The art of stitching.

Good afternoon. 

It was a lively bunch at Crafty Club this morning. There was talk of what are we going to be eating when we have our Christmas party. I said I would take some Brussels Sprouts. 😱😲😵

Are you ready for a splash of colour? There was a lot to see at the Knit and Stitch Show. I was amazed at the ingenuity of the artists who turned ordinary pieces of fabric and threads into works of art. The Embroiders Guild had an impressive display from some of their members. This is a collection of a few of their creations on small canvases. 

Let's zoom in for a closer look. I like to see how these beautiful pictures are constructed. 

Very clever use of colour to reproduce a shimmering reflection in the water. 

This is clever. Two layers of fabric, one green and one pink, cut through into a half circle and folded over, exposing the underside. 

You can't get any more perfect stitching than that. Every bit of space used. 

Plenty of inspirational ideas for me here. I didn't go to buy, I went to spy. 

4.15pm and it's dark. Roll on the 21st of December. There are several events on this coming weekend. I will work out a timetable of how I can get to visit them. 

More Harrogate pics to come. Thanks for popping in. Toodle pip.   ilona

A day out at Harrogate

Good Morning. 

Yesterday was a day out at Harrogate, at the Knit and Stitch Show. It was the last day of a four day event. I was dithering whether to go or not, and made my mind up on Saturday night to go for it. I'm glad I did. 

I parked on the outskirts of Harrogate, almost opposite Sainsbury's on Wetherby Road. There is a quiet residential street with no parking restrictions. I was kitted out for walking, boots, waterproof jacket, and  umbrella. It started raining just as I set off. I had a street map in my pocket of the town centre, saved from the last time I was there. It was a long trek, but I was in the mood for walking, happy that I was passing a lot of cars stuck in the queue's to get into the city. 

It's a bit pricey to get in, I don't book in advance. £22.50 cash on the door. The event is huge,, the Exhibition Centre is huge. So many halls to wander around, easy to get lost. There is a map of the layout but I just go up and down all the aisles looking at everything. It is so much easier if you go by yourself. I was constantly having to skirt around groups of friends who stopped to chat. There was plenty of seating for those who had taken their own food. 

I spent the eyewatering sum of £4 on two large pieces of black felt. This will be used to finish off the woolly artwork. Also £5 spent on some red ribbon, to make some more Christmas bunting. Now I need to get on with the making, and stop talking about it. I have the photo's to sort out and will post them soon. 

In the meantime, some people might be interested to read more discussions of the covid inquiry. Oh no! Not more!!! It isn't going to go away. It is now embedded in history. 

 UnHerd’s Freddie Sayers speaks with Oxford epidemiologist Professor Sunetra Gupta – one of the three primary authors of the Great Barrington Declaration – to uncover why the UK’s massive £200 million COVID inquiry has produced a conclusion she calls an “insult” to the public intelligence. With the report claiming that locking down just one week earlier would have saved 23,000 lives, Gupta dismantles the modelling behind the headline.

My thanks to Will who has drawn my attention to this article in The Daily Sceptic.  

An extract.  

Those who use fear as a mechanism of control have enhanced their power and profiles in ways that could hardly have been imagined a few weeks ago. The use of fear was central to promoting the idea that the lockdown superseded any other consideration, including not only the economy but also even using the NHS. The threat from the virus was magnified,

Now I must get on. Breakfast then Crafty Club.

Thanks for popping in. Toodle pip.   ilona

A bumpy bus ride.

The bus ride to town yesterday was a tad bumpy so hold tight. 

I found a place for the little table. Right next to the gas fire on my right hand side, as I sit at the computer. Very handy.

 

A visit to the Farm Shop was needed today I was almost out of honey. I have it in my coffee instead of sugar. It's from a local bee keeper who supplies independent local shops. They have Passionfruit Curd back in stock again. I have been using Lime Curd which is also nice. 

Look at this gorgeous giant cauliflower. Couldn't resist that. A head of broccoli, and a huge onion. Brilliant for making soup. 

I bought naughty naughty cake, double cream, and eggs. Total £42. I don't bother to ask the prices at the Farm Shop. If I see it and want it, I buy it. 

