Our day out.

I went to work first, then caught the 11.30 train up to London to meet Lucy, Lesley (& Ally), Val & Gina arriving at 1pm at the London Business Centre. It was wonderful to meet them all, they are each as lovely in person as on their blogs and that does include Ally although she doesn't yet have a blog! I met the girls in the Yorkshire Tea area, and got a very warm welcome. I was given some beautiful gifts, a bag from Lesley, a mug cosie and cookies from Val, Lindt bunnies from Ally and a lovely wallet from Lucy as well as the beautiful carnation Gina posted to each of us prior to the show.

Our carnations generated a lot of questions and interest from stall holders as we walked around, our explanation of blogging friends meeting for the first time in the flesh impressed many and raised questions with a few as to 'what is blogging?' It was lovely to walk around the show and see all the beautiful items for sale. Ranging from garden furnishings to house decor and knic-knacks and then clothes, jewellery and food. I saw lots of things that I would have loved to purchase but I also found lots of inspiration for craft projects I'd like to make. There were some very expensive items - art work £300 + and then there were little eggs and chickens for £1.50 each. I did buy a very cute name plate for Em with an Easter chick popping out of an egg, chocolate Easter Bunnies and a lovely pewter spoon with a seahorse on the handle (I collect teaspoons).

We stopped for lunch and had a goats cheese & onion tart with roasted hazlenuts on top plus a drink. We continued our tour finding many more lovely items including a beautiful wall hanging (which I fell in love with but couldn't afford) on the Susie Watson Designs stand. I also found some delightful china in cream and terracotta on the ground floor, but at £17 per mug! The show hall looked beautiful all dressed up in pink, yellow and green. Together with the profusion of bunnies and chicks peeping from nearly every stand, it really felt as though spring had arrived (shame its gone into hiding today, its been raining here since lunchtime) By the end of the day we all had tired feet, full bags and nearly empty purses. We had a lovely time and I thoroughly enjoyed meeting my bloggy friends and I can't wait for the next time we get the chance to meet up (We could do with having a get together some where so we can sit and chat, crafting at the same time too.) My only regret is I didn't take enough pictures which is unusual for me. Check out the other blogs for some lovely photographs of the show.

Awards

I have recieved two lovely awards from Moogsmum - Lesley

Thank you Lesley you are a "One In a Million Friend" and I would like to give the award to you and to the following lovely bloggy friends Kaz, Julie, Leigh, Lucy, Kerry, Gina and Laura Thank you ladies for your very special friendships.

The Cool Cat award I would like to give to every one who has left me comments before and to anyone who would like to leave a comment for the first time. You are all Cool Cats.

Leigh also gave me an award, I would like to give this to every one who is on my side bar

WIPs - I have now finished bunny and I am just finishing the sheep for my friend so I should be able to post pictures shortly.

Tomorrow some of us are meeting up at the Country Living Spring Fair at the Business Centre, Islington, London. I love railway journeys as they always remind me of the poem by Robert Louis Stevenson - From a Railway Carriage, which we had to learn at school.

From a Railway Carriage
Faster than fairies, faster than witches,

Bridges and houses, hedges and ditches;

And charging along like troops in a battle,

All through the meadows, the horses and cattle:

All of the sights of the hill and the plain

Fly as thick as driving rain;

And ever again, in the wink of an eye,

Painted stations whistle by.

Here is a child who clambers and scrambles,

All by himself and gathering brambles;

Here is a tramp who stands and gazes;

And there is the green for stringing the daisies!

Here is a cart run away on the road

Lumping along with man and load;

And here is a mill and there is a river:

Each a glimpse and gone for ever!