for He is good;
His love endures forever.
Psalms 118:29
Today in the late morning autumn mist we got on a full train.
” No reserved seat on our ticket, Sandy.” Said Roy. Then we were tipped off.
” You have 20 seconds to get on to the train behind. Out this door into the next.”
“Still going to Manchester? ” I said with a rising voice.
” Yes, one train pulling another.”
Perfect, this train had few passengers and just as comfortable. Oxford then Banbury sheep, two deer, cows shiny wet with flooded fields the greens, browns, yellow brown and yes winter wheat coming up flashed by.
I love this neither here nor there with the mist covered earth held by speed, going past the window. Leaves half-hearted in agreement that winter should come hang green and yellow.
Soon, we were going through Leamington Spa. Bicycles stacked on top of each other. How do they get them down? Leaves more yellow here. Coventry some Budlia still blooming by the track. Then Birmingham International train station. The NEC. We are not going all the way to Manchester it is the Motorhome and Caravan Show 2024 we want to visit.
There are 1,000 vehicles and over 80 leading brands, but it was not this that impressed. Two things brought back memories a book and a small van.
The van was a Laura Ashley caravan.
I have typed it up for you to read more easily.
How beautiful things start in a small way satisfies.
” With 70 years of design excellence, Laura Ashley is one of the world’s best-loved home and lifestyle brands. Its journey can be traced back to 1953 when Laura and Bernard Ashley began hand painting fabric on their kitchen table in their tiny flat in Pimlico after being inspired by a Women’s Institute exhibition at the V&A museum. Founded on a rich design heritage and traditional values of quality and originality… Our style and design are constantly evolving to remain distinctive and inspirational, evoking the alluring beauty of the British countryside and a timeless mood of peace and serenity…”
My mind went back far away in time and space to a sun swept beach with family, and a pink, well- loved, flower covered Laura Ashley dress. I will put these pictures here with love and a lump in my throat. Mum and Dad are no longer with us. Our sons are all grown. We had so much in them.
Then there was this person. How could we have forgotten Matt Baker. He was in our living room most evenings after the news he and Alex Jones did the One show 2011 to 2020 also BBC One’s Country file since 2009 and quite a while back from that, Blue Peter 1999 to 2006.
How homely, friendly, patiently, he signed books after a pleasant explanation of how he used a dictaphone to have his wife write his book. His father, his son, and he himself have Dyslexia. He was recently tested with his son and would need 50% extra time to do an exam should he need to. He coped by underlining main words, using blue paper, and when interviewing, he used it to his advantage as he followed a natural flow of questions.
His new book explains how important the countryside is to him. I look forward to reading it.
It has been a long but wonderful day.
Take care,
Sandy 🙂
Ps
You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.
Maya Angelou
The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.
Walt Disney
Wow, I used to see Laura Ashley clothing when I worked in retail so many years ago. I had no idea about her background, or if even there was a person behind the brand. Great post!!
I’m so glad you ‘ met’ her at last! Thank you that you thought it was great! Sandy🙂
What a lovely dress Sandy! I could not stay out of her shops. Miss it very much. What fun you had at the exhibition
Thank you. It was good to be there.
It was a good day out. Laura Ashley, when she opened, was very different. I miss her shops ,too.