Toy Dragon Therapy - Coldham Style

Hello there Everyone:  Cy Bear back again and delighted to be so.

This post is being prepared somewhat later than usual because Isobel was out at the Parish Barbecue held every year to celebrate the Feast of St. Barnabas, the patron of the Nottingham Catholic Cathedral, which is the family church.  The Barbecue is held on the nearest Sunday to that Feast Day, and this year it was slightly marred by heavy rain, but it didn't dampen anyone's spirits.

Then Isobel had to arrange the departure of my temporary friend, AJ, the Orange Dragon.  His treatment has been successfully completed - but did take her longer than she expected, because she found him quite difficult to wrestle when doing his arms.  However, the "battle" was successfully achieved yesterday evening, and he was wrapped in the plastic bag he came in and placed in the cardboard carton in which he travelled to meet us.

This is what AJ looked like upon arrival.  His arms were very floppy and Isobel had been asked to try to make them look more like his legs if possible.  More stuffing seemed to be at the root of AJ's unhappy condition, so as we needed a re-supply, more was ordered from our suppliers of this material - F. Aldous Ltd, who are based in Manchester and are the source of  everything seemingly needed by crafters, no matter their particular project. To date,  we've only purchased polyester fibre for our toys stuffing, and some rug wool last year when Isobel was asked to complete a latch hook rug on behalf of her fellow residents.  We'd actually not heard of F. Aldous before, but thanks to the internet, Isobel discovered that they've been in business since 1886.  The required polyester fibre duly arrived on Monday, June 6 - as I told you in my chat with you last week, and Isobel got down to dealing with AJ.  (That was, after she'd completed existing piglet oriented work - of which more anon!)

First of all, we removed the black sock-like things on his feet, which showed Isobel how she could get the legs firmed up. (She had checked with MsLA, our customer, that she didn't really mind them going).  By making a small hole in the existing seam at the end of each leg, she

removed some of the existing stuffing (up to the elbow of each leg).  The existing stuffing was found to be kapok filling, and since it looked to be in good condition, Isobel left well alone and added some of our own polyester fibre so that the legs could be firmer and enable AJ to sit more upright. 

Under other circumstances, existing kapok used in older toys than AJ looks is taken out all together:  but AJ doesn't look to be that old -  that is compared with some of the nearly 100 year old Bears who have been treated in our Stuffed Toy Animal Restoration Clinic 

- https://www.etsy.com/shop/COLDHAMCUDDLIES?ref=hdr_shop_menu&section_id=10242697 

From the angle of this picture, Isobel noticed that the arms did seem to have similar elbow shapes to those in the legs, so she decided to emphasise these when redoing the arms.  You can also see that AJ's head is a little "wonky" and it became obvious as she was undoing each arm that the shoulders too needed some strengthening as well.  So, not only did the arms come off, 

but Isobel wielded her Quic-Unpic tool and made holes in the shoulders on each side of the body and stuffed more polyester fibre in among the existing kapok, making the shoulders and neck a lot firmer.  AJ's head did not require any more attention than that - he just needed a firmer platform on which it could sit more upright.

Then came the job of attacking each arm. Once the kapok had been removed from the top of each arm, the existence of the elbow became very much obvious, so extra polyester stuffing was inserted in and around the elbow area and each arm was then attached to the body, once the upper arms had been firmed up with extra polyester as well.  Isobel sewed the back of each arm on - first matching the arms' seams to those at the shoulder and under arm area of the body.

The first arm, when finished looked like this -

You can see that the result presently is that the arm looks as though it's sticking in the air going nowhere in particular.   However, as time goes on, it is usual for polyester fibre to "settle", so Isobel feels that the arms will lower themselves, and end up resting on the tops of each of AJ's thighs.  (This process could be helped by the angle at which AJ is lying inside the cardboard carton too!)

Here is AJ with both arms and neck complete. (I think he looks as though he's welcoming everyone to come and be hugged now!)    Isobel had wondered whether his tail and mane might needed extra attention, but now that he can sit more proud, decided to leave well alone, so he can "shake" them if and when it is appropriate. (It was also easier to fit him into his carton that way as well!) 

