Here I am, up to my elbows in beads (well, you do have to stock up for Christmas), I also have plentiful supplies of other items to satisfy my other hobbies - acrylic paints, wool, needlecraft items etc. So why then, do I now find that I have yet another hobby? I didn't need it, and it's not my fault!! I was encouraged and cajoled into this one (Karen!!), and it's the most effective way of losing time that I've ever known. Yes dear reader, I have discovered the allure of researching the family tree. It's in the early stages as yet, and I can see that I will be working on it for a very long time. I showed it to my sister yesterday evening and somehow (I blame her) we lost my Great Aunt Mabel, I managed to get her back this morning.
​I have, however, been extremely productive on the jewellery front over the last week, and have made several new pieces. There are also some really lovely new sterling silver pendants etc which I have been putting on the website over the past few days. Please have a look, they really are gorgeous.
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Well, we're back from our holiday and today I have mostly been washing.  I'm not complaining, we had a great holiday - staying in the castle was lovely and the weather was really kind.  Well, almost. On Saturday night we had a table booked at the lovely Druidstone Hotel, we've been before and we all love it there.  Anyway, we had decided to get there on the Puffin Shuttle minibus service, and we had already booked a taxi to get back.  Saturday evening arrived, and so did the rain, but undeterred we waited outside for the Puffin Shuttle which duly arrived.  It wasn't raining much, so when the driver told us that there was a road closure and that we'd have a ten minute walk to get there we weren't unduly worried.  By the time we got to the road closure (annoyingly cars could get through but not the Puffin Shuttle) it was raining quite hard. We had two large umbrellas, so things didn't seem too bad - until we got to the mud.  It was deep mud.  Luckily none of us were wearing high heels (even the boys), but Karen and I still experienced horribly muddy feet. The ten minute walk from the Puffin Shuttle (funny how that sounds like swearing) turned into a twenty minute walk, and the rain had steadily got heavier, and was now a deluge. We arrived very wet, but we still had a great evening, as the photo shows, what the photo doesn't show is four pairs of very wet jeans/trousers.
​Although I have been away for a week I have put some new items on the website - I took them with me and did it there, how's that for dedication? 

Here we are in sunny Pembrokeshire (yes, really!). We have been to St Brides Castle before but have previously stayed in a cottage rather than actually in the Castle, so this is a real treat. We have an apartment with a fantastic view across the bay, Dick and I have a four poster bed so are feeling quite regal. 
​Downstairs there is a magnificent sitting room, complete with a suit of armour, there is also the most wonderful snooker room, we had a game (of sorts) this afternoon before we went to the bar. I am writing this three gins later. So I do apogolise fro any errors.
We had an outing to Haverfordwest this morning, we saw the castle and museum and then somehow ended up in Oak Furnitureland where Dick and Humph saw a large chair and were unable to decide if it was a large chair or a small settee. I had seen that it was labelled as a "Loveseat" so was most amused when they sat in it together. Honestly, what a pair!
​I put some new jewellery on the website before we left home, so it's still worth a look. 

Dick and I have had membership of the National Trust for a few years now and, to be truthful, we really haven't made much use of it. I have been dropping the words "Oxburgh Hall" into the conversation at regular intervals, but to no avail. However, Dick had a job in Aylsham on Tuesday and suggested that we could go to Blickling. Well, it's not Oxburgh, but it'll do for me. We had a lovely day, my sister came along too & she treated us to lunch in the Buckinghamshire Arms for Dick's birthday ;present. It was excellent and it set us up for a good explore. Dick's favourite part seemed to be the "dressing up" areas. I don't know how many times I turned round to find that he was wearing a different hat. There were a group of ladies going round the house at the same time as us and it got quite uproarious. 
​If anyone knows what the copper item pictured is for I would be very grateful, the best idea we came up with is a plate warmer. 
​There are new silver items on the website, and I have been photographing new beaded necklaces which I have been making over the last week, I will put them on the website over the next few days.