Am I only dreaming?

Good morning, my lovelies!

This is where I'm writing to you from today ... and no, before you ask, I'm not on my jollydays although it does feel like it ...

Come on in ... kick off your shoes, and I'll give you a tour ...

Meet Dotty ... our new family member, and already much-loved ...

This is my favourite place to sit and watch the world go by ...

Room to relax ...

Another cosy corner ..

and Ruby, photobombing my pretty pictures! She's settled in very well, and I can often find her in here, getting away from it all ...

Time to put your feet up, and enjoy the ride (although we aren't going anywhere!) ...

Floral loveliness abounding ...

My treasures all fit in so effortlessly ...

And life really is just a bowl of cherries! 

This dream of mine, to have a caravan in the garden, has been harboured for ever ... ever since I was a little girl and used to visit a family friend's caravan by the sea.  A bolt hole, somewhere to think and dream, to be creative or just simply to laze about in, doing nothing. Somewhere that is home, but not in the house ... but not properly outside either. 

This dream has been made a reality by a lovely lady called Gillian. She remembered that about a year ago, I had been enquiring on Facebook if anyone had an old caravan I could buy, for a project in the garden.  I wasn't lucky as the replies were all too expensive, too big, or just not what I was looking for.  When passing a possible candidate parked at the roadside, I would screech to a halt, leap out and look for phone numbers, but it was never to be.  Until now, and I'm so, so glad that I waited! Gillian contacted me, saying she was selling her caravan and would I like to look at it.  She mentioned it was green with white spots, and decorated in Cath Kidston style.  All I can say is Gillian is not prone to exaggeration and I was flabbergasted when I saw Dotty for the first time, and when  the door was opened I was in seventh heaven! Steve took down the measurements and we then had to come home and measure the space we had available.  I knew that if she didn't fit through the gates that was the end of it ... with about 6 inches to spare on each side, Dotty was eased into position on our drive on Sunday evening.  We are busy removing raised beds on the veggie plot to finally position her as we can't get through our front door with ease any more!

Everyone who comes to see Dotty says "you've been busy, when did you get her"? and can't believe that she was already like this ... she is just perfect for my taste ... I had even painted a little step stool green with white spots only last week ... and my cushions match the roller blinds! I have been introducing small items, but can't go mad as yet, as Dotty has to be moved, so I will only have to empty her again.  There is loads of storage but I am determined that she doesn't become like my craft room ... too full to open the door! My craft room can now be tidied and sorted as my old Singer can now reside in Dotty ... a perfect place to sit and sew ...

Dreams can come true ... and thank you so much Gillian for making mine happen ... I know we are going to have many, many happy years with Dotty! 

Love, Claire xxx

PS: Thank you all for your lovely greetings and comments on Tuesday! We had a wonderful day with family and friends and the sun shone, so it was just perfect ... thanks again xxx

All is quiet ... on New Year's Day

Happy New Year, my lovelies, and I hope you've all had a lovely time? We don't really 'do' New Year's Eve here at Thriftwood, so after a festive bowl of ice-cream, laced with the last of the Bailey's off we went to bed at about 10.30.  Harry thoughtfully brought the New Year in noisily at about 4am, but thanks to my industrial strength earplugs, I slept through it ...

Looking back over the year, it's not been a bad one ... a lovely summer, with lots of sunshine and al fresco dining, one or two mishaps that are not worth dwelling on any longer, but best of all, my family were all safely gathered in for Christmas, and for this alone I feel very lucky.

It was Christmas Day in the Workhouse ...

Christmas has now almost completely been removed; although I love preparing for it, and enjoy the rituals that go with it, for me, once it's over ... it's over.  The trees are down, the baubles wrapped and packed away, but usually there is always a little something, lurking somewhere, that I've completely forgotten about, that will make itself known in the middle of January ...

I don't know about you, but this year I'm not going to make long lists of resolutions that are unachievable, and will just make me feel bad when they fail ... this year I am taking for myself one word ...

SIMPLIFY

I am going to try to simplify my life ... not in one great sweep but in small ways.  I am going to take each day as it comes, and try to simplify something each day.  For a start I want to stop making mountains out molehills, one of my major faults! Rome wasn't built in a day, but if I try to turn a negative into a positive, it will be a step in the right direction.

I am going to cut down on spending (even more!), simplify the way we shop, cook and eat. I want to simplify my surroundings and I want to rid myself of things that clutter up my head with unnecessary thoughts and not give them a moment of my time. If I need something new, I want to first make sure I haven't already got it, or something that will fit the purpose.

This year, when asked what I wanted for Christmas, instead of saying I didn't mind, I asked for things that I need and use all the time.  My favourite shower gel, moisturiser, make up etc, were all given to me and now I have drawersful of my favourite things which I won't have to go out and replace when I run low. 

From my lovely husband, among other things, I received a voucher for 6 sessions of sewing lessons at one of my favourite shops, Suzie B's ... I can't wait to start in the New Year and will keep you posted of my progress! Each session something different is made, a cushion, bag, doll ... I can't actually imagine being able to do this, but have wanted to for ages so this is my chance ...

