tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91895186555545212982024-03-12T03:08:02.771+00:00Diary of a penny pincherAttempting to live well, cheaply!diaryofapennypincherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09314692740147273227noreply@blogger.comBlogger120125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189518655554521298.post-61746007532508482912021-02-25T21:50:00.001+00:002021-02-25T21:50:18.602+00:00<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Hello everyone! </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I managed to lock myself out of my blog due to inactivity. Of course, I only discovered this when I tried to log in to tell you my latest news.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I have started a Youtube account!</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I'm not going to talk on them, you don't need to hear my dulcet Brummie tones, but I've started videoing some of our lockdown walks and am revisiting old photos of places we've been in the past, and turning them into little films.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Spielberg has nothing to worry about, fortunately! My efforts so far have been just what you would expect of a middle aged woman trying to grasp new technology! Anyway, I just thought it would be nice to get us all in the mood for travel when lockdown is finally lifted.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">In the meantime, if you use a treadmill, maybe you can walk with us?</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3oqWqkNM3pI1kSzolpKa3A" target="_blank">My Youtube channel</a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">It would be great if you could click the subscribe button and then you will be notified of new videos as soon as I upload them.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">See you over there!</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>diaryofapennypincherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09314692740147273227noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189518655554521298.post-59610840763869065232018-03-03T14:53:00.000+00:002018-03-03T14:53:50.774+00:00It ain't over till it's over<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Oops, another month and scarcely a blog post from me. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, I've decided to trial instagram and facebook for the time being, and try small bite sized pieces of info instead of one great long blog post with loads of boring photos for you to plough through!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This blog will still stay as I've always loved blogging, and I hope to pick up again when we go out and about to places. In the meantime here's a couple of recent jewellery bargains for you.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I found this gorgeous real silver necklace on a 50p jewellery rack in a local charity shop. I always pick up real silver if I see it, as long as it isn't broken. The scrap value is so low at present this necklace is probably worth less than 50p as scrap, but if I get bored of it I can sell it on for a couple of quid at least. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEich2q_H5akkSuJn0vyAoi9uYZ3UpgtvYPsMALFNhyphenhyphenz2SMLngvpKqugYk-FEeVUWcjRHq91QXfn2dr31JYgEEaO6ON0XFQb0bCnv-iF0ZXilrLmafNc_DXmxLKOV9XhwJPxeCbEelj94Pz-/s1600/28279377_2115422408681367_8710876746183292484_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="533" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEich2q_H5akkSuJn0vyAoi9uYZ3UpgtvYPsMALFNhyphenhyphenz2SMLngvpKqugYk-FEeVUWcjRHq91QXfn2dr31JYgEEaO6ON0XFQb0bCnv-iF0ZXilrLmafNc_DXmxLKOV9XhwJPxeCbEelj94Pz-/s640/28279377_2115422408681367_8710876746183292484_n.jpg" width="353" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> I do love this! It is so Spring-like I had to buy it, cost 30p so not breaking the bank. I think it's a cheap one, maybe Primark or Poundland even, let me know if you've seen it around! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lastly, thought I would share this photo of the hens, Lola will be nine this month, which is a really great age for a chicken, and the other two we bought last March from the Domestic Fowl Trust in Warwickshire.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">From the left, they are Daphne (Hamburgh) Lola (Araucana) and Maureen (Friesian). They are all bantams and not much bigger than pigeons, albeit very feisty! Lola no longer lays regularly but we get around 12 to 13 little white eggs a week off the other two combined. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You can find me on instagram as pennypincher66 and facebook as Diary of a penny pincher, hope to see you over there! </span></div>
diaryofapennypincherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09314692740147273227noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189518655554521298.post-475304901748942092018-01-31T15:19:00.000+00:002018-01-31T15:26:54.124+00:00January, sick and tired you've been hanging on me<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Such a long month, and yet I still couldn't find time to blog!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I'm seeing off the tail end of flu at present so, if I promise not to sneeze on you, I'll give you a whistle stop round up of the month.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">After a nice quiet New Year (as always at chez pennypincher) it got considerably louder on the 2nd, when we popped over to Wolverhampton Civic for a concert. Haven't seen anyone live for ages and bought the tickets months ago so really was probably not in the mood for a gig. Especially as we soon discovered that Wolverhampton Wanderers football team were playing at home on the same evening, and the council had decided to block off a few city centre roads including the main entrance to the civic car park! 45 minutes to drive to Wolverhampton, an hour and 10 minutes stuck in traffic on the ring road, trying to read diversion signs which were flat on the pavement having been blown over by strong winds or football fans. Not fun!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Finally, we found a (read that as made a creative parking space in a council car park) place to park and arrived at the venue just a few minutes after the concert started.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Black Country Communion, well, half of, photo taken on my cheap smart phone.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Thankfully the gig was great, no-one who had parked creatively got a ticket (and there were plenty of us!) and we got home in record time, thanks to the absence of the 20,000 or so football fans who had mostly left the city. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Up early the following day, my birthday, for a day out in lovely old Evesham. My present was a meal at the Royal Oak, a black and white medieval building in the centre of the town. Lunch was sea bass on kale with crab and chilli balls and scallops, beautiful!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">At the weekend we discovered a gold post box in Alcester. These post boxes were painted gold in the home towns of Olympic gold medal winners, this one was for Equestrian Nick Skelton. Nick won a gold medal in 2012 as part of the GB team, but won an individual gold in 2016, and I'm wondering if that's why this is a double post box?! Answers on a postcard please!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The following weekend, we had another cold snap. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If you are not in the UK, we have had several cold snaps this month, a few decent snow flurries and lots of icy weather.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Just how icy we discovered when we visited the local arboretum. The lake was frozen. As this duck and seagull found out when they landed. The duck was not amused!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This lot were hiding in the reeds, where the water wasn't iced over, but they saw us and thought we were feeding them, so broke cove</span>r.</div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We haven't been on many of our cultural days out so far this year, mainly because a lot of the properties are shut until Spring, and partly because the OH is building up a new wardrobe. We are sourcing heavily from charity shops for him. He's had some great items, way out of my price range (you know me, just too cheap!)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I'll show you my purchases though, meagre as they are. Firstly, a birthday treat from a proper shop, this wool blend snuggly snowflake jumper in pink and grey from Fat Face, reduced to £25 then to £22.50 at the till. A new jumper seems to be my annual treat now.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Secondly, I really couldn't believe my eyes when I spotted these fabulous Clark's boots in my size for £3. As you can see from the muddy bottoms, I've worn them several times already.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So comfy and warm, I love them! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Last bargain was quite an expensive one. I saw these boots in a charity shop way before Christmas and thought they were just too dear. They were £19.99. The other week they were still there, I tried them on, they fitted me and are by Bertie, an expensive brand. I bought them!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Hardly worn, as you can see</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Well, that's it for January, I need to crack on and get my blog reading up to date. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Hope you've all had a great start to 2018</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I'm off to get some tissues and Vick, I need to breathe!</span></div>
diaryofapennypincherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09314692740147273227noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189518655554521298.post-63845316217710521592017-12-28T15:13:00.002+00:002017-12-28T15:13:56.701+00:00Witley on ice<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Thought I would start this post with a few photos of our recent snowfall. Here in Worcestershire we had about a foot. We are quite elevated, there's a long hill at both ends of the village, and plenty of open countryside around us, so any weather is pretty much unhindered.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Woke to this on 8th December, (view from our bedroom window) but it wasn't deep and neither was it that cold, so we ventured out to Hanbury</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Two days later, Sunday 10th, and this greeted us, view from the lounge this time, and look at that sky, plenty more up there! It snowed on and off all day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The woodpecker arrived, and we only really see him in Winter (just above centre of pic and in the middle) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">11th December and a slow melt began, although you can see we have slightly more snow than yesterday morning</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">12th December and snow again, and a freezing fog moving in!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLc6oud78wi5I5S_k2v5Paf0VVVpJ_8jxvHDfUM4ZMOcRm8mCI3zUzrt2HhmUMzRUfOBi1bRoztN-SsG-6pLPKv26N3dnrnVD5TpxKxRlOfd_5nwSlC0Up4zRIp50aI6Xm09Cyi4dEWzj7/s1600/25182159_1953092778248846_3609060914032619855_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1440" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLc6oud78wi5I5S_k2v5Paf0VVVpJ_8jxvHDfUM4ZMOcRm8mCI3zUzrt2HhmUMzRUfOBi1bRoztN-SsG-6pLPKv26N3dnrnVD5TpxKxRlOfd_5nwSlC0Up4zRIp50aI6Xm09Cyi4dEWzj7/s640/25182159_1953092778248846_3609060914032619855_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For those of you in colder climates thinking "that's not much snow!", it is quite unusual for us to have as much as this and we do not have equipment etc to deal with it. Some Winters we barely have a light dusting more than a couple of times during the season, which is why everything grinds to a halt and we all go a bit snow crazy when it happens!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Anyway, fast forward a few days to Saturday 16th, and we thought the snow had all melted so popped over to Witley Court, our nearest English Heritage property. We had the place to ourselves.</span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The lake was still partly frozen, no ducks to be seen</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The fountain too, thankfully it doesn't fire up in the Winter, bet the pipes were frozen solid</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">OH had some amusement skimming bits of frozen snow across the surface</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There was even a decent amount of snow left on the ground</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Just us, no-one else to be seen</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWaXYRtFGlRokp1SVnkKNLUEdUZ0PBHqMMFwkXSe4hroZFGX8cF9LwZLeRTUUj_Iblgub4HIAMnz1NqLm_J9MGFzHlfEWtMOO4vMeGiNaEOnYNjpFymTJ0nkoDbqffpA0JmE4hFd3nj87w/s1600/20171216_140929.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWaXYRtFGlRokp1SVnkKNLUEdUZ0PBHqMMFwkXSe4hroZFGX8cF9LwZLeRTUUj_Iblgub4HIAMnz1NqLm_J9MGFzHlfEWtMOO4vMeGiNaEOnYNjpFymTJ0nkoDbqffpA0JmE4hFd3nj87w/s640/20171216_140929.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">On our favourite fountain there was a display of paper water lilies sitting on the frozen surface, in readiness for the first ever lantern festival at Witley.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The trees were being decorated with paper lanterns and battery operated fairy lights, you can just see little jam jars along the edge of the path, the only other person around was a man switching on all the little lights in the jars.</span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Back at the shop and we treated ourselves to some Worcestershire wobble juice and fudge and ginger biscuits, for less than the cost of a cup of tea and cake.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Hope you have all had a lovely Christmas, Happy New Year to you all and see you in 2018!</span></div>
diaryofapennypincherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09314692740147273227noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189518655554521298.post-39881349878986431652017-12-20T20:57:00.001+00:002017-12-20T21:01:45.689+00:00Glam Christmas<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">On the 8th December we intended to have a long day out to the Malverns, the weather decided otherwise, here it was the start of a snowstorm lasting a couple of days. The temperature was in the minus figures, it was biting cold and the snowflakes were horizontal in the driving wind.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Never mind, we stopped off at Hanbury Hall for a 70's and 80's themed Christmas! The idea came about because in the 70's and 80's the hall was rented out and the occupants became fairly infamous locally for their wild parties. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Christmas card perfect on the outside, but like an explosion in a glitter factory inside!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWD7bscO7TP6wec2AZ0tv1IVQk_eqbRdP-SdEEcL6U1Jdl1pRGUN3lbWkKPTYL9uMOrqHkRonqoNI4A0euwPaDHhW552KDfI5be5zYYXDlUYNu3bKhYllZkkGfvSImCAVxWu25-WrO6dx-/s1600/20171208_130848.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWD7bscO7TP6wec2AZ0tv1IVQk_eqbRdP-SdEEcL6U1Jdl1pRGUN3lbWkKPTYL9uMOrqHkRonqoNI4A0euwPaDHhW552KDfI5be5zYYXDlUYNu3bKhYllZkkGfvSImCAVxWu25-WrO6dx-/s640/20171208_130848.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The huge tree in the hallway had been lovingly decorated with different colours of lametta, the front drawing room was playing Morecombe and Wise on a loop on the TV and people were relaxing with babycham and snowballs, next to a silver glitter tree. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The dining room was stuffed with tupperware holding all manner of 70's and 80's food. Twiglets and cheese balls, anyone?</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxMM69CgCNjWIbDznmuY6JYw3F4DAem_crMBrNsSWyM905W_nAC4azEnROosC8Q26lBbHYWeRZHr9wvVNy_Pa9wRe6qd1LeFauqQJBSvvrokIMk9FaIOqHn8hAuccnf8T4gS17m6B2gc2c/s1600/20171208_131411.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxMM69CgCNjWIbDznmuY6JYw3F4DAem_crMBrNsSWyM905W_nAC4azEnROosC8Q26lBbHYWeRZHr9wvVNy_Pa9wRe6qd1LeFauqQJBSvvrokIMk9FaIOqHn8hAuccnf8T4gS17m6B2gc2c/s640/20171208_131411.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The retro bar was taking orders for babycham and snowballs at £2 each (2017 prices!), all drunk straight from the bottle with a straw. Just look at that pineapple ice bucket!</span> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpWho35vDRC5yrMLjGyemnnYUeb5rscS5XN0oAsRw9ACzoN2PJN82dTWqYYHB8CNMTC0SAh5v2ICWKyJPx-ZPbmY9Ix2XAtm4TnDK55t1DRV47pPdn-moonCz8DGAHd2DmQQITwzRroc7X/s1600/20171208_131556.