Non Guilded cage

 

Reflections in Albert Hall

 

The Orangery

 
 

What wonderful colours

 
 

Portabello Road market

 
 

A new friend in Hyde Park

 
 

 
 

Notting Hill

”
We woke at 3.30 after I received a wrong number call from OZ. !!!! little possums don’t they know I’m half way round the world!!!!!
Our route planned on the Internet, bus timetables sorted and an early breakfast saw us brave the cool morning weather to visit the Portobello Market in Notting Hill.
It began quietly with a trickle of interested patrons and tourists and as the morning progressed it built to a full size river. I’ve never even seen so many people even in a football crowd,
Did you know Portobello Market has been immortalized by the fact that Paddington Bear used to hang out there in Mr. Grobers Antique shop.
It’s a long, narrow winding road. The store owners are professional, slick and at times disinterested… no wonder when literally 1000’s of people visit their stores. You enter one door and pass through cave like passages, then come out an hour later having wound your way past dozens of booths specializing in all manner of wonderful treasures. Aromas of onions, sausages, coffee and fruit tantalize the senses…buskers play for their supper and the atmosphere is wonderful.
We were like little pigs in straw… just looking at each other and laughing at our good fortune as we found yet another wonderful booth of old china or fabric.
We stopped for a coffee and then came upon a line up of folk purchasing cooked prawns… they looked delicious and folk were devouring them with gusto propped against empty stalls. “are they prawns” I asked the vendor.
“Yes love, King Prawns
So we ordered a share between us and one bite told us a different story…that plastic seafood stuff… shaped like a prawn… how darn cheeky…. They ended up in the bin….and a waste of 3 pound…..
Hours passed, we missed Hugh Grant and Julie Roberts in the crowd so a quick look at our map showed us that we should visit Kensington Palace….
I begged Di not to embarrass me in case emotion overcame her on the approach to Lady Di’s residence… fortunately she was strong…we differ in our views of the Royal family… Afternoon tea of scones and clotted cream in the Orangery ...Designed by Sir John Vanburgh for Queen Anne in 1704. It’s a magnificent building with Corinthian columns, and Grindling Gibbon's woodcarvings as its most distinctive features. We just played ladies and I was equally taken by the design on the Menu cover.
We walked and walked, past the Albert Memorial and the magnificent Albert Hall through Hyde Park and into the city. We had an appointment with Gay who kindly delivered my coat left in the wardrobe… a short bus trip where the doors shut on me as I went to alight and Di banged on the door and the driver let me out as he took off.….next we had to catch the underground. I was jostled by a thug, who pushed me as I was going down the stairs so I kicked him in the shin… he had an unpleasant look on his face as he went on his way…. (don’t mess with an Aussie in red shoes friend) Just three stops on the underground and on leaving the station, my ticket wouldn’t work… so Di went through first and yelled “quick Pammy…run… and I did…. Getting smacked firmly with the barriers… but I made it….!!!
Dinner at the local Italian Restaurant and funny movies on the TV finished a wonderful day. !!!!!

Goodness what will tomorrow bring. No quilting that’s for sure.

Crowds 

view in a window in Regents Street. 

