Dartmouth Regatta

Dartmouth Regatta is one of those not to be missed events, especially watching the Red Arrows as they duck and dive along the river valley.. it's absolutely stunning. I personally think this is the best place to see the Arrows display.. I have seen them perform in many different places, even witnessing some dramatic events - many years ago I was up on a hill over looking Sidmouth, watching the display, when, all of a sudden one of the planes dropped out of the sky, the pilot ejecting out just in time to see his beloved plane dive into the sea... another plane left a smoke cross over the spot where the pilot ditched into the sea and many little boats that had been bobbing about in the sea rushed over to help him out... It was even better than the display itself!!

Anyway, it was on a sunny afternoon that we decided to brave the traffic and head into Dartmouth.. the only parking was at the top of town.. up a long, long steep hill.

The walk into town was past many gorgeous houses, catching glimpses of the river on the way down....

I only managed to take photos on the way down.. much panting and complaining on the way up!!!

Isn't this beautiful....

Looking back up...

This is the main pedestrianised street in Dartmouth... full of galleries, a fab kitchen shop, and an amazing 'fairy shop'... the bunting was everywhere.. al the boats in the river were festooned with it and the shops had all made such an effort to look the part...

This has to be one of the narrowest streets.. and yes, cars do drive up and down it... carefully!!

A great view over the rooftops towards the river mouth..

It was then up to the top of town and a short drive to Jaw Bones Hill where you get the best view point in the whole of Dartmouth to watch the air displays.. also the windiest.... brrrr!

Royal naval College...

A view across the river towards Kingswear, the steam railway and a helicopter display.. don't ask me what kind of helicopter.. I have no idea!!..

Looking out towards the river mouth, Dartmouth castle, and the Day Mark on the hill...

This display was so amazing, I didn't realise how maneuverable helicopters actually were.. Amazing patterns on the water too...

A closer view of the Naval College.. On a sunny day the college looks even more stunning as the sun highlights the red brick and it just 'glows'...

This is the steam railway station and in the river you can see the Lower ferry.. no cars allowed during the Regatta, so it's full of pedestrian passengers.

I LOVE this shot...

Looking across the river towards the Day Mark.. this is one of my favourite places to walk.. I'll take you there sometime.

How lovely to live here... can you imagine it? Sleeping to the sound of the water.. little boat to mooch up and down the river.. idyllic..

The steam train pulling out of the station at Kingswear...

Another amazing display from another helicopter... don't know what this is either, however it was FAB!

Then, a slight rumble in the sky, some murmuring from the crowds followed by shouts of "There they are" and WHOOOOOSH..... what we've all been waiting for....

Perfect formation....

Fanning out over the hills of Kingswear...

And this is what we all love to see... lots of ooooh's and ahhhh's!!

The planes approach each other along the river valley, its stunning!!

Hold your breath...

... made it!!

Here they come again....

And they're off.....

They never disappoint do they? Such dedication to their career, such perfection and immaculate timing... what an inspiration. And I just love that ROAR that makes your insides shake.. so exciting.

I hope that you have been places and seen things that have inspired you this summer.... I would love to hear about them...

Wishing you a happy Bank Holiday, full of fun and treasured family moments...

xxxx

Pebbles workshop

Last Thursday saw me packing the car with beads, buttons, findings, tools and homemade biscuits.. a vital part of any workshop! You would have thought I was going to stay for a month the amount of bits and pieces that I had to take! Anyway, the journey up was uneventful... thankfully!...(see last post) and I arrived at Pebbles in time for breakfast and coffee... mmm!

Once the breakfast had been cleared it was time to set up the conservatory for the first workshop of the day. I prepared a little package of goodies for all the participants...

Some blurb about me; basic jewellery making techniques; a feedback form; pebbles brochure; business card; postcard in which to make notes; and a lovely little bag to put the finished jewellery into.....

The enormous table, that mum used to do her homework on, was then set... bead mat, pliers, wire and beads.... you couldn't ask for a better setting than that could you? Doors open and the sound of the sea gently lapping the shore.. FAB!

All set and ready to go...

After coffee and homemade cake and biscuits we began... I had a fantastic time and I know that all the ladies who came did too... 12 for the morning session and 7 in the evening, including two who had come in the morning who came back for more in the evening.

Heads down, hard at work..

Helping hands..

So many different colours and styles of jewellery were made... I found it truly inspirational and loved the interaction with people, inspiring them and watching their confidence grow.

