random postcard #10...

dear reader,

today was spiffy, totally spiffily spiffy, for i got to pottle with my trolley of greatness in all the eclectic little stores which Amsterdam does so well.

Het Grote Avontuur is the most peachiest store i have ever been in, Anna is equally as peachy as her store and it was lovely to meet her. my clan came with me and then fizzled off so we could chin wag about a few things. before they fizzled off they counted how many dottie angel notebooks were on the shop shelf. upon their return to collect me they exclaimed there was one less than before.

it was quite something to see our notebooks amongst so many lovelies, Anna is also going to be stocking my book, this bit of news has me quite teary eyed.

after a lot of pottling including the lovely store Juffrouw Splinter and Kitsch Kitchen we were all pottled out. in the evening we headed out to eat in the more main touristy part of Amsterdam, giving me an opportunity to frequent the clog shop, for it would never do to come all this way and go home without a pair of souvenir clogs. i found a bright yellow pair with windmills on and then i was overcome by cloggy lusting and had to have a keychain with itty bitty red wooden clogs on for our Mossy Shed door key.

we are coming to the end of our month on the road, tomorrow we fly back to old blighty, say our goodbyes and board a plane home to Mossy Shed. i hope all my random postcards of retrospect find their way onto your doormats. the mail can be a little iffy at times...

wishing you peachy times on your travels too and i have missed you greatly

Tif x

random postcard #9...

dear reader,

yesterday i met Jane at the train station and together we traveled to Ingrid's home town where upon we spent 24 hours together. after so many years of knowing each other in cyber world it was lovely to meet in the real world. we stayed in the secret garden room at the Villa Augustus. i do not believe i have ever stayed in such a wonderful place... we chin wagged late into the night and the following morning until it was time to leave and catch a train back.

upon arrival in Amsterdam i was met by my clan, riding high from their cycling adventures, we boarded a sight seeing boat and 'did' Amsterdam by water. it rained. in the morning before i got back, my clan had ventured to the flea market which runs every sunday and monday morning. knowing i would not back in time to see it for myself, they searched amongst the forsaken souls and found a lovely Pyrex jug with retro orange flowers on it. this very gesture warmed me to my very wet tippity toes.

in the evening we went to see Harry Potter's final farewell film. i noted to my man i was not super over excited about this as i have only seen his first movie and seeing the final one, being the second part of a two parter was not probably top of my list. still it was raining and actually upon reflection it was a good call by my man.

tonight i go to sleep in my little squeaky twin bed next to my man in his little squeaky twin bed in the basement of a 16th century house... knowing tomorrow is 'shopping day' in Amsterdam, i am not sure i will be able to sleep with the anticipation of what lies within those lovely little store windows i have past by since arriving in Holland

Tif x

random postcard #8...

dear reader,

we arrived late last night in Amsterdam for the final leg of our month on the road. in a few hours i will be off to meet my lovely friends Jane and Ingrid.

after my clan drop me at the train station they are off to hire bikes and see Amsterdam on wheels, the only way really. the forecast is rain, they are all togged out in rain gear, i will catch up with them the next day.

the houses in Amsterdam are beautiful, i cannot walk past them without having a good old ganders, i told my man i have high hopes one day when our children have left home we may rent one and live above the shop. he said it was a fine and mighty dream to have, the only reality being, the cost of renting one... i chose not to listen to the reality and just the dream

off to catch a train!

Tif x

random postcard #7...

dear reader,

we have arrived in Cambridge where my man and his folks were waiting for us. always interesting to return to where you grew up. 26 years have past since my man and i met in our teens in Cambridge.

alas and alack, my plans are not as i thought they would be. my dottie angel camp has been postponed to another time due to the location and dates not working for enough dearies. it has made me a little sad but i have high hopes i will be able to teach another some day in old blighty. in the meantime this gives me 7 extra days in Cambridge i had not bargained for.

1 of the days i will be holing myself up in a room to proof read my book. it arrived just before we left Devon and the layout was much larger than i had thought it would be, so no thrilling book proof reading on the train for me. actually the whole train and tube journey was an adventure in itself and i am thankful i had my clan with me to haul the luggage around

had news from Our #2 to say Used Dog is poorly again, this makes me fret for my critters, i know they are in safe hands with Our #2 but Used Dog is getting on and she is prone to bouts of sickness and needs extra care. moments like this makes me feel a long way from Mossy Shed

not sure of our plans for the rest of this week, but i know it will go by fast, proof reading, catching up with relatives, kicking a ball in the park and pottling around the streets of Cambridge. before long we will be on the road again

hope life is fine and dandy in your neck of the woods

Tif x

random postcard #6...

dear reader,

today we went to Lyme Regis, it was sunny and so we braved the beach with our sandwiches. after 10 minutes of fending off the pesky seagulls we decided despite the lovely picnicking weather we would give up.

we pottled along the seafront, past the lovely cotton candy coloured beach huts and ended up at the penny arcade. i noted next to the penny arcade was an antique mall. i suggested my clan may like to loiter in the arcade with some pennies whilst i did a bit of antique mall loitering. every one was in agreement.

