The Islanders meet the islanders

It was great weather yesterday for the Round Great Britain World Record Rowers to meet many Mersea residents and Mersea School on the beach for a presentation and row past.

The Rowers Arrive

Some of the reception boats

Three of the Four Man Team

A section of the audience

Mersea Island School children and teachers

Josh with present and previous Nelson House Captains

The Flotilla

Mersea Orchids Spreading

Back in the 1980's when Orchid Field Court was built on The Esplanade people worried that the green winged orchids would be lost to the development. However, there are a couple of areas where they still flourish nearby in gardens and hopefully this will increase with time.
One such location is in a back garden in one of the Avenue's where currently there are 50 heads this year, a 10% increase on 2011.

If you live in the locality, in March/ April examine your lawn before cutting it and look out for a rosette of thick short leaves. From the middle of these a spike will appear late April bearing the purple flowers. 

RNLI Boxing Day Swim 2011

Crowds heading to the beach to see the swimmers at the RNLI fund raising event.

The two lifeboats in attendance.

It was so crowded the swimmers couldn't be seen !!!

But it was a lovely warm day and it made a welcome breath of fresh air, before returning home to eat another Christmas meal.

Mersea Beach Huts

Great news that Colchester Council have accepted the view of local residents by deciding not to proceed with the planning application for a further 30 "coastal cabins" on the Victoria Esplanade greensward.

Cllr Tina Dopson, Portfolio Holder for Communities and Diversity said,

"I can confirm that the planning application for 30 beach huts, at the Victoria Esplanade Car Park on West Mersea, has been withdrawn today.

Having reflected on the weight of public opinion surrounding this application this decision has been made with careful consideration."

Waverley Paddle Steamer

The World's last seagoing paddle steamer travelled up the Blackwater past Mersea on one of its excursions.


It's in the local area until mid-October so why not book a trip.

Spiders and Mists

Autumns arrived with its morning mists and active spiders.
What a lovely sight.

Mersea's Saskia Clark named for Olympic Squad

Great news that Mersea's Saskia Clark has been named along with Ben Anslie and nine others to represent Great Britain sailing at the 2012 Olympics. 

Saskia and Hannah Mills are the 470 class girls.

We send our best wishes to them all.

New Beach Huts Proposed by Colchester BC on Victoria Esplanade, Mersea

The new proposal by Colchester Borough Council is for thirty new beach huts to be built inside the current car park track and for three quarters of the length of the car park. It will practically take over our green space and destroy one of the prettiest spots on the Island.

The principal motive for Colchester Borough Council inflicting this undesirable proposition on us is the need for the finance generated by such a scheme to help fill their fiscal BLACK HOLE and it is unlikely that Mersea Island residents will ever see the benefit of any funds raised from such schemes. 

The only way to stop this happening is for you to register as soon as possible your opinions with:-

Mr. Adrian Pritchard

Chief Executive

Colchester Town Hall
High Street
Colchester
Essex
CO1 1PJ

Kayak Around Great Britain Set Off Today from Mersea

Today two 22year old lads, set off from Mersea Island on their adventure to circumnavigate Britain in a tandem sea kayak.

They will be relying only on natural elements to complete the challenge. Using the tides and currents as well as specially designed power kites to harness the winds power they estimate this will take three to four months.

They are doing all this to raise money for the Motor Neurone Disease Association.

You can track their progress by using this link. Take a look at the Paddle Diary to stay up to date.

Good luck Russell (Scrat) and Aaron (Kiwi) . We look forward to welcoming you on your return.

Salty kisses,

Mish...xx

Vintage Mobile Cinema comes to Mersea

The Vintage Mobile Cinema

Outside the MICA Centre, West Mersea this morning there were screenings of the devastation caused by the 1953 floods that hit the east coast, in the 22 seat vintage mobile cinema which had come up from Devon.

The bus is the only surviving one of a fleet of seven that were built for the Government in 1967 to showcase modern British production techniques. Today, it has been carefully restored to its former glory and tours the country bringing a unique slice of automotive and cinema history.

