Swaffham FM...

That's not the local radio station, but shorthand for Swaffham Farmer's Market.  I've been asked if I would like a stall, starting on the 16 September, which falls within the Brecks Festival weekend.  Well the words were actually "I want you there!"  A huge compliment...so, I will be there from that date...so over the next couple of weeks, in amongst my normal days out and about I'll be stitching more of these...

I do make these, so always ask....if an item is sold I can make something similar...

I'm still to be found at Docking Local Produce Market every Wednesday, plus Swaffham Indoor Market on a Friday.  These are my two regular venues, then I can be found a various craft fairs around and about.

I was also asked if I could make some cushions and bunting for The Chandlery at Burnham Overy Staithe and they now have them.  With a nautical theme...more will follow.

 Okay, going now as I'm being dribbled on and pummelled by a ten week old kitten...

The new...

...prints have arrived and will be ready for sale at Swaffham on Friday at the indoor market.

Thank goodness, I was nearly out of them.  I'm asked about them every week...am I the artist.  I'm honest and say no...I'm not that talented.  Elle has all the talent...just gets the look in the eye just right, plus everything else.

This is her "A Winter Story".  I'm nearly out of the hare prints, but do have a rooster this time.  I've lots of greyhound and whippet prints for those who've been asking.

Of course, the French soap will be there as usual...verveine, masculin and lavender, plus olive oil soaps...body lotion and shower gel...just ask if you can't make Swaffham and would like to know more.  It won't be long before my whole range of items will be displayed.  Sandra...who has let me perch at the end of her tables, is moving (with her husband) into a shop in June...so exciting!  And I'm taking over the tables...so I'll see you there on Fridays!

Seems so...

...long ago now, but on the journey home from East Sussex, we visited one of Henry VIII's love nests, Knole House near Sevenoaks, or rather we walked around the parkland that surrounds the house, it's something we used to do when we lived in Kent. You can enter via side gates, and the parkland is free. The house is owned and run by the National Trust.





You can get this close, there were children (supervised) touching the deer, they are that used to visitors.


The last photo shows part of the golf course, which wends its way through the estate.


No...not the lavender fields of Provence, but those of Kent(the tape and cone sort of give it away!)...the purple drifts follow your travels through the valley near Shoreham. This photo was taken at the beginning of this month, whilst on a visit to the Hop Shop on one of their special events weekends...

Only we...

...could arrange a short break where they've had the highest rainfall over the last few days!

Hastings had a few drops of rain yesterday, 110mm fell yesterday(that's two months worth)...and where are we off to? A village between Hastings and Rye, only for a couple of nights, then it's a visit to Mum. But, with all the glorious weather we've had...we've chosen this afternoon to disappear. Our seller is in France, so no decision will be forthcoming from her and her viewings of last week, we have a phone if someone does need us, and we certainly do need those hours away.

I've always wanted to visit Great Dixter, it's one place I've never been to. Coming originally from Kent, I've visited most others in the area, but never there...I have the cameras primed. Whether we get to Sissinghurst too, or visit some of the villages and towns, I'm not sure.

Saturday, I'm out with my Mum and sister, there's a lavender farm near Lullingstone/Shoreham in Kent, and we're off to that as it's one of their event weekends. The Hop Shop started as that, a business which sold hop bines for interior design, but now has an award winning farm shop, and lavender farm.

In the world of football, Charltons two...Murray and Chappell, have cancelled their meeting with fans tomorrow evening, and I for one am not surprised. They've been given legal advice that 'at this time it would not be appropriate'. You can imagine that even more speculation abounds amongst fans, and maybe this time with more foundation. Expectation is now high. If we are about to be sold, this could answer the question as to why certain players haven't re-signed contracts yet. We all await an announcement. Of course, the statement continues with Murray saying..."It might sound strange, but I hope fans take this as a positive thing, and of course we will rearrange the event the moment we are able to speak more freely.". Does this mean we're being sold, or being invested in with an injection of funds, with Murray et al continuing in place.

Today is the first day of the Ashes, when England play Australia....in Cardiff!! Usually the first Test is at Lords, but without Old Trafford hosting a match, the powers that be decided to go abroad... It's as strange as a stage of the Tour de France coming to England, but...ce la vie!

My call...

...came on Monday. It seems my viewer decided they liked our house, couldn't say anything against it, location, house was all okay, but they'd decided it didn't have "faerie dust".

So what do you do? Do you do as is supposedly right, and take some of the personal accoutrements out, so they can "see" the house, or leave those touches in? Of course, I'm making the leap that's what they meant, that for them it didn't have that little extra...but, they're buying a house...not my faerie dust, they need to discover their own, their magic...their touch of genius, that makes a house their home. I hope somewhere they find their dust for their daughters...

Tuesday, my car had to go to the garage for an "adjustment", something minor could fail and could I bring it in. Duly it was delivered and I took the time to walk into the nearest town, Bishop's Stortford, something I don't do, as it's ten miles from my home. I looked at all the Christmas decorations filling shelves of the beautiful home shops the town has, and imagined where they'd go, but at present I feel as though I'm in limbo, not quite here or there...oh, I know I'll be here for Christmas now, but I want to be making another house my home...Don't get me wrong, I do love my present home...but, it's run its course, and having decided to move, I've been letting go emotionally to it, and am now set ready to go. When I left work, they made me a gift of some book tokens, and on visiting the local chain store, I found a beautifully illustrated and written childrens book, but I'd forgotten my tokens...I'll have to go back...I'd also forgotten to put my little notebook in my bag, so now I have no idea who the books author and illustrator is...but, I know exactly where on the shelf the copies were... And I really must walk around my village more...I used to...but, it's changed.

Wednesday...yesterday, it was Mum's birthday, and I went to visit. She lives on the edge of London, and Kent. A borough which is neither one thing or the other, and during the summer I'd told her of a Lavender Farm, and their open day, which my sister took her too, as I was in Northumberland. As I'd never been, we decided to go...I was a little disappointed, but did buy some Lavender shortbread...my, but they're strong! We found a local hostelry for lunch...and if you're ever in Ightham, then I can recommend the food and service in the George and Dragon. Both are excellent. While out, I had a call from our agents, they'd got someone who'd been let down with their purchase at the last moment, and were exchanging on their sale next week. They were moving from Sussex, to be closer to their daughter who had moved into town...Saffron Walden. They had seen our details and wanted very much to view...was I home that afternoon or Thursday morning. Being seventy odd miles from home, I said this morning would be best. Ten minutes later I had another call...the prospective viewer had looked on a map and we're not in the right place, being eight miles from "town". Now please work that out before I get all excited....my emotions can't take this up and down... I keep telling myself it's only a house move, and not a death or worse...but, as I've said...it's limbo... Oh! And I've picked the paint out to renew the kitchen...you do have to keep living.

Today...this morning...I'm mixing the Christmas puds...best go!!

Enjoy your days...