Awash in more ways than one

Despite the voice of doom and gloom (me) reminding Mr J and P and our friends (repeatedly) that the weather forecast for last weekend was "persistent rain" and "strenghtening winds", the mad fools the brave little soldiers that we are went camping.

We went to Barham, south of Canterbury, Kent.  Friday was a complete wash out.  We arrived at about 7 pm and managed to put up the tent in the torrential downpour without too much swearing and bickering.  Bedrooms were fine, the living quarters, however, were just one big puddle, but luckily there was a wooden shelter on the camp site which had tables and chairs and which we comandeered for the whole weekend.  Our friends arrived at 10 pm (it was raining a bit by then but was pitch black) and took an hour and a half to put up a tent which normally takes them about 20 mins).  Needless to say, we were all a little wet and miserable that night (well, I was, for sure).



Not a pretty sight.....


Saturday was showery.  However, when you've survived putting up a tent in bucketing rain and survived a sleepless night with a tantrumming child, heavy showers?  Pah!

Visited Broadstairs on the coast where there were lots of quaintly dressed people:

That was because it was the start of the annual Dickens Festival.  Hoorah!  There was a parade with people dressed up as Dickens' characters:

No, I don't know who any of these characters are meant to be either...

There were even bric- a- brac stalls.  Didn't buy a thing from the stalls but I did buy a little something from a charity shop which I will post about another time (you know how I like to tantalise you with my purchases!).

A fascinating (er hem) fact.  Did you know that the phrase "What the Dickens...." orginates, not from Charles, but from the 16th century when it was a euphemism for "the devil"?  

Anyway, enough of our camping capers and my fascinating facts, take a look at what else I've been awash with (in a good way) thanks to some of you lovely bloggers.

First off, Lisa from Kandipandi's Pad kindly sent me this folksy teatowel which is so lovely that I can't decide whether to use it as a tea towel or fashion it into something else.

Kylie from Lucy Violet Vintage was so horrified when I told her that some clumsy oaf accidentally set fire to my favourite tea towel by placing it too close to a lit gas ring that she sent me, not a tea towel to cheer me up, dear readers, but TWO stunning groovy tablecloths to drool over.

The very sad and sorry state of  my favourite tea towel

Hoorah for Kylie:

Clever Lakota from Faith, Hope and Charity Shopping sent me this fabulous ring that she made all by herself.  Love it.  Lots.

I've won two giveaways recently.  Firstly, from Annie the Felt Fairy, get a load of this bunch of lovely stuff.

Don't you worry, I'll be showing you my stitching efforts in a future post.

Wowser, look at the Spode set of goodies that I won from Sarah at Modern Country Style.  Aren't I the luckiest blogger ever?

Measuring jug

Pudding bowl

Serving dish - only mine will be in red

I haven't yet received these goodies, but I'm so excited that I had to show them off to you all.  Best thing is that they match my red polka dot jug, mugs and door mat.  I've never been so matchy matchy!

Gluttons for punishment that we are, we're off camping this weekend too.  Your very best positive thoughts involving sun, heat and warmth, dear readers, would be very much appreciated...