Last Friday we decided that my necessary trip out to Greenbarn Pottery Supplies in Surrey would be a good chance to enjoy the delightful Indian Summer we’re having just now. Using the Golden Ears bridge over the Fraser it’s about half an hour’s drive to Greenbarn in North Surrey.

After we’d had clay, underglazes, EPKaolin, pottery plaster, stilts, witness cones and wax loaded into the car we drove another ten minutes East to Fort Langley. There we rewarded ourselves with an excellent lunch at Wendel’s book store and cafe before taking a gentle, level stroll beside the Fraser River. It is a pity the Albion ferry from McMillan Island to Maple Ridge has been discontinued as that always made a pleasant round trip home.

But after checking some antique shops etc we realized that our drive back across the Golden Ears bridge would take us with 3 minutes of Steve and Jen’s new home, so with a prior phone call and some beer in hand we were able to spend a little time with the grandsons before their bedtime. Steve gave me the newly printed red handles and the little boys loved them!

So, just to let you friends know the current situation, this is the quiet life we’re leading as we continue to wait for Alan to receive an invitation to spend a week in St Paul’s hospital. Four months and counting..

Mina and Cindy came by the house the next day to collect the plates and I think they’re happy with the results. Most of the supplies from Greenbarn are for the ‘Raiders’ use – the Plainsman F100 earthenware clay, underglazes and those stilts for artists who prefer to have their plates glazed all over. I have made two more moulds to go in my next bisque firing. They will make it easier for me to fabricate rimless platters. I can’t wait to see how the slab plates turn out in these new forms but first I must finish painting some more jugbirds.