Chilling out...and apples!

 Relaxing, reading, doin' nuffin special...

and going for a walk to an old established apple orchard....No Man's Orchard

The trees all around are sweet chestnuts, and there are hazels..or mire likely cobnuts as this is Kent.

last leg

 This was last night...

Just breezy today...and a fairly clear run down to near Canterbury...the last three hours of a total of exactly 500 miles..

I'd thought to bring my patchwork to finish one side...but I've miscalculated....so I'll have to re-cut the pieces when I get back...

but at least I have the plan....

Wet and windy!

 But it started well

There was, at least, a veggie breakfast...I don't usually have a "cooked breakfast" that isn't porridge....

First stop, the mart at Penrith..Potfest in the Pens to collect my glaze material...and I treated myself to four sponges on sticks!!

A longer drive than usual after that..all the way to Stafford Services, where I treated myself to a Pret hot chocolate and vegan salad platter...quality...and over £2 cheaper for the meal!

Conditions worsened steadily after that, 50mph was wise...and 40 mph at times, foglights fore and aft were necessary.

And still crazies were batting along at at least 70mph in the outside lane...some even without lights...

Now I'm relaxing at the Cherwell Travelodge near Bicester....and there is a bath!!!

Dumfries

 I decided to go early to Dumfries...there are a couple of places on the A76 where we have seen flooding when there has been heavy rain...and there were quite a few places with water over half the carriageway.

This meant that I had time to visit the galleries at Gracefields arts centre...and one of the exhibitions was a travelling exhibition from tbe Hayward on London's South Bank.

Plus upstairs from this was an exhibition of some of their permanent collection.

Then a fibre art exhibition in the newer building plus a local art group's paintings in the café. 

Lunch with friends was good, homemade soup with bread salad and cheese....and cake...and good strong coffee!

Two hours of interesting chatting...and a gift to me of the OU French course material and books in French to read.

I'm now ensconced in the travel hotel at Gretna Services...part one done...

First stop tomorrow, Potfest in the Pens at the mart outside Penrith to pick up some supplies...and maybe see some friends...then on to Oxfordshire.

Getting ready

 I did remember to do my halfhour on the trainer...just!!

Watching the rainshower come across from the hilltop, and past Rankinston like a curtain...

Ready for the next shower....

The sunlight was shining through the Borage in the garden

Now I'm sitting here with clean wet hair wrapped in a towel, making the list of things to pack for tomorrow morning.

A nice start

 But it soon went "downhill" to steady rain...

So needlework prep was done...deciding on cutting placement for efficient cloth use.

this is one of the four squares that will be made into a cushion cover.

Later in the afternoon I had tbe luxury of a reflexology session, rounded off with some reiki healing.

I'm feeling far less creaky and more relaxed after that.

Then I "fed" the car ready for Friday. If I need to go anywhere tomorrow it will be on the bus!!

definitely wet!!

 But not as wet as Corsica...floods after 500mm of rain.....

So an indoors day....Duolingo...now on tbe free version with ads.....I need to look for an alternative practice method...

Ironing, mending...starting to think what clothes are coming on the trip...so don't wear them now!!

Bubble wrap installed...

and mathematics , calculating cutting for finishing a cushion cover....

The rain started again as I drove north  to the artists' group AGM..

Which started with "Nosecco"...non alcohol fizz!! an alcohol free apèro, with cheeses and crackers and oatcakes, figs, olives, tomatoes, wee stuffed peppers, grapes...and assorted meats for those who did...

finished off with a cheesecake using white chocolate to set it instead of gelatine and pomegranate "jewels" on top!!

A pleasant evening and job done!! A few things to change and hopefully two more 3D members if we can find ones that will fit into the team.

Then a wet and windy drive home.

I haven't driven in the dark for a long time!!