We’ve got a visitor ....
My little sister arrived from Witney, Oxford for a few days. We haven’t seen her since before lockdown started. She has worked like a demon all the way through and hasn’t seen light of day for months as all she does is go to work and go home, slamming the door shut on a Friday night and not appearing until Monday morning when it all starts again.
We had a family lunch out at Park Farm Tearooms on Sunday, our first together since Christmas. So in honour of the occasion I wore my new Palavafolk Circus Parade frock. It’s also my gesture to us missing this year’s storytelling Gifford’s Circus at Blenheim Palace. Hopefully I’ll get to wear it there next year.
I’ve got a couple of new books to read after I finish Matt Haig’s ‘The Midnight Library’.
I didn’t think I was going to like it at first, it seemed a bit doom and gloom. But I’ve stuck with it and found it intriguing. Imagine being able to step into a book and it opens up into all the directions your life could have gone if you’d done things differently, taken the choices you dismissed at the time they were happening. A bit like the Gwyneth Paltrow film Sliding Doors.
Next up for reading are these two.
Tamsin Calidas - I Am An Island
Calidas moved to a remote Hebridean island from London. Its her life story and the incredible ability of the natural world to provide when everything else has fallen away.
Sarah Crossan’s - Here is the Beehive
What happens when you lose something the world never knew was yours.
If nothing else during lockdown the range of new authors I’ve read has expanded greatly and I’m loving it.
So today (Monday)after a session at the gym at the physiotherapists I go to, we’ve been over the moor to Yorkshire to Todmorden again to see the new premises of Tod Almighty Wholefoods.
Despite difficult times the folk of our favourite market town have continued to support the local shops and traders are showing their confidence by expanding their businesses.
We had a fabulous lunch in Honest John’s Bar, taking advantage of the last day of the Eat Out to Help Out scheme.
They use local suppliers for their ingredients and it’s a friendly and welcoming place to visit, whether you just want a pint, coffee & cake or a proper meal.
Walking passed the Age Concern uk shop I spotted these three lovelies in the window and seeing the prices they had to come home with me £9 the lot. I do love a basket or three. I have someone in mind for one of them as I know she has lost hers.
This one is really well made and is quite heavy
A good one for magazines & papers
The Bank Holiday weather has been beautiful and tonight we will be settling down for a bit of catch up telly, Whitehouse & Mortimer Gone Fishing and George Clarke's National Trust Unlocked.
Stay safe everyone
Even though things have eased up a bit
we still need to stay aware
Lynn
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I can't resist a basket either - I must have at least 20 but most of them are in use for storage - from fabrics to potatoes!
ReplyDeleteThat dress is so beautiful. I have never been lucky enough to see Giffords Circus, but have read a lot about it and absolutely love the costumes and theatricality of it all. Very sad to hear that Nell Gifford had died at a tragically young age.
Your sister sounds like one of the heroines of the pandemic. Sadly, I haven't seen my sister, my only close relative, for a long time and don't know when I shall see her again as we are in different countries and the logistics are just impossible at the moment.
Thank you so much for your blog and Instagram for bringing much needed smiles!
I’m like you Julia, I have lots of baskets and use them all the time for different things. I’ve even got a small fishing basket hanging up that holds my hottie beanbags.
DeleteIt was tragic about Nell Gifford, she was taken far to soon. I’m hoping to go next year if we get to stay at my sister’s in Witney.
I’m so glad that my little blog brings makes you smile. It so lovely of you to pop by and yes I am read faster than usual. I don’t know why though. Enjoy the books Julia
Lynn xx
PS : I have been keeping notes of your book choices but you need to slow down - I can't keep up!
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like you gave your sister a wonderful weekend, you'll all be needing a rest after all that activity!
ReplyDeleteLove the circus dress, what a fantastic print. The books sound great. My task for this week is hunting down some good reads to download to my ereader, I'm making notes of your recommendations!
I can't resist baskets either although I invariably end up selling them as they take up so much space. I had a brainwave the other morning and thought that next time I found any I'd use them as plant holders around the house, that way they can be beautiful & useful! xxx
We had a lovely weekend with Jill thanks Vix. It was so nice to see her. She’s coming back in October for another visit and will take mum back with her if things are ok.
DeleteI darent count the amount of baskets I’ve got, it’s a lot though. I think I’ll put towels in the biggest one of the new ones.
The Tamsin Calidas book, I am an Island is good. Don’t think I’ll be moving to Oban anytime soon haha
Xxx
I like baskets too, always useful and as vix suggested, great for plants. Circus dress is really fun and unusual.
ReplyDeleteI’ve got far too many baskets and use them for all sorts of things. The biggest one will be used to hold rolled up towels in the bathroom.
DeleteLynn xx
I am glad you and you and your sister had a lovely weekend. I love a good basket so handy for many things. I would love to visit toddy .
ReplyDeleteIf you ever get to the north west when you visit the uk we will have to go together xx
DeleteMy youngest son works in agriculture and has been working all the way through with only one weekend off since lockdown. I bow to all key/essential workers during this awful time. I hope your sister had a lovely time with you. Are those Julie Arkell dolls on the bed or did you make them? I love them. I'm looking forward to reading the 'beehive' book.Love your circus dress.
ReplyDeleteWe and a super time and as always it’s hard when she leaves. Happily she is coming back in October for a few days.
DeleteThe dolls are made by a lady known as doris_n_doris on Instagram. They are very much in the style of Julie Arkell. I saw an exhibition of Julia’s some years ago. It was fabulous
Lynn xx
It must have been ever so lovely to have your sister to stay. I'm swooning over your circus frock and I can never ever resist a good basket either! xxx
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