Day 32: More threads, more cousins.

Today's post is a bit of a grab-bag.  I'm having trouble creating a narrative thread!

First, a bit of a follow-up on the doilie story from yesterday. My cousin Christine, who is herself a collector of doilies,  has positively identified the one I thought was lace (right) as Belgium lace. Christine has an identical one bought for her in Belgium by a friend. Many thanks Christine. I'm chuffed.

I also had an anonymous posting to my embroidery blog, which, translated from the French in which it was written, said " For your mats, 2 = bobbin lace,  the 3rd the lace of Luxeuil and 4 crochet". This conflicts with Christine's information (Luxeuil instead of Brussels) - but we are on the right track.

My only excursion today was over to Bridge Road - yes, I admit it - to the quilting shop again.

I began my seagull panel last night - another Embroiderers' Guild of SA piece for the Aviarius exhibition in August. My seagull is going on the back of a bench seat, coloured tan. I thought I had enough thread with me, but bench seats use a lot of thread! So I ventured over this morning to see if I could match the colour. Mine, of course was unmarked anonymous thread from a previous project.






To my joy, amongst their quite limited range of thread, was Anchor 341 - a perfect match, along with 339 to give me some shading options. Yes!


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My luck was also in with the car Veronica took a fancy to from my previous post. It wasn't parked there yesterday, but was back again today and I got a much better photograph.








It is, I discovered (from the word conveniently printed under the windscreen!), a Citroen Dolly (1987/8). Veronica has good taste. You can buy one for about £6500











I also noticed a rather charming pub that looks as if it would be worth sampling - but I don't feel inclined to try on my own - need cousins!













I haven't used Hampton Court station while I've been here. The closest I have got is to the antique shops opposite. I love the lines of the building - there's an embroidery in there!

I have been observing the lovely lamp-posts on the Hampton Court Bridge. At sunset, on a bright day, the light catches the filigree and they shimmer.

I checked them out today at close range. The figure on the top of the light is a lion in all cases. I had thought they might alternate with a unicorn.

There's more embroidery potential here!






My main commitment today was to lunch at the Mitre with Andrew and Jean. Andrew and I are second cousins once removed on my mother's side. We met, through a family history connection,  last time I was in London and again when Andrew and Jean were in Sydney last year. We have loads in common and had a really relaxed and enjoyable three and a half hours over lunch, discussing family, family history, travel, work - and the many things we share. We missed my brother - who had originally planned to make this trip too.

Although I had issued the lunch invitation, Peter insisted it was their treat. Unless they make a return trip to Australia soon (not on the cards) the next one in London is on me (and maybe my brother!).

The weather reached a high of 17C here today and it was almost glarey sitting in the window of the Riverside Restaurant.At 5pm it was down to 14C and quite chilly outside -but still quite sunny - and beautiful. I am starting to like shades of grey! Must be time to go home.

Tomorrow is my last full day in London and I will be spending it at the Royal School of Needlework. I am disappointed that I have missed seeing their Stories in Stitch Exhibition. I had assumed I could just go to the Palace and see it in working hours, but you need to book into a session .There are very few sessions and the two this week were booked out long ago. Had I realised, I could have booked months ago. It didn't occur to me to check.




Tonight I tried to capture the beams of the setting sun on the lamp posts.

Only one is close enough for me to capture.

 

Then the sun set.
















I also videoed the movement of the water - so soothing. Hope you can see it.

Day 20:Keswick and Cousins

This morning dawned and continued grey and miserable - through the window. The Fells emerged slowly out of the cloud,  disappearing and partially revealing themselves from time to time.  We were content to watch them, chat and stay in the apartment. I stitched my robin. Around 11.30 we thought we'd walk down the main street. Sue remembered another pencil she would like to have.

Unfortunately the pencil shop does not open on Sundays. Most other shops, however, do.

One we ventured into sells items relating to sheep - underwear with pictures of sheep, jumpers, and various other items of clothing. The sheep outside has a sign asking you not to sit on it.










In one corner of the Sheep Shop is a selection of Craft beer and related products all bearing the Crafty Sheep Dog label. This strikes me as odd in a shop that sells mostly wool products, but it does have its own logic - or at least association.














Across the road from the Sheep Shop is the Chief Justice of the Common Pleas Pub, a quite large and solid establishment.













Apparently it served as a Magistrates' Court and Police Station from 1901-2000. Prior to that it was the site of a Workhouse founded in 1642 by Sir John Bankes, who was Chief Justice of the Common Pleas from 1640 to his death in 1644.

Almost any building, it would seem, if you wait long enough, will turn into a pub!

There was also an interesting 'Technology' display by Keswick School in one of the shop windows in the same street.















As we were having our pub meal much later today, we called into a tea house in Lake Street for morning tea. Like all good tea houses, it was upstairs.
When we arrived at 12.30 pm there was plenty of room. By 1.10 pm is was completely full, even though it seated 60-70 people, and there was a queue waiting for tables.














When we came out it was still drizzling but we could see the Fells to the East of the town. It got gloomier the closer we got to our apartment.












At 4pm we donned our coats, hats, gloves and boots and headed out to the Pack Horse Inn where we had arranged to meet Christine and Eddie - cousins who had driven up today from Cheltenham to spend a few days with us. It was a long and wet drive but I'm so glad they so generously came. We had nearly four hours of laughs, stories and good cheer.

I love that we always pick up where we left off and relax instantly into each other's company.

The forecast for the next two days is for rain, more rain, and possibly snow. Whatever it is, I expect we will enjoy being together and find things to do.

I'm counting my blessings tonight.