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpWho35vDRC5yrMLjGyemnnYUeb5rscS5XN0oAsRw9ACzoN2PJN82dTWqYYHB8CNMTC0SAh5v2ICWKyJPx-ZPbmY9Ix2XAtm4TnDK55t1DRV47pPdn-moonCz8DGAHd2DmQQITwzRroc7X/s640/20171208_131556.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In the main drawing room, vintage toys were scattered under the tree</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU7cTaGSST3fg1xoTzE1_LEyeUBhyphenhyphencLDxIvo7x0EmNrdtqBPFXLgM676rrJBbX1m93eqAz_u9eOqiOZ9jp52ju4kgVl4x_OGtDc-sDA_BgayxjlLfbsoZfAj8u6jFnlrKp5YNRLdJ75W_e/s1600/20171208_131617.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU7cTaGSST3fg1xoTzE1_LEyeUBhyphenhyphencLDxIvo7x0EmNrdtqBPFXLgM676rrJBbX1m93eqAz_u9eOqiOZ9jp52ju4kgVl4x_OGtDc-sDA_BgayxjlLfbsoZfAj8u6jFnlrKp5YNRLdJ75W_e/s640/20171208_131617.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Despite being a child in the 70's, some of these were new to me, never heard of computacar, others, like the Grandstand video game, I had heard of but didn't have myself. We did have Monopoly (much to my dad's annoyance as I always won!) and Frustration (which we still have!) </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAwMR2YvxeBU8OdCn0O9wqGrAFQA7CiBLyq5sXcC-3p5wfPkSrcxDoVf-B_NfCUBZnJGMQBLkAeDx7Uc9Rk7MQajLdioQEfEM-CtHpcdkdNX-Dvcl5gdwrAr74n56uqaHMnu1CrvEjjEb-/s1600/20171208_131702.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAwMR2YvxeBU8OdCn0O9wqGrAFQA7CiBLyq5sXcC-3p5wfPkSrcxDoVf-B_NfCUBZnJGMQBLkAeDx7Uc9Rk7MQajLdioQEfEM-CtHpcdkdNX-Dvcl5gdwrAr74n56uqaHMnu1CrvEjjEb-/s640/20171208_131702.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Actually, most of these toys never crossed the threshold into our house, I feel quite deprived now!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbE3XNm0R1_herKP4-GXPz72fyEp2POkdsK_n8CNfjamR2j6yJpveuRWaW8F8pzEN89EN9IGN_651rxBTvk5CXgeIrLNUPV-3h7wVtl7XmRZgqZtMVA0fvbURQUobg8kUrk2QpdplgDsVW/s1600/20171208_132308.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbE3XNm0R1_herKP4-GXPz72fyEp2POkdsK_n8CNfjamR2j6yJpveuRWaW8F8pzEN89EN9IGN_651rxBTvk5CXgeIrLNUPV-3h7wVtl7XmRZgqZtMVA0fvbURQUobg8kUrk2QpdplgDsVW/s640/20171208_132308.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Upstairs, more cabinets with the now rarer items displayed, all belonging to volunteers I believe</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I did have a Sinclair ZX81 which was black and white, but my mother bought it off a second hand man at the rag market. I do wish I still had it as it would probably be worth a decent bit by now, but I kept it in good condition and sold it in the 90's to a young lad who was interested in computing</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">One bedroom upstairs was dedicated to the morning after the night before, sometime in the 80's, Katharine Hamnett Wham t shirt, denim clothing and Frankie GTH bag scattered about the room, another bedroom had a body in a sleeping bag on the floor!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Across the parterre and in the long gallery were yet more toys, we found a pair of rainbow Christmas trees and played Buckaroo for a while, both losing and both fed up of picking the bits up from where they had been thrown by the mule </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Back outside, and the snow wasn't stopping, we had a quick wander around, the house really does look picture perfect in the snow</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The vegetable patch was covered with a gentle layer of Winter frosting and we spoke to the chickens, and the lady feeding them, before continuing our walk </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We found this mistletoe at arms length, I couldn't bring myself to pinch a bit!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Past the parterre, which I have once again managed to capture on a tilt (I can't blame the camera, it is user error!), we continued back to the car and home.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I managed to take this photo while we were driving back home down the lanes, and it really is one of my favourite snow pictures so far this year.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Hope you are all staying safe if you have had icy weather, and a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!</span></div>
diaryofapennypincherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09314692740147273227noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189518655554521298.post-56383565601762943462017-12-13T19:34:00.000+00:002017-12-21T19:13:51.770+00:00Dovecotes of the rich and pious<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Before the snow came and marooned us in our cottage we had been out into Worcestershire, catching up on National Trust properties which are too small to spend much time at individually.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">First port of call was the 16th century half timbered dovecote at Hawford. Originally part of a wealthy monastic grange, the dovecote now stands alone, neatly tucked away between handsome detached houses in this peaceful hamlet off the A449.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We walked around the place twice before I discovered the double doors were open and disappeared from OH's view! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Inside was actually cosy, with brick floor and half timbered walls standing on a small sandstone wall. Despite an opening for a ladder, there was not one there up to the other levels, and with floorboards missing it would be dangerous for visitors. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I love these mini buildings, and can imagine them with an inglenook fireplace to one wall and woodburner at full pelt, warming the whole place through. Although they would never have been heated, it makes a nice thought!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As I can't find out much about Hawford monastic grange, I can only imagine it is no longer around because of Henry VIII's dissolution of the monastries. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There is no parking at Hawford, and the dovecote is a short way up a private road, which you can walk up but not drive. Vehicles are tolerated on the grass verges in the nearby lane.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Our next building was across the river Severn, and a hundred years into the future, the 17th century Wichenford dovecote.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Another half timbered cute property, this time with a picturesque brookside setting, and again just off a private access road.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMW9r0n2jhxHrOv5HyJc5EvxR7eW4NGitYafMKzt3qptWrhZYUnq75YU7HiL5mfZ24wdvk_xldoeSSACwjTQmKt8hPVP6qM5_uOP6nyRFUD-ykaIDeFRrUHhDji8WZrDVhB44pk_ZGIaj_/s1600/20171201_122901.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a>The surroundings were stunning</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We will have to revisit in Summer, this is just too pretty!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Here, the doorway made me feel gigantic, poor OH had to squeeze himself in. The floor was raised too so it was quite a step up.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">(had to throw these boots when I wore them in snow the other day as the sole had split, I'd worn them so often, ah well, several years and £20 so not too bad) Spot the £1.95 Kipling bag!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">That's quite a step (OH in his Merrell trainers which were too ugly until he tried them on, £8 CS find and comfy as walking on air!)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Inside, all of the 560 little nesting areas were still present, and someone at the National Trust has spent ages making paper doves to fill the spaces</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As there was an impressive cupola on top for the birds to enter, this dovecote had more light inside, despite the tiny door.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">One last view of the gorgeous half timbered exterior and we were off</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We had lunch outside the parish church and drove towards our next property, the largest and possibly oldest tithe barn in England, 14th century Leigh Court Barn, managed by English Heritage.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Leigh Court Barn is huge, a whopping 140 feet long, 33 feet high and 34 feet wide. It was built around 1325 (dated by style of carpentry and radiocarbon dating). There are two pairs of huge doors on both sides of the building</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Here, you can just see the walls bowing, the foundations are inadequate to support the building and it has now been underpinned to prevent collapse, although the brick infill would originally have been more lightweight wattle and daub.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCXQS9F6_Z9__ipXgnb4iG6euELW1hOxAcjX2iTh7lOEOSsdXy5hxPkapzsNqlqzLMekMP0E8cklUWwmT2dJOIQhxtoQXmEAFgkwF7a_QvSfYLRVSNNddaIzJP9hzEM5iS9UO3XkeOHViB/s1600/20171201_142933.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCXQS9F6_Z9__ipXgnb4iG6euELW1hOxAcjX2iTh7lOEOSsdXy5hxPkapzsNqlqzLMekMP0E8cklUWwmT2dJOIQhxtoQXmEAFgkwF7a_QvSfYLRVSNNddaIzJP9hzEM5iS9UO3XkeOHViB/s640/20171201_142933.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Apologies for the blurry shot, my phone is not good at low light photography, however, it makes the woven panels easy to see. The above doors would be opened on both sides when grain was laid out, and the wind would help sort the wheat from the chaff. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhUCzAvrDSn39CmbtDyVKRQbvXctb15CU1WHj54KwqWZHliS8eyefbFAo9u1TJtOWHpww__SPOaIPVdJQaiKQORlCHTOdZMUfsfun6vC-KMct6fOnY2aIVQRQwYxd2Mu0DZJGmWnwDzaDo/s1600/20171201_142351.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhUCzAvrDSn39CmbtDyVKRQbvXctb15CU1WHj54KwqWZHliS8eyefbFAo9u1TJtOWHpww__SPOaIPVdJQaiKQORlCHTOdZMUfsfun6vC-KMct6fOnY2aIVQRQwYxd2Mu0DZJGmWnwDzaDo/s640/20171201_142351.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">These huge cathedral like arches of oak are stunning. There are nine pairs of solid oak cruck timbers, in effect the ribs of the building, holding it all together.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ3foR7AsvmZp7ZK9A9Z6dR2zvkj1f8e5YZS6hdzYXValqotRsg6Hw0lyKLcFqbEwNIUB4A7Q0Y029MJ-wDs-GAkCn9b4yNFDeWnI6iWVT7NU7-z_xHotmQZCs8J7J-wbEUPTGrpm4buJK/s1600/20171201_142443.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ3foR7AsvmZp7ZK9A9Z6dR2zvkj1f8e5YZS6hdzYXValqotRsg6Hw0lyKLcFqbEwNIUB4A7Q0Y029MJ-wDs-GAkCn9b4yNFDeWnI6iWVT7NU7-z_xHotmQZCs8J7J-wbEUPTGrpm4buJK/s640/20171201_142443.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As you enter the building, to the right is an area for cider making, and judging by the size of the equipment, they made a lot here.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The barn was originally part of the Leigh Court grange, or monastic farm, belonging to the monks of Pershore in Worcestershire, and here they stored grain grown on their land.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The steep sided roof is originally thought to have been thatched</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh22Z3gB-5lRdjzg-ETmjdl0LFZD-DrGyhDFiP9UQXspfUjbO90PhY03BzUfWrNo-Eht3jrSwB9yDIgKY3Jq4nJTNiBHvS7Cwc7kBeEAS7GQp-BZvneIlywnPLyEsxDdZclHQGc726efQWS/s1600/20171201_142646.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh22Z3gB-5lRdjzg-ETmjdl0LFZD-DrGyhDFiP9UQXspfUjbO90PhY03BzUfWrNo-Eht3jrSwB9yDIgKY3Jq4nJTNiBHvS7Cwc7kBeEAS7GQp-BZvneIlywnPLyEsxDdZclHQGc726efQWS/s640/20171201_142646.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The view from the other end of the barn is just as spectacular, and it was a sunny day with the low winter sun helping to create a warm glow through the barn.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjABPT3PW-0qGY3o17XMfWhL5xsn5EuzZdgiYEgvet91l37Unf56LizzsR_2LNOTlNXhHU95nhPsktNW4p8CyxQ7WPapGQzfTEA-n1C4Wdo19ICrWXmJka6ykupThcjHmngI6ZfZHFG-pAx/s1600/20171201_142837.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjABPT3PW-0qGY3o17XMfWhL5xsn5EuzZdgiYEgvet91l37Unf56LizzsR_2LNOTlNXhHU95nhPsktNW4p8CyxQ7WPapGQzfTEA-n1C4Wdo19ICrWXmJka6ykupThcjHmngI6ZfZHFG-pAx/s640/20171201_142837.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">These wooden pegs have been in place for 800 years, holding everything together</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">(Oops! Seems my maths is out on this post and Leigh Court Barn is in fact only coming up to 700 years old Back to school for me!)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Despite being in the care of the National Trust and English Heritage, all of the above properties are free to enter usually during hours of daylight, but as they are not manned there are no facilities at any of them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I'm quite pleased with the photos as my camera of choice is my new toy, a smart phone, and a cheap one at that. I decided to bite the bullet when I ended up spending my £10 per six month pay as you go top up in one afternoon trying to sort out a problem with the rental. I realised the phone could be offset against my business, and it has been worth it so far, despite the frustrations of initially getting used to it, saves me lugging my camera around and I always have it on me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Just one pennypinching purchase to share this time, and it is this pretty bracelet in shades of grey, just 50p and from Denmark. The company is called Pilgrim (kind of fits with the monastic theme to this post!).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Of course it goes without saying that my Christmas shopping is all done, and at minimal cost but with maximum thought.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When I discover a quick way to get photos from my phone to my blog I will be back on a regular basis.</span></div>
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diaryofapennypincherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09314692740147273227noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189518655554521298.post-47408185605303912422017-11-21T21:31:00.004+00:002017-11-21T21:31:40.856+00:00Sloe gin, sloe gin...<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It's that time of year when I feel I should be out in the hedgerows, gathering all the free food Mother Nature has to offer.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Not this year. But, we did crack open a bottle of 4 year old sloe gin the other day and it was rather potent and very warming!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So I thought I would share my recipe with you, no point in buying that expensive shop bought stuff, when you can make great sloe gin at home for a fraction of the price. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You will need some cheap gin, I use Aldi gin, tastes great anyway but is cheap, bottles or glass jars to brew your gin in, and sugar, lots.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Collect your sloes, they are the fruit of the blackthorn, a plum related bushy tree which grows to a height of around 25 feet. Beware, blackthorns have huge thorns and can grow suckers, which means they can be thick and bushy around the base, you will invariably get caught up in the thorns as you scramble for the fruit!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sloes are about the size of your thumbnail, they are bitter to the taste and have a large stone in the centre, they also have a white bloom</span>.</div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Don't bother picking wrinkled ones, and watch out for infested ones too, some insects like to burrow into ripe sloes. Most old recipes state that you wait until first frost before picking your sloes, no, just pick your sloes and put them on the freezer overnight after washing. This also makes the next stage, pricking them, easier. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I use a long needle to prick sloes, a bodkin. I hold each one up between finger and thumb and skewer straight through twice, then pop into the chosen container. Mine are these old Tip tree bottles.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Fill your chosen container two thirds full with sloes. Pour over lots of granulated white sugar and tap gently so the sugar gets into all the crevices. Pour enough sugar in to just cover the sloes. Then fill your bottles with cheap gin! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Now comes the hard bit, put those containers in a dark place and shake occasionally for a couple of months, decant the liquid off into another container, preferably a bottle this time, and enjoy!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Some folk use the gin soaked sloes and cover them in chocolate, I'm afraid I just squeeze them and throw them out.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As an aside, here's Joe Bonamassa singing about the very stuff!</span></div>
