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.

Day out in Cheltenham

Gina has sent me this beautiful corsage (thank you Gina) so I can wear it when I join the bloggy friends meeting up for our Bloggers Convention in London on Friday which Lucy Locket suggested here

Yesterday we travelled up to Cheltenham to take Ali out to lunch to celebrate her birthday. We visited a shopping centre/mall with a clock that performs on the hour. It spins round collecting balls and this triggers bubbles from the mouth of the fish. A little mouse also pops out at different points around the clock face. Then we walked around Cheltenham and found some lovely shops. I found some unusual tea spoons from the Whittards shop to add to my collection.

We then stopped for lunch in an Italian Restaurant where the food was delicious. The journey up to Cheltenham only took us just under 3 hours and 3 1/2 hours to come back and that included going on the M25. Before we left Ali showed us a very funny clip on YouTube but it is one of those catchy little tunes that stays in your head. :-)

I have been knitting like fury for the last two weeks to make my bunny for Heleen in the Bunny-hop-Bunny-swap and she's nearly finished. I haven't posted any pictures as that would spoil the surprise.