Walk in Marbury Country Park

Another warmish February day despite a slight frost this morning - it warmed up later in the bright sunshine. Dropped Audrey off at LILIWAC knitting and croquet get together in Great Budworth and then Hazel drove us over to Marbury for a walk and picnic. Lots of mad dogs leaping about being bitten on the nose when they got too close to that swan in the photo - we kept our distance! Saw lots of wagtails, ducks, geese, moorhens etc. An abundance of daffodils and blossom. Ate our tuna sandwich and humus crisps under the picnic area thingy. Noisy adult children and carers nearby having a picnic too - some wandering off to shout at the blue sky for being so blue - some in the bushes. "Come back Malcolm or there's no theme park for you!"

More Junk

Surprising number of bargains this morning at the indoor boot sale at Memorial Ct. despite being at the back of a huge queue. Favourite is the tin woodpecker who pecks at coins and puts them in a woodpecker's hole ( there's a song about that !) well, it would do if it still worked! Also nice set of photo countryside ciggy cards "Senior Service", metal Matchbox garage sign, plastic light meter dial thingy, carved nut in shape of flying saucer? ashtray? bon bon dish? not sure what it is actually. Captain Webbs matchbox and other bits and bobs. Hazel got a sailor puppet head made of plastic, wire gauge and milk pail. Beth got a plastic girls head for practicing hairdressing. Then we all went to Lidl to by boring stuff like bread, olives, cheese, vegetables etc.

North Wales Antique Road Trip No. 2

Nice couple of days in the Welsh countryside, looking for antique and junk shops. First to Mold which was nice little town with a farmers market in full swing. Took refuge in pleasant cafe and got speaking to a local couple who told us the way to the Antique emporium some 5 miles out of town. Had a toasted tea cake. A couple charity shops to look in. The Antique place near Mold wasnt that exciting - everything was very expenive and brass kettles etc, polished to within an inch of their lives! We prefer grubby artifacts! Hazel bought a book about 100 objects ( see photo ) written in English and Welsh. Then off to Denbigh and the place we went to before on our last Antique Road Trip. A bit pricy too so didnt get anything. The owners sat outside on old armchairs sunning themselves. Hazel noticed an ambulance leaving in the next door garage and she wonder if the man she saw busy with something on the floor was in fact giving artificial resuscination to someone the ambulance had just taken away - something we missed when reversing out some moments before! Then to Ruthin and the Crafts Centre to see the exhibition of enamelling and work by John Grayson with some techniques he had discovered from working with old Midlands metalworking "toy" trades. The rest of the exhibition was rather dull ceramics. More good shops and antique places to look round. Found a lovely shops that sold old 60's novelties and toys including masks , plasic viewers ( religious ) shaped like cameras and tiny hand mirrors with cartoons of cowboys etc. Hazel bought a Rocket Watch which had four hands. Also some ball bearing puzzle games with silly faces. Stayed the night at an old rectory - a delightful B&B with owner to match, who served up a tray of lemon drizzle cake she had made with a pot of tea to welcome us. She laughed a lot which is always a good sign. We walked up the hill to the old church and got a good view of the village and the new school which was a bit of an eye sore - felt sorry for the peopleliving nearby who had to look at this horrible thing being built spoiling their view. Anyway, ate the baps and crisps whilst watching Little Miss Sunshine which we had seen before but enjoyed again. Slept rather fitfully due to heavy duvet and strange bed but enjoyed a massive breakfast the next morning. Then off to Wrexham which was a nightmare to get to down those narrow winding lanes. Equally awful to get out of via a spaghetti junction type road mangle!

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!