Here am I performing my traditional role as Coldham Cuddlies Mascot of saying "Goodbye" to all the Patients who pass through our Stuffed Toy Animal Restoration Clinic.   You can see just how small I look beside him!!  He's even bigger than Colin the Giant Koala!

By the way, the cream tip of AJ's mane, with its red ribbon appears behind my left ear - and that's part of his tail, together with it's red ribbon behind us both on the left of the picture!!

 I'm expecting that Isobel will be back on the Nursery Mobile production line this week, so watch this space.  In the interim, she's dressed two of the extra Pink Piglets she made when constructing the Piglet Mobile earlier this month. (Please see the earlier comment!)  They're going to form part of a new Piglet offer - by joining the Pink Piglets dressed in Green garments already in our Shop under a new Listing - leaving the existing White Fleece Piglets dressed in black and white gear under the existing one.  Since she's in the Piglet mode, they may get joined by some more White Fleece Piglets, dressed in another colour than the black and white our existing Twins are shown in the Shop.  The new Piglets have been dressed in Blue garments - and we'll show them in a future post here.

Until the next time then:  meanwhile have a great week everyone!  

Your Friend, Cy Bear.

Some More Piglets have arrived in the Coldham Cuddlies Shop

Good afternoon Everyone! 

Cy Bear once again wishing everyone a really good afternoon.

As ever, we've been busy this week, so I'll get weaving here straight away.  Isobel has cut out, sewn and now finished our third Nursery Mobile.  It's just been listed in our Toy Shop (www.etsy.com/shop/COLDHAMCUDDLIES) and here are some shots used to illustrate it on the Etsy.com site.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/398835753/piglet-mobile-pink-piglet-nursery-mobile?ref=shop_home_active_1

These were taken last night under electric light, so Isobel decided to take some others this afternoon, after her lunch, just to provide another "look".  Again, as some of last week's photos of our Polar Bear Mobile show, they were taken outside and therefore not necessarily in a "normal" situation for what is essentially an indoor object - but, we're talking toys, and imagination here, so why not?

Back ground being buildings and garden surrounding our home

Having now got three Nursery Mobile offerings in the Shop, Isobel is breaking off the production line for a day or two, so she can concentrate on AJ the Orange Dragon - presently languishing in her bedroom as a Patient in our Soft Animal Toy Restoration Clinic.  She's ordered a re-supply of polyester fibre - due to be delivered sometime on Monday (6th June) and she's planning on finding out what it will cost for AJ to travel to the Isle of Wight - where his Forever Home is located.

She's going to get prices from the courier delivering the polyester fibre tomorrow, as well as an estimate from the courier we used to send Colin the Giant Koala.         (I  last wrote about him in this post - http://coldhamcuddliescalling.blogspot.co.uk/2015/11/third-time-lucky-for-colin-koala.html - ).

A side view of AJ when he arrived.

She received an email notification that their carriage rates had recently been increased, so she's just making sure.

An additional reason for doing this is because AJ the Dragon has similar dimensions to Colin (the Koala), so it makes sense to get a price comparison for AJ's onward journey.  There's going to be a refund due to MsLA,  our Customer - and as you may recall, we like to over-estimate our Patient therapies' costs, so this can happen where feasible.  Isobel wants to make sure she gets a good price for AJ's travel arrangements.  She may well also check the price of Royal Mail's Parcel Force too - which is the way he arrived here a couple of week's ago.  That way, a proper price comparison can happen!

The parcel from Romo Fabrics that I mentioned in last week's post also arrived - as promised - early last week, and turned out to be off-cuts of the Laughing Owl fabric we were planning on buying from the factory.

Mommy Hedgehog

Baby Hedgehog

There's enough for a couple of Baby and Mommy Hedgehogs, so we can postpone ordering more from Romo Fabrics for a month or two - even though, we need to replace Daddy and a Baby or two soon.

That's it for this week, everyone.  We've got what feels like summer today - and already, I gather folks are saying it's HOT.  They've all be complaining that it was too cold!  Humans never seem to be satisfied!