Trafalgar Square 

A day of contrasts

No Breakfast supplied today.... I don't know, we have an unusual booking with breakfast for only two days... the rest of the time we do our own thing. So we popped into a cafe that has come straight out of the 1960's and sat with the workmen who ordered bacon sandwiches and then ate them with gusto with grimy hands. The coffee was good and the price reasonable and really more than we needed for the day.
A deli on the corner looked inviting and we entered the door to the sound of loud Arabic music which was emitting from a radio placed high on a shelf. To my amazement, Di began to join in... until I realized that it was a call to prayer. I nudged her and mentioned that I didn't really think it was a song to be hummed along to. There were all sorts of delicacies to tempt the palate. Cheeses, humus in huge containers and trays of sticky sweets. I relented and purchased 4 pieces of Turkish delight and a diet coke which will last for the week. We investigated bus time tables. Our reasoning was that we would see more on a bus than an underground train. Admittedly it would be faster on the Underground but we decided to take the scenic mode of transport and 11.00 pound found us with a weekly ticket. Now where do we go? The weather began to clear from drizzling rain to intermittent sun and we rode atop the big red bus, quite pleased with decision.
What delights there are in London, the multitude of stores in Oxford and Regent Streets. A browse in Liberty of London. 1000's of people walking the streets, some in conversation to their friends and families, others talking to invisible people on the phone and most just following their life's path.
Trafalgar Square, pigeons and waterfalls, an Indian low budget movie on the steps of the National Gallery and 2 hours of viewing the Grand Masters of Art. We slipped quietly into the darkened interior of St Martins-in-the-Fields and listened quietly to the rehearsal of a Mozart Concert scheduled for this evening. A lone homeless man slept in the pew behind us while a man sat in the front row and intently followed the music with invisible baton in hand.
The Crypt below the Church houses a restaurant, brass rubbing workshop and store where choir music continues the feeling of harmony.
Covent Garden and time for afternoon tea accompanied by a violin recital by 4 amazing artists...(We actually forgot to have lunch)!!!
Back to the hotel aboard the No 98 bus and an Indian takeaway on the corner supplied our dinner in front of the TV.
It's been an interesting day; we solved the problems of the world over a coke and a coffee this evening and mused at our luck. As friends even insignificant experiences have merit and value. That’s the way it should be.

London

I'm now in London, back online and enjoying a break with friend Di Mill who flew in from Houston yesterday. It was a beautiful day yesterday, almost a record heat for an October day. I've found the weather quite mild since I've been here.
The past few days have been great. I stayed with Gay Jenkins,(cook extraordinair and my tour organizer) and gave a lecture and class over two days. I have been greeted warmly around Britain and the Romsey Quilters were no exception. I got the opportunity to wander around Romsey and had my second visit to the historic Norman Abbey. It was founded by King Edward the Elder in 907 for his daughter, Princess Aelflaed, a nun at Wilton who became the first Abbess of Romsey. There was an increase in interest in the female monastic life around this time and the King probably wanted to make extra provision for widowed and unmarried ladies of the Royal family.
Some of the houses date back to the 1400's, I'm always in awe of the antiquity of the villages. Di and I arrived at our Hotel the Marriott Maida Vale at the same time... And there was a great deal of laughter and chatter as she recounted her adventures in Houston and I talked about my tour. Di presented me with a colour copy of my forthcoming book and I was excited to see my name in print for the first time. The day was just super... so we decided visit the London Eye
There were 100's of people lining up. It took about half an hour to purchase the tickets and then we had a wait of an hour+ for our turn to go on... the light was fading and I began to worry that it would be dark when we finally got alight however, another half hour line up and a chat with two girls behind us from Adelaide we finally got into the capsule. The view was spectacular as the sun went down behind the houses of Parliament and Big Ben. It was a visual spectacular. A ride on the underground and we had to make a decision on dinner.... Ok, the local pub and a budget dinner of sausages and mash... It's the first and last time I'll have it, but an experience we should all have at some stage when visiting England.
I was made aware of the dangers of the freeways yesterday. The bus I took to London came to a screaming halt due to a learner driver stopping suddenly for a rabbit on the road. This caused a calamity behind us. We were not privy to what actually occured... but people stopped on the verge and were running back to assist after witnessing the accidents.... the gal in front just took off unaware of the devastation behind her. It must have been quite bad as some 10 minutes later the freeway was closed to allow rescue vehicles pass....

Brighton Pier 

Brighton Pier 

Our Country Retreat 

The Abbey built by William the Conqueror in memory of the Battle 

The fields where the Battle of Hastings took place 

Brighton

It’s raining today, grey, cold and the wind is whipping the rain against the window of my hotel which looks out onto a turbulent grey ocean and the Brighton Pier. The lights are still blinking promising an exciting adventure for children who start mid term holidays today. At 7.32 it’s only just getting light so moving is slower and it appears I will be sightseeing in the rain.
Friday, I visited the sight of the Battle of Hastings at a town called Battle. The green fields dotted with white sheep gave no hint of the violence that took place some 932 years ago. It seemed such a small area and yet the course of history changed forever on October the 14th 1066.
The past few days have been a delight. A group of quilters and I stayed in an old Tudor Manor House out in the countryside nestled amongst green fields, huge chestnut and oak trees. From the conservatory, we watched squirrels and we could see the little piles of earth left by moles in the lawn… wonderful. !!!!
We quilted and ate and shared life experiences… it doesn’t get much better than that…. Spent Saturday evening at a Big Band concert… there were 100’s of folk of all ages. The highlight for me were the dancers who get into character and swing and jive 1940’s style right down to the costumes.
A short trip to Brighton last evening... and a stroll along the Pier and the compulsory fish and chips for dinner...
Now to brave the elements.

