Cycling Celeste- The Famous Five go cycling in Cambridge- or not?

I've not cycled as much I wanted to this summer. For various reasons I only went out cycling in the holidays around 5 times. The most epic of expeditions was the day we cycled the 53 miles or so from Brentwood, Essex to Jesus Green in Cambridge. This was supposed to be five of us (hence the blog title), a sort of swan song (or swan cycle) for CBC's flatmate who was moving back to S.A. However, for various reasons, it ended up just being CBC and I.

The weather was fortuitous- it was sunny but not too boiling. CBC and I set off around 10.45ish. I was dressed in my brand new cycling top. I have ummed and ahhed about whether to buy a proper cycling top for a while- they seemed very expensive and not particularly flattering. However, when the 2 tops I had liked in Cycle Surgery, when buying Celeste, appeared in the cycle surgery sale for less than half price, it seemed rude not to! I am a convert- they keep ou cool and covered! Voila- we have a Peal Izumi striped cycling top (and cheapy padded shorts plus modesty preserver in the form of polka dot shorts over the top! Can't quite bring myself to show my bottom encased in cycling shorts yet- after all- I don't want to share drivers or distract them! (plus usual uniform of spotty Converse and sunglasses) For any cycling lovers but hill haters, this route was particularly good as the majority of it is flat and there are some pretty places to visit plus wide open plains to enjoy!
The first exciting place of interest was the old Ongar tube station (used to be the Terminus of the Central line which now ends at Epping.). I've never seen it before and it was an interesting place to see. You feel immediately like you are back in a bygone era, a feeling the preservers of the site are keen to encourage- hence the pile of suitcases. In addition, there is some crazy household situated just next to the station which has an eccentric collection of memorabilia - weird, creepy-looking mannequins, a TARDIS and a dalek in their garden. AND several really scary looking signs saying something like, Trespassers will be killed or killer dogs on site with the latter dogs lurking in the garden. Any of you vintage fashionistas, landgirls or vixens should consider this as a photoshoot location!

The ride continued for another 10-15 miles or so. Our eventual aim was the Jesus Green lido so we could swim as our reward so I was keen to continue without stoppage, however, a small break was needed to drink some water (have I mentioned I can barely take my hands of the handlebars- gripping on for dear life being an understatement). We stopped at the Doctor's pond in Great Dunmow. This a fascinating place. It is known as this for various reasons suspected and fascinating reasons. Number one, because medicinal leeches were bred in the pond for the doctors' house located opposite. Secondly, maybe because a Doctor Rayner, residing in the town around the eighteenth century looked after and stocked the pond with plenty of fish. Finally, and most interestingly, a certain Lionel Lukin (1742-1834), bred in the town, was famous because of his invention, the non-sinkable lifeboat and the lake was the location for trying out the models (Source of reminders: BBC Essex website.)

As we arrived, 3 avid-looking children were fishing there, one of whom pulled out a bright orange koi-carp which they photographed and put back in. In the time we rested, ate a mule bar and a bit of energy gel (shudder), they caught several other, less vivid successors. They took this photo! As you can see, the sky was gloriously blue and my cheeks were feeling rather hot!

Continuing onwards, having called CBC's other flatmate, who was doing work but needed a lunch break, we rode onto the wonderful village of Thaxted. The location of a lovely music festival, the home of Dick Turpin and containing many wonderfully picturesque buildings), we stopped for lunch at the famous Poppy's tearoom. CBC has long raved on about this to me! Any Essex-types, it's worth a visit. They have an extensive range of teas including their own blend, wonderful cake and sandwiches. The flatmate met us there. I enjoyed a chocolate ice-cream milkshake, wonderful toasted sandwich, some cake and a fragrant tea blend, feeling somewhat bedraggled..

The thought of having to STILL cycle another 23 miles or so seemed utterly daunting but I don't like giving up. I almost almost asked N to give us a lift back in his spacious car but resisted!

