A WALK ON THE FOGGY SIDE

Sunday dawned and it was quite gloomy, the fog lingered throughout the day. Yet, we felt the need to get out and stretch our legs so we went up to the town and wandered down by the river.  

There were lots of people about, some families picnicking, others taking their boats out.

Both, we thought were strange things to do as in some places you could hardly see in front of your noses. 

We guessed the families were on a promised day out and no one ever wants to disappoint their youngsters, but the sailors, we really couldn't fathom why they were heading down the river.

Just a couple of weeks ago we were driving through New England in brilliant sunshine enjoying the beautiful changing colours of the leaves

and this weekend I only had to walk out of my back door in foggy Essex to see the beautiful autumnal colours of our acer covered with cobwebs. This acer has been in a pot on the patio for a few years now but I can never remember the changing leaves being quite as red as they are this year. It really is so vibrant.

We enjoyed a quiet peaceful weekend. There was nothing much to do in the garden, just a few leaves to be picked up so, while my husband headed to his garage to work on his boat, I baked christmas cakes and put the finishing touches to this baby blanket which I crocheted in Drops Baby Alpaca Silk. This is the same pattern I made for Alfred and it is so soft. I highly recommend the pattern and it can be found here. Heldasland

This blanket I have made for my friends first grandchild, baby Frank and I hope he finds it as snuggly and warm as Alfred does.  I'm now back to knitting and on my second hat since the weekend, pictures will follow in my next post.

Have a great week!

WALKING & THINKING!

After last night's rain the path was soft and slightly squelchy underfoot but the sun was shining as I set off for my walk this morning.

Although this is right on my doorstep now I have been coming to this stretch of river since I was 16 years old. Infact, this is where I first met Michael's family.

We had both stood at the top of my road waiting for his brother  and his mum to collect us for our day on the river. I can remember being very nervous especially as Michael was happily telling me that his mum would really like me but not to expect too much from his brother.
"Roger, doesn't talk much!" he had said.
He was actually right on that count but funnily enough through the years that followed although Roger was always quiet and I was always the opposite, our friendship rumbled along quite nicely and when he passed away a few years back, I knew I had lost my best mate!

Michael's family had use of a caravan just up the river slightly from where I was walking this morning. They kept a boat there moored on the river which they used for water skiing and that was what I was to do on our first meeting, my first and last water ski lesson.

The family thought because I was a good swimmer I would be able to ski, in reality, that was not the case! Having struggled into the wet suit, I seemed to spend an eternity of embarrassment being dragged along on the end of the rope, my bottom never actually leaving the water. Roger, who didn't have the patience of a saint, drove the boat up and down the river, muttering and mumbling while Michael gave encouraging words of comfort.

I was quite relieved when my ordeal was over and we could return to the shore for tea. I vowed from that very day I would stick to swimming, just plain swimming!

It's funny what you you think about when you're walking isn't it?

Sometimes, it's planning the day ahead, sometime a memory jumps to the fore.

What do you think about when you're walking?

Before heading home for my breakfast this morning, I decided to take a detour for a short while along the canal. There was enough of a breeze that as it whirled around the masts that continuous whining sound could be heard.

I noticed the water lilies have plenty of buds so they should be out soon.

Hope you have a happy Thursday!

ANOTHER GLORIOUS DAY AHEAD

 I intended posting these photos this morning but one thing, then another came along and now it's tea time. It really didn't help that I spent one and a half hours in front of our computer with the phone to my ear connected to BT whilst a man whizzed around on my screen from some other part of the world trying to find out why our emails are not working. I was desperate in the end to have a coffee and I think he was feeling pretty much the same because in the end we're no further forward and he's arranging for someone else to call us in the next 24 hours.

Earlier in the day, 7am, I was out walking again. Three times in a row this week and it was again another lovely morning. Tide in or out, there's always something that catches my eye. I've seen it all so many times, yet I never tire of it.

The remains of a torpedo boat

This may well have been an old thames barge

Osea Island can be reached only by causeway or boat

Boats of all shapes and sizes are finally going into the water

These little houses on stilts always intrigue me

and finally the sun shines as I wander home for breakfast

 Thank you to everyone who has been commenting on my blog, I hope you all have a wonderful Easter!

7 AM TODAY

At 7am this morning, it was so gorgeous outside that I went for a walk.

 I wandered along the canal path and there along with the other boats in the basin, moored up, were two thames barges. Then I made my way home along the seawall, the tide unfortunately was completely out. 

I used to walk quite regularly in the early mornings but I've been going swimming a lot recently instead and this is the first time this year that I've actually got out bright and early for a stroll.

While I was walking I went through in my mind what I was going to write on my blog this week. It all seemed to flow effortlessly and make a lot of sense but once home, after I'd eaten breakfast, popped the washing on the line and tried to sort out my BT mail ( don't ask, about that one!) I've just sat down to write my post and it isn't flowing as intended.

Over the weekend there was a lot of talk in the news about school trips and the funding of them and I thought I'd tell you my tale.

