Hall Farm - The Artists Studios

And for the last post from the Hall Farm visit on Saturday, we take a look at the Artists Studios. 

Michael Scrimshaw has a multitude of talents. He make sculptures large and small, he paints, he sketches with a pencil. He is inventive and his designs come to life, sometimes in the most spectacular way. A collage of some of his work. His wife Helen is the whiz in the kitchen. Her business is producing tasty jams and chutneys. 

James Sutton is an artist/sculptor who works with mainly stainless steel. He is currently working on a life size group of pigs. It's a commission which will be installed on the Isle of Man. 

He does large and small scale pieces. 

The pieces he buys in, then assembles them into individual exclusive artworks. 

First he draws a diagram. 

I bought one of these flowers, which is now in my garden. A single rose is £40. 

Also in the workshop out buildings are antiques collectors and dealers. 

There is also a furniture restorer, a bespoke furniture maker, and a pottery designer/maker. At this Open Day there were people selling plants, garden decorations, and hand made arts and crafts. 

It was a lovely day out. People were so friendly and relaxed. 

Today it is another too hot to do anything day. I will potter around the garden trying to keep in the shade. 

I have still got the Pumpkin the Wheelie Westie photo's from Sunday, which I will post here later. 

Drink plenty of water. Put bowls of water out in your garden for the birds. I spent an hour last night sitting outside watching the five hedgehogs cavorting about on the lawn. It was magic.

Have a good day. Toodle pip.   ilona  

Hall Farm - The Lake

Hall Farm Gardens is a place you never want to leave. I felt that as I walked around the lake. It's in the middle of vast open spaces of farmland, with very little distractions of passing traffic, apart from the trundling by of tractors. They call this a Moat, but it does not circle the house. 

It was pure bliss to linger a while and take in the calm ambience of still water with it's reflections. The  flotilla of lily pads added a protective blanket to the tiny creatures living below the water.   

Today is an at home day with a stroll to the Park this afternoon. There is some entertainment on there for families. 

I'll finish off this Hall Gardens report later, with some pictures of the Artist Studios. Now it's time for breakfast. Catch ya later. Toodle pip.   ilona

Hall Farm - The Gardens

I think this has been the hottest day so far this weekend. I have been out to the Lincolnshire Showground for the Disabled Dog Walk, led by Tammie and Pumpkin the Wheelie Westie. It was chuffing brilliant. Lots of pictures to come here on the blog for that in the next day or two. 

Back to yesterday at Hall Farm Gardens. at Harpswell. Not the village, but across the fields at the farm. 

You can have a game of chess if you like. All set up and ready to go. 

Rustic features are left in situ. 

There are gravelly paths to meander through. Lots of varieties of plants and trees for the avid gardener to discover. 

This is a wrought iron gate which is weathered and blends in with the surrounding foliage. 

See if you can spot the sculptures. You can't miss this giant dragon. 

Plants of every description skillfully positioned to compliment those around it. 

Follow me around the garden.

I will split the Hall Farm into three posts, so come back for the Lake and the Workshops. 

Here is a link to their web site if you want to check out their opening times. 

Enjoy your Bank Holiday Monday. Toodle pip.   ilona

I took a wrong turn.

It's been a glorious day for a trip out. My arty friends Michael and Helen gave me a leaflet last weekend about an event they were attending. Hall Farm Gardens at Harpswell near Gainsborough looks like a nice place to visit, and today was Open Studios Day. There are several artists who have studios in the farm buildings

I took a turn off the main road for Harpswell, then realised I was not going in the right direction. I could see the car park across the fields. Never mind, I will have a look at the church while I am here. 

Sadly it was not open today, and it looks like nobody has stepped over the threshold for a long time. The floor in the porch is full of pigeon poo. Although parts of it look a bit neglected, the grass has been cut and the stonework looks clean and tidy. 

It is part of a group of churches, but looking down the list of services there is no mention of one taking place here. 

It could do with a bit of tlc. 

It's on quite a small plot of land, with a new modern house right next to it on the other side of a wall. 

Anyway, onward and upward, I need to go to Hall Farm Gardens. It is only five minutes away. Soon be there. 

Plenty of pictures coming up. I was amazed how beautiful the grounds were. More details tomorrow.

Toodle pip.   ilona

Another letter

Good morning. 

Bank Holiday Saturday and it's predicted to be a scorcher. Yesterday was hot. I have to remember to keep drinking, lots of water. 

