I shot Dan

You never know how the things you do can impact on total strangers.

One day in August 2004, I was surfing the net for the website for our local RSPCA. Google found me this thing called a "blog" - something I had not heard of before. The blog had featured Sheffield RSPCA as the family in the blog had just acquired a dog. I was intrigued by this online diary of a family who lived near to me and shared similar interests, so I followed it for a while, and then went on to discover other brilliant biographical blogs through Dan's blog. I discovered that people wrote blogs on many different topics and was thrilled when I discovered craft blogs.

I started my first blog as a way for my family to keep in touch. My aunts, uncles and cousins are spread worldwide and we had lost touch with each other. I created a blog that we could all contribute to, and years later we are all a bigger part of each others lives once more - which I love.

I then decided to start a public blog that I could use as a diary. I never realised that this would lead to me meeting so many wonderful people that I now consider beautiful friends. Blogging added a totally new dimension to my life at a time when I knew I needed something else, but didn't quite know what. And it really is all thanks to that chance finding of Dan's blog.

After I had been to the Pub Scrawl, I noticed a few posts on Facebook by Dan saying he had attended, so I took the opportunity to send him a message and say "Thank You" for the inspiration. I think he was a bit taken aback as he had no idea he had done anything!

At the Millennium galleries on Sunday, I spotted Dan shooting some photographs - he also has a photography company called Dan Shot Me. So I popped over to say "Hi" and thank him for changing a strangers life for the better - without even knowing it.

Thank you Dan.

Bloggy Gifts

I don't know why, but I think bloggy gifts are some of the best gifts ever. Perhaps its because we all have more than a little in common. When I met up with Two Bones and a Bagle on Saturday she presented me with the most beautiful gift.

I remember her making this earlier in the year at Hope and Elvis Studio,
from a table cloth featuring St Ives (blurry photo but you get the idea) - my spiritual home. I absolutely love it -its so special.
And all wrapped up in this beautiful vintage mat - now on my dressing table.
Many thanks Deb - you knew I would love it. xxxx

Debs and Di's Day Out

You know how I love a bloggy blind date! Well this was not really a blind date as I had met the lovely Debs once before on a Hope and Elvis day, but we decided to have another get together with Debs showing me some of her favourite local haunts. We only live about 20 minutes from each other, but her end of town has places I didn't even know about.

I hardly took any photos as we spent so much time talking! But I did remember to take my camera out a few time!

After our first stop at the table top sale in Dinnington, Debs had arranged for us to pop in and meet Mary Jane Baxter who was taking a class at Louises workshop. The atmosphere in the class was delightful and I could have easily stayed and "made" with all the lovely ladies who were clearly having a lovely time. We discussed Kirsty Allsop in depth - neither of us being fans of her "Homemade" programme.

We then moved on to visit Heaths in Ollerton where the wool and fabrics were gorgeous, and a Sue Ryder charity shop where I bagged a bargain - although I have to say you have to be quick to beat Debs to the bargains - she certainly has "an eye" and is like a hawk to its prey when she spots something!

We then moved on to the gorgeous little town of Southwell . Ive only ever been to Southwell once before, but I saw things on this visit that I hadn't seen before - Like the home of Lord Byron!

We had a lovely walk round, and visited loads of charity shops, and other gorgeous shops. We bought loads of things, but spent very little.

Debs had been worried that we might run out of things to talk about - but we actually ran out of "day" - I think we could have gassed for a week! We didn't run out of topics to discuss and discovered that we have led parallel lives! Its amazing when you meet a virtual stranger and get on so very well.
We had planned to visit the Minster, but by this stage we were parched and starving, so Debs took us to Reg Taylors Garden Centre for a very reasonable priced and delish afternoon tea.
Thanks very much for my day out Deb - it was great to meet your lovely family and I enjoyed every bit of my day. Here's to our next day ou. xxt

Thornbridge Hall Garden Open Day - and a surprise meeting

Ive never managed to be around for any of the Open Days that they have held at Thornbridge Hall, (near Ashford in the Water, Derbyshire) and its one of those places that I have always wanted to see more of. The hall is privately owned by Emma Harrison - local Entrepeneur and "Secret Millionaire" and when I read that the gardens were open today under the National Garden Schemes, I thought it was a perfect opportunity to visit.

The history of the hall is very interesting and I was surprised to read that it was owned previously by 2 more Sheffield entrepeneurs at times throughout its history.

I have to say that the gardens were really surprising. I didn't expect them to be as stunning as they were - my photos cannot do justice to them.
There are delights at every turn - but even though it is all really grand, it looks totally lived in and very used.
Some of the features in the gardens were bought when other local stately homes fell into decline. A couple of the fountains, and this stunning temple were from Clumber Park.
I wish you could smell these sweet peas - there were lots of beautiful sweet pea wigwams dotted around.
The Potager gardens were stunning - they were in a splendid very sunny spot and I spotted lots of produce being grown very succesfully.
This chap seemed to have the weight of the world on his shoulders!

