Mum turned 70!

 Milestones in life keep passing by. This last week my mum turned 70. 

She's always been there for me over the years, to chat to and advise me, I don't see her as this old as she's just so sharp and active. It's almost a shock to see my parents turn this age! I think many of my loves in life come from her, my love of crafts especially, my love of growing things and probably my love of cooking and food.

I can remember, clear as day, mum and dad's 40th, it honestly doesn't seem that long ago. I always think looking back and knowing my parents at the age I am now is really eye opening, I often think about what the children will remember of me, and all the silly things I do. 

And I often think about the brilliant upbringing I had from mum and dad, and I think this weekend, surround by my siblings and their families, it's lovely how well we all get on, and that's a testament to our parents. 

Hopefully many more years yet from my parents, I'm so lucky to have them in my life. 

Medieval Carpentry Workshop - Centring The Past 2025

 A bit of a photo dump from the weekend before last. There's some great ones in here!

The weekend was run by Adam Lynch and Pete Eyles, recreating some formwork for medieval vaults using traditional techniques. I'm really kicking myself that I didn't go for the whole week. 

Adam has been a good friend over the years and we've frequently spoken to each other about our trade and he's even lent me a few tools when I've been experimenting with hewing and cleaving timbers. 

Centring The Past 2025

This is just a short post, as I will do a proper one later in the week. But I wanted to share with you that I have just had an incredible weekend.

I was lucky enough to be invited along to an event run by Whitacre Bespoke Carpentry, which was called Centring The Past, reconstructing formwork for medieval vaults. The idea was that I was going to come along and do some carving tuition, focusing on carving on a beam that had been hewn. I ended up going for the whole weekend and I wish I could have gone all week, it was incredible. 

 I can't wait to share with you the two days we spent there. I'm so fired up about my trade right now! 

Overstood Hedge 8 months on

Below is a video looking at the hedge I laid back in the winter. It's come on well. not all the new trees have survived the dry summer, but most of them have - pretty good as I didn't water them! 

 This video shows why I cut the elder back int he hedge really well, I'm tempted to cut it back again this winter as it's already 6ft high and I've like the new trees to get established before it shades them out completely. 

Cakes For The Scout Jumble Sale

So last weekend was our annual Scout jumble sale. It gets a little mad (although less mad than it has been in previous years as the numbers got too much), but it does all our fundraising for the year. 

My girls are young bakers who are really getting the hours in these days. I feel their practicing is really important and I hope this skill will last them a lifetime. 

They both baked for the sale. And helped all afternoon in the tea and cake area, apparently they were super helpful which is always nice to hear. 

 I was really pleased with their efforts, but only got to try one cake! 

They keep asking me for new cakes to try and bake - any suggestions?