Onslow Steam Rally 2015

I had a mad rush in the week before Onslow Steam Rally at Shrewsbury to get some small oil paintings done for my stalls...they did dry just in time thank goodness! Sold most of them!

We took the caravan up a few days before and got it all set up ready so we could have a more leisurely time when we arrived again on Saturday.. the new porch awning worked a treat--just big enough for a table, cool boxes and shoes etc..and much less trouble to put up than the full size one!

We got on pretty quick setting up the stall....

Waterproof dust sheets over everything and ready for the customers on Sunday and Monday!

The weather was beautiful all day Saturday and we were treated to this beautiful sunset on our way up to watch the band in the beer tent,,,,

There is so much to see there...day and night!

the moon was beautiful on the way back from the beer tent--and what appears to be orbs are in the photos too...

as usual I didn't get to see any of the actual show, as I was kept busy with customers,,, but Bill did escape a few times to have a quick look around!

Well after the beautiful sunshine all day on the Sunday , we heard the rain beating down on the caravan roof during the night...not good! The site was soon nothing but mud and we thought it was going to be an awful day customer wise on the Monday--how wrong could we be? We took the exact same money on both days down to the £...

Poor Bunty got stuck in the mud and had to be pushed out by Ros and Mark--thanks both xx

Just one of the beautiful views we had on the way home...Despite the rain on Monday we had a wonderful time--Ros Bishop is one of the best organisers there is..and we look forward to the show every year...it seems a lifetime away again now but I'm sure it will be here in a flash! We are on Ludlow market every week on Wednesdays and some Sundays , the next big event for us will be the Ludlow Medieval Weekend when we will be on the be dressed up and on the market--will look forward to that !

Onslow Park Steam Rally

One of the best shows we do every year--in fact this year it was THE best! We have done Onslow Park team rally for the past 8 years--We always have a great space with plenty of room to display my art and demonstrate..We took the caravan up on the Thursday and parked her up, then packed the van and travelled up on Saturday. We set up the stands and tables on Sat afternoon and went back to the caravan after covering it all up with waterproof sheets...it was especially good because the flare-up of the polymyalgia and rheumatoid arthritis that's has been a bit of a bugger for past few weeks has burned itself out and I was feeling bloody brilliant! No Pain and stiffness (well hardly any lol) I felt like a new woman...

After a drink or three we went for a walk round the grounds and funnily enough ended up at the beer tent where there was an Abba tribute band playing and boy were they good--after bopping and having a drink we moved on..

we ended up on the Waltzers -first time in about 20 years..then on another really fast ride----and then to Bills amazement--I said I wanted to go on the big wheel!  I conquered a big fear that night--yes it was scary but I did it and lived to tell the tale!

I got the stall set out just right, with all my little paintings etc..

Lots of interest in my button bouquets , orders for some too for next year..

Its amazing how much can be squeezed into the space..

The Birch Tree Walk went to live with a lovely young girl who fell in love with it--and fetched every member of her family to see it--

And the last Squirrels Eye View went to live with a lovely gentleman...must get cracking and get another version done now!

Bill was able to go out and have a look at what was going on outside--I managed a few trips to the loo and that was it--it was sooo busy!

Some beautiful engines...

Little shire foal flat out by his mummy--Bill watched them in the ring-mum is a beautiful dapple grey..

lots for everyone to see..

Dinner on Sunday evening-we were too knackered to cook-so ended up with low-fat cheese and low cal biscuits,chutney and home-grown tomatoes--and of course a lovely bottle of wine!

and the tea lights we took with us cast a lovely romantic glow after ;-) We want to thank Ros and co for the organisation of the show--wouldn't want the job for all the money in the world! We had so many laughs with everyone all weekend, am looking forward to next years already!

Llandudno Break

We are back from our lovely break to Llandudno tonight..3 nights staying in one of the best B+B's we have ever stopped in. Walsall House  comes highly recommended by us-its just 5 mins walk from the front, just 3 bedrooms and is spotless clean everywhere..The bed is one of the most comfortable ever--the food is delicious and plentiful...in fact no complaints!!! Except for my bloody health as usual--had a huge flare up of the polymyalgia and the rheumatoid arthritis as well...so couldn't walk far until the strong meds had kicked in--the steroids have gone up again too--fingers crossed it will be a short lived flare--we have a lot coming up again this week--Onslow Park Steam Rally is this Sunday and Monday..

lots of lovely touches everywhere in the room,love the little teddy om the bed!

lovely bay window -ideal for people watching!

A beautiful breakfast to start the day!

great selection of jams and marmalade's on the table..

and a different tea cosy each day!! Janis makes them all!

I fell in love with this beautiful sofa in the dining room--and would love it in my living room! It would match my beautiful colourful sideboard beautiful----but Janis said she would lie on it to stop us trying to get it in the car LOL...

I love Llandudno front..we went for a walk along there every evening..

there is a huge wind farm off shore--my new camera picked it up pretty well!

caught this shot in the afternoon..will be painting it-possibly as a class subject-watch this space!

love this shot--

It was great to meet up with Louise and Derek over at Holyhead on Sunday-- we all met for the first time years ago when there was a meet at the Cottage of Content where we did the famous Boobtiful painting to raise money for breast cancer.. we have been friends on Facebook since but this was first chance to catch up in real life! They are coming over to Ludlow next year so we will meet up again then--looking forward to it very much!  We had a scrummy 3 course meal at The Driftwood...

passed by Conwy castle on the way back to LLandudno..

We had lovely weather the whole time we were away--a bit windy but dry.. we had a bit of rain on the way home today but it didn't last very long...

We  have passed this place The Ugly House many times over the years but never stopped for a look..today we did-- beautiful old house-dating from the 1400's  and its now a cafe..

its built out of huge boulders..

beautiful gardens, we didn't get around them as it was drizzling and my legs couldn't do the hilly bits!

must say its one of the most expensive cafes we have been in--£8.25 for a jacket spud--how can they justify that? We just had a coffee!!

Next stop was Llangollen...lovely  little place

watched these mad folk going down the rapids!

and we ended up here for a ploughman's lunch...very good it was too!