I don't deny, the next 23 miles or so were HARD! It was getting late, we weren't sure what time Jesus Green lido would close on a Sunday, and the thought that it might be shut when we got there was too painful to bear. I gritted my teeth and continued, PEDAL, PEDAL, PEDAL.

Saffron Walden, another wonderful place, contained the only real proper hill on our journey (a mere pussy-cat by Northumberland standards) but I had a meltdown moment at the bottom of the hill where I stopped and cried! CBC stopped and hugged me better. I vanquished that hill subsequently. The final hike into Cambridge was lovely and flat and scenic although there were a couple of nasty A-roads that we had to cycle along to reach Cambridge.

I should point out at this point, that CBC told me beforehand, that the journey was 50miles, so when it transpired the bike computer was registering more than 50 miles, I felt somewhat cheated.

As we rode through Cambridge suburbs, a constant ostinato in my mind was, "Gotta get to Jesus Green". Alas, what if it wasn't open?????

At long last, passing along a parkland-flanked road, the way to Jesus Green was nigh. Manic pedalling along the canal path, we were there!

Asking at the office, they said we had ONE HOUR OF SWIM TIME!!!! The time was 6.30pm!!!!!

The sun was well and truly getting lower, so the lido was GLACIAL, but a wonderful reward.

The pool is very long and thin- one of the longest in Europe I believe and it is historic, having been open since 1923. We didn't stay in that long-CBC tends to turn blue if in cold water for too long but it was SUCH a feeling of triumph!!!

Fresh clothes to wear, transported in CBC's pannier, wet hair and a pub-dinner to look forward to.

The ride to the main street to find a pub was painful to say the least- my saddle felt rockhard on my saddle-sore behind as was the mile or so ride back to Cambridge station! We took the All-stations, calls at every blooming station in the known universe train back to Stratford, having just missed the Liverpool street train but eventually we returned home. Only problem was, the time being 11pm, utterly exhausted, having left CBC on a train back to Brentwood, I discovered I had forgotten my front door key...

A tiring but otherwise rewarding ride!

When I'm supposed to be tidying, I can be found crafting....Part 2

A week ago or so I posted pictures of cards I made during the summer holiday that involved some recycling. I got soo sick of uploading slow photos, I decided to do it in 2 batches, so here are the other half of those I made. Click on them to view a larger image to see the detail! Trouble is, now I'm back at school, all I want to do is make cards but unfortunately have to mark, plan, practice, assess!!!!

Come on half-term, roll on!!! Oh the lovely pink wallpaper! This design was based on one I saw in a craft-magazine- except it was made using expensive materials. The recycled elements are the patterned paper part of the flowers (Whitestuff invoice) and a bit of chiffon ribbon from a present.

Another part of the HAT inspired range, I decided to make a card using the same ideas but incorporating 2 hats. The side bits and the background were some scraps of wallpaper left from my craft at church holiday mission (Oyster card covers!), pink wallpaper was scraps and the patterned is a paper bag.. I like this one best!

Not so keen on this now- the black hat was made from the middle folded black card cut from the large hats card, it was supposed to stick out (pop up style) but it just looks like it got creased!

Ditto this one. Not so keen.

The inside looks prettier in real life though...

This was the first of 4 cards I made out of the back-page of an old Cath Kidston catalogue- why waste a pretty magazine. I cunningly matched the foam flowers to the colours- these have been kicking around since my first year of 'craft card-making' some 7 years ago

I bought a wonderful steel stencil in Re in Corbridge which means I can use a craft knife with it- I used more Cath catalogue to make (it has a contrasting baby pink inside)

Here was the scrap of Cath catalogue I used to punch the butterflies in the last card. Waste not, want not... (more pink linings- rather like giving my cards a pink petticoat!)

....AHa! Do you spy where I found these Cath letters from- Yep, they're the negative from the previous card- plus some thin strips! (more pink petticoat linings)

Oh look- you can look at my card's petticoats!