See you all soon - and here's wishing you all a wonderful week - wherever you are reading this!

Your friend, Cy Bear.

Introducing some more new Coldham Cuddlies Toys - and some updates from last week's post too

Good afternoon everyone - Cy Bear returning to do his bit for the Blog this week-end.

Isobel has been busy, busy all week - when she hasn't been shopping (on her own, or being ferried by Clare and GrandsonE) - making yet another Nursery Mobile for the Shop - www.Etsy.com/shop/COLDHAMCUDDLIES (in case you had forgotten).

https://www.etsy.com/listing/397964269

This time, they feature Polar Bears hanging from a polystyrene circular frame encased in yellow polyester satin ribbon.  The Bears are attached to the frame by green and white check polyester cotton 3mm wide ribbons, each with a knot between Bear and Frame (to allow for any adjustments to height of the former when they eventually find their Forever Homes).

Isobel actually took some photographs of the latest Cuddlies yesterday afternoon - but it was getting late and the light was beginning to fade.  So, even though Nursery Mobiles do not usually appear in a woodland setting, she decided to take advantage of some sunshine today, and took these, which have also been used in our Shop Listing, (see above reference)  which was published in the last hour or two.  These have the Nursery Mobile strung from a branch of a cedar tree in the gardens surrounding our Apartment Complex, and the Polar Bears are sitting on one of the strategically located wood garden benches on which the residents are encouraged to sit!!

Here are individual photographs of all 4 Bears, who would not keep still - because there was a slight breeze blowing at the time the pictures where taken.

It's a pleasure for me to welcome a new Patient to the Stuffed Animal Toy Restoration Clinic - ( https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/79124185).   He arrived, as announced, on Tuesday, last week and we were told by MsLA that his name is AJ.  He's currently sitting in the Lloyd Loom Chair in Isobel's bedroom, and together with the large cardboard box he came in, is taking up a large part of that room.

AJ has had his preliminary diagnosis and his proposed treatment agreed.  The plan is for this to begin the week beginning 6th June, 2016 - because Isobel has still got some more mobile preparation/sewing planned, and she wants to get them on the way before AJ has his therapy.  It basically requires a lot of stuffing, and his neck and legs have got somewhat "squishy".  The result is that they're not holding him up very satisfactorily.  His arms are likely to get similar treatment, and he has a mane and a tail, which might benefit from some stitching in place.  Doubtless, the therapy will form the basis of a future post here!  (Our supply of Polyester stuffing is running low too, so Isobel will be getting some more after the Bank Holiday.  One can never tell just how much more stuffing a large animal toy like AJ will actually use when we are doing the treatment - and we're going to need plenty more so Isobel and her "To Do" List can be re-united, and the work completed!)

Then on Saturday, Isobel was delighted to pick up an email from the PR Officer from Romo Fabrics Limited - from whence the Laughing Owl faux fur fabric was purchased to make our current Hedgehog Family.

Apparently, the firm is having a spring clean of their stocks, and have come across some "small pieces" of faux fur which they wondered if  Isobel would like!  Unfortunately, the message was not seen by Isobel until Saturday morning, by which time the firm had closed for the May Bank Holiday week-end.  So, we will have to wait until Tuesday before communications between Isobel and the PR Office can begin.

We discovered when we made the acqaintance of Romo Fabrics last year, that much of the faux fur fabric we'd been using for our Cuddlies to date had actually originated from the firm.  You may recall that we'd been getting a regular twice-yearly supply from a soft furnishing factory in Frome, Somerset, when we lived in Wiltshire and Romo Fabrics had been their long-time supplier!  Small world isn't it?  It's a much more convenient arrangement now - as Isobel now lives a mere 7-10 minutes away by 'bus, instead of having to rely on friends (or having to drive when she and Peter had their car).  That journey used to involve a 24 mile round trip each time!!

