The Queen’s Green Canopy: 2022

We used to have a Waitrose Shop near us, medium size with a nice cafe. Then it became one of the ones that John Lewis decided to close. I really miss it. It sold the cheapest, and best, cat litter. Our nearest now is 26 miles away, even good cat litter isn’t worth travelling that far for.

When we went to the National Memorial Arboretum we passed Waitrose at Lichfield. It looked quite big so decided we would go there on the way back. I bought the last three bags of cat litter on the shelf, a 16-pack of toilet rolls from the ‘essential’ range, cheap but better than any ‘cheap’ ones other supermarkets sell. We gathered a whole load of stuff we forgot we missed, including crayfish. As we checked we hadn’t missed anything else, I saw a few tea towels scattered on a shelf. Half price. This was turning out to be a good day.

I’ve already talked about collecting tea towels associated with the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and here was one. I love an infographic tea towel, all those fascinating snippets about trees. I’m so glad we called in at Waitrose Lichfield, the cat was pleased with her litter and me with the tea towel.

National Memorial Arboretum: 2022

It was 2015 when we last went to the National Memorial Arboretum. I knew there would be a lot of changes so I did want to go back. Every time we thought about it, something else came up. A couple of weeks ago we decided, come what may, we’d be going. And it was worth it!

The Visitors Centre had changed, relocated I think, the shop had changed, the cafe had changed and an extra one added, there were new memorials and some had been relocated. Best of all was the little train ride around the site. Can’t remember if it was there last time but we certainly didn’t go on it. You could get a better idea about the layout of the site and know which bits you wanted to target. They were very careful about the train with separated compartments for different families and a lot of air blowing through. They realised that a lot of people who visit may be older or clinically vulnerable; it wasn’t a case of saying ‘the pandemic is over’. The other remarkable thing was the ‘bank’ of scooters, big and small, wheelchairs etc for use by visitors. It is a big site.

We did it all. Started with the cafe (and toilets), preliminary look at the shop, talked to one of the very helpful volunteers and went on the train. We wanted to visit the Christmas Truce Memorial, when British and German soldiers stopped fighting on Christmas Day 1914 to play a game of football. We headed off there because it was the furthest point for us. The Trefoil Guild was quite special for us since Liz’s aunts were all members. I liked the Townswomen’s Guild one, unusual and the big change has been a recognition of smaller groups that were behind the men and women fighting. The Falklands Memorial was lovely. It’s a good job there are a lot of benches, to sit and ponder, remember what you were doing when the Falklands War started.

Liz’s favourite was the Navy Memorial, sheets of coloured glass, standing on its own, with a lone figure bowed-head. The Burma Railway is very moving with 30 metres of the original rails and sleepers brought back from Thailand in 2002, commemorating those forced to construct the infamous ‘Railway of Death’. The Polar Bear Memorial was the first to be erected, tribute to the 49th Infantry West Riding Division who were stationed in Iceland during the Second World War. The RNLI Memorial is so apt, a landscaped pebble, shingle and sandy beach. You can’t help thinking about the criticism they have had recently for rescuing refugees crossing the Channel. ‘Shot at Dawn’ recognises those service men during the WWI who were shot for desertion when actually they were suffering from PTSS or combat stress reaction. Some of the memorials are just small plaques but others are some really beautiful sculptures like the Polish memorial and the one with a paratrooper pulling his gear up a hill.

We spent all day there. I had hoped that there would be a tea towel specifically for the National Memorial Arboretum, with its name on it, but there wasn’t, just a ‘poppy’ one, folded up so you couldn’t see the design. I wasn’t sure. There is often a similarity to poppy ones. Would it meet the strict requirements of #GuinnessWorldRecord, if I had to resubmit the collection? Sod it I thought, get it. I shouldn’t have worried. It is beautiful and I love it.

I won’t wait seven years to return next time because there is so much more to see. I’ll go back.

Yorkshire Sculpture Park: 2022

Pack of two from Yorkshire Sculpture Park (YSP), designed exclusively by Janine Burrows.

For a long time, I’ve been wanting to visit YSP, the idea of seeing large sculptures in the open landscape seems ideal, space to be viewed close up, from a distance, from different angles with different backgrounds is living art to me. You can walk for long distances without coming upon a sculpture and then suddenly one, maybe two, show themselves, almost jumping out from behind the trees.

YSP was opened in 1977, 45 years ago, within the 500 acre 18th century Bretton Hall estate. You set off from the Visitors Centre, taking any path and see what you discover. I know this way you may miss something but this is a place to come back to, time and time again.

Our first ‘find’ was Barbara Hepworth’s ‘The Family of Man’ in its entirety, on the sloping green grasses over-hung by trees. Designed in 1970, it is one of Hepworth’s last works. It consists of nine sculptures, each representing a stage of life. It has been on display since 1980, five years after her death. Hepworth always said she wanted ‘The Family of Man’ to be displayed outdoors on a permanent site in Yorkshire. Spread over a wide area it is intriguing to wander between the pieces, looking at both their similarities and differences, as are all family members. Looking down on the pieces is transfixing, but go below to look up at them and it seems like a completely different installation.

