I can't wait until Wednesday for this post and as it certainly ain't gonna be short and sweet it wouldn't be "allowed" anyhow!!
Our beloved leader, Queen Julia of the Desks was kind enough to ask me to stay over on Friday night, and I took a day's leave to go down early - I offered my services for last minute help prepping in return. Sadly British Rail (or whoever they are these days!) had other ideas.
Safe to say that a fatality on the line at one of the stations I have to travel through, and then later (much later as it turned out) a tree on the line right outside the station Julia collects me from, caused cancellations, diversions, delays and woop woop, eventually a train to Andover...2 hours late. Hey ho. I'm laughing now... kind of.
8.30 Saturday morning saw me at "home" - working on the floor - making a banner for the door - hope you all appreciated the pretty decorated border (ha ha)
Deskers start to arrive - Maggie (Silvercrafter) and behind her, Debbie and Ali.
Jan already at work in the kitchen, making tea and coffee - Di (in pink) and MaryAnne collecting orders!!
sitting is one of the hubbies... sorry, can't remember whose, or his name! In the hat is Dianne (Morti)'s daughter (whose name I also didn't catch.. Dianne just visible behind her, Shaz,, MaryAnne and Kyla
Christine, Chris and Cindy
Lynda (checking out the sale table) Kyla and Shaz
our camera-shy leader Julia making the "welcome" speech
and Jan (LLJ) receiving a thank you gift - she does all the hard work (cooking) for the day. Love you, Jan!!
Group shot - Mr LLJ, Gordon, comes to take group shots - there will be lots more on lots of your own blogs too, I know.
Jan showing off her pinny, as she lays out lunch (wonderful as always, Jan..)
Ali and Lynda tucking in..
MaryAnne, Dianne and Shaz
back to work - at the table next to Dianne and MaryAnne are Lisa-Jane and Fiona
Kyla's well protected workspace - at last, someone else who makes as much mess as I do!
Ali and Jan - Jan is helping Ali with some crafting - scissors at the ready!
the lovely Zoe and Lisa who came to help her. Love the blue wheels, Zoe!
Lisa-Jane and Fiona, hard at work
Nicky (Minxy) working so hard, concentrating!
SO glad you made it, Nicky, well done you!
Maggie Debbie and Cindy
Debbie and Julia deep in conversayion (lots of that going on all day)
MaryAnne, Cindy and Chris
ooh, here we are, home again... case not quite as tidily packed this way, but it did all fit without me having to use the spare bag!!
I kept the banner - Julia didn't want to keep it till next year, can you imagine?! and my gorgeous tote I bought, made by Jan, with the money going to their chosen charity this year, the Alzheimers Society, and my raffle prize..I'll show it properly on Wednesday (if I remember!)
close up of the tote, and Jan's "ATC" - a lavender bag..
Photos of the crafting I did (because I did do something other than chat, eat and take photos) to come in a separate post...
Thank you to Julia and Jan especially for all your hard work this year again, and to all of you fellow deskers who came - it was lovely to see those of you who've been before, and those who came from far and wide this time. Now I have made more friends!
24 comments:
OMG. I forgot that yesterday was THE BIG DAY. Thank you for sharing so many wonderful photos. Glad you got there eventually. Ali x
What a great post! I'm so pleased you had a wonderful time, especially after all the difficulties you had getting there on Friday.
I'm thrilled to see this post. I think there's more thrill in this than the actual anniversary. What a wonderful time you all must have had. It looks like a few more showed up this year. Thanks so much for sharing these photos with us mere mortals.
Well certainly looks like you had a good time and a great attendance too.
Sam xx
Why are there so many daft photos of me, lol???? Ok, I do know that whenever a camera is pointed at me, I do something stupid!
Great pics of a fab day...I really hope that folk enjoyed themselves :-)
Hugs, LLJ xxxx
Smashing post Helen. Thanks for sharing all your wonderful photos and showing us what a good time was had by all. Pity you had such a horrendous journey to get there but at least you had a fab day to make it worth it.
Hugs
Lesley Xx
Wow what a great time, love the tote. It would have been the wrong week for me, laid up in bed feeling horrid. BJ
What a great post! I almost feel as if I was there! Sorry to hear about the difficult journey there; but great that things went so smoothly for your return! Thanks for sharing all those lovely pics! Enjoy the rest of the BH!Julie Ann xxx
Brilliant update.....my desk was SO messy and I actually made nothing! Lots of chatting and cake though!
Kyla
Oh great post H...didn't notice you going to the trouble of photographing nearly everyone....I was so horrified by the number of cameras that suddenly pointed at me when I stood on the chair!! I'm absolutely sure Jan agrees when I say thwt we're always so chuffed that you all want to make the journey!
Fab pics of a fab day! I took some but not as many as before! Was lovely to see you again. Glad I had my blue wheels to keep me off my feet. Tc Zo xx
Thanks for sharing your day with those of us that weren't there. It is fun to put faces to names we see on WOYWW each week.
Fantastic Pictures looks like you all had a blast. LOL at Julia I'm with her I'd freak out a little if a lot of cameras where pointed in my direction where to hide when your doing a speech thanks for sharing hugs Nikki C
Looks like you all had a fab day! X
Popping to say a big THANK YOU for all your patience as I asked all those questions and nosed among your paints etc. I am still amazed and blown away by how your work just grew into such beautiful pages.
Thanks again
x
Looks like you had a fabulous time once you got there!
Great post Helen. It was lovely to see you. Thanks for sharing all your wonderful photos of such a happy day x
Helen thanks for sharing the day, was wonderful to see everyone, pity you had so many happenings before you got there and hope the trip home was unhindered.
Hugs Eliza
Fab photos of our brilliant day! So happy to have seen one of your journals and I've just seen your Paris pages - fabulous (or should I say magnifique!) Thanks for becoming 'a follower', hugs, Chrisx
ps hubby is mine but wants to remain nameless!!! lol!
Thanks Helen for a brill post which is especially good for folks like me who cannot get there. Lovely to see so many of you.
Hugs, Neet xx
Oh, well done, Helen! Your write-up and photos are a perfect diary of the day! It was such a pleasure to read your recap and put faces with names!! See you soon at the online ATC swap party!! Hugs, Darnell
Looks like you all had a fantastic time!!xx
Lovely to see all the photos of shiny, happy crafters! Thank you for sharing the fun of the day (glad to hear BR didn't completely mess it up for you!).
Alison xx
Looks like you had a fabulous time!
Post a Comment