A weekend in London ( Caution this blog may contain Nuts ) But No Pots.

Our Neighbours here at Barrington,

Pat & Ian also have a House in Putney London.

So along with our Friends Wendy & Martin the six of us

had a weekend in London.

we got up there late on Friday night

and unknown to me Pat had arranged with my eldest Daughter Laura

for us to see a play at the National Theatre.

We got off to a cracking start, the Trains weren't running

so we had to run around the corner to catch the bus replacement service.

This wasn't it. 

as you can see the Thames river tide was out. 

We got to the theatre where Laura works,

she had managed to get us the best seats in the house to see

a play called Seasons Greetings.

it was an Allen Ackbourne play and very very funny.

and as a surprise Pat had arranged for Laura to Join us. 

By the time we came out it was dark. 

But we managed to find a pub or two, or was it three. 

This is our Neighbour Ian and Pub tour guide. 

The Royal Opera House. 

and I liked this quirky little shop

selling Frozen Yogurt. The lights were constantly changing colour. 

of the three lit buildings the one on the right as you look at this is the Savoy.

The next morning we popped into this small coffee shop in Richmond.

On the wall of fame were pictures of all sorts of famous people

who had stayed here, including Jerry Hall laid out on a couch

as me and Martin wondered around the place we happened upon

 the very same couch, and Martin was able to copy the pose

and as he laid there posing some posh people passed us and were not

 impressed, with my declaration that Martin actually had better legs. 

after lunch in a pub we had a stroll along the Thames.

where I spotted this boat workshop. 

and Marion found the perfect boat for Her.

and to top off a great weekend Martin & Wendy found

a Beautiful piece of furniture

we all crowded in while Martin did a deal.

and then we headed home to get ready for

 the wassail tonight.

So Don't miss that.

Wassail 5.30pm - 8pm

Barrington Court.

I'm Back.

I'm Back !

Having had a hectic 2010

working right up to 5pm on Christmas Eve.

I decided to take an extended break over Christmas and New Year.

Marion was off work as well so we were able to spend some

Quality Time together.

and it gave me some space to do some thinking. 

I'm going to be taking a more targeted approach in 2011. 

and aim my sights higher this year. 

Even some of my pots are going to be higher as well

with this new addition to the showroom, picked up on one of our days out. 

I also acquired a new photo booth kit

so I can take some better quality pictures of my pots. 

So Yesterday was my first day back in the workshop, and I set about

putting some oil in my pug mill, followed, by pugging 2 bins full of clay. 

To get me back in the groove I set myself a target of throwing

50 small bowls before lunch. 

I was very pleased to complete them at 12.55.

so My first target of the year was completed. 

One of my other bug bares was to get my other kiln sorted out

and Today I think I sorted it

I ordered a new thermocouple from Staffordshire Instruments

They tell me they supply them to most kiln manufacturers including my one.

so I think I've saved about £40. 

This is a picture using the new booth

I've got to iron out the background, but it came complete with

two daylight bulbs which I think will make the difference.

Loads of things lined up for the year ahead and I will add some more info

soon.

But at the moment I still have loads of new orders to make.

Happy New Year to you all

It feels like it's going to be an extremely busy one.

A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year...

To All of Our Customers

and Fellow Bloggers.

It's been a very busy, but great year

here at Barrington Pottery.

and now it's time for some rest & relaxation at home with Marion.

We have the house decorated all with natural things 

Picked from the hedgerows and woods in and around Barrington.

I was pleased to walk in the kitchen on Christmas day

and see this on the kitchen table.

For me that's what potting is all about.

Plain and Simple. 

We spent a day out yesterday

this is Golden Hill in Shaftsbury Dorset

It was used in the Hovis Commercial about 30 years ago.

We also stopped off at Abbotsbury Nr Bridport

we could hear the sea in the distance

and we walked down a lane until

we turned the corner and there it was.

The Workshop will be closed now until

Monday the 10th January.

Happy New Year to you all.

Pottery Open Today Wednesday 22nd and 23rd December

Despite the snow I am in the workshop

10am - 1pm & 2pm - 4pm

I'm taking a break for lunch

as I need to go and get some things.

We now have hot water and heating again at home

thanks to our friend John Carter.

I have some Wassail cups in stock and some 1 Pint Tankards. 

Cadbury will be here as well this afternoon. 

Great for last minute presents. 

It's Snow Time.

It's Snow Time here in Barrington,

We woke up this morning to more heavy snow fall.

The pump on our central heating boiler

gave up the ghost yesterday.

So we have no heating or hot water at the moment.

So the decision to walk to the workshop this morning

was not to hard to make. 

Me and Caddy took the quick route through the fields at the back.

 and we got the chance to stop and talk to the horses.

Not that I'm doctor Doolittle or anything.

These two look like Batman & Robin.

I'm sure Caddy was thinking the same.

We managed to get through the gate that was frozen solid.

and we made it to the workshop. 

As you can see it is just above freezing in the workshop

and I have to sit a do the writing on these two bread crocks

that will take me 3 hours at least.

so to stop me freezing up in the process

I'm going to put the raku kiln on again.

What a difference a day makes.

I'm in the middle of an episode of mild peril myself at the moment.

I cant show the full pots at the moment

because they are orders for Christmas with Names on.

But Two Bread crocks with names on have cracked in the biscuit firing.

10 days before Christmas.

I've made some replacements an I'm hoping I can get them completed

in time. I sense The use of a gas burner coming on.

This was the scene out side the workshop at about 3pm yesterday. 

And this is it at about 10.30 this morning. 

I'm not expecting to see any customers today.

Even Caddy didn't want to go out in it.

I've got the Raku kiln on as a heater.

"Busy" Isn't a long enough Word to describe how Busy is !!

I've been so busy I haven't had time to do any blogging

and I had mislaid my camera for the past 4 days.

I found it in the bottom of a bag full of tissue paper this morning.

I've been doing local Christmas Craft markets which have gone very well

The Screen Bites event at Barrington Court on Friday evening

proving to be the most interesting.

Especially when the strong smell of fumes came up from the

Cellar and set the smoke alarm off.

We spent 45 minuets stood in the car park waiting for the fire brigade to

give us the all clear to go back in. 

I've been having lots of firings, but I haven't put pictures up of the pots

because most of them are orders for Christmas presents

and I didn't want people spotting them before they

 get them as gifts. 

And of course it's been very cold with temperatures as low as -11oc

But it does look stunning. 

Luckily I got the Pajero started again after 10 days of cold weather.

Just a few pots to finish before a well earned break.

FIFA Crooks

The great thing about having your own blog,

is that it gives you a platform to say what you think.

Yesterday I was in the workshop listening to the England Bid

to host the football world cup in 2018

to Fifa on Radio 5 Live.

The presentation was Brilliant and I felt a real sense of pride

 & a lump in my throat,

They had done a brilliant job.

And to only get Two votes

was a Joke.

I shall say no more. Crooks!!!

On a more pleasant note, the snow has been falling here

for the past few days and this morning it is -11oc 

Still walking to the workshop through the Village is a real treat.

The tree outside the pub looks great. 

and the workshop looked a picture.

The Berries also looked great.

This was a worrying site,

my workshop windows looked frozen on the inside.

and sure enough they were and still are.

luckily I had left a small fan on on the Freeze setting

so it only cut in if it got below freezing inside.

The 10 tankards and six jugs I had put handles on yesterday

have survived the night.