To London, to London to visit the Queen

How many times have I lugged my case in and out of the car,?.... packed, unpacked. Rearranged.
I’ve met new friends, said goodbye a few days later… I’ve been privileged to share in the lives of like minded people, even if it’s just for a day.
I’ve learnt a lot about quilting in Britain, it’s a history we all share and take by the hand into the future.
I’ve had a couple of days with the Mead Quilters. The nicest ladies. Then yesterday I took off to visit the Queen. Those of you who know me well know I’m a dyed in the wool Royalist….The day was perfect, intermittently sunny with big white clouds. I visited Windsor and yes, the Queen was home but a little busy to entertain me. I understood when I wandered through the rooms of the palace…. My goodness, there’s and amazing amount of dusting and cleaning to be done… so I understood the reason for her absence at morning tea. Stayed in a B&B for the first time last night and relished watching TV in bed.
This morning I took off into a huge storm and I wish I could photograph the events of the next hour or so. The rain was incredibly heavy and driving on an 8 lane freeway was certainly out of my comfort zone…..but I did it…
Received photos today of the cover of my book, so I’m just plain excited…Now off to photo the site of the Battle of Hastings…. (hopefully in the sun)

To be on a quest is nothing more or less than to become an asker of questions.

Simply swans 

Patterns everywhere.... the dark stone is flint, the remainders of the brick are Roman 

Ceiling in the St Albans Abbey.... 1300's I beleive 

The Queen is home 

Memories

In Starbucks once again and I have enjoyed a big mug of coffee. I do wish they would use china that is a little more refined instead of 1/4 inch thick stuff. I have to use two hands for this mug. It's whoppa.
Memories. I'm surrounded by young mothers with prams, raucous children and Grandmas with comfortable bosoms patting babies. How on earth did I manage to take 3 bambinos out at once?
I'm in a shopping Centre called Blue Water some 11 miles from Eyensford. It's rather beautiful and I believe it's the largest in Britain. However... the WiFi is the attraction for me.
Each time I open the mail there are surprises... conversations with friends, good news and sometimes sad. Smiles across the airwaves and the wish that you could give that special friend a hug.
I've just finished teaching at Eyensford and I'm off to Hastings if I don't spend too much time here... then I'm traveling to St Albans and then back down here again for a residential... so I have time to do Hastings on my day off if I dally here too long.
The countryside here is just picture postcard. Lush green fields with eyelashes of hedges and stone fence. The houses are generally old, white and quaint. The roads are incredibly narrow and winding and everyone drives very fast. Each morning there is a heavy mist which descends on the ground, enveloping everything in it's ghostly hue.
I've visited the local pub for a cider with my hosts Jan and Roy. Spent time with the nicest gals in the local scout hall where they learnt to create a portrait.. and driven in circles around the roundabouts...I've never seen so many in all my life.
All in all, a very interesting and enjoyable time.

As the traveler who has once been from home is wiser than he who has never left his own doorstep, so a knowledge of one other culture should sharpen our ability to scrutinize more steadily, to appreciate more lovingly, our own.
Margaret Mead

Life on the road.

Once again I'm sitting in Starbucks... I think I'm becoming one of weirdos who frequent shopping centers...
When I wrote yesterday I was on the way to Hastings... well it was a rushed trip but significant... 14th of October, the Battle of Hastings began and I was there some 939 years later. I'm certain it doesn't have any resemblance to the time the battle began. However, as I have been studying the history for some time now it was a significant occasion and such a fluke that I could be there on that day..
This is my sixteenth day on the road, and I must say it sure takes some energy...I've met the most wonderful people and I'm sure our friendships will be long lasting. You just get to one place then just when you settle in you have to shift, and you just long to stay in the same place for the rest of the time. 8 different beds so far and a few more to go...The washing needs doing now, I am almost out of toothpaste and a few other essentials. I am comfortable driving, but I wish everyone else would slow down a little...
I've packed and unpacked my computer, work bag and case a 100 times it seems, everything has it's place.. but it's surprising how things shift into unusual places.
I've talked to 100's of new folk, and showed the quilts and shared my knowledge.
Business still needs to be done, and some of it is urgent. There are invisible lines to home and Keith is fielding questions from me and from students and taking bookings...
I have updates from Students and my Bambinos each day, but it's been difficult to get on line. I've had three emails with bad news and that is always magnified when you are away the comfort of your own home.
Well, it's time for the shop to shut. So I set the GPS for my current abode and I think an early night is in order...