We're hoping to be able to combine the delivery of these items, with a re-supply of the Laughing Owl faux fur fabric.  We've only got enough in stock here for a couple more Parent Hedgehogs (or three Baby Hedgehogs) before our initial supply run out.  Isobel had some difficulties in transporting the initial roll of fabric on the local 'buses.  Whilst quite possible, and better done when the vehicle is not too crowded, if the firm's delivery van can do the job for her, it would obviously be a better option all round.  A 60" width fabric fixed around a heavy cardboard roll is not the most easy object to get in and out of - and sit down with - in a public vehicle!!

We'll keep you posted as to what happens - never you fear.  Meanwhile, as many of our Followers, like us, are enjoying a long week-end (with Memorial Day celebrations in the United States of America in particular), I'll end by sending good wishes to everyone having an extra day's holiday this week.

Have a good week Everybody - when it starts on Tuesday.  Your friend, Cy Bear.

Updates on last week's post: plus the long-promised pictures around Newark Town Centre

Hello Everybody - Cy Bear just calling in, with updates on the items I shared with you last week.


The Grey Plush Ladies' Slippers left us for Port Glasgow, Scotland (not Edinburgh, Scotland as I inadvertently told you last week) on Wednesday late morning.  We've learned that the Macaw Parrot pattern is en route to us from Denver, Colorado.  Finally, Isobel has completed the creation of three more Monkeys - pictured below - which still need to be listed in our Shop (www.Etsy.com/shop/COLDHAMCUDDLIES).

Isobel nipped out after she'd had lunch this afternoon - just in case the sunshine disappeared totally for the day. Now that the weather is turning warmer she'll be taking outdoor photographs of our Cuddlies as she makes them and this one (together with others that will be used when the Monkey Toys are listed) will be in our Shop later this evening, if she has time - or sometime tomorrow.  (These little guys are made with a slightly lighter colour plush - and, because there's not much of it in store, I think these fellow will be listed as being Limited Editions).

Oh, before I go - we're expecting a New Patient in our Coldham Cuddlies Animal Toy Restoration Clinic.  Isobel was contacted by a MsLA - based somewhere in the UK - who wants us to work on the hind legs of a Horse Toy, measuring 5ft x 1ft 8".  His travel to us has been booked by Royal Mail Parcel Force - beginning Monday (May 23), he's travelling Express Post and should therefore be with us sometime before mid-day on Tuesday, May 24th.  In the meantime, Isobel has got to figure out how we'll fit our Patient in - but if we could manage Count Rusty de Benj (Philippa's Giant Teddy Bear who was a Patient in 2013 or 2014 - I can't quite remember as I type this) - I expect we'll be somehow coping!   I'll keep you posted! Now Isobel will take over to tell you more about her visit a few weeks ago to Newark Town Centre, which took place after she, Clare and GrandsonE had visited the ruins of Newark Castle (about which we posted three week's ago (see our post dated 8th May, 2016).

Greetings everyone.  Sorry for the delay in posting these pictures, but what with one thing and another, life is becoming pleasantly hectic once more.  Long may it continue.

Newark is an historic Town situated just off the main A1 London-Edinburgh road and you can find out a lot about it if you Google it, or go to Wikipaedia and "read all about it" there.  So there's not much point in my giving you a precis here.  Just to repeat what I said in my previous post, though - it's about six miles north of where Peter and I lived with our girls for 12 years after we returned to the UK after spending 12 years in Western Canada.  I now live just over one hour's drive (when the traffic allows!) from the Town, and the day we visited was one of the Market Days which takes place in the Town Centre.  

The Town Centre, with its Market Place is reached by several different streets and this is one of them.  For pretty obvious reasons, when the Market is in situ, it's a pedestrian free locataion!

The ancient Town Hall building forms the backdrop for part of the Tuesday Market - on the day we visited.

Another view of the Market Place, with the historical buildings currently occupied by shops and other businesses in the Town.  The building on the immediate right of this photograph just happens to be the one in which my personal Bank is located, and immediately between that building and its neighbour, you can catch a glimpse of St. Mary's Parish Church.  Yes, the cobbled streets are still in evidence (although a somewhat modern take on the originals).  Still, murder to walk on when wet or icy, and uncomfortable when dry.  But, it does add to the historical authenticity of the place!!!

