Malvern Common in Summer

The hills from Malvern Common on June 2nd at about 1930 hours. Long shadows.

Looking away from the hills across the Vale of Evesham towards the Cotswolds (upper right). What you see is the shadow of the hills (Worcester Beacon to be precise) leaving the clumps of trees in sun shine. My road runs up the hill behind the trees. We live much further up the hill.

This is what the Common itself is like. Vegetation flourishing! And rabbits too. They come out morning and evening in the copse by the stream. I am told that a polecat lives there which is good. I am against rabbits anywhere near my garden. But they are on the other side of the Common and there are too many dogs on the Common for them to venture far from the copse. 

The birch bark was nicely softened by 2000 hours so I clamped it between two old shelves clad in melamine, using 4 G-clamps. I think I shall leave it until tomorrow to inspect. I might leave it clamped up until it is completely dry.

Went into Worcester yesterday (halfterm for bookbinding class) to have a hair cut and investigate 'The Cotton Reel'. It used to be a tiny shop crammed full of quilting stuff with the owner sitting in the middle quilting! They have moved two doors up to an old bank. It is larger, still crammed with goodies (and customers). And the owner is still quilting between looking after the customers. She has cut off the back half of the shop, put in 8 or 10 tables and classes are run there. There was one on when I was there and there seem to be 3 or 4 day classes each week. A sensible way to use the space. The owner strikes me as quite shrewd. There is nothing like a busy shop to bring in yet more customers.

Ruth is back from Kuala Lumpur today and comes to us for the weekend tomorrow.