A Good Read

Barrie by Seán Laidlaw
This true story became a viral news sensation. Former Royal Engineer Sean Laidlaw was working as a bomb disposal expert in Syria when he heard whimpering from the rubble of a school that had collapsed. At first he thought it was a child but further inspection revealed a tiny, abandoned puppy, surrounded by her four dead siblings. The terrified puppy initially rejected Sean's advances but he refused to give up. He made sure she was safe and brought her food and drink, and cordoned off the area to ensure it was safe from explosives. After a few days Barrie grew to trust Sean and eventually the two became inseparable. When Sean returned to the UK he had to leave Barrie behind but when his contract wasn't renewed he knew he had to go back for her and after a long and difficult battle he was able to bring her to the UK. The two created an unbreakable bond and they were reunited in emotional scenes that made headlines all over the world. Sean credits Barrie with helping him with his PTSD and their story is a powerful reminder of the incredible bond that dogs and humans have, and how both can help save the other.

It's a lovely heartwarming read.

∼ Happy Reading∼ 

Polly x

Dear reader, I wish you a happy and healthy 2026

✶ Polly ✶

A Good Read

Circle of Friends by Maeve Binchy

Benny is a big girl with a big heart. She and elfin Eve have been best friends for ever, growing up in sleepy Knockglen. Their one goal is to get to Dublin, to university and to freedom.

On their first day at University College Dublin they meet fellow students - Nan, beautiful but selfish, and handsome Jack. Before long trouble is brewing for the circle of friends, in the form of passion, tragedy, and the independence they yearn for.

It’s a good story with interesting characters.

I enjoyed it.

∼ Happy Reading∼ 

Polly x

Christmas

Seasons Greetings

Happy Holidays

Dear reader, however you spend the festive season I hope it will be full of cheer.

🎄 Be warm and well 🎄 

Polly x

My Great Mince Pie Survey

Oh my word, how time flies, it's tasting time again.

 I've done this so many times now it has earned the label of traditions!

Tesco Rum & Raisin

very nice but not a huge taste of rum! 

Morrisons 

All butter pastry, mincemeat infused with brandy and cider and warming spices. Very nice but I couldn't detect the brandy or cider, but I liked it enough to have a second one!

Aldi shortcrust pastry, mincemeat and a light dusting of sugar.

Very tasty but the pastry is a little bit stodgy

Waitrose Brandy Buttercream Mince Pies

absolutely scrumptious. Four in the pack, I didn't share them!

Waitrose Brown Butter Mince Pies with Cognac, always my favourite

and extra delicious warm with a dollop of cream (mulled wine optional) 😊

I did share these.

Co-op Irresistible all butter fruit and apple mincemeat

with brandy and port - delicious

Aldi All Butter Mince Pies Infused with Cognac,

Ruby Port and Dry Cider - very delicious

∼ Be safe and well∼ 

Polly x 

Christmas Tree Festival

The Christmas Tree Festival in a nearby village was, as expected, a resounding success with more beautiful, imaginative displays.

Jingle Bells by

Riding For The Disabled was my joint favourite with 

The Starry Night inspired by the Vincent van Gogh painting

by The Sewing and Craft Club

Catch-Up-Cafe Christmas Kitchen

When Santa is Away

I think some of the elves were misbehaving!

Hearts by The Link Club

A joyful heart is good medicine - how true

How clever is this

Austeritree

by The Guides

and this one

Fire & Ice

by The brownies

Robin Hood's Archer Tree with a casket of gold

The inscription reads

In Sherwood's shade where legends are told

Robin Hood smiles on the shimmering gold

"Be fair and be kind"  the brave hero would say

"Take JUST ONE treasure and skip on your way

one keeps it merry - more isn't ok".

The 'gold' was chocolate coins.

Come Dasher Come Dancer Sensory Arts

was lovely

Cymru by Chelmsford & District Welsh Society

Chelmsford Men's Shed showing images of days gone by, workshop things,

items of interest, cups of tea and custard creams! Great stuff.

This was adorable

Teddy Bear's Christmas

And this was very clever, The Fallen Tree by 1st Beavers

The cute beaver has felled the tree!

Bee Merry by 1st Guides

it's a shame I couldn't get a better view. It has little bees on it, bee sayings and bee homes, and the little packets of seeds say "scatter me to help a bee"

Fab..Yule..Ous

by Vanessa Brett Millinery

Girls Can Do Anything by 2nd Brownies

displayed women of influence throughout history

from Marie Curie to Taylor Swift. 