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diaryofapennypincherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09314692740147273227noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189518655554521298.post-53560776458771164412017-11-07T21:27:00.000+00:002017-11-07T21:27:13.494+00:00Day trippers<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">One day a week OH and I pack a picnic and go off somewhere, if you've been with me a while and have a long memory, you may remember my weekly posts about our little trips out.</span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As the OH is a big lover of all things Cotswolds, he persuaded me that we needed to visit again. I was after a particular treat from one of the little shops there, so it seemed a good idea.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">First stop was Hanbury in Worcestershire, for a cup of tea and a breath of fresh air accompanied by a stunning, albeit misty, view.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Thankfully, as we headed south the weather brightened and soon the sun was shining gloriously in a deep blue sky.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We ended up in Chipping Campden, a small market town in Gloucestershire, noted for its 14th to 17th century high street. Tip: during school holidays you can park on the school car park for free.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The walk round to the high street from the school is interesting, past St James church and the cart wash, a small museum dedicated to Arts and Crafts, and some rather gorgeous private houses.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I love these gatehouses, or pepperpot lodges as I believe they are called, originally the entrance to Campden House, a grand country home built by Sir Baptist Hicks in 1613. Unfortunately, it was burnt to the ground thirty years later, and only parts remain, as well as a trace of the gardens under local fields.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The local almshouses</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Not seven, but eight!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Random village house with fab stone mullion windows and hay feeders by the front door</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The market hall</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It's difficult to tell from the photos, but the floor of the market hall is incredibly uneven, but it is still used for stalls occasionally </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Top of St James' church</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We found the little food shop we came to visit and bought ourselves a Christmas treat, proper marrons glace, expensive but proper!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It was like stepping back in time as the shop only takes real money, not cards. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Back to reality and I've been looking for a pair of ankle boots for a while, scouring eBay with no luck. Popped into my local chazza the other day and...voila!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Faux leather Chelsea boots, brand new! They are only supermarket ones, Aldi I think, but were mine for £3.95 and brand new. I've worn them three times now and they are waterproof and warm.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Another Aldi purchase now, but not second hand.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Both the OH and I love Jelly Belly beans, but they are expensive. I happened to buy some of Aldi's own brand a while back an they are mouthwateringly good!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">They were on offer the other day, down to just 89p a bag, oh go on then!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As I'm the not-so-proud owner of a new smart phone (not a ridiculously expensive one!) I'm tending to take all my photos on it at the moment, I think they all look OK, and I'm even able to crop them and everything, ohh get me!.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> hope everyone had a safe Hallowe'en and bonfire night. </span></div>
diaryofapennypincherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09314692740147273227noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189518655554521298.post-47854381644390320992017-10-26T21:28:00.000+01:002017-10-26T21:28:42.079+01:00Flour, trains, beaches and samphire<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Our last day in Norfolk and it was time to explore the local area. The village of Weybourne has a windmill, which is nicely visible on the horizon as you approach. unfortunately it no longer produces flour or turns. It looks pretty though.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So we headed off in search of a working mill. and soon found one.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Just past the nearby town of Holt on the A148 we discovered signposts to Letheringsett mill, a fully operational watermill dating back to 1802.</span><br />
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I<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">t cost just £3 each to go in and look around and the miller himself was on hand to answer any questions. There was a vast array of flour in the little shop, flour for every occasion it seemed, and a fellow visitor sought advice from the miller regarding her baking needs. We took the tour and wandered the floors of the mill unattended. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I do love a good mill, such a powerful beast of a building to supply</span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">our daily bread, our food staple. I find the ingenuity of the buildings awe inspiring.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The above drawing shows the layout of the workings</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Orders ready for shipping or collection</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> The millstones</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Source of all the power</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The business end!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">After a pleasant couple of hours we headed back to the chalet for lunch, on the way we stopped at the local steam railway station, Weybourne, conveniently next to train buff and former Prime Minister John Major's house. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The station has starred in many a TV programme due to it's proximity to London and period restored buildings</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Him indoors was delighted to find it was the local railway station in the sitcom Dad's Army where it doubled as Walmington on Sea station</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">After lunch we drove down the coast again, in search of fresh samphire to try for tea. We retraced our steps along the coast but before we got to Cley, where I had seen the colourful samphire displays, we came across Salthouse, a small seaside village between Cley and Weybourne. We stopped by a duckpond and I bought some beautifully succulent looking samphire from this little house for £2.50.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Photo courtesy of Google street view.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The samphire looked delicious, and I couldn't wait to get home and try it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Onwards, we drove around, recounting some of our steps and taking in all the views of Norfolk that we could, trying to remember every detail.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Back at the chalet, I found out how to cook samphire ( blanched in boiling water for a few minutes then tossed in butter) and we had it with pizza. I loved it, it was tender and succulent, OH hated it, as he does all greens! There was so much in the bag we bought that we were able to bring it home in the cool bag, and as several of the pieces had roots attached, I have some now growing in a pot.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">After tea we once again spent a couple of hours on the beach, albeit with heavy heart. Norfolk had been a pleasant surprise and we were blessed with great weather.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Goodbye Norfolk, you have been relaxing, surprising and enjoyable!</span></div>
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diaryofapennypincherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09314692740147273227noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189518655554521298.post-80597269892779396712017-09-30T18:57:00.000+01:002017-09-30T18:57:59.753+01:00Castle Acre Priory day 6 part 2<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">After we left Oxburgh and began the journey back to the chalet, we popped in to a little village called Castle Acre for a cup of tea and a leg stretch. We had spotted a sign for an English Heritage property, a priory, on the way there and thought it would make an ideal stopping off place on the way back.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We didn't realise as we rolled up, how huge the place was, it is one of the largest and best preserved monastic sites in England, and we just popped in on a whim.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So with no prior knowledge (no pun intended!) and a couple of hours to spare before it closed we had a wander round.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Dating back to 1090, the priory was home to a Cluniac order of monks, who lived there until 1537 when, under the dissolution of the monasteries by Henry VIII, it was disbanded and afterwards fell into ruin.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As you can see, the site is huge, this was a thriving monastery for over 450 years and parts are still almost intact. The huge west front, as seen in my first photo, and the attached prior's lodging are stunning. By climbing some pretty uneven stone steps you can go upstairs into the prior's house, where parts of the painted ceiling remain.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Just look at that amazing woodwork and art!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The main room was also very cosy, with a large bay stone mullion window and huge fireplace, we posed for a selfie.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwIRzgakLWvJ0hmhDDHOQaxDUoLOTzMhcIGE1zwuNzJ5G031mh4o8MHV4zVwvK8lDB3MJMTU0zncHfIBjmn5gC9RctR5Ex7Ghbh7jXkIMmbmFzKjMFH1knlWFUZrr7TxKV4P87wRi-PnSJ/s1600/IMG_4344.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwIRzgakLWvJ0hmhDDHOQaxDUoLOTzMhcIGE1zwuNzJ5G031mh4o8MHV4zVwvK8lDB3MJMTU0zncHfIBjmn5gC9RctR5Ex7Ghbh7jXkIMmbmFzKjMFH1knlWFUZrr7TxKV4P87wRi-PnSJ/s640/IMG_4344.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The view through the window of the west front was amazing, all that stonework.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Downstairs and beneath the main living quarters we found an entrance hall, leading straight through to the cloister</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This fabulous brick ceiling is medieval and was constructed between the 12th and 14th centuries. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Looking back at the part intact tower and prior's house.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As with most of the very early properties we've seen in this area, the main priory walls are constructed mainly of flint.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">More information on Castle Acre priory<a href="http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/castle-acre-castle-acre-priory/"> here</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We finally made it back to the chalet, and after tea took our now habitual evening stroll on the pebble beach</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Finishing off the day with another relaxing wander to the sound of waves crashing up the shoreline. </span></div>
diaryofapennypincherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09314692740147273227noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189518655554521298.post-85883847170873356662017-09-21T21:25:00.000+01:002017-09-21T21:25:33.479+01:00Off to Oxburgh day 6 part one <div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Back to our Norfolk holiday.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Day 6 and with the weather still good we set off on our longest trip of the holiday, the hour long drive south west </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">through Swaffham (always makes me laugh, think it's thanks to Harry Hill)</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">to Oxburgh Hall, a rather romantic looking medieval moated property originally built in the 15th century, and now managed by the National Trust.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As we arrived around 10.30, we cracked open the flask and had tea and cake in the rather pleasant car park before going in</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I have to say that for WOW factor, this is the most gorgeous property I have seen. I love a moat and this one was teeming with fish, and you could see the bottom, which is good as I have a thing about deep water. Rather disconcerting though was the half a pike resting in some pond weed at the bottom of the moat, I was wondering what bit it in half!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We spent a good hour just walking around the outside, the weather was gorgeous and the property was just breathtaking. Also, a junior school were visiting and they were inside, so we let them out before attempting to go in!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You can see some scaffolding in the above photo, the roof on the courtyard part of the property is being repaired</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The property looks like an architect's advert in places, there does appear to be every style of window as you go round the outside</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Fishies! The moat is huge, around 250 feet long on each side</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Love the name on their moat boat</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">After wandering aimlessly around the outside, we ventured in. I suppose I was expecting great things, but as you enter it is explained that family had to club together to buy the property back from an insurance company in the 50's and so several descendant families now live in private apartments there.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I took a few snaps inside, but they were dark and uninteresting. Better photos exist on the National Trust site <a href="https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/oxburgh-hall/features/the-hall-at-oxburgh">here</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The property was first built in 1482 by Sir Edmund Bedingfeld, after he obtained a licence to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battlement">crenellate</a>. The same family still live there, apart from a short period earlier in the 20th century when the land and property was split up and came under the ownership of an insurance company. To save it from being pulled down by a local builder the family clubbed together, selling whatever they had to save the building.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Bad photo of leather wallpaper, yes, seriously, leather!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The property is known for a few things, one of which is stunning needlework by Bess of Hardwick and her charge, Mary Queens of Scots, whom she had under house arrest for Elizabeth I.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As we've been to Fotheringhay, where Mary Queen of Scots was beheaded, it was interesting to see the huge panels of stunning needlework she and her captor had worked on together.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Mary wasn't held here, but I believe the works arrived at Oxburgh as part of a dowry a few centuries back</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">They are huge, around six feet high</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The room they are kept in is dark and only lights up when you enter, to keep them from deteriorating, hard to believe they are over 400 years old </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My only photo of the King's room, there is a famous priest hole off this bedroom, and the more adventurous visitor is allowed to slip through a hole in the floor into the secret chamber. We both decided we were not going in!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I made my way up several flights of stairs to the Queen's room above, via this very narrow staircase, with the rather cleverly built in handrail, only to find it shut! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Back outside, and we wandered around the walled garden, a later addition to the property, and mostly allowed to grow to meadow proportions to support wildlife, this outside area was kept much smarter</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A few last glimpses of the impressive brickwork and all those beautiful windows</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The stunning entrance over the bridge, with the window for the King's room immediately over the archway</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Not sure if these gorgeous little lamps are original or repro, so much of the original property was sold to save it</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A decidedly glum looking blogger! Not sure why I don't look too happy here, possibly because OH has already taken one photo. Anyway, 50p top and Laura Ashley linen skirt which was £1.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As we left for our holiday chalet, we decided to pop in to an abbey we had seen signposted along the way. It turned out to be a lot bigger than we thought so part two of our day 6 is to follow! </span>