I copy a letter I received recently, from NHS England. Only it's not from the NHS it's from Capita PLC. The company who has the contract to deal with, and store, all NHS records. Capita is the same company where all the letters for TV Licensing come from. 

I was puzzled. Why are they asking for confirmation of my details when they have been on my medical records from the moment I popped out into this world. I have moved house a few times, and my records have always followed me. Why are they asking me now? I made this video.

If you want to check out Capita here is the link to their web site. Or, if you want more details from external sources, Wiki do a good job of exposing their not so perfect business activities. 

I see this letter as a threat. If I do not reply within 30 days, they will start the process of removing me from my GP's practice list. What if I am ill at any point in my life, will they refuse any treatment? 

A very similar situation to, if you do not roll your sleeve up and take the jabbby in your arm you will be locked out of most of the social activities like pubs, restaurants, theaters and cinemas and such like. Well that didn't work did it. 

The new Data Centres planned for this country, and throughout the world, will be bursting at the seams with every bit of information about all aspects of our lives. We are all paying for the loss of all our freedoms through Government taxes. 

My video was published yesterday and I have had an email response to it. The subscriber is concerned that they might have acted in haste by responding to their letter. This highlights the fact that people are not doing enough research into matters which might have dire consequences. People are busy, they don't have time. This is what the Globalists want. Hurry up, they impose time limits on instructions on what to do next. 

 These are my thoughts. I have been to my doctors surgery, spoken to the receptionist, and as I expected she didn't have any answers for me. I will wait and see what happens next. You must do what is right for you. 

It's a nice day, I will go outside. 

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

Are the hedgehogs coming tonight?

I have been sitting outside waiting for the hedgehogs to appear. Mickey decided to join me. 

It was starting to get dark and one arrived and went straight to a water bowl. 

Mayze is up at the summer house. I put a carpet down for her. 

This is the solar ornament which my crafty club pals gave me for my birthday. 

More hedgehogs came but it was getting too dark to take any more photo's. When I came in to write this post there were four on the lawn. I can walk around them and they don't seem to bother. Now I will get Mayze in. Oscar might stay out all night, but Mayze and Mickey like to be in. 

Catch ya tomorrow. Toodle pip.   ilona

How to clean up Westminster

 Clean Up Westminster

Sponsored · Paid for by Clean Up Westminster

 ·

Have you spotted our clean graffiti in Westminster?

We are literally cleaning up Westminster!

We need to take big money out of politics. So we took this message straight to the heart of government.

For too long, huge political donations have bought influence.

It’s time to wash the dirty money out of our democracy

I can't copy the video straight onto here. Try this link to Linkedin.

TESTED. It works.

A good idea.

ilona

Kier is in charge.

 Our current Prime Minister has a Substack Account. 

He sets out his plans for the summer holiday. 

I copy and paste some of his words here. You can read the whole article if you so wish. 

We are acting – quickly, clearly, which people can feel in their daily lives – to help families with the cost of living and to protect them from pressures they did nothing to cause.

We have a new package of support over the summer holidays to give parents a bit of breathing room.

We are taking action on the cost of food. Through targeted tariff cuts on products like bakery goods, chocolate, pasta and nuts, we are aiming to ease pressure at the checkout.

We are committing to tougher measures to crack down on unjustified price hikes.

We are taking action to restore pride in our high streets, including clamping down on criminal fronts and money laundering operations.

We are also backing the businesses that keep the country moving.

Alongside our work to fix the NHS, these measures are part of a broader plan: to ease the pressures people feel every single day and to rebuild the foundations of a stronger, more secure country.

A government on your side

This government will always stand by working families. And we will continue to build a stronger, fairer Britain in their interests.

This government will act where we can make a difference. We will step in where pressures build. We will protect people from unfair costs and ensure that support reaches those who need it.

That's it then, Kier will sort it out. 

Believe what you like. 

Toodle pip.   ilona

Waking up

I was awake at 4.30am this morning. Stumble to the bathroom half asleep. There is a warm orange glow coming through the window. Oh WOW, I know what that is, I need to get the camera. I took ten photo's, here are the best of them. 

Zoom in a bit closer. Tweak the contrast and saturation. Fabulous. 

The previous owners put the right glass in this window. 

The view from the window at the top of the stairs. The world is waking up. Here it comes. Are you ready. 

Then back to bed for a couple of hours. 

Glorious start to the day.

Catch ya later. Toodle pip.   ilona