Madrid............

Greetings from Madrid! After some flights delay arrived in Madrid to be greeted by glorious sunshine & a hotel very well located in Central Madrid at Plaza de la Puerta del Sol. My fellow travellers arrived on Thursday and we were off & walking...........

Yesterday we enjoyed the delights of a Madrid Food Tour.  Guided by the knowledgeable Paula we were treated to 4 hours of walking, talking, learning about the strong Madrid food culture. One intriguing stop was at the Barefoot Nuns Convent. A still active 16th century convent of enclosed Carmelite nuns who raise money by baking cookies for the local people..... The cookie were purchased  via a turn table while communicationing with one of the nuns via an intercom! Intriguing & unexpected......

We visited many food venues including the Mercado de San Miguel, the oldest food market in Madrid........ Along the way we tasted all manner of delicious food & drink including sweet pastries, savoury pastries, hams, pigs ears (yes....not a typo), wine, sherry, cider among others! Needless to say by the tour end we were well feed & watered!! A must do for travellers to Madrid.......

I'll let the photos tell their own story........

Pig ears (surprisingly delicious) .........

Waiter pouring cider with a real flourish.........

Finally the tour group relaxing at our final stop after a long & very enjoyable walking tour...... cocktails, fried pigs ears & crumbed anchovies on the menu.....yum, yum!

Stay posted for the next update....... Adios from the The Wandering Travellers .......

Gap Year here I come........

Well dear reader the big day has arrived, all packed & ready to go.............but alas the weather Gods are not in my favour, my flight has been delayed twice already! Current departure time is 8.45pm, instead of the scheduled 2pm. Apparently delay due to very bad weather in Hong Kong. What can one do but sit on one's travel chest & wait........

Travel in an another era! How about the clothes & luggage?? Let's be grateful for light weight luggage & lighter clothing.......

Fingers crossed for an 8.45pm departure!

Stay tuned for the next update.  Adios.......... K

The big adventure begins........

Departing School Lane on the 1st leg of my wanderings!

Enjoying the sunshine........

Just enjoying the sunshine on a beautiful day in the Hunter while I practice blogging from my iPad! Seems very easy but time will tell........ Hope life's sunny where you are!

I like this image of Winnie & Pooh!

Until the next post....... K

My Gap Year Wanderings coming up..................

Well dear Reader, after much dreaming & planning my wonderful 3 month Gap Year adventure is fast approaching - I depart Sydney next Monday 12th May!

My wanderings commence in Madrid where I join friends for a tour of southern Spain & Morocco. Just to wet your appetite some images of north Africa & a market in Marrakech.......

Must away - much to do this week! Next stop Gap Year................

Excitement mounting! Stay tuned for the next post..........

.........and so to 2014

As usual I've been slow to blog in recent months & so I find myself in February 2014!!

I'm just testing posting from my iPad in preparation for my upcoming travels - planning is underway for my 2014 travels commencing in May...... First stop Madrid but ........more to come on this subject later!

Just testing posting photos from the iPad..........

.....playing with some Margo Selby fabric to make a small patchwork cushion.

....my Saori weaving in progress, taken at a Kaz Madigan workshop I attended last November.

....more of my creation.....a bit of trial & error learning new techniques!

.....cute little dress with matching pants I made for my 3 month old great niece.

 

Until the next post, K.................

 

Back to the Blog!

It's been quite a while since my last post but I've been busy enjoying life & all it's lovely activities! Some travel is in the planning - New Zealand later this year, then Europe, the UK & New York in 2014 but for now a quick update of recently completed patchwork & weaving projects......................

This quilt is called Berkley Square. I made it as a gift for my sister in law. It was machine pieced using bright & cheerful Brandon Mably fabrics.

Passed some time dabbling with an inkle loom, making a carry strap for my camera. Even spent time weaving in my sunny courtyard with the little garden nome for company!

This table runner was woven on my Saori loom. I'm delighted with it & must say it looks delicious on my dining table!

My latest weaving project. The piece was woven on my saori loom & removed from the loom yesterday! I love the different textures & designs that can be achieved using a variety of yarns.

The loom is bare again so must be off to prepare the warp for the next project, this time I'm hoping to weave some cloth that can be made into a vest / jacket. So stay posted.

Nameste, K ........