I can put off going to Aldi for a few more days. 

I am now going to watch a couple of videos. I see Ben and Emily have a new one out, also Richard and Julia are busy on their new plot of land. 

Thanks for popping in. Enjoy your Sunday. Toodle pip.   ilona

I went for a walk and found a table

Good evening. 

The postie brought me a letter today. From the Medical Centre. Do I want the covid and flu jabs. Also a letter from the TV Licensing people. My 'no licence needed' declaration has run out. For goodness sake, don't they ever stop. 

After my morning chores, and a hearty soup and potato lunch, I packed my bag and caught the 1pm bus to town. The plan was to walk back. First stop was the 20 21 Arts Centre to say hello to Nikki. There is a new exhibition in there, which I photographed and will write about on another post. 

There was a chill in the air but with the sun beaming down, and me striding along at a fast pace, I soon warmed up. 

I got to the big pond, it's known locally as the Blue Lagoon, I noticed this small table dumped in the car park . Nothing else. It's solidly made and not damaged. Such a shame to leave it there. I didn't have a bag to put it in. Oh well, I'll just carry it home as it is.

I carried on walking and turned left along the road towards the next village. A small white car came up behind me and stopped a few yards up the road. It then reversed back to me. The gentleman asked if I wanted a lift. I gratefully accepted because it was starting to get dark, and the last part of the walk was across fields. His daughter moved from the front seat to the back so I could get in. He very kindly went out of his way to drop me in my village. Before anyone says isn't that dangerous, no it wasn't. People know me round here because it's a regular route I take. Village folk are friendly and I speak to everyone I meet. I thanked him for the lift. 

I've just come across this video. Dr Suneel Dhand talks about the covid inquiry which has just been published. He is dead right in what he says.  He calls it an Inquiry Bombshell. 

Thanks for popping in. Have a good weekend. Toodle pip.   ilona

Not appropriate

 Good morning. 

I think I am on a wanted list. A phone call came through on the landline at 8.40am. Female voice ringing from our local medical centre. She asks if I will be taking up the offer of the covid and flu jabs. I hesitated and carefully constructed my replies. 

She has a list of people to ring. This is the first time they have rung me. Correspondence has always been via text message, which I have always ignored. It could be that they are asking in case they need to order more stocks. Or maybe the uptake has been a lot lower than previous roll-outs and they want to know why. 

I am suspicious of any contact from the medical centre. It is not their job to look for potential customers for their products and treatments. My understanding is that people who are concerned about some aspect of their health and well being should contact them and ask for help. 

My reply was, have you got my records in front of you? If so you will see my past history. She said it was her job to ring people on the list she has been given. I said I have not had any of the covid or flu jabs. I followed this up by saying, I don't want you to record that I am refusing any of the treatments offered. I am not refusing, I just feel that they are not appropriate for me. 

That was the end of the conversation.   

Now that the covid inquiry has been published it is obvious to all that there was never anything constructive to come out of it. It's just a catalogue of what the main stream media were pushing out at the time. 

Here's a little nugget from Keith just out. . . . .  Everyone's health was put at risk when they bullied people into going along with their plan.

Keir Starmer

@Keir_Starmer

·

1h

We are freezing prescription charges. No one's health should be put at risk because they can’t afford their medication.

Thanks for popping in. Have a good weekend. Toodle pip. ilona

Almost finished

The snow has kept me indoors today. I have sewn all the gold beads onto the woolly wall hanging, while watching yootooob videos. It finishes it off perfectly. I did think I would hang it just as it is without a backing, but to make it easy for myself I will mount it on a board covered in black fabric. 

I have a board which is just right for the job but it needs trimming down to the right size. I went to my friends house to ask him to do the job with his electric rotary saw in his workshop. He was not there. I suspect he might be away visiting his in laws. I will have to cut it down myself tomorrow on the bench  in the back garden. 

I made a pan of soup for dinner tonight. Broccoli, cauliflower, and carrot. Very nice it was. There is some left for tomorrow. 

I would like to have a day out this weekend, but I'm not sure if there is going to be some more snow. I will check the forecast. 

