Friday 28 October 2016

Busy day.

It has been a busy day today with lots of other people around.   First of all there was the usual Friday morning coffee with friends - eight of us altogether this morning.

Then it was off down Railway Street to Tennants Auction House Garden Rooms, where there was a Craft Market.   Lots of stands and some really clever handwork of all kinds.   These people put such care and love into whatever they have decided to make, but quite often it just isn't to my taste, or I just don't feel justified in spending the money on it.   The trouble with craft work is always the same.   Folk put hours of work into thinking up the designs and making up the finished articles and then no-one is prepared to spend what their products are worth - they virtually have to work for nothing.  I ended up coming away with just one item - a pair of lovely warm fairisle mittens which will make a nice Christmas present for someone.

Then it was into the cafe for our lunch - along with a huge crowd of people.   But we managed to find a table for four.   Three of us had fish, chips and garden peas with plenty of tartare sauce and W had hot pork pie with chips and mushy peas.  (hot pork pie is a popular dish up here.   I had never heated a pork pie until I came to live up here).

Then it was a walk round the lots for sale in tomorrow's Auction - always an interesting walk, although today there was nothing which took our fancy.

Home, feet up for half an hour and a cup of coffee (Ethiopean) and I felt more like myself again.   Walking around is really very tiring.

'Have I got news for you' - one of our favourite programmes - tonight and then an hour of playing Rummikub, and then time for bed.   Another enjoyable day.

28 comments:

Rachel Phillips said...

You go to bed late.

Derek Faulkner said...

I rather thought the same.

Ivy, Phyllis and Me! said...

Good Evening to you, I smiled when I read about the hot pork pie, because here in Newcastle we are able to buy hot pork pies from Bowers. My husband loves them. He has been known to stand outside the shop eating the pork pie, because he says if he carries it home, by the time we arrive home, the pork pie will be cold. I nip into the wool shop while he is eating is pie.
I am a crafter. I love beadwork, quilting and embroidery. I don't sell my work, but I know when I have been asked to make things for charity, we have to charge a nominal fee, otherwise the items are left at the end of the day, because people don't want to pay very much money for the work. There seems to be an opinion that hand sewn work is not worth very much money, which I find strange. As a church group, we now makes quilts which we raffle, we then donate the money to the local hospice.... this seems to be the way to go.
Oooh fish and chips with garden peas.... perfect. If my husband was joining you, he would have added mushy peas.
Have a lovely weekend.
Best Wishes
Daphne

Heather said...

That sounds like a most enjoyable day. I used to sell my work at local craft fairs but as you say, no one wants to pay a reasonable price for all the time and effort that goes into to making things by hand.
I have never had a hot pork pie but love the cold ones, especially if there is jelly inside.

angryparsnip said...

Oh My Goodness what a lovely day !

cheers, parsnip

Sue in Suffolk said...

Never tried hot pork pie - I'm curious now to try them.
Also curious as to why comment-ers think 10.30 is late?

Bovey Belle said...

My mum used to eat hot pork pies too - I thought it rather strange, but now find she wasn't alone in eating them this way!!

Rachel Phillips said...

Nothing curious about it Sue in Suffolk. I just go to bed earlier than that so it seems late to me.

Gail, northern California said...

Some things I don't understand but I'll never learn if I don't ask so here goes.

What are "lots"? Land? Plots? Acres? A listing with description for each?

"Then it was a walk round the lots for sale in tomorrow's Auction..."

Joanne Noragon said...

Fair Isle knitting is more tedious and time consuming than any. They will make a wonderful gift.

jinxxxygirl said...

I was just thinking that was quite a bit of walking for you my dear! I'm so glad you were able to get out and about and have a good time then come home and put your feet up and are no worse for wear! Sounds like a wonderful day! Hugs! deb

Librarian said...

Craft fairs are something I like for "just looking"; like you, a lot of what is usually on offer at such places is simply not my taste, and as I am not one for a lot of decoration and/or clutter around the house, I rarely find anything I really want/need to buy there, apart from the odd gift.
My Mum sometimes sells her hand-knitted socks at such fairs, and of course she can never ask the price they are really worth - it is just about the price for the wool she gets back, her time and effort do not count. But thankfully, she does not have to make a living selling socks, instead just enjoys knitting while watching TV and giving the results away as gifts for friends and family.

The Weaver of Grass said...

Gail. In Auction Sales here each item, or group of items is called a 'Lot' and given a number. Land, Plots and Acres all refer to the land the farmer owns around our farm. Acres can be translated into Hectares, which you probably use. Plots of land - well just bits of land here and there. Hope that explains the terms. Always do ask.

Rachel. We usually go to bed at ten o'clock because the farmer gets up at 6.20 and always has done ( he did so when he milked and will never lose the habit).

Anyone who hasn't tried a hot pork pie - please do try one - they are delicious but make sure they are piping hot and eat them straight away. (with mushy peas)

John "By Stargoose And Hanglands" said...

I haven't worked in farming for over a quarter of a century now but I'm still locked into waking up at around 6.00 every morning though there's no longer any reason why I should.

Yorkshire Pudding said...

I am surprised that your lunch party didn't all opt for Yorkshire pudding as Yorkshire pudding is very nice and doesn't come from Ethiopia.
WAITRESS Will you ladies all be having Yorkshire pudding as per usual?
ALL Yes please!

Derek Faulkner said...

6.20, I always thought farmers got up early! Mind you I suppose that's because I always get up at around 5.15.
By the way as well, to those that were quick to slate Dylan for not attending the Nobel Prize awards, he has announced that he has every intention of being there.

Anonymous said...

Sounds a very enjoyable day. X

coffeeontheporchwithme said...

I am enjoying reading about the hot pork pies which seem to be quite the anomaly. I have never ever eaten any kind of meat pie cold. They are always hot from the oven whether they are chicken pot pie, beef, turkey... Pork pies here might be called tortiere, but they are still served hot (with ketchup for some). Jenn

The Weaver of Grass said...

Thanks everyone, Regarding getting up early, my father always used to quote
'Early to bed and early to rise,
makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise'
- not sure how true it is!

Yorkshire Pudding said...

Late to bed and late to rise
Makes a man dopey with bloodshot eyes

Midmarsh John said...

I must admit, hot pork pie is a new one on me.

Iris said...

You are starting to grow on me. I like your sense of humor.

John Going Gently said...

Iris...pat is a real fast cat x

Iris said...

Ohhhh, how exciting!! XoXo!

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
The Weaver of Grass said...

John thinks I am a 'fast cat' - all I can say is that he should have seen me just now climbing the stairs!!

galant said...

PS to my earlier comment, in a good year we have about 30lbs - 40lbs (dry weight, in their shells) of walnuts, which we dry on the sitting room windowsill (a deep windowsill) on newspaper (because any part of the walnut stains anything with which it comes into contact.) A bad year would be a couple of hundred nuts, but we have so many we have plenty for ourselves for a year, and we give away the rest, bagged up, to friends and neighbours. This is the first year in our 31 years of living here with this tree (which is over 150 years old) that it looked to have a wonderful crop and then no nuts at all! No doubt your thieves were mice, ours were squirrels.
Margaret P

JoAnn ( Scene Through My Eyes) said...

It sounds like a perfect day. Hope your week ahead is just as good.