Outhouse

Last day of 2019, and the doors and shutters are on, as are the lights. Vent roof cover still need attention.

New Neighbours

 The attraction, winter food. George perched on his front door twig.

Now over a dozen sparrows have take up residents in our hawthorn hedge. It is difficult to get an accurate count as they pop into one hole and exit though another!!!!  A lot of chattering at dusk.

Coppelia

A second opportunity to visit the ballet, Leo Delibes Cappelia by the Russian State Ballet of Siberia. Amazing performance with wonderful costumes. Altogether a lovely day in the capital and a night stay at the bay.  

Turner Contemporary

The real thing,

 creating a challenge

before the pencil activated.  Gek's request for a Turner Gallery gets under way.

B & W Outhouse

Progress.

A Mist Morn

Early morning valley view.

And on the Full Size

 A Swan Lake

and a wintry castle, Gek's first returns to the big canvas.

Plus a piece to keep us warm at night. Lovely

Making a Dozen

Boston Side Chairs, that is. Even after 12, there is not that 'perfect' one. Will there ever be? Probably not.

London

First, off the train to have lunch with Finn, Anna, Jake and Toby at the 'Crypt' under St. Martin in the Fields,

followed by a trip across the road to introduce the mini to the master.

Day three, after a lunch with friend Ranu, a down memory lane visit to the Gek's hall of residence in the mid 80's, International Hall, when she was 'doing' her Masters at the LSE.

 Waiting for our eighth train ride, Waterloo East back to Blackheath.

 Beauty in the park,

with old friend Richard.

Early Snow

Snow on the evening 13th Nov., the night before our trip up to London, a case of boots on chaps.

St Fagans

A promised Autumn visit didn't disappoint. A 300 year old oak.

Also a guided tour of the Castle gardens for some plant tips.

That castle again, this Time from the valley floor.  Autumn well on now.

Castell Coch

A castle I have passed so many times and never visited.

 Did a little enhancing to show it really is Red.

 A romantic medieval interior, created for the Marquess of Bute in the 19th on the remains of 13th   century castle.

 A little ott for my personal taste.

 A thunder box loo. My model in the B & W house is quite accurate then!!!!

 Bed with Bath tub.

Leaving shot.

Queen Anne Update

Fine dining with new candle sticks from Glass Craft Miniatures to add to my collect of Phil's pieces.

A new carpet in the reception area, although it will most likely be replaced when I find a more appropriate size and design.

Just need a towel stand to complete the bathroom, now there is to be of Colgate toothpaste on the shelf. Oh, now need toothbrushes also! Never ending acquisitions.

Two more Chinese black lacquer furniture pieces added plus a carpet, to the study from Dream Homes.

A couple of detail items added, a milk jug from Kleine, our neighbour at the 2019 Minatura Autumn Fair, and couple boxes. Oh, and an expensive dinner plate dropped, broken in two! Oops.

The view after dark.

Bleu-jaune

OK, to you and me, Blue John. The pretty village of Castleton the nearest to the cavern where the mineral is mined.

Very rare these days and hence a little on the expensive side. There were some lovely miniature bowls in the shops but way too much for me to buy, sadly.

Around the Peaks

It WAS October, so you can expect just a little of the wet stuff but we did manage to dodge the wind and the rain to grab a few camera shots. Here, Black Rock, or what is left after the lead miners stopped digging. Very aptly named.

 Hope Valley

 Ladybower Reservoir.

Millers Dale dual viaduct. In the 1880s Buxton had three separate stations all terminus's, fed by three separate railway lines, run by three separate railway companies. Popular place Buxton.  A long way to come just for a bath though, don't you think? Wonder how the Romans got here without a railway? In fact, how did they find the 'baths' in the first place?

FUA Revisited

 Doesn't she look absolutely bl-----dy gorgeous!!!!

The quality of Martyn's work is exemplary.

 In all the detail.

David and Martyn did let me have my moment in the driving seat.  Thank you both and the girls for yet another memorable day in your company.

Over to Buxton

 Calling in at Ashbourne on the way.

 The Pavilion.

The Crescent Hotel, built between 1780 and 1784, where I stayed on the night of 12 April 1969......over 50 years ago!!!!!!!!

 Gek already for

a walk in the park.