have to catch the bus a friend of my sister's took me up to the airport. Phew!

In contrast to this man on another visit to the UK I rented a car at the airport and thought I will go home on the M4 and M11 and not get on the M25, big mistake, because somehow I landed up in Kensington in morning rush hour, totally lost.  I pull in at a petrol station and asked a gentlemen who was obviously from Eastern Europe, for directions, he was driving business van, he could not have been nicer.  He could see I was in a somewhat frazzled state, tired after an all night trip over and bumper to bumper driving.  I said if you can just direct me to the North Circular I will know where I am, he did better than that, he said follow me part of the way as I am going in that direction.  What a nice man.

In any case the car boot was fun, and I even ran into my uncle who happened to be there with his own stall.  So we sat and talked, had coffee and reminisced about my mum.  He's my mum's youngest half brother, only seven years older than me, so he often came on holiday with us, we would have such happy times.

Long before all the special camping gear.  Dad would make a prefab shed type thing which bolted together, it would lay in sections on the roof rack of the car. When we got there he would assemble it and the whole thing would be covered with a taupe.  We were always snug and warm with my dad on the job.  Plus plenty of big pots of tea.  I actually even brought home the huge brown enamel teapot my dad used to use.  Mostly for sentimental reasons, it was sitting in my sisters shed.

It's the little things that trigger memories and make us happy.

Christy

The Meare, Thorpeness and a Friend's Childhood

An artificial lake, 'meare' or boating lake, was created, with many of its inspirations coming from a personal family friend, J. M. Barrie's work, 'Peter Pan'. Besides a large main pond, there are several channels with landings marked with names of the Peter Pan theme. Tiny islands on the Meare contain locations found in J. M. Barrie's novel such as the pirates lair, Wendy's home, and many others which children are encouraged to play on. The Meare was dug to a shallow depth for increased safety.

A dear friend lived in Thorpeness for several years, while her dad was stationed near here in the USAF.  When she thinks of a place she calls home of the many places that she lived during her childhood this is it.

A couple of years ago she went back with her family, brother and his wife for a visit.  Walking the pathways they trod as children. It was a delight to her and it is our dream to go together one day and rent a little cottage, wouldn't that be lovely.

My visit with sister and family there was fleeting, but how much we enjoy that solitary coast line.

Christy
Lil Bit Brit

Aldeburgh, Suffolk

Moat House

I especially liked this shot of people queueing at the very famous Fish and Chip Shop in Aldeburgh

On our way home from a day out we decided that we could not be so close to Aldeburgh and not visit there.  All my memories of Aldeburgh are winter memories, or early spring.  When I would visit with Rob as a little boy, my mum would say lets take a picnic and spend a day in Aldeburgh.  Just taking a slow drive through the Suffolk countryside visiting Snape, Orford Castle and Framlingham Castle, all over the years of our visits back home.

I can see us now the only car parked along the long beach car park, the wind is blowing and the sea is spraying a mist, and here we are walking the pebble beach.  I almost expect Ham or Peggotty to appear through the mist.

One time Rob as a little boy, of course caught a wave and soaked the bottom half of himself, so we wrapped him up in mum's wool waist coat and the liner of her coat tied with a pink scarf, then we went to Oxfam in town and found him a pair of shoes and socks.  Everyone thought he was in some kind of fancy dress.

So visiting in summer at the height of the season with so many people there was a huge visual change in image.  It was nice to listen to the Brass Band playing near the Moat House.  There was a Carnival there too.

My sister BB said I don't know if I can visit Aldeburgh again, it has so many memories of mum.

Christy

P.S. I would have taken some photos of the beach but by then my camera power ran out.

A Bouquet of Memories

 

This is a beautiful bouquet of flowers that I received from a friend before I left for England.  I wanted to take them on the plane with me and not leave them.

We have known each other since I was two and he was three, so we are very old friends and we now both live here in the States.

It was nice to talk with him because we were able to reminisce about our childhood, our mothers, who were friends although his mum died in her early thirties, so many things and mutual friends that we share.  Old times and places and shared memories.

Christy

Mohair

 

This is a mohair cardigan that my mum knitted.  I love the heather purple colour.  I took off all the buttons and elastic and was going to pull it apart and crochet something with the wool, but it seemed almost impossible to do so.  So then I thought I'll felt it and make something out of it.  I did put it in very hot water, but I would not consider it felted.  So now do I put it in absolutely boiling water and felt it, or do I leave it where it is, and cut it up.  I'm going to ponder that one.

I did think it would look lovely with a complementary wool fabric, make a jacket and line it in fabric with cuffs and then sew a matching wool fabric skirt.  Well I'll see what pattern I find and what fabric I come across.  But I would like to do something with it.

