Our Easter Tradition

 Over the years we have slowly developed a tradition of going to Papplewick Pumping Station to renew our membership and pick up our new cards. Generally there are other attractions on during the day and Sunday was no exception.

This year the Civil War re-enactment society were present demonstrating dress, life and warfare of the times, There were also falconry displays and the chance to hold ( at arms length) an owl.

Assorted submarines were chasing round the fishpond, hiding from the crocodile.

I spotted some patient wives or friends sat in the shade behind the tables of submarines, enjoying their knitting.

Engines were steaming, pumps were pumping.

But in the engineers work shop it was quiet, whilst the sun streamed through the windows.

Does anyone else see a stranded knitting pattern waiting to be charted in this ?

Scottish diaries..past times

During the week we spotted an advert for the  farming yesteryear and vintage rally at Scone near Perth.  The poster promised steam traction engines so we ummed and aahed about having another early start and long drive. In the end we said sod it and were on the road by 8am.

After parking up and changing into boots as the weather had been so wet we spent 2 hours simply looking at the stalls round the outside of the arenas. A quick refill stop at a marquee cafe and we looked round the exhibits.

A little disappointed at the lack of traction engines but well pleased with the spinning wheel display.

And we can confirm that the vintage ice cream caravan was dispensing  excellent 99's.

Steam Saturday

It was cold, in fact it was snowing! So the first stop on our trip to the Great Central Railway was the cafe where we all bagged a seat and ordered hot drinks to thaw out our hands.
Now there didn't seem to be as many traction engines around as last year, maybe the weather had put them off, maybe Easter was simply too early this year. Still we had chance to have a wander round before the Uke Orchestra had to knuckle down and play in the beer tent. Still I grabbed a few photos before they went on 'stage'














More importantly, I managed to infiltrate the Uke Orchestra with my spinning wheel...LOOK!!

 

A very cold session but a couple of bobbins filled :-)

Non fibre fun

Now, some of you may know that my hubby plays in the Nottingham Ukulele orchestra so some of my time is spent watching and listening to them play and today was no exception. The venue, however was a little different as they were playing in a beer tent at a steam rally!! I LOVE steam, always have ever since my Dad dragged me down to the Great Central Railway in the  early '70s to see what was left of the stations.

So here are the Orchestra sorting themselves out ready for the first of three sets to be played this afternoon. I stayed and listened, did a little spinning then ventured out into the damp outdoors to have a look at the steam engines and the railway.

It was a murky day which added to the atmosphere.

 

Did manage to find a bit of colour though....

 

and a bit of heat :-)

 

all in all a good day out inspite of the dampness, now back home and about to sort out a mystery fleece soaking in the huge bucket outside.

Steam and sheep!!

As hubby drove off on his bike yesterday I decided to have a day out by myself, packed a picnic, knitting and drop spindle and headed for the bus. Over the bank holiday weekend Wollaton Park near Nottingham has been hosting a country and steam show with pleanty of steam engines, vintage cars and motorbikes. Just the place for a sunny afternoon picnic.
Spent most of my time breathing in the scent of the steam as a lot of my childhood was spent visiting preserved steam railways with my Dad and I just love the smell of hot steam and oil.





 

I took the opportunity to compare notes with some bikers, one of them mentioned that his oldest bike was 1905 so had no brakes, gears etc which made it a little difficult to ride!



After the steam engines had paraded round the arena ( ever seen a really big engine wheel spin?) some shire horses took their place.



Inspite of all the attractions, the one I really enjoyed was the sheep show complete with dancing sheep.







I did offer to take the Blue Face Leicester home with me or even just the fleece!!!

Hope you all had good weekend.