Winter Projects - Inspired by Kirstie

With motorhoming adventures behind us until 2012 (note to self - write post about most recent m/home adventure) my mind and fingers are turning to cosy indoor pursuits.  I enjoy trying my hand at different crafts so after watching Kirstie Allsopp's WI friends do a jolly good job on producing a mirror with a mosaic frame for their exhibit at one of the County Shows I looked around for a suitable mosaic related project.

Hmm.  This gives me an idea!

I spotted a scruffy, brown, but solid coffee table at a local charity shop for £5, stripped off the torn and stained leatherette top and what did I have left?  A nice recessed space for - you guessed it - a mosaic.  After giving the legs and frame a couple of coats of paint, clear varnish and an antique finish I set about the design, which was perhaps too curvy. Covering this in random bits of tile, was sometimes fiddly and frustrating, although enjoyable overall.

Getting There.

It's almost finished. I'm pleased with the effect, but the grout seems to have shrunk and some of the very tiny bits of tile stick up and are sharp.  So tomorrow I'm going to sandpaper the sharp edges and top up the grout.  Of course being me I couldn't make do with white grout, I had to colour it, so I'm going to have to try and mix the same shade again!  I shall report on progress!

Incidentally Kirstie Allsopp and her WI friends' theme for their competition entry was The Secret Garden.  One of my all time favourite books.  Looking forward to Malvern Theatre's production of it in the New Year.

Malvern Theatre Thrill

How time flies. I feel shamefaced that I haven't written a post since August.  We've been touring in our motorhome (see future posts) and I've been writing short stories.  Three were submitted to Woman's Weekly (happy hundreth birthday WW).  Two rejected.  I'm still hopeful that the third, a longer Christmas story called 'Keeping Christmas' may be accepted for a WW fiction special.  I also submitted a story to Writers Forum, for which I received a commendation and a useful critique which I will definitely use to make some improvements and re-submit as they suggest.

I've had a little more success with letters and photos being published in Take a Break magazine.

A special thrill was winning a place in Malvern Theatres' short story competition 'As You Read It'.  The eight writers selected to read their stories performed in front of a substantial and receptive audience last night.  I'm very proud to have been chosen.  http://www.malvern-theatres.co.uk/ 

I became more terrified as the 9th (rehearsal) and 10th November (performance) drew nearer.  I woke at 3am yesterday morning, and despite deep breathing, getting up to make chamomile tea, eating a banana (good for inducing sleep allegedly), I didn't drop off again until it was almost time to get up.

The rest of the day was spent trying to chill out and numb my nerves.  The copious amounts of chamomile and lavender (inhaled, massaged and in the case of the chamomile - drunk as well), plus yoga, self-manicure and pedicure etc etc worked sufficiently well to get me to Malvern before 6.30 to get ready for the performance an hour later.

I was met by Sophie, the Education Manager, who was very involved with the organisation of the event and the writers throughout the evening.  Bill, the Stage Manager showed me to the dressing room and was very kind and supportive.  This was much appreciated, especially when waiting in the wings to go on.  Nic Lloyd, the CEO of Malvern Theatres (without whom 'As You Read It' would not have taken place) came to the green room to cheer us all on.  According to Grasshopper who was in the audience with two friends, he also gave a witty introduction to the evening. 



I was first on after the interval, to a wonderful warm welcome from the audience.  Amazingly my nerves disappeared, the audience laughed in all the right places, I didn't make a single mistake and I really enjoyed myself.

Meeting all the other writers was also great.  Fay Wentworth, who read her story 'Whisper in the Wind' is an extensively published writer.  To visit her website click on http://www.faywentworth.wordpress.com/

Andrew Owens, a fellow member of the Worcester Writers Circle read his story 'Bootleg to Paris'.  He regularly reads at performance venues around the west mids.

The other writers were Ellie Targett who also has a number of books under her belt.  She read 'Preparations'.  John Jinks read 'Get me to the Church on Time', Oliver Jones - 'RE. The Tables Turned', Daniel Howard - 'Dreaming of Lucas', David Phelps - 'Unwanted Guests'. 