CBC bought me a lovely origami book from Re in Corbridge and I used the idea in it to make my first origami windmill (it turns!) I sent this to WOMOTM!

Do you recognise this pattened card? Yep, it's the left-overs from the Tea-bag box!

As are these- I liked my patterned teapit and mug so much,I had to make more!

More recycling! Coffee pouch...

Here we have a FAIRY CAKE CARD (Is that name ok Alex Odd socks and pretty frocks????!!!)

:-)

My final card of the holiday was this girly one combining more paper concertina-ing- using up scraps that were kicking around the table (the pink frame is velvety and was part of a nice cosmetic gift-set packaging! I like this one even though it's very scruffy, just for the little hair bow!

So, whatdya think??? Mean jibes, constructive criticism and lavish admiration always welcome!!

To the land of the North part 3

Hello!
As the weather turns, reminding myself of the summer brings a happy thoughts to my mind and shuts out the gloom at the thought of what seems like interminable darkness when it arrives!
I've had this post half written for absolutely ages but some of the photos were on CBC's computer and I finally got around to transferring them! I just thought I'd share some final shots and adventures from Northumbrian adventures.

Here below, we have evidence of the painstaking time taken over menus...

Happy shots with trees where CBC and I are both smiling!

and again!

CBC spied these funky flowerpot men when we went for a walk towards Haltwhistle burn!

If you want a gentle lovely walk, the walk up Haltwhistle burn is pretty, easy and enjoyable. The weather was gorgeous one of the mornings we spent in Halty! There are some lovely places to see along the route.

We took what we thought would be a great detour to find red-squirrels! Apparently, there are some near the burn, but it led to a field unfortunately. I was soo tempted to paddle in the burn! CBC despairs of my fascination with paddling in water!There are some extraordinary rock faces along the burn. A geology lesson on hte go! So many of the rocks look like faces. How many can you see?The walk ended all too soon as we had to get to Hexham. I could have continued for hours. I adore just walking walking walking, lost in my own thoughts. The wild flowers were lovely although sadly unsupplemented by red squirrels to chat to. We spent several occasions at the swimming pool and I saw the Hexham gaol on our way down once- what an interesting building it is!

Here I model one of my new hats bought in Hexham charity shop, adorned with silk scarf bought from the same shop! I really like it! It reminds me of this lovely hat I saw this girl wearing at the Chap Olympiad in 2010- I felt like I stalked this girl I loved her Agatha Christie 1920's style outfit so much!

We recklessly volunteered to cook Sunday dinner for some friends who were coming round to bring us Tiramasus. We prepared tomato, mozarella and basil for starters (above) which we've made for starters on several occasions- never fails to impress! Then there was roast beef with yorkshires, 5 types of veg and er- radish and goat's yoghurt sauce

Another fun activity was playing music. J had found some great trios for flute, cello and piano which she, CBC and I practised together and played to friends whose daughter is getting married- we were showing them what we could play for the reception! One thing CBC and of CBC's siblings do is constantly play the piano when it's time to go out!!!

One silly activity we partook in was spotting ridiculous lorry loads (the A1 and M1 are great for this! Honestly, look at these- there was straw flying everywhere. If only I'd managed to get a photo of the enormous shed/building that was precariously balanced on one HGV!!!

When we departed back to the south, we left some rather unruly monkeys in charge of the house- they left all sorts of notes around for WOMOTM to find and got up to all sorts of naughty antics! Reading poetry on the loo- tut tut!!!

Thank goodness for memories and daydreams! They take us away from the place we are in and can take us anywhere we so choose!

ICs, lovely restaurant, delicious food, an insight into my food-psychy, food wars and a partridge in a pear tree...

Hello! What a lovely day it has been! For the past 2 days, I have shivered on my way to school, dressed in summer clothes, yet it has turned out well every time! I shall continue- perhaps you have me to thank for lovely East Anglian weather.

