15.12.10. On our first evening in Italy we came across this Christmas Funfair in San Dona di Pieve.
Saturday, January 01, 2011
Champagne Christmas Tree...
13.12.10. Every year we are all under pressure to re-invent Christmas and the decorations that accompany it. I thought this take on the traditional Christmas Tree at St Pancras Station was inspired...
Mist On The River...
05.12.10. We'd had snow all week, so by the weekend, I was keen to get out and go somewhere else to photograph it. Unfortunately, everyone else had had more snow than us and parking up proved impossible. The only option was to turn around and head home. In Little Eaton, the water above the river was forming a glorious mist, so I asked Graham to drop me off and I elected to walk home - a bit further than I had anticipated...
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Sun In A Snow Storm...
02.12.10. A very dull day when it snowed almost continuously. I went out for a walk mid afternoon as it looked as though it was brightening up. Here it had started to snow again and the sun was loosing the battle...
Saturday, December 11, 2010
December 2010
1.12.10: The last month in the year, can you believe it? Also the month when I will be 'celebrating' my birthday. Today was sunny and bright and I spent much of the morning outside with my camera. It was rather cold, but such fun to be part of a white landscape. Had a call from the Eco Centre to let me know that Thursday's lesson is cancelled, also minutes later two calls telling me that all classes in Derby are cancelled for this week. Also a call to say tomorrow's class at Etwall Children's Centre is cancelled and the Christmas Fun Day at Ironville on Saturday. Sadly, I will have lost over £300 this week through cancelled lessons...
02.12.10: A very dull day today with yet more snow. A welcome break in the cloud letting the sun through briefly gave me just enough time to take a photos of the icicles outside.
03.12.10: You can have too much of a good thing and when today came and there was no chance of a thaw or being able to get out anywhere (not even the buses are running) I did feel myself getting a little 'stir crazy' (where does that phrase come from?) A Friday without a trip to the shops... Luckily Graham was home from a week in Plymouth (with no snow) and we made it to Morissons for food shopping.
04.12.10: Went to town as I needed some things, but we went early and had great difficulty finding a parking space. Was rather overwhelmed by the number of people in the Westfield Centre, so came home as soon as we could.
05.12.10. Spent the morning preparing Sunday lunch and persuaded (begged) Graham to take me out in the afternoon. Had hoped to go and take some photos of Heage Windmill in the snow. When we got there, the snow was still so deep there was nowhere safe to park, so ended coming straight home. Came back via Little Eaton, as we drove along Eaton Bank the river was shrouded in freezing mist. I asked Graham to drop me off and said I would walk home. It took me a while, but I managed it, just - Hermione wasn't exactly happy....
06.12.10: Another freezing cold day. One piano pupil managed to come, but none of the others came. Took Graham for a long walk across the golf course to Brackley Gate and home via the road. The trip was notable by the size of the ice crystals we photographed.
07.12.10: There is something always magical about haw frost and this morning even Graham encouraged me to get out with my camera. I paused only to cancel yet more piano lessons...
08.12.10: Still no real thaw, but two piano pupils made it to their lesson - hurray!
09.12.10: Up early and in my car for the first time in over a fortnight. Had to leave at 8.30am to make sure I reached Etwall in time for a 9.30am start. We were expecting 12 adults and 14 under fours, but in the event we eventually had four adults and four children. We made Reindeer bags, snowy branches and an expanding Snowman - none were my ideas. All the samples were made up and I just had to explain how to make them. Came home, had some lunch and then went out to the shops - hurray! Even Hermione enjoyed her day!
10.12.10: Went to Jewellry class at Village, the end of this autumn term. Of the 9 expected, only three turned up - it could have been worse... I'm hoping to run an Advanced Beading Course beginning 14th January 2011 and those there were keen to enrol, until they found out the cost. -Christmas shopping in the afternoon and late home.
11.12.10: My dad's 82nd birthday.
13.12.10: Early start as had meeting in London. Caught the 9.01am train. Luckily no snow in the centre of town now. Made my way to St James' Square and bumped into Christine at the Underground. Outside it was really cold, but inside it was very warm. Everything was going reasonably smoothly until it came for me to update everyone on the website. A comment was made about the look of the website which although not unfair was pretty thoughtless and has made me reconsider my role within the organisation to the point where I am seriously considering 'stepping down'. Caught 5 o'clock train and was home by 7.30pm.
14.12.10: My uncle's 77th birthday. Spent day catching up on website giving piano lessons, washing and packing. Had to forego a meal out with my tap class in favour of attending a fuddle at the Rycote Centre. Was pleased that I did go briefly, a group from my class had made some lovely things to sell as well as making up some of the projects we had covered in class. Also had the opportunity to chat with Philippa - and make plans to meet up in the New Year.
