A fascinating history of Greta. Sometimes it is necessary to remember the past and realize the same things are happening in the world today. We must remember. That being said, the beautiful world goes on, sweet little lambs go on adventures, the wind still tries to knock us off our feet, the rain still clears the air, and our companions still bring us joy. Thank you for allowing me to be a companion❤
Thank you, Trudy. Yes, it's right that we remember even the unpleasant things from history - those munitions girls really have my admiration. I enjoy taking you along as one of our campervan companions! 💕😊
Hi Helen, your videos make my Monday’s. Lunch and time with Helen. What an informative video about the munitions factory. It’s amazing what women accomplished back then for the war effort. My gran was born in 1911 so it was a wee insight into the time when she was a youngster. She lived thru 2 wars. It’s hard to imagine. Wow the wind! And when you drove towards the ocean after you left 😱 my heart was in my throat. It looked like you were going to drive right off the road 🤪😂. I could watch and listen to you for ages. The ospreys were 🤩 amazing to see them relatively close up. I could go on and on. We all love your road trips. The amount of info you put in, no wonder it takes a long time to produce a video. Well done as always Helen. Also glad you had some Kofi donations for tea and scones. See you next week. It’s a long wait but worth it 🤗🥰. PS: have you thought of a wee basket to carry your five friends, make transport to and from the van a bit easier. lol on the 2 donkeys wanting a quick stop at Gretna Green. Love you guys 🤗🤗
Thank you, Isabel - so glad to keep you company while you had lunch! It's fascinating when we are given an insight as to what the world looked at times in the past, especially when we know that a relative would have been part of particular events in history. It was both exciting and a bit scary to be out in that wind! The shelter of the cafe was very much appreciated. At the nature reserve, Phil wished that he'd had an even more telephoto lens - but we were glad that the birds were recognisable as ospreys! Hmm, yes, I think those woolly friends could do with some sort of carrier... 😂😂💕xx
I absolutely love your podcast. Your sweet spirit and narration have soothed my nerves during a recent serious diagnosis. I’m going to be ok, but in the meantime you are a balm to my soul and I thank you very much for what you do. God bless you.❤
Lovely trip as always, thanks so much Helen for all your interesting knowledge, which is so lovely to listen to and learn. You take me right into the ‘moment’ and I can lose myself in the history, which is down to your great storytelling. X💕
Thank you very much! It's good to have something to take our minds away from the present sometimes and I'm glad that my storytelling enables you to do that! xx
Fabulous video that ended too quickly! Beautiful piano music, darling wooly companions, yellow flowers along the roadside, and best of all, those darling happy lambs! Britian is so very lovely with miles and miles of gorgeous countryside and seaside. So glad you didn't get blown away! Have a great week, with love.
Thank you, Shari - it was a pleasure to take you along and show you all the things that interested us or simply caught our attention! Wishing you a wonderful week xx
I learned so much today Helen those poor women working so hard in such dangerous situations it was so interesting and it made me think just how lucky we are.The wind and waves looked ferocious but I would have loved it if I was wrapped up and who could not love the little lambs so thankyou Helen for taking us with you ❤❤
Thank you, Elaine. Being at the museum definitely made me feel grateful for how fortunate we are today. It was great being out in that wind for a little while! x
So very lovely Helen. I so enjoy your trips in the camper van. I learn so much about bonny Scotland on your journeys. Thank you for sharing your adventures with us. ❤ Hearing about the Gretna munitions women put me in mind of the radium girls of the same time period (young women who would paint radium dials and watches) and the very real hazards they faced. It is important to remember them.
I have done that too, Margaret, on the odd sleepless Sunday night/Monday morning😅 What nicer company could we ask for in the middle of the night? 😂Then I watch again the next day! (Helen, it's sometimes not just your American viewers that watch the minute your videos are released😂)
Thank you for another lovely video. The weather looked very cold and bleak but it looked like you managed to have a good time. I felt for those poor women who worked in the munitions factory doing their bit for the war but suffering from working with all the chemicals.
Helen, I love your camper van videos. You provide excellent historical information. And those little lambs! How cute and so mischievous and dangerous to be on the road. Glad you safely herded them back to their pasture. Hi to Phil too!
I so enjoy your camper van videos. I’m 70 and live in Wisconsin in the Midwest USA. It is unlikely I’ll ever visit the places you travel. Thank you for sharing the views, your knowledge about the places you tour - and your knitting/crafting too!
Thanks for taking us along. I enjoyed the osprey bit; the osprey is the provincial bird of Nova Scotia. We have lots of them and there's a big nest on a specially made platform that the birds return to every year, very near to my house. We pass it every day on the commute to work and greet them. It's very exciting when the chicks start to appear. - Heather from Nova Scotia, Canada
Thank you, Heather. How lovely that ospreys are so common where you live and that you have some nesting very close to your home! That just sounds amazing. For us, it is rather rare to see ospreys in the wild so we were thrilled when we saw the ones at the nature reserve. xx
Hi Helen, what a fascinating place the ammunition museum is and I loved how you retold all the facts. That’s another to do for me. I absolutely love your five that accompanied you and Phil. How lucky are you to see the Osprey, I’ve never seen them in the wild. Very impressive birds. The countryside looks stunning, even if the weather wasn’t on your side. Thanks.xxx
Thank you, Sue. I'm glad you enjoyed the munitions museum - definitely worth a visit! We were absolutely thrilled to see the ospreys, as neither of us could remember seeing any in the wild before. I think our five companions had a good trip, too, although they didn't get much chance to go outside due to the weather! xx
What a wonderful trip you have taken us on. It’s a joy to spend time in your world :) I’ve been very unwell for the last week so haven’t had time to get started on my Tsutsu bear yet, but I have been able to rewatch your podcasts about Bernard, and the Mouche and friends menagerie. Your podcasts are treasures ❤ thank you for all the time and effort you put into them all. Gillian
Thank you, Gillian, I'm very sorry to hear that you've been rather poorly and hope that you will soon be feeling much better - and that you be able to make a start on your Tsutsu bear! xx
I always enjoy spending time with you, Ms. Helen, and this time was no different! How wonderful that you got to see those nesting ospreys! Thank you for taking us along to the Devil's Porridge Museum. I could really imagine what life was like for those women through your thoughtful narrative. I so appreciate the richness you bring to my life through these videos of yours! 💞💕
Hi Helen! I enjoyed watching you battle the wind. The ocean’s waves were striking too. It looked like the munitions museum was well designed. I appreciate the osprey sighting. As always, thanks for the music and taking us along in your trips!
