Wednesday 8 June 2011

It's not all about charity shopping....

Normally, my quest for charity shops knows no bounds.  However, even I was heard to utter the words "It's not all about charity shopping, you know" while holidaying in Cornwall recently.

Yes, dear readers, no charity shopping for us.  Instead we rode the waves (when I say "we", I'm not referring to my good self here), crocheted on the beach (yup, that was me), walked the coastal paths and looked out for the highest point on Bodmin Moor, namely, Brown Willy (much to Little Miss J and P's amusement).

Just a few random pics for your delectation.

I quite like a mooch around a graveyard.  This spooky pic of a Celtic cross was taken at Tintagel Church.  Note the swirling mist.  The weather was not at its best during the first few days there.


This is also at Tingtagel Church.  It's the grave of Domenico Cantanese, a 14 year old cabin boy who died when the Italian ship, Iota, sank at nearby Bossiney in 1893.


Bodmin Moor was full of interesting sites such as stone circles galore:


Not the best photo, I know, but there are 2 sets of stone circles here.

The Cheesewring on Bodmin Moor which is a rocky outcrop of granite slabs formed by weathering:



Little Miss J and P body boarding:


Why do people feel compelled to wear my lovingly crafted coffee pot cosy on their heads?


On Sunday, t'was my birthday and just look at the lovely presents from Little Miss and Mr J and P, starting with this cute little sailing boat which puts me in mind of my vintage nautical towel featured here:

Why this picture is the wrong way round, I know not.

Loving the stripey "driftwood"/"beach hut" thing going on with this photo frame:


A boxed set of Father Ted DVDs.  For those of you who are unfamiliar with Father Ted, it's an hilarious comedy about 3 Catholic priests who live on an island off the coast of Ireland.

This is Father Jack, a badly behaved priest who's famed for shouting random words such as "Girls", "Feck", "Arse" and "Drink":


This is Mr J and P who does a scarily good impression of Father Jack as you can see:

Believe me, dear readers, Mr J and P is far better looking in real life!

Anyway, Mr J and P is definitely in my good books at the moment because look what the kind, generous soul got me for my birthday.  Yes, it's the mother of all crocheted granny blankets:


It is made entirely of wool (not your cheap acryllic, if you please) and is ginormous.


Here are some of my favourite squares:







Mr J and P is muttering that this is well and truly granny blanket overkill.  I think he might be right (for once).

I'll love you and leave you.  Byeeeee xxx.


P.S. Check out Sarah's fabulous giveaway over at ModernCountryStyle.  It's a good'un.  So good, in fact, that I was very tempted to keep news of  it all to myself with the hope that I might stand a better chance of winning!

45 comments:

  1. Fabulous birthday blanket! Looks like you had a great time, would like to have had a walk round that graveyard too. Scarlett x

    ReplyDelete
  2. bahahaha - your word recognition thingy just gave me the word 'verruca' on my last comment - nice :o) Mwah Scarlett x

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hey there! Happy belated birthday!

    We have been paired up by Faith, Hope & Charity Shopping for the swap. Pop me an email to landgirl1980@hotmail.co.uk and we can swap addresses :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Sounds like you had a great time. Hope you gave Ivybridge a wave on your way past!
    Love the blanket and the photo frame
    Sue x (vintage from the Village)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Thank you so much for the shoutout about my giveaway, lovely Loo.

    And I want to know is Little Miss J and P winking at the camera or squinting at the sun, in her snazzy body board pic?

    I can't believe your husband thought to buy you a Granny corchet blanket!! Tha'ts SO sweet. Aaaah! True love!!

    Sarahx

    ReplyDelete
  6. ...just want to add that it's good to have you back. I missed you. ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  7. Happy birthday! What a treat to be in Cornwall for it-and a moody looking Cornwall, love it! Wish I looked as good in a teacosy x

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hello lovely! Happy belated Birthday, what fabulous presents and a rather amazing husband to actually purchase a granny blanket present. And yes, his impression of Father Jack is most unnerving - a grey wig and a cassock and you've got a winner in any fancy dress contest (unless I go as a belisha beacon of course).