15.12.10: Off on holiday! Left the house at 8.30am and with a delay on the motorway, reached East Midlands Airport at 10 past 9. Arrived at St Marco Airport, Venice at 2.30pm and picked up car and was at the hotel by 3.30pm. Quick trip to the local supermarket to pick up something for tea and set off in a northerly direction to see some sights (in the dark) We were heading for the sea-side, but as Graham was keen to access the internet, we stopped in San Dona di Pieve having driven past a Vodaphone shop. Once on foot we discovered a Christmas market where there was a full size Nativity carved from wood and a Christmas funfair. Both quite beautiful, but oh so cold! Back at the hotel we had bar meals of roast beef, ham and toasted cheese and some warming chips.
16.12.10: My birthday! Up for 8.30am, breakfasted by 9.30am and ready to board the train by 10 o'clock. We spent the whole day in our favourite city, Venice. The morning was mostly sunny, although very cold, I was prepared with my five layers. This time we walked from the station to San Marco along the main shopping street. We saw lots to keep our interest, (even Graham's) and stopped off at a simple but adequate restaurant before reaching the square. It was wonderful to be in the centre of Venice and it be relatively empty. Having walked past the campanile we spent the afternoon in the Palazzo Ducale, somewhere I'd always wanted to visit, but didn't want to have to queue up for hours as they do in the summer. We had the palace almost to ourselves and inside it proved to be as magnificent as I had hoped. Having taken some photos of the canal at sunset, we then walked all the way back to the station. I'm sure we lasted longer and were less tired enduring the cold rather than the heat of summer. That night Graham treated us to a meal in the restaurant, beginning with delicious soup, followed by sea bass.
17.12.10: The weather was dull outside today and the forecast was for snow. I wasn't keen to stay in the hotel or visit shops, so we hit on a compromise of driving to Lake Garda and hoping that the weather would get better. Unfortunately we watched the temperature gauge get colder and colder and the snow fall heavier and heavier as the day progressed. With the ipad on my knee, I looked up somewhere to head for and settled on the most famous resort of Lake Garda, Sermione - a fortified town with a magnificent castle and large red brick ruins called Catullus' Grotto. We battled our way to Catullus' Grotto in the driving snow and walked around the ruins to get a feel of what it would have been like to live there in it's 'hay-day'. Having studied Catullus's poems for my Latin 'O' Level, I felt it was the least I could do. So I was very disappointed to find out later that Catullus could not have lived there as he died before it was built...! We had something to eat and then headed home in yet more snow that was by now insisting on settling on the motorway. Our mood was not helped by missing our exit turn, getting stuck in a long traffic queue before being able to retrace our steps, prolonging our journey by an hour. (my fault...?)
18.12.10: The next day, the sun was out and the snow as pretty as a picture postcard - just as the forecast had predicted. We breathed a sigh of relief and jumped in the car and headed for the snowy mountains. It was incredibly cold - minus 6, but it's difficult not to be excited and what to get out in it when it looks so beautiful. Again the iPad helped me to choose the town of Cortina to head to. As it turned out, this was the location where the ski chase in James' Bond "For your Eyes Only" was filmed and parts of "Cliffhanger" too. By the time we arrived it was 3.00pm and getting colder by the minute. Although the town had lots of interesting buildings and shops, we needed to find the toilets first, where the hand driers helped me to regain the circulation in my hands and feet. A short way away we found a cable car station and having watching them come in and depart we thought it might be fun to have a ride ourselves. Going up we had the car to ourselves and had to change cars after the first stage. The second stage, after the first gentle incline, travelled almost vertically and I remember wondering how I would cope on our homeward journey. Once at the top, the views were predictably breathtaking, but less predictable was the hundreds of skiers and snowboarders who were swarming over the snowy summit accompanied by a commentator and extremely loud music! We only lasted about 10 minutes before we decided to queue to come down again. I needn't have worried about looking out of the cable car on the way down. We were packed in like sardines and realised that some of our fellow returnees were from the Winter Olympic's Danish snowboarding team! By now it was past four o'clock and almost dark. We had a quick look round the remaining Christmas market stalls, treated ourselves to a drink of hot chocolate (with a dash of rum) bought one or two mementoes and then settled back in the car for a long drive back to the hotel.
19.12.10: Quite a dull day, so lucky we were just filling in time before flying back to the UK. We spent an hour in a shopping centre and then had a fraught hour travelling back to the airport trying to find a petrol station to fill up the car. It will be etched indelibly on our memory that no petrol stations are open on a Sunday or rather they are open but not manned and only accept paper money of which we had none...