Great trip! Very interesting and informative museum tour. Air filled with salty sea spray - sounds wonderful to me 😊 Such cute little wiggly lambs bottoms made me smile. Thanks for sharing x
Another lovely trip Helen with a good and interesting mix of history and nature thrown in. Glad you all survived the wind and rain. Looking forward to part 2 xx
Oh Helen, what a great video. We had good friend and neighbor here in Florida. She was from Scotland. You have reminded me so much of her from the first time I found your videos. Your kindness, your talent, your beautiful calm voice …… so many things….. thanks so much for the wonderful travelogues…… you take us to such beautiful places.
The conditions in the munitions factory must have been horrendous for those women working there! Wonderful trip again Helen, and seeing the Ospreys must have been a real thrill! Wonderful part of the world to visit! Take care and thank you.
Thank you, Heather. It must have been really unpleasant to work in the munitions factory. We were absolutely thrilled to see the ospreys! See you next time! x
What a lovely adventurous trip Helen. We are recently back from 6 weeks of travel in our van (from northern BC , Canada down the Oregon, California coasts, into Nevada and back up the Oregon coast. We were chased by rain and freezing temperatures which we were trying to avoid after de-winterizing . We covered far more territory than planned due to the odd winter temperatures, but got to see more and experience more than expected as well. One night on the Mohave desert it was so windy we felt we were in the middle of the ocean. The van rocked so wildly. Our poor Old English Sheepdog couldn’t sleep (of course, nor could we). Owl Canyon Campground, Barstow, California. Travel is such a privilege and a delight. Thank you for sharing yours.
Thank you, Carolyn - and thanks for telling me all about your own recent travels - that sounds like a wonderful trip! I can now appreciate what it's like being in the van while the wind is rocking it from side to side! You are quite right - it is a great joy and privilege to be able to travel. x
Wow what a trip. The sea was amazing and the munitions factory was amazing, all those women, so young. One wonders how they faired with their health! Thank you Helen for a great ride, look forward to part 2😊
Helen thank you for another wonderful trip❤ I never new the history about the Gretna girls. You picked a very stormy weekend with storm Kathleen . Looking forward to part 2, have a lovely week x
Thank you, Michelle. Like you, I had never associated Gretna with anything except Gretna Green! So it was very interesting to learn all about the munitions factory. See you next time! xx
Thank you for sharing your trip with everyone. I love the company your are keeping on your travels in the van. The coastal destination is so beautiful and very full of weather. Your explanations of your travels with map illustrations helps me a lot to see and get a perspective of where you are. Thank you! Best wishes from Oregon. Happy travels!
The information about Gretna was very interesting , it's hard to understand what it must have been like for those working there . Again you brought back memories of when we stayed at Luce bay and visited the lighthouse , I'm not sure I would have ventured out of the car in those winds , you both did very well to stay on your feet . I look forward to the next video and thankyou Helen , Phil and not forgetting the five friends .😊
Thank you, Wendy. I agree - even seeing photos of the munitions girls doing their work, it was difficult to imagine how unpleasant it must have been. I'm glad to have brought back happy memories of your previous visit to the area! See you in part 2! x
I find your travel videos fascinating with the all the historic facts in this episode I was intrigued by the story of the workers particularly the health risk to the female employees so happy to have found your channel the music you choose is lovely ,so hello from Aylmer Quebec Canada thank you for sharing.
Thank you - I'm so glad that you found this interesting and that you have been enjoying spending time with me! Sending my best wishes across the ocean to you! x
Hello Helen. I just love your fantastic camper van travel. Lovely calming country drives and great ocean views. Your food always looks so good in the van.❤
Thank you, Pat - I'm so glad that you enjoy travelling along with us! It's funny that even very simple food somehow seems more special when we're off in the van! 😂💕
Thank you so much Helen for a thoroughly enjoyable trip with you all in the campervan. I loved hearing about the ladies working in the munitions factory and I’m so g;ad that there is a museum there to remember their own sacrifices during the Great War. Those lambs were adorable! It looked terrifically windy on the lighthouse trip! Looking forward to the next episode! X.
Thank you, Lesley - I'm always glad to be able to take you along on another trip! I loved following those naughty lambs along the road! It was quite exciting to be out in the strong winds - but only for a little while. I'm very glad that the munitions girls are remembered in that excellent little museum! See you in part 2! xx
Brilliant start to your trip with fish finger sandwiches, yum! Beautiful and interesting as always, we have alot of escapee lambs here in the Dales, lovely to see and hear. Your music was uplifting and helped as feeling very sad having had the vet out to put our very elderly dog to sleep. She was a rescue, badly treated but we had her for 13 of her15 and a half years. A real really loving character who did everything at top speed wagging her stump having lost her tail before we got her. Looking forward to you next episode ,thanks for x
Hi Lorna - I am sending big hugs to you - so sorry to hear that you had to have your dog put to sleep. It sounds as though she had a very happy life with you. I'm glad that my music helped a little. We happily slowed down for the escaped lambs - I guess their small size helps them to escape more easily! See you in part 2! x🤗💕
I am new to hour podcast and have started at the beginning to catch up. Sometimes you very thoughtfully express concern about getting the length right. You cannot possibly make one that is too long as far as I am concerned, so just keep going until a natural ending occurs. Thank you for your gentle, but fascinating, stories.
