That Jigsaw

This is one of the most difficult jigsaws I have ever done.

My Ozzie daughter and son-in-law had done most of it so it was time for me to knuckle down and see if I could finish it. It was difficult all along but having reached this point it was frustrating, it was a case of trying every piece in every gap! My son-in-law did some, and eventually...

much to everyone's relief it was finished.

My Ozzie daughter messaged "It wasn't a fun one".

It's a Victorian Fairy jigsaw, typical of the Victorian fairy paintings which flourished between 1840 and 1870. In a reaction against the encroaching industrialisation of the late 19th century, many Victorians developed a fascination with fairies, mythological creatures and the supernatural. Inhabiting an idealistic natural world, dancing amongst flowers and trees or floating in water, fairies were believed to appear most often to the sad, the kind-hearted and to children.

 The inscription on the side of the box reads

"Take the fair face of woman, and gently suspending,

 with butterflies, flowers, and jewels attending,

thus your fairy is made of most beautiful things"

It's a pretty picture but I won't be keeping it. It's going to a charity shop.

∼ Be safe and well∼ 

Polly x 

Back Home

My darling girl is safely back home in Oz. I'm sad that all good things must end but happy that we all had such a lovely time together.

∼ Be safe and well∼ 

Polly x 

Southend

On Monday my daughters, grandson and myself had a lovely time at Southend

we weren't tempted by the fairground attractions!

instead, after a big tray of chips between us,

we had a great time at the adventure golf

It had a Jurassic Park theme with excellent sound effects!

Eldest daughter about to score 2 under par.   Grandson almost did the same

Me about to tee off

None of the holes were easy because the surfaces were uneven but the last hole was tricky, the ball had to go through that trough where the white dot is. My grandson did an excellent shot, he hit the ball quite hard, it hit the bottom right ledge, bounced up, ricocheted off the top of that piece of rock over that wooden support and landed in the trough! It wasn't enough to put him in first place though. We had a score card and much to my surprise I won! It was great fun.

We strolled around, had ice creams, went into a few shops and then home. 

oOo

We like going out for breakfast, not every day just now and again. My favourite is usually an almond croissant, I also like poached eggs on toast, and toast and marmalade. Yesterday I had a toasted sausage sandwich with onion marmalade, it was delicious.

Last night we went to our village pub for the quiz night.

We didn't win but we had a good time.

∼ Be safe and well∼ 

Polly x 

Romeo and Juliet

 Yesterday evening we were treated to Romeo and Juliet, performed by the excellent British Touring Shakespeare Company.

The programmes were designed by some of the village school children.

It was held in the meadow behind the church

The sensory garden is the perfect setting. The team that look after the garden have done a stellar job in difficult dry weather conditions.

The weather was good, a lot of cloud with a nice breeze, if it had been held on Friday I would have been very uncomfortable with lots of sunshine and 34 deg.

270 people attended.

A beautiful setting, good weather and accomplished actors

made for another wonderful time.

I hope they do another one next year.

 ∼ Be safe and well∼ 

Polly x 

Jigsaw Mania

My Ozzie daughter has been away for a few days visiting friends, one in Sweden and one in Nottingham.

Bathing Belles

Chilling out at home. Lots of sun lotion and not staying out for long. I was sitting under the gazebo but despite the lovely sunshine the easterly breeze made me feel a bit chilly. 

Jigsaw mania

The bowls club that my son-in-law plays for has a lovely clubhouse with books and jigsaws for sale. People donate them for others to buy, usually for just £1, and then donate back, and so on. I found this one. 

It had an insert with it which was very helpful because I could refer to it whilst using both box and lid to sort through the pieces. It was also larger than the box lid, so better for my eyesight! 

My son-in-law did some of it and when my daughter returned from Sweden she helped finish it. My eldest daugher isn't a fan of jigsaws. I like this one and will keep it.

I particularly liked the tiny mouse in the corner!

I was on a roll now so randomly picked another one from my stash.

I think I bought this at a village fete.

I liked it, it reminded me of my childhood. We lived near the countryside and my mother used to go potato picking, backbreaking for the mums but we children loved it, playing around the farms (no health and safety then) roaming around the fields and waiting at fences alongside railway tracks for the lovely steam trains to pass.

The three of us all had a go and completed it in a day, that's a record! I didn't keep it, I gave it to the lovely little library in the nearby village, they always have a jigsaw on the go, and because it has large pieces I thought children might enjoy it.

Three years ago I won this jigsaw at a coffee morning raffle. I started it but every aspect of it is very difficult - the dark outer areas, her hair and skin, the fairy wings and her dress. I gave up 😞 but now its back, but it's a struggle - only placing two pieces after half an hour, I want to walk away from it. Hopefully with the three of us working on it it will get done this time. 

 ∼ Be safe and well∼ 

Polly x 

A Good Read

Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson is a moving and witty novel about a woman who finds meaning in her life when she begins caring for two children with remarkable and disturbing abilities.

Lillian and Madison were unlikely roommates but inseparable friends at their elite boarding school. Lillian had to leave unexpectedly in the wake of a scandal and they’ve barely spoken since. Then one day Lillian receives a letter from Madison pleading for her help. Madison’s twin stepchildren are moving in and she wants Lillian to be their caretaker. However, there’s a catch: when they get agitated the twins spontaneously combust, flames ignite from their skin in a startling but beautiful way. Lillian is convinced Madison is pulling her leg, but, reflecting on her dead-end life, figures she has nothing to lose. 