Another date has now been put in the diary and that is September 22nd... I would love to see you if you are free that day... come and have some fun, get creative and eat cake!!!! Can you resist?

Email me for details.

Have a great day xx

Summer...

Hello, hello! I know it's been sooooo long since I last popped by. To be honest, it always takes time to gather your thoughts after several weeks away and what a few weeks it's been. To say that they have been eventful would be an understatement!! All will be revealed as you read on! Our first week away; by that I mean Harriet, Rosie and I; was at a Bible week in Shepton Mallet. I would love to say that I have lots of beautiful pics, but, to my shame, I haven't. The camera came with me but never, not even once, came out of the bag!!!! We arrived at the agricultural show ground in the rain; the ground was already waterlogged in many places and it took a while to decide where to put the tent up.. not wanting to wake up floating off down the hill in a river of mud and water!! That decided, we set too... in between the rain showers... and put the tent up, found the gas and the cooker, and yes, you guessed, made the first of many cups of tea!!!!

The girls were both helping out on teams, Harriet with the 1yr olds...I was hoping that this was going to put her off wanting a baby too soon... however, every day, on her return from the sessions she was full of gooey stories of how cute they were etc!!!!

Rosie was helping with 4yr olds and had tremendous fun making things and singing!! I spent my time catching up with old friends over more tea and the best chocolate mountains (I know, not good for me, but the weather was atrocious!!.. needed cheering up some how!!) to be found in the local vicinity. Dress code for the week was skirts (for us girlies) and wellies.. the mud was over your ankles in places!! despite the weather and mud, a good week was had by all.

It was then a quick dash home for one night, 4 loads of washing washed, dried and re-packed, car unpacked and re-packed... I'm sure it was round by the time we finished packing it ... friends picked up, more squashing things into the car, and eventually we were off, the girls heads in the back all rubbing against the ceiling as they were sat on so much bedding!!! I had the best seat of all... so much leg room on the drivers side! FaVouriTe PlaCe here we come!!!!

Again the weather was not so good, we had one day of sun and the rest of the time it was over cast or wet. BUT that did not deter us from having loads of fun and the girls spending loads of time in the water... actually every minute they could..... here are a few pics of the FaB time we had in the sea....

The beach Babes....

The bottom right hand picture is of the girls in a huge 'rock pool' that appeared once the tide had gone out...

Fun on the body boards....

I lOVe the happy faces.. what brilliant memories....

The waves were HUGE... A great workout!!!

There was the odd trip away from the site... mainly for food, and this little excursion to Padstow one evening was no exception.. it was a gorgeous evening. We had had the perfect day on the beach in the sun and then came here for fish and chips... yum yum!

Beautiful sisters....

Me and my girls.....

All the above pictures were taken before the disastrous events.... hence we look relaxed and happy!!!!

We had to take another trip out for food .. didn't realise quite how hungry it makes you being in the water all day.. and on leaving the supermarket I drove into the back of a friends car..... CRASH!!!!! I was mortified, both cars were still drivable and we managed to get them home, but we've had them looked at since and they are both write offs.. how clever am I.. two with one crash? Still feel gutted about the whole thing, but, no one was hurt and it's only a car.

The following day, I managed to displace my knee cap so that it had completely slidden off my knee to one side...whilst I was body boarding OUCH!!!! Five minutes later the cord from a body board caught around my neck, jerking me backwards, under water, whilst the sea was pulling me into shore... OUCH OUCH!!!!!!!*****!!!!! Major panic... as I am obviously writing this now you know that I survived these events but not without bruising and wondering what else was going to go wrong... fortunately, nothing has. The car situation is being sorted and the bruising around my neck has now gone, and I did go back in the sea as these pics will prove...

..... I was determined not to let the events spoil the fun that I have in the sea...

We had some great evenings in the caravan too. One night we had a pamper evening... nails, hair make up.. the works and another night we had a 'C' evening. 'C' because we were Camping in a Caravan in Cornwall. Harriet and her friend Bebe cooked carbonara, we drank Coke, ate crisps and crunchies and played Cluedo all by candlelight... Classic!!!!

This last photo has to be one of my favourites... You an see how strong the sea was and how much fun the girls were having dodging/dealing with the waves... I have so many happy memories and will probably do the same again next year!!!!

I hope that you have all had uneventful, fun filled, memory making holidays... I'm looking forward to reading about them all.

Pictures of the workshop to come soon...