tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25770089551513945012024-03-18T20:03:59.460-07:00.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger127125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2577008955151394501.post-1488506429821002412011-07-21T06:59:00.000-07:002011-07-21T06:59:39.507-07:00moving on.........<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfCNn-Erqy2DbudAaNokDgC7OYaIw1L-6FhiQ-6fuYMTW3VFCXHqWpeSwIZ_FaEbUCZt7_nPAJZhPrB2fsOjwoumymA7eBu9LssbJamsH5jXKvRb6PBp39xTQ3MJ27BLzBehcculBh0nDe/s1600/091.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfCNn-Erqy2DbudAaNokDgC7OYaIw1L-6FhiQ-6fuYMTW3VFCXHqWpeSwIZ_FaEbUCZt7_nPAJZhPrB2fsOjwoumymA7eBu9LssbJamsH5jXKvRb6PBp39xTQ3MJ27BLzBehcculBh0nDe/s320/091.JPG" t$="true" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Today is a bittersweet day, the last day Jack will spend at primary school. This September he moves on to pastures new, the next step towards his adult life, one step further away from us. He has been very happy during his time at school, it 's been a lovely, nuturing and creative place to be. We're so proud of him and I just wanted to make a record of it here, not that he reads this blog, thinks it's "strange", but maybe one day he'll have a nosey and see just how we feel about him. We tell him constantly, but like most nearly 11 year old boys, listening isn't his greatest skill so we don't know how much goes in.<br />
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From the moment a child is born you're aware that one day that child will leave, and each step you take with them brings you closer to that day. They start making their own choices, have their own opinions, quite often disagree with you but still look to you to guide them, and sometimes even hold your hand (when no-one else is looking!) As parents we long to hold onto that hand but we know we have to let it go, and it's hard, very hard. I'll miss my boy on our walks to school, I'll miss seeing his face in the playground, and our chats on the way home but I know (hope) he's going to enjoy the next stage of his life and we're so looking forward to sharing it with him.<br />
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</div>Last week we watched Jack in his school production, we waited with our hearts in our mouths for his turn to come. Jack's stammer has been worse over the summer and part of us didn't want him to go through speaking in front of an audience. How we underestimated him! Our brave, brilliant child stood proudly in front of the whole school and assembled parents, and although he stumbled he played his part brilliantly. Speaking is something we all take for granted but it is something that Jack is aware of the whole time and he copes fantastically, in fact he expects people to accept him for the way he is, we find him an inspiration and words can't describe how much we both love him.<br />
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We love you our darling boy, don't ever change...............xxUnknownnoreply@blogger.com79tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2577008955151394501.post-37505522791204174472011-07-10T16:06:00.000-07:002011-07-10T16:06:49.667-07:00good homes...............<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR9mM1t2yAXZEpoCIhmAEwYQG6ncYXRHbHWmiBTAqBUgAlvcp1kvmbJL9gaGMXlQ4QdPVldIiictHXRWL3vG6nJ7Aq20Am2SQm1Dk_CEtRw_4FU70psmSfLf_LAht5dsHuBnFFHAGEF5Xa/s1600/005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR9mM1t2yAXZEpoCIhmAEwYQG6ncYXRHbHWmiBTAqBUgAlvcp1kvmbJL9gaGMXlQ4QdPVldIiictHXRWL3vG6nJ7Aq20Am2SQm1Dk_CEtRw_4FU70psmSfLf_LAht5dsHuBnFFHAGEF5Xa/s400/005.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Last year was a momentous one in many ways, we got married, Jack turned ten and I left my glorious thirties, a decade I'd loved. The decade in which I had my children and life finally made sense, I could admit that really I wasn't hugely ambitious and a life as a mum would do for me, more than that, I would really love it (most of the time). <br />
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Not being a diamond and pearls sort of girl a 40th birthday present had to be something else, and after visiting a friend of a friend's garden and loving her little painted potting shed, I worked on Ian and we designed a summer house with Reg, shed builder extraordinaire. This little beauty sits at the bottom of our little garden, and it's all mine................well, ok I do share it now and then with the children. I love it and when my photographer friend Amanda asked if she could take some photos for a feature she'd like to do, of course I agreed.<br />
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Let me say, it's never been this tidy since. We'd used the summer house a couple of weeks before for our wedding, as a tea room, filled with all my vintage tea-cups and side plates (and a few borrowed from Mum). <br />
So whilst it was still tidy Amanda took all the shots she needed and did a brilliant feature for Good Homes magazine.<br />
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It's a very strange but incredibly thrilling feeling to see your home in a magazine, slightly surreal to see something so familiar to you through somebody elses eyes. Amanda did us proud, I think my family may again have bought up all the copies and Reg rang me the other day to say he'd been contacted from readers all over the UK for a quote. <br />
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Kitty has celebrated her 7th birthday with a pool party in the garden. Not the warmest day of the year, one of the girls even asked if we had a wetsuit............for a 3 foot deep paddling pool! The afternoon went well, there were no punch ups over pass the parcel, only one child cried when she lost the musical statues game and the dog was removed from the situation since we knew the temptation of food and children would have been too much to bear.<br />
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Sunday morning in this house means it's my turn to get up with the dog. She's an early riser our Peggy, normally about 6am. For a night owl like me this has taken some getting used to, I'm not known for my positive attitude towards early mornings. Peggy has changed all this, Sunday morning has now become a ritual for me............a cup of tea, crumpets and nutella (how I love nutella!) and a couple of magazines......bliss. I get about 2 hours quiet, the children fortunately take after me with their love of a lie in, which sets me up for the rest of the day.<br />
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It also gives me time to sit and appreciate the house and all our bits and pieces. For example, this shelf, one of the many areas adorned with bits of nonsense which mean something to us. Ian's dad's books, a tiny tandem I bought for my bike mad husband, one of my favourite wedding photos of my sister and I which perfectly sums up a perfect day, a strange springy dog that Kit bought from a street sale, a spotty candlestick from a neighbour for our wedding and Ian's Biggles books. <br />
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This year the garden is thriving, against all the odds. A gardener I am not, can't even class myself as an amateur, my special skill lies in killing plants. But I am a trier, and maybe my efforts are paying off. <br />
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The geraniums are doing brilliantly, as usual, the sweet peas are coming on, and this morning the first dahlia unfurled it's beautiful petals in the most glorious pink.<br />
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My one flower bed is pretty good, the roses are having a second flush, the foxgloves were a triumph and the cosmos my friend Liz grew from seed are beginning to flower.<br />
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Our scrubby neglected table has been brightened up with some donated verbena from a neighbor..........<br />
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................and the apple tree we planted for Jack four years ago is bearing many fruits.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Somehow the large blue paddling pool with the slightly stagnant water is adding much to the garden, it's only still there because nobody can be bothered to empty it!</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Have a happy week all..............xx</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2577008955151394501.post-78838271866221791582011-07-04T15:38:00.000-07:002011-07-04T15:38:34.041-07:00a holiday, a dream comes true and asbo dog excels herself.........<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAc7clQraEPbxg1V0knSZi_1_PCQGK2P3UwTI1PQqXtLhxEGuL6u-ESihq0TJtoMIEgQ15ey2HL3JukQrYmj0yvq8NANlr_LIW8YLkQ_AwldW9JwRYZGBJaWmyUJ7yz7guB9hIcyLvB9YF/s1600/011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAc7clQraEPbxg1V0knSZi_1_PCQGK2P3UwTI1PQqXtLhxEGuL6u-ESihq0TJtoMIEgQ15ey2HL3JukQrYmj0yvq8NANlr_LIW8YLkQ_AwldW9JwRYZGBJaWmyUJ7yz7guB9hIcyLvB9YF/s320/011.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