Thank you, Mary and welcome along! I'm so glad that you're enjoying catching up with me - and you are quite right, that I shouldn't worry about the length of my podcasts and just keep going until I reach a natural end! x
We learn such a lot from your visits to historical places, Helen. Thank you for sharing it all with us, including the solemn reminder of the sacrifices made by so many ordinary people in times of war. It's sad that so many dangers in workplaces past and present were and are unknown or ignored😢. You and Phil are certainly lion-hearted in the face of such stormy weather... But aren't high winds so exciting too? 😂 The wee lambs were so cute and the osprey sighting was enviable😮! Lovely uplifting Scottish travelling tunes - thank you once again for your playing❤ Look forward to part 2☺️
Thank you, Shirley. It was actually quite exciting to be out in the strong winds for a little while and we really appreciated the shelter when we went inside! The museum was so interesting and it's great that the unpleasant and risky work that the women did has been recognised. See you in Part 2! xx
I really enjoyed your video Helen. Touring Scotland was something I would have liked to do, but never did! Your lovely videos are so informative and enjoyable - those mischievous little lambs were a delight, but I would not have enjoyed being out there with all that wind! Already looking forward to the next instalment. Many thanks
Thank you, Rachel - I feel very fortunate to be able to visit these lovely places but glad that I can give you a taste of our trips! It really was such a relief to get out of those strong winds! See you in part 2! x
Hello Helen ! Well I only knew about Gretna from Gretna green ! Where couples eloped too ! My niece was there last year and sent me a photo of the park. Thank you for all the information ! Those poor ladies. I love the music. So beautiful ! Thank you. You were so brave in the wind ! I hate the wind ! It leaves me discombobulated ! I do love the way you done let the weather stop you from doing these trips ! Very inspiring! I always love spending time with you. It’s wonderful to go in the campervan thank you so much. What a bonus lots of love from beautiful Ballarat. God bless 💕😘🙏
Hi Tammy! I wonder if you have seen one of my previous campervan trips where we called in at Gretna Green, when my knitted pigs Matthew and Rose ran away to get married? 😂 Like you, I had no idea that there had been a huge munitions factory in the Gretna area - and now a very interesting museum! I didn't like being in the wind for too long - I know what you mean about it being discombobulating. xx💕🤗
Hi Helen! I loved this trip! Wow, those winds!! Loved seeing the sea. I can't imagine those women working in such poor conditions in that factory. Things are so different today, aren't they? Thankfully. Have a great week and weekend. 💞
Thank you, Debbie - I'm very happy that I was able to take you along! It must have been really horrible for the munitions girls working in such conditions. See you in part 2! xx
Fabulous! I'll have time to watch this again before you upload the second part😘 I was rapt in what you showed of the Galloway museum, the munitions factory and Devil's Porridge; the Conan Doyle connection. The long manuscript I'm working on has a two-tiered plot structure, moving between the first year of both wars. It's set in Australia but touches on well documented battles and figures in newsreels and papers. I took an editing break, had lunch watching your video, and it kept me in research mode you may as well say. So marvelous your "famous five" could accompany you and Phil. I can understand Phil might wonder how the two of you will fit over time ... I'm sure there's other woolly friends who want to be chosen too😂 The wind must have been worth braving to see what you did of the lighthouse and your footage of the Ospreys in flight and in their nest was excellent.💐💌
Thank you, Helen! Your story sounds fascinating and it sounds as though you enjoying researching the past as much as I do! The woolly friends are queueing up to come on a trip with us... I might need to sort out a rota for future trips although whether Dapper and Florence will accept it, I'm not sure... 😂 I was glad not to stay out in the wind for too long! And we were delighted to see the pair of ospreys! x
Good morning Helen. I've finally . around to commenting. I watched yesterday, but my fuzzy brain wasn't complying with writing sense! Really enjoyed part one. The munitions museum was so interesting. Those women were heroes! It's going on the list of places to visit. Your extra passenger's have made themselves comfortable 😂. Our little pair have turned onto a trio. Spot has adjusted very well and was greatly received at wonderwool. He doesn't like sitting up, though. Needs more stuffing. Wonderwool was fab as usual. I got to have a coffee and half an hour with Anne. It's probably going to take all week to recover, but that's my life. I'm looking forward to part 2. Have a lovely week. Hopefully, I'll see you in person again. Xx
Hi Angela, I was thinking of you at the weekend and remembering how much I enjoyed Wonderwool last year, and meeting you for the first time. It's great that you had a lovely chat with Anne. Hopefully we'll get the chance to meet again later this year... I love your extra friend, Spot, and look forward to meeting him sometime! I do hope you are soon feeling recovered from the show. We had a great time visiting that museum - well worth a visit! See you next time in Part 2! xx
I do love my campervan trips with you! It’s amazing to see how little Galloway has changed since my happy family holidays in Portpatrick in the late 50s, but I don’t remember visiting the lighthouse - you were brave to walk round in that wind! The history of munitions at Gretna was fascinating, what an awful place it must have been though the accommodation looked surprisingly comfortable. Looking forward to seeing the second part and trying to guess where else you might have visited!
Thank you, Joy - and glad to have taken you on a little trip down memory lane! It was a little worrying to be out in that strong wind by the lighthouse and lovely to be back inside! The Devil's Porridge museum was very interesting indeed - I think they did look after the workers quite well, apart from not ensuring that they were wearing safety gear! See you in part 2! x
Another beautiful trip despite the wind! Nick has watched with me and he says the munitions museum is another one for us to visit. Thanks for giving us a good insight. X😊❤
Thank you, Pamela! It really is a very interesting museum and it's great that the munition girls of the Gretna factory have been recognised - definitely worth a visit! xx💕😊
@mousiemakespod every month I go to an appointment in Leeds, and my new route since the orbital road was built goes past Barnbow. I often think of them. Have you ever seen what making matches made with phosphorus did to the girls? Health and safety was definitely needed!
