A Trip to Ledbury

A few weeks ago we had a trip to the lovely old market town of Ledbury. Full of lovley old buildings (and lovely old shops) it's right up my street as far as a day out is concerned.

Firstly, a walk up this famous cobbbled lane to the town's church.On the way resisting locally made delicacies

 

and dragging Mr. F. past this very traditional old English pub.


I
Into the church




where I notice this set of rules for bell ringers in the tower.



 Then it's off to do serious shopping and am delighted at how the old






 

 sits in with the new


 

 Ledbury also has a very good independent bookshop.Amazon is great, but there's nothing like holding and browsing a book before you buy it.



 I couldn't resist taking a photo of these dear little tins sat in the window of the delicatessesn. It's not the best picture in the world, but I'm sure you'll let me off. I'm sure they would look wonderful in my kitchen. Tins - they are my one weakness you know.

 

 All being well we will venture out somewhere this weekend. What will you be doing? Will you be locking all the doors to keep out the rain and wind that has been rattling my sash windows? Or will you be venturing out and braving the weather, come what may? I'd love to  know.

By the way, can I say a big thank you to everyone who took time to send their best wishes on our recent wedding anniversary. I had a lovely morning out at some wonderful gardens. Sadly, the batteries in my camera only lasted the first five minutes of my visit. I shall just have to re-visit in the near future, so that I can share them with you.

2nd May 1987

Today is our silver wedding anniversary. The local florist has just delivered this bouquet from Mr. F.. Mr F. is at work today, so I'm off to visit Whitlenge Gardens with the in-laws - and no it isn't raining (yet). There's a luxury weekend away planned, but not until September, when hopefully, the sun might be shining.

Now, excuse me whilst I nip off to arrange my flowers in an artistic fashion.

Cosy

I don't intend going anywhere today. The gate is firmly shut, the back door locked and the only weather I'm going to experience is throught the kitchen window. The kettle's on. there are chocolate cornflake cakes in my new Bridgewater tin and the heating is keeping that biting, vicious wind at bay. Only the jug of flowers in the kitchen window looks cheery and spring like.

I've decorated the Easter tree this morning, even though the weather feels  more like Christmas as the sleet and rain lashes coldly against the window. It looks worse than it is, as the blossom from a neighbour's gorgeous cherry tree is being ripped from the branches. For all the world it looks as though it's snowing.

The last few decorations are up, just Teenage Boy's egg to buy now.....not today though. I'm staying in by the fire

I might find time to begin this book. 'Mariana' by Monica Dickens, set around the time of WWII it has been compared to Dodie Smith's 'I capture the castle'.

I'll certainly get the chance to finish reading this one. Written by   Miranda Dickinson, who lives in my town and who uses the local area as a base for some of her stories. Comfort reading for me as I know there will be a happy ending and we all need one of those don't we?

Maybe I'll find something comforting to eat from these pages. One of my presents for Mothering Sunday. I hope you are warm and cosy where you are. What's the weather doing with you today?

Perfick

From FEB2012

Oh yes. Perfick! Perfick sunshine, blue skies and yes, even warmth. Time for hibernation to end and for Mr F. and I to down the wallpaper paste and scissors  and to get out and enjoy the beginning of spring.

From FEB2012

Stourport came into being because of the construction of the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal built by James Brindley to meet the River Severn and provide good transport links in the 18th century. Shortly after it was built, Stourport became the busiest port after London. During the 20th century it became somewhere to spend a traditional day out for families from the Black Country as it was so near. It still has a funfair and amusement arcades, as well as tacky gift shops. But just a short stroll away from all that noise and awfulness you can still see the beauty of this Georgian town. Its river and canal basins are full of brightly coloured, imaginitively named narrowboats still traditionally painted with roses and castles.

From FEB2012 Elegant Georgian properties are everywhere in the town and it is easy to imagine the merchants and tradesmen who might have lived and worked here during its heyday as a port.

From FEB2012 Today, we took a walk along the canal rather than the river. This was a stretch of towpath that we had never walked before and I was intrigues to see a graveyard across the canal. It was easy to see that the graves were at least a hundred years old and I was intrigued because I couldn't see a church. Then suddenly a bridge labellled Mitton Chapel Bridge came into view and I just had to investigate.

From FEB2012

So it was across the bridge and through a wrought iron gate and a steep climb up these well worn steps

From FEB2012

and into the churchyard itself.

From FEB2012 Imagine our surprise when we saw not a church but a ruin.

From FEB2012

It looked beautiful with the sunlight warming the stone

From FEB2012

and we intend to find out how the church fell into ruin. Happily, there is a new church built within the ruins of the old  one, although I haven't pictured it here. It was certainly an unexpected find on my canal walk.Churches and graveyards fascinate me and I can spend ages wandering through reading the ancient names on the stones, imagining what those people's lives might have been like.

