PotFest in the Park 2012

Rob and I went to PotFest in the Park, held in the grounds of Hutton-in-the-Forest today.

The ceramics show hosts hundreds of makers from the UK, Europe and beyond. There is so much variety to see and we look forward to adding to our collection of usable pottery pieces.

We made a bee line for the tea room and had a cup of coffee before enjoying a walk around the walled garden, wildflower meadow and grounds before heading for the exhibition tents.

 

The competition for the exhibitors this year was "Journeys and Pilgrimages" and all of the pieces were laid out on the lawns for visitors to vote on. Rob chose the ship with the cat and owl as his #1 favourite; I went for the beautiful green, bud-like piece that was based on an ash leaf unfurling.

Here are some more pieces that caught my eye:-

We went on to the Upfront Gallery nearby, for lunch.

Rob had the vegetable curry, rice, and nan bread with mango chutney, a slice of banana and chocolate chip bread with a pot of tea; I ate cheese ploughman's with gluten free bread, a piece of 'sticky jack' (date, sultana, chocolate and rice crispy tray bake) and an apple juice. The ladies who served us were very nice and helpful and the food was great. I think the bill was just over £20. Full marks for the numerous vegetarian and gluten free options available! Highly recommended.

Back at home we admired the four dinner plates we bought: two each from Armin Skirde; and Charlotte and Siegerd Bohmer. Coincidentally, both sellers were from the same town (Hohr-Grenzhausen) in Germany, which we had no idea about until we got home and looked at their leaflets.

Our Holiday In Inverness II

Day 2: Sunday 4 October 2009

We drove up the East coast to Dornock, and stopped for a beach walk with Henry, and a wander round the centre. (Yes, you do have to drive across that spindly little bridge!).


Dornock is a lovely town with nice shops, a deli, a bakery, a small supermarket, beautiful, mellow stone buildings, an old jail (now a shop) and a magnificent hotel with a castellated tower.

On the road up to Wick, the weather changed from sunshine to a dark, slate grey sky with the sun slanting beneath. The white walls of the few houses to be seen were dazzling, with their dark roofs covered in yellow lichen.

At Wick the rain finally came down and we dashed into a cafe for a coffee, before giving Henry a damp walk around the harbour area.

We had dinner that evening at a pub called The Snow Goose back on the outskirts of Inverness. It had been recommended by people in the 'Comments' book at the holiday cottage, but it was packed by marathon runners (there had been a couple of races in Inverness that day) and was right next to a busy hotel.

Dinner: The Snow Goose, Inverness
JKW: Spinach and mushroom lasagna, garlic bread; rhubarb and vanilla cheesecake; half pint of lager; mineral water.
RJW: Asparagus and sweet potato salad; sticky toffee pudding; half pint of cider.
Cost: £26.20
The staff were efficient and friendly, but the food was pretty poor. Rob had wanted the 'Goats' Cheese Wellington' but it had sold out. The salad had no protein in it to speak of, and consisted of a few roasted veg on top of mainly salad leaves. The lasagna was made up of garlic mushrooms (probably those also served as a starter) with spinach and bechamel sauce. Why is it that the vegetarian options always come with a measly bit of salad garnish or a limp piece of garlic bread instead of the vegetables and potatoes or chips that everyone else is served?! My pudding was the highlight of the meal: a base of ginger biscuit crumbs with a creamy, cheesy cake served with a vanilla cream and rhubarb compote.
Recommended?: Not for vegetarians - pleasant, well-trained staff; but limited, unsatisfactory choices for vegetarians; can be busy with queues out of the door.