Come away with the raggle taggle gypsy-o
I took you to Oldway recently to show you Mr Singer’s Sewing Machines and now as promised here are some photos of the house. It’s currently owned by Torbay council and has been a popular wedding venue. Sadly it needs some major renovations and is now for sale as a potential hotel. I’m glad I went to see it before that happens.
Click on any image for a bigger view.
http://jakesprinters.wordpress.com/2012/12/22/sunday-post-christmas/
Just as I read Jake’s weekly challenge the letter box flapped and this is what I found in the porch. Timely I’d say!
I’ve failed again with Julia’s challenge but I had a real ‘bah humbug’ on Sunday. I went into town to try to finish my Christmas shopping and to be honest it didn’t start well, I got soaked on my twenty minute walk down and to add insult to injury it thundered! Never mind, my destination was the German style Christmas Market on the Cathedral green, it was sure to be good wasn’t it?
The aroma of burnt meat and spilt beer hit me at once, and repeated itself several times, and then there was the Belgian chocolate, Turkish Delight, French crepes, Italian cakes, Zimbabwean wood carvings, Chinese this, Chinese that, Chinese the other, and Chinese tat. I don’t know why I expected anything else, two weeks before I went to a similar market in Salisbury, all wooden chalets full of imported ‘goods’ as well, and left disappointed.
I decided to look for something locally mad; Devon is full of talented artists and craftspeople after all. I found some plants, the usual Christmas suspects, poinsettias and wreaths, funny little reindeer made of some material that must have grown from something originally, but I’ve no idea what. Just as I was losing the will to live I caught an earful of broad Devon accent and went to chat to a lady who was surrounded by wicker baskets, lots of which she had made herself. They were so nice that I could forgive her for having some ‘bought in’ stuff to sell as well.
The only other truly local stand I found, had beautiful clocks, coasters and mirrors made from slate, she was busy so I wasn’t able to talk to her, but they were such lovely gifts. How sad that there were so few handmade items, I know it must be expensive to have a chalet there, the high turnover needed probably makes it almost impossible to have enough stock.
So China wins. Even if the cash strapped shopper prefers the unique items made by talented creative people right here in England –my friend makes stunning hand stitched journals for instance, the mass produced versions are around half the price. One can but wonder how this is possible, some must make enough profit to justify the cost of importing and I’m sure others are earning a few pennies each day to try to feed their families. Meanwhile skills are disappearing and very little is actually made here in the UK.
I have nothing against real Continental/German Christmas markets and would love to visit one; maybe Frizz text can tell us what they are like in Berlin, charming I bet? But I don’t understand the appeal of these events that are springing up all around the country and there must be more here than on the continent!
So that’s my ‘bah humbug’ rant, I hope I haven’t upset you and I’d love to hear how you feel, perhaps the chalets are in your town too?
The Coca Cola truck is touring the UK and arrived in Exeter yesterday. It’s most likely a one off so it had to be done, and after work, in the dark was the best time. There was a real buzz, with long queues to have your photo taken in the best position and to get free cans of Coke.
Has the truck been to your town?
Even a Gingerbread House has windows! Merry Christmas 🙂
Join in with Sandra’s Thursdays Windows here. And visit some gingerbread palace’s here http://wheresmybackpack.com/2012/12/21/gingerbread-house/
Just taken with my mobile, hope you like the big red bauble!
Made it at last and it was staring me in the face all the time!
It’s said that at harvest time the last few stalks of corn would be made into a Dolly, a place of rest for the Corn spirit to ensure that the next harvest would be a good one. Since man’s earliest days it was believed that various deities were in command of the cycles and fruitfulness of the crops and so ever since hunter gatherers settled to cultivate the land they have been ceremonies to honour them. Look at the root of the word ceremony – we grow cereals, named for the Roman Goddess of the harvest, Ceres. Other deities include Demeter, the Earth Goddess ( my personal favourite) and Isis, the Egyptian Goddess of fertility.
In the wake of science, traditions are largely forgotten, but corn Dollies are still seen as a symbol of fertility. They are sometimes given to a couple on their marriage or handfasting, as a christening or new home gift. This is a modern take on the traditional Corn Dolly and made by Margaret Sweetland here in Devon, she also makes more traditional ones in a range of lovely knot shapes. She does talks and demonstrations to groups like the Women’s Institute, making sure the skills stay alive.
To join in visit http://dailypost.wordpress.com/2012/12/14/photo-challenge-delicate/
It shouldn’t be, I have so much to do to prepare for Christmas, even a couple of gifts still to buy and cards to write. I wanted to photograph something on Topsham quay but rain stopped play and brunch was taken instead, a full veggie breakfast at Route 2. Next stop Sidmouth, where I wanted to walk on the beach and again take photos – rain stopped play. On the way home we stopped at the farm shop for bread, and to check out the displays of luscious tuck from near and far, all very mouthwatering.
Lucid Gypsy 