So much to catch up on, so apologies for a very picture heavy post. First of all, our "honeymoon". A honeymoon with two children in tow, we wouldn't have had it any other way. We ventured further than our usual west Wales haunt, left the dog with Mum, packed up the car and headed 1000 miles through Europe.......to.........here........<br />
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...........Venice, one of the most beautiful, vibrant and atmospheric places I've ever visited. There was so much to see, to eat, drink and just absorb. We wandered for hours, picnicked in squares, drank coffee and ate cakes, people watched, crossed so many bridges we lost count, and we all loved it.<br />
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Venice is one of those places that is just as you imagined it would be, we lost ourselves down endless alleyways, watched gondolas gliding by (at 100 euros, out of the question!), and admired the water taxi ranks..............<br />
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Balconies laden with geraniums were everywhere..............<br />
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We wandered far off the beaten track and found ourselves virtually alone.............<br />
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On our final day we stayed until the evening drew to a close, catching the last ferry out and enjoying Venice without the crowds, we ate seafood in a fantastic little restaurant, scoffed the famous Venetian ice cream and bought naff souvenirs.<br />
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We had the most wonderful time, and that was only one third of our epic journey, the rest of the hols were spent in Switzerland and Belgium. After a particularly busy year it was fantastic to spend so much time together on a holiday that I hope will stay in the childrens memories for ever, I know it will in mine.<br />
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Doglet was very well catered for whilst we were gone, Mum has fallen for her wily charms. She soon settled into having us around again, and is very pleased with her new collar.......<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> She spends rather a lot of time in the garden and the view from the summerhouse is like this........</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Today she decided that she no longer needed her muzzle........so she ate it, along with her daily diet of pencils, tissues, shoes and to top it all she finished her feast today with a piece of toddler poo that we'd fished out of the paddling pool.........YEUCH!! </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Hmmmmmm..........</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Other exciting news...............a few months ago I spent a very frustrating couple of hours trying to buy tickets for Take That, without any success. Having given up hope of seeing them imagine my excitement when my fab friend Liz announced that her sister had won us two tickets and we'd be going to see them in Birmingham in less than two weeks. What an amazing night, the most fantastic stage show, great dancers, fabulous atmosphere, and to top it off The Pet Shop Boys were the warm-up act. Liz and I couldn't really believe we were actually there, we had the best night. I know they're not to everybody's taste but it was one of the best nights I've ever had........</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">So, life's good. Today I turned 41, my thirties are well and truly behind me and the next phase of our life as a family will soon begin as Jack starts secondary school.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">More exciting news in my next post..............</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2577008955151394501.post-85639750855627297492011-04-26T13:18:00.000-07:002011-04-26T13:18:49.389-07:00a birthday, a wedding and an asbo dog.......<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>So, where do I begin? After wasting far too much precious time changing the look of this blog I thought I'd pop back for a little update. How I wish I had a bit more technological expertise than a tadpole, I spend an inordinate amount of time sighing and having violent thoughts towards my laptop than is healthy.<br />
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So.........I'm back, who knows for how long, but I have been keeping up with you all out there, enjoying catching up and absorbing all those fantastic images. Losing bloglines has meant that I've lost track of some of my fave blogs, but I cannot get to grips with the new one so I'm relying on my sidebar.<br />
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How was 2010 for everyone? Here in the VH household things have been a-changing in quite a major way. Not only did I hit the big 40 last July but finally, after 15 years of blissful (ha!) happiness Ian and I finally took the plunge and got married! It was the most fantastic day, a very short civil ceremony at the pump rooms complete with music from The Waterboys and then 90 people squeezed into our diddy back garden for afternoon tea. Food was supplied by all our fabulous neighbours and friends, as were the flowers and cakes. It really was a special day which brought home once again how fortunate we are to live here. <br />
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The icing on the cake came courtesy of <a href="http://emmabradshaw.blogspot.com/">Emma</a> and her fantastic photographs. Having followed her blog and loved her photos we asked if she'd take pictures of the day for us and she did us proud. They were exactly what we'd envisaged and she captured the spirit of the day perfectly, what a clever lady!<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">..............finally, a chance to use all those vintage teacups I've collected over the years</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">.................this photo sums up the atmosphere of the day perfectly, we laughed from beginning to end</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">............how she managed this one I'll never know. This is how I look in my imagination, not in real life!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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It's the time of year when the garden starts to come to life and I've been experimenting with <a href="http://picnik.co.uk/">picnik's</a> effects and loving the polaroid effect.<br />
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Which brings me to the latest addition to the family, a very naughty, hyperactive but extremely cute new member of the clan. Doesn't listen to anything I say, has a habit of chasing joggers round the park and steals shoes, newspapers and any food within reach.............what have we done??<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">...............asbo dog aka Peggy, how could you resist?</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2577008955151394501.post-5230499523556414172010-01-12T14:43:00.000-08:002010-01-12T14:49:01.622-08:00a new decade begins................I'm not sure in which childcare manual it suggests that mouthing through the living room window "Get out here and finish the snow dog you miserable little sod" is positive parenting, but after two extra days of children at home I'm finding I can forgive myself. Ian and I had a whole child free week planned, you know, eating in proper restaurants where chicken nuggets are not on the menu, long walks without chocolate finger bribes, wandering round town without the whines of dismay, but two days in we, like the rest of you, woke to this glorious sight........ <br />
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<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425972213390884962" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv30sWiFBH5mzctkFVVv59f49MOs-8_eeN6JLZWPHtk6kCDYv-G4U0ZypFl-VVl_Nc0ncDwAMjaJeuke0Ku6cZzBYayjoXYVdqn9obrx-lhdY1SY4PpAoTfYYUiNu71Y2Sh0jJAnjpuiTq/s640/045.JPG" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /><br />
<div>Needless to say the school was closed and entertainment of a snowy variety was our remit. Now we love our children, relish their company (mostly) but after exhausting them on the sledge on day one they were a little hesitant about venturing out on day two, hence thinly veiled threats being hissed through the window.<br />
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Fortunately the various snowmen, snow bears etc. were built on day one and spent the next few days watching us (quite ominously in the dark) until the big melt started and snowman's head looked futher skywards until it eventually fell off.<br />