From FEB2012

After our  little detour we decided it must be time to turn back and retrace our route along the towpath
I loved this little Georgian house and quite fancy the idea of canalside living.

From FEB2012 Of course, I'm never one to miss a tea room,

From FEB2012  so it was carefully over the lock

From FEB2012

for a lovely cup of tea. It was so warm, we were able to sit outside next to the lock, but let me tell you I was torn. Inside, the tea shop was full of Cath Kidstonesque fabrics and vintage pieces and I did fancy having a nose around but the sunshine won out today.

From FEB2012

It's on the Way

I'm not a great fan of Christmas. I can't stand all those crowds and seeing all those naff presents in the shops. But buying the Christmas edition of the Radio Times is one of those traditions that rates along with buying the tree each December. I've been very restrained and haven't even opened it yet, but I'm already anticipating the goodies that await us over the festive period. My favourite film The Railway Children must be in there along with Doctor Who and a Harry Potter. Mr. F and I will probably be fighting to read it first, but there is always consensus when it comes to choosing what we must watch. We never see anything on Christmas Day, but know what is a must on catch up t.v. and we'll enjoy searching out those feel good programmes and old black and white films that get hidden away in the schedules. There's nothing like cosying in on a dark December afternoon with an Ealing comedy, a little tipple and some Christmas chocolate or my absolute favourite...amaretti soffici.Just the thing after a long walk over Kinver Edge. I'd love you tell me your guilty(or not so guilty) tv pleasure over the Christmas period. We're really busy at the moment trying to decorate. Most of the house needs redecorating, but things move slowly in the Funkyhouse. For 18 months now, the books from the study (spare bedroom) have been boxed up and living in my bedroom, so that the study can be redecorated. It's taken a long time
to get to the stage where we can choose wallaper.




I was all for for a pale, modern look but both Mr. F and Teenage Boy insisted that we had to keep a warm and cosy look. Outnumbered again, I gave in and we have found something dark and cosy.It's not all papered yet. Fancy a sneaky peek?


Hopefully it will be finished by next weekend as it will be another full weekend as we need to buy a tree. It's one of the few outings we get with Teenage Boy these days, as he loves to help choose a tree. It's quite a decision some times and we cannot buy one without our young man's approval. Have a good week., I hope your festive preparations are going well.

The Civil Wars

I first heard The Civil Wars being interviewed on the radio one Monday morning. I heard a few bars of this track and had to dash upstairs to the computer to find it on You Tube. I then discovered that they were performing on Jools Hollland that week. It has been on constant replay ever since. I've asked Father Christmas to put a copy of the cd into my stocking. He does sometimes read this blog....so here's hoping.

It's certainly not my usual taste in music, but I've been blown away by them and have been watching many videos on You Tube, including a fantastic version of Billie Jean that they performed on Later... with Jools. Let me know what you think.

By the way....if you don't feel tempted to watch the video....one of the duo is a dead ringer for Johnny Depp. I bet you'll watch it now! Roll on March when I'll be going to see them in Birmingham.

Summer's End

From Aug 2011

From Aug 2011

Summer's End? Well, not quite it seems. We have summer's final fling on the way and it's due to last until the weekend. After, the darkness and rain of yesterday the sun has returned today with that gentle warmth it usually posesses in September. Light and sunshine are making my bargain flowers look even more spectacular. Only two pounds for all of them from Bridgnorth market. You wouldn't find that in the supermarket now would you?

From Aug 2011

There won't be many more opportunities to buy such luscious bunches thoughas the garden flowers of summer and autumn give way to those that can be grown cheaply in greenhouses. Nevermind, I'm making the most of this gorgeousness whilst I can.
Mr F. and I recently treated ourselves to a day out in Ledbury. One of my favourite shops Hus & Hem has moved into larger premises and was full of wonderful, funky Scandinavian design. I couldn't resist these hand blocked tea towels. I loved the big bold design of this green one


or the colours in this purple one.

From MAR2012

I neeeeeed them in my life. I must be such a sad, boring person to get so excited about a couple of tea towels, but they are another of my 'one weaknesses'. If I see a nice tea towel....then I've got to have it.......because I neeeeeeed it in my life. I'm not fussy, they can be be floral or stripy, bright and bold or pale and subtle, but if it grabs me...I've got to have it. Please tell me, do I need help, or does anyone else have this strange addiction? What is yur 'one weakness'? OOh! They are one of the few things I enjoy ironing too, there's nothing like the satisfacti0n of a pile of neatly folded freshly ironed tea towels. I think I'd better end my post there.....before my ramble degenerates any further. Have a good week everyone and enjoy the sunshine whilst you can.
From Aug 2011