The magnificent Church Tower and Steeple is at the other end of the buildings shown in the previous photograph.

Many of the original buildings in the Town remain occupied, and this one is a particularly good example of the ancient architecture of the Town - although, alas, the business which once used it is now no longer extant.  However, it does give you a view of the history of the Town.
Do hope you've enjoyed this short visit - and once again, I apologise for the delay in letting you complete the viewing of this lovely local town in Middle England.
See you all next week - I just wonder what on earth will be happening during the coming days this time!!  Have a good one everyone.
Isobel

A Cuddly finds a Forever Home: a pair of Slippers get made - oh, and an Enquiry about Goats

Hello Everybody!  Cy Bear being allowed back for a short while again this week!
Basically, we've had quite a lot of action on the Cuddlies front(s) this week, and I can tell you about some of them before Isobel returns with the promised photographs of Newark Town Centre - as she mentioned in last week's post. First of all, Isobel had to commence work on a pair of Grey Rabbit Head Novelty Slippers - having found the correct size our Customer required.  She therefore used one of the stored set of insoles which form the basis of every adult slipper we offer, and cut out the plastic backed fabric required to begin the process.

Then during the evenings this week, she set about cutting out and sewing the sides and top of the slippers, so that they now look like this:

The slipper on the left of the picture has had the elastic threaded through the ribbon trim, while the other one awaits that addition.  Isobel will then cut out the Rabbit Heads and ears, and once they've been sewn, they will attached in front of the knotted ribbons and the bows tied.  We are hoping that they will be en route to Edinburgh, Scotland by mid-week, this week.   Then one of Isobel's cousins rang her on Tuesday to say that she was going into Hospital to have a major operation on Saturday of this last week, for which she had been on a waiting list for over two years.  Isobel and MrsJC had been talking about a Coldham Cuddly to help her in her recovery, because we had got the impression that her name was reaching the top of "the waiting list".  The summons came somewhat quicker than anticipated so the conversation ended by MrsJC saying that she didn't think there would be time for a Cuddly to reach her before she needed it.   Well, Isobel rose to the challenge, without disagreeing with MrsJC, and actually managed to wrap and send off our Fox in a Green Dress the next day (Wednesday).  Using the Royal Mail Special Delivery service, which guarantees delivery before 1300 the day after dispatch, 

But she didn't get ready for her journey without our traditional farewell ceremony taking place.  Here is a photograph of our Fox Cuddly, with me giving her a bit of a hug before she left us for her Forever Home.  MrsJC rang us on Thursday evening to say that she had arrived safely, she was over the moon with her and would it be OK if she paid us when she got home.  Naturally, we agreed and we now await news of how MrsJC has got on with her latest brush with the UK National Health Service.  (MrsJC told us that already our Fox has a name - Freda, after a friend of MrsJC's Mother.  Incidentally, that Lady is 98 and looking forward to getting her Card from the Queen in two year's time!).  

Our Fox in a Green Dress is a Limited Edition version of our Cuddly Foxes.  There's enough fabric left to make just one more - so yet another item to the "To Make List" has been added!