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Did you notice how I slipped back in there, hoping no-one noticed my unexplained absence? A blogging crisis hit the VH household, actually I couldn't find the time to do it and I had little inclination anyhow. It's amazing how much time it freed up for me but I have missed you all so I'm back (again). Quite often it strikes me that this is a funny thing to do, what is the purpose? Sometimes it feels a bit show offy, a bit "look at my perfect life, home and children". That is so far from my life, our house is in dire need of attention, our children fight daily and life as you all know is never perfect. But I like the fact that this blog is my only journal of family life, my only diary, a record of how our lives are at this point in time. Many times over the last couple of months things have happened that I wanted to blog about and tonight this prompted me...........<br />
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</div>...............our children love each other to bits but how they fight! Over anything and everything........who goes up the stairs first, who has the biggest piece of chocolate, who sits where at the table, who gets the extra yorkshire pud and on, and on. Sometimes however, they forget their differences and actually get on, in fact revel in each others company. Tonight Kitty climbed into Jack's bed and he read her stories whilst I was despatched to more menial duties, not much in the scale of things but to me, priceless.<br />
So, Christmas has come and gone, New Years day was spent recovering from a fantastic party here with lots of friends, neighbours and their various offspring. The Christmas tree turned into a twig, far too much was chocolate consumed, terrible television watched and Ian and I got very competitive with Singstar. Normal life has now resumed but here's a snapshot of our festive house before the hoardes descended.................<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqXaKf3sYL7bp8YhyphenhyphenbfUTy1Z6jtB4clY7ANug_PACLNzkTt4p2PsldjrVxJOZ06HhrxaSl_XvYwt_rSvlC6jIc1X18cS7LckhG-u7LHaxSjO7wBoZVJvC5OTNTM4KvX9rXQP7fQ-Winimc/s1600-h/019.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425952397748489426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqXaKf3sYL7bp8YhyphenhyphenbfUTy1Z6jtB4clY7ANug_PACLNzkTt4p2PsldjrVxJOZ06HhrxaSl_XvYwt_rSvlC6jIc1X18cS7LckhG-u7LHaxSjO7wBoZVJvC5OTNTM4KvX9rXQP7fQ-Winimc/s400/019.JPG" style="display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></a><br />
........look at that cute little Santa, an ebay bargain and just like the one my Grandma had when we were children.<br />
When this house is tidy the love affair with it begins again, quite a short lived one because the order never lasts long.................... <br />
<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0lCI4SPlk3JDvEC-wgu2xC79VSNAddCTKiGJojn4MhlJfOA7jA4W_ePwbQ9kuU5ujwdL3xN_IxfW9syLnD_vXNQJx1kVzo0L9HPSR1bI02CoUrofE02fdSvLImzfKqQzECSNqxZ8Nj7j_/s1600-h/017.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425948352265796466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0lCI4SPlk3JDvEC-wgu2xC79VSNAddCTKiGJojn4MhlJfOA7jA4W_ePwbQ9kuU5ujwdL3xN_IxfW9syLnD_vXNQJx1kVzo0L9HPSR1bI02CoUrofE02fdSvLImzfKqQzECSNqxZ8Nj7j_/s640/017.JPG" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><br />
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.............this year the children were in full control of the tree which of course meant rather a lot of low flying santas, snowmen and baubles. We chose a beautiful tree which managed to shed both needles and decorations with alarming speed, there was a strict no go zone set out, in fact even breathing near it was strictly forbidden.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXHbvGw5kF6FwMLlMo3PY8oA1UnqO-28M39wjSbfQNSDm_1xV6mER_cOD33gpceoHgmwE0oBSzycLt8p7wctmTuIeqVvwSPKTweY_yA3Q6EhtD0JC8hft5cjQK30H3e0Ly9JW0qHKD5i0J/s1600-h/006.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425948340968243634" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXHbvGw5kF6FwMLlMo3PY8oA1UnqO-28M39wjSbfQNSDm_1xV6mER_cOD33gpceoHgmwE0oBSzycLt8p7wctmTuIeqVvwSPKTweY_yA3Q6EhtD0JC8hft5cjQK30H3e0Ly9JW0qHKD5i0J/s400/006.JPG" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><br />
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So, 2010, a new decade, the big four-oh is creeping up on me but apart from that not much changes. The children will try to kill each other with increasing regularity, I will still drink far too much tea and consume vast quantities of cake, I will consider a job, and then promptly reconsider, I'll lose my temper, Ian will pursue various hobbies with his customary intensity, we'll camp in the rain, visit new parts of this wonderful country we live in and rant, laugh, cry and dance with each other....................life as normal!<br />
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Happy New Year.........................xx<br />
</div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com51tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2577008955151394501.post-42903345779704002572009-10-16T01:38:00.000-07:002009-10-16T03:03:00.298-07:00fame at last..........well, sort of.......<div>Last week I was having my usual Saturday morning magazine fest, this involves a lie in, tea, toast and most importantly time to read in peace. Out of my pile I chose BBC Homes and Antiques and made my way to the contents page. I nearly fell out of bed, for there was a picture of our very own kitchen. Now don't get me wrong, I did know that someone had been and taken pictures of the house (be a bit weird if I didn't, eh) but we didn't expect them to be in the mag until next year. Amanda, the very talented photographer is a friend from school who mentioned about this time last year that she would like to take some shots of the house and see if she could place them with an interiors magazine. Now, although I love my house I can also see all the faults, the dust balls, leaky patches, cracked toilet, scuffed walls and bits of crap everywhere, so I was dubious as to whether it would be good enough. However, Amanda did us proud and took some fabulous pictures and earlier this year we heard that H&A wanted to do an article. </div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3FgLsCJ3Rsp7vEkPEYVTYsvMvf0lbdJOyh9jvhIUECaMpcPy7ROUipnriSRgzl3tA4XCNVAe4dsDw5pD20xFplyWZoT8o6yssjs04sDMvkm488-au_zhsYksnIHzNaI0GWhb6tz5EU0PI/s1600-h/011.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393120317471360898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3FgLsCJ3Rsp7vEkPEYVTYsvMvf0lbdJOyh9jvhIUECaMpcPy7ROUipnriSRgzl3tA4XCNVAe4dsDw5pD20xFplyWZoT8o6yssjs04sDMvkm488-au_zhsYksnIHzNaI0GWhb6tz5EU0PI/s400/011.JPG" border="0" /></a>We were told that it would be going in early 2010 so it was a bit of a shock to see our kitchen there, right in front of me. I broke all my magazine reading rules and rushed through straight to page 59 and I have to say it was a great spread. The only downside is the picture of the old crocheting crone in the corner but I can avert my eyes from that bit quite nicely. It's a bit surreal seeing your house on paper, it almost doesn't feel like ours, but it's very exciting . The whole family have been out buying up all the copies , Ian alone bought 4, and it's been a great conversation piece for the last week.<br /></div><br /><br /><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPUkicKew3bm4yRhpL4pAGXoSKxPU7ItpWFj0J4Vht1jHjkp3jUmI3bJUFKjdrcaKLvtNxjun3RCaYtiIOpURPnnvbNxddCxfQrIoO5aKOq89jpJxGF16HfLEC1Wth9EpIFoNQk1vOt6yR/s1600-h/009.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393120305619104946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPUkicKew3bm4yRhpL4pAGXoSKxPU7ItpWFj0J4Vht1jHjkp3jUmI3bJUFKjdrcaKLvtNxjun3RCaYtiIOpURPnnvbNxddCxfQrIoO5aKOq89jpJxGF16HfLEC1Wth9EpIFoNQk1vOt6yR/s400/009.JPG" border="0" /></a> The pictures here aren't the the best quality, I couldn't stop the flipping light shining off the pages, but you get the idea. Thank you to all the lovelies who left some very kind comments about our home, we love it and the children can't quite believe that we're in print.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhurLzp3t8Yn1qPGJX1drRFRI80gXjvUt-U0B6lL_Rsnv8TMyc6pLcb3BkpaRi57BzHv_l0hAUwPggTkcx5vOXje9twqP41_HkZlVTDSfHiXZL8EQumlBL5D3oELI_9FeIC6XdIt9To-AXQ/s1600-h/008.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393120297809115170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhurLzp3t8Yn1qPGJX1drRFRI80gXjvUt-U0B6lL_Rsnv8TMyc6pLcb3BkpaRi57BzHv_l0hAUwPggTkcx5vOXje9twqP41_HkZlVTDSfHiXZL8EQumlBL5D3oELI_9FeIC6XdIt9To-AXQ/s400/008.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393118552642771970" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKXEKLnm2WH3CVSPNns2rzy208Z-uskr0oToRKWXTsrHkpW-JKnHa2JYOIQxKXZRBJU0H2dXL0NOwGmxqnCSZxF_XNtnxmMam5CoCwFeQLIjim4uhUjIziEJpk8jeBiUkAUJJF1CuU02rj/s400/006.JPG" border="0" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0krg5YIJ1vz7WeGrQQZlrtFvKsCB19Vn-NepG2HnvbEUXJyc5hB6nHIs9NlQ-Qp6YzHGT9ajaZkhjaEZnYBuo712BtqftjW1f1tLPsS2WVzyK9D_1CN3OkTARMGpziGm2ePgxa7ombm-A/s1600-h/007.