frayed at the edge

Sweet treats!

The weather on Saturday was glorious, so when Stuart and Alison arrived mid-afternoon, we had a cuppa sitting out on the deck.  And with the cuppa, we had these sweet treats, which the visitors brought.  Now this sounds a weird combination - a caramel and chocolate scone, topped with slices of caramel wafer.  It was as sweet as it sounds - but sensibly, they only brought one, and a quarter each was enough!

 

they also brought two extra large Empire biscuits - I put my hand in the photo to show just how big they were!  So, we each had a half

 

this is the kitchen table, laid ready for breakfast on Sunday morning, with a pretty parcel for me for Mothers' Day

 

Stuart's card was up to (or should I say down to) his usual standard ....... he doesn't do soppy hearts and flowers!  And look at the beautiful scarf they gave my - I am a very lucky Mum!

 

after a hearty breakfast, they had to shoot off home, so that Alison could visit her Mum, and we headed off to Amble to enjoy another glorious sunny day.  We had a stroll round the town and popped in for a cuppa

 

no cake or scone, but you will see why in a minute

 

we had a potter round the varied little shops

 

and having tasted some cheeses, came home with these two

 

we continued our walk, under the watchful eye of some gulls

 

I always find piles of lobster pots appealing

 

we had a walk along the pier

 

I'm not sure if this qualifies as a lighthouse, and as you can see from the gate and the spiked railings, we couldn't walk along to it for a better look

 

on the way home we went through Warkworth - the castle isn't as big as Bamburgh, but still dominates the skyline

 

now, this is why we didn't have cake in the morning.  When Stuart and Alison were buying the scone and Empire biscuits, they saw this amazing cake

 

and knowing that I like Parma Violets, they bought a slice for me for an extra Mothers' Day treat.  I very generously shared it with Malcolm ......... it was so rich and sweet, there was no way I could have eaten the whole slice, even with my sweet tooth! 

 

and to finish, two wonderful skies.  First, last night's sunset

 

and the this one from this morning ....... I got up as usual at 6.20 to endure the implements of torture, and was greeted by a wonderful sunrise out over the sea

 

A date for your diary

Today, we start with something very important! The wonderful Margaret, Queen of Appliqué, is having an exhibition of her amazing quilt tops on Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th of April.  Margaret hopes to raise lots of money for her disabled grandson Harry, a talented Boccia player, who has won lots of medals.  But he receives no official funding, so has to raise money himself to go on playing.  So if you can, come along to the exhibition, enjoy Margaret's wonderful quilts, and of course you know the cakes will be fabulous!!  The exhibition is in Eckford Village Hall, and I can hear many of you wondering where that is.  If you have Satnav, the postcode is TD5 8LG .........

 

........ and if you like a proper map, this shows you where Eckford is in relation to Kelso and Jedburgh

 

if you are coming up the A697 from Northumberland, when you get to Cornhill, you can either turn left and take the lower road through Wark, or go on through Coldstream, then turn left ........ both roads will take you to Kelso, then on to Eckford.  And if you need any more persuasion to go to the exhibition, I will be there helping both days!!

 

and now for something else that is VERY important ........ this little red tractor

 

a thing of great beauty, is for sale.  Please will someone buy it for me!!

 

when we were out and about on Wednesday, we popped into the Old School Gallery in Alnmouth for a cuppa

 

there is stunning artwork ......

 

and lots of lovely things for gifts for sale

 

but shock, horror, they didn't have any scones!  So we had to make do with a very delicious piece of lime polenta cake!

 

I bought these three little cards - I think they will look good in a row in a frame

 

then yesterday, we popped over to Longframlington to see about registering with a GP.  A very helpful receptionist told us about the Practice, and gave us forms to fill in.  We then popped into the Paper Shop for our daily dose of newspapers (we both much prefer reading a proper paper to reading the news online), then into the Running Fox for a cuppa

 

some of you may recognise the building ........ yes, it is where Stitchin' Heaven was!  The inside has been completely transformed into a cafe, and through the back, a bakery

 

in the time we were there, the phone rang constantly, with people wanting to book a table for lunch - it is a very popular place.  They have an amazing breakfast menu ........ we were advised to phone up and book a table if we want to go for breakfast on a Saturday, it is so busy!

 

we shared a three cheese scone, which was DELICIOUS!!

