Camping in Shropshire

After completing the last gala we went on a camping holiday for 5 days to Shropshire taking with us L friend S, who's not been camping before. We stayed at a private camp site just out side Much Wenlock. I'm not sure if it's a village or town. The lovely little shops suggest it's a village but they have markets so, to me, that suggest it's a town. Either way it was lovely. This building on the right had a date on it suggesting it was built in the 1600's and it's currently occupied as a home although I feel it might once have been a public house. To me it's beautiful and I'm amazed at it's survival.

This picture on the left is the view from the front of our tent towards the town. When we arrived on the Wednesday the site only had a few caravans on it. Gradually it filled up towards the weekend and emptied again on Sunday. We left on the Monday.
This next picture just below is to the left of us. L and S having a game of giant snakes and ladders whilst waiting for tea.  To the right and to the back the views were very similar. The site was on the side of a hill but terraces had been made so it was more comfortable to pitch a tent  or caravan and most pitches could have an electric supply. The owners used an out door extension cable from a near by hook up. They didn't leave it hanging around after we left it was collected just before we left. They were on the ball. The site was very clean and the grass was kept very short so there were very little in cutting plus there were plenty of rabbits nibbling away.

Old school master

The old chemist

A carousel run by electricity not steam 

There is much to see in Shropshire with it being the home of the Iron Industry and the start of the Industrial Revolution and we did all the museums connected to it. We got a family year pass from the internet and saved £8. The ticket cost us £60 but it saved us an absolute fortune in entrance fees. The first place we visited was Blist Hill.  (saved £30 here) This was a Victorian town build on the side of some factory that has something to do with the Iron Industry (forgot what - we saw so much) which closed in the 1950's. There were lots of shops (selling stuff), homes, a school, factories using the old methods and selling their wears, a bank that would exchange new money for old, a fair ground and even a pub. It was all very good but I felt a little disappointed having been spoilt with Beamish which is far better.

Over the next few days we visited the clay pipe (smoking) museum. When the business closed it was just left and years later when it was discovered everything was left in place. Pencil calculations on the wall, old clay, broken pipes, stacks of made up boxes ready for packing, and packed boxes ready for shipment.
A Tile factory. The Victorians like tiles because the could be easily cleaned so was used everywhere and had the most amazing art on them. Some were ugly but it was all down to individual taste. This one was my favourite. The christening of Briar Rose surrounded by the good fairies.

We saw the iron bridge - The world first bridge to be built of iron. I remember visiting this with school as part of my History CSE. What a legacy that it still stands strong for pedestrians only.

We also went to the coalport museum with the most beautiful china but sadly this also went out of business.  


The tar tunnel was quite interesting because this tunnel was built to create a new canal going through the mountain (big hill) but never got completed because tar was dripping through the walls. This became a new business venture and the canal was never built. Tar can still be seen dripping through the walls today. Every so often the tunnel has to close due to a build up of carbon monoxide.

We had really nice weather to do all our trips which was great. L's friend enjoyed camping and would like to do it again but in the future when she has her own family. She thinks her mum likes her creature comforts too much to try camping.
We always take plenty of food with us so that we can make picnic lunches and most evening meals have been precooked and frozen (we have a fridge/cool box that can run on gas, electric or battery) so that makes evening meals easy. We did eat tea out once and we used some leisure vouchers so that meal didn't cost us anything.
It took me over a week to catch up with all the washing as I always wash the sleeping bags and any covers before packing away again in the attic ready for another year. We're all straightish now.

Carolx

From Peelings

Hello everyone

We've been having lots of fun recently. The galas have finished and and we've been on holiday (will tell you all about that in another post).

Today I've been tidying up a corner of the garden and I got fed up of seeing the potato plants growing from out of the sides of the compost bin, and they were starting to flower. Out they came with some potatoes. I didn't plant them they just grew from my potato peelings. I guess I peel them too thick.  I'll probably get some more next year from the tiny ones I left behind and the peelings I compost next spring

Looks like these could be King Edwards and a Rooster. Just enough to go with tea tonight.

Since Thursday last week we've had to boil all our drinking water because somehow sheep's poo got into the system and contaminated it. We don't have a dishwasher so had to boil the water for that too. What a pain it's been. Drinking boiled water taste awful and on Friday we tried to get a bottle of water, It was impossible to find one anywhere as all the shops had sold out. We did find some bottles yesterday when we were out in Fleetwood. 29p for a ltr, at Home Bargains, so we got a couple. The water company is hoping that all will be well tomorrow. We shall see.

I need to catch up with you all and find what's been happening around the globe the past two weeks. Not much on telly tonight.

Well that's my ramblings for today. see all again soon.

Carolx

Falling Arches

We once had an arch in our small garden that held a beautiful Wisteria and a yellow Honeysuckle. Last year the Wisteria didn't do anything after doing some research I found out that it can go dormant so we thought we would leave it and see if it did anything this year. It didn't and on snapping a branch it confirmed it was definitely dead. However the Honeysuckle was doing well and we had a dilemma of what to do. The metal arch was well and truly rotten and only held up because the Wisteria was tightly wrapper around it.
I took some cuttings of the Honeysuckle but they didn't take so I took some more and I think they are doing ok at the moment. At this point the arch was now lying horizontal due to some high winds and was looking a mess.
For a number of years M has wanted to build a new arch but because the wisteria was so tightly wrapped around the metal arch there was nothing he could do until now that is. The dead plant was rotten at the base so was easy to dispose of. The Honeysuckle turned out to have new growth near to the base so all the upper growth was disposed of in the recycle bin.
M drew his design of what he wanted the arch to look like and made some changes and then went to get his wood bits and started to build.
It's a lot bigger than the original but looks amazing. He's even included seat. It's not quite finished yet as we need to remove and dismantle the water feature, fill in the hole and lay four more flags which will be from another area of the garden. We have a climbing rose in a pot that will be replanted where the Wisteria came out from. And some of the wood needs sanding and varnishing
Our garden has been neglected over the past two years so this summer it's going to have a tidy up and a sort out and no more money spent on it. I'll do a before and after shots when it's done.