Many thanks to Malvern Theatres, Nic Lloyd, Sophie Mclellan and Bill (I don't know Bill's surname) for  this fantastic opportunity.  When is the next one?

Writer's Bottom. It's worth it!

'Writers Bottom' - a picturesque thatched hideaway located in a sunny glade and purchased by writer with the proceeds of her best sellers?  Regrettably not.  Although if I'm ever lucky enough to be in the position to buy that cottage I think I will call it Writer's Bottom.

Yesterday was a lucky day.  I had two articles published with photos.  What a thrill!  After our enjoyable visit to the Great Western Motorhome Show on Saturday (see Rootin Tootin post 22nd August) I came home a wrote a short piece for the Worcester News http://worcesternews.co.uk/ and emailed it off to them with four or five pics.  They printed it with two of the photos yesterday morning. 

Later in the day, Jan and Terry, motorhoming friends we'd met up with at the Show, emailed to say they'd spotted my site review about Fallowfield Dene, Hexham, Northumberland http://www.fallowfielddene.co.uk/ in the current issue of MMM magazine.  Well it was news to me as I hadn't heard a thing.  Frustratingly we weren't able to read it ourselves until Sainsbury's put them out for sale this morning.

For more information about things to do in Northumberland visit my posts 15th May, 2nd and 3rd June 2011.

Anyway I'm still walking on air, which makes a change from sitting tapping away on the PC or laptop developing my - yes you guessed it - writer's bottom.

For MMM magazine's website click on:          http://www.outandaboutlive.co.uk/

Motorhoming and Accessing the Internet

Robin getting in on the free WiFi

We imagined we'd have less difficulty accessing the internet as we travel around in our motorhome.  I admit that I have become addicted to activities that somehow involve daily internet access.  I didn't mean for this to happen but I've found that when I'm away from my daily broadband fix I have withdrawal symptoms.  I notice that I'm not the only one.  At the campsites in France where reasonably priced, or better still free internet access was available, droves of men and women jostled for space in the optimum WiFi coverage areas, braving rain and wind and dodgy reception in order to email and blog. 

At L'Orangerie de Lanniron near Quimper where the cost overcame my desire, we were willing to lose ourselves on the confusing road system just so we could find a McDonalds and free WiFi (pronounced WeeFee in France).  Yes we did eat there.

We also stayed longer than we'd originally intended at sites that provide free Wifi (Kawan Village Le Moustoir near Carnac, Camping Le Cabellou Plage near Concarneau, La Ferme Lann Hoëdic near Sarzeau) so benefitting the local economy.  Please see my relevant posts for links.

In Britain the Caravan Club is expanding the number of sites with access to the internet (currently 120).  Costs have reduced over the years, and is now between £5 for 5 hours and £40 for 100 hours that can be used over a 6 month period.  http://caravanclub.co.uk/

As a newly retired person of restricted income I needed to reduce my costs at home for telephone and broadband so decided to wave goodbye to BT (that saga has to be a subject of a future blog).  Using the internet of course to research my best options I went for Plusnet (owned by BT - but hopefully more efficient and less costly, however it is too early to say) and got the deal through comparison website Simplifydigital.  At that time they were offering a free dongle to get 'WiFi on the move' for a month - so naturally that swung the deal.  It took a while and another phone call before they sent it to me, but I was politely treated by a very nice girl who understood what I was saying, and I understood her.  She sent it to me by return with a very nice letter. So a big gold star and grateful thanks to D.Mistry, Sumeet Maru and Simplifydigital for good customer service.  For more info go to http://simplifydigital.co.uk/

Have any of you got any useful advice about free or cheap internet access in Britain and Europe?  If so I'd love to hear from you.

Rootin Tootin Great Western Motorhome Show, Yee Haa!

Grasshopper and I joined thousands of enthusiastic motorcaravan owners and wannabes at the 7^th Great Western Motorhome Show at the Three Counties Showground, Malvern on Saturday 20^th.  When not dodging the downpour we perused the vast array of American and European Motor Homes on show, sang along to the Country and Western Bands, and indulged in a bit of motor home related shopping!  It was also good to catch up with friends Jan and Terry who we met in France earlier this year.