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393118556435315906" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 329px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0krg5YIJ1vz7WeGrQQZlrtFvKsCB19Vn-NepG2HnvbEUXJyc5hB6nHIs9NlQ-Qp6YzHGT9ajaZkhjaEZnYBuo712BtqftjW1f1tLPsS2WVzyK9D_1CN3OkTARMGpziGm2ePgxa7ombm-A/s400/007.JPG" border="0" /></a> News of a more depressing kind came a few mornings before the magazine arrived. Ian had to go into hospital for a minor op and stayed in overnight because of some complications. I've never really had a problem about staying in the house alone and went to bed as normal. Next morning I came down to find that someone had forced open our kitchen doors and been in and taken my handbag from the living room. Once the situation had sunk in, and believe me it took a couple of minutes to register what had actually happened, at first I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">thought</span> I'd left the door open, I immediately thought of the children and I can't describe the cold feeling of dread that went <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">through</span> me. My legs went to jelly and the run upstairs to check them seem to take forever. Needless to say they were fine and none the wiser. The police came straight round and I had to pretend in front of the children that it was all a big adventure and managed to hide my shock until they went to school.</div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><div>My handbag was recovered, all they'd taken was £6, they must have been so disappointed with that haul. The same night they also went in my lovely neighbour who lives alone. Both of us have now had super locks and burglar alarms installed. One of my biggest fears has always been someone getting into the house at night and to be honest if I sit and dwell on it and consider the "what ifs" it does haunt me, but I refuse to let anyone make me afraid to live in my own home, so life will go on as normal. My peace of mind will not be shattered by the creeps who think they have a right to invade my property and take the things Ian works so hard to provide, to be quite honest it makes me more angry than afraid, but there are so many nicer things in life to dwell on that I'm trying to close this chapter.</div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><div>Onto things of a lighter nature, since the photos were taken I've had a major overhaul of the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">kitchen</span>. The blue dresser was never quite right in there and I had a picture in my head of a cube type storage system since seeing it in a book somewhere. A bit of a departure from my normal style, but a couple of trips to the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">DIY</span> store, a lot of drilling and painting later.........ta <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">dah</span>......... </div><br /><div><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393115757957520050" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL2ezf5DqnP8cw1QcOhShR0p6awA5qq8b_oxgM-LcyvtWhuScZGB07RCglgEm-fmV4u2m6YF_XZ-am7NFNVMo-JMqQ7P8qPk0v22xrj6xAIuC4m_-G0zlU8y745FfC97jrfbb3N4ECmGZr/s400/015.JPG" border="0" /></div><br /><div>Ian wasn't convinced about the whole thing so I did my usual trick and bought, built and painted the whole thing before he could argue about it. I think he likes it now but no matter because I love it, all my treasures (crap) are on display and easily <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">accessible</span> and it's freed up some cupboard space. The whole cleaning business will be a nightmare but we'll cross that bridge later.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393117697191506466" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9YL-NbnWaLJ4RORww3M_DNFB2ZJolCwHaCCg2_KQdTrJgLyCKlp1xvfbNS2F3yAyiHw5ZbWf0wQJluuPiyvquSjoKf4yIRzrPUpo2jFy6Wz9NZTYp6fZXYsvqvJxsH1zu2R1m-TwFkA7g/s400/007.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393117688219745650" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkG2sNLLS94OVJJU1djXpKaaRFQTFJq_aN6_4GIV3n0ANZJ87ANM8C28Q1uqj12DPeR6YaMKRNYHQ3TLHFJTwyafGaHFfiWOmwKuk2QiXHqijuup6PMdjbiNv1AnWnqUmOb7rDWk_OzKwm/s400/006.JPG" border="0" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOQEU30QVSnypenP1R_BVwWckdEH6KfmkpTRjedHAlxhYNPtfFwbkhzkGrwfR1ZEu7edzVfJHnKoEvOeWqBE-XobXXy7tq4F_d-98LPoXU7I9YejcZo8bWd6cwSeQzMcxhqeNqqoOghzb2/s1600-h/009.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393117154856668354" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOQEU30QVSnypenP1R_BVwWckdEH6KfmkpTRjedHAlxhYNPtfFwbkhzkGrwfR1ZEu7edzVfJHnKoEvOeWqBE-XobXXy7tq4F_d-98LPoXU7I9YejcZo8bWd6cwSeQzMcxhqeNqqoOghzb2/s400/009.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitFwTdBWLZlOoLFuAxhhdjud-0WUEoDBKA7ScNz8VyJPTa2FyZlOJ6N_SzymEDAMdJpg4YruikawKx3l4p130UefQdpwyRNw-1iP8OFc4l4ZPyEiF_CaPWsI6msQRu8pEw328H6cQZItSx/s1600-h/010.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393117145710638114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitFwTdBWLZlOoLFuAxhhdjud-0WUEoDBKA7ScNz8VyJPTa2FyZlOJ6N_SzymEDAMdJpg4YruikawKx3l4p130UefQdpwyRNw-1iP8OFc4l4ZPyEiF_CaPWsI6msQRu8pEw328H6cQZItSx/s400/010.JPG" border="0" /></a> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393131419257200674" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMfu2GG3oOXCVRu0zPss1IcGUtz8jtwgxgLDuIcXe6KFi0-wLp0kX0CNPpHy2Uxd9Ey6T1WSvtyuRi60ug3AJ_te8oGGoATOYXqrAh_Cmja3bKJGt8eEKHlGHeBzpBCHg3NLBfANUnas_M/s400/008.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI1NPFPn2kRzw8M9BNvmvB-Pify1qsuWxphlT8pN8pFzbMmFCV_fx4q3P2SOnCbpZCfGe7kPotGaIK9HuyJeqRdAlJ4y8CEGCI3bL05-p54VY3_MKWIn36Dstgyzje1XRkITxXv1_rTQAN/s1600-h/013.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393117136897905138" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI1NPFPn2kRzw8M9BNvmvB-Pify1qsuWxphlT8pN8pFzbMmFCV_fx4q3P2SOnCbpZCfGe7kPotGaIK9HuyJeqRdAlJ4y8CEGCI3bL05-p54VY3_MKWIn36Dstgyzje1XRkITxXv1_rTQAN/s400/013.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />The dresser has been moved to it's new home on the landing and I'll show you that later, I know, you can hardly contain your excitement, not exactly rock and roll on this blog is it!<br /><br />Let's finish with a couple of gratuitous fire shots, can't resist. Our boiler seems to have gone into turbo heat mode and we can only have the radiators on at furnace level so we're hiding our heads in the sand and using the fire instead................<br /><br /><div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDUbvamKfUsy7_66XVj-zOuVTTWjGVrSe5O17OpE1iAMcuCbR3sY7fTQ3xJB-S0LK9_mw6YzePoPs8H7TYvgNwKDZzV_IjpjFiWKckooWLChp7NNcN_XwnMeAd8RUjrgNAyHPP8fBZGnCo/s1600-h/021.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393115750682185682" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDUbvamKfUsy7_66XVj-zOuVTTWjGVrSe5O17OpE1iAMcuCbR3sY7fTQ3xJB-S0LK9_mw6YzePoPs8H7TYvgNwKDZzV_IjpjFiWKckooWLChp7NNcN_XwnMeAd8RUjrgNAyHPP8fBZGnCo/s400/021.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYEY_3UOYYCho0UnbJDfDd6LKeGHOp19kWhn8H_ODHKdSMukAez582kAjGHHZ7SzSfTqSwMFW9FQkYtoTgMYoJXrtJAMHeqA6LEKbsZZzkFYjtfucmKmNzwhuCAo6Od2Od82vLDwsbeozC/s1600-h/018.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393115741873193778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 396px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYEY_3UOYYCho0UnbJDfDd6LKeGHOp19kWhn8H_ODHKdSMukAez582kAjGHHZ7SzSfTqSwMFW9FQkYtoTgMYoJXrtJAMHeqA6LEKbsZZzkFYjtfucmKmNzwhuCAo6Od2Od82vLDwsbeozC/s400/018.JPG" border="0" /></a>Happy weekend all.................... </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com65tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2577008955151394501.post-20865630597914822292009-09-19T14:29:00.000-07:002009-09-19T16:11:12.866-07:00things I'm loving in September.................<div>:: the logs have arrived, one and a quarter tonnes of them which took 3 hours to wheelbarrow through the house.............oh the joy of terraced house living. Let the fires begin!<br /><br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip_sZq3mQg7eAGTQaDkjBzDbTdL9_JnxzeJgeQo5wIVzG2RiV3btQLvg157EjTpl5ZtHIWkdgYTk7xKUW7ImacbXkvrbYBajgoODS49WDP_oMcFMpFnt787AAT8LnMA49t67V4Sf5O0bNs/s1600-h/081.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383304467947168866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip_sZq3mQg7eAGTQaDkjBzDbTdL9_JnxzeJgeQo5wIVzG2RiV3btQLvg157EjTpl5ZtHIWkdgYTk7xKUW7ImacbXkvrbYBajgoODS49WDP_oMcFMpFnt787AAT8LnMA49t67V4Sf5O0bNs/s400/081.JPG" border="0" /></a>:: having the lights on and the twinkling glow cast on our wine glasses from the fairy lights in the kitchen.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK-BeQKg-5X4QIN693Dmp8V6bgZKAyFPmzBiK4T-pGs1QsUD_NTPcOAFtHJva6aRGBpgw1fZPP6GW5_KQksEp7x3L4UmhFO751CBYQQdDRqJtrE146Iet4OMAO73FS6LQzNfAIi5qZ3j1q/s1600-h/078.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383304459245258770" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK-BeQKg-5X4QIN693Dmp8V6bgZKAyFPmzBiK4T-pGs1QsUD_NTPcOAFtHJva6aRGBpgw1fZPP6GW5_KQksEp7x3L4UmhFO751CBYQQdDRqJtrE146Iet4OMAO73FS6LQzNfAIi5qZ3j1q/s400/078.JPG" border="0" /></a> :: finally enjoying the fruits of our labour. Having these few sunny <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">September</span> days has meant that our tomatoes are finally edible, boy have we been patient, but the wait has been worth it.