On the road again

Here I sit in Mc Donalds... The lunch crowd has arrived, the patrons are anxiously waiting for their food and someone is yelling for Yoghurt and nuggets... I'm catching up on business.
I have been in "Holland on Sea" for the past two days. Had a great class yesterday teaching the joy of Drapplique to 19 gals... and I'm on the move again. I had to drive almost into London to get onto the road to Hastings... I thought I was going to end up in the centre of London.... I panicked I can tell you.
However, I have to trust my GPS.... so it's rush to Hastings and back up to my next venue... Lecture tonight and teach Portraits for the next two days....

Oxford 

Punting Boats in Oxford 

Jester in the main st of Stratford Upon Avon 

Row Houses in Chester 

Mc Donalds

Here I sit in Mc Donalds on the way to Holland On Sea in Essex.... I've been able to deal with the business emails send the blog and photos to the family.... I can get on line here and I'm sure I look very strange... a middle aged gal, coke in hand and portable office amongst the clutter of Mc Donalds.... but I thank you Ronald for the Wi Fi....!!!!!
Take every oportunity you can.

Journey through Britain.

Chester was my first stop. First settled by the Romans who established a camp in AD 79 to defend the fertile land near the River Dee, the main streets of Chester are now lined with timber buildings, know as the Chester Rows.
However, I was here to teach and sightseeing is secondary. I was to be the guest speaker at Region 13 of the British Quilt Guild. Approximately 250 women shared the day. I felt right at home amongst the booths selling familiar fabric, bookcases full of books, women laughing and chatting and the rattle of tea cups. The subject of my talk was “The diary of a traveling Quilt Teacher”….. there is so much to fit in a lecture and I could always do with more time… but really it’s just like having a chat and a cuppa with friends. The afternoon speaker was Dilys Fronks, a local teacher from Wales I believe, she was an amusing and enthusiastic speaker as she took us on her journey of quilting discovery. I thoroughly enjoyed seeing her beautiful quilts and listening to her stories…
Judy, my hostess and I had an opportunity to take off in the evening and as it doesn’t get dark until 7.00 we had two wonderful hours wandering around the town of Chester. It’s like walking through history. As an Australian in a very late settled country, I’m fascinated that these building still exist, some 700 years old. What stories they could tell, As we walked through the “Rows” Judy and I imagined the stall holders and
their patrons in those bygone days.
Class the next day was fun. As usual, the class is full of apprehension at learning a new technique. But they all mastered the art and went home enthusiastic. The day is always too short. But after fond farewells I was able to visit the local Starbuck Coffee House and get on to Wi Fi to send and receive email and photos from my own computer…
We ordered in Indian… and were presented with a feast that would have done four people rather than just two… but we chatted and ate with the ease of folks that have a lot in common.
Next it was off to Oxford…Whitney to be exact. I stayed with Sadie and Ernie and we had a wonderful time. Sadie and I walked Oxford yesterday, it was a perfect day, warm, sunny and we just had shirt sleeves. I found a lot of inspiration in the architecture and texture of the buildings. Sadie and I like the same things, it was a great experience. This morning I was introduced the resident garden Hedgehog and I’m really taken with Sadie’s sun room…
How can one describe Oxford, or even all that I have experienced… all I can say is "What an experience."
Last night about 60 gals met for a chat and presentation… I think it is more formally known as a lecture.. as usual I ran out of time. I’m amongst like minded folk, what more can I ask.!!!!!!

Scenes of Bayeux 

This is where the Bayeux Tapestry is displayed 

I feel so brave.