The boy started college last Wednesday, on Tuesday, last minute as always with boys, he turned in his scholarship thank you letter and bought his books, $450.00 worth of books.  I thought I might read them as well, at least we'd get our money's worth and I would be, so to speak, attending college.  I'll pick what appeals to me.

I made a double batch of Tomato and Apple Chutney this week, which included, onions, raisins and prunes and is quite delicious. The tomatoes were out of our garden. I'm also going to make some Mango Chutney as hubby saw mangoes for .25 cents each, they're usually a dollar each.  I was pleased with myself as it was something I actually got done after a day at work, and usually I'm fried by then.  Mr B. helped prepare all the jars.

Maybe I'll make it tomorrow.

Christy

K K's Wedding

 

Did I say I loved my fascinator, just in case you missed it

 

 

Our Table

We were so happy to attend my friend K's wedding.  It was an early wedding at 11:30 AM followed by cocktails, h'ordeuvres then lunch.  It was all beautiful, the setting for the reception was at the Trump National Golf Club; which sits up high on the just about the only hill there is in southern NJ (southern NJ is very flat)  I got to sit with all my dear friends.

The ceremony was in two languages, English and Korean.  The bride looked beautiful and the wedding was enjoyed by all.

Christy

P.S.  There is a little story that goes with my fascinator.  I was in Ross's a very reasonably priced store and saw the fascinator, I just loved it and wanted so much to buy it, but where could you wear it?  Only a wedding, or some very posh garden party; which I'm not known to frequent.  So I left it in the shop. 

I get home and opened the mail and there is a wedding invitation, so tout de suite I drive back and buy that fascinator, I think it was meant to be.

Sisters in Sienna

This is a photo of my sister and I, taken just outside Sienna in Tuscany, around the mid 70's.  It's very faded and in not such good condition, but I've always liked that snapshot of us.  I made that dress too.  It was a pretty shade of green with white flowers on it.

Christy

Getting Back In The Swing

It's hard to get back into the swing of things in every day life.  My trip back to the UK for my mum's funeral went as well and better than one would have hoped for.  I was able to get a flight although a very busy time of year, as well as get the time needed off work for such a journey.

It was good to be back with family and old friends, it's such a comfort and a healing.  The funeral was very simple by the graveside, a talk of our hope in the resurrection to a restored paradise earth, Job 14:13-15, Luke 23:43, Revelation 21:1-5, followed by a very special moving personal prayer, both of which were given by elders in my mum's congregation.

All were congregated there and then we went back to my sisters for tea, coffee and cake.  And there we chatted reminisced and shared our thoughts and memories of my mum and my dad.

Coming back though on a Tuesday I had to go straight back to work on Wednesday, followed by a friends wedding on the weekend in NJ.  So I've had no time to touch down.  This weekend is a holiday weekend, Labor Day.

 The only thing is I am suffering from terrible allergies, so bad in fact that I sent my poor husband out at 1:30 AM to an open drug store to get me some medication.  I said my brain was going to blow off, my ears pop and my teeth were about to fall out.  If you've ever been in the grip of allergies, mine's to ragweed, you will know what I'm talking about. It's over whelming.  But with meds I'm feeling somewhat better.  I so do not want to waste my weekend off feeling terrible.

This morning I said to Mr. B. you didn't bring my tea up and he said don't you remember you said you ran out.  Now I never run out of tea, but we're talking about a regular blend of Assam tea.  So I said there must be something and routed around in my tea cupboard and found an unopened tin of Earl Grey. Thank goodness how could I go without my morning cuppa.  Now I have to make a trip to the Royal India Store, it sounds grand, but it's an Indian store attached to a Gas Station, but the best tea.  So when I go I stock up.  So I see a trip there this weekend.

Enjoy your weekend with family.

Christy

P.S.  I wanted to thank everyone who left such heartfelt and encouraging words for me.  Thank you all so very much.

My Mum

My Mum born July 31st 1929 - died August 5th 2012

Christy

My Mum Passed Away

Just a simple post, my mum died this morning 8:30AM UK time.

Christy

Eiffel Tower

I had to break down and purchase some Picasso/Google photo web space to continue uploading photos to Blogger.  I may just drop Flikr and stay only with Picassa since you have to buy the space on both and it doesn't seem cost effective.  In any case I can blog again, with pics.

I'm late for July in Paris, but I had a few photos lined up that I wanted to share with you.  The Eiffel Tower is so iconic and I wanted to come home with something with the Eiffel Tower on it.  In the end I bought a key chain; which I actually used as a zip pull on one of my bags, but eventually it broke.  Paris is tres expensive.  So one day I'm pottering around on Ebay and what do I come across but a lovely inkwell pen stand souvenir, that obviously someone bought years ago on their trip, with an Eiffel Tower on it.  Just perfect, it sits on my Eastlake desk.

Christy