If you like Henry Moore’s work, there is plenty to see on the sloping upward hill, this time in the open, no trees to frame them, giants in the landscape. One of my favourite displays was by Dennis Oppenheimer called ‘Trees: From Alternative Landscape Components’, tubular metal trees with branches stretching out and on the end of each branch are everyday objects welded: dog kennels, baths, toilets, dustbins and their lids and so much more. From a distance they are beautifully creative, up close they can just make you laugh and be happy.

There are temporary exhibitions. When I went, there was a Robert Indiana one which lasts until 8 January 2023, based on the word LOVE, huge pieces of work. Another by Damien Hirst, with a number of gigantic pieces, stunning in their detail which lasts until 31 May 2023. I’m not knowledgeable about sculpture but as Liz and I walked alongside the lake we saw these huge statues of women, turned to each other and said “Must be Damien Hirst”. We were right.

The lake is home to a lot of geese, lovely to walk amongst them. This is where we saw the first bird with Avian Flu, a shocking sight.

Indoors is an exhibition called ‘Table to Tide: A Yorkshire Conversation’ commemorated by my two beautiful tea towels. YSP was even better than I had ever imagined and certainly a place I would visit again and again.

Leaping Hare and the Pheasant: 2022

I bought these two tea towels at Yorkshire Sculpture Park earlier this year. They are made by Folded Forest and are screenprinted, 100% unbleached cotton. The confusing part about Yorkshire Sculpture Park is that there are two shops, a long distance from each other. As you go in the main entrance, near to the cafe, is the first one. We popped in before starting the walk and saw a couple of tea towels I might want to buy as we left. You don’t want to be carrying your shopping around the park with you.

Walking on, past some geese, one of which looked as though they were affected by Avian Flu, we followed the signs, past some Damien Hirst sculptures, until we reached the restaurant where we had decided to eat. Ooooh, there was another shop, couldn’t resist a peek. And here were some Folded Forest tea towels. I was so struck by the vibrant yellow of ‘The Pheasant’, a landscape design, not frequent in tea towels. I was just about to buy it when I saw ‘Leaping Hare’ in an unusual blue. Should I buy that instead? Liz foolishly said “Buy both” and so I did.

My only regret is that there are another four in this series, I’ve seen them on the website, but they weren’t in the shop. That’ll be a pleasure for another day.

Odds and Sods: 2022

A few days ago, when I talked about the problem I had blogging about tea towels without a back-story, these are a good example. I bought them both at Martinmere Wetlands Centre. They don’t represent Martinmere, because it has its own one. Obviously, Martinmere isn’t on the coast so seabirds aren’t necessarily appropriate. BUT, I liked them.

I do love the coastal birds one, a lovely design and the ‘Bugs and Insects’ one is so colourful, bright and cheerful I had to have them both. The thing that strikes me about the butterflies is the way tea towel design has moved on. I have several butterfly ones, illustrating different sorts but the colours are muted, you’d never spot them in a field.

No memories, just an appreciation of the design, a joy to wipe up with.

Wollaton: 2022

Wollaton Hall and parklands is on my doorstep. The Hall sits on the highest point in the grounds and can be seen from miles around. It is the perfect subject for a photo. It was my saviour during the Pandemic Lockdowns. Beautiful walks around the lake, through the bluebell woods, around the rhododendrons, across the grasslands where the deer roam. Seeing it through the seasons is a delight, ducklings and goslings, the arrival of the Egyptian Geese, the heronry weighed down with a mass of huge birds, and their very large ‘babies’. You can also listen to the parakeets in the trees, each time wondering how they came to be there.

Last summer I went into the Hall with Hamish, Liz’s grandson, to see the Tyrannosaurus Exhibition, for me that would have been a childhood dream. Pete, Liz and I saw Macbeth in the open air theatre. Liz and I saw Jungle Book in the open air cinema and we nearly booked a ‘light show’. We often walk up to the formal gardens, this year planted to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee, to admire the Camellia House, watch deer walk across the golf course to interrupt play.

There is a shop, selling an array of souvenirs, including tea towels. In 2018, on my first trip there I bought a classic, but not colourful, tea towel, akin to the current National Trust style but in grey and white. After that I’d seen some stags and owls but I’ve always thought Wollaton Hall is deserving of a truly beautiful tea towel, akin to the Stephen Millership style. I call in every time I’m there but nothing. I hadn’t given up hope.

In July this year, Hilary, someone I met through the creative writing class I joined, invited Pete, Liz and I to join a few of her friends on a walk round the lake to raise money for Nottinghamshire Hospice. It was a beautiful day, very hot, the water level in the lake was low, there were deer stood up to their hocks in water, munching on greenery. Delightful. After the walk we had a picnic in the park, and, of course, I popped into the shop. And there it was, this lovely tea towel, just what Wollaton Hall was deserving of. And I bought it.