I left Gays house in Romsey at 1.30…. I had to drive to Chester, so I set the GPS to Chester and took off. It’s wonderful, it sends me on my way with precision (if you put in the right address that is….) I took off and after 20 miles or so it seemed as if I was retracing my steps to the France Ferry…. Strange, I thought I was supposed to go the other way. So I found a place to get off the freeway. Checked my location and yep… it was actually just backtracking a little… Off again and the traffic was so heavy… 3 lanes each way, the trucks seemed to multiply with each mile and everyone went faster than ever…. I have a little bubble car folks… a bit nerve racking. I drove for hour after hour, and on and on….finally arriving at Chester at 8.00. Why so long to travel 555 kms… well I reckon we had to queue about 20 times… at one stage I was doing 91miles an hour keeping up with the traffic…. Do you know that is 146 kms an hour? I got lost when I arrived in Chester and visited with a big burly taxi driver… it was dark by now, so I think I was very brave… he directed me to the house and I still had difficulty… OK, I’ll use the phone… but the battery went flat.. It’s impossible to find the number of houses in the dark… so after going around one roundabout 6 times… I found a close resemblance of the house no…. darn the guy behind me was beeping madly, so I took off intending to turn into the next house, except there was none it was just black countryside…finally I came to a roundabout and managed to get back to that area… I parked the car and walked to find the No, and there was my hostess waiting for me with a strong coffee and a delicious dinner…. I must say I fell into an exhausted sleep at about 11.00 pm. Another experience under the belt….

The Bayeux Tapestry

Next morning. I found the Museum Tapisserie de la Reine Mathilde I was nervous to go in and it reminded me of the time I first saw the original 1776 quilt in Germany. 8 Euros and I was in… there is a long introduction to the history of the quilt and I walked and read… but I have been studying this for over a year now and will write a book of my own… so I continued on to the movie which told the story in detail of William the Conqueror and his friend and enemy Harold and the Battle of Hastings in October 1066.
As I write, I’m crossing the very straight of water that 1000’s of Williams soldiers valiantly rowed. The largest of the boats was 50 ft. They carried their provisions, their armory and 100’s of horses. It was an amazing feat.
Both crossings that I have encountered have been like a millpond, but they encountered terrible storms. It is taking me 6 hours on the Ferry… it took them several days.
After the movie you are ushered into the Tapestry
It’s in a long tunnel that is darkened with the exception of lighting over the Tapestry itself. 230 feet in length. I joined the throng. They pushed past so fast… so I hung on to the rail and refused to budge… 100’s of people passed. Everyone had their own commentary, most were too loud and caused a mixture of sound. I didn’t use mine and just took in every inch of the Tapestry, moving very slowly and at times I was alone and in silence which I relished…I think the allotted time to view is about an hour… I took 4 and I went back to the beginning several times….
This is what I came to see. I was overawed. Believe me it’s very big. I shake my head.
I needed to reflect so I hopped in the car and drove 6 miles to the coast. It was just beautiful in the sunset… rugged and windswept. This is part of the Norman Landing where the British troops gave so valiantly to save the country. I walked the beach and found huge piles of scallop shells that had been twisted into patterns by the incoming tides… On returning to Bayeux, I was feeling very proud of myself and purchased some dinner which I illegally took to my room. Then I found the Internet shop and valiantly tried to send a few emails… those who received them must have thought I’ve lost my marbles… the letters are in different places compared to our keyboard. I also found the quilt shop… it had about 20 bolts of fabric at about $32 per metre… and they also sold intimate black lingerie… I don’t think that would go too well in our shops.
It takes considerable time to process my photos for the day and I must admit, I was exhausted….and fell into t a deep sleep.

