It's a mugs game!

One of the things that I love about this time of the year is local artist, Howard Robinson's annual release of his new bone china mugs.  He does a limited edition and they are always of local scenes... and so far I have collected over a dozen of them.

And finally this year's have arrived.


Howard chooses local landmarks, this year we have The Billet Pub from the old town, Hadleigh Castle, The Arches, the beach huts, the signal box and the lagoon over on Two Tree Island.

It is so lovely to be reminded of how blue the sky was in the Summer when we have Milk of Magnesia skies at the moment...

And here is my favourite, it is Hadleigh Castle and is rather special because it shows the 2012 Olympic Mountain Bike course which is all around the castle.

So if you are in Leigh over the weekend, pop in and see Howard and Joy at Gallery 3... but please leave some mugs for me!

The cure for anything is salt water - sweat, tears, or the sea

That quote is from Isak Dineson, aka as Karen Blixen of Out of Africa fame... and this was so true on Sunday when I went down to the Old Town for a walk.

This boat was about to lay her anchor and take her sails down as we sat on the Wharf in old Leigh on Sunday, the sun was setting and the estuary looked like a Greek harbour in the golden half light.

And here on the side of the wharf is the fishermen's co-operative... best cockles in the world come from Leigh-on-sea... honestly I frequently do quality control visits to make sure the standards are maintained.

And this is one of my favourite slipways between The Mayflower and The Smack pubs...

Looking over the railway lines to the mouth of the Estuary, so many boats out on Sunday due to the wonderful weather we enjoyed.

Now don't be deceived, at the other end of the High Street the road past The Peterboat was heaving as The Crooked Billet was hosting a Pink Charity Fundraiser and the pubs were running out of booze as the weekend had been so busy!  Although my recent discovery of Crabbe's Ginger beer was still available, all that was missing was the Famous Five :)

And dusk fell all too soon on the weekend as we wended our weary way up the hill home.

The vintage & craft show - Leigh-on-sea

Yesterday my sister did her first craft show with me at the Community centre - she made some amazing tea cosies and her bunny egg cosies proved very popular - I wonder if that had anything to do with the free Easter egg that came with them?  Am delighted that I sold some of the Rufty Tufty Boys Beanie hats, especially as one was to a lady who had told her mum that she did not up until then want her to knit for the baby, I have a feeling her mum is going to really busy knitting up new clothes!

Just set up the stall and waiting for a coffee!

Some of Annette's work - am loving the doll with the stripey stockings

Lots of friends stopped by, but even better Monica from http://www.craftsforum.co.uk/ stopped by, it was super to put a name to virtual friend!

It was a really busy fair, with  loads of really great stalls... my fave was a lady upstairs who had the most fabulous cards which she decorated with free hand machine embroidery - am kicking myself for not buying some!  In fact, they really reminded me of the work of Poppy Treffry, whose book I had bought on Friday, a really delicious book, filled with great ideas.