@@GingerCatCrochet I have just looked up information about Barnbow and read about the terrible explosion that happened there in 1916! And the side effects of the phosphorus sound horrific! Health and safety left a lot to be desired in those days. In the Gretna munitions factory, masks and gloves were provided but wearing them wasn't compulsory! x
Little lamb butts!😄 adorable🤗 Wasn't the museum interesting. What a fascinating time in history. imagine working with acid in those conditions. Yikes! I hope those women were compensated fairly, considering the danger. It's hard to look back 100 years ago and not think with my preconceived 21st century ideas of health and safety, how this work was done, and not think it horrible. (Did that make sense?) Very interesting. Omg, that wind! Loved seeing the choppy sea, though. Very dramatic. as always, thanks for taking us along. I look forward to the second half. Do you have a box/bag/backpack for you to smuggle all your friends aboard with you?😉 Bye🤗
Thank you, Karen. We didn't mind at all being held up by those little escapee lambs! The museum was so interesting - I know just what you mean about wondering how the women could possibly keep doing those rather unpleasant and harmful jobs. The wind was incredible to be out in though a relief to be in shelter again! Hmm... yes... I think there could be one or two places where stowaways could hide! 😂💕
What a super trip again Helen, Pete and I watched together last night after a nail biting game of snooker at the Crucible and it calmed us down ready for bed! Pete's mum and dad were born in 1907 and to think she was 9 when the factory was in operation really made an impact on us and feel 'real'. Those poor women, but what a fabulous museum. Oh that wind! We were in Devon tucked up in our lovely hotel so well done being in your campervan. I was saying 'keep away from the edge' as you walked to the lighthouse, which I think I have done a video on in the past so it was lovely to see it. Looking forward to part 2 already! xx
Hi Pene, it's lovely that you and Pete watched together. It definitely makes history more meaningful when we can imagine our relatives being around at a particular time. It really is a super little museum! The wind was exhilarating and a bit scary at the same time but we did stay well away from any steep edges! Would it be easy for me to find your video that includes the lighthouse? I know I've watched all of your podcasts but can't remember the lighthouse... (don't worry if it's too tricky to find out which one!) See you next time in Part 2! xx
I’m always mesmerized by your travels and this one in particular! The wind and rain were so dramatic and those little lambs learning about the world were so adorable. The Ospreys were magnificent and the shots of their nest was wonderful. A very moving story about the women who worked at the munitions factory, so young and unprotected from the acid and its effects. Makes one realize how fortunate we are to have more protections in place today. Looking forward to Part 2 of this adventure. Thank you, Helen and Phil for taking us along.
Thank you, Esther! We certainly had a good bit of weather to contend with on this trip! We were very happy to see the ospreys and found the Devil's Porridge museum absolutely fascinating. See you next time for part two! x
The museum looks very interesting. I have never heard of it before. We visited Mull of Galloway when it was windy too! It certainly blows a hooley there! I spy you've arrived in Portpatrick?! Xxx
Thank you, Linda. It really is a super little museum! I imagine that the Mull of Galloway must be windy quite often... 😂 You may be right about Portpatrick 😉 - see you next time in Part 2! xxx
This was fascinating! I loved hearing about the museum and watching you battle against the wind. You must have a very steady hand with the camera as you drive along or do you secure it somehow? Thank you for all the work you put into these. My friends love them too!
Thank you, Daphne! I have something called a gimbal to attach my camera to while we are driving along. I'm very glad to hear that your friends enjoy watching, too! x
Hi Helen, I enjoyed sharing your travels as always. What is the tune you played during the part of the video where the little lambs were running along the lane please? It’s one I recognised from schooldays but had completely forgotten! I seem to remember singing, “Come o’er the fields Charlie and dance with Mc Lean”, though can’t remember any more.
Thanks, Christine. The tune you mention is called Maclean's Welcome and I hadn't realised that there were words to it - so thank you for your question! I looked it up and found that it's a song about the Maclean clan chief preparing to welcome Bonnie Prince Charlie into his home - maybe I will print off the lyrics and sing along next time I play! 😂💕
I certainly will sing along! Last time I sang it all I would be standing with my classmates beside Mrs Mc Gurk’s piano in standard 3 at the Brooms school. 😊
A fascinating history of Greta. Sometimes it is necessary to remember the past and realize the same things are happening in the world today. We must remember. That being said, the beautiful world goes on, sweet little lambs go on adventures, the wind still tries to knock us off our feet, the rain still clears the air, and our companions still bring us joy. Thank you for allowing me to be a companion❤
Thank you, Trudy. Yes, it's right that we remember even the unpleasant things from history - those munitions girls really have my admiration. I enjoy taking you along as one of our campervan companions! 💕😊
Hi Helen, your videos make my Monday’s. Lunch and time with Helen. What an informative video about the munitions factory. It’s amazing what women accomplished back then for the war effort. My gran was born in 1911 so it was a wee insight into the time when she was a youngster. She lived thru 2 wars. It’s hard to imagine. Wow the wind! And when you drove towards the ocean after you left 😱 my heart was in my throat. It looked like you were going to drive right off the road 🤪😂. I could watch and listen to you for ages. The ospreys were 🤩 amazing to see them relatively close up. I could go on and on. We all love your road trips. The amount of info you put in, no wonder it takes a long time to produce a video. Well done as always Helen. Also glad you had some Kofi donations for tea and scones. See you next week. It’s a long wait but worth it 🤗🥰. PS: have you thought of a wee basket to carry your five friends, make transport to and from the van a bit easier. lol on the 2 donkeys wanting a quick stop at Gretna Green. Love you guys 🤗🤗
Lol.... I chuckled too about the donkeys hinting they wanted to stop 😂
Helen, I hope you're going to make it up to them somehow 😂
Thank you, Isabel - so glad to keep you company while you had lunch! It's fascinating when we are given an insight as to what the world looked at times in the past, especially when we know that a relative would have been part of particular events in history. It was both exciting and a bit scary to be out in that wind! The shelter of the cafe was very much appreciated. At the nature reserve, Phil wished that he'd had an even more telephoto lens - but we were glad that the birds were recognisable as ospreys! Hmm, yes, I think those woolly friends could do with some sort of carrier... 😂😂💕xx
Well, I'm sure that it won't be the last time that we pass close to Gretna Green...😂😂
@@mousiemakespod 😉😁💞
@@mousiemakespod watch out - they might elope! 😲😂
I absolutely love your podcast. Your sweet spirit and narration have soothed my nerves during a recent serious diagnosis. I’m going to be ok, but in the meantime you are a balm to my soul and I thank you very much for what you do. God bless you.❤
@@patreed7869 Thank you, Pat, for your kind words - I am very happy that I am able soothe you and hope that everything works out well for you.
All so interesting,,helen,,,thanks so much,,,
All the stories from war years!!!
