The Best of Brightwells!

A hectic week designed around having a couple of nights away and visiting Brightwells Auction in Leominster,
We went to Bromyard on Monday, stayed at an amazing 16th century farmhouse - Linton Brook Farm - and had a fantastic meal at The Three Horseshoes.
We were taken up the fields the following morning to see the Victorian  hydraulic Rams, then given a tour of the house by the owner, who knows every detail of the place.

On Tuesday we had a day in Leominster and viewed the auction before travelling on to Llandrindod Wells for a night at The Metropole, including a six course dinner.
We managed to swim before dinner and again before the Welsh breakfast, then left for the auction in. Leominster.
We stopped in Tunbridge Wells on the way home, which is delightful.
I recommend The Spotted Dog for lunch.
Home early evening with a car full of treasures.

We visited the Camping and Caravan Show at The NEC on Thursday - great!
A morning off on Friday before collecting J and Th from school.
Saturday spent writing Sunday's sermon and e baying, after a lie in.

Next week looks quiet, by comparison.

Deal done Dave?

Well, the meeting has broken up for the night and "Dave has a package",
Perhaps the leaders will all fall out  and the EU will fall apart before it finishes.
I guess that most people in the UK have yet to decide about EU membership anyway as the campaigning has yet to begin.
I don't have a clue, if I'm honest, but feel drawn to vote against Farage.
Boris surely turned up unexpectedly at Downing Street for the added publicity of standing on the step  for a while and will vote whichever way gives him the best chance of leading the party.

I've been much too busy with real life today to give it a great deal of thought - a little washing and housework then a lot of e baying to put on things bought in Denmark, Bicester and yesterday in Alcester, as well as some books.

A great dinner of rump steak from Rikki Lloyd in Welshpool, jacket potatoes and beans, followed by rice pudding.
Time for bed as an early start to go to Hansons' sale, day 3.

Happy Valentines Day.

Up before 6.00am to do a sermon rewrite then two services this morning.

I may enlighten you about St V at a later date, but am presently sitting by a lovely log fire having eaten a delicious meal cooked by K, with a couple of glasses of Sauvignon Blanc, so not up to it.

This item is not for sale.....yet!

I can source them at a very reasonable price......

What is it?

A rustic semi-detached bird box, very popular with birds in the Midlands and Wales.

Today is the day that birds traditionally choose their mates, a fact highlighted by G Chaucer in 

"The Parliamentary Fowl" .

There could be a big demand by next week!

Bargains galore.

A first yesterday.

KP blushed.

We walked to school with guitar then realised that neither of us had picked up her school bag.

KP was early and the bag was only seconds late, after a speed walking return journey by me!

After clearing breakfast and a leisurely cup of coffee I set sail to Bicester market, to find the picture framer, large collage under my arm which I found in the attic at Shardelows, in a neglected state, and a couple of photos, all needing framing.

I the pottered around a couple of charity shops and found the bargains shown below.

The car just turned off the M40 at Banbury and headed for the M&S store wher I found a few more amazing bargains in their  "Clearance".
I stopped at Tesco on A34, for a gift that was on the Internet as in stock, sought the assistance of an imbecile in a Tesco jacket then had to wait for a lift, to escape, as the travel actor was stationary and deemed too dangerous to use.
I shall never darken their doors again.

Isn't to Gap in Solihull to buy white jeans,with similar result.
The "assistant" neither knew nor seemed to care whether she could order a pair for me.
Another shop to be avoided forever.
Success at John Lewis and Next, then home by 6.00pm.

We went to friends in Knowle for dinner.
They were out.
We went to the local carvery, with the other guests and had a good evening.
Good job that we are all old friends.

Kensington & Price (now Woods) kitchen set......

Gothic mansion, vintage.

Retro desert plates by Kensington & Price.

Artichoke serving dish by ICTC.

All to go on e bay in the fullness of time.

Anyone interested?

The daffodils are in full flower on the rockery despite the weather cooling considerably and it not yet being March when the breezes should stir them.

I've baked a birthday cake for M and a larger square cake (top still in the oven) for church tomorrow, both flavoured with lemon peel and to be filled with lemon curd and butter cream, iced and sprinkled with sugar hearts.

They smell good.

Moving photos.

Moving day.

So there may have been 3 similar beds or I've forgotten how to delete photos!

The new house, my first view.

Brilliant!

Lots of space and 5 toilets.

The futon didn't get erected.

I can take a hint.

A welcome home.

A good flight from Copenhagen on Tuesday morning after coffee and a Danish pastry in the airport.

We drove home from Luton via Bedford, where we stopped for lunch and a potter round - a lovely town with some beautiful buildings which we enjoyed despite the cold and rain.

Home via Kenilworth and a shop at Waitrose for bacon and eggs.........

A lazy day yesterday, catching up on sleep and avoiding the cold and wet.

Much better today, I've spent a few hours in the garden clearing leaves to let  the bulbs see some light and allow the lawn to dry a little - 6 barrow loads later, I've come in for a cup of tea.

The plants are all far too advanced for early February so hopefully we won't have hard frosts.

Shrubs, blossom, primula and crocus flowering and daffodils nearly there