It’s a quirky read, I enjoyed it.

∼ Happy Reading∼ 

Polly x

Swimsational

In my previous post I mentioned about my daughter wild swimming.

On Sunday she took part in an event at Rutland water, England's largest reservoir in England's smallest, very pretty county - Rutland. 

We drove up on Saturday and stayed in a lovely AirB&B 

It had a spacious lounge, dining room, kitchen, a snug,

3 double bedrooms with one en-suite and a small single.

a very nice tiered garden which we made good use of with glorious weather.

After arriving we drove to the event

for my daughter to register which saved some time

so early on Sunday morning she could go straight to the boat

that transported the swimmers to the start

which was way over there in the distance. This was where the finish was set up, between those two flags. There were 2k, 4k and 8k swims. My daughter did the 2k swim which looked daunting from the water's edge. She did it in good time but the start of it was difficult because there were lots of reeds and a strong current, but once she got past all that and into the straight bit she got into a better rythme.

I was so relieved to see her coming out of the water

Image courtesy of my darling Ozzie daughter

and so proud of  what she had achieved.

∼ Be safe and well∼ 

Polly x 

Brighton

My Ozzie daughter J has never been to Brighton, so we had a trip there last week.
Brighton is a seaside town on the south coast of England. Originally a small decaying fishing town it rapidly turned into an established seaside resort for the rich and famous thanks to the Prince of Wales and its proximity to London.
In the mid 1780's George, Prince of Wales, rented a small lodging house overlooking a fashionable promenade. He had been advised by his physicians that his health would benefit from Brighton’s mild climate and sea water treatments, which included ‘dipping’ (total body immersion into the salt sea water). We didn't even dip a toe in the water, we were more interested in walking around The Lanes, a historic maze of narrow, traffic-free pedestrian alleyways known for traditional jewellers, antique shops, independent boutiques, and lovely eateries. 

I like this shop and had visited last time I was there

 it's full of tat or treasure

I loved this hat but didn't buy it, I'm such a practical person and asked myself "When would I wear it"? and the answer was "Probably never".

This is a very small selection of items for sale,

the shop was almost bursting at the seams! 

Brighton has two very different historical piers: the Palace Pier is an amusement park, while the historic West Pier is now a sad skeleton. It was closed to the public in 1975 after decades of declining popularity. In December 2002 it suffered major storm damage, followed by two suspected arson attacks in March and May 2003 leaving a rusted framework.

But there is a positive outcome though - it now serves as a protected roosting site for local starlings.

oOo

We have been doing some retail therapy, enjoying afternoon cream tea, and going to a lovely lake where my eldest daughter does wild swimming. J and I walk around the lake and then have a picnic in the shade until A joins us.

Last time we were there we jokingly said the ducks were having a meeting to discuss what they were going to do about all those humans in their lake.

Yesterday it looked as if they were intending to sabotage the swimmers! They wouldn't though, ducks and swimmers exist in mutual harmony. 

On the subject of waterfowl I saw the Canada Geese family recently. The gosling with the deformed wings was preening itself and then spread it wings and flapped them and they looked perfect fully open, so hopefully it will be able to fly. Maybe it's just a problem when it tucks them back in. 

oOo

We have been to watch my son-in-law bowling this evening. It's a lovely way to spend a couple of hours with a glass of something chilled. The birds were chirping before settling down for the night, the very quiet bowling and the sound of the bells from the church next door, it is the quintessential English village. 

My son-law's team won.

∼ Be safe and well∼ 

Polly x 

She's Here

My darling Ozzie daughter arrived on Tuesday and will be here for a whole month. She has never been to Brighton so yesterday my eldest daughter drove us there for a day trip. I thought she might be too tired but she has acclimatised very well. My eldest daughter has created an excellent itinerary (we love an itinerary), so we have lots of things to do as well as down time just sitting in the garden with wine and nibbles chatting.

I am so happy.

∼ Be safe and well∼ 

Polly x 

A Good Read

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

The Hunger Games #3

My name is Katniss Everdeen.
Why am I not dead?
I should be dead.

Katniss Everdeen, girl on fire, has survived, her home has been destroyed but her family is safe. Gale has escaped and Peeta has been captured by the Capitol. District 13 really does exist. There are rebels. There are new leaders. A revolution is unfolding.

It is by design that Katniss was rescued from the arena in the cruel and haunting Quarter Quell, and it is by design that she has long been part of the revolution without knowing it. District 13 has come out of the shadows and is plotting to overthrow the Capitol. Everyone, it seems, has had a hand in the carefully laid plans—except Katniss.

The success of the rebellion hinges on Katniss's willingness to be a pawn, to accept responsibility for countless lives, and to change the course of the future of Panem. To do this, she must put aside her feelings of anger and distrust. She must become the rebels' Mockingjay - no matter what the personal cost.

∼ Happy Reading∼ 

Polly x

A Nice Day Out

On Wednesday my WI group had a lovely trip on a canal boat

There were lots of people on paddle boards

It was a lovely tranquil trip on the water

and the weather was glorious, sunny with a nice breeze

The only dissapointment was we didn't know the cafe closed at 4 which was when our trip finished, so no coffee and cake ☹

∼ Be safe and well∼ 

Polly x