Olive And Pru

12 February 2021

Lincoln

Lincoln is a Cathedral city in the East Midlands. It’s known for the medieval Cathedral, with early printed books in a Wren-designed library. Lincoln Castle houses a Victorian prison and a copy of the Magna Carta. The Museum of Lincolnshire Life has social history exhibits in Victorian barracks. The Collection is a museum displaying local archaeology. Nearby, the Usher Gallery has works by Turner and Lowry. The city is also home to the University of Lincoln and Bishop Grosseteste University. Rich in history and culture, unique boutique shopping and no shortage of wonderful places to eat, drink and stay it makes for a good day out or a few days mini break.

My friend M and I visited last October on a day trip with our favourite local coach company.

On arrival we had the option of leaving the coach near the main shopping centre or staying

on board to travel up to the historical part of the city and walk down.

I'm glad we did, it's a very steep walk down, it would have been much harder the other way round.

The Cathedral

This lovely Tudor building houses the Tourist Information Centre

Halloween display in the Castle grounds

After visiting the Cathedral, Castle and Information Centre we

headed down the hill to the shops and food.

I would love to have had a look inside this house

There were lots of lovely eating places, I fancied a pasta dish but M wanted to go to M&S,

she likes their jacket potatoes, it was very nice.

We then did what comes naturally - shopping, mostly in charity shops!

This one had some lovely displays

Running mannequin

We made our way down to the pick up point and had time for a hot chocolate

before boarding the coach for home.

We have mini breaks booked for March and April, I don't think the March one will go ahead,

I hope the April one does. Goodness me, we have to get the economy moving again soon.

~ Be safe and well ~

Polly x

7 February 2021

The Dig

So many people told me how good The Dig is so last night I settled down to watch it. Oh my word everyone was right, it is absolutely delightful, with some wonderful actors/actresses.

Ralph Fiennes: Basil Brown

Carey Mulligan: Edith Pretty

Lily James: Peggy Piggott

Monica Dolan: May Brown

Ken Stott: Charles Phillips

I'm a little bit in love with Ralph Fiennes.

I have seen Monica Dolan in many dramas, she is a great actress.

Carey Mulligan beautifully crafted the role of Edith.

The story is based on an amazing archaeological find.

On the eve of World War II, a British widow Edith Pretty (Carey Mulligan) hires self-taught archaeologist Basil Brown (Ralph Fiennes) to dig up large burial mounds at her rural estate in Sutton Hoo because she had a “feeling” they would find something of note.

Working with a few assistants from the estate, Brown slowly excavates the more promising of the mounds which he thinks could be Anglo-Saxon rather than the most commonly held opinion of the Viking era. He uncovers iron rivets from a ship which could only make it the burial site of someone of tremendous importance such as a king.

News of the discovery spreads and Cambridge archaeologist Charles Phillips arrives, declares the site to be of national importance and takes over the dig by order of the Office of Works. Brown is retained only to keep the site in order, but Edith intervenes and Basil resumes digging.

Phillips brings in a large team including Peggy Piggott who uncovers the first distinctively Anglo-Saxon artefact. He wants to send all the items to the British Museum but Edith, concerned about the possible war raids on London, asserts her rights, and an inquest confirms she is the owner of the ship and its priceless treasure. The items are kept safe in a London underground for the duration of the war.

Before her death Edith donated the treasure to the British Museum requesting that Brown be given recognition for his work.

They were first exhibited nine years after Edith's death, with no mention of Brown. Only recently was he given full credit for his contribution and his name is now displayed permanently alongside Pretty's.

I liked the way the film also dealt with the personal lives of the people involved in the dig, and the charming friendship Brown formed with Pretty's son Robert (beautifully acted by Archie Barnes), who was a keen amateur archaeologist.

