Sorry !  I know its early but when you have to plan drying and firing schedules you have to start, well as early as possible really.

This has been a year of changes, both in the world in general and in my private life. I have started to think of myself as being retired, especially as I'm not selling my work at the moment. No Craft Fairs or Galleries to think about this Christmas, just making presents for friends and making some Christmas decorations.  I've had some fun sessions in my studio experimenting with ideas and making things for myself, like these drainers that fit my kitchen windowsill instead of hanging over the edge of it. Much tidier. 

As for the Jewellery, well I'll show you what I've been making next week. Bye for now.

I've been trying to think all week what I would like to say about this last weeks events. I was away on a short break when I heard about the death of the Queen and the only thing I keep thinking is that life will change now, it is the end of an era.

Queen Elizabeth II has been a constant in all our lives, steady and reliable, in some ways she has made me feel safe. She has been a great example of a life well lived and she will be greatly missed.

Well I've just got back from a long awaited holiday in the North East which at the end of unfortunatly both my partner, myself and a cousin we were visiting caught Covid. You can't escape it folks, it'll get you sooner or later.

Anyway thankfully the holiday was great. started out by sighting avocets and their chicks at RSPB Saltholme and ended by seeing hares from the window of out air bnb place.  Sadly, once again I didn't get out to Bass Rock to see the Gannets, this time because I didn't get my act together and all the boats were booked, but we decided to visit North Berwick where they go from which is where this photo was taken, with the Rock in the background.

I wouldn't have got out anyway, the sea was too rough.  We watched a few gannets inshore diving for fish but even through binoculars it was apparent there weren't as many on the rock as previous seasons.  Today I read the sad news on the BBC website that avian flu is killing these beautiful birds on Bass Rock which is the world's largest Northern Gannet colony.  First us, now the birds, makes you think.

So afterwards we headed down the coast just a little bit to visit a castle we had driven by.  Tantallon Castle to be precise.  This looks familiar I thought.  Turned out I had visited it in 1984 on my way back down from Orkney. At this point I will forgive you for thinking you are reading the mad ramblings of approaching retirement aged woman that have nothing to do with jewellery or ceramics. Well aha ! you are wrong. It was in Orkney where I first fell in love with British seabirds after seeing artic terns on Papa Westray, and hanging over a cliff to watch kittiwakes and guillimots at Westray. It was in Orkney that I bought my first piece of jewellery, a silver tern made by Ortak. So there, the story comes full circle.