Eco Centre being Built At the Stone Centre, Wirksworth, Derbyshire
Originally uploaded by Geraldine Curtis
I hope to be offered a class in Recycled Jewellery, hopefully in September 2010. Watch this space...
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Eco Centre, Stone Centre, Wirksworth
Eco Centre being Built At the Stone Centre, Wirksworth, Derbyshire
Originally uploaded by Geraldine Curtis
I hope to be offered a class in Recycled Jewellery, hopefully in September 2010. Watch this space...
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
May Your Dance Together Be For Life...
02.02.10: Pauline who takes our Tap Class' daughter is getting married on 13th February. We have all been invited to the reception at Repton School. We've made a collection and I elected to make a card. I wasn't sure what to do, but when Lucy and I visited the local art shop I found a beautiful piece of card. I know it's black, but looked very stylish. As Caroline and Will (husband to be) both tap, I thought it appropriate to make that the theme of the card. I searched for a picture of Fred Astaire tap dancing and found how he'd begun his career as the partner of his sister Adele in 1915. I'd never even heard of her. Although Ginger Rodgers would have been the natural choice, I did a bit of research and found that Fred's most talented tap partner was a lady called Eleanor Powell. It wasn't easy finding a suitable picture of the two of them, but I persevered and found this one. A quick flip followed in Photoshop to enhance the quality and fingers crossed while I printed it out. Next I had to crop it to size to mount it on matching holographic card and attach to the main card with sticky fixers. The peel off was mounted on black card and then onto holographic card and mounted as before. Inside I made up my own words and wrote them out three times in best. That was also cut out and mounted on holographic card. One more piece of writing 'from The Tuesday Tappers', a bit more glue and all was finished. I spent 75p on the card, 99p on the peel offs and the rest I had in my 'store'.
I'd love to be going to the reception and will be thinking of them, but Hermione wouldn't like the music...
I'd love to be going to the reception and will be thinking of them, but Hermione wouldn't like the music...
February 2010
02.02.10: Spent day making a wedding card for the daughter of the person who takes the Tap Class I attend. Graham caught the 7.20am train down to Plymouth for a two day interview. He called me at 10 past 11 just as I had settled down to watch television - just as though he were in America. He will at least be home tomorrow. Piano lessons and then out to tap class.
03.02.10: Went to Burton to take a glass painting workshop. I'd found some storage jars to paint from our last trip to Ikea. Went really well, favourite word painted was 'Treats'. Graham home 6.00pm.
04.02.10: Lucy came home so she can go to Birmingham tomorrow to source fabric. Graham collected her while I cooked tea.
05.02.10: Dropped Lucy off at the station, then went to Jewellery Class. I taught my favourite technique of Millefiori. We are already down to 7 students with 2 absent and 1 who has paid to come back, but hasn't yet attended. Will need to do some chasing up before next week. Shopping as usual in the afternoon after picking Lucy up from station. Just for once Graham came too.
06.02.10: Went to the Stone Centre at Wirksworth for a meeting for all Arts and Crafts Tutors who would like to be involved in taking classes at the new Eco Centre
being built there. About 25 tutors attended, which was an excellent turn out. Finally got home 1.30pm.
07.02.10: Another very dull, very foggy day. Graham and I went to Allestree park for a walk in the afternoon.
08.02.10: Graham took my car into TC Harrisons for a service and MOT. Then he went into town and met up with work colleague, Kev who is in the same situation as him. At lunch time TC Harrison's phoned to say back brakes needed replacing, one of the tyres and the windscreen wipers and that would double the original estimate. I took Graham in to collect the car and hand over the money, well £700 seemed like a ransome...
10.02.10: Still cold and still trying to snow. I was so fed up at staying at home I went out for a drive, originally meaning to go to town for a walk round, but by the time I got to the roundabout I could see snow on the hills, so changed direction and headed off that way. I wasn't quite sure where the best photos would be, but the sun was out which was a bonus. Of course by the time I'd settled on Heage Windmill, the sky was threatening to snow again and the sun was playing hide and seek. There was nowhere to park either, so I left the car at the entrance, climbed over the gate and walked the quarter of a mile to the windmill. It was cold and the light fragile, but it gave me a couple of photos I was quite proud of.