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diaryofapennypincherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09314692740147273227noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189518655554521298.post-91058526440503230462017-09-13T22:05:00.001+01:002017-09-13T22:05:13.258+01:00These boots aren't made for walking...and other bargains<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I realised I haven't done a bargains post for ages, around two months I think, so here are a few things I've picked up since June.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The latest bargain were these unbranded leather boots, really well made and high, I'm sure I won't be going far in them but they will come in handy as a smart wardrobe staple.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Found in a charity shop £1 bargain bin. Go on, tell me the last time you found a pair of hardly worn leather boots for a pound!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Found these boots on ebay and forgot I was watching them. The listing ended with no sale and they were relisted again. The photos were dreadful but I could see there was hardly any wear on the heels so took a chance and bid. I won as no-one else bothered.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXE-vxzC3tV2U8FwoaePPC6wj6OYLEEJKPFyHsq7ICzryxrSxPdpfwWztu4SgWN1YZKrKjFVkLTd7fDyPMgWD7pW8Fltmn_eszK-hn3Mi6VZBTNJOOYOdOnMXFYfrOuJDkVDZgJTnMvMLl/s1600/IMG_6282.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXE-vxzC3tV2U8FwoaePPC6wj6OYLEEJKPFyHsq7ICzryxrSxPdpfwWztu4SgWN1YZKrKjFVkLTd7fDyPMgWD7pW8Fltmn_eszK-hn3Mi6VZBTNJOOYOdOnMXFYfrOuJDkVDZgJTnMvMLl/s640/IMG_6282.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">100% leather and suede. They are in superb condition and are Clarks, total paid was £14.44 I think.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Next item was a skirt I found today, the brand is Mantaray and it looks unworn, thick printed jersey cotton with deep elastic waist.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Found this fab t shirt a week ago, good quality and I love the print.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Paid £1.50 and it's a perfect fit!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Treated myself to a few Gringo tops in their sale, they only had M/L left so I took a chance and one is a perfect fit the other a little loose.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The black one is the perfect fit, and cost £12.99 </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGlh8S2lYpR6vWVOHmw9vnFv825shFvVfTlUVvqQcHy4C7pa-onb1RwEE8EH9sfdToShX2Z2ZbBHOyi8PgnaXeT3A3MYjdjDOD014N5InBEwTAasT_jyvZuUWTufpfNVfFI7IbCTES6s-z/s1600/IMG_5950.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGlh8S2lYpR6vWVOHmw9vnFv825shFvVfTlUVvqQcHy4C7pa-onb1RwEE8EH9sfdToShX2Z2ZbBHOyi8PgnaXeT3A3MYjdjDOD014N5InBEwTAasT_jyvZuUWTufpfNVfFI7IbCTES6s-z/s400/IMG_5950.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">This one is a little baggy but the design is gorgeous and repeated on the back in negative, £15.49. I also bought a tunic dress which was a bargain at £10.99 but it's too long for me so I will take it up.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I also found this top on ebay with best offer on, it's an Orla Kiely design and I love it. I offered £5 plus postage and the top was mine!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTDIF_aOPCiBjJG2K9BjOT2VkLopKO0Kl7HI14Dx40wGsJkm5TZQUKwYoL76HfVYxbm82ScUYPZ6L7SN1sgEjBmWolHxFfjwWOh5vUoK6gURbxHzCBNLRXMxo-WxjwyyWcCv9zPBmlvw9E/s1600/IMG_6330.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTDIF_aOPCiBjJG2K9BjOT2VkLopKO0Kl7HI14Dx40wGsJkm5TZQUKwYoL76HfVYxbm82ScUYPZ6L7SN1sgEjBmWolHxFfjwWOh5vUoK6gURbxHzCBNLRXMxo-WxjwyyWcCv9zPBmlvw9E/s400/IMG_6330.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Love the close up of the little cars</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijDtHl7W5CF04R8waiXLg0B5AoVbUvHfixZoapPnknOXFQquWoqxjCr6zj4av1a58k7bLqEh-fqPlmIFW7dP3YUBkFgqyJPxQ1hT-qtHM5HaUYhmrrxQfC8OtES3t0ty19557Q9cViO6jQ/s1600/IMG_6331.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijDtHl7W5CF04R8waiXLg0B5AoVbUvHfixZoapPnknOXFQquWoqxjCr6zj4av1a58k7bLqEh-fqPlmIFW7dP3YUBkFgqyJPxQ1hT-qtHM5HaUYhmrrxQfC8OtES3t0ty19557Q9cViO6jQ/s400/IMG_6331.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Back to August and I found this M&S Magenta top for 50p</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcfRjstoTVe5K0Jy9XsVNEf5dXAx3w_U2sbLtQznv_8lQkoXoyQqzwZNERpIS2iTtpsqhkxf4p7UPZu_8_ue2bfWDGd5L_ZvJtILhHJKjK-Rkm24vuLZYk6BFdqh2REv_5ZtmPUbjoJnzt/s1600/20841726_2020543541502588_1051310543151155059_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="653" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcfRjstoTVe5K0Jy9XsVNEf5dXAx3w_U2sbLtQznv_8lQkoXoyQqzwZNERpIS2iTtpsqhkxf4p7UPZu_8_ue2bfWDGd5L_ZvJtILhHJKjK-Rkm24vuLZYk6BFdqh2REv_5ZtmPUbjoJnzt/s400/20841726_2020543541502588_1051310543151155059_n.jpg" width="271" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Couldn't believe my eyes when I saw the sleeve of this Orla Kiely top peeping out of a rail of clothing in an expensive chazza I like looking round.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At £2.99 the price wasn't bad either.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Just goes to show, those expensive shops are worth looking around.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Another M&S top, this one was £2.25</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Ft_ELoAPini503QVX4K-8DhVQ4lvQMzDHmHLDlNVefTQziEJVVt9EEGIf3JpquLlT_8k8qa1m1UwLW6uXOPkdburUIwQxhb6KMnAHX7i4p4pjyZvtEYxkHFvC8dhBro3lHVmjJF61kGr/s1600/20637820_2014766455413630_3444826622522441137_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="485" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Ft_ELoAPini503QVX4K-8DhVQ4lvQMzDHmHLDlNVefTQziEJVVt9EEGIf3JpquLlT_8k8qa1m1UwLW6uXOPkdburUIwQxhb6KMnAHX7i4p4pjyZvtEYxkHFvC8dhBro3lHVmjJF61kGr/s400/20637820_2014766455413630_3444826622522441137_n.jpg" width="395" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It's really nice but when I put it on OH said "haven't you got one like that already?"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Mmm, it does resemble a couple of other tops I have, we'll see which ones stay the distance.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Lastly a few items from June</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfL3pTOyyFGhFnVMNQnvNy-2L_3weBnH_6C0WxCFpyDjzzgjWnABYGhr_3cIKYObORDlo9Qq5bdT8GantFMLKjMB1x24CD0OMahet8Dzs5mCLBbX2OdIStf3sW2RRwoxfZzqLtySv_S52L/s1600/IMG_3702.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfL3pTOyyFGhFnVMNQnvNy-2L_3weBnH_6C0WxCFpyDjzzgjWnABYGhr_3cIKYObORDlo9Qq5bdT8GantFMLKjMB1x24CD0OMahet8Dzs5mCLBbX2OdIStf3sW2RRwoxfZzqLtySv_S52L/s400/IMG_3702.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Pac a mac for £1.50, bit dark but they are difficult to source round here.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Capri pants already turned into shorts</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Cost £1</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Last item was this gorgeous M&S top I bought over a Fat Face one for the same price</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjVg8cqYbi14RgwrKGkP7HIj83aOH7TQq01j8QdAwcSflovjw-MP6WFtdfZHC8FKlWfSKn0rcbWPIZ0RoE6jFj6KkWUzC1uM7nAiRNVb7M-bv6MZmYdgXZKagwleCyjUgbHCgdhrgJDpvf/s1600/IMG_3707.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjVg8cqYbi14RgwrKGkP7HIj83aOH7TQq01j8QdAwcSflovjw-MP6WFtdfZHC8FKlWfSKn0rcbWPIZ0RoE6jFj6KkWUzC1uM7nAiRNVb7M-bv6MZmYdgXZKagwleCyjUgbHCgdhrgJDpvf/s400/IMG_3707.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This cost £3.75, but looks fab and I've worn it loads already, as you can see in the photo below</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1-vO9H3Zf6Tu7UtIG3sDM0BP8G6sRtHTn4UnlOJgJMZo2TVc0MfxfvBnqqiukCOyLWvD6wxkoyn2P69Vz93hXJIFZT8r3S1RkxZRqQYd0FTdiVYvHJAq4IuT2ySKbC3Pv50ETnSV-9vmV/s1600/IMG_5947b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1013" data-original-width="1600" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1-vO9H3Zf6Tu7UtIG3sDM0BP8G6sRtHTn4UnlOJgJMZo2TVc0MfxfvBnqqiukCOyLWvD6wxkoyn2P69Vz93hXJIFZT8r3S1RkxZRqQYd0FTdiVYvHJAq4IuT2ySKbC3Pv50ETnSV-9vmV/s640/IMG_5947b.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So comfy!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Well, that's all my bargains, OH has had lots of things, several pairs of footwear, several pairs of jeans, a hoodie in the sales and a new to him 50p leather cowboy buckle belt.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Hope you are all finding great bargains out there!</span></div>
diaryofapennypincherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09314692740147273227noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189518655554521298.post-76253460579280862162017-09-06T21:37:00.000+01:002017-09-06T21:37:40.010+01:00Boleyns, Blickling and the beach<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Day 5 in Norfolk, and we were treated to yet another warm and sunny day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We had decided on a one stop trip so headed due south towards Blickling Hall.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO6Q44BOtS-Zkw2PGaFkSXCBKN715KVl9P2Ydn0Xw2ybwjQFpO0dcwB8AbPyYOcorAynImdIlqkb4IGbSwoNj0vaQSIOkCj7POmyeAvlSSJzx4-xcvcO5HzQaIzy2vrIsQyfmlgBJ110kT/s1600/IMG_4197.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1079" data-original-width="1600" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO6Q44BOtS-Zkw2PGaFkSXCBKN715KVl9P2Ydn0Xw2ybwjQFpO0dcwB8AbPyYOcorAynImdIlqkb4IGbSwoNj0vaQSIOkCj7POmyeAvlSSJzx4-xcvcO5HzQaIzy2vrIsQyfmlgBJ110kT/s640/IMG_4197.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This amazing Jacobean mansion, constructed around 1616, is built on the site of the former home and birthplace of Anne Boleyn, second (and beheaded) wife of Henry VIII and mother of Elizabeth I. All three Boleyn siblings were born here during the short ownership of the estate by their father.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Jacobean architecture at its finest</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUKfQ5NxI_9-qt7VDthnuSUYfX9mOjQyMv7TZ-2VK5NovLmXQ5yEG0hpc0lzRf8gmfZwbpNB-Uj9H8FbudXtcf4KIYHeBwIL4QIhgy6ae-XXssQ2BMDQaYRadg9PrSiDsBU0tJPKD9haJQ/s1600/20170712_134436.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUKfQ5NxI_9-qt7VDthnuSUYfX9mOjQyMv7TZ-2VK5NovLmXQ5yEG0hpc0lzRf8gmfZwbpNB-Uj9H8FbudXtcf4KIYHeBwIL4QIhgy6ae-XXssQ2BMDQaYRadg9PrSiDsBU0tJPKD9haJQ/s640/20170712_134436.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Supposedly haunted by Anne Boleyn herself and voted most haunted house in Britain in a 2007 National Trust survey, we saw no spirits while we were there</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheb0lEag28MkRxWCc6rd9MiW1hFwWqXUonMhhga9AX4JY5-5bXdxFkRRtgIa4P-RRiDLYZ04cDjbuGKzxqEnct8C1jClRns0_q9dkCjrXxVp3Sv9TYmQLf3cXOKQpF_JbpPMj1oi_knV0K/s1600/20170712_112459.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheb0lEag28MkRxWCc6rd9MiW1hFwWqXUonMhhga9AX4JY5-5bXdxFkRRtgIa4P-RRiDLYZ04cDjbuGKzxqEnct8C1jClRns0_q9dkCjrXxVp3Sv9TYmQLf3cXOKQpF_JbpPMj1oi_knV0K/s640/20170712_112459.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The inner courtyard entrance to the house proper is slightly less grand</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Painted ceilings in one drawing room, with a previous owner being Ambassador to St Petersburg in the mid 1700's who knows how many notorious leaders have been here? </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLQOj8OaxxddYUz22CTyoHaI-8MxQvr4PsH0HDfrUWhTeb-zkjZveDd2A9zN0fs5yNK7JPnTU6Kr8UdK6_p4GP3NM0d7L0yQGsLpxwtOpA5gN8N2CyQ2dD5c0PqRkehBHq_vRfFbiZIZx6/s1600/IMG_4212.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLQOj8OaxxddYUz22CTyoHaI-8MxQvr4PsH0HDfrUWhTeb-zkjZveDd2A9zN0fs5yNK7JPnTU6Kr8UdK6_p4GP3NM0d7L0yQGsLpxwtOpA5gN8N2CyQ2dD5c0PqRkehBHq_vRfFbiZIZx6/s640/IMG_4212.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My personal favourite area in any property has to be the kitchens and these at Blickling had the best outlook </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha_n5DVs4ctxiK07G8hyphenhyphen7wDmMPGTyC3nejR3UtxDasMUoctyMldNblR-xXPdKOO4N3P_BD2bwGhlItbGcWE2n3vy4Om8_vFGBqUPfyGSYQZMZXVeJTBxrnRhjtghol8LYZkoLPrHiiQvtH/s1600/IMG_4216.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha_n5DVs4ctxiK07G8hyphenhyphen7wDmMPGTyC3nejR3UtxDasMUoctyMldNblR-xXPdKOO4N3P_BD2bwGhlItbGcWE2n3vy4Om8_vFGBqUPfyGSYQZMZXVeJTBxrnRhjtghol8LYZkoLPrHiiQvtH/s640/IMG_4216.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Upstairs, and the doorways were grand indeed</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The bedrooms are grand of course and are dressed in the style of various stages of the history of the property</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Look up and you will find grander ceilings!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcWTZv0_acnvXEFgqpg2ZBIPXUi3zNG3WLwXY3Yfs5w308xSov4LF3KrjQgorHIJLM2NYbyrcWY8oAdo6Xt22CtkZ0yU_-KlhNC91b_cl94zgJY5iTbI4biciBojmytN4dgLq99TAqSmRC/s1600/IMG_4221.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcWTZv0_acnvXEFgqpg2ZBIPXUi3zNG3WLwXY3Yfs5w308xSov4LF3KrjQgorHIJLM2NYbyrcWY8oAdo6Xt22CtkZ0yU_-KlhNC91b_cl94zgJY5iTbI4biciBojmytN4dgLq99TAqSmRC/s640/IMG_4221.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">More important tapestries than you can shake a stick at, these were a gift from Catherine the Great of Russia and the room was built to house them </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And one of the finest libraries in the country, with some extremely old books, and very modern nylon printed copy carpets, a trick the National Trust is now employing to save important carpets but to still give the feel of grandeur underfoot.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVbghbqSg3IsS-KtFxR-3DlUHlkw4N4z3XQDrRI3zbxxyN54p06N-4GrSWnLJrCgoxZ8wjGyg8k0bQbu3-XXI37tdC4wCdLudK45Uem8KRBt0v-bc6nEVB5hS6zOr7jpVpJxxASPriEuTy/s1600/20170712_131301.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVbghbqSg3IsS-KtFxR-3DlUHlkw4N4z3XQDrRI3zbxxyN54p06N-4GrSWnLJrCgoxZ8wjGyg8k0bQbu3-XXI37tdC4wCdLudK45Uem8KRBt0v-bc6nEVB5hS6zOr7jpVpJxxASPriEuTy/s640/20170712_131301.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> The library is over 100 feet long and packed with leather and vellum, all secured behind discreet wire doors. At the base of the photograph above you can just see the frame of a mirror so you don't strain your neck looking up at the ceiling. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The room below I understand was built for Catherine the Great of Russia, she ended up not visiting but now the guides tell you there is enough bling for President Trump and his wife to feel at home. Unbelievably, the gilding has never been retouched since it was first done in the 1700's </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Outside, and we wandered around the immediate gardens. Blickling is so large that I imagine it requires more than one visit to cover it all.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The fountain created an enjoyable fine mist as the day got hotter</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We discovered this analemmatic sundial in the grounds. I recognised the letters spelling out the name Jason as the months of the year and we realised what it was. It even accounts for British Summer Time.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Selfie in the garden!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">After a quick walk around the walled gardens it was time to head back for tea, just time for one last look at the beautiful meadow opposite the entrance, complete with cows, it could almost have been painted by Constable</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">After tea, and we were back on the beach near the chalet. There were swimmers, fishermen and these paragliders enjoying the fine weather</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The weather was glorious and the noise of the sea breaking against the steep pebble shore was soothing and mesmeric.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We spent almost two hours enjoying the sea spray.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">More tales from Norfolk soon!</span></div>
