So many people in London

20 years ago when we first came to London I wanted to visit Westminster Abbey but we were on a tight budget so we only looked inside the door. Of course I have been complaining about how mean Ian was ever since so on Saturday he decided we would go visit. Ha ha - just how many people are there in London? Well they were all hanging around the area and I think we may have been the only ones speaking in English. Sure shows how everyone loves the British stuff. Anyway the queue was so long we decided to move off. Great window though.  

I do love all the detail on these buildings - so much work.   

This one, I think , was Winchester Cathedral - I may have got confused after trying to move around though so many people.    Sat afternoon was exceptionally frustrating trying to find a pub showing the rugby - there was a soccer game on at 5pm so luck was not on our side and when we finally found one where we were told they would happily show it, the story changed when we arrived, so we followed it on our ipads and sadly missed an especially fantastic second half. All Blacks 57 South Africa 15 - tells it all.  Then to recover we went to The Trubadour in Earls Court for dinne - always a good spot.

Sunday morning was our visit to the V and A to see the Opus Anglicanum exhibition - it was fabulous to see things up close and I think even Ian enjoyed it. I dithered about but bought the very very heavy book in the end. i have collected quite a few new ideas for exploring before too long.

We found Mr Beckett at St Paul's Cathedral

And then went to the TATE - there were heaps of people around. STarting to rain - time to go to Spain.....

London more

Friday we had to rise early to go collect stock from a supplier - trains always take longer than you imagine but then we trained back to town, A trip to the Borough Market -busy as but o so good  

We couldn't resist the turkish delight

This stand has wonderful fresh turkish delight and pastries. Always too much for the eyes.  

Came across the most delightful fresh raspberries from Kent - 2pound 50 p is a mega site better than $10 and up to $14 a punned and they were sweet and fresh and full of flavour. i love raspberries but they are often lacking in flavour so this was a treat.   We ate at FISH - great cod and chips but they could keep their mushy peas. We wandered around and wore our feet out some more. There were so many people around. Hate to be here in summer. At night we met up with Annette and Terry at Roti Chai for a good night out. We have been there a few times now in Portman Mews - it's a very good restaurant. And then we slept very well for the second night running.

We have had quite a few deliveries to our hotel - in fact out empty suitcase is now running at around 30kilos which will need to be sorted when we get back from Spain. Lots of books and zigzag books and stacks of paper. 

London

Very relaxing arrival in London this year - our plane landed at 5.30am - we relaxed over a coffee and croissant in Terminal 2 before we caught the tube to our hotel where we cleaned our teeth and left our bags and hopped back on the tube to Wood Green. No stand to set up and no heavy suitcases to lug up the steps and open up. We spent the day covering the show - looking to see if there was anything new - there wasn't - and catching up with friends - collecting purchases and checking out the exhibitions.   

I caught up with Jan Beaney and Jean Littlejohn for a good chat and loved their 25 year exhibition. It's great to see the work from their books and their new stuff as well. The apple has always been a favourite - I didn't go around ping pinging with my phone - just this one. These two have done so much for the world of embroidery in teaching and promoting etc. So much of the stuff appearing these days is product driven and often nothing original. Sing your own song and tell your own story.  

Also enjoyed checking out Hilary Beattie's gallery - very manic creative lady - always enjoy her work.   There were others - Alice Kettle - I still remember a fabulous talk she gave in Perth many years ago - and just lots of quality exhibitions to view. Our feet were tired but we made our way up to Muswell Hill to Toffs and arrived back at our hotel via a very long bus and tube ride. And then slept pretty well.

Off we go

I am still so anxious that this new blog ap will work so still testing - here we are at the airport waiting to fly to Singapore to fly on to London.  

Holiday Stitching supplies

Holiday Stitching supplies 

I have changed to a new app from blogpress and fingers crossed I will be able to load to my blog while I am away in London and Barcelona. I am working on a theme of Circles for the 100 day project and have done preparation to that effect. 20 circles to be stitched.

San Francisco Part 2

 One day we took a caught the bus to the redwood forest - wonderful

plenty of great photo opportunities for bridges water and planes

 renovations happening next door - I think they were repairing the roof - this was unbelievable

another day a drive to the Napa Valley

 of course you would see grapes in a wine region.

 Back at Sausalito

 My starry starry night socks

On another drive

 loved the sky

 Stopped for lunch but not really ever sure about jam jars for water and wine

 Fabulous spot for fish n chips in Sausalito

 Great shape

 View from the cable car top

 if your remember Are We Being Served - great icecream too

 My special treat - oysters - only ever two at once - freshly shucked in the markets outside the ferry building

San Francisco part 1

 In June after Toronto, we flew to San Francisco where we spent a wonderful week or so. We rented an Air BNB in Sausalito with a fabulous view over the bay. First night we went to a Mexican restaurant - very nice - in fact we went again another night.

 The view from the walk along the water from our place to the shops in Sausalito and where got the ferry to town

 Another view from up high - we were up high and I got fitter each day.

 Never seen Salt Water Taffy before - in fact had no idea so we bought a bag and chomped our way through it while we were there.. Next door to this shop was a fabulous deli come coffee shop full of lots of lovelies and we stocked up here most days.

 On one of our long walks (missed the ferry stop so kept going) we came across this.

 And also this spot - some disconcerting people around so we didn't stay long especially as they were helping themselves to everyone's mail.

 Behind the letter boxes - almost like an English allotment.

 The home of hi-tech just outside our back door

 Downtown San Francisco - we rode the cable car

 Lots of lovely walking

 And really enjoyed the markets at the ferry building

Could never resist taking a photo

Sydney weekend for a break from work

 Last weekend we went to Sydney for a weekend's break. It just happened that the rugby was on as well. We checked out the Archibald paintings at the art gallery and watched the lorikeets having a great feast on tables outside. Obviously people tip out sugar for them.

 I visited Tessuti Fabrics and bought a couple of patterns and Italian linen for my wedding frock for November. I haven't sewn for myself in 20 years but I do have September to get it right.

 On Saturday we had a lovely day out on the Sydney Harbour. Grant's friend Andrew has a boat and we hopped on at Lane Cove and collected the NZ contingent in Darling Harbour.

 Then we spent the day exploring the inlet of the harbour. Beautiful weather and my geography of Sydney improved. Not sure about the NZ boys swimming though. They did look a little blue around the gills but then if you live in Otago you probably wouldn't even notice!

 Of course the highlight of the weekend and the main reason for going was the Bledisloe Cup game All Blacks vs Wallabies. We had very good seats dead centre but they were very  high up - just as well I know the players from theri shapes and movements.

 

Started with the haka and got better  - actually it was a blackwash - 42 - 8

 On Sunday we checked out Grant working on his Moth at the Woolhara Sailing Club - glorious day

And same spot - lots of people out and about and we followed it with lunch at 18ft Skiff Club with a cousin and his wife. Then on Monday we came home again......