 

not surprisingly, having been out for cuppas two days in a row, we didn't go out for a Friday cake!!  It is Mothers' Day on Sunday, so Stuart and Alison are coming down for a flying visit, arriving tomorrow afternoon, then shooting off after breakfast on Sunday, to get back for Alison to see her Mum!  It is the first time we have seen them since they got engaged, so there may be some fizz chilling in the fridge!  I hope you have a good weekend, love Anne

Connected!

Hooray, the landline and broadband were connected this morning.  We may be in a small village, but the speeds are excellent!  The unpacking continues, with not too much more to do now.  I thought I would wait until the rooms are all neat and tidy to show you photos of them, but in the meantime here are some little vignettes.  First my old washstand in the hall, with my favourite hats hanging above

 

the space between the front door and the downstairs loo is just the right size for this table

 

half way up the stairs, the Wayang puppets (from Indonesia) are looking imperious

 

we are looking forward to getting some coal for the fire

 

the garden room has changed since you saw it - we lifted the pink rug, and instead put down these black and white rugs which we bought in Habitat way back at the end of the 80s!

 

just the right size for the dining table to sit on it

 

I took this photo this afternoon with the big lens.  This is the view in the distance from the kitchen window - yes, that deeper blue band in the middle of the photo is the sea!

 

of course we have to have the occasional break from all the hard work, so yesterday morning we headed to Heighley Gate Garden Centre, where we shared this magnificent cheese and sun dried tomato scone!

A day off!

As we don't yet have a broadband connection at the new house (it's scheduled for Monday), we have popped up to the flat to catch up on a million emails!! So of course that also means I can do a quick post!  This was the very last thing being unloaded - one of our sofas

 

they were trying to tell me that I had to pay them models' rates to take their photo ........ to which I replied that sadly they just weren't pretty enough to be models, which caused a great deal of laughter!

 

boxes here .......

 

boxes there ..........

 

boxes everywhere!!

 

my coaster aptly described my state!

 

Stuart and Alison had given me this bottle of champagne for Christmas, and I had put it away, to be drunk on our first night in the new house

 

I even found these beautiful champagne flutes, which Stuart and Alison gave us for our Silver Wedding

 

on Wednesday, it didn't take long to sort out the furniture in the garden room.  We brought all this furniture back from Indonesia, and this is the first time we have had it all in one room - I love it!

 

I was doggedly unpacking boxes in the kitchen after lunch, when Malcolm appeared and suggested that we walked along to Nelson's Café for a cuppa ....... I had my jacket on before he had finished speaking!

 

ten minutes later, we arrived at the café, which you can read about here

 

there is an eclectic mix of furniture

 

and some lovely gifts to buy

 

Malcolm as always had coffee

 

and I had tea

 

and we shared an amazing brownie

 

it has been nice having the day off from unpacking boxes, but we are looking forward to getting the rest unpacked and the house turned into a home!  I don't think the forecast is very good for the weekend, but hopefully we will get out for a walk.  I hope you have a good weekend, love Anne

More ships!

When we got up on Tuesday morning, we were somewhat surprised to find that a ship had come into the dock overnight!  As soon as it was light, there was a constant stream of lorries queueing up to load it

 

then this morning, we saw that an even bigger ship had come in overnight, and there were even more lorries waiting to load it

 

of course yesterday we had to endure Storm Doris.  This is looking from the front windows to the back windows ......

 

........ and from the back windows to the front.  Why am I showing you the windows?  Well, at one point during the storm, the rain was lashing against both the front and back windows, which was decidedly scary!

 

when we walked over to town this afternoon, these two swans .......

 

........ were determined to hide their heads under their tails

 

but the duck posed quite happily

 

as we walked along the riverside path, these two cygnets went past.  They still have to shed the last of their juvenile feathers

 

not only did this swan have a dirty mark on its back, but is also had a dirty line round it from the silt in the river after the storm

 

suddenly the sun went in, and it felt a lot colder, so we didn't walk all the way round the path to look at the driftwood boat - hooray for the digital zoom on the camera!

 

we walked up through the park, where there were lots of signs of spring.  Grape hyacinths

 

my favourite, snowdrops

 

daffodils

 

pale hellebores

 

and dark hellebores

 

walking through the town, Malcolm pointed out this chimney.  I think it could do with a bit of pointing at its base

 

this is the back of the Big Money Pit.  There must be some work going on inside, as this window has wire mesh over it, probably to keep the pigeons out, and there is a stepladder.

 

the owners of the Money Pit must have read my last post about their house ........ because the scaffolding has gone!

