Crafty in the Med

I am here to enjoy meeting other bloggers and to share my love of craft ,mostly crochet, my thoughts and my daily happenings here in Alicante,Spain, my adopted country. I belong to a local choir because singing and music makes me happy. Flea markets and book shops are two of my favourite places to be. I read lots......sci´fi/fantasy,buried treasure, and off world adventures. I have a passion for history! I walk and walk and walk for about 10 months per year during the hot months I swim.

Wednesday 5 May 2021

Flabbergasted!

 

There comes a time in one's blogging life when post inspiration is not very forthcoming. 

Such is my case at present or as my old Aunty May would have said down on her farm in Somerset "I be stuck for words me luvver". 

 I am looking around for some inspiration not that I am lacking photos of places we have been too but it is getting a bit monotonous always talking about places we visit . You are going to think I live in a motorhome!  

Give me a minute there and I'll come up with something that might be of interest!

Talking about Aunty May! She lived in her 17th century farmhouse in the wilds of West Somerset in a tiny hamlet called Langley Cross.

Here you have a few glimpses of Langley Cross and the entrance to what was Aunty May's farm. When Uncle Frank passed away she sold the farm and farmhouse to a doctor and moved to Taunton to be near her sister.  I do have a photo of the old farmhouse somewhere but at present I cannot locate it.  It doesn't look like that at all now!

Google maps image

 

Langley Cross ,Wiveliscombe ,Somerset


 

Google Maps image
 

Houses on the right of the first photo and that is about it. A hamlet indeed or perhaps even smaller than a hamlet! I don't recall being bored there at anytime we used to have plenty of fun (after our chores of course)  but then Aunty May also had ponies to ride. 🐴    

Google Maps image

The entrance to Aunty May's farm. This is a recent photo but it looks exactly the same as when I was a child. It was quite a long path to the farm and it was really creepy to walk down at night. I remember we always carried a torch with us because the street lights were non existent then. 

Taunton, the nearest large town, was as far as Aunty May ever went. She never travelled any further than that and as for getting on a plane and going abroad that was unheard of. I have very fond memories of summer holidays there and helping on the farm. When I think of Aunty May I immediately visualise an image of her like so; hair bob cut ,clipped back , wearing her pinny and wellies, stick in hand and her collie walking beside her. She was a gruff, no nonsense person, full of advice and very down to earth.   Wonderful memories!  

🚐 🚐 🚐 🚐 🚐


Sr P had his first vaccination yesterday. 

The Cuidad de la Luz (City of Light) film studios on the outskirts of Alicante have loaned out several of their Film Studio hangars to the local health authorities. As vaccination supplies have finally come through the authorities are using large venues like Football Stadiums, Trade Fair installations and in this case the Film Studios. These type of venues have the capacity to cope with the bustle of a very large amount of people coming and going as well as cars parking. The authorities are determined to make up for lost time and plan to vaccinate a massive amount of people in this way from now until September.

 As we didn't know where the hangar that Sr P had to go to was we decided last Saturday to do a reconnaissance walkabout in that area beforehand... and found it. It really was just a question of following a large trail of people who had the same idea!

Google image
 

Sr P will have his second jab on 25th May.   

 

Amazing!

As busy as my daughter is at present she has only taken over my sewing machine and is teaching herself and Cookie how to machine sew. 

 

I am flabbergasted I assure you... this is something! 

 


My daughter has always hated sewing anything, she doesn't even know how to sew a button!   

My sewing machine which I posted about ages ago here was only gathering dust as I had fallen out of love with sewing,so I was quite happy for her to have it.  

 


 She has just finished making some bedroom curtains and also a cushion for me for Mother's Day. I am awaiting photos of her makes.  

I tell you I am amazed... it is awesome! 



CROCHET

I have nothing to show you!  I have just frogged what I was making ... it was totally wonky!  In fact I don't know what to crochet...yes I did say that!

I am trying very hard to get rid of some of my DK stash which I have had for ages. I am looking at it and nothing seems to inspire me. 

 


I think I have a touch of the blues ... sigh!

 

Fabulous Billie Holiday ... just fits my mood at present 😊

 

Lady sings the blues!




keep well


Amanda :-)





 


23 comments:

  1. Well, I for one like your "travels around the area" posts. I'm glad the vaccination programme in Spain is beginning to roll out well. Good for your daughter on her machine sewing adventure. My daughter isn't interested at all, so my son is in line for my old machine (when we can finally meet him in a couple of weeks - WOO-HOO!) as he's the sewer. He's looked online for how to sew darts in a shirt that was too baggy, and his wife has hand-sewn a linen shirt. That's what you call a labour of love! I'm sure your crochet mojo will return with a vengeance soon. Mine's gone a bit AWOL too.😁 xx