11.02.10: Graham drove to Middlesex to collect a bike and was back by half past one. I went out again and visited Darley Abbey and had a walk up to the church and round through the Park. Was back just as Graham was setting off to his leaving 'do' at The Brunswick and after that he went to a meeting of the Morley History Society at Brackley Gate. He finally rolled in at 10 past 10. Expect this is something else I will have to get used to...
12.02.10: Off to work teaching. Was greeted by one of the Managers there with a :"Oh, I'm coming to observe you this morning - nothing to worry about!" The fact that my one deaf learner had decided to turn up for the first time (5th class) and her communicator had phoned in sick didn't exactly bode well. For some unknown reason, my healthy class of 7 had disintegrated into only 4 and was deemed 'unobservable' "I'll have to come back next session" she added cheerily after staying over half an hour. Lucky, lucky me...
Collected Lucy from the train at 3.30pm and went shopping, finally home by 7.oopm. Robert made his first journey home in his 'new' car. Travelling on your own in the dark is never easy and he eventually arrived at 10.30pm.
13.02.10: Robert took Lucy to town to help him choose some shoes from T K Max, then she cooked us all some fish and chips. Robert went off to visit someone he works with who lives in Chaddesden and we three went to Burton for somewhere different to go. On the way there I realised that we could go and see James May's plasticine garden which is currently on show in The Octagon Centre. When we got there we found it upstairs in a dimly lit corner. A lot of work has obviously gone into the making of it, pity they hadn't chosen some brighter colours...
Went to see 'A Single Man' with Colin Firth at The Quad. It is beautifully filmed, but I'm still not sure about the content...
14.02.10: Today was Valentine's Day... After lunch Lucy, Robert and I went to Calke Abbey for a walk all the way around. I was disappointed that the sun didn't come out until on the way home.
15.02.10: My dad took my mum to see eye specialist at Moreton Hospital. Apparently the cataract on her good eye isn't affecting her vision and disappointingly a Field of Vision test scored less than 25%. Have rung and arranged a home visit for her to be assessed and advised about help available. I'm hoping that this will mean that there will be some help and support for them both.
16.02.10: Graham had a blood test at the doctor's.
17.02 10: A day out in London. Caught the 9 o'clock train and arrived just after 10.30am. First stop British Library to see a Photography of Britain Exhibition. Really interesting exhibition with something for everyone from old photos to old cameras. There was even a photo belonging to someone who won a photography competition in Amateur Photographer in 1892! Then lunch at a pub across the road. Caught a train to Piccadilly to the National Portrait Museum to see the Twiggy Exhibition.
18.02.10: Catch up day. Took Graham to Ilkeston Hospital for his diabetic eye test. Sound really uncomfortable; first they put in eye drops to dilate the iris, then take pictures of the inside of his eyes using flash photography. Made up for it with a trip to a motorbike shop on the way home...
Heard at last that we are now the proud 'owners' of our own allotment - well half an allotment, which we have waited for for 13 years - is that a record?
19.02.10: Trip to see my parents, but had to wait for Lucy to have a meeting with her tutor and catch the train to Derby. Set off at 11.30am, stopped off at Stratford for lunch. Nice lunch, but felt I was being prevented from taking photos as it was lovely and sunny outside. Went for usual trip to Lakeland to find shop boarded up - relief later when we came across it in it's new building... Eventually arrived at 3.30pm after a detour around Moreton as the High Street is being dug up and the road is closed!
Graham heard that he has been offered a job in Plymouth. He was due to collect some motorbike bits from Tetbury after tea. I went with him to make sure nothing happened to him as I didn't think he'd have his mind on the 'job'. Had a nice walk round the town while he 'oohed' and 'aahed' over bits of rusty metal.
20.02.10: Came back early as Lucy had a 21st Birthday Party to go to. We didn't get home till 20 past 6 - Lucy had washed her hair, dried it, straightened it (with my help) got changed and put make-up and left the house by 10 to 7. Pity she forgot Alisha's present...
