Sticking, Poking and More....

Tomorrow is the big day. Thornton Cleveleys Gala and L will be crowned Gala Queen 2015. It's going to be a fantastic day (please, please don't rain).  We have spent weeks and weeks in preparation for this day with lots of help from the retinues parents.

I striped the old float sides of the old decorations saving some of the coloured strips to reuse and to save on expenses and we have used some but the rest we will pass onto the next years queen and retinue after the choosing.

Whilst doing the stripping we found that some of the wooden/MDF panels were very rotten so M bought new MDF and remade the sides. Next we glued on the polystyrene sheets using PVA. Weighting the middle and clamping the edges. In this picture we are having to make an extension to what we had already done. (More about that later)

I spent many an evening cutting up colourful plastic table cloths into strips

After transferring the design from paper onto the polystyrene, which was not an easy task when you can't draw, we then coloured in the design using wooden kebab sticks to poke in the plastic strips.

Many an evening M spent making small pink flowers (and larger flowers) again from plastic table cloths

Some finished sides

A sneaky peak

L finishing off her bit whilst we tided up at the end of a long day and another sneaky peak

We were now over halfway through the decorating the sides when were informed by the gala committee chairman that we would not be using the wagon we thought we would be using because the council, who very kindly lend us the wagons, are replacing some of the old ones and that we will be having a new one. That's nice, but we have seen the new ones and they've a huge wardrobe type fixed tool box on the back unlike to old ones which had a trunk style box. The reason for extending the polystyrene and altering the design on this piece. M had to get some measurements so that the side pieces could also be altered fortunately the completed sides were ok. The side are now completed and us parents will build the wagon up tonight ready for morning.

We have to say a huge thank you to Cleveleys community Centre and Church for allowing us to use the stage to store and decorate the sides and when the hall was not in use letting us spread out. Also the Wyre Council who lend us the wagons each week to attend other galas. A further 5 for this year.

Whilst all this was going on I was working and making L's dress and coat (needs pressing in a minute). Sorry no pictures of them in progress. And decorating shoes

Next week I will post some picture from the gala

Must get a wriggle on and get the ironing done.

Note to self - Must start and get some housework done next week.

See you soon

Carolx

To Me.. To You.. To Me

Yesterday afternoon I took L to see the Chuckle Brothers in "The Chuckles of OZ" at the Marine Hall in Fleetwood. It was the Wizard of OZ panto which was done very well with a cast of six and two others and only three scene changes. Considering that this show has been touring since February the costumes and sets still looked fresh and new.

Anyway back to the show - It was fantastic and had us crying with laughter. It's advertised as being suitable from age 3 to 103. The humour was very cleverly done and in one sketch the children were laughing at the cucumber scene whilst the adults and their imaginations saw something different (so very funny). I don't like slapstick comedy, I find it frustrating but these two guys do it so differently and put heir own twist to it so making less predictable.

These were some accidental mishaps like when Paul (age 68) slapped Barry's face (part a hypnosis sketch and Barry wasn't co-operating, as he does) and later whilst Barry (age 71) was lying on the floor dying, Paul accidentally stood on his leg which was then ab-libbed into the script. I should also mention that the other cast members were very good too.

After the show Barry and Paul came out to sign programmes and any other merchandise. The que was long, and we were near the back, but they saw everyone/group individually and what genuinely nice guys they were, no grandeur or false airs about them. They invited me to take a photo and encouraged L to stand with them and even commented on how nice it was to see a real camera. I asked about Barry's leg and Paul replied "it wasn't bleeding so it was OK" and Barry said "it was feeling better,"

We look forward to seeing them again next year (if they come back) and this time we will take M with us. If you get the chance to see this show I would fully recommend it. The tour finishes at the end of August.

Carolx

Life here at Spring Cottage is very busy at the moment with all the gala paraphernalia.

Building new float sides because the old ones were rotten. Gluing on sheets of polystyrene using lots of PVA. Drawing the design onto the polystyrene. Cutting lots and lots of plastic table clothes into strips to poke into the polystyrene. Getting the parents involved has been hard work but they are slowly coming around.

