A quieter day today, well, no real travelling anyway. I went to have a look round the auction and saw an American style rocking chair which I loved and imagined making patchwork cushions for it - very comfortable it was too - but I didn't leave a bid as I have no room for it. After that i made my way to the studio with a card and flowers as it is their first birthday today! It has been a great place for me to go to and I hope their next year is even more successful.

I did a bit more to the dragon, but it won't seem like it as the last picture showed one side and the other side was still unpainted!

When we were in Edinburgh Tina bought me a Fair Trade bird ornament ( I know, I really need more ornaments!) But he is cute and he is called 'Eddie'.

Yesterday evening I finished reading 'Go Set A Watchman' and I really enjoyed it, I was worried when I heard some of the reports, and it is a very different angle from 'To Kill a Mockingbird' as it is set 20 years later, but I find her style easy to read and had been looking forward to the Prequel.

Home again now, a lot of travelling but the weather was kind and it was great to see places I haven't been to before.  I made some notes on the journeys so thought I would mention some of the places and signs that caught my eye. Tina took a route that avoided major roadworks on the A1 and we passed through Morpeth and the whole town was festooned with flower displays, I bet they win prizes in Britain in Bloom. We passed a cattery named 'Catisfaction' which amused me and a 'Shoulder of Mutton' pub and palces named Longfrmlington, Wooperton and Humbleton and through the Scottish Borders. We went past Coldstream, which made me think about the Coldstream Guards. the over the River Blackadder! As we arrived in Edinburgh there were old, four storey blocks of stone flats with small windows, looked like they had been there a long time. We stayed at the Cumberland Hotel and the room was comfortable. I have told you I walked around the town yesterday evening but will add a few more pictures no. the road sign for the royal Mile.

A great ornate church near the castle.

Flower display in Princes Gardens.

The castle from Princes Street.

Plus a couple of statues as I was walking back to the hotel.

This morning we had breakfast at the hotel then met up with PJ, another newly ordained priest for coffee. The it was heading home, we passed signs to Dunbar and beautiful scenery. We stopped at the Scotland England border.

 Then stopped for lunch in Berwick upon Tweed. A good place to visit again some time. We found a lovely little restaurant and had a delicious lunch. Not I might add at this cafe, but the photo of two priests by the sign had to be taken!

Then Tina drove up to Lindisfarne. We had hoped to go onto Holy Island but we didn't get the timing of the tides right. Took a photo of the island in the distance.

Then pictures of us on the causeway.

We took Catherine home to Ingleby Barack and then made our way home, getting in about 7.20 pm. A great, interesting trip.

Greetings from Edinburgh!!  Bit of a last minute flying visit, Tina and her friend Catherine, another new priest had a service and party to go to, they had been going with two others who had to cancel so there was room in the car and a large shared room with space going spare! I have spent a good couple of hours, armed with a map, seeing a little bit of the city, will post  a couple of pics today and some more when we get back tomorrow. I went to the craft class last night and finished a little decorative felt cushion that I started in a class a few months ago.

I do know how to straighten them up Pearl, but not on this machine, so apologies all!! Today we picked Catherine up at 12.30 pm and the Tina drove up here without a break, we arrived about 4.15 pm I think. I saw the castle.

Various buildings, famous streets etc, but will just add a tram picture for now and select some more when I can view them better at home.

Bit hot a bothered now so may be in that shower soon!

I did go swimming again, so am trying to stick with it. Wasn't too bad today and I was in about 45 minutes. From the car park for the pool you can look out to sea and I think the ship may have been a dredger, I am sure someone will comment if I have that completely wrong!

 Walking back through the park this feathery plant was in bloom.

I left to call in at the studio and paint a bit of the dragon before going to the button class.

I also collected my little pig that I had painted last week. I think he is cute!

I went to the button group with a bit of a heavy heart, but in the end only Norma was there. she does have learning difficulties but has been coming for ages and is lovely. We had a giggle together and she did a paper mosaic on the canvas today and was very pleased with the result.

Off to the craft group at the craft shop tonight.

This morning I went into town to collect my copy of 'Go Set A Watchman' by Harper Lee which I had pre-ordered about three months ago. Some of the reports would make me feel I perhaps won't like it, but only reading it will tell! I did a bit of shopping and then went to the studio where I started painting the dragon. Forgot to take a pic of progress but Sandy took one of me painting!

After that I went off to have lunch with Gail who I had run a stall with at the fete on Saturday. We had a good old chat and she has a small, but really nice little flat. She walked down to the front with me and we passed a little house covered in hanging baskets!

The owner has won a prize in Scarborough in Bloom several times, that is no surprise really. I caught the bus home. Need to tidy up my rooms, visiting someone who keeps their place so lovely makes me take a good look at my chaos!!

This morning I walked to Sainsbury's via the post office and a couple of shops. I had taken the receipt for the Harper Lee book then realised that it is not being released until tomorrow morning. Had a bigger shop today as I was getting ingredients for Christmas cakes for immediate family. I have't the room to store as many as I used to make. I ordered a taxi back home, after 15 minutes phoned to see where it was, they had the wrong address and said they would send one straight out. Was probably over ten minutes then, and it started to rain while I waited!! When I went out to fill the bird feeders there was a snail on a plant pot reaching for a leaf. Not keep on snails at all but took a couple of good pictures!

I went to button class. really didn't want to after the unpleasant incident at the last session and the fact that two of the ladies aren't going to come any more. Just the culprit and one other today. I talked to the chair and said I intended to make this my last week. She has emailed me since the class saying she has had a stern word, so I am taking a couple of weeks out and then we will see how it goes. Back home I have watched a film that I ordered after going to the Audrey Hepburn exhibition. It was the only cowboy film she made and also stars Burt Lancaster, one of my favourite actors.

Not the best film I have ever seen but enjoyable enough!

This morning Darren and I went to the boot sale, it brightened up nicely but was spoilt by the wind, although I should expect strong wind having lived here for getting on for a year now! I got some embroidery hoops cheap and a selection of Christmas materials. I was thinking of hoop storage bags and Darren said how about stockings, which seemed like a good idea. When we got home I got my stuff together and set off to go swimming. Quiet today but I only stayed in for half an hour. Was put off by a man doing back stroke careering into me in the deep end, hadn't intended to drink that much pool water! I took a walk down to the front and saw the finish line for a 'Rat Race' cycle race.

The medic vehicle was unusual at the seaside!

Walking back through the park this hydrangea looked lovely against the water.

This afternoon I made a pattern to make a stocking with the stuff acquired at the boot sale. The first one was the wrong shape and not long enough to look right on a hoop!

So I set to and made another pattern and it is on the hoop, but not sure that I am happy with this one either!

I did see the tennis final, very good match.