Nantwich

Nice morning in sunny Nantwich looking round the charity shops and market. The friendly toy and framing man sold Hazel a few things including a nice Japanese spinning top, a tin mouse and lead scarecrow. We were tempted by other things too but maybe next time. He showed us a photo on his phone of a Chinese lorry he sold on Ebay for £450 - he later discovered he could get £700 for it! Amazing as it didn't look anything that special. Hazel bought a new coat but I didn't find much. On the way home got a bundle of old Look & Learn from 1962.

Whitegate Way Walk

Lovely sunny day so we went over to Whitegate Way to have a walk and blow some cobwebs away. Hazel was feeling particularly stressed by college work so nice to get out the house for a while. We had lunch the lovely station cafe where volunteers make delicious soups, toasties and cakes etc. Had some pea and mint soup which was yummy, also a warm wholemeal roll and butter. Preceded by a pot of weak tea ( as we asked for one teabag ) and slice of lemony cake ( saved until after soupage ). Invented a new art movement - check it HERE. All very tastey. Then for a walk - a mile or so down the track to the second bridge and back again. Lots Spring flowers out and birds chirping. Cobwebs completely gone now!

Boot Sale and Lidl

Bargain filled indoor bootsale this morning at Memorial Court with Hazel and Beth. Got some nice old snap cards, doll dressing book, leaky metal teapot, Beetle game, Cuban enamel badges, map measurer, etc etc. Then to Lidl for some "bits". Quite busy for a Sunday morning as was the boot sale - the sunshine must have lured people out. Then to B&Q so Beth could get a pot of white paint for her kitchen ceiling. Simon had promised to paint it as it was getting mold spots. Stopped off at Beth and Simon's for tea and custard cream. Chatted about recent films we had seen. We had lent them A Little Chaos which they enjoyed.

Walk By The Canal

Chilly walk along the frozen tow path of the Trent & Mersey canal this morning with Hazel. Went as far as the TATA factory with steam belching out. The sun was slowly melting the ice and turning back to mud so we didn't venture too far. Saw a bird of prey sat in a tree - a hawk maybe? Lots of dog walker. Some parts of the canal were frozen over. We tossed sticks and stones in to hear the weird noise they made skimming across the ice. Popped in the Co-op for some bananas, milk and other bits. More mail art sorting in the afternoon.

Boot Sale at Memorial Court

Slim pickin's at the indoor boot sale this morning with Hazel and Beth. I didn't find anything but Hazel found a few bits n bobs including a tiny torch thingy projector which projects fuzzy slides of prehistoric animals ( four discs of images ) , three files, a protractor and an old sepia photo of a dapper gent. Then a windy walk to Lidl and some shopping.

Middlewich Boot / Alsager Lunch

Pleasant wander around the boot sale at Middlewich - in the town hall. Bob was there and sold Hazel some Cherry B glasses, a poultry book and a ladies razor in box. She also got some badges including a blood donor enamel badge for Archie. I didn't get anything. The rain came down heavier so we abandoned our walk and pub lunch and went instead to Alsager ( after phoning our friends first ) to have lunch with Tony and Pene, who kindly gave a demonstration of their cooking skills and vegetables juggling while we sat in their cozy kitchen and drank wine, beer and tea ( not nessacelery in that order!) Yummy delicious roast aubergine and mushrooms and other roasted stuff followed by apple bake with ice cream and superior custard. Slurp! And then a walk to local walking pit and around the lake and the ducks and teal etc. Back for some tea and cake and look at the slideshow of their holiday in Oz over the festive period. I was falling asleep on the sofa so we said our goodbyes and trundled home. Hazel had stuff to sort for college. I had yawns to yawn and slump in front of the telly box.

Freezin' Friday

Brrrrr! A bit nippy but managed to go into town for a wander with Hazel. She went off to shop in Bratt's Sale - got herself a dress she's had her eye on - reduced half price. I contented myself with two silly games for £1 each from the Age UK shop. Took a big bag ( two bags actually - Hazel took one ) of DVD's to the cancer charity shop. Popped in the Icelandic shop for some onions, toms and £1 Linda McCartney mozzarella burgers. These ATC's are from a while back and not really icy looking enough to accompany this post. Later back to some collaging - a new mini 'zine . Tidying up the loose ends and tweaking it a bit. Nearly done.

First Indoor Boot Of 2019

First indoor boot of 2019 - lots of cheap bargains. Hazel got an old "junk" tin, lamp with a story attached, Swiss chalet weather station, bee meter ( another one!) cigarette cards, four candles etc etc. I got some old battered cowboy comics, cigarette cards, etc. A good old rummage. Then to Lidl to buy some bits and bobs.

Marbury Walk

Pleasant walk around Marbury Woods and along the mere back to the garden centre. Saw lots of mad squirrels, two jays, crazy dogs in clothes, lots of blue tits, great tits, tree hoppers etc. Hazel bought two plants for the garden - shade lovers. Surprised the garden centre was open as they didn't have much stock. Then got some fish 'n' chips, mushy peas, from the Codfather to take over to Granma's for lunch. We took down their decorations and tree etc. What a palaver! Hazel sorted out the wardrobe so they could get more in it. Took some boxes home to recycle.