Sweet lambs,,,
ELAINE 🏡💕
Thank you, Elaine! Glad to take you along! xx
Lovely trip as always, thanks so much Helen for all your interesting knowledge, which is so lovely to listen to and learn. You take me right into the ‘moment’ and I can lose myself in the history, which is down to your great storytelling. X💕
Thank you very much! It's good to have something to take our minds away from the present sometimes and I'm glad that my storytelling enables you to do that! xx
Such a lovely trip full of interesting facts & fun. Where I live the rascal lambs are always escaping. So good to watch them. Thanks Helen 🏴
Thank you, Christine! We just loved being held up by those mischievous lambs! See you next time! x
Fabulous video that ended too quickly! Beautiful piano music, darling wooly companions, yellow flowers along the roadside, and best of all, those darling happy lambs! Britian is so very lovely with miles and miles of gorgeous countryside and seaside. So glad you didn't get blown away! Have a great week, with love.
Thank you, Shari - it was a pleasure to take you along and show you all the things that interested us or simply caught our attention! Wishing you a wonderful week xx
i really do appreciate coming along on your camper van trips. for those of us who can’t travel anymore, it’s a real treat!
Thank you, Jane - I love to take you armchair travelling with us! x
I learned so much today Helen those poor women working so hard in such dangerous situations it was so interesting and it made me think just how lucky we are.The wind and waves looked ferocious but I would have loved it if I was wrapped up and who could not love the little lambs so thankyou Helen for taking us with you ❤❤
Thank you, Elaine. Being at the museum definitely made me feel grateful for how fortunate we are today. It was great being out in that wind for a little while! x
Thank you for sharing, Helen. Aren't rough seas just beautiful - as long as you are not in a boat! x
Thank you, Pamela. Yes, rough seas are definitely best viewed from land! x 😂💕
So very lovely Helen. I so enjoy your trips in the camper van. I learn so much about bonny Scotland on your journeys. Thank you for sharing your adventures with us. ❤ Hearing about the Gretna munitions women put me in mind of the radium girls of the same time period (young women who would paint radium dials and watches) and the very real hazards they faced. It is important to remember them.
Thank you - I'm very glad I could take you along! x
I normally have my coffee on a monday morning with you but cant sleep so here i am ❤
I hope that you were soon able to get to sleep! 💕
I have done that too, Margaret, on the odd sleepless Sunday night/Monday morning😅 What nicer company could we ask for in the middle of the night? 😂Then I watch again the next day!
(Helen, it's sometimes not just your American viewers that watch the minute your videos are released😂)
@@craftdipper I'm very happy that I can be there to keep you company on a sleepless night! 😂
@@mousiemakespod ❤️
@@mousiemakespod😂
Thank you for another lovely video. The weather looked very cold and bleak but it looked like you managed to have a good time. I felt for those poor women who worked in the munitions factory doing their bit for the war but suffering from working with all the chemicals.
Thank you, Julie - it was certainly quite a chilly trip! I felt great admiration for those young women who worked in the munitions factory. x
Helen, I love your camper van videos. You provide excellent historical information. And those little lambs! How cute and so mischievous and dangerous to be on the road. Glad you safely herded them back to their pasture. Hi to Phil too!
Thank you, Denise - and I have passed on your hello to Phil! We were highly amused by those lambs and glad that they all returned to their home! x
Good morning Helen, enjoyed this one immensely, wonderful music, not an area that I know so very interesting. Thankyou, look forward to part two. 🩵🩵🩵
Thank you, Susan - I'm so glad you enjoyed this part of our trip, including the music! See you next time! xx
I so enjoy your camper van videos. I’m 70 and live in Wisconsin in the Midwest USA. It is unlikely I’ll ever visit the places you travel. Thank you for sharing the views, your knowledge about the places you tour - and your knitting/crafting too!
Thank you - I'm so glad you enjoy some armchair travelling with us! You are very welcome indeed. x
Thanks for taking us along. I enjoyed the osprey bit; the osprey is the provincial bird of Nova Scotia. We have lots of them and there's a big nest on a specially made platform that the birds return to every year, very near to my house. We pass it every day on the commute to work and greet them. It's very exciting when the chicks start to appear. - Heather from Nova Scotia, Canada
Thank you, Heather. How lovely that ospreys are so common where you live and that you have some nesting very close to your home! That just sounds amazing. For us, it is rather rare to see ospreys in the wild so we were thrilled when we saw the ones at the nature reserve. xx
Hi Helen, what a fascinating place the ammunition museum is and I loved how you retold all the facts. That’s another to do for me. I absolutely love your five that accompanied you and Phil. How lucky are you to see the Osprey, I’ve never seen them in the wild. Very impressive birds. The countryside looks stunning, even if the weather wasn’t on your side. Thanks.xxx
Thank you, Sue. I'm glad you enjoyed the munitions museum - definitely worth a visit! We were absolutely thrilled to see the ospreys, as neither of us could remember seeing any in the wild before. I think our five companions had a good trip, too, although they didn't get much chance to go outside due to the weather! xx
Wonderful!! I really enjoyed that, Thank You Mandy
Thank you, Mandy - it was my pleasure to take you along! x
What a wonderful trip you have taken us on. It’s a joy to spend time in your world :)
I’ve been very unwell for the last week so haven’t had time to get started on my Tsutsu bear yet, but I have been able to rewatch your podcasts about Bernard, and the Mouche and friends menagerie. Your podcasts are treasures ❤ thank you for all the time and effort you put into them all.
Gillian
Thank you, Gillian, I'm very sorry to hear that you've been rather poorly and hope that you will soon be feeling much better - and that you be able to make a start on your Tsutsu bear! xx
I always enjoy spending time with you, Ms. Helen, and this time was no different! How wonderful that you got to see those nesting ospreys! Thank you for taking us along to the Devil's Porridge Museum. I could really imagine what life was like for those women through your thoughtful narrative. I so appreciate the richness you bring to my life through these videos of yours! 💞💕
Thank you, Mary, it’s always my pleasure. We were delighted to see the ospreys as we’d never knowingly seen any in the wild before! x
Hi Helen! I enjoyed watching you battle the wind. The ocean’s waves were striking too. It looked like the munitions museum was well designed. I appreciate the osprey sighting. As always, thanks for the music and taking us along in your trips!
Thank you, Linda. The strength of the wind was incredible and I'm glad we weren't actually blown over! It was very exciting to see the osprey! xx
What a lovely trip. Great history. Love the lambs on the run.