Firstly, thankyou for recent loveliness regarding my cards. It is really encouraging to receive such positive feedback, but don't hold back on the constructive criticism too!

Secondly, thank you for well wishes for WOMOTM. He's doing fine (he commented on the post where I mentioned his heart attack to update you all) and is happily ensconced in his recovery programme, involving walking lots of miles each day. He's going to climb a mountain in the lakes soon!

Thirdly, I'd like to invite you to visit Pink-haired Princess at The shoe girl diaries who is celebrating Irregular choice month. She is only wearing ICs for the month and every Friday she is featuring other people's ICs. I sent her my pics of my first pair, bought last week, which she posted. She has the most amazing shoe collection. You can also see Dino Princess Char's amazing shoes!

I'm so happy with these new shoes. I think ICs are really funky but many are just too high (and too expensive) for me to justify so I was really pleased to find these in Schuh in my size. I love the fact they are odd shoes. I was the girl who used to put my shoes on the wrong feet, jumper inside-out and back-to-front, skirt inside out as a child, so these make me think of that!
They are true to size- a UK size 8 really is that, comfy and fun. I walked around in them happily.

It seemed a perfect opportunity to wear them on Saturday night to go to a friend's 30th at The Larder in Clerkenwell.

The food was pretty cool. I have to confess something. I have a hearty appetite for a girl and I really like large portions. If I go to a restaurant and get a small portion, I will sulk. You may not know it if you are with me, but I guarantee I am scowling on the inside (only in restaurants. Don't mind at home or at anyone else's). CBC has cottoned onto this and now teases me about food envy. I will look at your dinner and sulk if yours is bigger than mine. It sounds awful, but I can't seem to stop myself, I don't mean to sound ungrateful, but I like food! Anyway, this translates into painstaking decision-making in a restaurant. It takes me a while and I will change my mind last minute. I drive CBC insane with this. Anyway, it has become a bit of a game/battle now seeing whose decision between him and I, results in the best dish- in terms of quantity and niceness we have a score.

Dinner at The Larder
Act 1:

CBC chooses squid. Score. Delicious, lovely sauces, hearty portions
I choose Halloumi with Greek salad....

He wins, hence the expression. I might have a mountain of lettuce, but there's 2 small lumps of halloumi and 2 olives. It was tasty though.

1-o to CBC

Act 2:

Lamb with spiced aubergine and tsatziki versus...

Duck terrine with Asian greens...

Mwah ha ha! Portion size goes to me, lovely taste to me, appearance to me, lots of coriander= bonus points.

1-1

Special mention for delicious veggies we both had which the birthday boy thought it a good idea to order. Yum!

Act 3:

Victory to any party avoided in the dessert stakes by the arrival of the birthday boy's cake, made by fellow party-invitee. Death my chocolate cake. (had massive shards of chocolate in it which is not in the photo).

Final result: 1 All.

The Larder is a nice location- quirky decor (it seemed a bit like a 'choose your own decadent wallpaper wall)

Interesting spoon display and there were fun lampshades.

Portion size was generous. Waiters friendly and helpful. Location- not too far from Farringdon. Nice area.

We then went on to a Karaoke booth nearer to Smithfield market. I might be a musician but I really really don't know many pop-songs!!!! I sang along from the sofa to several numbers (as CBC sang S Club 7!!!!!) but took the microphone for 'Somebody to Love' (Queen) which I vaguely knew thanks to Anne Hathaway (anyone who can guess the link may earn themselves a little prize- let me know below!) although several others boomed with me so I avoided any exposure.

My ICs held up, no injuries or complaints. Simply perfect! I teamed them with a Pearl Lowe dress, ASOS heritage jacket, R.I Butterfly belt and vintage crystal necklace. We were late to the Karaoke because I wanted CBC to take a picture of my shoes!! OOPS!!

....and distracted people with them the next day!!!

It was a great escape from the trials of the beginning of term!

New shoes, food, singing and good company. What more could a girl want???