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    1. Hello HH, thanks for calling in :-) Just felt that it was good to have a break from "travels around the area" and just post a few bitty things. There will be TATA (travel around the area) in my next post which I think will be liked by all or at least I hope it will be. Hand-sewn shirt ... impressive. I expect that took awhile.Pretty sure they will both be happy to get your old sewing machine. A x

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  2. I like your travels around the area too. it's always interesting to see where other people live. It's good that your sewing machine is being used again too. It won't be long before you decide what to crochet, but perhaps your mind is telling you to have a little break.
    Best wishes
    Ellie

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    1. Thank you Ellie. My little break didn't last long as you have seen on my new post, LOL! A x

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  3. How fun to have the memories while growing up of your Aunts farm. It looks like a lovely place to live and to visit too. I love the older homes in England.
    I'm glad your daughter has developed an interest in sewing. I will be giving our daughter my new sewing machine I bought for in the trailer and getting my 40 year old one back. I prefer it very much.
    I hope you soon find something to make. I have lot's of projects I need to get busy with. Especially mittens.
    Blessings,
    Betsy

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    1. Although we had our chores when staying with my Aunty and Uncle I always enjoyed my stays there. It was such a fun place to be and they didn't have TV either. I must say I do like the old sewing machines best...the pedal ones. Those are the ones I learnt on :-) A x

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  4. Hi Amanda, I enjoy your travel posts too-as I know I will never travel any more in my lifetime not that I did much at all except with my family growing up as a child-we camped to save money I am sure and it was fun Mom cooked meals over the fire or on her little propane stove.
    that's awesome your daughter is enjoying sewing-that is getting more popular here in the states as well, along with weaving fabric to make clothes.
    Happy new week Hugs Kathy

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    1. I remember our camping times too we couldn't afford any other sort of holiday. We do have though some wonderful memories of the fun we had with our friends and their children. A x

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  5. Love the cat, lol.
    I know what you mean about finding content for a post, thus mine have been sparse of late.
    Just post when you feel like it, I for one will still be here.
    Briony
    x

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    1. Thank you for calling in Briony :-) I think your posts have been varied and interesting. I also like the video clips of the sheep and of the hedgehog. A x

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  6. Lovely post, Amanda, so many interesting topics. Sr P is lucky - I had my first shot in March but have to wait until July for the second one. Have you had yours?

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    1. Thanks for calling in Chris. I haven't had my jab as yet. We have been told the 65 to 69 year olds slot won't be until June. Not so far away :-) A x

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  7. What a fascinating entry, thank you so much. I had an Aunty May too, a real dear, but as a youngster I didn't see her much and we certainly didn't go to stay.
    And a big WELL DONE to your daughter. She's unlocking a door to a lot of creativity and enjoyment.
    xx

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    1. Thanks Joy. I loved my holidays with Aunty May and Uncle Frank. They were really old fashion and you had to go to bed early and get up early too but I always had a great time :-) A x

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  8. I love that City of light sign. What a beautiful name for a place. It's a pity your daughter doesn't live anywhere near to me as I have a spare sewing machine that she could have had. I'm totally off crafting at the moment and nothing at all is inspiring me.

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    1. Been there to the City of Light today and had my first jab. The hangars are enormous and there were lots of people who hardly filled the place. It is a pity but that's a nice gesture all the same :-) A x

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  9. We all get like that from time to time Amanda your crochet inspiration will come flooding back just wait and see, as for blogging inspiration that's a tough one I'm the same, I have come to the conclusion that even if you just write a few words it's ok, it's like checking in and saying hi but having said that I think you have written a great post and I love to see your travel posts it makes me wish I was there and has me thinking maybe one day. I loved hearing about your Aunty May and I'm pleased that the vaccine program is speeding up, it's a pity the whole world wasn't doing as well because no one is safe until everyone is safe I recon. Well done to your daughter it's lovely when they take up a craft and sewing is great she may get the urge to make her own clothes too. My daughter wishes she could sew because she hates what clothes are available in the shops but knows exactly what she wants. I have told her to learn and that's as far as it goes really haha. Have a great week. xx

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    1. Thanks Linda you always inspire me! :-) I would love to see you if you ever come back this way. I will make sure I won't have car problems! Anyhow I have a free bus and tram pass now I am a pensioner LOL! Well the machine sewing fad (which I hope isn't a fad) is still going well so "cross fingers" she continues! A x

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  10. I love the cat photo Amanda. I think its just wonderful that your daughter is getting into sewing - a whole world of possibilities will open up for her.

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    1. Hi Julie. I am going to send your kind email to my daughter as I think she will be motivated by it. I have been told by my grand-daughter that they are learning to make bags now. I am so glad she has a hobby now too. A x

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  11. Yes, it is very "Somerset" :-)
    xx

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    1. Thanks for calling in Radka. I so miss "Somerset" :-) A x

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Thank you for your comments. I do read them and try to reply to all as well.Please keep them coming. Amanda :-)