''Gittin' together at the Tradin' Post''

The busy showground looked like a film set as many visitors embraced the spirit of the event by dressing in imaginative western garb.  Sharpshooters researching satellite systems, graceful Southern Belles sheltering in the tea tent, an Indian Chief, his Squaw and their papoose weighing up different motor homes  - all slightly bizarre and great fun. 

Mean gunslingers, hardened cavalry men, tough Sheriffs and State Marshalls staged exciting shoot-outs several times a day in the ‘Lone Star’ group’s re-enactments. 

''Come on in and rest awhile''

Visitors with a fancy to live like the Wild West frontiersmen and women were given a glimpse of life in covered wagons complete with authentic artefacts, cooking pots, utensils and weapons.

Frontierswoman modelling a bustle.

Creating Traditional Beadwork

Native American enthusiasts demonstrated traditional crafts, dancing and poetic sign language.  Curious visitors were welcomed into cosy tepees, wigwams and wick-i-ups and shown how to do the intricate beadwork decorating clothing and accessories.

If you are interested in motorhoming and missed the show this year, put it in your diary for 2012.  See you there.

Blogger Frustration

Last week I went back into the Carnac post I'd previously published to add some more information and photos.  The photos took an age uploading, finally resulting in a warning sign saying 'server rejected'.  It was late so I thought I'd try again the next day.  This was not to be.  The 'compose' box is full of gobbledegook that looks suspiciously like HTML and refuses to go back to the original.  I searched the help topics, and posted a question.  Someone has been trying to help me find a solution, all to no avail.  I think s/he has given up, so I think I will have to delete the draft and start again.  Curses.  All that work!

Grasshopper and I recently joined Worcester Writers Circle.  We are both enjoying the fortnightly meetings.  Established members of the group are successful writers who have been welcoming and very willing to share their extensive knowledge and experience with us new 'uns.

They also have an informative website and blog  http://worcesterwriterscircle.blogspot.com/

Another blogger frustration though - I have tried to post a comment today on the Circle's blog and it keeps being rejected, but it doesn't say why or what I have to do to put it right.  UGGHH!!! Hair pulling time.  Perhaps not.  At my age every strand counts.
 
Ain't new communication great when it works?

Places to Visit - Dinan and St.Malo



The Interesting Old Town of Dinan

We loved Dinan.  Wonderful oak timbered medieval buildings, bustling little narrow streets, interesting shops and pavement cafés.  Just our sort of place.  I think the sun shone too whilst we explored.  We had a lunchtime snack in the cafe near to the Basilique Saint Sauveur.  The heart of Bertrand du Guesclin is entombed there.  He was a knight and military commander in the 100 Years War, and known as the Eagle of Brittany.

There is a theatre.  The tourist office is housed in a medieval building next to it.  This building used to be the hotel where the visiting actors used to stay. 

Dinan is well worth a visit.  Next time I'd like to spend longer than just a few hours there.



Dinan Tourist Office (previously Theatre Hotel).  Theatre on the right - off photo.



City Walls of St.Malo

St.Malo was also a lovely surpise.  This busy and attractive walled city was severely damaged during World War 2, however extensive rebuilding has been completed.  This complements the oldest parts of the city.  We really couldn't detect new from old.  You can walk around the walls, which are very wide in parts. 

Mmm.. I wish I'd ordered what you're having!

On one side, you can enjoy voyeuristic pleasures looking at unsuspecting diners enjoying their seafood lunches.  On the other you can see out to the port areas and to the sea beyond.   It was too wet to venture on to the beach, but we watched intrepid youths oblivious to the cold wind and rain enjoying launching themselves off the diving platform.




What rain and wind?



Cold Weather Protection?

The city would be a good base for a longer holiday as it so much more than just a ferry port. 

Take wet weather clothes and warm jumpers.  This chap's fur collar?

It's a POODLE - thankfully still living.