Now the decorations are down, I'm filling the bare spaces with bowls of Spring bulbs, which brighten up the dullest corner with colour and scent.  It's just a tiny reminder that this bleak, wet and windy Winter weather won't last forever, and that Spring is in fact, just round the corner ... Not wanting to wish my life away though, I'm going to use this time to plan for the year ahead ... family time, finances, home, garden and Thriftwood Vintage ... although no longer contained in a shop, still my passion! I'm looking forward to this year's fairs, my second garden sale in the summer, and meeting lots of lovely people in the process. 

So how about you? Do you want to join me in simplifying our lives or are your lives as simple as can be? Maybe you love the hustle and bustle of a busy life and can't think of anything worse than living simply? 

I'd love to know ...

Love, Claire xxx

The ghost of Christmas past ...

My mind has been wandering down memory lane once again, and as I carry out my Christmas rituals I remember the way things were done when I were a lass ...

Thank you Google! xx

The build up to Christmas was always so exciting, at school there would be end of term competitions, guessing the number of sweets in a jar, raffles and of course The Christmas Party.  A new dress and shoes would always be bought, these would be worn for every special occasion over the Christmas period ... we didn't have drawerfuls of clothes then, and with four of us to clothe it was an expensive time for my parents. On the last day of school it was 'toy day' and I always took my favourite doll, Patricia. My Mam would make her a new dress specially for the occasion and I would wash her and do her hair the night before so that she looked beautiful.

Putting up the decorations was always a big event, and we would ooh and aah over the bubble lights which I so wish I still had ... we would get straw and set up the crib with the figures which my Mam had since she was a child and make paper chains to hang from the ceiling.

Spot the deliberate grammatical error! Grrr ...

On Christmas Eve, when my Dad was collecting The Turkey, my Mam would clean the house while me and my sister and brothers were becoming frantic with excitement ... I would help her to make the trifle and loved crumbling the Cadbury's Flake on top of the cream ... I still make my trifle exactly as my Mam did all those years ago. We would go to bed after putting out the mince pie for Father Christmas, and hope that sleep would come ....

The excitement of waking up and realising that it was Christmas Day ...

One of my best Christmas presents was a Tressy doll ... You pressed her belly button and her hair grew, wound her up with a key in her back and it was short again ... I can remember unwrapping her on Christmas morning, and she came with a wardrobe of hand knitted clothes, a pink and navy skating suit, jumper and skirt and a turquoise lurex evening gown with matching stole.  My Mam will have made these when i went to bed, and hidden them away. I played with her endlessly ... when you see what children get nowadays, Tressy would probably be just another stocking filler, but she was my best present.  

From Google - thanks so much! xx

We would each get a main present, usually a doll for me, a selection box, 2 annuals, and maybe 2 or 3 other bits and pieces. Probably a carrier bag full ... always with the Pretty Peach bubble bath from Avon sticking out of the top.  My Aunty always gave me a Bronnley gift set, soap, bath cubes and body lotion ... this made me feel very grown up, I remember.

So this year, once again as I prepare for the Big Day, my mind goes back to those carefree days, not so long ago, when Christmas was more about sharing and a time for families to get together, than the feast of consumerism it has become, where we all worship at the great God, Tesco ... It was a proper holiday, shops were shut for days, and the January sales were a big event, not starting until after 12th night ...

Along with the traditional favourites, new things are tried ... Peppermint Bark, yum yum!!

But Christmas just wouldn't be Christmas without a tin of these, now would it?

Whether you are traditional or modern, at home or away, I'll be raising a glass to you, and wishing you the very best Christmas you've ever had!

(and so does Ruby)

Have a fabulous time my lovelies, and looking forward to hearing all about it!

Love Claire xxx

Oh, Island in the sun ....

Almost a year ago I took you for a walk on the wild side to the wonderful Piel Island.  To be honest, I really didn't think it was that long ago, and as it was such a grey, miserable day, I thought it was last October, but no, it was actually in August!

Yesterday ... not last year!

My lifelong friend Anne who lives in Dorset, is visiting my little town on her annual jolly to see family and friends, and  over a nice meal out the other night, mentioned that she was going on a nostalgic boat trip to Piel Island with friends, so Millie and I invited ourselves along ...

This time we were going on the Ferry, not by foot, and the day dawned wild and windy with heavy showers, but as I always say, if we waited for sunshine we'd never get anything done. Armed with our pac-a-macs and picnics, we met up on Roa Island, and while we stood around idly chatting, missed the first ferry over!

Harry, ready for action

It only takes 10 minutes or so to do the return trip, so we didn't have long to wait before we boarded.  The sea was quite choppy, so it was a boisterous journey, but the sun was shining brightly and shimmering on the waves ... a bit different from the last time I showed you the island.

 

We approached the island after being gaily thrown about for five minutes or so, and although I have said it before, I still think that Piel Island would make a great setting for an Enid Blyton feature film as it has all the essentials ... a rugged, desolate beach; dark, brooding castle, a secretive huddle of smuggler's cottages, and an old sea dog's inn, all steeped in ancient, salty history ...

Millie, hugely excited!

We disembarked without falling in the sea, and went for a quick look around the island, as it is well over 30 years since Anne last camped here, and she needed to reacquaint herself with the landmarks.  She got a bit emotional which is very unlike her, as we looked at the little cottage that is still for sale, and had a little dream about living there, and then found a sunny spot to lay the blanket on the ground.

Replete with a Tesco meal deal (I left it too late to decide whether or not to go, so there was no time to make up the usual hamper) and several Fondant Fancies, we ambled along to the pub for a swift half of shandy ...

who needs to go abroad? 

By now the sun was really blazing it's socks off, so we all rolled up our jeans, fiddled around with tee shirts to avoid tan lines and joined in with the kids playing on the sand.  These are the best kind of days, and cost practically nothing ... the children get to play together, team build, use their imagination and are out in the fresh air, communing with nature.  Much better than trawling around a gaudy theme park eating vast amounts of chemical laden 'food' while their parents apply for a further advance on their mortgage.

This unfiltered image of the beach, sea and sky, wouldn't have looked out of place in a brochure advertising select 'off-the-beaten-track' holidays in the Aegean sea ...

eeeh! It's grim up north ...

All too soon it was time to leave, and we walked around the island, passing the castle ...

following the time-worn path beside the cliffs, eroded by the vicious tide, which will one day bring down this magnificent building and take it for its own ...

and boarded the ferry tired but happy, full of plans for next year!

Definitely A Grand Day Out of the highest order!

Sale of the Century

I know I promised to tell you all about my Vintage Sale which took place last week, BUT ...  I didn't take any photos ...  I started setting up at 6.30, and it took until 9 before I was satisfied with how it looked.  I took a little breather, had some breakfast, and made myself presentable, then everyone started arriving and didn't stop until lunchtime! By then it looked a little picked through and tatty, so I didn't bother with photographic evidence.  It was a fabulous day, the sun shone, was very well supported, I sold lots of stock, made some money to contribute to buying more of said stock, and decided that I will definitely be making Fabulous Vintage Sale an annual event! Thank you all for your support and kind words.

I'd just like to say that I was completely overwhelmed with the volume of comments for my last post. Thank you so much, they mean the world to me, and I was glad to be able to share my news with you.

Have a fabulous weekend, and hope the sun shines for you

Love, Claire xxx

Memories are made of this ...

The other day I was driving through the main road of our little town, and glancing to the right, noticed an old building which used to house the 'Co-op' Cafe.  This was a place I used to go with my workmates on payday, but as a child, its doors were never entered ... except for the one time that I remember.

It was a hot sunny day in the middle of the summer holidays in the late sixties, and I would be about eight years old. My Dad said he had a surprise for us, so to make ourselves presentable ... my lovely Mam busied herself getting us ready (there were four of us, so no mean feat) and off we went in the car. Mam, Dad, Uncle Johnnie (my Godfather, and the kindest, most patient man you ever could meet) and the four of us.  Seat belts not required in those days, and overloading didn't seem to exist either ... we only ever had small cars, either Morris Minors or an Austin A40, certainly nothing like a people carrier! Three adults and 4 children crammed into a small car probably designed to contain four people comfortably; but no-one seemed to mind ... we were off on a jolly!

Our first stop was the Co-op Cafe.  We entered its hallowed portal and walked up the red carpeted stairway.  It was a lovely, old school cafe with white linen, polished silver and waitresses in black with starched pinnies.  Nowadays, children are used to eating out on a regular basis.  Then it was a very rare occurrence.  Holidays and high days were very special occasions, and this was completely out of the blue, I think that's why it's ingrained in my memory.

google

We had a 3-course dinner, I remember the main course was a roast of some kind ... I won't lie and say that I remember every detail of the meal, only that it was delicious!

Fed and watered, we once again piled into the car to go home.  But we didn't go home.  With cries of "where are we going?" ... "are we nearly there yet?", we were told to just wait and see.  Our destination was Morecambe, across the bay from where we lived.  The afternoon was spent in amusement arcades and Louis Tussauds waxwork museum. Our Aunty lived in Blackpool, and we were lucky to holiday at her house every year, but Morecambe was not so familiar.

I never did find out what prompted this impromptu treat, we often went for runs out in the car, to the the beach, The Lakes, Chester Zoo, Blackpool of course ... but we always took a picnic, which was a treat in itself, and we were very fortunate that we had a car and could do these things.  It was the lunch out at a posh place that was so eventful! Children nowadays would probably roll their eyes as eating out is so commonplace, and hardly viewed as a treat at all ... how different it was then ... and how special.

After a late tea of fish and chips on the prom, we rolled home, tired but happy, storing away memories of A Grand Day Out.

Love Claire xxx