Holiday (Phase 2)

Back to work this morning after a lovely fortnight off - and as promised, here are a few snaps from the second part of our camping trip - this time in beautiful Herefordshire.
Steve and I did some canoeing here about 12 years ago - and wanted to return to do it with the boys.
We arrived early at Symonds Yat, and were greeted with this fantastic view...

Even Herbie seemed impressed!

We went during the week- as it gets pretty busy at weekends.

We took a lovely stroll in the Forest of Dean...

And (a highlight for me) as we were so close to Ross on Wye, we had to pay a visit to Baileys Home and Garden! What an inspiration! Unfortunately photography was prohibited which is such a shame: the website is nice, but it doesn't compare to seeing everything together in one amazing place!

I found time to do a bit of work at the weekend. This driftwood and slate piece - as yet unfinished, as I think it will look better in a box frame.

Another beach hut picture...ever popular!

And a primitive driftwood boat - the two bits of wood were already nailed together when I found it, so I just needed to add a few decorative touches!!

And finally, we had a freelance photographer here for the day on Friday! He took lots of pictures of the house, some of my work, and some of us - including some shots down the beach collecting driftwood! Hoping that we might get a bit of press! We had a good tidy-up in preparation - and re-arranged the shelves in the lounge. The old sewing machine had been hidden away in the loft, but we decided it was handsome enough to display: what do you think? (This is one of my photos - his were much better. I promise to share them once we get copies!!)

Have a great week folks!

Hello Campers!

We're back (albeit temporarily) from the first part of our little camping holiday.... and where better to stay than right here in Cornwall? I'm not going to bore you with zillions of holiday snaps, but I've put a few in collage form - just in case you'd like to have a little nosey!

This one is of the scenery - just check out the colour of the sea...just like being abroad!!

And this one is a few colourful snippets which for me sums up our stay...

We actually stayed at Sennen which is near Land's End. One morning we glimpsed a yacht race from our campsite - with the Scilly Isles in the distance - and it provided the inspiration for my dad's birthday card which I made this morning...inbetween about a dozen loads of washing!

Next we're off up to Herefordshire to do a bit of family canoeing on the River Wye...so if you don't mind, I'll share some more photos on our return!
Have a fine weekend folks!

Hey

We're home, safe and sound, after a wonderful time on the beautiful island of Skiathos. Always nice to get back into your own bed though, wouldn't you agree?
I'm not going to bore you with loads of holiday snaps, but thought I'd share some images of this fantastic beach - Kastro - on the north of the island. To be honest it was a bit of a nightmare to get to, both in the car on the dusty lanes, and then on foot, down the steep cliffpath.
But my goodness, it was worth it!

The water was the clearest I've ever seen, and because it was not easily accessible we had the beach almost to ourselves!

I wouldn't mind a beach cafe like this!

Just my kind of rustic furniture... primitive tables made from old pallets...

And check out this cool bench! Might pinch this idea for our house!
But the main reason I loved Kastro so much? Look at all this driftwood!

There was literally a lifetime's supply here!
And you could swim around the shallow pools and find another great pile - I've never swam for driftwood before - it was just amazing!
It almost made me weep though, as naturally I had to leave it all behind!

Well, almost all! I managed to pack a few bits in my suitcase!

They will become boats very soon, I'll show you the finished products when they're done.

We also found loads of these floats (not sure what to use them for yet, but might make a decoration for our new bathroom - any suggestions welcome!)

It was pitch black when we returned on Friday night, we got a bit of a shock when we looked at the garden for the first time in 2 weeks - it's grown quite a bit since we left!
There's really no place like home!

Laters!

Just a very quick post as we're off on holiday tomorrow and am still trying to get orders done and sent off. As yet we have no currency, no travel insurance - and my son's passport only arrived this morning! It has been a very stressful week for this reason, none of us could get excited - we'd discussed our plan B - that Steve and Herbie would go as planned and I'd stay with Bud until it came....which would have been pants for everyone! I swear I have aged 10 years in the last few days! If I didn't need a holiday before, I sure do now!!
But....the passport's here now, we'll start packing later - and might even have a little glass of something to put me in the holiday mood!

So I hope you all have a great 2 weeks, I'll be thinking of you in wet old Blighty whilst I'm lolling around on the beach in Skiathos!

Just hope this little man doesn't miss us too much...

TTFN!