We have spent the week trailing through charity shops, searching for picture frames. Amazing how cheap they are, we just have to ignore the jaded looks from the shop assistant as we march off proudly with a basket of flowers or some ancient daub of a countryside view. The beautiful gilt frames cost as little as £5… then John works his magic and gives an old frame a new view. Did like this picture, of the white horses  in the waves….put it in the bathroom.

For the first time ever, I visited a car boot sale this morning….amazing. It was down in the basement of a giant car park, and at first I was appalled at all the junk, and nasty cheap clothes lying in heaps. Reminded me of long ago church jumble sales. My granny bought me a quilt for my dolly’s pram. It was blue with pink rosebuds and must have cost her fourpence ha’penny.

The up-market charity shops have done wonders for the second hand donations, and I do love browsing…but today I had my eyes opened. There was a real sense of purpose, and people came with their shopping bags on wheels, intent on buying big, and Indian families were buying old dinner sets, and cardigans, toys and old shoes. I suppose I fitted right in. There was a portrait of the Queen (when she was about 24) which I was coveting…passers by watched me with interest as I hummed and ha’d and looked at her this way and that, not suspecting I was actually admiring her gold surround! I did love the King’s Speech which we saw this week, felt quite choked. (just a passing reference to royalty.)

Did fall in love with a figurine…the lady wanted £40 which I thought was a bit steep…and after looking at it twice, I walked away…but regretfully. She was exquisite, wearing a gown painted with red hibiscus and holding a teddy bear behind her back.

I was quite amazed to hear on the Antiques Road Show about a lady who was passionate about Agatha Christie. She was so enthused when she heard there was to be an auction of the author’s things,  she got her telephone and bid for a trunk (unseen), and paid £100 for it. Imagine her surprise when she opened it and found another locked box inside. She got that open eventually, and found a diamond ring, a brooch and 37 golden sovereigns…worth over £10,000! Oh the stuff of romance!

Above are random shots, John looking wistfully at the rain in John Lewis, and left is from Advocates Close on the Royal Mile.

I have been knitting with a passion, have two jumpers on the go, and the evenings remind me of days gone by in Glenelg, when the rain and snow did their worst, and yet all was cosy inside, and the click clack of the needles kept time with the TV programmes. Yesterday we were supposed to go walking with our walking group, and it was to be quite a hike up into the Pentlands, scaling about 4 peaks and coming down past two reservoirs, but to no avail. The rain lashed, the trees bent over double in the gales, and I knitted with a fury. Bliss. Wonderful wool, all in a confusion of colours which just grows like a rainbow. Hopefully I will have them done before spring is sprung.

Today is Nick’s birthday, can it really be 32 years? I am making him teriyaki chicken and the most sinful chocolate cake. I got the recipe from one of my ‘French mums’ back in Hanoi days. Then I shall watch the final of the snooker…a contest between Mr Ding and Mr Fu. Click click, knit one purl one and we are off into a new week! The mountains can wait!