Our WI tree was similar but most of our women were from older generations, although we did include Dolly Parton and Michelle Obama

Trauma Teddies from our neighbouring village WI. They are donated to emergency services to give comfort to young children and help to distract them from emergencies happening around them. 

Crackin Tree Gromit

I'm a huge fan of Wallace & Gromit

unlike the Grinch, I hate it but I think this was very good

Come Fly With Me

How cute is the little balloon

100 Years of the Shipping Forcast

the photograph is Vice Admiral Robert Fitzroy. He 

was an English officer of the Royal Navy, politician and scientist.

and finally

It's a Wrap

rolls of paper attached to a white board, simple and very effective.

I hope you have enjoyed the Trees.

🎄 Be safe and well🎄

Polly x 

A Good Read

One Lost Soul by J M Dalgliesh

Destined for a career in medicine, one to rival that of her parents, Holly Bettany’s future was as bright as it had been privileged. All that ended the day she was found strangled and left on a lonely cliff top path.

In an idyllic coastal setting DI Tom Janssen must unpick the many layers of deceit and historic secrets within the community. Holly had a secret… and she knew the secrets of others…

It's a good plot with a shocking outcome, I enjoyed it.

∼ Happy Reading∼ 

Polly x

Lake View Lounge

At last Lake View lounge is (almost) finished

it has taken a VERY long time.

The upright beams were already there, I put the long beams along the ceiling.

I then put the flooring in. The next job was the chimney. I started with a cardboard template to get the cut out pieces around the beams right. The real thing was made with foam board, covered in plain wallpaper and sprayed white. 

The first attempt was a disaster, the large front piece warped and there were areas where the paper hadn't stuck down properly, you can just see the bubbles, so I made a second one. This time I papered both sides of the foam board to combat warping, and constantly smoothed the paper down to ensure it made contact all over

and added struts and supports at the back to give it more stability.

At last I was happy with it and started preparing bricks made from egg boxes.

I painted the various bits and then cut out the little bricks. It was fiddly but quite theraputic.

Having cut out the bricks I laid them out to arrange them by size and colour and then glued them to a piece of paper which is glued onto the wall of the room for the back of the chimney.

I did the same for the sides but they were glued directly onto the sides of the chimney because I was able to do that at my craft desk. I balanced the back piece so that I could align the back and side bricks in a straight line.

With a tiled hearth and a nice wooden beam mantlepiece

 the chimney was in place.

I love the little log burner

After putting the log burner in place the next job was the cupboards at the sides of the chimney. I forgot to take photos, each cupboard is made up of front, back, side and top pieces, and small pieces for detail.

The sofa was next

starting with these 4 components,

then covered the foamboard with plain white material.

Once again I forgot to take photos of the making of it until it was finished!

I used foam pieces for the cushions, the legs are cocktail sticks cut at an angle and varnished. This was the third attempt! and I'm super pleased at how it turned out.

How cute are these cushions.

I did make some but then saw these on ebay, I love them. 

The TV surround is a piece of card painted black, the image was printed off the web with a sheet of acetate over it, and a piece of card for the backing, and the stand is painted bits of wood. I bought the speaker dock.

I made the candles that sit on the hearth, which was tricky (and possibly dangerous!) by pouring melting wax into straws with a taper inside. I didn't burn myself.

I didn't make the very thin ones on the mantlepiece.

I found a video on youtube to make the log basket starting with a piece of card wrapped around circles cut out from a cereal box

  a piece of hessian glued inside, handles attached then string glued around the side. The logs are real bits of twigs from the garden.

I bought the log burner, the chair and stool, the console table, the coffee table, the lamp, plants, vase, the dollshouse and the rug. I already had some frames and printed the paintings from the web. I will add more pictures, and will make a Swiss cheeseplant. I'm also attempting to make a backgammon board! I've seen one online but it's been out of stock for ages.

The last item to put in place was this lovely crystal chandelier. I bought it at the Kensington Dollshouse Festival years ago with the intention of putting it in the lounge in dollshouse No. 2 - The Mansion House, but the room seemed too small for it so I put it away confident that one day I would find a room big enough for it, and here it is.

I have 3 favourites - the gorgeous little dolls house (I made the Keep Calm picture), the Tiffany lamp and the cat picture in the landing

The top landing was so much easier because I bought all the furniture. I made the HOME letters. The tall bookcase was a bit rough, it needed sanding and refining. It had been around for ages, I can't remember where it came from. I want to make some more books and pictures but my printer isn't working, I might have to get a new one.

Top floor before

and after

Now I'm working on the doors, windows and the roof. I was hoping to have it completely finished by Christmas but I'm not confident, I think the roof will be challenging.

∼ Be safe and well∼ 

Polly x