Of course it was just up Charlie's and my street...! to see this old vehicle and get a front seat for the archived film.

Wouldn't it be delightful to see it here again....

Have a great weekend.

Salty kisses

Mish..x

P.S. Memberships are still available for the Mersea Island Film Society.

Sandy Toes & Salty Kisses

Here at Treasured & Weathered 2010 has been fun packed.

All the people that are close to me know that I like nothing better than being knee deep in paint, fabric and a real challenge on my hands!!

To me a piece of furniture that is destined for landfill is my idea of heaven after it has been funkily up-cycled.

Some quick quirky tips from Mish:-
Why not use a beautiful chair as a bedside table.....
How about getting a piano bench and using it as a coffee table....
A gorgeous vintage mirror used as a base to reflect your collection of drinks glasses true Moroccan style....
Be daring its your home, think outside the box....
Lets add an element of surprise to every room!!
How about a quirky quote hand painted onto the wall - in the bedroom "time for bed" or "zzzzz".

Wishing you all a peaceful, healthy New Year.
Just leaving you with some pictures of the Mersea RNLI Boxing Day dip.

 

Till next time
Love Mish xxxx
P.S Coming soon some secrets of a clutter free nest!! ;-)

A Bright Day on the Beach

Had a lovely walk but didn't make sand castles today.

I thought the beach hut owners would be around enjoying the view, but as you can see they weren't playing ball either!!

Has someone been out painting the sand and mud white??

I'd better wrap up!!

Mish ...xx

Snowy Days

Well what an early cold spell!!
Not like this usually on Mersea Island.
Just had to get out there and have fun.

Hope you are enjoying it too!!
Bye for now.
Mish

Chilly Billy

Hello,
So chilly here on Mersea Island, but the frost does look rather beautiful...x
Just to update you followers - the NSPCC Fair was really fun. On my stall I had my fantastic Mummy, my Charlie boy and my Loobie Loo to help.

We had a very busy time and sold lots of my gorgeous pieces, in fact I had to call my wonderful Daddy to come and restock our little store of goodies!!xxx
A total of over £2000 raised for a fantastic cause - well done everyone!
Have a great weekend!
Love to you all....x
Mishka x
PS.  Do you need a special kissmas present?
Handmade, unusual, quirky, give me a call - 079122305 or visit my website or email me.

Happy Pumpkin Soup Time

Charlie and I had a pumpkin growing competition but he won.

    

Jane's Smart Art Halloween window where I have some very "dark" blackboards on display.

Its that time of year to snuggle up to the log burner and make your face glow.


Meanwhile I'm busy flapping my fairy wings and getting all my pretties together for the NSPCC Christmas Present Fair on the 20th November. 
I hope to solve all your pressie dilemmas with my extremely personal work.
This year lots of vintage glassware and clay labels on my stall.
Please come and support this very good cause...xxx
Till next time! 

Coast Magazine

What a nice surprise to find Nicky and Lars beautiful Mersea house on the front cover, and a lovely article, in the latest November issue of Coast....xxxx

New Blog Design

Hope you like my new blog design.

I've had my paint charts out again and thought these colours were more in line with my Summer beach theme.

Enjoy the good weather and get into or on the water.

Best wishes Mish x x 

Creative Recycling

With a little thought, intuition, design and some old items, it's amazing what can be rustled up.

This little sign I made last night to compliment my work on display at  Smart Art Studio.

Really looking forward to our girlie weekend next week.

Enjoy the sunshine everybody.

Love and kisses

Mish .....xxxxx

Retail Concession Now Open in Art Studio

I am pleased to announce that some of my lovely items are on display at Jane Richardson's "Smart Art" studio in Church Road, West Mersea, Colchester.

Jane runs regular art classes for all ages.

If you are in the area why not pop in, have a polly poke nose and then a delicious ice cream in the nearby "Cake Hole".

RNLI Lifeboat Boxing Day Swim

Son Charlie completing the Boxing Day swim at West Mersea.

A good crowd turnout and his Dad Rusty was on the lifeboat.