Back from Beyond...

I am back on the wagon again after having fallen off for a few weeks..Not in the drink sense I hasten to add.. more in the 'taking time out' sense. Time that has been spent switching off from the normal routine and taking stock of life.. and a escaping to a few favourite haunts.
The Custard clan have done a fair bit of mileage over the last two weeks..first to the wild west of Devon and Cornwall then back home again for family matters.. off again for a mad dash to Branscombe to dip our toes.. and in my case.. whole body (shock horror) in the beautiful briny sea. Followed by a short foray 'oop north' said in my best Yorkshire accent.. though we didn't go to Yorkshire and I haven't got a Yorkshire accent but I do love the sound of that gutsy dialect! The north I refer to is .. north of Bath, a bit.. to the heart of Wales and border country.. Hereford and Hay on Wye.. a gorgeously eccentric place chock full of book shops, that has been on my list of 'must go' places for 20 years at least.. since my mother once told me, one could buy books by the yard there.Our first happy trail was two weeks ago today.. Mr Custard and I set off at the crack of dawn.. tiptoeing out of our B + B at Drewsteignton, as quietly as we could, whilst also loading up a car full of assorted vintage toys and paraphernalia to take to the Home Spun Fair in Portscatho. A much anticipated event that was a perfect antidote to all the difficulties of the days prior to our escape.
We hit the highway on a beautiful bright morning, the journey being a breeze, roads not being particularly busy at 6.a.m. I was sure we would be sitting outside Portscatho memorial hall twiddling our thumbs waiting for the doors to open as we were in good time.. until that is.. we took the wrong turning at Truro for The Roseland Peninsula. Finding that we were the wrong side of the River Fal and the King Harry Ferry didn't sail until 9 a.m.. we back-tracked to Truro and then started to navigate with the help (or not) of Charmiane..our faithful sat nav. Dear Charmiane..got very confused, as did we, as she steered us through a farmyard up to a five bar gate, urging us to continue. At this point, I disconnected Charmiane and we asked a local jogger the way.. much quicker and more accurate!
Well.. what can I say about the Home Spun Fair.. lots actually.
It was a lovely day from start to finish.. the hall being a perfect venue for such a vintagey style event.. The room was decked with bunting and a friendly hum of ladies setting up their stalls.. Despite my sleep deprivation of the night before.. I managed to arrange just about everything in some coherent manner on my table I was then able to sit back... or rather stroll around and meet up with some of my favourite blogging chums.. dear Viv.. a fabulous lady, so talented and with a mutual love of vintage dolls was there, Sue with her amazing emporium of vintage textiles ..and much more besides.. Nicky and her gorgeous menagerie of animals.. teddies, rabbits and an adorable dog that I badly badly wanted to adopt.. Clare and her elegant handmade hats beautifully displayed.. Leonore and her extraordinary display of vintage goods.. too many to mention and last but not least Jane and her lovely array of handmade boats, dolls, framed collages and more..There was a happy and healthy stream of visitors from the minute the doors opened and I was delighted to meet Sarah who came and introduced herself to me..and Maureen who I had 'met' through the Vintage & Handmade Fair.. Such an unexpected pleasure to meet new faces.. and make new friends.. dear Helen who with her husband entertained Mr Custard and I throughout the day.. Let's play I Spy...see if you can spot Viv & Sue.

There was a lot to bring away from this day.. memories of a happy day , a very successful event organised by Jane & Christine and new friendships that iced the occasion.
Even Mr Custard lasted the distance.. and enjoyed being amongst the throng of lovely ladies ..well which man wouldn't !?

This summer has been a strange affair.. good times.. very good times.. some bad times too... but the autumn is approaching and I have so much to look forward to.
New products to design for Cowboys & Custard, new stock to fill the shelves in Milly & Dottie's Emporium and a Vintage & Handmade fair to organise .. so there is no time to lose.. much to do and much to occupy the mind.I hope to add to this list some regular blogging.. I have been out of sync in this dept but hope to get properly back on track soon..

A bientot !

I would like to thank you all for your very kind condolences on our recent bereavement. We do appreciate your kindness and empathy..