Creative Countryside, Winter

I spent last weekend in Bratoft (Skegness) for the Creative Countryside Winter gathering. We hunkered down in a fancy pants Georgian house, made books and zines, experimented with free writing, spent time outdoors and ate plenty of comfort food.

I tend to shy away from photographing people but I came back with quite a few portraits this time.

A couple of us rose early to go for a walk before breakfast. As you can see, it was absolutely worth it! I haven’t seen a sky this vivid for a while.

Pancakes topped with oranges cooked in maple syrup and spices for breakfast. I poured more maple syrup on top before realising the oranges had already been cooked in it. Oops.

We made journals. I don’t want to ruin mine with scratchy handwriting so I’ll use it as a sketchbook instead. It’s not something I do a great deal of anymore but I found my nature sketches from last year and realised I should flex that muscle before I forget how.

Annie and I ventured out to photograph snowdrops — there were some in the garden and more down the road in a graveyard. I came away with so many photos and then cursed myself when it was time to sort through them all! I over-photograph something every time I go away; I never learn.

Back at the house, the others were having a break before lunch. Someone was working on this amazing embroidery…

That night, we feasted on Indian food, drank gin (with blood orange Cointreau and orange tonic) and laughed until our faces hurt. I went to bed very happy indeed.

We exchanged goodbyes after a veggie cooked breakfast on Sunday morning. Me, Annie and Melanie couldn’t find the entrance to Peterborough station carpark and then couldn’t find our way out again. I was starting to think I’d grow old in there but we got lucky eventually.

Now I just need to plough through the rest of the snowdrop photos… erk.