    Cornwall looks great - we had pretty mixed weather in Malta too (plus ancient stones) - guess we could have saved the flight cost and stayed in the UK.

    (Not sure if you've seen but you have a blog award from me)
    x

    ReplyDelete
  9. A belated Happy birthday to you! I like graveyards too - reading headstones is very interesting as are the headstones themselves. It's a pity they don't allow creative designs these days.

    Maybe Coffee Pot Head could be a new trend?

    Jayne

    ReplyDelete
  10. Belated Happy Birthday for Sunday my dearie. I'm loving the blanket, lucky you.
    x

    ReplyDelete
  11. Very atmospheric churchyard photo! Love the blanket.
    Liz

    ReplyDelete
  12. Happy Belated Birthday!

    Love the spooky graveyard picture! It looks like you picked a great place to have a break.. I love stone circles and the like!

    Adore that granny blanket, I've been after a huge one for a while but they are so bloody expensive!! Your man sure knows how to please you :p xxx

    ReplyDelete
  13. Happy Belated Birthday! Lovely pressie's :) x

    ReplyDelete
  14. A belated Happy Birthday and what a lucky girl you are.
    I LOVE Father Ted, terrible Mother that I am I am know for doing a Father Jack and ranting on the odd occasion :D xx

    ReplyDelete
  15. It sounds like you had a great time in Cornwall - it's such a gorgeous place and full of history too! What gorgeous gifts your little one and hubby picked out for you too, a lovely week all round!

    Jem xXx

    ReplyDelete
  16. Wonderful blanket, great pictures from Cornwall aswell, so pretty! Love the ickle wooden boat, it would look great in my summerhouse! ;)

    Bee happy x
    Have a delicious day!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Wow, that blanket would have cost a bomb to make in wool, I know, I am making one. Good old Mr J and P. How good of him to let you post that picture, (or didn't he know ?), my Mr.T would not have been happy with me if I had posted one of him doing a funny face.
    As for visiting Cemetery's, we have a lovely one that is almost like a wild life park, we often take sandwiches there and sit and enjoy the quiet. lol
    Briony
    x

    ReplyDelete
  18. Fab photos!!

    And a belated happy birthday!!

    S x (who is off to put a crochet blanket on her birthday list)....

    ReplyDelete
  19. I almost expected to see a pic of every single square Loo! It's an absolutely beautiful blanket! Good work Mr J and P...bet that got you some extra Brownie points!

    I hope you had a lovely, lovely birthday Loo...wishing you many more just as lovely in the future xxx

    ReplyDelete
  20. If the cost of gas rises much more we may all have to wear your coffee pot covers to keep warm this winter!
    Many happy birthday wishes to you!
    Loving the gifts, esp that blanket! What a corker.
    Lisa x

    ReplyDelete
  21. Sounds like you had a great birthday. We are big fans of Father Ted too!

    ReplyDelete
  22. Great photo's that one in the grave yard is very spooky ;-)) Gorgeous blanket wow didn't he do well bless him ;-) Father ted is a classic love it....i will i will i will i will ;-)) dee x

    ReplyDelete
  23. Happy Birthday for last Sunday! What a lovely thoughtful pressie the blanket was. Sounds like lots of family fun in Cornwall - great graveyard shot!
    x

    ReplyDelete
  24. A belated 'Happy Birthday' from me too! And what a lovely collection of presents. I loved Father Ted from the first; I always imagined that Father Jack smelt of stale wee-wee! Glorious granny blanket, a lot of time and care (not to mention wool) has gone into that.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Hi Loo,

    A belated Happy Birthday from me too, I have been absent from blogland a while now, so am catching up on your blog and others.
    I love your blanket, how lucky are you!
    It looks like you have had a fab time,
    Enjoy the rest of your week,
    Andrea x

    ReplyDelete
  26. Belated birthday wishes to you :)