The borders were all stunning. They had a great sunny and hot day for the Open Day. I got a lot of inspiration for my own pocket hankerchief sized plot.
One of my favourite parts of the garden was the relatively new Orangery (seen here from the coach house where delicious sandwiches, cakes and beveridges were being served).
Emma appears to live with her extended family and a few friends. The house and gardens look as if at any given time, they can - and do - turn into Party Central. The Orangery had lots of places to sit and dine.
In fact they had built a kitchen into one end of the Orangery so that they could cook down here - away from the house - straight from the garden. Behind the (fabulously Farrow and Ball painted) brick wall, was the old potting sheds. Now turned into a Micro Brewery!!! A great addition to a party house - and we tested the beer ! It was really really good. The lovely pained units were full of mismatched china. I loved it all!
Emma is also growing 2 Lemon tree's just outside of the doors - handy for her G&T's!
We also passed a new part of the hall that the family has built - a fab swimming pool.. So I came home wanting to completely redo my garden - to incorporate an Orangery, Swimming Pool, Pottager, Brewery and some new plants. The hall also has a underground Bar, Gymnasium, Ballrom and lots more stunning features. I really loved it all. Hubby is slightly alarmed at the number of projects I formulated in my head whilst walking round!
Then on our way out - something strange happened. We passed a young couple - and even though I knew I didn't know them - I thought they looked familiar. I mentioned to hubby that I thought that I recognised the young lady as a blogger that I regularly leave comments for - and she for me. He told me to ask her, but I daren't in case I was wrong. Then we bumped into them again around the corner - and she said "Hello - youre Diane aren't you"
It was Louise from Ramblings of a Roachling, (and Dave - her other half). It was lovely to stop and have a chat with them - such a small world.

And so on this fine Sunday morning, hubby and I set off across the Pennines to a foreign country - Welsh Wales (not to be confused with the tiny village of Wales in South Yorkshire). Its always a spectacular ride across these hills, but it was a dream early on Sunday morning with not much else on the road.

We had been invited to John's "Open Allotment Day" and being a girl who can't say no to meeting bloggy friends, off we trotted. We had a brilliant day - and I didn't take as many photos as I ought to have.

I took a photo of this poppy John in the hope that you would send me some seeds - its is a gorgeous colour.
We arrived early in the morning to give a helping hand, but John assured us that all was in hand and he sent us off to have a lovely morning at the seaside. When we returned at 1pm, I discovered that the Bric a Brac stall was in disarray, with boxes unpacked - which caused me to have to visit it several times as more and more boxes were unpacked! John at this time was rounding up errant geese - which continued to escape throughout the proceedings.
It was really lovely to meet Johns family and other animals. His twin sister Janet did a sterling job on the tea tent. They served over 500 cuppas! (that's her in the stripey top).
I can honestly say that I have never seen such a fine array of cakes and buns.
Johns allotment is a perfect little place - hubby and I loved it and were very envious of this lovely space.
It was great to meet the characters from Johns blog - I must apologise to the poor little hen that I stood on!
We had to name the pig - I don't think I won (I called her Betty - like the pig in Alan Bennetts " A Private Function". The funniest part of the day was talking to 2 lovely ladies who were willing the pigs to escape - just so they could watch John round them back up. Those Welsh ladies are wicked!
We eventually sat down with 2 very large pieces of cake. Mine was the raspberry cake - quite possibly the best cake I have ever eaten (and I wanted to bring the plate home too - John, if these blue plates are for sale - let me know).

I don't know how John kept going all day - he had worked a night shift at the hospital until 8am!
And because on his blog, John posted a photo of our ugly mugs - I thought I would get revenge....
But what really amused me - was that both John and my hubby were both sporting "surfer" tee shirts. They need to be careful - some one might mistake them for cool surfer dudes!

Seriously, John we had a great day and you raised a phenomenal amount of money. You live in a beautiful place and your family, friends, neighbours and animals are wonderful. I'm so glad that the weather was good to you. xxxxxxx (read John and Janet's versions by clicking the links)

I spotted...

... this in Oxford on Sunday morning, and couldn't help but think that she could have written a brilliant blog!

I love the way she is remembered as a Pre-Raphaelite Muse and Embroiderer!

Why football can be a good thing.

Last year, Hubby and the young man were devastated when their football team, Sheffield Wednesday were demoted to a lower league. However one blogger - with her finger on the pulse - noted that her local team would be in the same league, so there may be the chance of a meet up.

So, as the young man had never been to an away game, and it was hubby's birthday, I organised an away weekend to Southampton - the other end of the country - so that they could watch their beloved team lose 2-0 to Southampton.

Actual, that's what they thought - but the real reason was that I could meet 2 of my favourite bloggers. I was supposed to meet them in the park, by the monument for the Titanic Engineers. The park had about 100 monuments in it, and nobody in Southampton knew where this monument was!!! How could they not!! It is a beautiful monument.

And then they arrived!! The wonderful Lisa from Jumble and Jelly and the gorgeous Clare from Summerfete. Lisa brought her amazing children S and T who were so entertaining and had so much stamina to keep up with us all day!

(as you can see, Clare was actually the centre of attention all day, but she did bring chocolate - so fair do's).

I find it amazing that relative strangers can meet and get on so well. We chatted and laughed and got on famously all day - I can't find the words to tell you how lovely it was. It was like meeting old friends - but then again, I knew it would be. Although we 3 have totally different lives, we also have so much in common - we never stopped talking all day!. We had a truly wonderful time. Lisa had organised some tremendous blue sky, a cultural tour, a bit of shopping, a picnic and a wonderful and much needed tea stop (where time stood still and we seemed to spend well over an hour and a half drinking 3 cups of tea!!!!).

Clare was glad they brought me as she thought I might make Southampton look good in my photos - but I think the blue sky did that! This used to be the hotel where liner passengers (and the Titanic passengers) would have spent the night before their voyage,

And this was the offices of the White Star line where relatives of the crew waited for news of loved ones.

And near this spot, King Canute tried to hold back the tides (I didn't realise that he did this in Southampton!!!)

And some of the crew of the Titanic missed the ship as they were drinking in here!!

All too soon, we had to say goodbye - we had spent almost 8 hours together, but it went by far too fast.

Here's hoping that both teams are in the same league next year! Otherwise I'll have to find another excuse for visiting Southampton!!!

Lots of love to you both ladies - I am so happy to have you for my "blends" (bloggy friends according to Clare's hubby)
xx