Thank you, Lisa - I was delighted by seeing those escapee lambs! x
Great trip! Very interesting and informative museum tour. Air filled with salty sea spray - sounds wonderful to me 😊 Such cute little wiggly lambs bottoms made me smile. Thanks for sharing x
Thank you, Shelley - it was a pleasure to take you along! x
Another lovely trip Helen with a good and interesting mix of history and nature thrown in. Glad you all survived the wind and rain. Looking forward to part 2 xx
Thank you, Lin - and I look forward to taking you on the rest of the trip next time! xx
Oh Helen, what a great video. We had good friend and neighbor here in Florida. She was from Scotland. You have reminded me so much of her from the first time I found your videos. Your kindness, your talent, your beautiful calm voice …… so many things….. thanks so much for the wonderful travelogues…… you take us to such beautiful places.
Thank you, Jan - I'm so glad you enjoyed it! How lovely that I reminded you of a good neighbour that you had! x
The conditions in the munitions factory must have been horrendous for those women working there! Wonderful trip again Helen, and seeing the Ospreys must have been a real thrill! Wonderful part of the world to visit! Take care and thank you.
Thank you, Heather. It must have been really unpleasant to work in the munitions factory. We were absolutely thrilled to see the ospreys! See you next time! x
What a lovely adventurous trip Helen. We are recently back from 6 weeks of travel in our van (from northern BC , Canada down the Oregon, California coasts, into Nevada and back up the Oregon coast. We were chased by rain and freezing temperatures which we were trying to avoid after de-winterizing . We covered far more territory than planned due to the odd winter temperatures, but got to see more and experience more than expected as well. One night on the Mohave desert it was so windy we felt we were in the middle of the ocean. The van rocked so wildly. Our poor Old English Sheepdog couldn’t sleep (of course, nor could we). Owl Canyon Campground, Barstow, California. Travel is such a privilege and a delight. Thank you for sharing yours.
Thank you, Carolyn - and thanks for telling me all about your own recent travels - that sounds like a wonderful trip! I can now appreciate what it's like being in the van while the wind is rocking it from side to side! You are quite right - it is a great joy and privilege to be able to travel. x
Wow what a trip. The sea was amazing and the munitions factory was amazing, all those women, so young. One wonders how they faired with their health! Thank you Helen for a great ride, look forward to part 2😊
Thank you, Yvonne - I'm glad you enjoyed the first part of our trip! x
Lovely ❤ seeing the ospreys was wonderful!
Really enjoyed your trip, and thanks for sharing
Thank you, Elaine. We were delighted to see the ospreys - a special treat! x
Helen thank you for another wonderful trip❤ I never new the history about the Gretna girls. You picked a very stormy weekend with storm Kathleen . Looking forward to part 2, have a lovely week x
Thank you, Michelle. Like you, I had never associated Gretna with anything except Gretna Green! So it was very interesting to learn all about the munitions factory. See you next time! xx
Thank you for sharing your trip with everyone. I love the company your are keeping on your travels in the van. The coastal destination is so beautiful and very full of weather. Your explanations of your travels with map illustrations helps me a lot to see and get a perspective of where you are. Thank you! Best wishes from Oregon. Happy travels!
Thank you, Celeste. I'm glad that you find the maps helpful in orienting you! See you in part two! x
Oh what a lovely tour! Part 2 is already up so I’m off to watch it as soon as I get myself another cup of tea. See you soon. Salam wa sa’aadah
Thank you, Linda! x
Hi Helen brillant podcast thank you for taking us on your adventure ❤
Thank you, Shirley - I love being able to take you along! xx
The information about Gretna was very interesting , it's hard to understand what it must have been like for those working there . Again you brought back memories of when we stayed at Luce bay and visited the lighthouse , I'm not sure I would have ventured out of the car in those winds , you both did very well to stay on your feet . I look forward to the next video and thankyou Helen , Phil and not forgetting the five friends .😊
Thank you, Wendy. I agree - even seeing photos of the munitions girls doing their work, it was difficult to imagine how unpleasant it must have been. I'm glad to have brought back happy memories of your previous visit to the area! See you in part 2! x
Thank you for the beautiful, peaceful, and wonderful videos!!! Have a wonderful week!!!
Thank you! I hope that your week is wonderful, too! x
I find your travel videos fascinating with the all the historic facts in this episode I was intrigued by the story of the workers particularly the health risk to the female employees so happy to have found your channel the music you choose is lovely ,so hello from Aylmer Quebec Canada thank you for sharing.
Thank you - I'm so glad that you found this interesting and that you have been enjoying spending time with me! Sending my best wishes across the ocean to you! x
Hello Helen. I just love your fantastic camper van travel. Lovely calming country drives and great ocean views. Your food always looks so good in the van.❤
Thank you, Pat - I'm so glad that you enjoy travelling along with us! It's funny that even very simple food somehow seems more special when we're off in the van! 😂💕
The wood carving near where the ospreys were was amazing!!!
Wasn't it lovely? I just had to do that little video of it! On a calm, sunny day it would be a lovely place to sit. 😊💕
@@mousiemakespod 😎☀️yes! ☺️
Thank you so much Helen for a thoroughly enjoyable trip with you all in the campervan. I loved hearing about the ladies working in the munitions factory and I’m so g;ad that there is a museum there to remember their own sacrifices during the Great War. Those lambs were adorable! It looked terrifically windy on the lighthouse trip! Looking forward to the next episode! X.
Thank you, Lesley - I'm always glad to be able to take you along on another trip! I loved following those naughty lambs along the road! It was quite exciting to be out in the strong winds - but only for a little while. I'm very glad that the munitions girls are remembered in that excellent little museum! See you in part 2! xx
Thank you Helen. Another wonderful video. The highlight of Monday, as always. ❤
Thank you, Margaret! x💕😊
Great history lesson and lovely views of Scotland. 👍😊
Thank you, Mandy - my pleasure! x
I’m so happy I found your channel. Thank you for your makes and sharing your travels
Thank you - I'm very glad that you enjoy watching! x
Brilliant start to your trip with fish finger sandwiches, yum! Beautiful and interesting as always, we have alot of escapee lambs here in the Dales, lovely to see and hear. Your music was uplifting and helped as feeling very sad having had the vet out to put our very elderly dog to sleep. She was a rescue, badly treated but we had her for 13 of her15 and a half years. A real really loving character who did everything at top speed wagging her stump having lost her tail before we got her. Looking forward to you next episode ,thanks for x
Hi Lorna - I am sending big hugs to you - so sorry to hear that you had to have your dog put to sleep. It sounds as though she had a very happy life with you. I'm glad that my music helped a little. We happily slowed down for the escaped lambs - I guess their small size helps them to escape more easily! See you in part 2! x🤗💕
@@mousiemakespod thank you for your kind words x
I am new to hour podcast and have started at the beginning to catch up. Sometimes you very thoughtfully express concern about getting the length right. You cannot possibly make one that is too long as far as I am concerned, so just keep going until a natural ending occurs. Thank you for your gentle, but fascinating, stories.