Wednesday is Market day in Bautzen.. so after breakfast I walked down to take photos, it was grey and foggy but I thought the mist would lift and looked ever upward to the sky for a hint of blue… Unfortunately it was to stay foggy for the next two days… I’ve never seen anything like it, but I do remember seeing photos of trees in the mist in france… so it’s obviously not unusual.
Monte St Michael was my destination today. Steeped in history of Wiliam the Conqueror and Harold, King of England. Once again, I took off reading the road signs and realized it was just too difficult. So on with the GPS… and it took me 40 kms to find the freeway and then 120 kms to the coast… I began to get nervous about the petrol situation… Unrealistic of me I know, but I just hadn’t seen any… finally I saw a sign and I was introduced to the intracies of a French Petrol station… very different to ours, but I managed and took off again to my final destination I was some 20 kms away and driving in fog when I viewed the majestic castle sitting on a small island in the ocean. It looked forever like a Castle from a story book floating in the grey mist. I passed through flat fields of corn, and waited for the sheep to cross the road. Their black faces and shapes very different to the sheep in our paddocks. The smell of cider was very strong and I came upon several small factories and stalls stacked with bottles of the amber fluid.
You drive out on a long Isthmus surrounded by water and I parked the car for a considerable amount of money, (well where else can you put the thing….) and I walked to the entrance of the castle… It is huge, it rises some….. feet. It’s surrounded by a small village where the streets wind as if built by a child at play…
I decided to have a French seafood lunch and it was delicious. I wasn’t influenced by the stream of American Tourists who had to have French fries and burgers…. But sharing the restaurant with dogs is an interesting experience… specially when one dog took a fancy to another….!!!!!
I climbed hundreds of steps… and my legs sure told me so, I wandered the corridors and dungeons… it is an amazing place… I’m just sorry that the weather was so glum.
I wended my way home and took a shortcut that gave the gal in the GPS a heart attack…. “When safe, perform a legal U turn”… she went on for ages, but finally I won and she put me on track and used the short cut. I saved the extra 40 kms she took me on this morning…
Once more I illegally took a meal to my room… and left the evidence too as I was leaving this morning…
I drove to Caen this morning and spent the day at the Castle and Museum… it was wonderful….It just took me ages to find my way out of the car park…. I kept going down instead of up…. I’m a bit slow. Now here I am on the Ferry so I can drive on the left side of the road in the right side of the car which is the right side for me…..!! whoopee. What will tomorrow bring.?

One of my dreams have come true.

It has taken me three days to be able to write this. I’ve had the time, but somehow the feelings were not right.
I’m on the Ferry from France back to England after an amazing three days.
When I got off the Ferry on Monday, It was a warm sunny day…. I ignored my GPS and followed the signs to Bayeux which I believed was about 30 kms from the Ferry Port…. It was just like driving in a picture postcard…. The sun was low on the fields and everything was golden … the sunflowers were abundant and the narrow roads wound through green fields and small villages… Sheep, cows and horses studded the fields. The houses were wonderful. Rustic, ancient by our standards and welcoming with garlands of flowerboxes… sometimes the shutters were blue, at other times they were white… but always framing lace curtains. The roads were unnervingly narrow and considering that I had to drive a right handed car on the right side of the road, which is really the wrong side for us… I think I did pretty well.
However… I did get lost and after going round and round for an hour or so, I put on the GPS which directed me to an ugly freeway and cars whizzed past me at an alarming speed.
Finally I arrived in Bautzen… but I couldn’t find the hotel, so after going down a one way street and having the locals wave and gesticulate wildly … I parked the car, causing a little dispute with an angry English Tourist… I decided I was safer to walk and after an hour or so and a little detective work, I finally found my elusive lodgings… I booked and was shown to my room… well, it was not quite what I’m used to I must say, but it was clean, very sparse but comfortable and quiet.
Shrugging my shoulders…I walked off to find my car and finally was ensconced in the hotel…. I had one heck of a headache… and decided the need for coffee. There is no food allowed in the room, so I had to go to a Brassier and have a meal. I don’t speak French, but I managed to order a traditional meal, and the coffee was to die for.
I slept like a log. No noise, the computer playing classical music quietly, and no TV. (I couldn’t stomach Days of our lives in French.) However I was frustrated that I couldn’t get on to the Internet… that’s like cutting off my right arm.

