Friends go to the Summer Dickens Festival

What lovely weather we had for the summer Dickens Festival.  I was so glad it was not wet, but I did feel the heat a bit.. The Friends’ stall was in the craft fair in the castle gardens.  We had the use of a gazebo loaned by the Rochester City Centre Forum, so many thanks to them.  Being dark red it rather warmed us up sitting underneath it, so a pretty tablecloth as a back drop and a white tablecloth as a fly sheet, served to keep it a little cooler.

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We were selling a donated collection of Cicely Mary Barker Flower Fairy plates, a collection of Lilliput model houses, and a lovely selection of jewellery, also donated, and dressed up in boxes as far as possible.  Also, in a pretty wicker basket was a selection of lavender bags made with donated lavender, fabric and ribbon.  We still have some of everything left and will probably have a stall in the marquee at the Dickensian Christmas.  We made £185 which helped to offset the loss from the raffle which did not happen as the Summer Ball was sadly cancelled.

My grateful thanks go to Jacquie, Lynne, Terri and Jennifer, who covered for Peter and me at the lunchtimes so that we could take part in the parade and grab a bite to eat somewhere quiet.

Peter’s crop of this year’s lavender is looking good, so I will make some more lavender bags for the Christmas stall.  Once again I shall be appealing for pretty fabric and ribbon, and unwanted jewellery and small jewellery boxes.  Items can be left at the house for me to collect.
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We were graced by the presence of the new mayor Cllr Steve Iles and his mayoress Cllr Josie Iles, seen here in the photo with Peter Homewood and myself, and Little Bo Peep with her lavender bags.

Update thanks to Sue Haydock