Planet Ruby Starrs

After an eventful busy weekend in Ninebanks running a star weekend we packed everything up and headed for the Durham Lumiere - an event I have had in my diary for months.  We went two years ago and it was amazing, fantastic images projected against the castle walls visible across the city and the story of cosmic creation on the cathedral walls.  It was truly spectacular and I raved about it everyone I met and encouraged all and sundry to get there this year for a repeat performance. Cosmic Architecture  The town was heaving with people everywhere and as dark fell we started the trek around the exhibits and slowly the disappointment set in.  The installations were interesting - well some of them but there was none of the spectacularity (made up word) or luminosity or extravagance of the year before - not even near!!!  What Matters - St Oswalds Church The Cosmic Architecture on the new physics building was almost there,and the For the Birds installation in the Botanical Gard

Its minus 2 at Ninebanks Youth hostel this morning.... well not in the hostel - that, fortunately is a very toasty place, but outside its frosty with fabulous blue skies stretching as far as you can see across the valley. Its that time of year again and we are mid star weekend at Orchard house, Ninebanks, tucked away in a most beautiful, empty, open part in the wilds of Northumberland.  This hostel is really good, lots of space, comfy beds, ensuite bathrooms, well equipped kitchen and a roaring fire!!! We have the usual crowd of curious and enthusiastic people taking part and the talks are very varied to be inclusive and informative without being too difficult to follow - after all this is supposed to be a fun weekend and bend brains a little but not too hard!!! It was a fantastically clear night last night, affording the opportunity to be out observing the night skies from 5.00 through until past midnight.... it was cold - the temperature dropping to well below freezing.  Thi

Finally found some time to play with the new toys!!! Its an interesting experience, the sewing machine feels very new, I've run through all the different stitches and re-threaded it and wound bobbins so I feel quite familiar with it.  It is very slow compared to my old jet powered affair but I expect I'll get used to that.  There are lots of extra bits which I find a bit fiddly- its possible there were similar fiddly bits on my previous machine but I've long since lost them and then they become erased from living memory.  Some of these bits look a bit more important so I will have to be a little bit careful.  The spool requires a 'lid' or the cotton reel flies off - its detachable and already has a tendency to wander around the sewing table hiding - the other worrying bit is the small piece of plastic which covers the drop in bobbin - when the bobbin is changed this piece also detaches altogether and I can see it disappearing if I'm not disciplined about it!!!

We made a long over due visit to the one and only Grindleford cafe in the Peak district.. an old much loved haunt of Dr Fred - by all accounts many serious parties held here pre dating my times with him.  Its not much different these days, slightly tidier not quite as many hilarious notices stating 'the rules' and they still do a cracking pint of tea and huge chip butties! We walked off both these treats up through Padley Gorge which looked truly splendid in the afternoon autumnal light showcasing  beautiful colours of the shedding beech trees.

I'm sooo excited... At last  I've taken the plunge and treated myself to a new sewing machine.  My 30 old trusty Janome is still quite functional but last time I had it serviced I was warned it was very 'fast'  on its last legs and needed treating gently and with consideration.  So that's what I've been doing and its clattering round the sewing room like a lawn mower sounding noisier and noisier every time I used it. I've done a load of research and talked to various suppliers and thought hard about what I want and what I actually need and ended up spending less then I thought I would so I think I'm a happy bunny.  I was tempted to buy something fancy and a bit over the top which did everything including Disney embroidery, I played with a fancy model at the knitting and stitch show which was fun but in the end I saw sense and decided definitely against Disney - very off putting but also I  don't really like stylised machine embroidery - and only