A Silver Celebration

I'm just catching up on my blog after being away with my hubby for a few days. It was our Silver Wedding Anniversary and we decided to celebrate by taking a few days off, staying in the lovely town of Ludlow. My post will have to be brief as I am at that stage of returning from a few days away with that feeling that I shall never catch up with everything at home again!...We returned late on Monday night and I then had to be up bright and early to open the shop as usual yesterday...Today I'm trying to get straight, but failing miserably, so thought I'd type a quick post to show you some of the sights of Shropshire and Herefordshire from our weekend...

Ludlow town centre - including 'The Feathers' hotel..
And Ludlow Castle...

There are lots of alleyways and half timbered properties to discover...

As well as a regular market.

What I wasn't expecting to find was a busy flea market and vintage fair! What a happy coincidence, as we'd booked our weekend away quite some time ago...

And there, just inside the doors of the fair was the lovely Viv, selling her wares! - And congratulations to Viv and her husband, who were also celebrating their Silver Wedding Anniversary on the same day as us!

I don't know now how I resisted, but I knew I didn't want to take too long inside the fair, as this was our weekend and I wanted hubby to enjoy it too! Too many conversations about the delights of vintage shopping can have a tiresome effect on our men sometimes, can't they?!

We did however spend a lot of time finding tea shops and sitting for a while supping copious amounts of tea, enjoying the down-time and reminiscing, and just checking that we really were correct, and that we really had been married for 25 years! Time flies...

We also spent quite a bit of time on our feet too, not only in Ludlow and Leominster, but also on a visit to Blist Hill Victorian Town.

Its a fabulous place and well worth a visit. A Victorian style town has been built around the original mines and blast furnaces on Blist Hill.

There are authentic looking shops where you can buy a few selective items that are reproductions of the kind of items that would have been found in the shops of the time...
A grocers and butchers...

The breathtaking pharmacy was of-limits, as it is being used as a film set for a new BBC TV series called the 'Victorian Pharmacy'.

The Drapers was my favourite - You would have loved it! ;-)) I took lots of photos...these are some of them:

Millinery and ribbons.

*

Luscious lace.

And the shop worker sitting at her hand cranked sewing machine making reproduction garments and bonnets to sell.

*

The sweet shop was just around the corner.

There were also original cottages which have been rebuilt, brick by brick (or stone by stone!) which you can enter inside...

Each furnished with genuine artifacts and antiques, with 'owners' to tell you all about rural life and the hardship.

Although some were a little more plush than others!

A very good day out for all ages.

Hubby and I went back to the hotel via Ironbridge, which I remember visiting with my Primary school when I was about 10 years old.

Finally, on Monday, we had to leave Ludlow, but we did so by making a full day of it, stopping off at Hay on Wye for a few hours...

And then having an evening meal at Chepstow.

*

Now, you didn't think I'd come home completely empty handed, did you?!

I bought a few souvenirs and a couple of things for the shop, including this lovely Victorian jug and bowl.

And a huge old florist's basket.

*

Yesterday was our actual anniversary and we received some lovely bouquets of flowers from family and friends...

*

And also yesterday, it was back to routine with a bump, but I had a very good day in the shop. First thing yesterday morning, there was an Easter Parade on the Market Place, where all the local primary school children sang and wore beautiful bonnets that they had each created. Parents and on-lookers enjoyed the spectacle...and some came shopping afterwards! ;-))

Just to say - I shall be closed on Good Friday this week. (Open as usual on Saturday)

I'll be back here to wish everyone a Happy Easter and to also share with you some gorgeous designer bags and cushions that I have just bought from a friend, which will be for sale in my shop as from tomorrow...Can't wait to show you - they are STUNNING!

Niki x