I got up @ 4am, not even the birds were awake, yet! I barely got in the shower, when my ride text to say she was on her way! No time for breakfast, just shower, dress & off we went to pick up another friend who lives in deepest Kent.
We’d packed Anne’s boot with a pair of wellies, as she didn’t have any, then off we drove, trying to decipher her road map, which fared better than the Google directions!
After a stop for breakfast at a motorway service station, we were off again, time and the non-stop rain, was not on our side, plus the car is not used to such a long journey but the train journey would have been out of the question!
It cost £6 to cross the Severn Bridge into Wales. The views were stunning, despite the weather. Fortunately, we were driving away from the crazy London weather, but I couldn’t see the hill tops, but what a view.
The Royal Welsh Showground, Llanelwedd, Builth Wells, Powys Builth, was our destination point, and when we got into the village, we thought we were there, but no, we had another hour of longer and longer winding country roads to navigate!
It was about 1pm when my long legs, stretched with relief! We parked the car, then there was an even longer walk to the showground, any further, we’d have crossed the border!
£8 entrance fee paid, (bargain), through the show doors & what greeted us 1st, was this fabulous vintage Morris van.
The Wonderwool organisers, decided to hold the show indoors, which was the best decision, as the wet weather would not have helped all those yarns, fibres & the public! It was good that I’d brought a spare pair of my hand made alpaca socks with me, as I could feel the cold of the concrete floor, coming up though my wellies!
I’d brought a packed lunch with me, but there was plenty of choice for foodies, with vegetarian options, cakes, savouries, crepes, burgers made with Welsh meats to Asian food. I think the food sellers were caught out, as the show was indoors, which meant more people came, and some food sellers ran out of stock!
Previously, I made some stitch markers. As I was hoping to see Emma from Atomic Knitting. I gave some to my 2 friends as belated birthday & thank you gifts & the lovely Emma, who makes stitch markers, chose a set. Although, Emma & I ‘know’ each other from Tumblr, yesterday was our first face-to-face meeting.
Anne, Sue & I had a plan. We would walk around the outer edge of the stands, and then weave up and down the middle stands, so we wouldn’t miss anything, and then, we saw there was another show room! Oh how we hyperventilated with glee!
Of course, the first stand I visited was KnitPro. They have a range of needles I want, but the set’s not available until summer, so I put in my order, with a great discount.
Although the show had sumptious yarns, it’s a great destination for all things fibre. There was an abundance of spinning wheels, even travelling versions, drum carders, drop spindles, (I bought a maple wood, one), and a TON of fleeces galore!
However, I wanted to take home the alpacas, who belong to the Toft Alpaca company, but I don’t think they’d fit in the car, but there was space for the 3 angora bunnies!
I can’t remember their company name, but the bunnies’ owner told me that she combs their fibre every three months, which gives her a yield of 50g of angora a year! No wonder alpaca, angora & cashmere is a considered purchase, but we agreed that blending their fibre with another, like mohair or sheep’s wool, brings the cost down.
I’m a HUGE fan of alpaca. It’s unique qualities are that it has a hollow fibre, which keeps the body cool in the heat & warm in the cold, and alpaca has little or no lanolin, which is good for those of us who can’t always wear wool next to our skin.
Glammamamma 