22.02.10: Graham gave me a lift to the station to catch the 9.06am train. It eventually arrived in Birmingham at 10.07am and my connection left at 10.10am from the opposite end of the station. At least it proved I can still run!
Had a good day helping to man our stand at the Trade Show, Stitches, handing out leaflets and chatting about the Craft Club. Came home with a pack of ready threaded needles and a ruler with a calculator on it...don't ask...
23.02.10: Felt a bit shell shocked after yesterday. My class was relaunched at Alfreton, but only had three learners, so that is re-cancelled (if there is such a word).
Lucy went to London with Steven where they went to see Les Miserables and stayed in a youth hostel opposite St Pancras (in bunk beds). Went to my tap class.
24.02.10: Sent off my first ever entry to the Amateur Photographer magazine. I would like to be proved wrong that they don't accept that compact cameras can take excellent photos.
25.02.10: Went for a test drive in a new Focus and a new Fiesta. Felt the Focus was too big and the Fiesta too small, so in the short we had left nipped across the the Audi garage and had a sit in their top of the range Audi TT soft top. I'm sure I could learn to love it...
26.02.10: Back to routine of Jewellery Class. Contrary to expectations, manager did not come to complete Observation, so have that to look forward to another week...
New window fitted in my music room, lots of work taking things out and then putting them back, but looks lovely inside and out.
Met Lucy off train, wore new top and legging to go shopping.
27.02.10: Miserable day weatherwise and we didn't go out. Went to town at 6.30 had tea at Nandos and then went to see Helen Mirren in The Last Station; a film about Tolstoy's last days. I enjoyed it so mush more than A Single Man, it's worth going to see for James McAvoy.
28.02.10: Graham's Birthday. It wasn't a very exciting day for him, especially as he had worn himself out by 9 o'clock laying slabs for his new shed due tomorrow. Lunch at home then a short walk around Shipley Park. Cake was a tray bake from M&S which we adorned with cake cubes from Paperchase spelling out Happy Birthday.
Wednesday, February 03, 2010
Launch Of 'The Wool Project'
26.01.10. On the right is the old Tithe Barn where the meeting was held. On arrival we were told to wait in an outbuilding opposite. It was outside and it was freezing. I was so cold, having left my coat in the car, that a kindly gentleman soon wrapped his scarf around my neck without even being asked. Once inside (entry was by passport) we were given hot coffee, except it wasn't that hot. I explained my plight to the chap pouring the coffee and he immediately offered me his own coat (he wasn't wearing it at the time) which I gratefully accepted. At this time I made the decision to ring Graham to ask him to bring my own coat back. It turned out it was the right decision, but he had just arrived at the museum he had planned to visit and understandably wasn't keen to return. However, my coat did reappear after another 20 minutes and I was saved from frost bite.
Which all goes to show the age of chivalry is not dead after all...
Which all goes to show the age of chivalry is not dead after all...
Meeting With Prince Charles...
26.01.10. Prince Charles was great! He began his address by making a remark about the freezing cold temperature in the barn, saying that you could tell who was wearing wool and who wasn't - all very jolly! His speech was informative and entertaining and he came across as a thoroughly 'good egg'. As you can see from my one good picture of him, he engaged in conversation with anyone who cared to talk to him which made for a very relaxed atmosphere. Everyone commented on how short he was, but having said that he exuded 'presence'. It was a thoroughly enjoyable experience and having got over the stress of getting there, I hope to have the opportunity to attend more such gatherings.
See my video
See my video
Circular Walk From Holbrook
17.01.10. I spotted this unusual cloud formation on our walk, but needed to stitch two photos together for best effect. Someone commented that it looks like a 'swan in flight' (heading off to the right).
I think she is right...
I think she is right...
East Mill, Belper, With Snow
09.01.10. Lucy and I had trip to Belper in the snow. My feet got so cold that we had to take refuge in Wilkinsons where I stood on one leg for 15 minutes (having taken my other wellington boot off) trying to massage life into my exposed foot . Having got the circulation going again we 'hot-footed' (if you'll pardon the pun) it back to the car...
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