It is chocolate week and I was able to go up to London on Wednesday. I found out about the events going on at www.chocolate-week.co.uk and planned a day based on the chocolate shops that were doing free events and tastings. I went to Fortnum and Masons, La Maison du Chocolat (which had a nice coffee shop and friendly staff), Hope and Greenwood (a ( Read more... )

I got a new laptop! It seems very nice and is behaving for me at the moment. I think it was a sound investment.

Items in the costume store I may wish to research ( Read more... )

Here is an interesting website ( Read more... )

Gailsdote, I hope you got my reply - my computer keeps freezing ( Read more... )

About four years ago, with no previous history, I started having hayfever. I can only assume something different got planted in a field somewhere. Anyway, I have read that local honey helps to relieve the symptoms, so have decided to give it a go. I think if I start now I will be able to build up an immunity by late May, when it usually kicks in ( Read more... )

The Remnants shop in Colchester has started doing historical patterns.  They have 'Truely Victorian' patterns - which I have used and thought were quite good and 'Rocking Horse Farm' patterns - which I have never heard of.
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I wonder if they will start getting some decent wools in to complement these patterns.  I hope so!

Me! Me! Me!

In 2008, ( Read more... )

Marie Antoinette’s pearls are up for sale today. Lovely pictures and a little story have been provided by the Christies:
http://www.christies.com/presscenter/pdf/09282007/104419.pdf
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Some fifty years after Marie's death (1849) the jewels were made up into a necklace. It fits with what I read about recently about the 18th Century (and later ( Read more... )

Last one.

LADYES OF THE NEW DRESSE
THAT WEARE THEIR GORGETS & RAYLES DOWN TO THEIR WASTES
&
THE LADIES ANSWER
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Both poems are written by Dean Corbet (b1582, d1635). Possibly around 1621 (the poem refers to an incident from that time)
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Ladyes, that weare black cipress-vailes, (cipress-fine crape or gauze)
Turn’d lately to white linen-rayles;
And to your ( Read more... )