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEWTBVfiYKLQQi8Am0aib5wZOfDptTIrykQ-gMauD75xmQvCqnAHyzmWxX4tGZ7xbNctwV5UFkMcH0t5e7OSRwhK0kb785uCUMDKPqAIzgmS-lAptdpJftJHL3sN_EzrWbZrGWcCrg3i1_/s1600-h/020.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383301036039482930" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEWTBVfiYKLQQi8Am0aib5wZOfDptTIrykQ-gMauD75xmQvCqnAHyzmWxX4tGZ7xbNctwV5UFkMcH0t5e7OSRwhK0kb785uCUMDKPqAIzgmS-lAptdpJftJHL3sN_EzrWbZrGWcCrg3i1_/s400/020.JPG" border="0" /></a> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383299357463185042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv4LkW4t3ZX2MniJEintI2ktFFx_XKSGaRF5qdBzuiGcPqNlYAx1m7g6iTGImb9a6Nj7gKWRbyZECxXtSt0D-Vj6EumC5tL0I8-Il32-XA1FwNtEHJvSXtPgkZzupzHoNa4q1dzzc7THiz/s400/031.JPG" border="0" />:: still being able to enjoy our little garden, be it bouncing, eating, crocheting or tea drinking.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_tPXKQ9Iz6RQYRO1qiG_x_pGndM5CVORnUq1ZB8cPvOeJogKG8dxOlzkdtjwyrAgnhl0cY73jwMRYegR4rBquUuVtqWtEtWuAqtJrKK0r0Hp48zHkdpq8AuybSLgYo6MJoi_mOpuZyDeA/s1600-h/007.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383301033520506594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_tPXKQ9Iz6RQYRO1qiG_x_pGndM5CVORnUq1ZB8cPvOeJogKG8dxOlzkdtjwyrAgnhl0cY73jwMRYegR4rBquUuVtqWtEtWuAqtJrKK0r0Hp48zHkdpq8AuybSLgYo6MJoi_mOpuZyDeA/s400/007.JPG" border="0" /></a>:: the colours of pencils and crayons. I've found that having them to hand in the kitchen means that the children are drawing much more than before and the added bonus is that I love looking at them in all their colourful glory in their pots.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgufsLMamwWTzOQHjCoyej70DhZxcgN-OzterG5fczxEpHQb0yQFq01En1Y-1Rkju3AkWQAwd8IHYcJu2KneKDjcQ2I6L8MG4XWfZq84Mcilbwcrl5rLVR3t9dQlE_Fq7jt-30KTGNOf4hQ/s1600-h/034.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383299365074224994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgufsLMamwWTzOQHjCoyej70DhZxcgN-OzterG5fczxEpHQb0yQFq01En1Y-1Rkju3AkWQAwd8IHYcJu2KneKDjcQ2I6L8MG4XWfZq84Mcilbwcrl5rLVR3t9dQlE_Fq7jt-30KTGNOf4hQ/s400/034.JPG" border="0" /></a>:: my new two wheeled wonder. An early 40<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">th</span> present (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">ok</span>, so it's a whole year early but who's counting). My lovely old Raleigh will be wheeling it's way up North to my little sis who can use the bike seat and it's been replaced with this beauty. I'm in love, this bike will be with me forever more, just got to wear the saddle in!<br /><br /><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCAQPdaqq0RAMMFyHkhZzJ9aiyjq6KWIDLDDuTl7K8xeXVzPKYfmvnF5EQ3NlWvkItNige30bmWi3gNNgNKDhSbygjV-Tqv8n2imQ5qGco1dvSfBZRm94mWjLEOKPZI5ylJmJsMXSqJSjR/s1600-h/003.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383298879049422530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCAQPdaqq0RAMMFyHkhZzJ9aiyjq6KWIDLDDuTl7K8xeXVzPKYfmvnF5EQ3NlWvkItNige30bmWi3gNNgNKDhSbygjV-Tqv8n2imQ5qGco1dvSfBZRm94mWjLEOKPZI5ylJmJsMXSqJSjR/s400/003.JPG" border="0" /></a><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383294721369634578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoiuIWACdV_8GRIL99ymMZ8ftPwJClOZ2b4z1loPPEQccAt2d9xO0g8L4-RVfhayoPiOEMgxQeVBcCIgR2aQj2aSHu_EAkNernsEhpI3sJJHZQwSxCuImQvMSu7fvbIVKOnixLuS-8FgAk/s400/004.JPG" border="0" />:: a new shelf in the porch. A simple thing really, but it's given a home to the lanterns which have been languishing on the kitchen floor for years. The drill has been in use quite a lot here recently, updates to follow.......<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXmD_TOJsDR8EU2C8ztfn9uf2ZUL2GTjGLVWKAzqasDLNGT2UaxtGior1EY7oMXfkhTzdzhbyCO1Y2abC5tG5a84oYa0DS30SDWoJLrA3ygJ3MPD8IA3LQ-WhETgBq1MKn_yWzpaWrOzMg/s1600-h/001.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383298867905108562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXmD_TOJsDR8EU2C8ztfn9uf2ZUL2GTjGLVWKAzqasDLNGT2UaxtGior1EY7oMXfkhTzdzhbyCO1Y2abC5tG5a84oYa0DS30SDWoJLrA3ygJ3MPD8IA3LQ-WhETgBq1MKn_yWzpaWrOzMg/s400/001.JPG" border="0" /></a>:: sitting in the garden today and noticing that amongst the dead strawberries, holiday buckets and other bits of crap my <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">auricula</span> has flowered unexpectedly.<br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383311170586454066" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8EaB7Zz4Gu1_u21sb0l_tEL_FCslQTNbF2Gen16NE_GX7fWpOOhkC4XbQBnnkpQQGSWIMCO1eu1afadlVB4gpGd4bCuTj0U1tblD3-Xwv1DtxMkWbggR5BlbfLXB48nipXKpNGHCC1TiO/s400/029.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383297614886872018" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBK60jAnfYroDCgO6lwHvOKTaS8B0pm3wdAOQf_6Lk4wOUvPbCLcvD9Tk_VBmsc-Ojq7pbTCinwO5WGbD8KsL9fpUAn7gRdLtOahdUNH5cUpVtVrNAMVnWgesXG3Q5FpprDQ12S0uYriUq/s400/027.JPG" border="0" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJNt_r9O04GbonH_96a0ZFFbOCCi0OSGnWwYDTm6v7YrnBUcepWQzvE7S5RfXU6JT2t5XuwPU2iv8stHMUxPEKxGJHyrgr6OT36MHVPqSLJqLEgi36WTkSMTP_DSZEmQMK_NlJdPpsFzh3/s1600-h/028.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383297618379502738" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJNt_r9O04GbonH_96a0ZFFbOCCi0OSGnWwYDTm6v7YrnBUcepWQzvE7S5RfXU6JT2t5XuwPU2iv8stHMUxPEKxGJHyrgr6OT36MHVPqSLJqLEgi36WTkSMTP_DSZEmQMK_NlJdPpsFzh3/s400/028.JPG" border="0" /></a> :: moving a shelf from the kitchen to a new spot above the piano to house my ever expanding collection of wool, passing by and catching a glimpse of that colour in the corner of my eye, makes me happy................sad but true. </div><div><div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383295651890435858" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5QtSzmWz_VVXo78VLEjBS6FxM2TwJaI_RQXALmfBHhnxMtFXdtjw3j1cqIVnwn3owzRLUTXTOWb1i8xCnkOq3a8-oj99A1SvGD76FVt4LdFhApAUUpTdAB9SbudPsnXnBqt1PGvL5bvhf/s400/022.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383294728378319666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 276px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm0sbxs1gzm0RTPJXdpHqaCAyFl05Q4yAIvcnSYalJAYlYKji5XUQ22BDqTWlVmaCsLunMAy-qi269n-kudNAlMmg_QFPH4n910P-Qke20s_xYm03o8zvAWZyNoV0JAe49R2_0DZhQhP6R/s400/013.JPG" border="0" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAstm1Fyd67Feg6v3ZXATwXm-QqOZa7mNAPqHCO40AkI7ES0xAYkFz44QGPwCfX6l6Srm6jauxiCpOBkQfbAYw2CpP1hECwg8FMgccDIPRuX2jL4PlvNBnwPqbWwDO92-CEIjZVgEthZKm/s1600-h/017.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383295653981790290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAstm1Fyd67Feg6v3ZXATwXm-QqOZa7mNAPqHCO40AkI7ES0xAYkFz44QGPwCfX6l6Srm6jauxiCpOBkQfbAYw2CpP1hECwg8FMgccDIPRuX2jL4PlvNBnwPqbWwDO92-CEIjZVgEthZKm/s400/017.JPG" border="0" /></a></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><p>:: summer holiday puppet shows, an idea nicked from a friend. Kept them entertained nicely for about an hour and a half, a wooden spoon for each of us...........now to be found languishing in Jack's bedroom. Oh, and the dirty feet .................love 'em!</p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383317323272146418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNToq327Vy9KEhA5qaWPRk6lFGWKZwHNYy8VUslwV8STPU6EXK9bA-sos50Mb6337V7YSSLAgnUWMeajZg2_s5eyOGfzRHK8bdaP07yVHwcX9OjUx15BNkETkOE50oo8s0HmuqDgfjmvLO/s400/059.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383313159842708178" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9qIuwSBey__Trpq9z1bVPxRyaQnnasoLZmkMYRUXLXi_4ndtlIv_CbGF2cVSdNYO5j9f3Y0PQ_G51G5Y-fqDjVzpNy9QLDRlPOp6exF9b8e2B4xfLYtM-LXheoQTC35kTYC8-A6131N4h/s400/055.JPG" border="0" />:: quiet lunchtimes once again, enjoying an impulse buy from the bookshop.<br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383313150142345554" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2RSDj13q2vUIA1UpBbv30cEMyfHMJMN0V69cWR2R7axWzYStbGNbE4Yu5TR56IE8QvCT67W9YCUoyPhkQRhwsEgQdbz3Nk1wgym2dFA6AtnbetDIzkr5faTmi8RcC8C8z_v9dSkjzUODf/s400/024.JPG" border="0" /></p><p>:: welcoming back Ian from a 150 miles in a day bike ride to raise money for Macmillan nurses, link here at <a href="http://justgiving.com/sufferonsaddles">just giving</a>. Well done you, don't know how you did it but we're so proud of you!</p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383318825557747954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 181px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsz9jorqnmL_53oRdAjHTdv7gqkItVcWrOJtyki84NBCIV3CUb_ExUTdKT0EqR5Dee1t-afYPhFWvxOzQ0KQQnsGTyBVq6fAuICTxtUd_uGFAyCOVuMarQR8SXrYUTv-cejKq6o8DC2CXh/s400/064.JPG" border="0" />Back later in the week, see you all then.................</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com36tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2577008955151394501.post-7309389004184256622009-09-01T15:21:00.000-07:002009-09-08T14:57:33.813-07:00normal service resumes..............whatever that may be!