Part of my residence in Bayeux 

The sea marshes at Longniddry Scotland 

On the shores of Longniddry in Scotland 

The joys of Train Travel

Traveling through the green pastures in the midlands of England. I'm able to get online on the train to write this blog, but not to pick up my emails.... however, I've just spent the past few hours answering students and writing instructions for a pattern to go out tonight..
So much has happened in a few short days.
I arrived in London after a 12 hour flight from Bangkok and the atmosphere and temperature couldn't have been more different to Bangkok. Just a short wait in the club and a hasty coffee and I was on the plane again for the 2 hour trip to Edinburgh Scotland... There I sat up the front in business class dressed like a quilter with all the shiny shoed,tweed suited British Business Men... They whipped out their palm computers, fancy mobile phones and laptops.... Hand so did I....A group from the Poldrate Quilters were there to meet me and they must have has some inside knowledge of my passion... we sat straight down for a chat and a latte.... Well the real reason was that there was a large quilt show on just down the road and we couldn't get in until 10.00 so we had to wait a little... but it was a good excuse for a chat.
The quilt show was just super... I'm not too sure how many quilts there were, but they were of a very high standard and I photographed almost all of them...
I was impressed by the different expressions in the quilts and indeed there was some very fine quilting.
I'm not sure how many vendors there were, but i would estimate about 20 or so.... so it was a super introduction to quilting in Britain.
My Hosts Sally and Ian were a delightful couple... Sally and I walked down to the beach on the firth and Forth sea inlet)... the colours were just super, The sky was almost black, but the sun shone from the other direction and capture the rugged coast in it's glow....
Yesterday was a class with all the gals and we had a great time... it was my birthday and they made it very special...however, it's always a heartwrench when you are away for your birthday. I ate Haddock, chocolate cake and wine for dinner... succumbed to sleep quite late after a lovely day....
Now I'm on the second leg of my trip today... the first was a 3 hour bus ride to Newcastle, and here I sit as hedged fields, a castle or two and stone pitch roofed villages pass by under a cloud studded sky... next I have to get a taxi to Waterloo and a train to Winchester and then I will have reached my destination...3/4 of the way through Britain in one day...
Tomorrow is another day and I can hardly bear thinking abut it... I'm off driving on my own to Bayeux France... I'm nervous and absolutely excited..., hopefully I will be able to get on line to share with you all...

Experiences beyond my control

The title of this blog is ‘the diary of a Traveling Quilt Teacher’… Oh how true it is….

I’m sitting in the Qantas club in Bangkok, earphones blocking out all the surrounding noise and concerto No 1 by Bach is soothing my soul. I traveled with a gal recently who was quite indignant at my comment that I often isolate myself when traveling…. Let me tell you folks its self preservation… said gal has never found herself in some of the situations I experience. Talking with my very experienced peers in the US… they do exactly the same… It was funny at a recent conference when we all realized that we carried the same comforts… ipods, speakers, and the mini comforts of home.

I’ve just had an interesting ride from my hotel to the airport… Now, road travel in Bangkok is not the best at most times… but at peak period it sure makes for an interesting trip. Keith and I have been in two accidents on this very road… Tonight I was the lone passenger in the mini bus that only had one gear. I understand that low gear is necessary in traffic… but it was all I could do from jumping into the front seat and changing gear as we hit 100 on a straight stretch of road….. The engine roared above the traffic noise and I thought that the over stimulated engine would seize at any minute. Suddenly we came to a screeching halt as a bus just pulled in front of us… this happened several times… and I was beginning to think, “Third time lucky”… My luggage slid around mercilessly and I looked up to see that I need not worry at all, we were very well protected 15 small statues and about 10 images were glued on top of the glove box protecting us… Silly Me.!!!!

Yes we arrived safe and after a quick wai and lots of smiles… the van took off for home still in the same gear.

Next to book in the luggage…. I’m a Traveling Quilt Teacher, I have luggage and I was given an extra luggage allowance in Adelaide by a high ranking Qantas official…. You know 45 KG instead of 20kg…Goodness how can you manage to teach with just 20 kg of luggage… and that includes your clothes as well…..Whoops, he forgot to notify Bangkok… and after polite smiles through gritted teeth and a wake up call to Husband Keith (who informed me it was midnight)…. Hmmm.. I paid the $350 excess and vowed to claim it back when the authority arrived…….. Jeez Joice.!!!!!!!!
So here I am in the lounge… in my own world… music, computer, my work and to heck with the one gear bus and the charming gal on the desk… I have a 14 hour trip ahead of me and I intend to sleep peacefully….
I enjoyed my experience in Bangkok… it was enforced rest in a way. A breather before the exciting days to come.
Quilting hasn’t been far from my mind though, I conversed with students via the internet, did a little research, wrote a little more of my book and took a range of photos of lotuses and leaves… one smart friend commented “is there anything else in Bangkok”? Cheeky…..