We we had been enjoying the snowy weather in Italy, lots of airports in the UK had been closed. Luckily East Midlands was open and we weren't delayed. The only strange thing that happened was that half the airplane was occupied by a Rugby team from Wales...
Back home, it was lovely to collect Lucy from her shopping expedition and the house still be as tidy as we left it.
20.12.10. Graham was due to go to Plymouth until Wednesday, but with new thick snow, he decided to stay at home (very wise move...) Lucy went to Leicester on the train to help out at their Oxfam shop.
21.12.10. Lucy helped out at the Oxfam shop in Derby. Robert came home for the holiday. Took Robert into town, met up with Lucy and did some shopping.
22.12.10. Lucy went to see friend in Lincoln, snow bad so they met up in Newark - Steven drove her. Robert and Graham came with me to Sainsbury's to buy everything we needed for Christmas. Found the whole trip and the weather (yet more snow) quite traumatising... Went for a really long (short for Robert) walk while it snowed gently - to Breadsall and back via Drum Hill.
23.12.10. Took Robert and Lucy to the Designer Outlet at South Normanton. Interestingly very few people there. Bought some shirts for Robert from Gap, his new favourite shop for shirts. 24.12.10 Robert wanted to repeat a walk we did in the summer of 2008 over at Osmaston. Took us ages to find it (I was not happy about being out in my new car on packed ice that no-one had gritted. However, got some stunning photos just before the light disappeared.
25.12.10. Christmas Day. It was perhaps the best Christmas we had had together. Snow on the ground, brilliant sunshine and the family all together. We walked to Morley church over snowy fields and magically someone had brought their 5 month old baby to the service. I was asked who I was and the lady having established that I run ukhandknitting.com promised me a pile of old knitting needles! Back in time to cook dinner and then go for a long walk to Brackley Gate and back. Opening of presents, game of Scrabble. What more could you ask...
26.12 10. Trip to Yorkshire Sculpture Park for some delicious lunch and a walk (the long way) around the grounds.
28.12.10. Off to the parents, taking food parcels with us. Very deep snow and thick fog, much more than we had the first time round. Robert made a snowman (giant) and half an igloo (ig?) Went to see Ted and Chris in the evening and heard about their recent 6 week trip around New Zealand.
29.12.10. Left around 11.30am in very thick fog still and went to Cheltenham. Met up with Graham's mum and brother and had lunch at a restaurant. Not brilliant, but adequate. Went back to Dave's house. Left about 4.30pm and went to my sister's in Solihull to deliver their presents. Home by 8.30pm.
30.12.10. Took Robert and Lucy to Nottingham. Robert and I went to the Gallery (pants) and then round a few shops. Not a brilliant afternoon and when we got back, Robert packed up and went back to Cambridge.
31.12.10. Left Graham busy in the garage while Lucy and I went to Aldi and then Ikea. Collected fish and chips for tea on the way back, which was lucky as we were just tucking in when the electricity cut out. Had a power cut for about 2 hours, coming back on around 8.40pm. We were still watching television when it went off again at 12.50am, so went to bed...
Haddon Hall With A Dusting Of Snow...
28.11.10. We were really lucky to be able to take photos of Haddon Hall as it was closed today.
Snowy Atmosphere...
27.11.10. This was taken before 10 o'clock in the morning, not late afternoon as it looks.
Wednesday, December 01, 2010
Superwoman And The Storm Troupers!
20.11.10. Today I was at the NEC, Birmingham, helping out at the Design and Technology Show . The show next door seemed much more interesting judging by the characters standing outside...
Reflections...
13.11.10. Nice walk along Cromford Canal. Something about this time of year - makes the water crystal clear and the reflections more intense than the objects they are reflecting...
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Crich Stand In The Distance...
06.11.10. There were still lovely autumn colours in the leaves at this time in November
November 2010
01.11.10. Graham was home bright and early today. Our clocks went on yesterday, but the clocks in USA don't change for another fortnight. Sent off my invoice and did summary for website.02.11.10. Another full day of Piano lessons. Went to tap.
04.11.10. Made felt beads with my class at the Eco Centre. James came to interview some of the ladies for an article in a Derbyshire County Council magazine about being a Gold Card holder. Took photos and sent them to him in the evening.
05.11.10. Made handbag charms with my class at Village. Chris rang at lunchtime to say there is a meeting in London on Monday 13th December - shame as I'd arranged to have another musical evening for my piano pupils on that day. Good job I haven't told any of them yet!
