This morning I went along to the community centre for Diane's class. Unfortunately Diane didn't arrive, but Edward who is a regular did. I had taken my music sheets and as Edward had made them before I took the class. The problem was that I just couldn't remember how the pieces fitted together. So, in the end I actually got to instruct someone using the buttons!

Edward made a calendar and decorated a little tree, so it turned out well in the end, and I even remembered how to assemble the star before I came home! Then I did a bit of shopping and headed off to the painting class. Quite enjoyable today, watched a dvd about painting watercolour seascapes which was interested. I did a painting of a redwing bird.

I took a picture walking along from the church where the class is held, mainly because it is a different view of the town.

Today Sandy at the ceramic studio asked if I would go along as a volunteer as she would be on her own.I made another wreath and topped up the bird feeders and then went along for 10 am. As it happened, apart from some enquiries and a few people collecting items it was a very quiet day. I had a small plate to paint as part of their loyalty scheme, and also did a rather silly Christmas plate. Sandy did odd jobs and paperwork and then began decorating a vase that she had actually made. You can go in and make items from scratch as well as painting the biscuit fired selection.

We chatted a lot and it was very enjoyable, Sandy took a picture of me with my plates, you can see some of the selection of items available behind me.

I, of course took a closer picture of the plates, they will look quite different when glazed and fired.

I took a walk into town a little after 2 pm to get some gift bags and peanuts. Walked up onto the cliff top on the way back, the surf on the sea was very different today, the season is really changing now.

On Wednesday evening I went to a craft evening and we made fragrant Christmas decorations. I finished the wooden spoon decoration and have the beads etc to  finish the little tree.

There is scented oil inside the decorations and then we used cinnamon sticks, as the stem on the tree.
This morning I went to the park armed with peanuts to feed the squirrels. It was a really lovely episode, they are obviously used to being fed. As I walked through to find them I took this picture of mahonia in bloom. I love the scent of mahonia and in Peterborough the council cut them back severely each autumn, but up here they are allowed to grow naturally.

Then off to see the squirrels, took a lot of pics, will just post a few.

As I walked away a lady at the opposite side of the lake called to me that they were following me. I looked round and a couple of the squirrels were running along behind me!! As I walked back I took a picture that made me smile.

I went into town this morning, collected a parcel and bought more material, I will have made a lot of wreaths by the time I am done! Then I went to the ceramic studio and spent a couple of hours painting a Christmas bauble, will post pictures when it is fired. I took a picture in the loo as Isobel and my hand prints are now on the wall for all to see!

I collected three items. The money box I painted for Mike to give to his great,great nephew, the one that took me three hours to paint. Looks quite bonny now it is glazed and fired.

Then the pen pot that I made for Mike, the least I could do as he has made me several pens!

Then lastly my own pen pot which I stamped using up the colours on the palette rather than waste them.

Today Tina and I set off early, taxi came at 7.15 am for a day in York. Tina was going to a conference and I was meeting up with Anya for a girlie day. This first picture was near the Minster.

Then a view of York Minster, a beautiful building. We had hoped to go inside but it was closed to the public today for graduation services.

The next two are 'silly day out' pictures!

Anya particularly wanted to take this one! We wandered around for hours with regular refreshment stops and then went off to find The Guildhall and meet Tina.

We wandered a bit more and then went off for a noodle dinner. Tina and Anya thought I looked like a pantomime dame in this next photo, but it is better than the one where I took my glasses off and didn't smile!!

We all caught trains at about the same time to head home. When Anya and I went to a covered art and craft centre we saw pendants made out of old or foreign coins. We saw a farthing, which I always love dated 1954, then Anya spotted a 1946 one so it was meant to be that I had it. she bought it for me and it will be a treasured memento of a lovely day.

This morning I put up the new bird feeders and filled them with only 'no grow' seed, so we will see how that goes! Probably won't get any visitors on there for a while as they don't like the feeders to change. Then I sat indoors for a bit tearing up material to make more wreaths. I made four yesterday.

I went to town then as I had tickets to collect from the machines at the station, an action which for some reason causes me to get very stressed!! Then off to buy a bit more material and then to the craft club. Well, I say craft club, but no takers as yet. Did some more preparation and cut out some stockings for the Christmas Bazaar. Talking of St Mary's, you can see it from the community centre and today a rainbow appeared looking like it was headed inside!

I walked back via the cliff top and took a couple of pictures of the bay with the wintry sky.

Lastly thought I would take a picture across the cricket ground on my way home. I think most of you know that our house is situated right behind the stands on the right. Just realised that you can't actually see the stands on the right from this picture!!

Another lovely morning, what a shock it will be when the weather changes. The wind was a bit chilly, but really very pleasant out. I posted a parcel off to America and then called in at the community centre to say hello. The I walked down to the south bay, many shops and arcades shuttered up now but still quite a few people around. I have seen this building so many times from the bus or walking along the south bay. Have never just taken a picture of it in it's glory before.

I decided to take the path up the cliff to the castle. Walked down it a week or so ago, that was bad enough! Took a picture or the south bay as I went.

I thought I would tackle these steps, had to take a couple of rests! You may remember we looked down them Mike when we walked the other way!

Had come up a pretty steep hill before these and then it continued upwards at the top! Took this castle type house as I think it will make a good subject for a sketch.

This young gull was sitting in the church yard, quite like this picture.

Cut through to walk along the cliff top home and took a picture of the north bay as I have seen both today.