Pitsea Primary School

Pitsea School opened as a Council school in 1909. I went there from 1953- 54, maybe a bit longer. Well, until Greenstead School opened around 54/5 which wasa lot closer - 10 minutes walk away from our house in Luncies Road in Basildon. I remember walking to Pitsea School on my own when I was 5 or 6, quite a walk for a young child barely out of toddling stage! I remember staying for lunch , the school dinners were horrible so my mother used to make weird Shipham's fish paste, Bloater paste sandwiches which were slightly better. Sometimes jam sandwiches if money was tight. Mrs. Ramsbottom was my teacher and from what I remember she was very nice and gave out prizes for good work or sitting up straight in class. I once got a lead soldier or a crossing keeper ? for something I had done.She read stories too and exciting ones by Enid Blyton about the Famous Five etc. It wouldn't happen today with what we now know of lead and it's poison content! What innocent times we used to live in. Pitsea wasa small village on the outskirts of Basildon back then but soon got engulfed in the new builds and road schemes and mostly obliterated. Just realised I have written about Pitsea School several times on this blog and descriptions all fairly similar so sorry for that. This photo is new though.

Happy New Year!

Hazel in the light sparkly garden waiting for midnight.

Pitsea Market

A bit of nostalgia . Photos from the Pitsea group on FB. Fond memories of this old market when we first moved to Basildon back in the early 50's when the villages such as Pitsea and Vange were still quaint with old houses, shops and some rustic architecture. All since bulldozed to make way for hideous flyovers, housing estates and shopping malls. My favourite stalls on the market were the record stall that sold ex-juke box 45's ( with the centre missing ) all piled in a heap. Three for a shilling or some ridiculous price. Discovered such gems as Gary U.S. Bonds "Quarter To Three" and Lonnie Donegan singles I'd faintly heard on Radio Luxembourg - the only pop station in those days - the BBC was a mostly MOR and classical only station comprising the Home Service and the Light programme. The other stall was dedicated to old comics which were also cheap and plentiful. Alf the Market Man sold bundles of household goods at knock down prices - he had the patter and gathered a big crowd who waved 10 bob notes in the air for his minions to collect and hand out bags of "treasure" which turned out to be brillo pads and bleach etc. Exciting stuff back in the 50s and early 60's ! The market was eventually bulldoezed to make way for a vile road system and the market temporarily housed in some sci-fi like domes seen HERE in this lovely old film.

The Festive Season

The usual Xmas dinner traumas, silly hats, silly games and piles of washing up! We took our own nut roast with chestnuts and vege gravy - twice as much as Granma has a tendency to boil it until it evaporates! Plates piled high with food and then pudding and nibbles! We are collapsed with extreme bloatiness! Fell asleep during the Queen's speech - catching flies. Raced plastic elfs ( and one Santa ) from crackers across the dining table. Deja vu definately the order of the day! Home by 8pm. and further collapse in front of the telly.

Picking A Tree

The annual choosing of the Xmas tree this morning over at Marbury where they were reduced to half price - hooray! Our boy , who is home for a few days, helped out with the heavy work. Tough choice - they all looked a bit wonky but cheaper than last time we looked! You'll never notice once they are covered in tinsel and other gaudy trimmings!

Marbury Country Park

Nice wander round Marbury woods and the lake (mere) today before lunch. Not as cold as yesterday ut still pretty nippy. Amazed to see so much wildlife including a Jay, Nuthatch and various Tits. Also mad dogs and daft ducks. Gooses and squirrels. Swarms of midges? Surely not! Nothing surprises me about our weather anymore. Then to the garden centre for plants and looks at the expensive Xmas trees. The one we planted last year died sadly so that won't be any use this year. Then off to Granma's and Audreys for coffee and a half scone.

Frodsham

Nice drive over to frosty Frodsham to look round the charity shops and junk shops etc. Found a few bargains. Hazel got a lead cowboy drawing his guns to go with the other three lead cowboys on the picture rail above the mantlepiece. Also a blue bowl. We have hundreds of bowls so don't know why we needed another! She can't help herself. I found a copy of "Flyposter Frenzy" that was published back in the 90's - full of mail art folk we used to correspond with. Then to Roy's little shop of treasures. He's very chatty and shows us some prize possesions he didn't want to sell - had to move the poor slumbering dog to get at them - a fancy architects measure thingy and beautiful old glass Xmas tree ornaments ( £4 each ) We were tempted but a bit pricey and fragile - the chances are they'd be in bits time we got home. Tried the bakery for some lunch but they wanted to charge us 50p to heat up a pasty so we decided to go to a cheaper shop down the road. We were going to buy a loaf too so they missed out on several pounds worth of sales. After a cheese and onion pasty in the car we walked round the antique emporiums at Lady Heyes. Found a few more bits and bobs. Freezing cold wind blowing off the Mersey - Brrrrr! Glad to eventually get home in the warm.

Marbury Walk

Pleasant walk around Marbury this morning in the sunshine. Squelch squelch went the leaves. Honk honk went the geese. Tramp tramp went the walking boots! Afterwards dropped off some stuff at Granma and Audrey's . Didn't go in as Granma was feeling a bit poorly. Home for fakey bacon and egg sarnie. Yum!

Early Birthday and Crimble Celebration

Nice afternoon with the Eves. They were off soon to Oz so we had an early surprise birthday lunch and combined Crimble treats. I made a frittata with two salads- sour dough bread. Trifle that Hazel made with lashings of sherry! Went for a drizzly walk down the lane - rain got faster so we ran home for tea and ecclefechens ( sort of mini mincemeat tarts wiuth nuts ) Yum! I almost nidded off in the front room - not very good for a host! Tony and Pene didn't seem to mind - they were looking at books and chatting to Hazel.

Boot Sale Time

Indoor boot sale this morning at memorial court. Got a few nice old DIY mags from the 50's for 50p each . Hazel got a big roll of gum strip for 50p , a enamel mug and measuring glass. Then to Iceland for some "bits". Afterwards to Granma and Audrey's for coffee and chin wag. Filled in a competition in Take A Break for them to identify celebrities hidden behind silly Xmas costumes and beards etc. What fun! Home for a mozzarella burger on a bun.