Our #4 had never been in a penny arcade before and after spending many moments and the contents of my purse he came to the conclusion that he would like to be an arcade owner when he was older. for the rest of the day we had to discuss how much each arcade machine would cost to buy and how much money you would need from arcade loiterers before you paid off your arcade machine loans. it did occur to me that in fact they are probably rented machines... however after much discussion he decided it might not be as profitable as he thought it would be.

whilst we had our discussion, we wandered past a door, a door so lovely it caused me to gasp and wish with all my wishing might, it was my door belonging to my house in Lyme Regis... one day perhaps

we are packing up and heading east soon

Tif x

random postcard #5...

dearest reader,

oh happy day! i dropped 3 clan members and a boyfriend off at the amusement park and with a hop and skip drove over to my friend Hesta's abode. i love Hesta for many reasons, she is super quirky and her home is filled with handcrafted, thrifted goodness. i could stay all day just looking at her collections and piles of goodness. however today i could not, for today i had just a few hours spare and Hesta was taking me on 'a jolly'!

she invited me on 'a jolly' which she told me no other friend would quite get. the 'jolly' first took us to her allotment. upon arriving at Hesta's lovely bit of allotment she got busy getting out her scissors, ribbon and nails. i stood by, taking in this most wonderful moment in my life. i did not think it would ever get better than this. to be asked by a crafty friend to cut the ribbon of her shed is truly beyond anything i have ever been asked before. Hesta explained as the ribbon was cut and the doors opened to reveal the peachy inners, the dreams and hopes she had for her little shed. the extension and the porch she was planning to add on, alongside other little bits and bobs. as i hung up my little itty bitty 'high hope' flags to mark this momentous occasion in my life, i marveled at my friend's passion, her hard work and the dreams i have no doubt she will fulfill one day.

after which we got back in Hesta's car and bumbled along the windy roads of Devon, whilst putting the worlds to right. soon i found myself transported to recycling heaven. so many forsaken souls hoping for a last chance. having only a suitcase on my travels i was having to keep my blinkers on. i found a nice roll of retro wallpaper and a little cross stitched rose picture complete with spiffy old frame. 1 pound, 25 p later they were mine to keep.

we stopped for a lovely cup of tea on the way home, and as i said my goodbyes to Hesta for another year, i headed off to collect my clan with a smile on my face, a roll of wallpaper under my arm, a little framed cross stitch in my bag and a head filled with a memory i will remember forever and a day

hope this postcard finds you in tippity top condition and you are staying tufty squirrel safe this summer

Tif x

random postcard #4...

dearest reader,

today i have overwhelming withdrawal symptoms from Miss Ethel, my trusty sewing machine. i was doing really quite well i thought, nearly two weeks on the road and not a thought about her. (actually, that is a lie, i have thought about her everyday, i have just done a peachy job of dismissing the thoughts).

however today i turned the corner, two thirds of the way down the high street to walk back to my folks home and there it was, a whole little side street of happy coloured bunting to greet me. i stopped in my tracks, whilst others past me by, just taking in all the goodness one feels of seeing bunting blowing in the wind. perhaps a little bedraggled from days of rain, sun and sea salted air, but none the less, perfectly perfect to me. that is when i felt my overwhelming pang of missing Miss Ethel.

i took out my handy dandy notebook and studied my list of 'nice things to make next'. it has grown on my travels, i noted there are at least 12 things scribbled in pen with little doodles next to the scribbling, less i forget the images in my head. i put the notebook back in my summery sack along with my withdrawal symptoms and headed back to my clan.

tomorrow i am going on an adventure, i'll be sure to send another postcard then...

Tif x

random postcard #3...

dearest reader,

there are many reasons why i love donkeys.

reason #1: they have an old soul.

reason #2: they have a lovely little cross design along their backs.

reason #3: they have splendid ears.

reason #4: when i pay them a compliment about their splendid ears,

they in return compliment me on my clog sandals.

hope Mr Sun is shining down on you and all is well

Tif x

random postcard #2...

dearest reader,

today we visited the Devon Donkey Sanctuary,

we like to do this every year.

reasons to like the DDS

reason #1: they give hope to sad and abused donkeys throughout the world.

reason #2: the surrounding countryside is beautiful beyond words.

reason #3: according to Our #3 their Bakewell Tart is pretty yummy.

reason #4: seeing lovely donkeys living out their twilight years in safety and comfort warms my heart.

cheerio

Tif x

random postcard #1...

dearest reader,

arrived safely in old blighty, spent a few spiffy days in london.

my fabby fav spiffy day was sunday.

it was Our #1's half birthday, Sun 26th June

we pottled around Spitalfields Market which was extra peachy.

upon passing Brick Lane market my heart missed a beat.

my little beady eye spied a stall selling Kantha quilts and wares.

in all my born days (which are quite a few) i have yet to stumble across such a stall.

after much 'umming and ahhhing' i settled on a quilt in beautiful green,

with bright pink flowers.

i bought Our #1 a yellow casio watch to celebrate her day.

* * * * *

a few days later we travelled by train to Devon.

Mr Sunshine was being nice so a day on the beach beckoned.

me, two thirds of my clan, a Kantha quilt of loveliness

and my latest bit of dabbling with Mr Hook.

a perfect day.

the starburst flower squares pattern i found in issue two of Mollie Makes,

taken from a lovely knitting book by Jane Brocket.

having stitched together nine squares i am now granny stitching around the border using a giant ball of duck egg blue yarn found locally.

hope things are dandy with you...

Tif x