Wick (J Nicolson): Weeks 6-8, 13 October

I returned from my sojourn in southern parts on Friday afternoon.  It was a long trek, entailing overnight stops in Stirling, Southport, and Cheltenham. The final stop was Cornwall, where I visited a friend near St Austell for a few days By this time I was just happy to stop moving!  As my friend no longer drives, we took advantage of my visit by doing errands in St Austell – weighing the dog at the vets and picking up some bulky items. 

Wallace Monument from my hotel window

At the end of my visit, we filled the car with bamboo, corks, tools, music, music stands, and our luggage to drive to Woking, where we both attended the same bamboo pipes workshop.  As well as taking my friend, the bamboo and other items were to be transferred to their new keeper, who also attended. Everything packed into the car neatly, with ample space to see through the back window.

Bamboo in Cornwall

The four and a half days of the course were both intensive and relaxing.  Days were filled with lots of playing (on bamboo pipes of course), making pipes, enjoying the delicious meals, and socialising in the evening.  We were a small group of just over a dozen, and most had been on many pipe courses before at this venue.  Most attendees came from the UK, but one came from Greece, another from Switzerland, and two from the Netherlands. Two regulars from the US couldn’t make it this year. On two evenings we had ringing sessions using handchimes borrowed from my handbell group.  They loved it, and could have played for hours! 

Moving a Piano

Some of us did steal a few moments to visit the nearby shopping area.  Once two of us ventured to a local supermarket to get snacks & nibbles for evening socialising.  Another day, two of us went to a chargepoint to charge her car.  She’d just picked it up a few days previously but hadn’t used a public chargepoint; she asked if I’d go along for moral support.  We passed the time while it charged at a coffee shop across the road.

Autumn Colour in Stirling

The few brief days at Woking ended all too soon, and so I headed up the motorways again, returning to Southport for a longer visit with said friend.  One morning was occupied doing nothing, then waiting for the piano movers to arrive.  My friend had given his baby grand piano away, and the donee had arranged for it to be collected.  She later sent a video of her daughter joyfully playing it. The next day, while my friend visited his mum, I took the train to the Big City – Liverpool.  I had a good tromp around the shops, made a few purchases, and saw an upside-down house.  I’d assumed this house https://www.visitliverpool.com/listing/upside-down-house-liverpool/61389101/ was a promotion for Wicked, but further research indicates it’s an ‘interactive photo attraction’. 

Rani, Queen of all she surveys

With all the various stopovers, quite a lot of knitting was accomplished.  I have just started the gussets, after long inches of body.  The gansey measures 13 inches from the top of the ribbing to the bottom of the gusset.  With three inches of ribbing, that’s 16 inches in total.  I’m pleased to be nearly halfway done, and hope I can keep up the pace!