A little stitching

This week has been a busy but restful time. I had great sewing plans but very little has come to fruitition however we have been on some visits. We had time to work in the garden and enjoy the hot weather.I've got up early every day as if I'm going to work not because I love early mornings but I need to be able to walk the dogs in the cooler air. It has been so hot that there is a high possibility of burnt paws from the hot pavements later in the day. 

Last Sunday, 24 May, we went to an open day at the Buckinghamshire Railway Centre. We were meeting up with older daughter and family for the Thomas event day. Older grandson was 4 on the 25th and is obsessed with trains so this was his birthday treat. I spent a lot of time keeping older daughter and younger grandson company in the shade whilst the rest of the family visited the trains and other attractions but I did enjoy a walk round with older grandson so he could show me the sights. Diesel or one of several diesels in the little engine stories.

Grandson liked watching the model trains running round the track. I think he suggested a track like this in the garden at home would be amazing.

He spent some time pressing the buttons to make the cable cars work. He explained that the button switched on the electric and they moved.  

He also enjoyed the miniature funicular railway 

People were enjoying a ride behind a traction engine

I enjoyed seeing it later as we were leaving.

Older daughter and family were driving to Cornwall for a holiday and so left about 2:30. We stayed and visited the book shop and the museum. I didn't take photos in the main museum but I was impressed by the crane outside in the shed.

Before we left I was determined to have a ride behind a steam train. Thomas and Percy had been racing each other which had been fun to watch. Percy had an open truck with seats and we decided it would be cooler than in the carriages. Our run was the last one of the day and the two trains raced side by side but Percy won the races. The children in the truck with us were so excited. We did get a little covered in smoke dust but it was fun.

We got some coffee for the journey and headed to the car. It was so hot inside but the aircon soon cooled it down. We took the motorway as the quickest route home, after a tiring but enjoyable day you don't want to navigate too many small country lanes.

I mentioned a little stitching. I had hoped to get more done this week but you can't go out and visit places and also get on with sewing projects. I love visits when I'm on holiday so sewing missed out. I hadn't started this side until the start of May.This was my progress on Monday.

Yesterday I took this photo and I'm pleased with the additional bits I've managed.

On Wednesday I pulled out the frog quilt and cut and started sewing togeter the next block in both sizes. I need to get them finished so this is a job for today.

Before I finish and get on with Friday plans I want to add a couple of photos from Chester. After we had seen all the panels in the cathedral we decided to walk all round the town walls. By this time it had started to drizzel a little but we both wanted to stretch our legs.

On the right we had the Shropshire Union Canel far below us and to our left these house. The canal skirts Chester’s ancient city walls, passing through deep sandstone cuttings. The towpath leads directly north towards the National Waterways Museum in Ellesmere.

The problem with Chester is that some of the half timber houses are real i.e. from the historic period and some are newer but made to look old. Either way they are pretty.

I always like some historic facts on my walks.

Walking further around the walls we came to Chester castle.

Whilst the city side of the wall was busy with many buildings, to our left beyond the car park, it was heavily wooded.

We reached the River Dee. The river flows right through the heart of the city. The river is popular for river cruises, rowing, and paddleboarding. The 70-mile river rises in Snowdonia and flows out into a beautiful estuary. There were a lot of birds in this area. We could see three herons, two cormorants and a lot of black headed gulls. 

The river is wide and peaceful at this point.

It was interesting watching one of the tourist boats turn to return to their base.

More pretty half timbered houses 

Eastgate is a permanently open gate through the Chester city walls. It is on the site of the original entrance to the Roman fortress of Deva Victrix. It is a prominent landmark in the city and the Eastgate clock on top of it is said to be the most photographed clock in England after Big Ben.

Looking from Eastgate along a main street.

By the time we had finished our walk and it was starting to rain again so we headed to the bus station and returned to our hotel after a good day out.

Take care 

Lyndsey