 

as we crossed the bridge on our way back, I could see a group of swans on the far side of the river

 

and several lorries loading the ship

 

when you look at this photo, what catches your eye ....... the washed-up beer can or the male duck?  Did you notice the female duck?

 

and so, on to the Friday cake!  Malcolm chose a chocolate brownie with almonds - I didn't taste it as I don't like almonds, but he said it was delicious

 

I had a piece of millionaire's shortbread, which was sweet and very, very delicious!

 

I won't be here on Monday, but I'll be back on Tuesday with my February report for 17 UFOs in 2017.  I hope you have a good weekend, love Anne

Sunny Dunny

Dunbar lived up to its nickname of Sunny Dunny on Wednesday, with lots of sun and blue skies.  But before we went for a walk round the town, of course we had to fortify ourselves with a cuppa.  I like the tray on the table with the menu etc 

 

we shared a most delicious toffee tart - and I do like places that give you an extra plate and cutlery when you say are you sharing!  The waitress had to explain to Malcolm how to use the new cafetiere .....

 

...... when he put it on top of the cup, the coffee came out the bottom!

 

another post box photo to add to my collection.  This one is Edward VII  - the son of Queen Victoria

 

when you were admiring the lovely blue sky and the beautiful old building .......

 

........ did you notice the man sitting astride the roof?

 

an unusual street name

 

this gun points out to sea - I wonder if I could turn it round  lob a few stink bombs at the Numpties in the Scottish Parliament, then turn it back to lob some at the Westminster lot!!

 

you know by now that I have a warped mind - this sign made me think of a horde of Cliff Richard impersonators, running round singing "Congratulations" and throwing people off the cliff

 

very often walks with Malcolm involve long flights of steps, but I was spared going up these ones .......

 

........ although it would have meant getting closer to the bank of snowdrops

 

we passed a big house undergoing serious renovations.  Of course I said "I want one of these"!!

 

the remains of the castle

 

Malcolm pointed this out - but did you see the two seagulls or the remains of the window first

 

there was only one small boat in this part of the harbour

 

but there were several marooned on the mud in the other part of the harbour

 

there was no information plaque on this sculpture

 

and despite my best efforts, I can't find anything online about it

 

after a very enjoyable walk, it was on to the Garden Centre for lunch

 

in the very stylish coffee shop

 

stilton and broccoli soup with brown bread - delicious!

 

on the way home, there were several tractors out and about, each with an impatient queue of traffic behind it

 

even the enormous power station looked quite stylish against the blue sky

 

now, we may have started with a little Wednesday cake, but that doesn't mean we can't finish with the usual Friday cake!  We walked over to town this afternoon, and after we had run several errands, we popped into Café Crema.  Oh my - they have been experimenting with some new chocolate brownies.  Just feast your eyes on these beauties - mint Aero for Malcolm

 

and salted caramel for me - I got a fork as well as a knife, as mine was a bit squidgy!!

 

we were delighted this morning, after a flurry of communications from our solicitor, to finally have an entry date for our new house - so if it all goes to plan, we will get the keys on Thursday 9th March!!  No doubt we will spend the weekend making plans for the move.  I hope you have a good weekend, love Anne

 

This is where we went on Friday .......

 ........ we had a quick run up the coast to Eyemouth.  We parked in the small carpark beside the harbour, and immediately found something going on, with this boat manoeuvring between metal uprights.  But, unfortunately, it was snowing and bitterly cold, so we reluctantly walked on

 

but if we had waited, we would have seen the boat being pulled up the slipway to the boatshed

 

we think the metal uprights must form part of a cradle which probably runs up an underwater track

 

we decided to pop in here for a cuppa and cake (you know that we make the big sacrifice on a Friday, eating cake just so that you can enjoy the photos!)

 

we were greeted by Michael, the charming young man who owns Rialto.  He ushered us through to the back room, where a good old-fashioned coal fire was burning

 

when we went through to pay the bill (my treat on a Friday!), I was rather taken with this mirror, but I couldn't fit it in my handbag!

 

Michael and his waiter (oops, I didn't find out his name) were worried that this photo of the cakes wouldn't show them properly - they are all baked on the premises, so they wanted them to look their best

 

so they insisted on putting them on top of the counter.  This is the blueberry and lemon cream cake that I had - in the spring they make it with rhubarb, and in the summer with strawberries or raspberries (I will be going back to sample them!)

 

they are justifiably proud of their scones

 

and when I mentioned that our friend Anna had enjoyed a scone with jam and clotted cream, when we took her to Bamburgh during her visit in 2015, they swung into action, producing this tasty photo for her to enjoy!

