Impressions from an Impressive Trip

There was something to celebrate and why not doing that in the South of the UK? So I booked the ferry and the B&B, called the farm sitter and we left everything as it was - trusting that it will still be there once we come back.

One of the first enjoyments: a special full English cooked breakfast

This wonderful B&B is called the Broxmead Paddock and is situated in Sussex close to Arundel. (Highly recommended.)

After the breakfast on our way towards the sea, we passed in Amberley open air museum which Beverly the lovely lady from the B&B, had recommended. We decided to stop and have a look. The museum turned out to be a huge surprise and we stayed several hours to discover it all. The site was formerly the Amberley chalk pits - all the history can be found here http://www.amberleymuseum.co.uk

When we moved into the printer's section, I was fascinated by everything to be seen. And that smell!

On this little press here below we could print our own souvenir.

They had to drag me out of the printing workshop. But there was so much more to see:

Behind the red telephone box was the tiny telephone office, all authentic.

We went then to the wood turner but before that EG had to inspect this hut. This might be his next big job on his own "to-do list". It happens that there are 3 like that available and the plan is to make two good ones out of the 3 wrecks ;-). So handy, when you have party guests!

The Amberley 'Bodger':

We went inside, to the wire museum:

Looks like our light switch!

It showed a great selection of all types of wire technology since its start.

There was an elderly couple also admiring all these objects from the past. The lady said to me: 'we celebrated 60 years of marriage last week.' We told her our admiration for that endurance. She said: 'it is all down to three magic words, you know.' I guessed that those words would be 'I love you'? No she said, the three wee words are: 'yes, my dear'. It makes me still smile now. We had to visit the fire station:

Eventually we left in the afternoon only, reluctantly, having spent several hours in that fabulous place - we could easily have stayed for 2 entire days there.

On our way to the seaside, we passed Chichester and did some power shopping. Left plenty of shop keepers with a happy face, I am sure they wished for more tourists like us every day. There was still Nymans gardens on the wishlist and we wanted to pass at the Bluebell Railway Station - ./. tbc

Learning Curve

Progress is today's word!
My new Nikon has arrived and this blog could have been entitled something like "my world through my new lense".
Ready to start?
Here we go:

This weekend's flea market finds. Un pétrin rempli de trésors. It's a kneading trough, complete on its base.



This pair of wonderful stuck (also once from the flea market) got light bulbs inside and illuminates now the piggery.









These people are the piggery guards. (Also flea market finds and quite heavy)





Just a small part of my collection from over the years, guess from where.









For once, the travel teddy is not a flea market find but a gift and the heart with lily of the valley is from Niki at Nostalgia. The picture is from an artist illustrator from around 1920 - EG got a whole collection from him from... a market in the UK.



Aren't those coffee tins nice?



The next two pictures are with mirror effect. In this mirror you can see the cat sleeping on the bed. Btw every item is brought home from brocantes.



This mirror came with EG from the UK and in it reflects the Meissen clock from my mother.



Those next two are also collector's items ;-)





Recent finds which have no home yet due to...



...exciting work in progress. I did not know that a cat can climb ladders like that.



The spiral staircase which was carried back from the UK last year, is nearly in place. Quite a jigsaw job with only loose bits and pieces and no plan. But eventually, it was figured out and by next weekend, it should be standing on its own. We had to order a piece of blue stone to get the height adjusted before it can come off its belts.



I also managed to try to make some spring pictures outside. This is called 'non working horse hiding behind the magnolias'.



This wee snowdrop is a special rare one I got from Wisley last year and am so happy that it is well alive.



Here are two of the various special effects, my new camera is able to do.
Guess where EG's pans were found, one by one ;-) and where might my glasses have been found?



Guess where the bed comes from ;-)



Here are 'before and after of work in progress' pictures.



EG, my hero of recuperation, managed to integrate the old beams from the piggery into what will be his "bar".



More lovely finds but not from brocantes, this time.



TATAAAAA!!! THE JACKPOT! Chest of draws for the craft room. There are even 2 of them and I had to do my trip downtown Liège twice to get them into my car but it was well worth the effort.





EG fixing another beam in the piggery with help of his jack.










If all goes well, the next post will show completed rooms. There will be some last brocante items which have been waiting since several months to receive their final destination in the piggery.

Until next time.