Then on Thursday we received an enquiry via the Etsy Custom Request system asking if Isobel could make between 5-10 Small Goats.  (He gave us a unit price he waslooking for and asked for one about the size of a hand.  Which would be about the same dimensions as our Baby Rabbits, and new Monkeys).   The Enquirer is a Film Maker, and wanted the Goats as a gift for the backers of his film and we got the impression that it might lead to a need for many more Goats down the road.   Now, initially, Isobel was quite excited - even though we don't currently have a Goat Pattern.  Thanks to Google and Etsy.com, that's not now a problem, and when initially starting the research, we found just how complicated Goats could be to make up as a Cuddly Toy.   Isobel is really not geared to make multiple orders - and we've got a lot of replacement sewing on her books to do, as well as several new Cuddlies she wants to make.  So, Isobel wrote back to the gentleman, saying how flattered she was that he felt we could meet his needs, but that her target market was more for the one-off, small order customer and she regretfully said "No Thanks" - but did add, she hoped he would bear Coldham Cuddlies in mind if he, his family and friends, or his film colleagues were in need of a special present or two!!  We wait in eager anticipation.........! Then, on the same day, we were asked by a fellow team member from the FriendsRUs Team on Etsy.com. (https://www.etsy.com/teams/24793/etsy-friendsrus ) if we might be able to make a Parrot for a friend of hers who lives in the UK.  Now, yet again, we didn't have a pattern for a Parrot (Isobel did a rapid check through our Library of Toy Patterns), but she did find this one when she put "Parrot Toys" into the Etsy Search box. Well, after seeing this, Isobel sent an estimate to her Team Mate friend.  It's a bit difficult to actually give a firm price on these occasions, and the figure Isobel quoted was a "bit pricey" for our Friend, especially as she was already sending something to the intended recipient from her own Etsy Shop  - https://www.etsy.com/shop/chachachic.  However, Isobel likes the pattern so much, she's ordered it - and it's on the way (from Denver, Co,)!  So, even though our Team Friend wasn't interested this time around, she has said she'd like to see the "finished article", and suggested that we might use more than just these two colours of Blue and Yellow.  Isobel agrees, and is looking forward to adding this Macaw to the ever-growing To Make List for the Coldham Cuddlies.  She also said that there are a lot of "Parrot lovers" around - so who knows what might occur once a Coldham Macaw arrives in the Family!  She has a point!!  When made, the Seller requests that we attribute the pattern to her Shop - which we are more than happy to do - and has said that there's not problem in Isobel making a Cuddlies version in different colours.  Thus, when the Coldham Macaw is introduced, the description will contain the following - copyright 2014, Jennie Taylor Artful Zeal

Now we both agree that this post is long enough - without the Newark Town photographs.  So Isobel will be back with those - and any other news bulletins that may occur - next week.  It would appear that the time Isobel spends "playing around" on the computer on Etsy, Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter might just be beginning to pay off.  We'll keep you posted - naturally.! So, until next week - hope it's a good one for all of you.  Your Friend:  Cy Bear

PS:  The Parrot pic stubbornly refused to be placed in the centre of this post - hence it appears to be on the left side of the page at this draft stage.  That could change, when the bulletin is published. Isobel just doesn't understand all this internet stuff, apparently.  (Meanwhile, it's completely mysterious to me!!)

A new Coldham Cuddlies line appearing - and starting a visit to Newark, Nottinghamshire.

Hello there Everyone - Cy Bear calling in, before Isobel takes over! It's been a while, but just because I don't appear every time doesn't mean that I'm not on duty on behalf of the Cuddlies and over-seeing what should be happening in the Shop (www.etsy.com/Shop/COLDHAMCUDDLIES - just in case any of you had forgotten! - while Isobel has been visiting venues all round us here in Kirkby in Ashfield (and there's more to come later here).  
However, Isobel has almost completed work on a prototype new Coldham Cuddlies offering - Nursery Mobiles.  She's spent a few evenings recently making furry Baby Monkeys, which look a little like Orangutangs - but we're going to continue calling them Monkeys (the other name is a bit difficult to spell, let alone type!).  While the Baby Toys have worked well, she's not quite so sure about the mobile frame, but is almost satisfied.  We thought we'd give you a sneak preview, before finally listing them in the Shop in the next few days - after a bit more work has been done on the mobile frame.

The Baby Monkeys are going to be strung up by 3mm Yellow Satin Polyester Ribbons, one of which you can see at the top of the mobile frame in the photograph taken above.  The lighting is not all it could be, but it was taken late in the evening a couple of nights ago, just to be able to show you what is in the process of arriving in the Shop.