Update

I felt fine after my covid vaccination until I went to bed. I had a headache and felt very hot, I didn't have a temperature but I was HOT, and I don't mean sexy hot!! it was uncomfortable hot, I didn't get much sleep. This morning I was tired and felt ill. I have spent the day on the sofa sleeping, drinking lots of water and tea and taking paracetamol. I'm pleased to say I am feeling much better now.

~ Be safe and well ~

Polly x

6 February 2021

I had my first covid vaccination this afternoon. It was easy to arrange, I received a text on my phone, followed a link and chose a time slot. It was very well organised. There were several doctor's surgeries using one large surgery, we were checked in at the entrance, hand gelled, or as the hand gel man said, "put you through the sheep dip", moved along a corridor, into a room, jab and out through the back of the building. Job done.

In other news the jigsaw is driving me to distraction, it's very slow progress with the mountains.

Father Ted was a popular sitcom in the 90's. The surreal comedy featured three misfit priests. There's the dimwitted Father Dougal, Father Jack who lives for the simple pleasures of life (sleeping, drinking, and swearing), and Father Ted who tries to keep some kind of order in the house while at the same time trying to care for the good folk of Craggy Island.

In one episode Father Dougal is doing a jigsaw, unable to connect the right pieces together he cuts bits off them until they fit where he wants them. Sometimes I feel like doing a Dougal!!

At the moment I'm averaging 3 pieces a day. My daughter informed me that at this rate it would take 8 years to complete!! Obviously it won't, as I progress down to the more interesting areas I will forge ahead, and with that in mind I am moving from the mountains to the trees and down to the houses.

And elsewhere, ever the optimist I have booked another flight to Australia, same as last year but I added an extra week AND it was £200 cheaper than last year! Surely things will be better by the end of the year.

~ Be safe and well ~

Polly x

31 January 2021

TV And A Frustrating Jigsaw

I watched a lovely film last night called 84 Charing Cross Road, a charming, gem of a film starring Sir Anthony Hopkins and Anne Bancroft. It chronicles the true story of a transatlantic business correspondence between two bibliophiles that gradually developed into a close friendship. Helene (Ann Bancroft) a script-reader in New York sees an ad in the Saturday Review of Literature for a bookstore in London that offers mail order. She writes to the bookshop asking if they can help with her search for some titles she has not been able to find locally. Store manager Frank (Anthony Hopkins) responds politely to her chatty letter, and over the course of two decades, a deep, long-distance friendship evolves.

Today whilst working in the craft room on some dolls house things I've been catching up with ITV's Finding Alice. Alice's partner of 20 years, Harry, falls down the stairs and dies soon after the couple move into the dream home he designed. Alice discovers that some men, including her late ex, hide stuff that they don't want to deal with.

I've also started watching Channel 4's The Great. Funny, entertaining and addictive, it's loosely based on Catherine The Great and her influence on Russia's history.

This jigsaw is driving me crazy, look at all that blue/grey mountain area! I like a challenge but there have been a couple of times when I have thought about giving up, but having gone this far I will persevere.

I've had tea, now I'm relaxing and looking for another nice film to watch.

~ Be safe and well ~

Polly x

23 January 2021

A Good Read

I Let You Go by Clare Mackintosh

In a split second Jenna Gray's world descends into a nightmare. Desperate to escape, she moves to a remote cottage on the Welsh coast, but her hopes of moving on and starting afresh are haunted by her fears, her grief and her memories of that cruel November night.

Slowly, Jenna begins to glimpse the potential for happiness, but her past is about to catch up with her, and the consequences will be devastating.

The novel starts out as a crime of hit and run. It was a slow build up, then wham, a major twist happens, which I did not see coming, and everything changes. The story then takes off in twists and turns.

It’s well written with a strong plot, good characters, and some tense, thrilling and shocking moments. It held my interest from page one.

∼ Happy Reading ∼

Polly x

18 January 2021

Aquarius January 20 – February 18

Miss Claire Voyant's horoscope for Aquarius

Sharing your Aquarius birthday, with, among a few million others, Ed Sheeran, Jennifer Aniston, Oprah Winfrey, Paris Hilton and John Travolta.