M has made lots of pink flowers. All will be revealed at a later date we have to keep it a secret for the time being.

Whilst we have been doing all this I've also been making L's costume. The dress is done but for the hem. It needs trimming and then I'm going to use bias binding to make a quick a neat hem.

The train/coat is coming along nicely. Another big sewing day on Sunday and the biggest part will be done.  I need to have the bulk of it done by Sunday because next week I start the exam invigilating so not a lot of free time.

Meanwhile I've managed to complete my first ever blanket. I started it late February when I needed some cheerfulness to help me get through the grief of loosing mum. I love the way the colours have turned out (thank you L for sorting out the colour stripes). It really is bright cheerful. I wanted to separate the colours and I debated on either black or white. I chose white and I'm so happy I did as I feel the colours wouldn't have had the same impact.                                             I edged the blanket with four row of triple crochet on the ends and double crochet on the sides (it's wide enough) and the finished with a simple shell. 

This will end up on L's bed. She just loves it. I worked on this in the evenings whilst watching the telly. I also have another blanket on the go but this is in small granny squares using up all the odds and ends I have. This could take a while to finish. I have 265 squares but I think I will need at least double that. (three round granny squares).                                                                                                                                               I need to get back to my sewing sew so I'll say have a great day and and a fabulous weekend.                                                                                                                                                          Carolx

Lytham Hall

Today we had a lovely day out. The sun was shining warmly and the gentle breeze was B!@@&y freezing. Luckily we were nicely wrapped up and we found a sheltered spot to enjoy our picnic.

But where did we go? I hear you asking.

Lytham Hall is where we went. I didn't know much about the hall before we went and I still don't as we didn't go inside. We just walked around the grounds.

From a distance the hall looks very grand but as you get closer you see it's in need of some TLC 

There is work going on inside and outside as part of the restoration programme and have been awarded £5.9 million  from the Heritage Lottery to go towards this. Unfortunately the grounds are nothing special at the moment but I'm sure in a few years that will be a different story.

This sunny little courtyard is used by the tea rooms and was well sheltered from the cold breeze. I think it's also used for other activities too from looking at the photos around.

This looks like a nice cupboard but surly it shouldn't be outside exposed to all the elements.  Lets take a sneaky peak inside.

Looks like it could be an early fridge
Tiled walls inside and wire shelving.
Ice box, do you suppose?.








I wouldn't be too happy using these.

Privy? I don't think so with large windows either side and three holes side by side. Not for me, I'll wait until we get home.

Interesting building all the same.

Some photos of the grounds.

Here are a couple of mischievous ones who didn't want their photos taken and decided to walk backwards. 

Time to get tea on the go now. A nice warm pork hotpot.

Carolx

Our Easter Getaway

Hi everyone

Back to school tomorrow after our Easter break. In the first week L had her first appointment with the orthodontist about having a brace fitted. They agreed she needed one and qualified for NHS funding. But, because she's waiting for her back operation (she's been pencilled in for 24th July) the dentist said he'll wait until after the operation when she's fit and well again so that he doesn't have to take the brace off partway through her treatment.
I had a further eye injection and the Dr made my eye bleed. It looks so much worse that it felt. The effects of the bleeding is slowly disappearing.
This past week I've had my nose to the sewing machine and finished L's Gala Queen dress except for the hem. I'm letting it hang for a little while for the skirt to settle. Next up is the coat to go with it and rally all the parent up for float decorating.


We went away for Easter and stayed with some wonderful friends in a tiny village called Blagill. The village consists of four very old houses and a farm. It's partway up a hill called Blagill just outside the highest market town of Alston in Cumbria.
I'm going to do a Mum and show you some pictures from my seat.

Directly in front of me is a field full of sheep and young lambs and rabbits too

To my left is the garden gate. Can you see it? and King Frog and his frogetts

I'll stand up now so that you can see over the stone wall

Look at that view, isn't it amazing. Now to the right

Just through that gate is a little waterfall that travels under the road and through the next doors garden and out the back.

and now for behind me. You can just a little peep of the house. It'is a grade II listed building which our friends are slowly renovating.

