Alan’s got a girlfriend!

Alan opens the parcel

I entered a giveaway a couple of weeks ago and my goody box has just arrived. Alan Pitchfork was desperate to open the parcel. He’d had a sneak peek at the prizes on the Chantal Loves Vintage blogsite and was smitten with the Lady Hotdogandme Sock Dog, and thought the Yeahbut would make a good pal to mess about in the garden with. Here he is meeting his new friends…

Alan makes friends with Yeahbut

Alan with his new girlfriend, Lady Hotdog&Me

Thank you Chantal, I thoroughly enjoyed browsing through all the lovely goodies. I don’t have an i-pod so I’m using the flowery felt pouch for my all important scissors and the drawstring bag is being used to stash my work-in-progress sewing

Brighton Graffiti

We’ve just had a week off work and amongst other things we spent a thoroughly enjoyable few days in Brighton. We stayed in the Umi hotel with a lovely seafront view and a pretty decent full English breakfast.

The weather was typically tricky, warm and sunny to start with turning into heavy grey clouds, a brisk wind and fairly persistent rain. Perfect for browsing The Lanes, eating cake and spending lots of 2p’s in the amusement arcades  – British bliss!

Here are a few pics from our visit that caught my eye…

I love this stuff… Cassette Lord is a Graffiti artist responsible for decorating these boring old switch boxes as part of a council community project. You can read an interview with him here and view lots more pics of his cassette grafitti on Flickr

St George’s Mews hairdressers is just one example of the stunning wall graffiti around Brighton

Couldn’t resist this giant decorated cat in the Brighton Museum and Art Gallery foyer

And the beautiful merry-go-round painted horses on Brighton Pier

Oh look, what a surprise… Alan Pitchfork on Brighton beach leaving behind some pebble self-portrait graffiti. He did it with a Sharpie pen – they’re supposed to be permanent so the sea will surely be the best test of that! But I guess we’ll never know the answer…

SupaHero Sorts Sox!

SUPAHERO HAS KINDLY BEEN ON LOAN FROM THE Thingers & Fumbs PATCHWORK PALS CREATOR…

Alan has been warned that if he doesn’t keep up a vigilant watch over the creatures the next visit by a SupaHero will be costing him his pocket money!

SupaHero is now flying off to Toronto to provide a helping hand to Ross Sockmonkey.

DON’T MISS OUT… If you’re in need of a SupaHero make sure you get your name on the list. Read all about it here Thingers & Fumbs or email SupaHero here: loveurglove@yahoo.co.uk

Alan TicketMaster?

We’ve been to the cinema today and guess who had to come along…

Roll Up, Roll Up, getcha tickets ‘ere!

I think he secretly wants to be a movie star and thinks that this will get his sock in the door!

He’s such a handful but have no fear… there’s an on-loan Supahero about to arrive quite soon from Thingers & Fumbs

Alan in the Glasshouse

We visited the beautiful RHS gardens at Wisley last weekend. When Alan heard they have a Glasshouse he wanted to come too. I think it was mainly an excuse to get out of working in The Sock Garden on a hot day!

The Glasshouse

MMMM they look like pineapples - wonder if I could sneak one out under my hat?

No Alan, don't touch - you'll get us thrown out!

What beautiful orchids - Bob Flowerpot is going to be so jealous when he sees this pic!

Oh Alan - why do you always get into trouble - you'll have a very sore bottom for days now!

It's thirsty work trekking round the Glasshouse - just time for a quick drink before we go home.

Alan meets The Secret Gardener

It’s not often that grumpy old Percy Grower lets the other Gardeners have a day off. So when Alan Pitchfork got the chance of a few hours to himself he took full advantage and arranged to meet his friend The Secret Gardener (TSG).

He’s ‘Secret’ from Percy. Percy would  most certainly be jealous of the garden that TSG tends. Plus TSG is rather an expert at rearing delicate hothouse plants, something Percy has never quite achieved.

Anyway, you can see what a lovely day they had together. Alan even managed to smuggle his pet HooterNinnie out for the day!

Alan & Hootie make a new friend

Hootie tucks in to a bunch of berries

Doing a spot of bird watching

Resting their weary stitches

TSG shows off his Aloe plant

TSG's favourite orchid

Just enough time for a cream tea!

Hop into the travel bag chaps and say Goodbye!

After Alan, Hootie and The Secret Gardener parted company, TSG made his way off to a new home. His new home is with the young boy who designed him. To find out a few more of his Secrets you can follow him on his own blog:

The Secret Gardener!