A tea towel to remember the day I shared with Hilary, her friends and the stag in the water.

Queen Bee of the Kitchen: 2022

Liz has dodgy skin. She uses soaps, shampoo and skin cream made from beeswax. It has certainly offered her skin so much more than any cream prescribed by the GP. She buys the products online. The latest box arrived on 8 July 2022. I thought she was taking a while to check the contents, then she said “Come and see this”. I wasn’t sure soap was going to be that exciting to look at. However, when she handed me a small package, I thought “That looks like a tea towel”. And, by goodness, it was. Three beautiful, brilliant white tea towels, two towelling and one cotton, decorated with bees. I couldn’t believe she would secretly buy me three tea towels. They looked beautiful hanging side by side on the washing line. What a surprise.

Thank you Liz.

Canals and Inland Waterways: 2022

On 22 September 2020, Liz, Pete and I went for a walk along the Chesterfield Canal, starting at Tapton Lock, walking to Hollingwood Hub and back. I loved it. It was a beautiful walk, interesting bridges and a couple of locks. Lot of people walking their dogs, jogging along but never feeling crowded. It was early into the ‘opening up’ after first Lockdown, and we found the shop at Hollingwood Hub was open. It was the first ‘non-essential’ shop we’d been in. Two tea towels bought. So exciting. I always said that I’d really like to walk the canal again. We didn’t make it in 2021 so were determined for 2022.

A lot had changed over those two years. On our first walk, Liz was using a Tramper obtained from the Tapton Lock Visitor Centre. Since then she has been able to walk with a rollator. Why not start at Hollingwood Hub this time, walking in the opposite direction? So that’s what we did.

This time the weather had been shockingly hot, no rain for sometime so the locks weren’t able to be working, not enough water. This time we parked in the car park but fortunately noted that it closed at 4pm, regardless of whether there were any cars parked in there. By the time we reached Tapton Lock, Liz knew she wouldn’t make it back to Hollingwood Hub by 4pm. We agreed that Pete would return to fetch the car and Liz and I would continuing walking towards Chesterfield, beyond Tapton Lock. By goodness, Pete was quick.

And to the tea towels. Bought in the shop at Hollingwood Hub. There was a big range of tea towels. What would I chose? When you discard the two I bought in 2020, two I’d already bought at the Anderson Lift, one at Beeston Cut, there were only two for me to choose from. So I bought them both!!

It was a great day out and we decided we wouldn’t leave it so long next time. And maybe take a boat trip.

Pets’ Corner Harlow: 2022

It had been a long time since I’d met up with my Aunt Catherine, Amanda (her daughter) and Wade (son-in-law). The previous occasion was for a picnic in the grounds of Anglesey Abbey in August 2021. This time we decided to meet up for a meal at a restaurant, halfway between Harlow and Nottingham. If we’d been sensible we would have postponed it because driving some distance on one of the hottest days of the year was not necessarily a good idea. And they were driving in a car without air conditioning. After such a journey you probably don’t feel like eating very much.

There was one other problem, whether to eat outdoors or indoors? I haven’t eaten in a restaurant since before the Pandemic began, but outside a lot. Amanda, Catherine and Wade do eat indoors. Such dilemmas. Maybe we’ll go back to a picnic next time, and choose a day with kinder weather.

Whatever, it was lovely to see the three of them, catch up on news and gossip and discuss the merits of mooli as a vegetable. It has provoked me into buying a mooli to eat this week, since this is a vegetable I haven’t tried before.

And on to this tea towel. When Amanda arrived at the restaurant she said “I saw this and just had to buy it for you. I couldn’t believe they had one” and laughed. It’s cute but another place I’ve never been. Another place I had to look up on google.

‘Pets’ Corner’ in Harlow is free to enter, doesn’t have a car park, is closed on Christmas Day and Boxing Day and is a small friendly farm located in Harlow Town Park. There are a selection of traditional farm animals like rabbits, chickens and ducks with the more exotic like reindeer, llamas and alpacas. There are also rare breed pigs. Sounds like a great place to visit.

Thank you Amanda for a great tea towel!

Dunster Water Mill: Acquired 2022

If you read yesterday’s Tea Towel Blog, you will know I had a great time in Rainbow’s Charity Shop in Beeston, finding a bargain for £1.00. On the photo, above, you will see the price label, another £1.00 bargain. There were only two tea towels in the shop, so I bought them both. Another pristine, never-been-used tea towel, only without the plastic bag.

Never been to Dunster but when I looked it up I realised why. This was the place that Liz and I thought of going several years ago and then read the warnings about it being hilly so we decided against it.

What excited me about this tea towel, other than it was a tea towel, is that it has recipes. I do love a Recipe Tea Towel. I had also looked up the water mill but no need to repeat what I’d found out because it is already on the tea towel.

Thank you Rainbows, I’ll call again.