Gala update - We got 1st for visiting queen at Preesall and Knott End gala and the Princess go 2nd at St Anne's gala. We are both at Bispham tomorrow. The weather forecast is dry but very high winds.

L's operations was pencilled in for next week but when I phoned the hospital last month they  said it has been put back to September - Not happy with the delays. Third time it's be put back. Might have to politely complain next time. There is a bonus we can now go camping this year and we are taking L's friend too. More about that when we come back.

What ever you are doing have a lovely weekend

Carolx

Three Down and Three To Go

Hi everyone

Since I last wrote we have done three more galas with three more to do.

Here we are at Fleetwood and it rained all the way round the procession until we were on the last stretch and then the sun decided to shine and it shined for the rest of the day. I can't take credit for this photo but a photographer from Fleetwood called Robert Stead took it.(I just love it) He is also a judge at our annual flower and craft show.
Lots of people came out to watch the parade despite the rain and we all enjoyed it. We got third prize for visiting queen.

 Nine umbrellas drying in our bath and seven rain ponchos hanging on the line.  


The next gala we attended was Lytham Club Day. We got up at 6am so that I could do L's hair which can take me up to an hour with plaiting and back combing and pinning and the rest. As we borrow a wagon from the council it has a tachograph attached to it and you can't go over 30mph so it took us almost an hour to get to Lytham for 8.30am. After arriving we needed to set up the chairs on the back of the wagon and do any quick repairs ready for 9am judging. During the week we made two exra panels for the wagon to hide the toolbox, I painted them white, L wrote and painted the names, in the colour of their dresses, of all her attendants and M stapled on some artificial ivy that was leftover from our previous gala season. Then I varnished the boards so that the paint doesn't run if we have any more rainy days and finished them off with some gold glitter spray.

We had lovely warm weather with a cool breeze which was ideal for a long walk. We went down the high street and back along Lytham's promenade and almost every street was lined with crowds of people. It was lovely to see so many people out to support such a great event. Later the sun came out in time for the crowning ceremony at Lytham Hall. We finally got home around 4pm after a fantastic day. We came fourth in the visiting queen section.

Yesterday we were at Hambleton for their crowning ceremony. There was no street procession as they struggled to get marshals to help with road closures. For the first time ever they crowned a king instead of a queen.

Hambleton is village and not enough children were interested in the part. The queen who was uncrowned is in the same year as L at school and they know each other quite well which was nice. All the queens and their retinues paraded around the arena and were judged followed by some great kids entertainment (best ever) and then the trophies were presented. We got first for visiting queen and our Princess and her retinue also got first. (yeah) The little girls (and boy) are so beautiful and get on so well. So proud of them all.

Next week we're at Preesall and Knot End for another very long walk with a pit stop halfway round at a very welcome pub. Good for refreshments and bathroom breaks.

It's just started raining here after a little bit of thunder. We had a smashing thunder storm earlier in the week and another on Friday night. It's saved me from watering my tomato plants.

I'm off to visit my dad now as he came home from his holiday yesterday.

Carolx







 
             
     

Unveiling and Crowning

I awoke at 5am on Saturday morning and I could hear birds singing. Well, that was a good sign, it's not raining. I got up half an hour later as I just could't get back to sleep I was way too excited and anxious for it was gala day. I wanted to make sure that everything was ready and we didn't forget anything and make a packed lunch for M and me and plenty of drinks and treats for the children.  Done.
M got up early too because he wanted to make sure the float was still ok. It had spent the night on our front.
I got L up at 7.30 so that she could have her breakfast before getting washed, make up on and dressed before her 9am appointment at the hairdressers. As it was her special day I thought it best to have a special hair do to fit her crown. And what a fabulous job they did, it was beautiful - she looked beautiful. Her hair was still up on Sunday - a pyjama day with fancy hair. By evening we had taken it down ready for school tomorrow.  I took this picture at the end of the day after she was crowned. I know I started backwards.

This is the side view of the float and next Saturday we' at Fleetwood Carnival so I'll get some more pictures of the float as we'll have more time being visitor rather hosts.
The theme is Rainbow Wishes and there are rainbows everywhere but in a different formats. Here's the front view.  Unfortunately as this isn't the wagon we originally prepared for you can't see the bottom bit over the cab so for next week M has prepared some blocks that should lift the boards a bit higher.

L's retinue. I said there was rainbows everywhere. If you click on the picture to make it larger you will see the little boy's waistcoat is also rainbow.
The building in the background is Thornton Little Theatre (formerly known as The Lecture Hall) that was built in the 1920's. There are beautiful gardens and trees. The flower beds were only planted up last week so are not quite in flower.

Prince Charming is L's best friend from primary and high school.

The crowning. L was crowned by a local councillor. Unknown by the committee we have known the councillor for quite a few years from when she set up a skate night at the local sports centre to give the teens somewhere to go on a Friday night (it's still going but now run by the sports centre). The children can use skateboards, scooters and roller skates and on Saturdays BMX bikes (with ramps). The other lady crowning the princess is the new Mayoress.

L doing her speech and thanking lots of people who had been involve to make this day so very special.

After taking the wagon back to the council we went to the pub for tea

Yesterday was a relaxing day.

Carolx

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