All cats have been indoors today. Even Oscar doesn't want to go out. 

I see that the covid enquiry has come to an end. So, £200million has been spent on it. 

Carl Heneghan gives his verdict.

The report demonstrates a complete failure to consider existing knowledge of respiratory viruses, both past and present, in its study of transmission. Additionally, it lacks an analysis of the devastating consequences of the 200 measures that were implemented. It does not address the issue of healthcare-associated infections or explore what caused the high number of deaths. Furthermore, the amateurish approach to attributing deaths—using 14 different definitions—was completely overlooked. Much of the report’s analysis, especially its analysis of lockdown timing, depends on mathematical models. Models are not evidence; they are predictions based on assumptions, often with enormous uncertainty.

Thanks for popping in. Toodle pip.   ilona 

Video number 700

Good evening. I knocked up this video this morning and left it to upload onto yoootooob while I went to the Coffee Morning. 

I never bother to check the stats, how many subscribers I have, and how many viewing hours my videos have clocked up. If you are interested it's 10.8k subscribers, this one has had over 900 views. Perhaps these figures might spur others to start their own channel. It's quick and easy if you don't bother to edit them. I can't remember when I first started. I just decided to have a go. I suppose if I had monetised my channel I might have made a few quid, but that was never my intention. It's just a bit of fun. 

It's been very cold today. Extra layers needed for dog walking. This will bump the heating bill up a notch or two. Never mind. It has to be done. 

Thanks for popping in. Stay warm. Toodle pip.   ilona

Reminder

 

Winter Reminder: Keep Feeding Your Garden Hedgehogs!

Not all hedgehogs hibernate - some stay active throughout the colder months, especially the younger or underweight ones. These little visitors rely on us more than ever when natural food and water are scarce.

If you’ve seen a hedgehog in your garden recently, please continue to put out food and shallow bowls of clean water. A dish of poultry cat/kitten biscuits or specialist hedgehog biscuits, can make all the difference - and fresh water is just as vital.

Every meal and sip helps them survive the season. They forage after dark, so evening feeds are ideal. Your garden could be their lifeline.

Thank you for caring — your kindness keeps them going

Visit their web site. 

Thanks for the reminder. I've put some food out. Just in case they come back. 

Toodle pip.   ilona

Just popping in

Good evening. 

Not much to report today. Raining again. 

Post Office this morning. 

Builder man came round to look at the job I have asked him to do. Unblock the drain pipe. He will do it this week.

A friend came round for a natter. 

I went to visit June. She is now at home. It will take a long time for her leg to heal. She has family to look after her. 

I've put two posts on the Talking To Myself blog. 

I am feeling much better. Whatever it was has gone. 

Catch ya tomorrow. Toodle pip. ilona

Searching for gold beads

I've been thinking about how I could fill the gaps between the woolly swirls. Gold beads would be nice. They would have to be fairly big so they don't get lost and sink too far down into the wool. 

So this afternoon I went to the Retail Park to search the shops. I checked The Range, two charity shops, Home Bargains, Dunelm,  and finally found what I wanted in Matalan. 

Two necklaces gave me enough gold beads. There was 25% off so they cost me £15 for the two. As soon as I have stitched all these in place then I can put the backing onto it. I have decided it will be mounted on a board covered with black fabric. Something like this. 

Thanks for popping in. Toodle pip.   ilona

Batshit Bonkers

You go girl ! 

Who gets a reception like this? The last night of her 2025 tour of her Katie's Arms show. 

She has been banned, vilified, and arrested. Some of her planned shows did not happen because the venues got cold feet and pulled the plug on her. And still she comes bouncing back. Where other stand up comedians fear to tread, Katie surges forward. 

People may not like what she stands for, they may not like her choice of language, but she speaks for millions. She has a bigger set of balls than our Prime Minister, and the other wimps which sit on those fancy leather seats in London. Her audience is growing. 2026 is looking very busy for her. Dates for her live show from May to July, are booking now. 

There ain't no stopping her. 

Have a good day. Toodle pip.   ilona 

One of many.

