Friday 27 June 2014

Pomps Patch #8

This month we will have owned our little plot at the allotment for 7 months!! Something I am really appreciating is much everything changes with each season. The first picture is one half of our plot when we first got it, compared to how it looks now in the picture below. I am really proud of how much we have managed to achieve in that time, and it's even better now that our first crops that we have grown from scratch, not inherited from the previous tenant, are ready for the picking. 


 

I scored these two produce crates at the recycling center for £2!!! I love them and am hoping they will be deep enough to grow carrots in.




I took this photo at the very end of May, and now look how much the beans have grown? They are producing their first batch of pods ready for the picking, get in my belly!!


This week I have transplanted the tomato plants, mangetout, runner beans and cauliflower, and will be sowing beetroot, lettuce, broccoli and carrots, ready for late summer and winter. It's all going on up at Pomps Patch, and I bloody love it!!



If you were curious, the plastic bottles are to prevent us from poking our eyes out on the canes, and also to keep the birds away as they rattle in the wind.

Sarah
xx





Friday 20 June 2014

Weston Super Mare

At the end of last month Rich and I had our annual pilgrimage to Weston Super Mare, taking his grandparents to visit Herman. Since our visit last year Herman has moved into a nursing home, after having a fall he was unable to go back to his own home which is a blessing in disguise, really. After his fall Herman went down to 8 stone, which for a 6ft tall man is not good, but now he is in the home and back up to 12 stone, looking healthy and well looked after. We didn't go in to see him this time, but he has a huge room overlooking the beach, where he waved us off from as we drove away - I love old people!!

Unlike last year the weather was fab so we strolled along the beach, taking in the view of the sea, the donkeys, and the typical Brits who share too much as soon as the sun comes out. It was a scorcher of a day, far too hot for the donkeys to be lugging kids up and down the beach, but very nice for sun worshipers like me. There had also been a vintage tractor show on on the seafront, so naturally I legged it to the side of the road to photograph them for Jack as they drove past, he still LOVES tractors.


You can read about our previous trips to see Herman here and here, it's a beautiful story!!

Sarah
xx

Monday 16 June 2014

Dowland Country Fair

As my Dad was on holiday on Fathers day I tagged along with Rich and his Dad to Dowland Country Fair. Being a country girl it was right up my street: loads of dogs, vintage tractors and cars, falconry, horses, people playing the ukulele, and the feel of community spirit. For a country fair there was quite a lot going on and so many people. 

 
 

These Suffolk Punch horses are the biggest I have ever seen, they were seriously huge, none of the photos I took do them justice, but honestly they are giants!! 


My favourite part of the fair was the vintage tractors & cars, we even befriended the couple who owned an old Austin. They told us how they, Richard and the Dutchess (we don't know her name but she was dutch so...) married 40 something years ago. 6 months after the wedding Richard went out mumbling about an Austin, returning later with a rusty old car on the back of his trailer that he had paid £5 for. He restored it to to the beauty that it is today, along with a couple of other cars, and they have driven it all over the world, including along route 66 and from the USA to Argentina. It was fascinating and they were so lovely that they have invited us to their house to see their other cars and photos from their travels in their vintage cars, I can't wait and only hope I am as cool as them when I'm older.


I hope you all had a lovely fathers day.

Sarah
xx

Friday 13 June 2014

Adventures in Exeter #5

The new series of Salvage Hunters meant one thing, a trip to Toby's reclamation yard. Rich and I both love a car boot sale or vintage store, and this place is like a magpies paradise. So much shiny/rusty/random goodies scattered all over the place. I bloody love it. They combine old with new and are full to the brim of treasures. My favourites are the old signs because lets be honest, who wouldn't want a 'Nosegays' sign hanging in there living room?

Although much of what they sell is out of my price range, it's a great place to go for inspiration or just to take photos of so many treats.


If you're in the area you should definitely go and have a nose, and then pop to the Turf hotel for a drink overlooking the river afterwards.

Sarah
xx

Friday 6 June 2014

Newmies Hen Weekend

Last weekend I had the honour of being invited to one of my best girls hen weekend. Newmie (Amy) and I have been friends since we started uni together almost 6 years ago. She's an absolute gem, totally crazy and shares my love of cheesy 80s music on a night out. We've lived together, laughed, cried and got horribly drunk together, and now she is marrying her lovely Stuie in less than 3 weeks, SO exciting.

Anyway on Friday, after a half day at work and a horrific drive on the motorway, we all arrived in Bristol to give her the best send off into married life possible. Friday evening was very low key, a meal to get to know each other followed by a few drinks and a boogie in a bar.

The following morning we were up early, some with dodgy hangovers, for breakfast in the hotel before heading out to West Country Games, an outdoor Wurzel themed activity place, dressed as farmers with an inflatable sheep in tow. There were 9 different games to play within our group, with the winner getting a prize at the end, I came second which I'm pretty chuffed with ha! I don't think I have ever laughed so much in my life, we all had so much fun and Newmie absolutely loved it, perfect!!

This would be me dressed as Vicky Pollard for some wrestling action with Kelly!!

The games ended with us asking Newmie a couple of questions, if she got them wrong she got a soaking so naturally we stitched her up and it was one of the funniest moments of my life. We then headed back into Bristol to fill our bellies in TGI Fridays, before a quick power nap and a night of heavy drinking and hen related games. After a round of Mr and Mrs and a few drinking games, we were ready to paint the town red. We had free entry to Pryzm as part of the hen package so as soon as we arrived we went straight to the cheesy disco room, where we stayed until our feet could dance no more and our bellies were ready for Subway.


It was so great to celebrate the weekend with some of my favourite people and I am so lucky to be able to call them my friends. The big day is less than 3 weeks away, I can't wait!!

Did you have a great weekend?

Sarah
xx