06.11.10. Nice bright day after a very dull week. Steven's parents came and collected are old television and we had a nice chat with them. Half an hour after they left our new television arrived. Really please that I didn't have the stand offered to us by the shop. The one I found on Amazon is much nicer looking and cheaper! The Sony television is lovely, all 42 inches of it, proving that 'size is everything' after all. After lunch went for a walk near Crich. Found a tiny road on the way down to Whatstandwell (how did it come to be called that?) and then saw lots of people walking across a field. The path then led through a beautiful Birch wood - quite delightful, but a little dark to take any good photos! In the evening we were invited to a bonfire party at Elaine's. We provided the only fireworks, which didn't exactly' wow' us, but they were 'adequate'. The only casualty was my poor tooth - a side broke off while I was eating my only hot dog.
07.11.10. Another sunny day. Left around 10.15 and set off to spend the day with Robert. I have become a complete convert to Desert Island Discs and today Ian McMillan had us' in fits' as we travelled the A14. Robert's new home isn't as I'd imagined (probably as I thought he'd have found somewhere similar to his last house). Instead the ceiling are low and the front of the house is right on the road - but the chap he lives there with seems nice enough and he has everything he needs. We walked to a local restaurant, although when we arrived, we thought Robert was entering someone's house - it was called 'The Back Street Bistro'. The food was very good if a little pricey. Robert and I had pork and Graham had steak. Afterwards we went for a walk past the shops and round King's College. We missed going into the college by a matter of seconds as it closes at the public at 2.30pm on a Sunday. Next visit we will have to plan for this. Although sunny it was incredibly chilly, but also incredibly beautiful as Cambridge always is. We left some time after 5 and then spent an hour held up by an accident on the A14. Thank heavens for Radio 4...
08.11.10. Busy day then dashed to the Rycote Centre for a long tutor meeting. Stayed on after to talk to Philippa and catch up on things with her.
09.11.10. Graham off to Plymouth on the train this morning. Had an email about advertising with a school in Ripley. Offered my photos instead, strangely they didn't want any photos, but my reply initiated and drop of the fee by £50 (was it the prize for being the first to reply?) Still at £100 for the year seems too much. Tap class in the evening.
11.11.10. Had a phone call from Marstons at Wolverhampton this morning. I thought they'd given up with their lunchtime Craft workshops, but have invited me back in January. It will be a whole year since I went there. Sewed beads onto the felt beads at the Eco Centre. Only four learners today and one has dropped out completely.
12.11.10. Made wrapped wire pendants this week, was quite well received. Graham came with me shopping. After last week we went our separate ways and met back at the car. Works better for us both, but I missed having someone to carry things for me... Put the boiler on when we arrived home and after an hour and a half experienced the whole house shaking. The thermostat had stopped working and boiled the water. The intense rumblings was the boiling water having to escape through the cold water tank in the roof. No baths as the water was brown after disturbing the bottom of the tank...
13.11.10. WEnt for another walk this afternoon along the banks of Cromford Canal. Although we have lived in the area for 30 years now, we had never found this spot before. On the way to Matlock you have to cross a bridge at a pub, everyone goes left - but if you went right a little way up the hill is a car park and the canal. The light was just right for reflections in the water.
14.11.10. Spent most of the morning cooking Sunday lunch. Graham bought his car in July and ever since we have been saying that if we saw anything suitable on the TC Harrison's website we should go and take a look before the VAT goes on in January. Well this week (at last) there were some Focus' - although I wasn't keen on having a black one we said we'd go and take a look. As soon as we arrived, the salesman handed us the key and said we could go and sit in one... I adjusted the seat and altered the setting on the radio while Graham played with the sat nav and then we went for a drive, which was lovely and then we signed on the dotted line. I pick it up next Friday...
16.11.10. I agreed to do some glass painting with a group at Ilkeston Hospital. The helpers were lovely and the group did really well at tracing the outlines I'd printed off for them. Pity I'd managed to turn up a few minutes late to meet the manager from the Ilkeston Centre...
17.11.10 Very busy week as usual and today I had an appointment at the hospital about my next acupuncture sessions. It was just a brief meeting with the nurse which took 5 minutes after waiting 20 minutes. She was surprised to see me as she'd made a note to phone me - at least it meant I got to read my magazine...
18.11.10. After having my root filling replaced last week and the dentist finding that I'd cracked the enamel in another tooth, the resulting filling has refused to settle down. This morning I had an appointment to sort it out, only it hasn't. TC Harrison's called me this morning, reminding me that I needed to take the new insurance certificate to them to get the tax ready for tomorrow. Except it hadn't arrived at that time. I passed the postman on my way to the dentist and after signing for yet another motorbike part (Graham was away) I was handed the vital piece of paper. I took the certificate straight after leaving the dentist, but when I handed it over I was told that they didn't need it as when they thought it wasn't coming they had a look round and found the original tax disc, funny that...