    I'm in love with your crocheted , it's gorgeous. What a fantastic gift x

    ReplyDelete
  27. Happy (belated) birthday - fab presents; love the blanket (a well trained OH there!!) Great pics of Cornwall - sounds like you had a great time. Abby x

    ReplyDelete
  28. awww happy belated birthday to you!!! it seems like you had a lovely trip to cornwall! i absolutely lovee the gift of the granny blanket you recieved, so beautiful!! lovely photos and little miss J and P is soo cute with your tea cosy on her head hehehe

    ReplyDelete
  29. I nearly choked when I saw the post title.
    Happy belated b'day!
    I love Tintagel,what a magic place!
    XXX

    ReplyDelete
  30. I've got the Father Ted boxset too - I'd forgotten how hilarious it was until I sat down to rewatch it.

    It looks like a wonderful holiday :) I reckon Miss J&P would very much approve of the mountain in Wales known as Lord Hereford's Knob. Tee hee!

    ReplyDelete
  31. Feliz cumpleanos a ti!!!!!!!
    Great gifts, I love the blanket and the photo frame.
    How lucky you were to go vacationing on Cornwall and crocheting on the beach, walking on the coastal paths, wondering in the spookyly beautiful Celtic cemetery and those amazing rocks formation on Bodmin Moor. Of course the most important part is been able to spend time with your love ones.

    ReplyDelete
  32. Ahhh beautiful - I love Cornwall, we're off next weekend I can not wait.

    I am a sucker for a granny blanket. We have too many. Too many

    ReplyDelete
  33. You just can't go wrong in Cornwall for a holiday - no matter what the weather! Faberooni blanket! xxx

    ReplyDelete
  34. Happy Birthday! love the tea cosy on your DD head, actually may be a good substitute for a winter hat in the cold months. I like to read old gravestones too, especially all the old names. Thanks for the giveaway tip! Bx

    ReplyDelete
  35. Buongiorno carissima! Ti ringrazio anche per le bellissime immagini che hai fatto, luoghi meravigliosi! Che invidia!!;o))
    Un caro saluto, *Maristella*.

    ReplyDelete
  36. Happy Belated birthday!!!!!!

    Love the mist round the graveyard. I used to like looking at headstones to see if anyone had died on my birthday - weird I know!
    x

    ReplyDelete
  37. Happy Belated Birtday Amor!
    love spooky graveyards, beautiful scenery and children.
    so funny,your hubby looks like our milk man Gram.
    I been hankering for a granny blanket eversince I seen one at the charity shop.

    ReplyDelete
  38. Loo m'dear, can you please email me your address details? I have a small something for you - or will do, once I've made it!

    charityshopqueen@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  39. Hello dear, a lot of wishes for happy birthday
    even if late. Beautiful photos of the cemetery at Tintagel,
    I was there too eh, eh!
    A hug
    Susy x

    ReplyDelete
  40. Belated happy birthday! What a fabulous blanket! xxx

    ReplyDelete
  41. I've just found your blog and I have to say I'm enjoying it. The crocheted blanket's gorgeous (am envious) and "crocheting on the beach"....hmmm... sounds familiar :)

    ReplyDelete
  42. I love those atmospheric graveyard and moor photos. They really spark my imagination!

    Ha ha- I love a bit of Father Ted. Favourite sitcom- well, deffo in the top 5! 'I LOVE MY BRICK' as Father Jack would say!

    ReplyDelete
  43. Happy belated Birthday!

    The crocheted blanket is absolutely gorgeous!

    I must teach myself to crochet, I've always wanted to learn. I have all the tools, just need to pull my finger out.

    Barrina x

    ReplyDelete
  44. Hello, I'm just about to join your followers - a lovely blog. Please pop by mine if you have time! I seem to love all the things you do, and I've really got back into knitting and crochet as a fab new woolshop has opened just round the corner from me. So relaxing xxx

    ReplyDelete
  45. Hi,
    Thanks for visiting my blog, I'm so glad your comment led me over here to yours.
    That is a magnificent blanket, well done Mr J&P.
    As for the Father Ted DVDs, every home should have the whole set!

    ReplyDelete