Morecambe

Barrow Pie and Mushies

I came across a photo blog today that I found interesting, Pie and Mushies. Barrow is the largest town on Morecambe Bay and although it's not far, as the crow flies, from Morecambe, it's a long drive around of about fifty miles. Every now and again there is talk of building a bridge across but even with my limited technical knowledge I would imagine the cost of a twelve mile bridge to be astronomical. Pie and Mushies has an interesting photo of a somewhat smaller bridge, the High Bridge on Michaelson road, connecting Barrow Island to the town centre.

Hornsea Pottery Rare Breeds

  Years ago I worked at Hornsea Pottery in Lancaster, when it was an actual pottery and leisure park. The pottery has gone but the site is still a leisure site and antiques market. At the time I worked there I was into patchwork quilting and when we were all made redundant and most things were being stripped out I must have salvaged a box of "rare breeds" leaflets to use as patchwork papers. They have lain in the attic for all these years, forgotten about until now. I was very strong with myself and have put them in to the paper recycling box - I never did finish my patchwork quilt and I don't see myself getting time to do so anytime soon. I realise that all this hanging on to things is a type of fantasy. An imagined "maybe one day" world where I will have time to read all those books, paint all those pictures, sew all those quilts, stitch all that cross stitch and knit all those jumpers. I reasoned with myself that if I ever did have a need for some patchwork papers there will be plenty of paper about and why risk using some that might transfer ink. If you want to read the leaflet in more detail (fellow Hornsea Potters, you know you want to) click the images.

The decluttering continues, but the end is in sight.

De-cluttering the attic

I've been de-cluttering the attic again and have posted an entry about it over on Knitting By The Sea. I don't think two skips will be enough. A part "before" picture with things pulled out and piled up in the process of purging. This is just a fraction of the space. Coming soon, a glorious "after" picture.

In this one you can just make out the opening revealed in the second false wall, scary stuff as the space runs the entire width of the house. They are a bit blurry as my camera packed in and I had to deploy my camera phone.

Morecambe regeneration video

I came across a video promoting the regeneration of Morecambe. It's a bit long (18 minutes) but very interesting and includes The Midland Hotel, of course, The Winter gardens, The West End and various shots around Morecambe. Heysham High even got a look in and the new sweet shop on the prom. I haven't been in the shop yet even though it's been open for a while, I must visit it soon.

Villa Mirabilia

There were a few thumping noises coming from the attic this morning. I knew it would be the cat blundering about like a hippo and went up to see what she had knocked over. She had been clattering about in a corner and on tidying up I found this, that has been patiently waiting to be framed for years and years. If anyone happens to wander by this blog and can recommend a framer either on-line or in the Morecambe and surrounding area I would be very grateful. 

BookChair

Little Cotton Rabbits and some stunning crayons

Little Cotton Rabbits is my blog of the day. Where to start? The stunning knitted cupcake gallery or the Free patterns page?. I've been writing about the knitting projects over on Knitting By The Sea but the project on making your own crayon shapes was more suited for here. The photo's made me want to scour the house for old crayons to bake and chill into wonderful shapes but that would mean venturing into places I'd rather not examine. My daughter has an extensive "old pens" collection, possibly running into the thousands, which no doubt will contain a few hundred old crayons, but I don't want to confront the collection and start giving out lectures on clutter and hoarding. It's her hoard, let her store it.

Knitting By The Sea

I've been posting over at Knitting By The Sea and completely forgot to move my web rings. I actually designed the knitted flag button for The UK Knitters webring and I've been a member of some rings since their early days but I realise that I will probably be booted from the webrings because this site no longer has much about knitting. Hey ho, a lesson learned.

Morecambe's new Beach

Dave and Edith Brown of wainwright wanderings have taken some good photo's of the impromptu beach that forms on Morecambe promenade since tons and tons of sand (or should we say tonnes now) were brought in and put onto the beaches as part of the coastal defence scheme. There are some very detailed photos on the Abpmer site, you can even look under a boulder to check on the habitat or admire a panoramic view from various locations along the promenade.

Clicking these photo's, which I shamelessly borrowed from Dave and Edith, will enlarge them.

Morecambe Winter Gardens

The Winter Gardens at Morecambe were the subject of two episodes on Living channels "Most Haunted". Apparently the Winter Gardens has a good side and an evil side. You can see them scaring themselves silly on this you tube video.

If you'd prefer a more gentle tour of the Winter Gardens, there is a non paranormal slide show here, Winter Gardens Virtual Tour.

I was fortunate to see a few shows and musicals at The Winter Gardens during my childhood. I admit that I fell asleep towards the end of Half a Sixpence, but I was only little and it seemed to go on for ever. I saw one of the last variety shows. According to "The Most Haunted" programme I sat in a fairly haunted spot. Maybe that's why I stayed awake that time.