The view from the back of the house is like the front rolling hills and trees.
It's such a peaceful place with only a few cars passing so you can hear the wild life. Birds singing, lambs calling for their mothers (can get very loud sometimes), Later in the year it's cows. Cockerels calling, all the time, and passing pheasants calling. The wild deer sometimes visit and nibble the plants overhanging the wall and if they see a tastier treat in the garden they will jump the wall.

It's a wonderful place to stay but a difficult place to live as there's not much work in or around the town so the locals have to travel and not much in the way of schools either. Very small and no
colleges or further education.

See you soon

Carolx

P.S Photos taken by L

Catch Up

Last Sunday we thought we decided to have a trip out and being Mothers day I voted for Blackpool Zoo. It's been quite a while since we last visited and local residents got in cheaper if you had proof of your address.
We spent five hours there looking at all the animals and watching some being fed. Some tiny babies, ring tail lemurs, and big babies, tigers. The flamingos were looking ever so bright with their orange plumage and the pelicans were also looking rather peachy. They're in the same enclosure so I guess they're sharing the food. L really wanted to see the wolves. They were really interesting to watch as you could easily pick out the pack leader and then how they went down in rank. I didn't think to take my camera so no pictures, sorry!
It was a great day followed by Chinese take away. Something we don't have very often and it was so nice not to have to cook dinner.

I'm still sewing L's dress and still crocheting the granny strip blanket both are coming along nicely.

L has just completed her two weeks of work experience. She went to her old pre-school and really enjoyed working with the little children so much so that she was sad to leave on Friday. She's not sure if this'll be her chosen career though because she likes working with small animals and photography. L will go on to sixth form but at the moment says she doesn't want to go to uni so may look for an apprenticeship. Still another year at school yet so she may change her mind altogether.

I had an eye check up at the hospital this week and I have to have another injection in my eye. Only one this time instead of a course of three. Six weeks ago I had a post op check up and my eye was good. The specialist said that it was the best it was going get although my vision wasn't clear but between then and now it's deteriorated a little. Eventually I shouldn't need any more injections but it's a slow process. I'm very luck to be getting treatment as three years ago there wasn't any and I would have gone blind in that eye.

Thank you for you lovely comments on my last post.

I must say a belated welcome to new follower Carol.

I went back to work on Monday and in a strange way it felt good to be getting back to normal or more like getting back into a routine although it's now quite a different one. Tuesday was a difficult day as it was mum's birthday and as we've not collected her ashes yet (not ready) we feel in a bit of a limbo waiting and next weekend it's mothers day too, hope she's home by then.

I've been keeping myself busy keeping an eye on dad to make sure he's OK. In fact he's doing very well.

I've cut out L's gala queen dress and done a little embroidery for the front of the bodice. As you can see it's not quite finished but will be by the end of today and then next week I can start pining and tacking bits together. We have yet to get the material for her coat. L is breaking with tradition again and having a long coat instead of a train. I can't tell you much more about it but will reveal all when the time comes. But there will be some teasing sneaky peaks now and again.

Something else I've been working on, whilst watching the telly, is a granny stripe crochet blanket. I started in February. Because I had no plans for anything knitted or crocheted I thought I would just do a blanket. As you can see it's nice and bright. I thought the bright colours would help with my sad mood and it does cheer me up when I look at it. I gave L a piece of each yarn and asked her to put in some kind of order and stick them to a piece of paper and it's this order I have worked to. I've done two rows of of colour and one row of white. I'm loving the way the colours are turning out. Eventually it will go on L's bed because she doesn't like duvets, she gets too hot and like to peel off the layers. I must admit I do too.

M will be back from archery soon, L did't go, (the hall is too cold at the moment) and he will be wanting a warm dinner when he gets in so I must say cheerio for now and see you soon. Enjoy the rest of your week end.

Carolx