19.11.10. I didn't think I'd sleep last night wondering how I was going to explain to my current car that I was trading her in for a newer model. I was so nervous when I got to Village, I wasn't sure if I would last until lunchtime. I couldn't believe it when one of the Line Managers came in and announced that she'd be sitting in on my lesson - not an OTL, but just an 'Participation Observation'. Well, that took my mind straight off the excitement of the new car! The class went really well especially as it was a project I'd not done before - Peruvian Thread Pendants and then after, I had to wait behind and receive feedback- lucky me! I eventually arrived at TC Harrison's at 12.45 and was away in the new car just after 1pm. I love it...
20.11.10. Early start to the day and at the NEC for 10.00am. There was a Memorabilia Show next door to our Design and Technology show - looked much more interesting! Spent the morning talking to visitors about Craft Club and showing people how to finger knit. WEnt to see a seminar about using e-technology in knitting, given by Rose Sinclair and Jo Mann. Rose is amazing in the work she does, edits and writes Textile Books for schools. Will be interesting to hear what she's been up to the next time our paths cross. Stayed late to tidy - only I didn't do much. Home half past 6, tea on way home of fish and chips...Thanks for picking me up Graham.
21.11.10. Morning was spent getting Sunday lunch, afternoon, I spent at Derby High School at a seminar given by Pamela Wedgwood. It was very low key and very enjoyable. For someone who is so well known she was very unassuming and approachable. Had some really good ideas for musical games. Bought 5 books which she signed. My first trip in my new car...
23.11.10. Second session at Ilkeston Hospital. Used the glass paints and completed the cards - looked great and everyone enjoyed making them. Went to tap.
24.11.10. Busy day. Gail came at 6.30pm to collect me to go and see Martyn Joseph at the Darwin Suite at The Assembly Rooms. He played several guitars and was accompanied by a chap on a double bass. Great concert, audience predominately made up of men. Unfortunately Hermione did not like the level of noise and I had to sit out the second half of the performance. Even more unfortunately, the damage had been done by that point...
25.11.10. Busy morning with two piano lessons and then off to teach at Wirksworth. WE netted on Christmas baubles, the learners were very inventive and loved the technique. Dull and cold.
26.11.10. Another advanced technique at Jewellery Class today, beaded snowflake following a sequence pattern. Again the learners lapped it up, what it is to have capable people, I love it!
Graham in Redditch all day. Worked all afternoon and did some tidying. Lucy had her lift home and I collected her from town at 6.00pm. Then we went shopping and food shopping. Didn't get home until 8.30pm, Hermione not happy.
27.11.10. Woke up to snow - the world was white and so pretty! Went out and took photos. Had lunch at the Spotted Cow in Holbrook and then took Lucy to town so that she could have a chat with the person who runs the Oxfam shop. It was so busy in town that Graham and I went home and then went back to collect her about 4pm. Came home after doing some shopping.
28.11.10. Another beautiful sunny day. Decided to head out to Bakewell cameras at the ready. Stopped off for some snowy pics of Haddon Hall. Although it was closed we sort of insisted that we were 'only taking photos' - as the chap who lived in the Gate House remonstrated with us. He had come out in his socks and sandals, had he not noticed the weather?...Had a nice Sunday lunch in a pub in Bakewell and then a short trip to Eyam with a short walk round - it just got colder and colder. We ended up at Longshaw Estate, but didn't dare venture out at that stage and then beat a hasty retreat home.
29.11.10. Graham took Lucy to her lift for 6.45am and then caught the 7.20am train to Plymouth. Odd sort of day, extremely cold with some snow throughout the day. Only two piano pupils made it to their lesson.
30.11.10. Loads more snow today. Had to cancel all piano lessons and the outlook for the rest of the week is doubtful.
Monday, November 08, 2010
Through The Arch Window...
30.10.10. Last day of beautiful autumn weather, so I took a trip to Hardwick Hall. The building seems to have been shrouded in scaffolding for as long as I can remember, but now the stone work is 'shiny new' and very photogenic.
Walk To Swiss Cottage...
23.10.10. Robert suggested a long walk before tea late Saturday afternoon. The sky was great for photos, but didn't turn out too well as the heavens opened when we were only half way home!
Wednesday, November 03, 2010
Autumn At Black Rocks...
21.10.10.
On the way home from teaching, I had to stop on the side of the road and capture these colours...
On the way home from teaching, I had to stop on the side of the road and capture these colours...
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