Thank you, Mary and welcome along! I'm so glad that you're enjoying catching up with me - and you are quite right, that I shouldn't worry about the length of my podcasts and just keep going until I reach a natural end! x
Thank you for sharing ! Wow the wind and rain 🤭
Thank you! The weather was certainly interesting! x
I could’ve kept watching Helen. Such a lovely podcast. Just make sure you have plenty of room for your dear husband🥰🇬🇧!! X
Thank you so much, Jan. Ah yes, I couldn't do with not making enough room for Phil! 😂🤗💕
We learn such a lot from your visits to historical places, Helen. Thank you for sharing it all with us, including the solemn reminder of the sacrifices made by so many ordinary people in times of war.
It's sad that so many dangers in workplaces past and present were and are unknown or ignored😢.
You and Phil are certainly lion-hearted in the face of such stormy weather... But aren't high winds so exciting too? 😂
The wee lambs were so cute and the osprey sighting was enviable😮!
Lovely uplifting Scottish travelling tunes - thank you once again for your playing❤
Look forward to part 2☺️
Thank you, Shirley. It was actually quite exciting to be out in the strong winds for a little while and we really appreciated the shelter when we went inside! The museum was so interesting and it's great that the unpleasant and risky work that the women did has been recognised. See you in Part 2! xx
@@mousiemakespodyes - it's really good that their work has been acknowledged and recorded 👌💓
I love your videos. You always have such interesting information and tell it in such an appealing way.
Thank you so much - I'm very glad to know that you enjoy watching! x
I really enjoyed your video Helen. Touring Scotland was something I would have liked to do, but never did! Your lovely videos are so informative and enjoyable - those mischievous little lambs were a delight, but I would not have enjoyed being out there with all that wind! Already looking forward to the next instalment. Many thanks
Thank you, Rachel - I feel very fortunate to be able to visit these lovely places but glad that I can give you a taste of our trips! It really was such a relief to get out of those strong winds! See you in part 2! x
Hello Helen ! Well I only knew about Gretna from Gretna green ! Where couples eloped too ! My niece was there last year and sent me a photo of the park. Thank you for all the information ! Those poor ladies. I love the music. So beautiful ! Thank you.
You were so brave in the wind ! I hate the wind ! It leaves me discombobulated !
I do love the way you done let the weather stop you from doing these trips ! Very inspiring! I always love spending time with you. It’s wonderful to go in the campervan thank you so much. What a bonus lots of love from beautiful Ballarat. God bless 💕😘🙏
Hi Tammy! I wonder if you have seen one of my previous campervan trips where we called in at Gretna Green, when my knitted pigs Matthew and Rose ran away to get married? 😂 Like you, I had no idea that there had been a huge munitions factory in the Gretna area - and now a very interesting museum! I didn't like being in the wind for too long - I know what you mean about it being discombobulating. xx💕🤗
Thanks for sharing your trip, Helen. The museum was fascinating! It's so much fun to travel with you. Can't wait for part 2! 💚
Thank you, Beverly - looking forward to taking you on part 2! x
Hi Helen! I loved this trip! Wow, those winds!! Loved seeing the sea. I can't imagine those women working in such poor conditions in that factory. Things are so different today, aren't they? Thankfully. Have a great week and weekend. 💞
Thank you, Debbie - I'm very happy that I was able to take you along! It must have been really horrible for the munitions girls working in such conditions. See you in part 2! xx
Fabulous! I'll have time to watch this again before you upload the second part😘 I was rapt in what you showed of the Galloway museum, the munitions factory and Devil's Porridge; the Conan Doyle connection. The long manuscript I'm working on has a two-tiered plot structure, moving between the first year of both wars. It's set in Australia but touches on well documented battles and figures in newsreels and papers. I took an editing break, had lunch watching your video, and it kept me in research mode you may as well say. So marvelous your "famous five" could accompany you and Phil. I can understand Phil might wonder how the two of you will fit over time ... I'm sure there's other woolly friends who want to be chosen too😂 The wind must have been worth braving to see what you did of the lighthouse and your footage of the Ospreys in flight and in their nest was excellent.💐💌
Thank you, Helen! Your story sounds fascinating and it sounds as though you enjoying researching the past as much as I do! The woolly friends are queueing up to come on a trip with us... I might need to sort out a rota for future trips although whether Dapper and Florence will accept it, I'm not sure... 😂 I was glad not to stay out in the wind for too long! And we were delighted to see the pair of ospreys! x
Thank you for the trip, loved every minute xxx❤❤
Thank you, Leslie - glad to take you along on another trip! xx
Lovely Helen thank you xx
Thank you very much! xx
Good morning Helen. I've finally . around to commenting. I watched yesterday, but my fuzzy brain wasn't complying with writing sense!
Really enjoyed part one. The munitions museum was so interesting. Those women were heroes! It's going on the list of places to visit. Your extra passenger's have made themselves comfortable 😂.
Our little pair have turned onto a trio. Spot has adjusted very well and was greatly received at wonderwool. He doesn't like sitting up, though. Needs more stuffing.
Wonderwool was fab as usual. I got to have a coffee and half an hour with Anne.
It's probably going to take all week to recover, but that's my life.
I'm looking forward to part 2. Have a lovely week. Hopefully, I'll see you in person again. Xx
Hi Angela, I was thinking of you at the weekend and remembering how much I enjoyed Wonderwool last year, and meeting you for the first time. It's great that you had a lovely chat with Anne. Hopefully we'll get the chance to meet again later this year... I love your extra friend, Spot, and look forward to meeting him sometime! I do hope you are soon feeling recovered from the show.
