Ruthin

Nice drive to North |Wales after picking up Audrey from Lostock. Took about an hour and half to get to Ruthin Crafts Centre where we met Linda Merriman who came from Dolgelau ( still cant spell it!) by three buses with her bus pass! To save her another three buses we decided to meet her half way and take in an exhibition and picnic at the same time. A nice fun exhibition of twee sculptures, ceramics and wood carvings etc. by craftspeople from different parts of the world as well as Wales. Lots of Japanese folk living in Wales it seems - who knew! Lucy Casson showed more of her quirky tin sculptures. They were the most fun. We still have work by her and Andy Hazell from the 80's when we discovered their work in a small gallery in Kings Cross. We commissioned a "Rubber Stamping Man" which we still have sitting in a cabinet underneath the TV. We had a sandwich and crips on a wet bench outside in the courtyard. Nice to see the Graham Sutherland sketchbooks and drawings etc. in one of the little side galleries. Most unexpected. Reminded me of my days studying Samuel Palmer in the Tate and the British Library. Set off about 1 and got to the antique emporiums at Blakemere an hour later. Very busy - lots of Halloween stuff going on it seems. After an hour we were knackered an just wanted to be home.