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4IIfEOOMKxT8OtqzwY1NGQDY0ZRylxMBO_TIkOmlh_B5v1yNez71gp7gmaUodtGM06Lb8VmkuBz6T0FuUcmVj-p_mogkOGSTH3m4UtXk0LToSpuK7LkjGHD8I4iuguNFy_ZmcqU9sq33l/s1600-h/010.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376631273287305266" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4IIfEOOMKxT8OtqzwY1NGQDY0ZRylxMBO_TIkOmlh_B5v1yNez71gp7gmaUodtGM06Lb8VmkuBz6T0FuUcmVj-p_mogkOGSTH3m4UtXk0LToSpuK7LkjGHD8I4iuguNFy_ZmcqU9sq33l/s400/010.JPG" border="0" /></a> Hello, hello and hello again...............I'm back! School hols are over and although they were mostly blissful (and now and then b****y hard work) it is nice to get the house back to myself and I must admit to a small sigh of contentment when I came back to an empty house, once again the radio and I can be on speaking terms (please tell me the rest of you converse with your radios), and the once disgustingly filthy house has now been thoroughly de-loused and cleansed.<br /><br />So...................summer - how was it for you? Most of you have been a lot less slack on the blogging front than me so<em> </em>I have managed to catch up with a lot of the news out there. As usual the weather here in Blighty did not really do us proud, despite the forecasts. We did however manage quite a few trips to the beach on our hols.<br /><br />Right at the beginning of the hols we travelled up to the east coast of Scotland to stay at one of the <a href="http://featherdownfarms.co.uk/">Featherdown Farm </a>campsites. What a place, from the setting within yards of a totally secluded beach, to the camp shop in an old boat, to the bread oven, it was a truly magical place. We had a fantastic time here, even my 16 year old stepdaughter loved it, despite the lack of msn and facebook. Miraculous what a couple of days away from real life can do for you.<a href="http://featherdownfarms.co.uk/"><br /><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHrToDQ-IK8XcoN4j5rYXYsnqjjKJ0l0bfUeI-Ex3aP4W22Hhyphenhyphen-NxhPHDQdMd6wqb6zGtcQ6zOAblHAJc2wZb3nMfARVX7wZoSpKakahmCFpBIk0rRmT5x598wBq7UWyRp14QZsRNtkvEy/s1600-h/013.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376631267608937522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHrToDQ-IK8XcoN4j5rYXYsnqjjKJ0l0bfUeI-Ex3aP4W22Hhyphenhyphen-NxhPHDQdMd6wqb6zGtcQ6zOAblHAJc2wZb3nMfARVX7wZoSpKakahmCFpBIk0rRmT5x598wBq7UWyRp14QZsRNtkvEy/s400/013.JPG" border="0" /></a>Within a few feet from this fab tent was the most gorgeous beach which most of the time we had completely to ourselves, ideal for fishing, skidding down the dunes, kite flying and enjoying a cup of tea at the water's edge in complete solitude...................perfection.<br /><div><br /></div><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376630348986996562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggPBOf80uNVvMR6RLM7zIZ-PqC5Et7zWvEUsTQBri1DDPAHW78ABfWw-V1C3e-T8oVL1ezRUrePM2Csgh2OE9OX_6y5X8m11h5H5wEjSm-UbcjnhHhZrc-ktLHcXS31vBmxqkLfkDkdhXA/s400/041.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376630762440823330" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMSBh3D8SDx8bcDsFCg8VcK3ToRHaSt69IpaGAKSi4ySMPLm5ub8mzsCEvAFf6uGqBwonABUTeUl1XKcH6bVkfgjvXJsVCu2VyKOrvCiU1rIphDK8w6iHw3WiQbUxm7DSznjgqiak4wuMU/s400/021.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376629847740050594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyZhlx_BTVq6OpWtBmLX8wEJ2oN82yed4h6YmmFmQswZzyjSOGRNos3idWdSlSsALrDW-p5_eYaI5ma56sN774ru6zh3i2JH-7bH3SKbnMux6OTCCvOHrkCXeuPnu0_TrQVbvC64x_mQwr/s400/044.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376630357705657138" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5rhQNUViK_00jRqfngxdbOls_7ZrIou5fpYSavpmzThpLLYfOy_gmcApX6-hIy2gZoq2dsYl7g28QUeiNv6RZ0pHcWrhFIxRm4tfYLZiLDYs-6NEwKtsZG_xHduuEPLY7QZJyOQywzC-e/s400/034.JPG" border="0" />This was a quiet holiday, plenty of time for being together, mastering stews cooked in the bread oven, games of scrabble and gazing across endless fields, new crochet project in hand and cup of tea never too far away................Harbours were visited (bit harbour obsessed, Ian and I), seals were fed, crab sandwiches munched, sweet shops raided, what more could you want? </p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-5ntlBC2jPuMwqgV8LVuX4Aka-FFOtyvM3TZktCybsfxNq565HflTjrBjn0biIeNFH0p_UUWYx5R0O8NogZgjhtXeHLjn4O7w-O9r83-v52NIEay0BeSZzdgU3SsXuW0M-XfqdDDXsLrC/s1600-h/015.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376631258590532194" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-5ntlBC2jPuMwqgV8LVuX4Aka-FFOtyvM3TZktCybsfxNq565HflTjrBjn0biIeNFH0p_UUWYx5R0O8NogZgjhtXeHLjn4O7w-O9r83-v52NIEay0BeSZzdgU3SsXuW0M-XfqdDDXsLrC/s400/015.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2xV5mLlKchAiglYnauQBea4TUJyITSvWGzzzqImJBMjxhlTru03eSqtvE0RSFVOob_KYhQ-3SGPiotwKkboWqgSFQjZkiDXw2WxbUSu-0WBPXsI52kx_31niEG1To1M44uuSL-o8iXfu_/s1600-h/019.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376630773916551778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2xV5mLlKchAiglYnauQBea4TUJyITSvWGzzzqImJBMjxhlTru03eSqtvE0RSFVOob_KYhQ-3SGPiotwKkboWqgSFQjZkiDXw2WxbUSu-0WBPXsI52kx_31niEG1To1M44uuSL-o8iXfu_/s400/019.JPG" border="0" /></a>I can't begin to describe to you just how cosy these tents are, stove and gas lamps lit, the sound of crackling logs and little else, very luxurious camping indeed. But before you start thinking that we've gone soft and can't handle the real camping experience any longer let me tell you that we did, in all its glory, at the end of the hols.<br /><p>Once again we went back to one of our favourite haunts in Wales. The opposite extreme to Featherdown, portacabins for a loo, a long walk to the kitchen sink and some of the highest winds ever, but to us it's one of the best places ever. </p><p>The views are magical, the sun sets over the sea, dolphins swim in the bay, and again it's a quiet campsite (getting the impression I'm an antisocial so and so yet). The owner, Gordon, keeps the numbers down so you always have an unrestricted view of the sea. It really is a fabulous place, and this year the sun shone on us for most of the time although, being British, we were of course prepared for ALL weathers. The kidlets were shoe-horned into the car to accommodate swimsuits, fleeces, thermals, flip flops, sun hats, rain coats, wellies and of course the new hand made vintage curtain windbreak (bit floppy, very hand made looking, but does the job).</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376628931850107666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoGQ9g8QmIjmwCEtGZe6mHakqDoLMN4WqtQtd05EZOoQ0IW_Pz1WSp5g7JxvWftCs443anjDhnjh81Lm6p3iHXwbjpA0IcjI3_oS1jq4-9ZLymzsJqL3mXhamTjXukDwK0oe7hQoLosKMi/s400/069.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376628021918850402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipBG-0WSeREbNVoLhckVzS4DWI6wc_vsAUb4u1CQ6UstuxMv8eBl6dm0uc8Ma8VOEgS6CMWdzIYGDOlLsQQi4fBjrLckkPJOHzrzfED0e7nQIMFY-6j1sfxHqsNFbRp-i5QzMpMjUlDZug/s400/015.JPG" border="0" />Of course, the crochet project came along too. Kit decided she wanted to learn, so latching on to a vague interest I patiently (not one of my greatest attributes) tried to show her. Willing she may have been but crochet is not an easy skill for a five year old to master. Luckily she was thrilled with her long chain and now wants to help with the blanket, although I'm not sure either she or I are quite ready for treble stitches just yet, I only have so much patience to share out.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUfC8hGKKzb5HIz3gN9pNU606qv2LffIGEFl5JxNip1aZlgrXTnoFEFyFdezkxtKTnPWcFmqtH-DLHYVkhrsDI_I0LuB1hq6rcd_5c2S6UqHUxiJYtSv4JZxF-NRKRN_dzCfqiY9HkjXL6/s1600-h/014.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376629480154686834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUfC8hGKKzb5HIz3gN9pNU606qv2LffIGEFl5JxNip1aZlgrXTnoFEFyFdezkxtKTnPWcFmqtH-DLHYVkhrsDI_I0LuB1hq6rcd_5c2S6UqHUxiJYtSv4JZxF-NRKRN_dzCfqiY9HkjXL6/s400/014.JPG" border="0" /></a> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376628321279071090" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4VF9GpRTtgCWqywN3CRfnYb-8LYZHb2sNCJPbpHT0RcenAePt0rAnPF9BL-tNONXgwaPESn3kIo0ylkOTU00WyxZO2ESChgJQaHerRiisBajpYVMKutlGFPL5ng-hjuS8XFGcNZYN13oK/s400/030.JPG" border="0" /><br />Meanwhile big bro' managed to evade the camera yet again, leading to concerns that there will be a huge chunk of his life missing in our family journals, that is if we did actually have family journals that is, not just cds full of old photos.</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376628607733725346" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmvEW_buqePf33KCeIJpBHkK9OPTgcfyJXlkR58Avgk6RhC0UQrwrIsJntTR7hz1_dHJXe7u-383KiWmXVuqd6IZ4ADJPDAWmxfdYHGyfT4d29SG4CdG9gBcrvTytgid9iMqzJscsVcA42/s400/035.JPG" border="0" />The beaches in Wales are spectacular, less busy than elsewhere in the UK but just as lovely. Windbreaks, waves and wetsuits galore, lots of sandcastles, gritty cups of tea and ice creams, trying to read a newspaper in gale force winds, looking in estate agents and imagining a different life, a very typical British beach holiday.............fabulous!