A great day and some more of Amy's Tour

Good afternoon everyone.Yesterday was the Writers and Readers Festival and I went to two sessions.
First up was An Hour With Peter James.

He was an excellent speaker and responded well to the interview questions so that in my opinion both readers and writers in the audience would have felt well satisfied.   His red silk socks were the first thing I noticed!   Perhaps it is obligatory for male writers of crime fiction to wear red silk socks?   Anyway that trivial item added to my satisfaction.   He was asked if he modelled any characters in his books on real life and I loved it when he said that anyone who really annoys him gets their name included in his books on a toe-tag for a body in the mortuary!

There was a gap of some hours until the next event I had booked for, so I went shopping.   Some chocolate (for gifts) and then across the harbour to Devonport to a favourite shop.

You would admire my restraint - I only purchased two books this time.  But further up the street at a little specialty stationery store I found a new fountain pen.   She is made in France and writes beautifully, so of course there had to be a new notebook to go with her.  

Lunch was at a small Japanese restaurant and my books kept me company.

Before anymore damage could be done I came back on the ferry and settled down with a coffee and a chocolate brownie to write letters with my new pen.  

Ah, bliss!   All to soon the time had passed and I was back at the events centre for 
An Hour With Stella Rimington.

She was interviewed by a prominent New Zealand journalist and therefore the emphasis was slightly more on spies than on her spy thriller novels.   She did admit that Liz Carlyle had been modelled on herself and that her daughters thought Dame Judi Dench in the Bond movies was uncannily like Dame Stella!   Dame Stella herself dismissed James Bond with the memorable "he's nothing more than a good looking paid-assassin".   Turns out that the in-book attraction between Liz Carlyle and her boss Charles Weatherby came to nothing because at a Readers Festival in Australia there was  vociferous opposition that it just wasn't on and Stella decided to change things.   Hence Maurice and the season tickets on the Eurostar.   (Can you tell I have read these books thoroughly??)  
By the way Stella Rimington turns 77 today (I know because she told us that she feared anno domini was catching up on her) and she has the most beautiful porcelain complexion and a bewitching smile.   Her education and background show in her exqusite choice of words and I just loved the way she moved her hands as she talked.   Expressive, to say the least, but I imagine she is one formidable woman.

Anyway, enough about my great day out.   I am off on a short holiday this week so will give you the next episode of the tour first.
This is the only piece on the bottom shelf of my cabinet.   I found the little buttons and immediately had the inspiration of using a strip of Afghan fabric (left over from the HDHBEM's afghanmania) to make a golliwog bag.

Back to the second shelf

This is the last M (at least currently) and was a DMC kit some years ago.  The fabric was printed like that and there was a fine gold thread to outline some of the columns.   I rather liked this series of alphabet but DMC withdrew it from sale.

This sampler bag is done on rather coarse linen but I liked the hardanger top and the strawberry toggles.   Like most of my bags it gets displayed but is never used.

Back in 1996 I stitched this C A Wells Peacock Bag -  I think that may have been what first convinced me I was capable of stitches other than a plain cross!!  I well remember stitching this on the flights to and from Sydney when I went on a business trip and having to search for a shop selling tapestry needles when I lost my one and only.  

Then these smalls are Tricia Nguyen designs circa 2005 -  here's the front and the back of the etui and the slipper scissor keeper.

Well I think that's enough photos and talk about me for today.
The HDHBEM and I are off to Papamoa Beach for a week's holiday and my goals are
1.  at least one visit to the hot springs.
2. complete the Mary Stewart Hussif and stitch the giraffe on the growth chart.
3. go for a half hour run along the beach every day (I am allowed to walk back again if I can't run both ways)
4. read the five books currently in my library bag before I visit the bookshops.
5. take the HDHBEM to the yarn store and stand over her to ensure that stash is kept to a minimum.
6. restrain myself from visiting the needlework store or if I do visit, LOOK don't BUY.

The weatherman promises cool but fine and as I will be without internet I look forward to rest and refreshment.   See you all soon