It's a long way to ... Part 1

And yet another week suddenly appears as if by magic.  It's been a very exciting time the last few days what with Census training that was cancelled and then red legged partridge sitting on the roof and Rosie being let outside and finally a couple of days away to start our 2011 long walk.  Yes, we're back to Norfolkshire.  This time we are walking the Weavers Way, 64 miles from Great Yarmouth Pier to Cromer Pier.  Okay, we might do one or twenty geocaches along the way.

First destination was the Travel Lodge in the village of Acle.  South of Norwich and about three hours drive from home.   The thing with a Travel Lodge is that you know what you are going to get; bed, tv, a chair, if your lucky, bathroom and towels and tea/coffee making facilities.  Nothing fancy and cheap.  Well, to be honest we're only going to be in the room overnight so it does us well.

Saturday was just a short stretch of the Weavers Way.  Norfolk County Council have a really useful sight which gives details of this and other walks.  http://goo.gl/13oi7  Although we did a short stretch to Acle bridge some of the path was redirected as they are putting in flood defenses in the area.  Fortunately, the diversion was well signposted and didn't take us too far off route.

I really think Sunday was the real starting point for this walk.  Having parked at Acle station, we hopped onto the local train to Great Yarmouth.  I would like to say that there was lots to see but as with most of this part of the world it is dead flat and apart from the occasional windmill or six there is not that much to entertain the eye.



In no time at all we were at Great Yarmouth.  Just across from the station there are three way marker for the Weavers Way. Wherrymans Way and Anglers Way.  For those interested The Wherry was a type of sailing craft that carried cargo along the Norfolk Broads in the 19th Century.  And yes, there is a cache here too, which we found.  Now off to the very start of the WW just a mile away at the Britannia Pier.Think it would be a good idea to update the posters though.

The starting point for the Weavers Way

We'd had a hearty breakfast a the local Sainburys and packed with large thermos and sandwiches we headed out past every seaside shop imaginable.  Yarmouth Rock Shop, have your photo taken looking like some mad Victorian who went down with the Titanic, buckets and spades, tee shirts with some 'interesting' quotes, a gift shop selling the most gaudy items ever.  I think my favourite was the shop selling CD's  from the old days.  Try pass that one without joining in with 'Knees up Mother Brown...'  Past candy floss and fish and chips heading for the 17/18th century area of Yarmouth.  Some lovely old buildings but no time to stand and stare.

 

Now to do some 'proper' walking, away from the madding crowd.  Mile after mile after mile of marshland and an endless views of the River Yare (don't know if you're suppose to pronounce it Yare as in Hare or Yare as in Yarmouth)  Again windmills shooting up from the ground reminding you of the fact that this area is sensitive to the forces of nature and water being that driving force hence the windmills to pump out the water from the marshes.  This area is supposed to be a Sight of Special Scientific Interest.  All I can say is that the inventor of plastic containers should be given the job of picking them all up.  Bottles, tyres, bread baskets, fish containers, rope, hard hats and large cushions obviously from a floating gin palace or a plaki/tupperware boat.  What a shame for the environment.  Although I am glad to say it did reduce the further  the walk went.  

http://www.berneyarms.co.uk/html/berneyarms/railway/berney_railway1.htm

On and on and on.  Not a soul in sight.  Time for lunch, and a cache, the most remote we've ever done. Seven miles done.  We're getting there.   So what was the highspot?  Well, strange to say, money buys all things and we were heading for the most remote and smallest railway station ever.  Berney Arms.  You can't drive to it you can only get
there by train from Yarmouth.  Some egotistical Victorian did a bit of bargaining with the Railway Company for the land and had this station built, effectively just for him.  It all backfired on him when the railways realised it was a bad investment and reduced the services.  It's a big draw for the train spotters.  Try putting into YouTube.  There is a pub close to hand which also has a tea/gift shop both of which need a lick of paint, but according to some portly guys we met at the station, does good beer and food.  So get your walking boots on or saddle up your horse and give it a try.

Still a long way to go.  Now for the infamous Halvergate Marsh.  It is called a marsh for a reason.  Mud glorious mud.  Now for those of us who discovered a 5cm(2") hole in their walking shoes this was going to be tricky.  But, someone up there is looking after me.  It was pretty dry.  The occasional hop, skip jump meant we avoided getting wet feet again. And then, on the horizon my nemisis.  Cattle, skittish bulls.  PANIC!  No stick to beat them off only the trusty husband to stand guard and fend off these evil creature.  Okay, so I exaggerate slightly but there was a very impressive sign warning us of the dangers of boggy marshes and CATTLE.  Horses I can deal with but bovines, no way.  Again, we struck lucky. There was this wonderful dyke between us and them.  Whilst having yet another rest break we were treated to the most spectacular flying display by a flock of birds.  I suspect that the hawk we saw a few minutes later may have been the cause of the display but it was quite spectacular.

Keep going, only a few miles left.  Oh no, a hill.  We'd already walk a good 11 miles. Last year, to do the Moonwalk in London I trained for three months and took lots of carbs, high energy goodies and loads of water.  Today, was turning into a Marathon rather than a gentle walk.   We were heading for the village of Tunstall.  The church was burnt to the ground in the 16th century and rumour has it that the devil came and took the bells and plunged them into a black pool where they remain to this day, working their way into the bowels of the earth.  Cache found and the final rest/refreshment break of the day.   By this stage I was getting ready to throw in the towel.  13 miles and still 2 or more to go to get back to the station at Acle.

http://www.norfolkchurches.co.uk/tunstall/tunstall.htm

You trudge on and on and eventually you end up back where you started.  Thank heavens.  15.25 miles done.  Now for the three hour journey back to home via a very nice pub at Marholm for a well deserved Sunday Roast and treacle tart.  Yum.  Think Eddie  will re-evaluate the length of walk next time.  Only 40 something miles left to go.  Now we need to find a weekend and some fine weather to do it.  Off to buy some new walking shoes.