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZTbDPkfq-purPY3WTQf-vgnVnK7rJ6uG0_xMG46xfu1DJvCdeP5LBiaHFo9p_QS5bRnFgho06iiAb30AEEUFlvasQmC0kFS8N69b5S6iZVBojkevnDt-RhvFUnAqQBg_f9beRuSDJk2TF/s1600-h/026.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376629470720148770" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZTbDPkfq-purPY3WTQf-vgnVnK7rJ6uG0_xMG46xfu1DJvCdeP5LBiaHFo9p_QS5bRnFgho06iiAb30AEEUFlvasQmC0kFS8N69b5S6iZVBojkevnDt-RhvFUnAqQBg_f9beRuSDJk2TF/s400/026.JPG" border="0" /></a><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379214821920228546" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyVpB0RmhjeHUEApveyNfkYRtOMvkplbc6ZUX5O1L_bzySh4xFwpXlg32bEEXVTrRli74Al-ut1N8Aa13fhRuc3XjhoYx4Hwg4W_f5nRSAE-EV4tEl3M155vTHNfjvvKy1oik2b_HXClrO/s400/042.JPG" border="0" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOUmL0z40LlaY9BvFfjn2VTVJAITtuo_uXNNgAmMXhRfTQ5fcc_zZZb1R085acuaH4Vl0wSS7s8_3Xq1ILJc_sLKkvxqJl_LZ8iV40QKbD-tqPOGn37o1YhMqYddhofPBvjCFbZGlnXNGB/s1600-h/049.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376628936959581426" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOUmL0z40LlaY9BvFfjn2VTVJAITtuo_uXNNgAmMXhRfTQ5fcc_zZZb1R085acuaH4Vl0wSS7s8_3Xq1ILJc_sLKkvxqJl_LZ8iV40QKbD-tqPOGn37o1YhMqYddhofPBvjCFbZGlnXNGB/s400/049.JPG" border="0" /></a><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376628018482354706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjKuLq-inDNJ_tb0IR3LbxmCBuEWP9qJ10cdFav89PGDAx_TAwPh1S0pEQEy3-9bIr5GnGROk7k9W2uB5iZFjSORJAtYd0rGqogg17-JXzN2kSzxYT8NuaZ27QcEH9JPb0JK8kPk3FVTDz/s400/003.JPG" border="0" />Each evening followed the same pattern, tired children in bed, wine poured, crochet out and watch the sun going down...............bliss.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEvGuWq7IqgrOXDuTNu4IYp6KZBD2yIuRXboidw8Sd9lHuzRfoEds1h8GZ023ZXL5rgytrLDITy8nBP5akezs6527Z5auV_N7GJDxtP_aBilAOjEfxaytxG4OkVuizi1GnCfaP7VdhK4Lz/s1600-h/061.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376628615583671986" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEvGuWq7IqgrOXDuTNu4IYp6KZBD2yIuRXboidw8Sd9lHuzRfoEds1h8GZ023ZXL5rgytrLDITy8nBP5akezs6527Z5auV_N7GJDxtP_aBilAOjEfxaytxG4OkVuizi1GnCfaP7VdhK4Lz/s400/061.JPG" border="0" /></a>See you all soon.................. </p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com33tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2577008955151394501.post-70460660258451270352009-06-04T04:04:00.000-07:002009-07-05T13:22:05.034-07:00contemplating.......<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-DMbIVOhcUbwu77njWxoC_RxpT_XB0rSwJAJXkOWmDl0Wy4J-8bwgDo2migDLO2ew3DgoHtR-O-Ovi2tEEBTihA4_311QFGBvShOTsvI0gjO88YfEkzkBGNAGItmD0Cck_xIKOjA2RXSs/s1600-h/011.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353984883155247234" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-DMbIVOhcUbwu77njWxoC_RxpT_XB0rSwJAJXkOWmDl0Wy4J-8bwgDo2migDLO2ew3DgoHtR-O-Ovi2tEEBTihA4_311QFGBvShOTsvI0gjO88YfEkzkBGNAGItmD0Cck_xIKOjA2RXSs/s400/011.JPG" border="0" /></a> So, dear readers, once again I have been absent for far longer than is decent, suffering from blogging angst. Time is a major factor at the moment, I probably have much more of it than lots of you out there but time management is NOT my strong point and I feel that spending hours on the computer is not a productive way to spend my days. Added to that is the guilt factor, and being a parent brings with it a huge amount of guilt already without adding to it.<br /><br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div>However I love the record of family life that a blog gives me, I don't keep a diary and all the digital photos spend their life on discs and not kept in any order, so a blog provides us with a great keepsake. </div><div></div><div>I love reading blogs that make me laugh, inspire me and make me drool with envy and I'm not sure that a log of my children's life would make <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">scintillating</span> reading. So what I think I will do is carry on <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">sporadically</span>, mainly for me but very happy to have you all popping in and I will endeavour to call in on you all whenever time permits.<br /><br />So for now I'll leave you with some of the things making me smile at the moment.................<br /><br />:: walking up a nearby hill, one of Ian's favourite haunts and enjoying a very windy picnic and the amazing views once there. </div><div><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353150409986491058" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWlOygly1CRpJjAQMRJ13__jWA_xmAIOjimMeru-0UjwhYfvg-sW4jadc9qGvAjv-o7ziBmrhbZBDl2rzI73fsentj9hAqh2eMERiyGC18doIK2IcqqICC7YGnVAj94FzYDPi0zuBgcVr1/s400/028.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353149971064570866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgva6OPSQPZS_IBmpEW1e2ul64t9R7msesT99fxOQb59klfUQrs9uGxegX9cdfJIfV43dPhh10Bf-eN4t-MivPVACzNehqYJMLR5xkPPo4O0UiC1WZjoSC61UzxbX4LQ1OJ-rM77a6WQG-H/s400/023.JPG" border="0" />:: the fact that even with my limited (very) gardening skills, the mixture of rain and sunshine recently have meant that my haphazard approach to gardening has led to a pretty fantastic display this year. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Particularly</span> loving the geraniums and the surprise <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">anenome</span> that I'd forgotten I'd planted..................<br /></div><br /><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343575967003166978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFJe9f7xOPdcUQ8SU_3A0hAXgaS50BvstGUz0-gtlE6CPgrV8Lo4hORpQEzJFOaast04YepTIG6vwUsg4a7YnsGvTGlJGzOJsNR9ugiSiiCuvZyMM1pKJ3YCCP1iwpNxLXvqYoioYoPurP/s400/052.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353147700829304674" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHWAtpEBraxjdYmxaU8LjfDndKyLn2-LoRhpX9sd6_McRR6_3wFWrXNfVTR_5q3iZrnuj1IaRLmmDS98z9_Zg5dXDTI39Pn798fd6YamcDoRijA88QIjxpwpocCsNkhJdSdwMTvjhXQBLu/s400/009.JPG" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343575955338343250" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8RIEVo1G-nN-2noU2J4iZ1Hf_fhbWN8nYhqdEvvg003GbUi0HbDTpBBf6qdLN7DDj6NWmcs5oS106jzEsc1GZGvTxNHptfvMlx1u2JDWeFUwK7Qkv-6nAE39suWoqFPLb1JCX47USJCem/s400/050.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343575950899406370" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnz2sk8iUqB5h89pAayDCrKlFy882mwJt82MPWuNnbV4b2ZttmjwoiwWyGJsLYV5rAT9wT2X8vZRL9fXfXU267F_0GVkxiA7tJJj2R_ZGdzCvRKis9AR7FuWh3rf-bpoUGeMmCO_VqCddR/s400/049.JPG" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353148345317462898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4cchYZq7ZUZwRV8Jv6oxNEMSlH0m2P6Aje9b8T_xNxI_tr-3vGatg4sQO6MROzsoMtdAXsrEHu1brE-VAFP6QKEhswWIKrkYKLtXbfyHQxeE_ySv3wFKHkO8nUJ_gJLd6vMMw5euH21nF/s400/014.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353149555204431330" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmX_HJC16jIDni7rt4P8YofxInY4cSTRShVK5JJv4Cls2Knp6wCv9sQPjkd3mrpCjBSw7uvsWQHI6ayf1prF1iePNaved2-HO76ulA5jJo0Crf7CwqivafNBqYeu6iXgvk-aiUQS-6A3yi/s400/023.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353148796470830354" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOLtTKbtKw_s6rBLILDxrPh9KLl3av3RAo4-kLX-yEDAYwzE_zqW3uhmkRUEP0LrFVafwYMeWWLty_BZYzPTn1koljgvua65jfQgFYciE253zFQaCJRebeo0JSE6WaLroxw8tsbciHV-xb/s400/022.JPG" border="0" /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div>:: special gifts from very special people. A gorgeous vintage inspired necklace from the lovely K<a href="http://mylifeandotherbeads.blogspot.com/"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">athy</span></a> and a fantastic tea dress in the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Cath</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Kidston</span> fabric I bought a while ago made by a very talented mum from school who wanted to practice her dressmaking skills in return for a few crochet lessons.</div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343574784078020626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 248px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuJtiOfDsdqVNYO6SGdl7rRqycDmSNz0Y7gejWkrkD5__YyMb7ZthH1fWacBp-nx2eggS_0DDEJJDk-nLoJhOIJ6Z6WjBvfVb-x7U75S1wIjfJBDWEyIVAsewJpu1yoT_tHGy04Cw4ihuH/s400/045.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343574789262206338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ8upK8iZnFt96BGPPeN4V2ZaprfWLzB6DNuoB8gqWTu2k4PhvByZJp7I7CJ2-OxhxZF-e5bK8-cbQ4PN0Fm89fvXMqh-3-ZEtPAirUuKyD3H8qxMyI7Vh8wgyFVYtpJtl98bs6bboCONM/s400/046.JPG" border="0" /><br /></div><div>:: taming that wild bed hair, scrumptious!</div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343573020803828786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitzFo-DPBG8GyCWqcopbT1CFCr1xweqwzYhPbyCwxnBpm1NDfkDozlnok5cZ2nVZP0zzzaif3T2IjdKuUKmIoWlnaert-FCr4OkBJkiWU7nwUrQsVHaEPbd3Do5eHi7Y7wfWgcH6q9d5rs/s400/030.