Happy HODS

 This is the time of the year for HODS [Heritage Open Days] Docyeck out the national website for this fab, free, festival HERE. On Friday I got to attend something very special in Norwich - of which more later - and Saturday I went to some of the Dereham sites 

Bonnie the Mouse had been doing her bit. I popped into the Museum to give Katie a "spare" Bonnie, as I was concerned #1 might not stand up to so much travelling

I also visited the nearby Parish Church, and climbed the

Bell Tower. Dereham is unusual in having a separate tower. The church was 300 years old when there was a bequest to pay for bells. But the building was not deemed strong enough to bear their weight. The tower was built at the start of the 17C. French Prisoners were kept there during the Napoleonic Wars. One escaped and was shot in the churchyard - his grave is still there.

 I was delighted to go inside the Georgian Assembly Rooms and see the Regency Ballroom [lovely replica gowns on display]

Back at the Museum, the volunteers were enthusing about the number of families who had visited, and they'd listened to excited children following Katie's Mouse Trail, squealing with joy when they located the little felt characters.

I came home and started making mice to put in my 31:13 shop next month.

A small request... Two people have recently contacted me to say the shop's link on my sidebar would not work for them. I'd be very grateful if some of you good people could check it out and see if the link works for you [I'm NOT asking you to buy anything though]Please let me know if it does or doesn't work for you,. Thank you