Looking back on November I can see life opened up and looked
a lot more sociable than the November of 2020.
There has been in person craft workshops where it was good
to spend time with folk I haven’t seen for a long time.
There was a surprise afternoon tea for Mum’s 89th birthday with
two of her friends and a birthday treat with my special friend Bev as
she celebrated her 66th birthday and joined me in becoming a
pensioner this year.
There’s been lots of great zoom talks and meetings with
textile artists and the lovely No Rules Textile Society group
I’m in and I’ve carried on with my Pilates
practice via zoom classes.
And there’s been cosy days snuggled up with a few good
books from the library when the snow arrived and the
temperature plummeted.
Then boy did we start December off in style.
Along with our special friend Angela we have been saving for
months for a trip on the Northern Belle Pullman train.
We took the normal train from a local station upto Leeds where
we boarded the historic diesel pulled Pullman and took our seats
in the elegant Alnwick carriage.
Each carriage bears the name of a stately home or castle and has
been individually designed and restored by some of the country’s
top craftspeople including marquetry experts, muralists and
mosaic artists.
It was the most fabulous day
Delicious food, the champagne and wine flowed as did the
chat with fellow passengers.
Harold and Vanessa, an 80 year old couple who were sat
across from us regaled us with tales of holidays abroad and
their wedding eight years ago aboard a cruise ship. They have
known each other since childhood and always been friends, finally
becoming a married couple some years after Vanessa’s first
husband passed away.
I wish I had taken a photo of this charming couple as Vanessa
looked wonderful in a lilac lace cocktail dress and matching
faux fur trimmed cloak.
We were entertained by musicians and a magician as the train
took us on a round trip from Leeds via Hull and York.
The wandering welder was in his element as Mr Dapper Chap
in his vintage and charity shopped outfit. His liberty tie was a
£2 Age UK find and his English wool overcoat £40 from a
vintage shop in Portbello Road, London some years ago.
I think the only thing he had on new was his thermals.
The three of us agreed it was a wonderful memorable day.
None of us wanted get off.
But here we are the motley threesome full of food
and wine at the end of the day.
We’ve already started planning our next adventure.
What a lovely start to the silly season of Christmas and
the month of December.
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