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diaryofapennypincherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09314692740147273227noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189518655554521298.post-55555989798611863532017-08-31T15:21:00.001+01:002017-08-31T15:21:28.237+01:00Hip. Hip. Horatio!<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Day 4 in Norfolk and a road trip was on the cards. Large picnic bag packed to bursting with supplies and we set off west along the coastal road.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Our first port of call was medieval village Cley-next-the-sea, somewhere I've wanted to visit since the early 90's when I collected Lilliput Lane miniature houses and they brought out a ridiculously expensive model of the village. Of course there was plenty of artistic licence involved, and the Cley we found bore no resemblance to that model! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDeFckbxaaBpCc1f7XDzfaat5O8JIWF8iVicxxf6VkK2iJ7UOFID6PzTsNM18l0tMKQufRbKNH_wTvMdqzBXT62HGT1z4rTW9ZyNicygR6VoFzXf_W4KQmA-gQrnX5upsKrkMY4uusubv5/s1600/20170711_105204.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDeFckbxaaBpCc1f7XDzfaat5O8JIWF8iVicxxf6VkK2iJ7UOFID6PzTsNM18l0tMKQufRbKNH_wTvMdqzBXT62HGT1z4rTW9ZyNicygR6VoFzXf_W4KQmA-gQrnX5upsKrkMY4uusubv5/s640/20170711_105204.jpg" width="360" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Still, the walk from the car park to the windmill was interesting, down all the little back alleyways, where I imagined smugglers brought their bounty ashore. Cley was once one of the busiest ports in England, doing a roaring trade in grains, fish, spices, coal and fabrics, especially with Flemish towns across the North Sea.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Of course, Cley is no longer right next-the-sea, it's now around a mile away over slat flats, a great place to find samphire it seems. The locals were selling it at every corner from these little hand made, and sometimes colourful, stalls.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Mmmmm...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We soon arrived at the famous windmill, which turned out to be a B+B as well, something to look into for future visits this way. Interestingly, the mill was owned by the family of singer James Blunt until 2006 when it was sold. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I also discovered that wartime poet Rupert Brooke was holidaying in Cley when WWI broke out.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">After a cup of tea and some cake in the car, we drove eastwards again, in search of another small but interesting village.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Burnham Thorpe is the birthplace of Horatio Nelson. It is a tiny and disjointed village with old properties scattered around the lanes. The local pub, we discovered, had closed down in October 2016. Nelson often brought his crew back to the pub when they were in port. He had his favourite bench, which is still inside the pub. The pub was known as the Plough during Nelson's life but the name was changed to The Lord Nelson after his death.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_kQfYUjmMkS4FKLUlfOh16gKwl6B8WvO6X3QF5Bi_mmcaSVDJCB9w1NsG2IOkCOjkreBtWgpMoOga98LpqfuA1QXbAHh2XKGXcI6wTDIW1mdV1r0L-XFnf0F4lJD3geLMy79LuTiXHHJH/s1600/IMG_4168.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_kQfYUjmMkS4FKLUlfOh16gKwl6B8WvO6X3QF5Bi_mmcaSVDJCB9w1NsG2IOkCOjkreBtWgpMoOga98LpqfuA1QXbAHh2XKGXcI6wTDIW1mdV1r0L-XFnf0F4lJD3geLMy79LuTiXHHJH/s640/IMG_4168.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Nelson was allegedly born in the parsonage, as his father was the Rector</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">However, the parsonage was being redecorated at the time of his birth and locals believe his family were staying at the shooting box, a house nearby.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The shooting box.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The church, All Saints, was heavily restored in the late 1800's. Inside, due to the Nelson connection, there are several ensigns on display, all are old and off previous warships, but none are from Nelson's time </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">These flags are huge and off warships from the 1st and 2nd world wars, they flank the medieval font where Nelson was baptised </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This one's seen a bit more action, the fabric was so thin, like muslin.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Nelson's father, Edmund, is listed in the column on the right of this notice.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisKlPhdVfHa8JMgLFDTsDMuovqAyGk9yxzMqpoxDnM3VqO7ZuL7ycoplSi5_blkTTLGjF9Rznw9drmRlujByWIEp2E1w4OxOCR0OrqbORPBsz2aBLarCwOJK1k5qHdpTIs1HzdNlV8NtV9/s1600/IMG_4170.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisKlPhdVfHa8JMgLFDTsDMuovqAyGk9yxzMqpoxDnM3VqO7ZuL7ycoplSi5_blkTTLGjF9Rznw9drmRlujByWIEp2E1w4OxOCR0OrqbORPBsz2aBLarCwOJK1k5qHdpTIs1HzdNlV8NtV9/s640/IMG_4170.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Nelson requested that he should be buried in the churchyard at All Saints with members of his family, but when he died at the age of just 47 during the final moments of the Battle of Trafalgar, his service to the country meant his was a state funeral, with interment in the crypt at St Paul's cathedral in London.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I was utterly fascinated by the story of Horatio Nelson, and after we arrived back home, read up on his amazing life story. After thinking he died very young he appeared to have packed more into his 47 years than most of us could fit into two lifetimes. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">With the village pub shut, we sat on the deserted car park with our packed lunch, imagining the well worn wooden benches inside, where Nelson briefed his crew and enjoyed a pint or two.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Turning back towards the holiday chalet, we stopped at Creake Abbey, a free to visit English Heritage ruin nearby.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ1WmknO974XcUZv18v5eDAekVwPjK5BmOmuEl8nixr3xeGxxCfRsoNZjrGjDxR8_ylpq5Z0CqCyJTgg6dqyXtGqc6w6spokTyVEAwfDyzHd5NmeJ0TdrUs4GBu3_zIPSF0oOnvEt9Thi4/s1600/IMG_4179.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ1WmknO974XcUZv18v5eDAekVwPjK5BmOmuEl8nixr3xeGxxCfRsoNZjrGjDxR8_ylpq5Z0CqCyJTgg6dqyXtGqc6w6spokTyVEAwfDyzHd5NmeJ0TdrUs4GBu3_zIPSF0oOnvEt9Thi4/s640/IMG_4179.JPG" width="480" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Creake Abbey was founded in the early 1200's, but a fire in 1484 meant that large parts of the abbey had to be demolished, despite donations from King Richard III.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm3fSewDIhyphenhyphen2s_Jci97v9USiyHwg6TbQZiBKL6m8Z8uLxHv7U_343WiM17Olk1WNsbu3Tj0_P8rnNAukdzlNSmt7MCMEcuNcG1szSe0J5ghDCZtAbeR_8nZir95BJCMfSDYbWbqKpsjTE_/s1600/IMG_4176.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm3fSewDIhyphenhyphen2s_Jci97v9USiyHwg6TbQZiBKL6m8Z8uLxHv7U_343WiM17Olk1WNsbu3Tj0_P8rnNAukdzlNSmt7MCMEcuNcG1szSe0J5ghDCZtAbeR_8nZir95BJCMfSDYbWbqKpsjTE_/s640/IMG_4176.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">we noticed several shrines in the walls, with money and prayers</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In the early 16th century the plague struck and the abbot was left alone, he died in 1506 and at that point the church reverted to the crown</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It took all of ten minutes to view the ruins, so little is left. However, it is a pleasant and tranquil spot.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Nearer to our chalet we came across Binham Priory, a sprawling ruin of a Benedictine Priory, with the church still standing. The bricked up windows below date to 1244, and the remaining window is thought to be the earliest example of decorative windows called bar tracery, in England </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The priory was founded in the late 11th century as a dependant house of St Albans abbey, by the nephew of William the Conquerer.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The grounds were quite extensive and it was surprising to see so many walls left in situ</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The walls must be damp to support this beautiful deep red antirrhinum, growing happily </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Spot the OH, camouflaged in khaki.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Of course, Binham was closed down during Henry VIII's reign, but the church remained and now serves as the local parish church.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">By this time we were suitably shattered and could take no more information in, such a fascinating day out, but we needed a good rest.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">More tales from Norfolk soon.</span></div>
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diaryofapennypincherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09314692740147273227noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189518655554521298.post-29858898000670812992017-08-23T21:52:00.000+01:002017-08-23T21:52:49.643+01:00Felbrigg, chickens and reminders of home<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The second full day of our holiday started much like the first, dry but overcast. We were heading to Felbrigg Hall, and stopped off at the seaside on our way.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Cromer is a typical English seaside resort, with roots in Victorian England's love of promenading in the bracing sea air, hence there is a lovely late Victorian pier.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We noted, jealously, the sandy beach! </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyhlgIAMeyJdw-LblhFozRe9QfhQZ9giDBBLaRUYjMFYIEyOlNTfhiTU790kfSMcdDBf8mwov05gitqzpn0aVzf3O8-gsC_D-pay1W_7PolnylPlth45WQTZu3Usxh9GwzMqc9qIEFPxQI/s1600/IMG_4075.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyhlgIAMeyJdw-LblhFozRe9QfhQZ9giDBBLaRUYjMFYIEyOlNTfhiTU790kfSMcdDBf8mwov05gitqzpn0aVzf3O8-gsC_D-pay1W_7PolnylPlth45WQTZu3Usxh9GwzMqc9qIEFPxQI/s640/IMG_4075.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As you can see, by the time we got to Cromer the skies were blue, OH kept telling me it was going to be a sunny day but I didn't believe him, think I need to get him a job with the BBC!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Innovative use of an old fishing boat and pebbles, maybe that's why there aren't many on the beach.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">After a quick walk along the pier, we set off for Felbrigg Hall, a National Trust managed property a few miles inland.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As tempted as I was by these hobby-horses, I left them</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Felbrigg is a 17th century property built on an estate owned by the Wyndham family since the 1400's.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Felbrigg has had it's fair share of characters, one of them being the Victorian William Frederick Windham, or Mad Windham as he became known (yes, the y in the name changes to an i back and forth through history). Mad Windham was the only child of William Windham and his wife Sophie, born in 1840 and said to be a strange child. He declared a love of uniforms early on in life, particularly train guard uniforms. He allegedly caused chaos at local stations with unauthorised whistle blasts.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Mad Windham took a fancy to the kept woman of a local timber merchant known as Mahogany Roberts, who in turn took an unhealthy interest in the woods surrounding the hall. Mad Windham wanted to marry the woman, Agnes Willoughby, so agreed to a marriage settlement to guarantee her an income. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">His uncle, General Charles Windham, feared for the estate and what was left of the family fortune by this time, so petitioned to have his nephew declared </span><em style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2c2c2c; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">De Lunatico Inquirendo.</em><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The inquiry lasted 34 days and 140 witnesses gave evidence. But, the hearing collapsed and Mad Windham was declared sane. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Not unexpectedly, Mad Windham's marriage didn't last. His spiralling debts meant the house was soon in the hands of the bankers, and mad Windham spent his final few years driving a coach from Cromer to Norwich, before dying at the age of just 26. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSXnXC8gzhAFZ3QhhyphenhyphenXWnx6I-ob_4FgPtZsD_qSs7eTL6kGfFUtlcHWd5i-T-1whO-h2vybTr50Sbc3g1rto3Q7ktx2MsMX2zFHcyx5ALsn9VIBjQGv0wI-ITrPeRlfAeq7zR-94SJyRjk/s1600/IMG_4100.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSXnXC8gzhAFZ3QhhyphenhyphenXWnx6I-ob_4FgPtZsD_qSs7eTL6kGfFUtlcHWd5i-T-1whO-h2vybTr50Sbc3g1rto3Q7ktx2MsMX2zFHcyx5ALsn9VIBjQGv0wI-ITrPeRlfAeq7zR-94SJyRjk/s640/IMG_4100.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We followed in Mad Windham's footsteps around the house, and upstairs entered the Chinese bedroom, where we were puzzled by these interesting wobbly headed figures placed high upon the walls. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Interestingly, they are earthquake early warning systems, any slight tremor sets the heads wobbling, and at that point you know to get out of the building! So clever.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The beautiful wallpaper is presently undergoing restoration from damp, and unbelievably was hung in 1752 </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Back downstairs and I was drawn to all the pots and pans so beautifully polished in the kitchen</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A tour of the below stairs area and estate office proved interesting, with 18th century leather fire buckets and furniture made to fit in to the house in the 1700's</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Some interesting old packaging in the service wing, particularly the Mander tin from nearby Wolverhampton. I'm pretty sure Harrods no longer sell the other item though! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Wandering through the walled gardens and I spotted this lady, minding her own business and looking for bugs, there were quite a few chickens around, but I only saw a handful of banties, allowed to roam wherever they wanted.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> We quickly negotiated the doorway into the dovecote, but didn't get 'bombed'.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Halfway round the walled gardens we were caught in a sudden storm, and had to shelter under a brick archway, with another chicken!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Back out into the sunshine again and through the meadow with a neatly mown path</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We left Felbrigg and headed to the coast once more, OH eager to get his feet wet. We discovered Overstrand, a delightful village on top of the cliffs, with a sandy beach, and a great cafe.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Finally, OH was able to walk on sand and have a paddle. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">More tales from Norfolk soon!</span></div>
diaryofapennypincherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09314692740147273227noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189518655554521298.post-59173433456637243522017-08-16T21:06:00.002+01:002017-08-16T21:06:38.860+01:00Norfolk, cricket and round towers <div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Well, we enjoyed a long anticipated Summer holiday last month. I've never been to Norfolk and anticipated marshy sea fronts, big skies, interesting local vernacular and flat countryside, I was correct on all counts and in small doses! Norfolk is indeed very diverse and we literally only scratched the surface of the north of the county.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Marshy sea front and flat countryside - check</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Big skies - check</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Interesting local vernacular - double check!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We stayed in a little brick built chalet in the village of Weybourne, on the North Norfolk coast. The chalet was semi detached but the neighbouring chalet and the one opposite were both empty for the whole week, so it was very, very quiet, blissful in fact.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We travelled on a Saturday, when I always think we will hit congestion and shoppers, we didn't!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sheringham sea front</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Our first full day, therefore, was a Sunday, and after a visit to the nearest supermarket in Sheringham, and a quick walk along the front where we watched a chap painting a mural for the lifeboat station we set off to find a Sunday lunch.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sheringham lifeboats through the ages</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Steering clear of the coast and associated tourist tat, we came across a beautiful church with a cylindrical tower.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Although this was a first for me, I've since found out there are lots and lots of round tower churches in Norfolk</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Soon after stopping to visit the round tower, we stumbled upon a quintessentially English village green, with a pub at one corner. We were in Aldborough.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The pub, The Black Boys, was threatened with closure a few years ago but had a stay of execution and now serves traditional English food, roasts on a Sunday and fish and chips on Friday nights.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We were happy to indulge in not only a large roast lunch but puddings as well! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Afterwards, we waddled outside and sat on a bench under a tree to relax in the warm air. The locals were setting up the cricket pitch and soon a steady stream of players arrived in their whites. So we settled back to watch.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> We stayed for what seemed like hours, in reality it was just one. I'm sure this little scene has taken place most Sundays in this village for many years.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Back to the car and map out, we looked for somewhere interesting close by to visit. I spotted Baconsthorpe castle a previously fortified manor house now under the management of English Heritage and free to visit.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Baconsthorpe is a grade I listed building and scheduled ancient monument, built by an ambitious local family in the late 1400's, headed at the time by John Heydon, who made his money in wool and switched his political allegiances during the War of the Roses as often as he changed his socks, it seems! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Over the next 200 years the house grew to reflect the family wealth. After the English civil war and a family row about ownership, the property was abandoned and fell into ruin.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There are no upper floors or decent remains of steps to be seen at Baconsthorpe, but it is still grand, even in it's present state of decay.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> There is still a lake to one side and a water filled ditch surrounds the outer walls, implying fortification.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Close up, and you can see why these late medieval walls are so strong, the flint is still as razor sharp as the day it was constructed over 500 years ago.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We had to run from Baconsthorpe, a sudden thunderstorm engulfed us and we fled back to the safety of the car and a flask of tea!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We drove back to the chalet through Holt, a rather posh little town with some ridiculously priced charity shops. One was open, well it was Sunday, and we couldn't resist having a look. £15 for a second hand jumper? no thank you! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Never mind, Holt is very pretty and we meandered around the tangle of little streets for a while to amuse ourselves.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">OH made this property look like a child's playhouse, he could reach the upstairs window!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Love the sign on this shop door, we went back when it was open and it just said... open!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This had us wondering, what was the connection with Nelson? we found out later in the week!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Back at our cosy little chalet we had a light tea and wandered down to the beach, although it was pebbled and steeply sloping, it was fine to walk along (we both noticed aching knees and calves for a few days then got used to it)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I'm not overly fond of the sea but we came back to this little beach with its ever changing sunsets every night during our stay and loved every minute of it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">More tales from Norfolk to follow soon...</span><br />
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diaryofapennypincherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09314692740147273227noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189518655554521298.post-6248926518109858802017-07-06T21:02:00.000+01:002017-07-06T21:02:36.780+01:00The stream in the sky and other tall stories<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">On our visit to North Shropshire, I was excited to see some fabulous architecture just over the border in Wales.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Our first stop in Wales was the aqueduct at Pontcysyllte, built by engineer Thomas Telford, and completed in 1805. It carries the Llangollen canal over the river Dee and valley below. Interesting to note that the trough which carries the canal is made of pieces of iron bolted together then the gaps are filled with Welsh flannel soaked in tar, a technique which was repeated recently when the aqueduct underwent repairs. The aqueduct is the longest navigable aqueduct in the UK and the highest in the world at 126 feet to the ironwork, the trough is 11 feet 10 inches wide and 5 feet three inches deep. There is a handrail on one side of the aqueduct only, the towpath side.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We didn't walk across it!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> We weren't up to tramping about in the river valley below to get the best viewpoint so I snapped this as we drove over the river. See the narrowboat on the aqueduct to the left?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The aqueduct is fed with water from the river Dee, we drove several miles to the horseshoe falls and found the very start of the Llangollen canal.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The falls are set in spectacular scenery, in fact the whole area is stunning</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Thomas Telford designed the horseshoe shaped weir to draw water from the river to feed his new canal</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This little inlet of pure sparkling (and slightly tea coloured, think that's down to the peaty soil) water enters a meter house below</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">and comes out as the Llangollen canal.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The meter house measures how much water is being taken from the river, currently around 12 million gallons a day.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We had passed through Llangollen on the way to the falls, and went back to enjoy lunch at the corm mill pub, which has a balcony jutting out over the fast flowing river.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There is a lot of birdlife on the river, the rocks create shallow areas and little pools and lots of different birds came to feed and drink while we watched the flow.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The corn mill is on the left of the photo, we were able to watch steam trains come in to the station on the other side of the river.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">OH catching a bit of sun whilst waiting for his lunch!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We popped in to a local country park, which happens to be partly underneath another industrial construction, the Cefn viaduct. As the viaduct carries trains, there is no public access. No matter, we were able to park almost underneath it and wander along the river Dee to a lovely vantage point to admire the architecture.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">OH drinking his tea.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The viaduct was built in 1848 by Thomas Brassey to carry the Shrewsbury and Chester railway across the river Dee valley.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The river was easily accessible from the country park, and made for a lovely stroll.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Further downstream we found picnicers and lots of dog walkers.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">At the end of our walk we found a shop and other facilities and a gorgeous view across the valley.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />I love the bit of foliage peeking over from the track!</span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Last stop on the bridge front was Chirk. Here they have both an aqueduct and viaduct in close proximity.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The viaduct was built after the aqueduct and higher, to denote the superiority of the railway over the canals. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">At this point I am in Wales, but halfway across is the border with England</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">On the Welsh side the canal enters a long tunnel, 461 yards long to be precise. The tunnel entrance, like the aqueduct and viaduct are grade II listed </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkt_ddb6MueOgqK_FLtgrrBKkvlBNpZnWaEzFLQffl2uVXyu9LBpyZ8zEGKYRQW1Yh3ZDqMsYTLGYoqe9nUqbb9di6vTmMNjH2l2l1Uk0jvCyjpg-Jen_dmZnk0B1Ja4wM9jVqrY0cZlII/s1600/IMG_2262.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkt_ddb6MueOgqK_FLtgrrBKkvlBNpZnWaEzFLQffl2uVXyu9LBpyZ8zEGKYRQW1Yh3ZDqMsYTLGYoqe9nUqbb9di6vTmMNjH2l2l1Uk0jvCyjpg-Jen_dmZnk0B1Ja4wM9jVqrY0cZlII/s640/IMG_2262.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There is a towpath along the whole of the tunnel and walkers are advised to use a flashlight or torch as it's pretty dark in there. Helpfully, the towpath has a handrail along it's length so you don't fall in!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">All of the above are free to visit, there is a small parking charge at horseshoe falls for non National Trust members of £1 and Llangollen town centre, which is pay and display and the local authority controls car parks and on street parking.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Free parking is available in Chirk outside the Police station, a short walk from the bridges and tunnel entrance </span></div>
diaryofapennypincherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09314692740147273227noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189518655554521298.post-83413672255189126942017-06-30T21:21:00.001+01:002017-06-30T21:21:36.369+01:00Flower Power!<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Today we did something a little different. We took a stroll through a field of delphiniums in Worcestershire. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The field is part of a farm where natural confetti is grown and harvested by the <a href="http://www.confettidirect.co.uk/">Real Flower Confetti Company</a>. The flowers reach their peak in late June/early July and the field is open to the public for ten days. We visited on the first open day and were surprised at how many people were there. Several photographers and their subjects were lurking in the flowers too!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Thankfully it was a dull and overcast kind of day, as we were able to appreciate the beautiful and vibrant colours.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There is an entry fee to walk around the field, £2.50 per adult, but children are free. You can buy confetti, cut flowers and a confetti cafe has been set up where drinks and cakes can be purchased at a reasonable price.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> I have to say it was almost a surreal experience being surrounded by colour as we walked through the thickly planted bands of flowers</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAufqsBIjSx-xLSNSz4EMNpj7dw37xp633zstVNC686F3yF5FDZQnkxhbYmBRF74OK8CI2aqA24LHuFIYGFsEAyjAjN3im7P2plgGeWtJFFkmApNpuiVmcS8CGAemwufDZYfkHbqjYX3OF/s1600/IMG_3821.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAufqsBIjSx-xLSNSz4EMNpj7dw37xp633zstVNC686F3yF5FDZQnkxhbYmBRF74OK8CI2aqA24LHuFIYGFsEAyjAjN3im7P2plgGeWtJFFkmApNpuiVmcS8CGAemwufDZYfkHbqjYX3OF/s640/IMG_3821.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I love delphiniums, and used to grow them in my garden in Birmingham, until they decided they no longer liked the soil and stopped growing!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I was in heaven strolling around the field, and the raised platform provided an interesting angle over the field, unfortunately not high enough to view the Union Jack flag planted at one end.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Half a Union flag</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT6477JHOw0RTFd85nAi66shDqfhilGTZBGPhRmtbVOWWYRnpfjJnsGeGA44n9_aEG5rbYD2urph5e7wN8R3mODuNZNQlLqVbo8_v_vowdEXiNWsjeOJC2_dA_lfv9iYfdjsWVukahf1vq/s1600/IMG_3830.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT6477JHOw0RTFd85nAi66shDqfhilGTZBGPhRmtbVOWWYRnpfjJnsGeGA44n9_aEG5rbYD2urph5e7wN8R3mODuNZNQlLqVbo8_v_vowdEXiNWsjeOJC2_dA_lfv9iYfdjsWVukahf1vq/s640/IMG_3830.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The other half!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Beautiful colours as far as the eye can see!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The field is located in Wick near Pershore in Worcestershire, and is open from 30th June until 9th July from 10am till 5pm. Parking is on a field and free, entry is £2.50 per person, children are free.</span><br />
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diaryofapennypincherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09314692740147273227noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189518655554521298.post-35366497397542659462017-06-27T20:42:00.000+01:002017-06-27T20:42:37.096+01:00On the trail of King Arthur<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When we were planning holidays earlier in the year, I happened to see a television programme about the legendary King Arthur. I was very surprised to see an interview with an <a href="http://www.grahamphillips.net/">author and historical detective</a> who suggested that King Arthur was never based in Cornwall, but was in fact a Shropshire lad of sorts.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Of course I was intrigued, especially as we had already visited some of the sites suggested on the <a href="https://www.shropshiretourism.co.uk/about-shropshire/king-arthur/on-the-trail.html">trail of King Arthur</a> page of the Shropshire tourism website.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">New evidence suggests that Arthur or Owain Ddantgwyn aka the Bear<span style="color: #323232;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;">, </span><span style="background-color: white;">ruled his kingdom from the old Roman town of Wroxeter, near Shrewsbury, his Camelot.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #323232;"><span style="background-color: white;">We visited Wroxeter in October 2012, I never imagined that the huge Roman town with walls still standing in places, was actually re-used by a legend several centuries later</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> This huge piece of wall, over 20 feet high, has been standing for two millennia </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHln-kcstkbQwckJzkyq8BWlBgTYB9eu-v6YeZHThENhjcPtc2jVQR1XPWRgHZ61o2UpPsqFpECP2Tx2QkUNCiGr5oZ3g7h42oFIWc9rVYZFHenQr9VURSdu4jfUap0cCrLQxowRITSajo/s1600/Shropshire+oct+5+059.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHln-kcstkbQwckJzkyq8BWlBgTYB9eu-v6YeZHThENhjcPtc2jVQR1XPWRgHZ61o2UpPsqFpECP2Tx2QkUNCiGr5oZ3g7h42oFIWc9rVYZFHenQr9VURSdu4jfUap0cCrLQxowRITSajo/s640/Shropshire+oct+5+059.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Nearby, we visited Wenlock Priory. Now identified as the probable hiding place of King Arthur's treasure</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0hqSBtgurv1DRok9cH7W47pNA1Fy0Z-XOb72oyc3xmkyDxkPfhjS7oD83nSmSOr7PPt5ubrEcsiEgO4tG7gdFiq4yrh4nqvtw5p9xd-nQ6GvWwHTqjlIkSiRGZDk_3i2BP7f5SZfKRS6Q/s1600/Shropshire+oct+5+016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0hqSBtgurv1DRok9cH7W47pNA1Fy0Z-XOb72oyc3xmkyDxkPfhjS7oD83nSmSOr7PPt5ubrEcsiEgO4tG7gdFiq4yrh4nqvtw5p9xd-nQ6GvWwHTqjlIkSiRGZDk_3i2BP7f5SZfKRS6Q/s640/Shropshire+oct+5+016.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The present 12th century ruins stand on the sit of a much earlier 7th century priory, who knows where the treasure is now?