House-Elf Doings 

 There was a funny sound on our first morning at Eastney on the SE tip of Portsea Island, just east of Portsmouth on the South coast.  Starlings were having a bath patting their wings on the surfave of the deep puddle.

Eastney Beach was just a few metres away. You can see the Isle of Wight in the background.

The sea changed colour as you looked at it.

Squeak all wet! She didn’t approve of her swim.

Ex- Misistry of Defence’s Fraser Range. It is derelict now.

Look at how the bricks have been worn by the sea. It reminded me of Dali’s floppy watches.

On the very eastern tip you can see Hayling Island.

Many plants grow here which is rare for shingle. You are asked to try to avoid staning on the unique habitat.

 Squeak and I had a walk on another morning towards the west and Southsea. Just look at these gorgeous beach huts!

I want one! But what colour?

We stepped up from the beach and onto the Promenade as Squeak had had enough of walking on the nasty shifting stuff.

And just look what we saw! 

I immediately thought that some Finnish ladies had visited as I had first seen knitting in strange places on Ulla’s blog Kotkarankki

Then I saw this “Knutty Knitters”

So I think local ladies were responsible for making lots of people smile.

 Now for current happenings- JJ grew some naga chillis, so I made a very warm chilli from them. He had been waiting for months for them to grow big enough. There is enough on the plant for more chilli in the future.

It’s enough to make anyone want an ice cream!

I’ve been working on sewing these “Welcome to the North Pole” blocks

 in the evenings.

 I will show you what I was working on today

 in my next blog post.

Now a few of you know that I have a thing about hampers. This is my 1st pink and white one. It was in a sale at a lot less than half price. I couldn’t resist! It means that the camping hamper with pans in can now be just for camping, and this one can be for day trips. 

 While I was trying to get a good photo, Bungle and Squeak turned up.

A certain Squeak knows that hampers contain food. I think she is trying to sweet talk me.

Simone has now received this Klimt inspired mat. Pop in and wish her a Happy Birthday for yesterday.

The fabrics are Thimbleberries.

The back is pieced too.

Now let me take you to Dorchester on Thames just south of Oxford.

The buildings are interesting.

But we though are off to Dorchester Abbey

 The building on the left is our first stop.

 Just look at how thick the walls are. They window is angled outwards into the room to let as much light in as possible. Glass was expensive and for the elite (poorer people boiled hooves and spread the onion-like layers thin, over a gap in the wall.) so windows are small by modern standards.

40p for your first cup of tea, 30p for your second, and so on. There was a huge variety of cake.

Feeling full yet? Time to explore the abbey.

Go on in

 Through the door

In this porch shelter. Often poor passing through a parish would sleep here and ask for alms. There was always an alms box in churches.  Boxing Day (26th December) was when you boxed up your food leftovers for the poor.

Click to read the info about the abbey.

It has more names and dates than I can repeat.

Exposed Medieval decoration.

Organ.

This quilted piano protector has been cut very well.

As usual I was keen on seeing the glass

Click to see more details.

Side chapel altar.

Another side chapel altar

 With a beautifully painted wall.

Main altar.

 Top of the main altar window.

Close up of the Jessie Tree window. Beautifully carved setting for the window.

Font

Weathervane on the top of the abbey tower. I told you it was more normal for me to see roosters rather than ships on weather vanes.

Now we leave Dorchester on Thames

 by car

 The river is so high after all the rain. Some of the meadows were very wet.

We are off to Wittenham Clumps– one of the higher points in the area, so it has good views.

The children came here to fly kites when they were little. Just the other side is Days Lock where the national Poohsticks championship is held.

Before the Romans “persuaded” the locals to move to the town, they lived in this Iron Age hill fort next to the Clumps.

One last look at Oxfordshire. Next time the unique habitat of Eastney Beach on Portsea Island in Hampshire.

I’m putting the house to rights at the moment. There is an idea brewing for a sea themed qult for Daughter in white cream and pale blue. I think I’ll be putting a pen and paper in my apron to jot things down as I go around the house.