We had a great time visiting that museum - well worth a visit! See you next time in Part 2! xx
Your piano music is beautiful. Thanks from Australia.
Thank you so much, Jenny! x
Wow another wonderful trip & scenery, that wind was very strong hugs
Thank you! Yes, it was a bit breezier than usual!
Thanks for a great trip
Helen!
Thank you, Margaret - I'm glad you came along! x
I do love my campervan trips with you! It’s amazing to see how little Galloway has changed since my happy family holidays in Portpatrick in the late 50s, but I don’t remember visiting the lighthouse - you were brave to walk round in that wind! The history of munitions at Gretna was fascinating, what an awful place it must have been though the accommodation looked surprisingly comfortable. Looking forward to seeing the second part and trying to guess where else you might have visited!
Thank you, Joy - and glad to have taken you on a little trip down memory lane! It was a little worrying to be out in that strong wind by the lighthouse and lovely to be back inside! The Devil's Porridge museum was very interesting indeed - I think they did look after the workers quite well, apart from not ensuring that they were wearing safety gear! See you in part 2! x
Another beautiful trip despite the wind! Nick has watched with me and he says the munitions museum is another one for us to visit. Thanks for giving us a good insight. X😊❤
Thank you, Pamela! It really is a very interesting museum and it's great that the munition girls of the Gretna factory have been recognised - definitely worth a visit! xx💕😊
@mousiemakespod every month I go to an appointment in Leeds, and my new route since the orbital road was built goes past Barnbow. I often think of them. Have you ever seen what making matches made with phosphorus did to the girls? Health and safety was definitely needed!
@@GingerCatCrochet I have just looked up information about Barnbow and read about the terrible explosion that happened there in 1916! And the side effects of the phosphorus sound horrific! Health and safety left a lot to be desired in those days. In the Gretna munitions factory, masks and gloves were provided but wearing them wasn't compulsory! x
Little lamb butts!😄 adorable🤗
Wasn't the museum interesting. What a fascinating time in history. imagine working with acid in those conditions. Yikes! I hope those women were compensated fairly, considering the danger. It's hard to look back 100 years ago and not think with my preconceived 21st century ideas of health and safety, how this work was done, and not think it horrible. (Did that make sense?) Very interesting.
Omg, that wind! Loved seeing the choppy sea, though. Very dramatic.
as always, thanks for taking us along. I look forward to the second half. Do you have a box/bag/backpack for you to smuggle all your friends aboard with you?😉
Bye🤗
Thank you, Karen. We didn't mind at all being held up by those little escapee lambs! The museum was so interesting - I know just what you mean about wondering how the women could possibly keep doing those rather unpleasant and harmful jobs. The wind was incredible to be out in though a relief to be in shelter again! Hmm... yes... I think there could be one or two places where stowaways could hide! 😂💕
Wonderful as always x
Thank you - my pleasure! x
What a super trip again Helen, Pete and I watched together last night after a nail biting game of snooker at the Crucible and it calmed us down ready for bed! Pete's mum and dad were born in 1907 and to think she was 9 when the factory was in operation really made an impact on us and feel 'real'. Those poor women, but what a fabulous museum. Oh that wind! We were in Devon tucked up in our lovely hotel so well done being in your campervan. I was saying 'keep away from the edge' as you walked to the lighthouse, which I think I have done a video on in the past so it was lovely to see it. Looking forward to part 2 already! xx
Hi Pene, it's lovely that you and Pete watched together. It definitely makes history more meaningful when we can imagine our relatives being around at a particular time. It really is a super little museum! The wind was exhilarating and a bit scary at the same time but we did stay well away from any steep edges! Would it be easy for me to find your video that includes the lighthouse? I know I've watched all of your podcasts but can't remember the lighthouse... (don't worry if it's too tricky to find out which one!) See you next time in Part 2! xx
@@mousiemakespod I thought it was in an episode entitled 'Lighthouse' but no! - You've got me thinking! If I find it I'll let you know xx
I think I must have prepared the information but decided not to put it in as I can't find the episode. Sorry.
@@penelopeschinwag No problem, Pene, but thank you for looking! 😊
Lovely video 😊👍.. a great area to visit
Thank you, Miriam! It is certainly an excellent place to visit!
I’m always mesmerized by your travels and this one in particular! The wind and rain were so dramatic and those little lambs learning about the world were so adorable. The Ospreys were magnificent and the shots of their nest was wonderful. A very moving story about the women who worked at the munitions factory, so young and unprotected from the acid and its effects. Makes one realize how fortunate we are to have more protections in place today. Looking forward to Part 2 of this adventure. Thank you, Helen and Phil for taking us along.
Thank you, Esther! We certainly had a good bit of weather to contend with on this trip! We were very happy to see the ospreys and found the Devil's Porridge museum absolutely fascinating. See you next time for part two! x
The museum looks very interesting. I have never heard of it before. We visited Mull of Galloway when it was windy too! It certainly blows a hooley there! I spy you've arrived in Portpatrick?! Xxx
Thank you, Linda. It really is a super little museum! I imagine that the Mull of Galloway must be windy quite often... 😂 You may be right about Portpatrick 😉 - see you next time in Part 2! xxx
This was fascinating! I loved hearing about the museum and watching you battle against the wind. You must have a very steady hand with the camera as you drive along or do you secure it somehow? Thank you for all the work you put into these. My friends love them too!
Thank you, Daphne! I have something called a gimbal to attach my camera to while we are driving along. I'm very glad to hear that your friends enjoy watching, too! x
Hi Helen,
I enjoyed sharing your travels as always. What is the tune you played during the part of the video where the little lambs were running along the lane please? It’s one I recognised from schooldays but had completely forgotten! I seem to remember singing,
“Come o’er the fields Charlie and dance with Mc Lean”, though can’t remember any more.
Thanks, Christine. The tune you mention is called Maclean's Welcome and I hadn't realised that there were words to it - so thank you for your question! I looked it up and found that it's a song about the Maclean clan chief preparing to welcome Bonnie Prince Charlie into his home - maybe I will print off the lyrics and sing along next time I play! 😂💕
I certainly will sing along! Last time I sang it all I would be standing with my classmates beside Mrs Mc Gurk’s piano in standard 3 at the Brooms school. 😊