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So, whilst staying in the area we were eager to tick off more Arthurian landmarks, especially the ones to the north of Shropshire.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Starting at Oswestry, it turns out that the good lady Guinevere was actually from Oswestry herself, so we visited her family home (old Oswestry hill fort) while we were there. Actually, there's not much left of the wooden buildings after over a thousand years, nothing but a big man made hill and earthworks.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You can't make it out on the photo below, but the hill has massive grooves up to six feet deep cut into it, this enabled people to move around up and down the hillside completely undetected if under attack, very clever!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_wzasR3NQKkmPjHqVcOzqrIXqduXA2OciN8YAwzW-oqQ7E7p-Mb0TvXdp5wux2TW_2UthzvdCmywFbuPTLeuvZouYqtvp8kcw4R6_yXxTY0xr2ECkC7x1mN-wwhFFSKY9SSAWn-Ht-QIW/s1600/IMG_2479.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_wzasR3NQKkmPjHqVcOzqrIXqduXA2OciN8YAwzW-oqQ7E7p-Mb0TvXdp5wux2TW_2UthzvdCmywFbuPTLeuvZouYqtvp8kcw4R6_yXxTY0xr2ECkC7x1mN-wwhFFSKY9SSAWn-Ht-QIW/s640/IMG_2479.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Timed selfie on the top of old Oswestry hill fort </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGEUqqH6h7oeIwEA9_MJUwRTClVTIKJGtezn91HQTBmsAPapJXEYWBf5dtHWcCNKO4dV3DhqkfTvn6xDyGWRBSiMfXEDL3ZaeNFuUksWf-1niJeC0rqrCNdHd1rXbvyFPk-blWdiOjcW9m/s1600/IMG_2475.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGEUqqH6h7oeIwEA9_MJUwRTClVTIKJGtezn91HQTBmsAPapJXEYWBf5dtHWcCNKO4dV3DhqkfTvn6xDyGWRBSiMfXEDL3ZaeNFuUksWf-1niJeC0rqrCNdHd1rXbvyFPk-blWdiOjcW9m/s640/IMG_2475.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Our next stop on holiday was the utterly delightful Whittington Castle, alleged hiding place of the Holy Grail.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgtcr_9wUBma04OZrEun-kpd-dABtvNCiLJ4MwIY0GeGHN9ga6fPiq4ZKcb_aWSkNN7I4iB3wJxOqCrloZ-tZra-RNpWesJ2PqwaWQnm256Og8ETLM9mIBNHRIH3ZYnjtfX49qvX41idWp/s1600/IMG_2457.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgtcr_9wUBma04OZrEun-kpd-dABtvNCiLJ4MwIY0GeGHN9ga6fPiq4ZKcb_aWSkNN7I4iB3wJxOqCrloZ-tZra-RNpWesJ2PqwaWQnm256Og8ETLM9mIBNHRIH3ZYnjtfX49qvX41idWp/s640/IMG_2457.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Whittington is a small castle, yet perfectly formed, probably the ideal hiding place. The stone castle you see here was built by William the Conqueror's son, he demolished the previous castle from the time of King Arthur, which was built of wood.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The moat was not deep, we could see the bottom in places and inside the castle there were many pieces of armour on display which were found in the moat. We were lucky enough to watch an eel slither around in the water.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If you ever stop by, do try the cream tea. It was a warm day but the cafe was quite cool and the cream tea was tasty, generous and cheap. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We missed several important sites from the King Arthur trail map, but the one which was the most frustrating was the possible burial site, which is on private land near the village of Baschurch, or possibly under tarmac on the main road, who knows? We drove along the road several times but as there is nowhere to stop, and no clue as to where the burial mound actually is from the road, we abandoned our search. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If you want to read more <a href="http://shropshirehistory.com/characters/kingarthur.htm">here</a> is an interesting piece.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Wenlock Priory and Wroxeter Roman city are under the charge of English Heritage and there is an entry fee, Old Oswestry Hill Fort is English Heritage but free to visit and Whittington Castle is free to wander round and owned by the local community. </span><br />
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diaryofapennypincherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09314692740147273227noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189518655554521298.post-81307481723454433472017-06-10T21:00:00.001+01:002017-06-10T21:00:31.499+01:00What's in a label?<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Out on Friday for our usual day trip, we stopped off at a couple of charity shops and I took the opportunity to do a bit of sourcing. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I was really surprised to see this label on an item of clothing, a real blast from the past for me as I remember the shop when I was little, was thrilled to buy a tracksuit from there in the mid 70's with my saved up pocket money, and absolutely bereft when the chain disappeared not long afterwards.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">No matter the cost, I had to buy the item of clothing, a semi sheer tie front overblouse with a funky abstract print. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It is a size 14 but probably classed as a 10 these days, and it is staying with me for the time being!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I can't find out much about Van Allan I'm afraid. I do remember a branch in Birmingham but at that time was possibly too young to go shopping by myself. I was allowed to venture inside boutiques on family holidays to Scarborough, and I'm pretty sure that's where I made my tracksuit purchase (lilac with black piping and a V neck, if you're interested!). It seems that Van Allan was either taken over by Richard Shops, as it was called in those days, or closed down and Richard Shops took over the shops. It looks like Van Allan ceased to exist in or around 1981. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">OH bought these shorts for himself, he didn't recognise the label, but I did and couldn't believe it. Saville Row tailor Hardy Amies, dressmaker to the Queen.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Close up of the label</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I've bought the shorts off him to sell as they don't fit too well and as they are quite short in the leg they make him look like an overgrown and hairy boy scout!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> I was interested to discover that Hardy Amies the brand was owned by Debenhams from 1973 to 1981, and in 2001 Hardy Amies himself retired at the age of 91, and sold the business to Luxury Brands Group. He died in 2003 and the brand went bankrupt in 2008 but has been revived by Fung Capital.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In other second hand clothing news, I've recently acquired a vintage skirt, a Charlotte Halton 80's maxi in lime with a large floral pattern</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The skirt was for the shop but close inspection revealed a small hole at the base of the zip, it's not enough to bother me but not good enough to sell. I don't know why but I'm associating this brand with an early Top Shop, if you know anything about Charlotte Halton then let me know. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A pair of lilac Vans, again bought to sell but in the shop lighting the slightly faded condition of the uppers didn't show. Oddly, the soles are almost new so they must have been kept in the sun. They are my size and the same style as a pair I bought a few years ago in sparkly denim! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I have also acquired a pair of Converse, I bought these for myself as they were particularly filthy and priced accordingly at a pound. I think the dirt which was on them was actually mould as it was black staining down one side of each shoe. It took a lot of biological liquid and scrubbing with an old toothbrush to remove most of the marks, there is still a faint grey tinge where the worst of the mould was. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Interestingly, although the shoes are exactly the same size, one is marked as a 4 and the other as a 4 and a half, one shoe has 5 lace holes and the other has six! Took me a while to realise what was going on as I laced them up, I can tell you!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As we are also fighting a perpetual egg mountain here in the cottage, as the new girls continue to eat ferociously and lay like highly oiled machines, I'm back to baking every week. Last week's fare was pineapple upside down cake I made after discovering some huge slices of pineapple for 10p each in the reduced bin at ASDA. I also made a plain sponge covered in jam and coconut, a kind of traybake English madeleine.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Pineapple upside down cake, nice with a dollop of whipped cream on</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">English madeleine traybake</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Both cakes were just plain sponge mix, and as the eggs we have are small I just weigh and match their weight in sugar, baking margarine and SR flour, whack it in the oven at around 180 for 25 mins or until it starts to ease away from the sides of the pan, and there you go! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We've had a pretty dismal week here, temperatures are around average for the time of year but after the end of May heatwave it feels quite cold, and the rain and drizzle that we are suffering makes it feel like April, roll on Summer!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I'm off to find longer laces for those rogue Converse and to catch up with some blog reading, but in the meantime let me know in the comments if there are any clothing labels that stir childhood memories for you.</span></div>
diaryofapennypincherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09314692740147273227noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189518655554521298.post-24348450150838053662017-06-01T21:06:00.001+01:002017-06-01T21:06:51.422+01:00If I could make it to the border...<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As I mentioned previously, we are just back from a relaxing but busy week based in a little village on the border of England and Wales, just north of Shropshire</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It was probably one of our shortest drives to a holiday destination, just under two hours door to door, but we made a day of it and went up via Ludlow. Travelling through Shropshire is always relaxing as there is never much traffic it is so sparsely populated, and the scenery is lovely.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We finally arrived at our cottage around 4.30 with a slashed tyre, after being forced backwards down a very narrow and winding lane by an impatient tractor driver, the steep banking of the lane had hidden rocks and we thought much more damage had been done than just the tyre, which was making a cartoony hissing noise as it rapidly deflated!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Even more annoyingly, after we finally got around the tractor, we discovered he had just passed a wide gateway, it was literally 40 feet behind him.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Thankfully, the cottage had full wifi, so we managed to get details for a couple of local companies, one of whom said he would stay open for us, after we explained what had happened. Half an hour later, we were back at the cottage with four fully functioning tyres, and ready for tea, bed and the thought of what to do on our first full day. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Day 1 and we decided on a trip to Chirk Castle, a grade 1 listed 13th century property managed by the National Trust</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Chirk was built around 1295 for Roger Mortimer de Chirk, and was part of a collection of castles built around North Wales for King Edward I.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Roger Mortimer served Edward I, then Edward II, who made him Justiciar of all Wales. Unfortunately, ambition got the better of him and he took up arms with his nephew against the king and was thrown into the Tower of London where he died.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Chirk castle appears to be rather cursed for thereafter it was gifted to favoured subjects, and then taken back by the crown when those subjects disgraced themselves. At one point the owner was Richard III, and we all know that didn't end well! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Impressive weaponry in the hall</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Fab painted ceilings</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Gorgeous long gallery, with wooden floor</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This suit of armour freaked me a little, I didn't want to take a photo right next to it, so I took this while it wan't looking at me!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Well stocked library</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3rAj6_uUeYshyphenhyphen1UrvOYPrdC7GyYiaZBUavN-qpUmpikG1Ube5N_WFOhUJqlx3h-2mO6GJPy8FiRuVVWL6MmEgqxYHqvRZo3yDflgwvpWX5vLF5EtJCkc5Oj4E_2UVqBXhEcjFHc5d9aA_/s1600/IMG_2055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3rAj6_uUeYshyphenhyphen1UrvOYPrdC7GyYiaZBUavN-qpUmpikG1Ube5N_WFOhUJqlx3h-2mO6GJPy8FiRuVVWL6MmEgqxYHqvRZo3yDflgwvpWX5vLF5EtJCkc5Oj4E_2UVqBXhEcjFHc5d9aA_/s640/IMG_2055.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The best place was the tower and dungeons, I loved the bare stone walls and the fact all the rooms were still intact, it really had a feel of how life would have been all those centuries ago</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">However, on my way down to the dungeons, which are around 30 feet below ground level, I felt a bit cold, I arrived at this dungeon, as you can see there's a window shaft which leads to the main castle yard. I couldn't go any further down the staircase, it was a bit spooky and I do believe I came up those well worn dungeon steps in a world record time! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I've since found out the place is haunted, and I'm so pleased I didn't go down to the bottom of the staircase!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Back to the safety of the great outdoors, and we meandered around the grounds, admiring the English bluebells</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The topiary and manicured lawns</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">and the statues </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We sat and admired the gardens and view of nearby Chirk for a while, then made our way back to the cottage to prepare for day 2.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Castle haha and steam from the nearby Mondelez (Cadbury's to British readers) factory.</span></div>
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diaryofapennypincherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09314692740147273227noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189518655554521298.post-19083509405642718012017-05-16T20:04:00.001+01:002017-05-16T20:04:06.908+01:00Shropshire and Wales, the abridged version<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We have just returned from a week in North Shropshire and Wales. I'm trying to get into a rhythm with work, so far so good as this week I have been most productive, thank goodness!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">New stock bought and checked over, housework nearly up to date, and holiday washing almost all ironed, phew!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The chickens are all still friends, and are laying lots of little eggs for us, so we have a backlog to get through.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Thought I would share a few photos with you, hence the post title</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There you go, a sneaky peek at where we've been. I will be compiling a new post soon. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I've had a few bargain buys recently that I have forgotten to share</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: center;">The toiletries above were all 25p each, I quite like buying these smaller sizes to try out, and it's a token charity donation too</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I do like a good cross body bag, and have kind of wanted a Kipling bag for ages, but they are pricy for nylon, I don't recall seeing one in a chazza before, so for around £2 I treated myself! No monkey keyring thing with this bag though. I realised after I bought it that it zips up the correct way round for me, I carry my bag on my right shoulder and I wear most bags back to front.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Today I found this fab Topshop orange cobwebby knit top for a pound so treated myself again. Love the colour and have several vest tops to go underneath, so if Summer is on the cool side it's probably my fault for buying this! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Right, I have more ironing to do, a whole load of holiday snaps to sort through, and some blogs to catch up with.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Ooh, and this is my 100th post on Blogger!</span></div>
