Post Comment Love 15-17 October

* The tickets to the theatre trip in this post were gifted by Bromley Players.

Welcome to this week’s #PoCoLo - a friendly linky which I co-host with Suzanne, where you can link any post published in the last week. We know you’ll find some great posts to read, and maybe some new-to-you blogs too, so do pop over and visit some of the posts linked and share some of that love. If you were here last week it was great to have you along, if you’re new here this week we’re pleased you’re here.

Last night we headed off to a local theatre to see the production of Out of the Darkness by Bromley Players. It was in the Bob Hope Theatre in nearby Eltham, which if I’m honest I didn’t know existed. But it was a pleasant surprise, and it was great to be back in a theatre again. It’s a great local theatre, and a shame that we’re only just discovering now.

The concert was billed as celebrating getting back into the theatre, and the long awaited return of shows, and promised a jam packed, fun and talented-filled evening. Just as we enjoyed being back in the theatre, it was obvious that everyone in the theatre, and not just those on the stage, were thrilled to be back in a place that they’ve not been in for so long. Their joy was so apparent and it was great to see the energy and sheer enjoyment of those on the stage doing something that clearly means so much to them.

Thank you Bromley Players for a great local night out, and for opening our eyes to a fantastic resource.

Scents and memories with Sussex Special Candles

This post contains items gifted from Sussex Special Candles

There’s something special about lighting a candle isn’t there? For me it’s a good way to treat myself, and make the time feel more special than a usual evening, lighting a candle while in the bath is a way of helping me relax more easily. And scent evokes memories, just as taste and visuals do.

Recently I’ve been trying these Sussex-inspired candles from Sussex Special. When I saw them I was struck by the idea of replicating scents of places that I’d been, or as you’ll find out, wanted to visit. These handcrafted candles are made with a blend of natural ingredients inspired by the elements of nature you’ll find in Sussex.

I chose the Borde Hill Gardens and Brighton Essence candles and for quite different reasons, but more of that in a moment. The candles are made from 100% natural soy wax which is non-toxic, plant-based and long-lasting.

And the candles don’t disappoint. They’re good value at £12.95 each and arrived promptly and well packaged. For me that’s always a good start, once I’ve decided to order a product I’m less good waiting for it to arrive, and when it does I want the packaging to not only protect my new item, but look appealing too.

What I didn’t expect was information on candle care to be included to help get the most out of the candles. For example, the first burn of the candle should be long enough for the entire top layer of wax to melt preventing tunnelling - I’ve had candles which just burn down the middle which is disappointing, but these don’t. The website also advises that natural wax candles burn slower and are more temperature sensitive than paraffin candles, and much more.

Memories of childhood trips to Brighton

As kids growing up in South London, Brighton was our nearest seaside town and was frequently our Sunday afternoon trip in good weather. With us all piling into dad’s car for an afternoon by the sea - each of us wanting to be the first to call out that they’d “seen the sea” - something that still happens now, even though my parents live by the sea in Norfolk - it never gets old! Family traditions don’t, do they?

I’m sure our trips were full of the traditional “are we nearly there yet” type questions, and the challenge of finding a parking spot on the seafront and while tricky then I’m sure it’s nothing like trying to find a parking spot today. In fact I suspect cars can’t even park where we used to back then. We’d walk along the stony beach whatever the weather, we’d walk along the pier with me trying not to fall down any of the gaps (in reality there was no chance but I wanted to be sure).

We might wander through the Lanes, window shopping and then we’d head back to the car and back home again, often in traffic - but not like the traffic of today I’m also sure. Such happy trips, such happy memories.

So having a candle that could evoke these memories and more is a great idea - and it smelt great too. There was definitely the fresh, salty smell which gave this the uniqueness that you’d expect. I realised that the majority of my candles are wintery type smells, the smells that evoke warmth and snuggling in front of a fire, but this candle was much lighter and in a sense, more invigorating.

New memories to make

In contrast the second candle I chose is somewhere I’ve not yet visited. Borde Hill Gardens has been on my ‘to visit’ list for a while yet, but somehow we’ve not got there. I mean, I know it’s not just going to happen but I haven’t made it happen either. It’s not actually that far from us, and even closer to where my MIL lives, but isn’t that so often the case? Places nearby are the places we never quite plan well enough to get to.

It’s an independent garden - which I always enjoy - and the gardens planted are as “living garden rooms” which I’m pretty sure will equate to plenty of photos!

As you’d expect this one has a floral scent, who wouldn’t want to smell the roses, but there’s also a mix of sweet and spice too. If the candle smells this good, then I can’t wait to actually visit the gardens. I’m definitely going to make this visit happen.

The candles are in pretty glass jars which are about 8.5 cm high and 6 cm square. This is smaller than candles I’ve had in the past, but with each candle having a 35 hour burn time, their reasonable price and sustainable credentials and with the opportunity to support a family business, I think they’re good value and would make a lovely present for friends, family or yourself.

* With thanks to Sussex Special Candles for providing these candles for me to try for the purposes of this review, all views and opinions are my own.

Getting hooked on Rag Rugging with Ragged Life

This post contains items gifted from Ragged Life.

I don’t know about you, but I’d been seeing posts on social media about how during the lockdown we could learn a new skill, a new language or whatever and thought, huh, how, when, or why? Even though both MOH and I are fortunate to be able to work from home, somehow both of us are just as busy, and ‘spare’ free time is fleeting, so I dismissed the new skill thing. That is, until I was invited to join one of Ragged Life’s online classes.

Having never taken an online craft course, and thinking that Elspeth from Ragged Life must be up for a challenge, and being swayed by rag rugging as a sustainable craft, I was in.

When my craft kit arrived, I was curious about the tools, smitten with the fabric choices, intrigued by the design on the hessian and very quickly nose deep in the book of potential projects.

But it wasn’t long before I was set up in the spare bedroom for the online tutorial, and at this stage was very much “all the gear, but no idea” and hoping that both the technology and my brain worked.

I needn’t have worried though as Elspeth clearly has the patience of a saint, or I’m a model student (and yes, I know it’s not the latter). Soon though we were cutting strips of fabric, which we were assured that wonky was fine. And it was, because mine were very much on the wonk, or characterful as I’m calling them.

After using the guide to cut short lengths, it was time to use one of the tools and learn where and how to insert and space our rags.

And it was surprisingly easy. The blue material in my project uses the traditional method and the rag is pulled through the hessian. Later we’d progress to a method adopted by Elspeth and her mum - the orange fabric - which uses slightly thinner strips, and pulled through in a similar way, but with the fabric doubled. This gives a closer finish, which I preferred.

The final technique, for the central section used the latch tool, and is a much closer ‘loop’ and more often used in more picturesque designs. The latch tool itself sook some getting used to, but knowing the knack of pulling towards the previous stitch, rather than away from helped.

I finished about a quarter of this initial class, which also allowed plenty of time for chat, and checking that my work was progressing in the way it should. It was thankfully, and rag rugging is one of those mindful, but yet practical tasks, that really helps with all sorts of things.

I’ve now finished my project, and am really pleased with it. In fact I’ve already looked out what my next project might be, and one of my next online shops will be for more supplies.

It’s the hessian that I’ll be buying, as I’ve already said one of the reasons rag rugging initially appealed was because of its sustainability. I’m forever rescuing old clothes from the charity bags, to save to cut up and reuse. MOH humours me, but now and alongside patchwork and t-shirt yarn I have a real use for them, and once I’ve worked out what I’ll make next, there’ll be no stopping me.

Just be thankful we’re not wearing hessian, as otherwise I’m not sure you wouldn’t be rag rugged if you ventured too close. And if I’m stuck for inspiration then once again I’ll have my nose in Elspeth’s book.

So despite thinking I didn’t need to learn a new skill, I’m hooked on rag rugging and am perfectly happy with that. What about you, have you picked up a new skill, even if you didn’t think you had time, needed or wanted one?

* With thanks to Ragged Life for introducing me to a new craft, and providing the online tutorial and materials for the purposes of this review.