A bit about the personality

Do you know someone who sees the world in a totally unique way, someone who works hard to make a positive change in people’s day-to-day lives, someone who is intellectual and social, loyal, reliable, and stubborn? Chances are that person could well be an Aquarian. Aquarius is the sign most closely associated with humanitarianism. They’re also linked to science and technology and known to have a creative outlook on life. They’re sometimes called oddballs, eccentrics, or even “aliens”—but for an Aquarius, this is a good thing. Ruled by Uranus, the planet of disruption and revolution, think of Aquarius as a rebel with a cause. They can be stubborn, refuse to compromise and hot tempered, but always enigmatic.

Aquarius' prediction

If things are getting tense between you and a friend or co-worker, don't try to fight it. Conflict is never nice to deal with, but sometimes it's necessary to solve a problem or move in a better direction. Plus, your good communications skills are better than ever, so you can trust yourself to navigate any tension with grace and ease. Don't be afraid to disagree, especially when you know you're right and the other party is wrong or misguided.

Despite your aloof nature, your emotions run deep, and, like many of us the stress of the pandemic has taken its toll. As an intellectual air sign, you used your brain to stay busy rather than sink into despair. You may have organised virtual meetings, family get-togethers or fundraisers. It's likely that you might be exhausted and in need of a little care and attention yourself. It's ok to be vulnerable and ask for support. Remind your friends and family that it's your birthday, but let them do the work. Your task for 2021 is to learn to put yourself first.

~ Be safe and well ~

Polly x

15 January 2021

Dollshouse Update

Dollshouse number 2 is taking a long time to complete but I can see light at the end of the tunnel. I've been working on the kitchen for ages making everything myself so I have spent a fair amount of time working out how to make things!

In between taxing the little grey cells I have made some accessories for other rooms.

Starting in Miss Teen's room, she has a new jewellery box made with two small pieces of wood covered with pink leather and a faux diamond on the lid. Some posters printed from the web, and some photographs of random people printed from the web and glued onto sparkly card.

Freddie likes sitting on the bed with her.

I'm currently working out how to make a dressing gown for her.

Mr Teen's room now has Mr Teen in it, along with some posters, photos,

books and x-box games, all printed from the web and stuck onto card stock.

There is some wall art in the bathroom.

A chair, rug , picture and Dylan are on the top landing

Two pictures, framed photos and a large mirror in the master bedroom

Chloe likes sleeping in this room

The library has pictures, a laptop, a mobile phone

and steps

I made the books and bought the bookends with globes that rotate.

The middle landing has a runner, a picture and a plant. The plant isn't a miniature, I bought it in

Asda for the princely sum of £1 ! I'm not sure it looks right though, I think it's a bit large.

Please feel free to comment :-)

I have a Mr and Mrs in the lounge. I've removed the plant because

I thought it was over powering that corner. It's in the dining room now.

A picture, photos, a flower vase and the plant in the dining room.

a runner, console table, plant, photo, clock and mirror in the ground floor hall.

I made the mirror and the spider plant, the pot is a toothpaste lid!

The rooms look much better now, having had some personal touches added.

~ Be safe and well ~

Polly x

7 January 2021

Happy New Year

I didn't feel much like posting this on new year's eve. I was too sad to think of anything other that the loss of our beloved Buster, but I want to say thank you to all you lovely people who read and leave comments on my posts.

Here's to a happy, healthy and better 2021

Polly x

2 January 2021

Buster

Our dear sweet Buster was put to sleep on Wednesday. After having his leg amputated in July I hoped he would have another 4 or 5 years of good health, he was approaching the same age as me and I imagined we would share lots of walks in our old age. But deep in the back of my mind was the fear that the cancer would return, and it did, with a vengeance, in his lungs and heart. It was very quick, he started coughing and his breathing was shallow and laboured, the vet knew before x-rays confirmed it.