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diaryofapennypincherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09314692740147273227noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189518655554521298.post-21656372794297101482017-04-28T21:47:00.000+01:002017-04-28T21:47:15.830+01:00Thunderstruck<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well, it's all chaos at pennypincher cottage, I've completely lost the plot and all semblance of time and space appear to have left the building!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The OH has a new work pattern and has to finish teaching at his new studio by 9pm. He is now back at 9.30, having sorted his paperwork and driven the 2 minute journey home. That's kind of wrecked my blogging time, which was generally 9 till 11pm.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've got a small shop on ebay, fusing my love of a charity shop, or any other bargain with selling on ebay, something I have been doing for years (cleared a loft and shed plus all my vintage toys over the years). It's a proper business, all registered and above board, and I'm finding doing the books at the end of every month quite depressing at present, having very small profits while building the business is a challenge when you are used to receiving a salary once a month, with all those pesky deductions already done for you! I should be grateful to be turning a profit, albeit small, after just a few months and slapdash input!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have also obtained a small business premises near OH, on the same estate, and as it is just down the road, it's proving very handy. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We lost one of the rescued banties, Florence, in March, she was never well so it was a blessing in disguise that she is no longer with us. This left me with a dilemma. Do I have rescue hens and possibly end up with my beautiful 8 year old bantam being picked on by bigger hens, or do I buy brand new point of lay (POL) banties and let her continue to enjoy life? Of course, Lola the bantie came first and we purchased a Hamburgh and Friesian from the Domestic Fowl Trust in Warwickshire.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lola took to them quite quickly, thank goodness, and has since taught them all her naughty habits, I can now listen to her 'let me out' screech in three different tones! Hierarchy has been sorted, and Daphne the Hamburgh is the new second in command, with Maureen the Friesian at the bottom of the pecking order.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here they are, Daphne is black and white, Maureen is gold (Maureen was named by OH after Maureen O'Hara as she is a feisty redhead)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Daphne laid for us the morning after she arrived, and Maureen a week later. We now have a dozen little eggs a week, with the occasional one from Lola, proving she ain't past it yet. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pure white Lola egg on the left, pearl white Daphne egg on the right, just to add to the confusion Maureen lays a white egg, should've checked the earlobes before I decided on breeds, doh!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've had to buy myself a new all singing and dancing phone for business use, internet on the go for ebay and unlimited texts and calls for the rental, got a bargain though so not too much damage done. Thank goodness for tax deductables!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">No major visits to report on as we have been relishing our new found wealth (?) and shopping for all those things we were cutting back on for the past few years, clothing, toiletries etc, we have managed on the very basics for far too long! However, we have a holiday booked soon and will be sharing the trip with you all.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am seriously hoping all will soon settle with times and organisation and I will be back with regular blogs soon, thanks for hanging on in there while chaos ensued in the background xx</span></div>
diaryofapennypincherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09314692740147273227noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189518655554521298.post-86176986618156627372017-03-08T21:15:00.000+00:002017-03-08T21:15:37.095+00:00I'm late, I'm late!<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Darn it, missed my Monday deadline for the next blog post!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Seems I'm playing catch up again, we are so busy. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> No time for frivolities and lengthy self indulgent stately home visits, no, all our free time has been used up doing work related stuff and shopping for essentials, including gumtree and facebook furniture pick ups for the OH's new studio.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Last week we moved the OH's business, from the suburbs into the countryside. He will be able to walk to work, which is good. Whether he will be able to work whilst gazing out at fields, rabbits and horses is another matter! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I'm now making new blackout blinds for him, I made him some 18 months ago when he moved within the same site in the city, just a bigger room, and now am deconstructing those same blinds to fit smaller windows. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I also made him some new cushion covers for his new waiting area chairs</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOLwoXfcuUyqiTzTZ9pC0lL_NLXT9MUwfy4wYFQtBMsORFKH4xSFciNXfALRlVzGrzL4B17xduavF8ndV-amwsucdn3RqKWomrb0W3HU69wg7LVscN_bKjPbzxsCNpP8B9QQ19pGTd_hiE/s1600/IMG_0808.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOLwoXfcuUyqiTzTZ9pC0lL_NLXT9MUwfy4wYFQtBMsORFKH4xSFciNXfALRlVzGrzL4B17xduavF8ndV-amwsucdn3RqKWomrb0W3HU69wg7LVscN_bKjPbzxsCNpP8B9QQ19pGTd_hiE/s640/IMG_0808.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Bought the fabric as fat quarters off ebay and it was delivered promptly. I probably could have had a better deal from a well known fabric store in Birmingham, but it was quicker to buy online. As you can see I ran out of fabric as I was only going to do two cushions, but ended up with one fat quarter and one fat half!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Charity shop wise, I found a gorgeous solid silver necklace a few weeks ago, for 50p. Angel wings in the shape of a heart. It is quite weighty, but with the price of silver the scrap value is probably around what I paid for it, no matter, I like it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I also picked up these fab burnt orange colour opaques, another 50p, they reminded me of my work days and I have noticed <a href="http://polyester-princess.blogspot.co.uk/">Ann, of Polyester Princess</a>, wearing gorgeous opaques with her vintage dresses.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I have an old Jigsaw wool skirt I need to alter and it matches these tights, that outfit will have to wait for next Winter now, I reckon.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I was tempted to part with a pound each for these biographies, think I will need to broaden my mind before reading!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Both books are in excellent condition. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> I had a serious book addiction a few years ago, bookshelves groaning under the weight of factual and biographical books, most were donated when we moved, but sometimes I just can't help poring over a shelf of books in a second hand store, I'm always drawn to them.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">More shower gel, and that expensive Grace and Cole stuff again, this 200ml tube was 75p</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Finally, in a moment of weakness in the Cotswolds and Evesham, a bit of retail therapy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I spotted this jumper in the EWM sale and ummed and ahhed. The ticket price was £25 reduced from £30, but at the till it rang through at £16. I had a similar colour jumper (well, the blue bits anyway!) which is on the way out, so it's gone in the rag bag. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We went for a window shop in the Valley retail park again and in the Fat Face shop I spotted this hoodie. Fully lined with fleece and just the thing I need for morning walks through the fields and shopping runs. The tag price was originally £55, it was reduced to £30, still a lot of money for me, but I've been so pleased with the quality of the jumper I treated myself to recently, that I bought it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> I think I've spent a lot recently in proper shops but looking back at my blog, where I do share all my personal purchases, I can see that I haven't.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Now the only other thing I need is new socks, and I'm off to Asda tomorrow! </span></div>
diaryofapennypincherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09314692740147273227noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189518655554521298.post-19148422945457290772017-02-27T13:41:00.000+00:002017-02-27T13:41:30.018+00:00Last Summer pt 3: Porlock Weir<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When we booked our Somerset cottage, I began researching places for us to visit. One place that stood out for me was Porlock Weir.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Porlock Weir is a very small port and tidal harbour, with a long history. The port has existed for over a thousand years, in 1052 it was plundered by Harold Godwinson, who became King Harold for a few months in 1066, before his defeat at Hastings.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We didn't come to plunder, we came to find a tranquil, picture perfect village-by-the-sea, and we found it. Sheep grazing in fields almost at the shoreline, and seagulls, somewhat laid back compared to their more commercial seaside cousins.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The weather was very overcast, we expected rain at any moment, but is was surprisingly warm, even by the sea.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>Today's outfit: Free M&S jeans courtesy of the reward credit card, £1 Jack Purcell Converse, and black 3/4 sleeve t shirt with Chinese dragon, possibly 50p both charity shopped</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I was really taken by the colour of the pebbles on the beach, small and very large, in various delicate pastel shades of pink and green.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> These long sticks mark the entrance to the harbour, the deepest entry point for the boats. As you can see, when we were there the tide was right out. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When the tide is right in, the grade II listed Gibralter cottages are marooned on their own tiny island, accessible only by a narrow footbridge </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As they are only accessible by foot anyway, I was somewhat puzzled to find a Rover 25 in one of the gardens! (I know the shape of these cars well as I have one of the last ever 25's off the production line)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">By the time we had our lunch at the picnic tables almost on the beach, the sky was clouding over and the headland looked quite menacing</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We decided to drive back to the holiday cottage via all the interesting places we had spotted on the drive down.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In Porlock itself we found a tiny private museum inside an old pale pink cottage and had a look (no photos allowed inside) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>View from Selworthy Green</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Further on up the coastal road we spotted National Trust signs and drove up a very steep hill. We had found Selworthy Green</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A little collection of picture perfect thatched cottages, clinging to the side of a steep yet green hill</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> A cup of coffee and cake from the picnic bag in one of the most picturesque places, then back down the hill and onwards.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We noticed yesterday that Dunster had a beach and drove down to park up for a walk. Surprisingly the beach was mainly sand with a few stones </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4bju8UMLiV1q351ehDiLYPHsG-_x1SkjJBiB8mqj9aahdysyeQY76RBaZw4T26OWJk-bOI4b8AkUo0X7rNAkRO-D9fhQn3aNq6JsRi3Y4fIYS2zOiYSavRaGmZrtW31-g1Yc87vTYJ9ic/s1600/somerset+july+2016+day+3+056.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4bju8UMLiV1q351ehDiLYPHsG-_x1SkjJBiB8mqj9aahdysyeQY76RBaZw4T26OWJk-bOI4b8AkUo0X7rNAkRO-D9fhQn3aNq6JsRi3Y4fIYS2zOiYSavRaGmZrtW31-g1Yc87vTYJ9ic/s640/somerset+july+2016+day+3+056.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Dunster also has a little railway station.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">OH was highly amused by this bench, apparently the name of a station in the film Oh, Mr Porter! I was in blissful ignorance. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzzM3GUL9dVFNzuM7O5-OvFLbLWAiBCw6hOXUE0snhnYyrO6hLO52y8adNvVLguA5S76-yKQFfYNgYBWoPiUoGEX2hL0FwkIJAaaLEIDymDXRYc43M13hsKQBjq-k9dck4WJUtkONEHkC7/s1600/somerset+july+2016+day+3+062.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzzM3GUL9dVFNzuM7O5-OvFLbLWAiBCw6hOXUE0snhnYyrO6hLO52y8adNvVLguA5S76-yKQFfYNgYBWoPiUoGEX2hL0FwkIJAaaLEIDymDXRYc43M13hsKQBjq-k9dck4WJUtkONEHkC7/s640/somerset+july+2016+day+3+062.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We explored the little station, quietly hoping that a steam train would turn up, whilst admiring the old luggage </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzg1zj05ZsxuuomTti7x6wodnzkWfWcI31josjXYfjOti8Cq5MK2doXCX-tnob7nK4NXVWvG__Y1yieQw5GYSotIMIowLNCFp8P901wPoV1nUDhNBT63sZIxUKx8fC5FQ6hlkL8GntCgoW/s1600/somerset+july+2016+day+3+066.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzg1zj05ZsxuuomTti7x6wodnzkWfWcI31josjXYfjOti8Cq5MK2doXCX-tnob7nK4NXVWvG__Y1yieQw5GYSotIMIowLNCFp8P901wPoV1nUDhNBT63sZIxUKx8fC5FQ6hlkL8GntCgoW/s640/somerset+july+2016+day+3+066.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This label for a famous Welsh town, was attached to the curved top case on the left of the trolley</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW3e0MhTzKMl7jAmNK-k9u6T_wq79ENhwoVN6j1JtttOFHGmF24j-UBKlVUkn4kmIZzrnaSCNH-9LA01khq8T4yQA4rgRe5fJ01cux8cGtXK5_XFKMQYeGTOvwOiZPEobPBSNUifTHT-CG/s1600/somerset+july+2016+day+3+068.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW3e0MhTzKMl7jAmNK-k9u6T_wq79ENhwoVN6j1JtttOFHGmF24j-UBKlVUkn4kmIZzrnaSCNH-9LA01khq8T4yQA4rgRe5fJ01cux8cGtXK5_XFKMQYeGTOvwOiZPEobPBSNUifTHT-CG/s640/somerset+july+2016+day+3+068.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Also known as: Saint Mary's Church in the hollow of the white hazel near a rapid whirlpool and the Church of St. Tysilio of the red cave</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHzjUHarTPupkPXH5p2L8-Gud2Lzy6tVBEA0QttSItxjR67fDyDri0Wm-UzA3A3Z_RDEsGJ89DMAls7umKyHonSaYb7iA3i8t62QhDarIEggw5A5VayQqb-EAN0pvwB1YALJaXrrLp5EYp/s1600/somerset+july+2016+day+3+071.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHzjUHarTPupkPXH5p2L8-Gud2Lzy6tVBEA0QttSItxjR67fDyDri0Wm-UzA3A3Z_RDEsGJ89DMAls7umKyHonSaYb7iA3i8t62QhDarIEggw5A5VayQqb-EAN0pvwB1YALJaXrrLp5EYp/s640/somerset+july+2016+day+3+071.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This case has travelled a little further</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Finally, after a false start of a diesel train trundling along the track, this little steam train pulled in to Dunster station.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig4auxvNeMZ6wiG3q-pkHZ06pOk3WlisBVWq-YN9i7OzKkS3Bwnaa_bySKosdXsm8b_8OIA3Cuj8-iEuV_hVx4B6mX3ZQqslx7dqEjw4PBNLL__bnE1qTUCY7PnhfT-Vf9Sou8HVh7nnxU/s1600/somerset+july+2016+day+3+080.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig4auxvNeMZ6wiG3q-pkHZ06pOk3WlisBVWq-YN9i7OzKkS3Bwnaa_bySKosdXsm8b_8OIA3Cuj8-iEuV_hVx4B6mX3ZQqslx7dqEjw4PBNLL__bnE1qTUCY7PnhfT-Vf9Sou8HVh7nnxU/s640/somerset+july+2016+day+3+080.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">7828 is a fairly new steam engine, it was built in 1950, scrapped in 1965 and ended up at the now famous Woodham Brothers Barry scrapyard in Wales, where the owner found it easier and more lucrative to cut up coal wagons rather than the more awkward engines. This resulted in 213 of the 297 engines sent there to be scrapped, being rescued and refurbished. But that is another story!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">More Somerset tales soon!</span></div>
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