Highs and lows...

One of those weekends when we're reminded why we are so happy to be living here, even if mice love living here too...

On Friday, some friends went to a comedy gig at the theatre, and a few of us met them afterwards for drinks in the theatre bar. Lovely to be out with some great women, for silly conversation and a catch up - something I should definitely do more often.

Saturday turned out to be a kitchen and shed day, with me making some bread, and a banana cake to use up the bananas that had been kicking about for just too long, and Mr Drookit out in the shed sorting out the devastation caused by dratted mice! Our stored apples and pears, and a dust sheet left over from decorating had obviously caused the local mouse population to think they were in heaven... A lovely toasty house and a buffet of delicious fruit right there, and no giant humans coming in to tell them to get lost - what's not to love?

So, the pears are no more, and lots of apples have gone. The dust sheet (a really good, thick one) is in the bin, having been chewed to bits, and used as a communal loo... bleugh! Hopefully they won't come back, but we'll just have to get out there more often and check, and hopefully scare them off. It makes me even more determined to build a better shed one of these days, with a brick base so that no pesky little creatures can get in...grrrrrr. Perhaps I should stop shooing the cats out of the garden (to protect the birds) and let them go and sleep in the shed to ward off the mice... Still, all the outdoor and indoor activity was followed by a lovely evening, curled up in front of the fire, eating Mr Drookit's home-made veggie stew with my bread, followed by banana cake. Simple pleasures!

This cat always miaows a hello as we go past. Not sure it appreciated having its picture taken! Rude! 

We headed out on Sunday to buy some coffee and bits and bobs, and went past St Peter's church - only to see that the doors were open, because it was 'clean-up' day, when volunteers come in wielding dusters and mops to do a spot of house-keeping! Off I went to do the shopping, whilst Mr Drookit went in to lend a hand. Of course, I had to go in and help out when I got back. Only one minor embarrassment when I didn't notice one section of the floor had been newly waxed and I ended up flat on my back! No harm done (except to my pride, of course) thanks to my bulky winter coat, bulky bag on my back, and general, natural, bulkiness... I got up, dusted myself down, and finally got on with dusting around the building once everyone had stopped asking if I was okay! Amazing how much dust and dirt accumulates - one junior volunteer showed me her dustpan with a couple of manky old Brussels sprouts she'd found in one corner, no doubt left over from the farmers' market.

Only the bit at the very end had been done when I slipped - even I would have noticed if it had all been this shiny!

The old place looked very lovely with the sun light streaming in through the windows - a job well done, I think.

Home again, and while I typed up my blog post, Mr Drookit did some piano practice - which always makes me happy. Then, drawing the curtains, and settling down with more homemade stew and homemade bread, was followed by an evening curled up in front of the fire - both of us saying how lucky we are to be just where we are. Bliss. x

A blustery, buskery day...

Monday's storm was named after St Jude, the so-called patron saint of lost causes - since it coincided with St Jude's feast day. I went out early in the morning to rescue a few things that had been blown over in the garden, and got caught in an exceptional gust of wind which almost blew me off my feet but, other than the rest of the apples and pears being blown down (no bad thing), we pretty much got away with it. Still, there are a few branches down in the town, and a lot more trees have come down in the surrounding countryside...

There was an open day at St Pete's in town, but the start was only slightly delayed. The wind blew away the clouds and things got going properly when Fireflow came along, to teach some juggling and hula-hooping outside, buskers turned up to fill the entrance porch with music, and improvised jam sessions started up among those waiting for their slot.

The Gorgeous Girl and I climbed the bell tower and tried our hands at bell-ringing - I'm sure the cry of '...you're a natural!' had more to do with their desperate need to recruit more bell-ringers than any real talent!

Mr Gainsborough turned his back on proceedings, perhaps thinking it wasn't quite his thing...

I wonder what kind of portraits he would have made, from all the interesting folk around?

As dusk fell, the jugglers moved indoors to perform fire juggling - I don't think the old place has ever seen the like...!

After helping tidy up, C tried to pick up something to eat on the way home - the cafes and restaurants were chock full of people who had no power at home, and who'd decided to come into town to ensure a hot evening meal! The pizza place had run out of pizza base! Hmmm, methinks the powers-that-be are missing a trick in how to get the economy moving again...

Vintage St Peter...

Juniper Flowers is a lovely little shop in Sudbury, selling flowers, vintage wares, and gorgeous retro frocks, and today they took over St Peter's in town for a 'Brief Vintage Encounter', filling the place with vintage stalls, a tea room and even retro makeovers. A couple of vintage cars parked outside set the scene and there was a definite happy buzz around Market Hill.

We were greeted at the door by the Juniper team and inside the sun was blazing through the stained glass - with some trad jazz playing, and even a bit of live singing, the atmosphere was really quite special.

I loved the cushions at 'My Betty Blue' (below) made from vintage fabrics, and salvaged kimonos. I'd planned on getting a scrap bag of vintage textile pieces, but left it too long - by the time I went back, the one I wanted had been sold! Ah well, instead I bought a cushion, made in 1930s fabrics - the pretty blue one propped up in front of Ms 'Blue' herself. Look out for them at Brick Lane in London!

I also bought a soft, well-worn, blue and white linen tea towel from Susan, the retro lady, who was dressed far more bravely than I would ever dare. What a sweetheart - Susan featured on telly, in Kirstie's Vintage Homes, so we had a celebrity in our midst!

There were quite a few women, both customers and vendors (and vintage shop mannequins!), in full makeup and 1940s hairstyles, or in 1950s full skirts, all looking utterly gorgeous. Sudbury has never seemed so glamorous!

The ladies from The Vintage Garden Tea Party Company, who provided the catering, transformed the kitchen with bunting, pretty teacups and saucers, and fabulous cakes. If we hadn't been out last night with friends for the most enormous curry we might have succumbed - although C did buy a few cakes to take home for later!

St Peter is a great venue for this sort of thing, and it clearly went down well with the locals. One of our neighbours told me that she was tickled pink to find some old dolly pegs amongst the treasures!

So, something for everyone - even if only a cup of tea, a bit of cake and some slightly rueful reminiscing about about all of the Pyrex, mid-century modern ceramics, and Victorian lace we've chucked out over the years...