Crochet or knitting?

Here we are again, the sun is shining and the sky is blue, the buds are breaking out and the blossom too.  Sounds almost like a poem.  But that is just how it is this morning.  Okay, had a bit of a frost but the sun is spring like warm so the frost will soon disappear.
You may remember that I finished the 'Bump Jumper' a few days back so now I sitting twiddling my fingers whilst watching TV in the evening.  So, what does one do?  Well obviously you go on Youtube.com and do a bit of searching around to find a new skill or technique.    I have recently noticed a general trend for crochet work.  There you go then, the answer, Crochet.  
I can remember my granny doing some lovely, fine lace crochet with a really fine crochet hook making doilies to place around her house under pots and photos.  Being a child of the 70's granny squares, made up into a waistcoat, was so hip and now it's back.  From jewellery to cushion covers.  Brilliant.  
I remember watching a lady called Margaret Bathgate crocheting at work during lunch times and it was one of those 'Eureka' moments when I thought I could do that.  With crochet hook and ball of wall in my hand I started out trying to decipher the 'language'  chain, double crochet (dc) treble crochet (tr) etc.   But, and here's the oddity, I don't hold my wool correctly and use a sort of knitting style with hook and wool in the same hand.  Anyway, it works for me and I think that is true of anything you have to find a style that suits you.  

Blooming lovely

The art of crochet.  It would seem you can use anything but I'm not that adventurous yet.  Last nights project was to produce flowers.  The one on the right was my first attempt at a flower and the left was my own design once I knew what I was trying to do.  Now bad for a beginner. Now to decide what do with them; headband, brooch, bracelet.  
Its really quick to achieve results with the minimum of fuss and bother.  Just beware there is a difference in terminology between English and American patterns.  try this link.

http://www.garnstudio.com/lang/en/includes/chart_crochetterms.php

A couple of recommendations for you: 

• The Art of Crochet - http://goo.gl/QSBd7

This is the Youtube site where Teresa clearly explains and demonstrates how to produce the above flowers and others.

• Booties By Dannie   -   http://goo.gl/WKPDD

This designer makes me laugh.  She is so creative with her crochet work.  From Harry Potter/Star Wars figures to the cutest of babies booties.  

Give it a go.  Fancy doing a workshop  Get in touch.  Have a great week and thanks for your ongoing support. 

To buy handmade or not to buy handmade.

There is nothing that personally gives me more pleasure than selling one of my creations and receiving positive feedback.  But I don't handmake just for the sake of it but because I believe that every creative person puts a little bit of themselves into each item.  This makes the items that little bit special.  No two items are the same. Why? Because they are handmade.  No mass produced, cheap import.  I've nothing against cheap imports as long as they treat their workers fairly and pay them a wage that they can live on and safe working conditions.  

http://www.fairtrade.org.uk/

When ever possible I do try to purchase Fairtrade products. Fairtrade covers better prices, good working conditions and sustainability for the farmers and working in the developing world.  In essence though they are looking at commodity products.  Support Fairtrade during Fairtrade fortnight. 

We should also be supporting our own creative talent. And that is why it is important that we support independent designers and makers in the UK.  UKHandmade.co.uk is launching a campaign to get people buying handmade. 


I know that every item I produce is not just a piece of material but an item where a little bit of me has gone in too.  I do it to make people feel good about themselves, to find that individual items that says something special.  The item may be for yourself, a special friends or as a way of reminding someone how much you appreciate/love/miss them.  

Strawberries & Cream giveaway

As I like to practice what I preach I'm launching my first ever 'GIVEAWAY'. The proof of the pudding is in the eating or in this case in the winning of one packet of my ' babysock muffins.  The strawberries and cream' packet contains two pairs of baby socks, 0-6 months.  And yes, they do look good enough to eat. 


In order to claim the prize all you need to do is tell me why you should win them.  You can gain an extra entry by following me on Twitter @Blossombuttons.  Getting really excited now and looking forward to all your comments.  And a big thank you to those of you who follow me.  Have a good week. 

Little Bump or Big Bump?

I think there is nothing more pleasing than finishing a project and thinking 'Yes, that works'.  So 10 balls of  Rowan all season cotton and three weeks later the 'Bump Jumper' is finished.  Bump jumper? Okay, it's a jumper for those pregnant ladies who can expect to increase their waist lines over a period of months. The ribbons and vents can be adjusted to accommodate the growing 'bump'.  I just happen to know someone (daughter) who could do with one.

I was browsing through the craft section at the local library and found this book, Natural Knits for Babies and Mums by Louisa Harding.This gave me the inspiration I needed. I would definitely recommend the book.  Lots of simple but very effective designs from booties and hats to nursing jumpers and teddy bears.  I may have to renew on a number of occasions as there are so many items to create or I may even buy a copy.

I have knitted for years but it always seems to grow so slowly unless you are using big pins.  Heaven, 5.5 mm needles and thick cotton meant the four pieces grew very quickly.  Also made it easier to count the rows when checking my guage.  Only problem, numb fingers.  Must be the way I hold my needles and wrap the wool around my hand.  

Bump jumper with ribbon vents

It's all in the detail

Moss Stitch edging

 Well, it's done.  I'm pleased with it. Can't wait to see it being modelled.  And for those curious to know; the red roses are baby sock roses ready to get put onto Folksy.com.  May have to think about a babysock giveaway next week. So encourage your friends to read my blog.  Watch this space.  Have a happy crafty week everyone.