There were red hearts and flowers, but this was a very different Valentines Day!

There were red hearts and flowers, but this was a very different Valentines Day!

Today I joined Bryan Maddams and Ferris, at the Christchurch Lace Society, not only to raise awareness of Service Dogs UK, but also to receive a cheque for £450 which has been collected by the lovely ladies over the past year.

Funds like this are critical to the charity, but money aside, the ladies were really engaged in learning about the charity and the wonderful work it does to support military and blue light veterans diagnosed with PTSD.

We talked and demonstrated:
How the charity works
PTSD symptoms/tells
Training the dogs
What us volunteers do

I was in awe to learn about the artisan skill of lace making, and the high level of skill, attention to detail and patience required to create intricate patterns and designs. Also, the beautiful bobbins they use to create the lace.

I learnt from the ladies that this form of artistry has been perfected over centuries, particularly in Paris, and it is not only the physical act of creating lace, but also the cultural and historical value of the craft. These ladies travel the world to train lace making skills, and have made items of historical significance!

And of course, they all loved Ferris!