Look mum - the Meerkat's got new clothes!

Unlike the Emperor though, these clothes are real.

My meerkats have been lounging around nekkid for far too long. Ok, the trekies are "sort of" clothed - but they never go off duty and can't take their uniforms off.

*trumpet fanfare*

May I introduce to you - meerkats who can get dressed! (No, not without help, that would be magic)



*puts on Miss World commentator voice* Our model is wearing an haute couture frock in two tones of purple which fastens with heart shaped beads.




She is accessorised with a toning shoulder bag in which she keeps the daily requisites of a meerkat gal about town. Her escort, Luke SkyMeerkat has his light sabre at the ready to defend her honour.

Strange creations in the forest

Geocaching in Kings Wood we discovered huge sculptures.

The first one we saw brought out my "grumpy old woman" because as far as I can tell it is *just* a fence. In my opinion Art is about communication, and this says nothing to me except "Why bother?"



After getting home we looked up the artist on the website (I'd have liked to have been able to read this at the time, why weren't there info boards in the Forest?)

"Peter Fillingham: The Last Eleven Years, 2004/5

Peter Fillingham has designed a railing to lead you through the forest, but it doesn’t lead anywhere in particular and is at times quite hard to follow. As a fence it keeps nothing in or out but disappears into the trees its end unseen. Made by a local fencer in softwood it sits lightly in its forest surroundings drawing a line through the forest and raising the question, Is it an artwork or is it a Forestry construction? A piece for your imagination to play with."

The next piece, Ring by Rosie Leventon I liked.



The reflections of the trees in the water were lovely - but I can't help feeling they'd look just as lovely in one of the numerous natural ponds.

Score for a hole in the ground by Jem Finer looked interesting, but again no information board meant we'll have to wait till we go there again (now that we've read up) to fully appreciate it.



Jem says "it is a post-digital work that relies purely on gravity and water to generate music. Inspired by suikinkutsu, water chimes found in temple gardens of Japan, Score for a Hole in the Ground uses tuned percussive instruments, played by falling water, to create music."

We thought maybe you were supposed to chuck stones in it...sorry ;-(

Most beautiful *art* we saw on this walk?



This communicates with me. Awe, wonder, fragility of nature, delicate colours, the softness and texture of the wings, the ephemeral nature of life...

Live music from Twitter!

Strange but true.

You know everyone says how careful you have to be when meeting folk from the wild world of the web?

True, of course, but I've made so many new friends via Twitter recently.

Yesterday was our third visit to the Hoodener's Horse pub where we met Twitter friends @HoodenersHorse and @pannage (and Mrs "@Pannage") and were entertained by a pair of trumpeters known as The Trumpettes (On twitter they are quite naturally known as @trumpette1 and @trumpette2 !)



It was a great evening, enlivened by the small girl who danced and encouraged us all to join in - so if you're looking for a novel entertainment get in touch with the Trumpettes.

I should also add (rapidly, before @HoodenersHorse gets upset) that the pub food is second to none, particularly if you're a fan of REAL Mexican cooking. See you there next time?

Calling all golfers

I intended to start by saying that my appreciation of golf is pretty similar to Oscar Wilde...but having checked with my dear friend Mr Google, it seems it was actually Mark Twain who described golf as a good walk spoiled.
Having alienated all my potential customers, I'll move on...;-)



(I should perhaps point out this is not Mark Twain)

Leaving that aside, however, my boss has asked me to knit him some wooly warmers for his sticks clubs, and it has occurred to me that they would make a good addition to my shops.

(It isn't my boss, either)

According to my good friend Mr Google once more, it seems most golfers have 3 woods requiring covers - a 1, 3 and 5. If you are (or know) a golfer, it'd be really helpful if you could confirm or deny this to prevent me offering sets of 3 when I should really be making singles (or whatever).



I'll leave you with another golfing quote, this time from Jimmy Demaret. I have no idea if he's right...

"Golf and sex are about the only things you can enjoy without being good at."

That meerkat gets everywhere

We Make London

Just over a year ago I went to London to visit the first ever We Make London craft fair. Most of the stallholders were UK Etsy sellers, and it was a fabulous event. I was lucky enough to nab one of the goody bags - and indeed I still use it daily to carry my lunch and other bits and bobs in to work.



A few weeks ago I noticed that the We Make team were having a giveaway on their blog, and of course entered (I'm a sucker for a giveaway, as you know!)

I was lucky enough to get picked to win one of the 50 We Make London birthday badges, seen here on my bag.



I spotted today on the We Make blog that they've announced their new Autumn fair - I recommend the team highly! It'll be a great day whether you go along as a seller or as a buyer - but take my advice and get there early!

Nature's breeding season

Out walking this week: it seems everyone is breeding!

Butterflies were everywhere, but this was the only one obliging enough to pose for me.



At least these bullocks weren't as boisterous as the last lot we encountered!



The ponies were just too cute for words.



And it would seem even bugs are at it: