Escape for the Weekend....

Last weekend I spent the entire time with my two younger sisters which was an event in itself since we never manage to synchronise same time, same place too much these days with other life commitments intervening. So off I went on the train very early on Saturday morning (I always need Friday nights as 'chillaxing' time after the frenetic to-ing and fro-ing of the foregoing week)to travel down to Sister No. 1's place where we would all by staying and after a thoroughly pleasant and quick journey, our weekend began (Sister No. 2 travelled there by car and met up with us later).

Firstly, we visited the small town of Selkirk where they were hosting an arts and crafts week.

All of the shop windows had been yarn bombed with items relevant to what they sold. This one was a plumber's merchant, obviously! (that's my sister's reflection on the outside of the window but it looks like she was in the shop!).

Cute knitted taps!

The local burger bar.

and the pub!

The Post Office?

Then we shuffled along to the little local museum which was full of interesting things like the box bed here, the sleeping quarters of up to four children at a time and located behind a curtain, in the living area of the accommodation. Changed days now, eh?

The toilet and washing facilities were stored underneath the bed!

The cosy fireplace with that adorable little crib keeping warm by the fire.

When we walked into the shop at the back of the premises, I nearly fainted at the sight of this 'gentleman shopkeeper'!Can you see why?Not sure if his hairstyle was exactly fitting for the period. More 'Beatles-like' to me.

Anyone remember these Pink Paraffin Pumps? Perhaps not, I forget sometimes that I'm THAT old.

This was perhaps the tiniest w.c. I'd ever seen. Perhaps a prototype for the real thing.

I loved these syphons.

Can you guess what this is? A clue would be that it had a very big drum inside.

Glad I can do my ironing with a turbo-charged model!

Imagine having to use this to iron puffed sleeves, bonnets and bustles!!

The Mangle! My Mother used to have one of these but a portable one that fitted over the sink. You soon knew about it if you got your fingers trapped in between the rollers as you were feeding the clothing through! Thank goodness she replaced it with an ultra-modern twin tub machine!!

Here he is again!

I loved this little statue of a young girl who was left heartbroken at the news of the death of her loved one at the Battle of Flodden Field. Her face was so sad.

Then we happened upon this fabulous little shop, where absolutely everything inside was either knitted or crocheted, hence the name of the shop.

Fancy a woolly cuppa?

The well-stocked woolly bookshelves.

Then it was time for a well-earned cup of coffee at the local art gallery. I loved these exhibits in the glass cases, all about colour and how it was made.

Betty, I thought of you and your paints when I saw this.

This was a beautifully painted ceiling in one of the rooms.

My sisters posing. My youngest sister, on the far side of the fountain, is suffering with her health at the moment, which is probably very apparent from how thin she is. She puts a very brave face on things though she is in chronic pain. Maybe you could say a little prayer for her, if you possible wouldn't mind? My other sister also has health issues but hopefully her recent examination will throw up nothing serious. I love my little sisters very much.

And here is their Big Sister! Yours truly, looking a little older and broader than perhaps I think I really am but I'm not worrying too much about myself at the moment.

The next day, we had a go on my sister's electric pushbike (absolutely no energy needed when going uphill - the turbo charged battery does it all for you!), we went for a leisurely breakfast, then we visited Melrose Abbey, then had a browse around a very large car boot sale (I came home with a very large mirror which I couldn't resist!), went for coffee, visited an orchard where we picked some apples in exchange for a small donation, then spent some time admiring the purple majesty of the heather-covered hills before it was time to get in the car (saved on my train fare by hitching a lift from my sister!) and make our way homeward, reflecting on what a lovely weekend we just had and hopefully it won't be long before we can spend some more precious time together.

Thank you for popping-in.

Until next time.

xoxoxoxo