 

as always, as we walked back to the car, there were random things to take photos of.  I liked this example of creative upcycling

 

and of course there are always gulls perched around the harbour

 

Malcolm wondered if this sign meant that if you fell overboard, you couldn't swim to save yourself (I'm not the only one in this family with a warped mind!!)

 

you would never get me on one of these small boats (unless you gave me vast amounts of money)

 

I was just taking this photo of two exceedingly large gulls

 

when this duck popped up

 

you will have to take my word that there are two seals in this photo!

 

and of course we have to have something rusty from the harbour!

 

I wasn't going to visit the wool shop, but Malcolm made me ........

 

....... then having bought a little kit, I had to buy a circular needle, because, of course, mine are all in storage!

 

tomorrow is my big night at Abbey Quilters, showing the members how I hand quilt ........ I'll tell you all about it on Wednesday!

You wait months for a ship .......

then two come along at once!  When we got up yesterday morning, there was a large ship sitting offshore, waiting for high tide to come into the dock

 

at lunchtime, there was a flurry of activity, and the pilot boat headed out

 

and was soon shepherding the ship in

 

then, on the other side of the breakwater, the survey boat, which is a regular visitor, appeared

 

but it had to wait as the big ship slowly, slowly, edged into the dock

 

when the survey boat then started to head for the dock, it was bouncing on the waves

 

making me feel slightly sea sick!

 

 

meanwhile the big ship was turning - the man sitting on his motorbike on the left gives you the scale

 

the dog looked exceedingly bored, as his owners watched the ship

 

a final nudge from the pilot boat to push the ship against the dock ........

 

........ and the survey boat was able to dock as well

 

a procession of large lorries then arrived to load the ship .....

 

........ and came back first thing this morning to go on with the loading.  They had to stop for a while late this afternoon, as it was snowing heavily, but they are busy again

 

mid-morning, the inflatable from the survey boat went out

 

I didn't see it come back, but a short time later the survey boat, with the inflatable back on board, headed back out to sea

 

it's Friday, so that means cake ........ but you will have to come back on Monday to find out where we went this afternoon to enjoy these delicious cakes.  I was somewhat greedy, and had a rather large slice of blueberry and lemon cream cake (although I did give Malcolm some of it)

 

Malcolm was slightly more restrained, and had a slice of Earl Grey tea loaf

 

the forecast for the weekend isn't very good, so if we don't get out and about, I will be curled up on the bed in the afternoons either watching a film or catching up on a Craftsy class, while Malcolm watches football.  I hope you have a good weekend, love Anne

Not quite .......

........ a place for everything, but we have just about squeezed in everything that we brought over to the flat.  These are some of my orchids, which have survived being moved ....... they are prone to dropping all their flowers if they are unhappy

 

we usually just have cacti in the flat, as they are low maintenance, but of course we have had to find room for the house plants

 

I have always had house plants, except for when I had two brief stays in an apartment in Singapore.  When Stuart was little, macramé plant hangers were all the fashion, so the plants were hung from the ceiling away from little fingers!

 

I know my daffodils look a bit ill-arranged in the jug .......

 

....... but it's because there is a section in the middle of the jug that you fill with ice to keep your white or rose wine chilled

 

so far I have only found a place to hang up this calendar

 

I don't really want to put pins in the walls to hang up my almost naked men

 

my delightful Minions (which I bought half-price last month!)

 

and my fabulous tractor calendar, which Stuart and Alison gave me for Christmas

 

the bed in the back bedroom is the opposite of the princess and the pea ....... instead of a great pile of mattresses, there is a great pile of quilts and wallhangings

 

 

it's Friday, so that means cake!  I had to pop back over to Hawick this morning, to have my poor sore leg treated by the nurse.  As always I was early, so I popped into the coffee shop in one of the local supermarkets, and treated myself to a pot of tea and a chocolate fudge cake

 

I removed the paper wrapper to reveal this beautiful confection - I am sure it contained my entire calorie allowance for the day! 

 

tomorrow I am heading over to Kelso for an Abbey Quilters' Linus/UFO day.  I haven't seen the girls for several weeks, so it will be good to see what everyone is working on (and catch up on the gossip news!).  I hope you have a good weekend, love Anne

A very tasty scone!

As there has been a definite dearth of sconnage on the blog recently, I thought I would pop in and share this delicious scone which we shared this morning in Café Crema in Berwick ..........

 

cheese and sun dried tomato, still warm from the oven!