The loop from which the whole mobile is strung from in this picture is being held in place with the first thing Isobel could think of using when she was producing the frame - thumb tacks.  Now anyone who knows anything about those will know that they don't take stress very well, even if there are four of them in the same area!!  Also, if they are removed, there are then holes left in the frame (made from polystyrene)  where they had been fixed!!!  So, Isobel did try to sew some covering stitches to hide the holes, and also give the hanging loop some strength.  While that has worked to some extent, the stitching is not to her high standards, and some further work is needed to hide even that attempt.  (It may result in this first attempt being throw away in the end - but that's what protypes are all about, I'm told!!)
The mobile is also not strung from a hook (Isobel has purchased plastic ones, with a sucker fitting for use on ceilings when purchased, which will accompany the final product).  The photos above show the product hanging from one of the side lamps in the living room, which is also providing the spotlight effect - not altogether successfully!!  However you get the drift?  Hopefully!
Now to some pictures taken recently during a visit made by Isobel, Clare and GrandsonE when going to meet with a very good friend of Clare's who works in the Town of Newark, Nottinghamshire - which is about an hour and a bit's drive from where we all live.  It's a Market Town with Roman origins (according to Wikipaedia) and situated on the old Roman Road called The Fosse Way.  The Town is built around a Castle - now a ruin - and used to be the centre of the wool and cloth trade many moons ago.  Nowadays, it is on the East Coast Main Line railway from London to Edinburgh, and the A1 road between London and Scotland.  
That's enough of the background, I think.  So, I'll hand the rest of the post today (and probably for at least another bulletin) to Isobel.  Good being back with you, even though it is for a short time!!
Your Friend, Cy Bear

Hello there!  
Cy Bear mentioned Newark Castle just now, and here is a picture of one of the aspects of what remains of the original building.  It lies beside the River Trent, and is not far from a newly opened Civil War Museum - which features the story of the Cavaliers and Roundheads led respectively by Charles I and Oliver Cromwell.  (That's another story all together!!).  You can see cars parked on the side of one of the roads into the Town, and we were approaching this from a car park situated on the near side of the picture.

The inside of the Castle grounds now feature lawns and gardens, and on the day we were there, there were several parties of primary school children being led and guided by a mix of teachers and parents.  There was also a wedding taking place - because the Town's Registry Office is situated on the Town side of the Castle grounds.

This picture of the front of the Registry Office is actually taken from the street that runs in front of the building, and forms part of the Inner Road around the Market Place and other shopping areas of the Town.

This is the rather impressive entrance to the Registry Office - making a rather imposing background for wedding photos, although the day we were there, the wedding party chose to have theirs taken on the Castle garden side of the building.

  This is the first view of the Castle one gets when entering the Gardens on the eastern side of the site, and gives one an impression of how grand it must have been in its original existence.  This picture, together with the photographs that follow, are courtesy of Clare's mobile - thanks to my camera batteries choosing to close down, and my forgetting to have spares handy for such an occasion!!

Had you walked round the left of the last picture, this is the view that one would have!  Given that these walls were built in the 1500's (I think - my history is getting a little hazy these days!), they've lasted pretty well, really, have they not?

This is the wall and garden from the opposite end - from that shown in the second photograph of the Newark Castle series - (taken by me, after we'd walked into the Market Place and I'd purchased some replacement batteries).  You can see the little groups of children sitting on the grassy bank and it was lovely to see some of them dressed  up for the occasion!  School seems to be so much more fun than I remember it being!!

If you walk to the railings, you look over the River Trent and towards the northern side of the Town.

So that this bulletin doesn't get too long - and so that we have something to blog about next week, I'll close this dissertation down for today.  Hope you've enjoyed our trip to Newark Castle as much as we did - we were jolly lucky in the sunshine, although the wind was pretty strong and still very chilly. 
(Incidentally, when Peter and I first returned to the UK with Clare and her sister, Philippa, after 12 years spent in Alberta, Western Canada, we actually bought a house about 6 miles down the A1 road from Newark, towards London.  As often happen, even though we visited the town on an almost weekly basis, this was the first time that I'd really spent any time in the Castle Grounds - and we left the area in 1998!!!)  So this visit to the Castle and its grounds was long over due!)
See you all next week - hope you all have a great one, and that everyone of my many American Mother Friends have had a great Mother's Day today.  As I type this on Sunday evening, it's heading towards 1730 hours BST, so it's probably just beginning for many of you across the Atlantic!
Isobel