In 1969 aged 11 when I was at primary school I was lucky enough to go on a school trip to Switzerland. It cost my parent £48 and every week for the whole year my mum went to the school office and paid £1 towards the trip. We went at Easter and it was the first time I'd spent anymore than a day or two away from home and I'd never been abroad at all.
We travelled by coach and ferry and I can remember carrying my suitcase along the platform in France before boarding the sleeper train to Switzerland.
 We all had to take our own food for the journey and to my surprise my mum had packed me smoked salmon sandwiches. Considering we only had a tin of red salmon on high days and holidays, smoked salmon was the ultimate of luxury.
When we finally arrived at the hotel and I unpacked my suitcase, there hidden under my clothes was a large bar of cadbury"s chocolate all wrapped up in tissue paper. The word soon spread and nearly every other child came to my room for a square of chocolate.

It's strange what you remember isn't it?

The reason why this all came to mind yesterday was at lunch time, I opened the fridge door and asked  Michael, "what do you fancy in your sandwich, ham, cheese, smoked salmon...?"
We both chose smoked salmon and hence my tale.

In later years when my children went on school trips I always popped a little treat in their bags, like my mum did. Though, once they both became scouts and for my son especially, as well as treats I used to put little post it notes on their toothpaste and soap saying, "please use me!"

If you think it's a good idea and one to remember I must add, for my son, it didn't work. He never was a great reader!

Moving on, do you remember this jacket I made for Jessica?

Well, here is Charlotte's. Same pattern, different size and therefore a slight alteration in the pattern.

Not going well, not going well at all.  The sleeves are knitted separately, inserted into the rest of the garment and then the yoke is knitted to complete it. Jessica's knitted up perfectly but this one........nightmare! I've lost count of the times I've knitted the capped sleeves  and undone them again. I just can't make out where and why it's going wrong. So frustrating!

I'm really hoping I can get to grips with this and finish it for Easter.

Thank you for dropping by and trying to make sense of my ramblings.

Enjoy your week!

A BREATH OF FRESH AIR!

After spending a couple of days indoors, doing all the lovely festive things you do at Christmas, we were itching to get out and breathe in some fresh air.

Yesterday, we drove up to Aldeburgh and took in some sea air,  stretching our legs as we walked along the coast path to Thorpeness. 

There were many others joining us. Couples arm in arm, dog owners and their dogs and children trying out their new bicycles who were either very wobbly or just careering down the path.

As I walked I thought back to when our family were children and laughed to myself. To get our son to do the very same walk we would have had to lure him to Thorpeness with the promise of hot chocolate and a biscuit and lure him back to Aldeburgh with yet another promise of a packet of chips.

Yesterday all was very hectic but also all very happy.

There was a wonderful bright, cloudless sky and no cold wind to chill our ears and fingertips.

  We saw an abundance of geese flying above us while we walked and here on the Mere at Thorpeness the swans and ducks came close to the shore.

We walked up to see the windmill 

and the very famous "House in the Clouds"

which you can book for a holiday let,

(I wouldn't mind doing that before I'm too old to climb the stairs!)

As the afternoon began to fade we walked back into Aldeburgh.

(No photos, I'm afraid, I was too busy looking out for a table for late lunch - and very nice it was too!)

We just had time, to do a little sale therapy before returning home for tea.

NEW YEAR, NEW KNITTING CHALLENGE!

What a difference in the weather on Bank Holiday Monday!

Maybe it felt a little on the chilly side but with a clear blue bright sky it was an ideal day to get out walking again.

We decided to stay nearer to home, so along with many others took ourselves up into Maldon to the promenade which is a  lovely park on the banks of the river Blackwater.

This statue is of Byrhtnoth who stands looking out over the river right at the very end of the promenade, he is there to commemorate the Battle of Maldon and a very nice chap he looks too!

Now life is getting back to normal after the christmas holidays I have decided to take on a new knitting challenge. Having read Tizduster's blog I will be joining her in knitting a sky scarf. I have just ordered my wool, hopefully it will arrive in a day or two and then I can begin. I've made notes on the colour of the sky up to now since Sunday so i'll be able to catch up and get going asap.

I'll also keep you updated with my progress!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

We always like to take in some sea air over the Christmas holidays. This year we chose Clacton and yesterday parking in Holland on Sea we walked along towards Clacton pier. There was a chill in the air and as you can see by the picture it was a fairly dull day, but we enjoyed it. It's nice to get out and get some exercise, blow the cobwebs away as some people say.

Here is one for the album, Clacton pier in all it's festive glory.

 I remember going on the pier when I was a child. My Mum nearly had a panic attack when she found out that I was using the pennies she was giving me to take thrilling white knuckle rides on the rickety roller coaster. She thought I was having sedately rides on the ghost train or frightening myself in the hall of mirrors. 

I know, what can I say, I was an only child and she worried about me!

 Michael also used to have family holidays in Clacton when he was little, staying in the Butlins Holiday Camp. That, obviously is now no longer there, houses stand in its place.

We didn't go out on the pier yesterday, instead we headed up under the bridge towards the town, in search of a coffee and a bag of chips! Michael can't go to the seaside without having a bag of chips, so that's a bit of a ritual in our household.

When we got home we cooked sausage and mash for tea and so by the end of the day we were completely "potatoed out."

Sorry, apparently "potatoed' isn't a proper word, I've invented it, according to spell check but I'm leaving it in because I think it describes us perfectly.

Thank you to those who have dropped by my blog this year. I wish you all a Happy New Year!