 I remember this as being the poshest of the posh hotels in the Burton upon Trent area. Very sad to see it in this state now. 

What happened to it? There are recent photo's and videos of the interior and exterior, on thisFacebook page

Report from January 2024

A Derbyshire hotel is to cease being used as asylum accommodation before the end of next month, according to the Government. The Newton Solney hotel was first used as asylum contingency housing, managed by private firm Serco, for around 70 single male asylum seekers in Spring 2022.

She added: "The hotel at Newton Solney being fully occupied by asylum seekers was having a negative impact on local residents as well as the cost of such accommodation not being sustainable for the country as a whole. The residents of Newton Solney and other nearby villages will be relieved by this news. The Home Office has always been clear that the use of hotels was a short-term measure to ensure that we meet our statutory obligation to accommodate asylum seekers who would otherwise be destitute during a period of unprecedented numbers of small boat arrivals.

New report in July 2024. 

The Grade II-listed building was put on the market a couple of months ago for £2.5 million but the price has now been dropped by £500,000 to £2 million. The estate agents say that, as well as hotel use, it could also be for residential care usage. According to the agents, the luxury hotel "was previously a popular destination for domestic and overseas travellers, and has a license to host weddings, making it a go-to destination for local residents as well".

Just one victim of the madness being foisted upon us. There will be many more. 

Thank you for popping in. Have a good week. Toodle pip.   ilona

The Big Craft Event at Lincoln

Good evening. At last a nice day to go out. I went to The Big Craft Event at Lincolnshire showground. I have seen a lot of the stalls before, so it didn't take me long to get round them all. 

I treated myself to one of these metal flowers for the garden. I had a nice chat with the lady. They are based in the same village as Rugby Cement, a company I worked for many years ago. 

This is their web site if you want to check them out. 

This is the one I chose. Terrible photo in artificial light. My curtains are not that colour. 

Sunday night is watching videos night. I have just watched Dan and Steve, they had a weekend in Newcastle. Now I'm going to watch Janine and Liam in Canada. Apparently they have bought an RV over there, and are about to set off on a tour. A glass of Port will go down well with that. 

Thanks for popping in. Toodle pip.   ilona
 

The garden is sleeping

My neighbours gardens are not as big as mine. When I came to view the house I was pleased there was so much space at the back. There was a garage and I could get my much smaller car up the driveway and into it. 

There was nothing in the garden, it was open on each side, no hedges, except the one across the back. The trees are in the garden of the house around the corner. I planted up the hedge between me and the neighbour on one side. The fencing on the other side was put up by the other neighbour. 

I dropped lucky finding this house. This is one of the cheaper houses in the village, it was bought from the Council by it's previous owners, who were tenants at the time. If I wanted to downsize I would have to go for a cheaper terraced house, but that would mean hardly any garden and being squashed into a row with several other little boxes. As long as I can keep the garden tidy I will stay here. 

There hasn't been quite as much rain today. 

I have some Christmas fabric left over from a year ago when I made some bunting. Today I made some more bunting. I didn't have any red or white ribbon so I made some by cutting strips from an old red cotton sheet. 

One Billy dog walk today, and a visit to Janet's cats. Now I am going back there to make sure they have everything they need for the night. When I come back I am going to relax with a new Ben and Emily video which has just come out. They are in the Scottish Highlands. 

Thanks for popping in. Toodle pip.   ilona

Sleep tight little hedgehogs.

Good evening. 

It hasn't stopped raining all day. 

This newsletter came in the post. You might like to read these pages. I didn't get an update on the hedgehog I took in so I assume it was released into it's new home when it reached the ideal weight. They release them onto private estates well away from roads. I expect they get quite a few going through the hospital, so they wouldn't be able to pass on news to everyone. 

If you want to know more about Andrews Hedgehog Hospital check out their web site. 

I haven't seen any hedgehogs in my garden for the last four nights. I put food out, some of it is eaten but I don't see who gets it. Maybe that's it for this year. I hope they have found places to sleep through the winter. 

If this rain keeps up I can see some events getting cancelled for tomorrow. 

Thanks for popping in. Toodle pip.   ilona