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343573022963953586" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2FDnA-lvVs7cuMkyBROG-TRRjW3pk7SphhAz0sgaxo0tLZadAt9qrdn1paRXaWYu1zUzaGxcM7NfZHiuSfmEO_mAQUQLBQ39D2lml6clPHBAc8Mec9Yw8uf7Q4K1ynHrkloDUjarLpfh1/s400/037.JPG" border="0" /><br />:: delicious, sweet cherries, flipping expensive but heavenly and with the added bonus of giving you an illicit thrill when you see how far you can spit the stone (or is that just me??)</div><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353148799692145874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn_cNi1PQ9IP-1Mk9tQM3AzjFNfq4CO8JL6YwqV9I0GRM1J-TvYV9EpaVGNlUYw3evj7bp_X-5cDjmq_CuPNuee4VxaH8zXGWRlJIhA_MF2LMH4GL_K4QarCaAI5u5mu2DVYZnw0FhTRKX/s400/025.JPG" border="0" /></p><div>:: sun, sun and more sun which means everything can be done outside, which in turn means less mess inside, just as well because I do not operate at full capacity when the temperature gets above 25 degrees.</div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343571250733602866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtdJ32A9ABpOm4ItOStFHvQp3X0N8qnAQY1MAUgjVF4tgL1oN_Z6cAhCLrRC2aXJyAZ9thEZ5PcABArjzdpCaCRRSE5jykES3Y3w3LfmSFO9C95VJ7T_emES2jBohA9rKrkOjJGgbGxfaz/s400/016.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353147689650374162" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh_fFNJ0IkQn6ty7D0wXbxj5zu_AxdmlAF2TBU-31WNJ3pT9EqmFjI6hmSdwnbqUN4e90jxahWkfXiWeYsi4Mf9Mx59tIRC0W58q32POf_Va2CrMgKPC3ekbsaQbwP2dUQnvDTsyFnd6Na/s400/004.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343428423523413970" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvV8zBLGNaTS4Ou98Qeg-hHzMWTyHXbkWcJnfOWtFIpY2O5sky7NE-8vhUypB0eN0is9B5-oIwizTZNYkIbUIyOYrNRYjTo8fII7g9dBwjqO7LIUAIZioyoXUBO7txvDEibwYZ6j0B2o7o/s400/011.JPG" border="0" /></div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343428417851418498" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSlutr-9bnsw8x7xwaoLj2VJPbx70pM18_ulxCnOly6Qh52CJk7yljIWB19GBcNl_ark_N6iAdabd2ZkVDv4shteKmgxdg_0DdEuGa4SSRzNoVxPCPBPz-BCpOVS4a17ixg0t0JjHKxQay/s400/010.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343428413344815218" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggnaDuF4qtzDLHLpx5NHUj5jKkdL4urwyy4Kv9zbn8xCbgLdIL5sXVbSt4PkbnnKOxY9apktYUlxFoj4ETGDD8f8XJ1K5pTdYvkyk_Z55fY_Jnj4Fc5MJd3pGV8Uek2f-H0Bt23F2r_bcy/s400/008.JPG" border="0" /></div></div><div>:: the colour of the water against the paddling pool, it only stayed this way for about five minutes since Jack decided paddling pools should always have added soil, grass and leaves...............<br /></div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353986601960218898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTzCkynWjkd9ZW1X_-l3A1I7eggI_t4W92eBGqD8CUkGgffSI9_Z3ziHwabuaHxL8gxihzytIqTM0STAbCUGb2cZmRqqCbDxqDG5F8t_LP3xezGzVNSVCk4Wl5c9BAvOR9-gOQicnnHyUB/s400/010.JPG" border="0" /></div><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353984231942948274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUKpg7JzsNvuS5hcT760lR9-IbaNQeaezld7nhr0n1FujSN-z96cAsyMQrI7SBpmOZ8JwWpVf5A-kVqYIuzUR3mDGsxeSRNuIry_n31iUSgFXVwVDaR_to9c8wqDaNscuwrALpBEFF6Nw5/s400/012.JPG" border="0" /><br />:: celebrating my birthday with a meal without kidlets in a sushi restaurant, and loving the cards from friends who know me so well............<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353987280060014690" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitx8ntrypEsB0d82VBuLNUADmdzpubqEaniv6XY5FixBOxbPq6P5V5ytG29E_mVyb3S7hGzxGlxcy9ORQbOYE0E8vb0_qkNfqL_wmwonx7NrjoUyj1FFLPAj7FG_-M2BI3vRZ8DFQpkzLb/s400/008.JPG" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355070515066349490" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHyH9tAX_XxpDec7cYhvA0eXlxMQXQzdVLWatTPzm_FMmJDuE4-5LaSMs35h6Q44WLVBsL_7ebKIaeKZpbn7EcLGbr9pdpJR9MyzC83-4iad3L7w2aIQz2j-c8zgErvAVQ1wsmHyf7Z0Ke/s400/099.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355070525268334674" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU1-HKLMuhyphenhyphen3p_fIwuMJ40E6MLCA4d1Hyq8Z2xxr2XXme7vmOxhzBiAeQWzTKhqo0knxDodPhiIgZrxBhiA34DXPaVnkEG-wSl5_ekX9Yu6WzkTh8UFCi2X1NYLEwsgLJFy6PnVTaEdosw/s400/096.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355070518729112178" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmR2Y7bWe3MVFDPJ73YNQ8Whf_bPxkKji2GexrCK5ySkWcSq9cMOwPZ4LKz5vTlVNjIrjgK8bZrpvWqPJM-nhgqD6Dpe7xaGgoWM8jnhtR88BH2Bj5TlcOU2-_US2y0m7akO86OdTB8Cka/s400/095.JPG" border="0" />:: wearing a bikini in secret. This 39 year old body is not fit for public consumption but whilst everyone is out I can cavort around the house in total privacy without scaring small children. As Jack commented when asked his opinion about mummy in said bikini : "too white and too wide". Ahem. <p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353985574173280946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghL0wkHKXjZkX2ZoXIrAkFyaAeNzZd3BBfVhprDYCnlUaMb1nFTWOpQTVgN-Bz37Fz-_eFQCaLPv-IZ6tuuP2KCzpw_PuEXyVqMCZGkUTeBAQhs3jdug27lBw43mQkpiIL2FGD51McTJ0S/s400/014.JPG" border="0" /></p>Just in case you were all wondering if I've completely lost the few marbles I have left, I have remembered the button maker, next post I'll announce the winners.<br /><br />Bye all.............<br /><br /><br /><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com33tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2577008955151394501.post-13758373438897127582009-05-17T04:45:00.000-07:002009-05-18T12:23:28.602-07:00wet weekend...............Well I don't know how the weather is treating the rest of you but here we seem to be either bathed in lovely spring sunshine or braving the monsoon season, all within the space of a few minutes. Far too confusing for my little brain and it means that twice I've had to cycle home in torrential rain wearing naught but a flimsy cardigan, "never prepared" being my motto.<br /><br />We had a friend's 40<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">th</span> birthday party this weekend, a very posh do which entailed proper dressing up. I dragged my black dress from the back of the wardrobe, dusted it down and with the addition of a few turquoise accessories off we went, Ian resplendent in kilt and sporran, being of the Scottish variety.<br /><br />Kitty has never seen me in evening dress let alone high heels and was fascinated by my shoes. She has been clattering around the bedroom in them all week. I learnt on the night why I never wear high heels, apart from making me walk like a drag queen, they're bloody uncomfortable. Being blessed with feet wider than a pair of flippers does not make wearing dainty <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">strappy</span> shoes a pleasure, give me flip flops any day.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337187567901073218" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1GdxkUKlUN7iimg4gAXEkDxfL1kvysKavWcrHXyq5dZchicNRr_Q5M5w_xq4bokxCrLU9-TxAAHCVndI9u2Y2lSBLFDy6BJfNDzkOkKjtVF9JjbdQxOPIHoAyiQhyPJtW6J2UyL0grQ64/s400/023.JPG" border="0" /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAE4dyMYS7kPNXw92bQB5xAVM-E2fW1_x6bQ3eVHBMYBlJwFhMYj7L_ypAs4BzCT35zehOG4wCZEu828LAcsV8S_s1NYJTU45DoLbJ5IAqcWnKTJ7ZFfwHoBcu2y5Do3HrM90tLVs93zvl/s1600-h/026.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337187572034138562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 301px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAE4dyMYS7kPNXw92bQB5xAVM-E2fW1_x6bQ3eVHBMYBlJwFhMYj7L_ypAs4BzCT35zehOG4wCZEu828LAcsV8S_s1NYJTU45DoLbJ5IAqcWnKTJ7ZFfwHoBcu2y5Do3HrM90tLVs93zvl/s400/026.JPG" border="0" /></a> Sunday was spent recovering from Saturday night. Once again I was reminded that I SHOULD NEVER EVER drink champagne, so for most of the day I felt the need to swoon on the sofa in a rather pathetic manner. Jack attempted to make me better with his toast crust heart, did the trick momentarily until my nearly 40 year old body reminded me of it's limitations when it comes to alcohol. Never again (until the next time).<br /><br /><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk2kuNwAqu_Su9UoJpL4hLAVfGBbbN-VT2TzOsU-9peQZE7syBvf_JzaAhXCb7_ixI43zJZ4ABEPCbQVmwHuz0o_m9rR1YIcUDyGKkcDOtuAnCrnj5DTMYfGIArB1FKdSa33y4pSYpHbux/s1600-h/020.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337186829651964114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk2kuNwAqu_Su9UoJpL4hLAVfGBbbN-VT2TzOsU-9peQZE7syBvf_JzaAhXCb7_ixI43zJZ4ABEPCbQVmwHuz0o_m9rR1YIcUDyGKkcDOtuAnCrnj5DTMYfGIArB1FKdSa33y4pSYpHbux/s400/020.JPG" border="0" /></a>This beautiful lilac was brought from a friend's garden. I love the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">blowsy</span> beauty of it but I have to tell you, it smells like toilet cleaner. It gets right up my nostrils and I can't get rid of the smell. Is it just me? </div><div></div><div></div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336759410166395426" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisLaCZaelUrc009KaZ5mc5xn8CWPT53DLvnnyx5th7K6rKxYYM2lS1eiz8gilW2rizrf7DttItyR7d6tVeAemJUW5hhBTVUx1G9GqZVN2HHhZapM-CAc-9PLQ8RH2Emfy69FfS_Q1qlOjL/s400/018.JPG" border="0" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqVEZaRN29WMw-uFmPP5LR1QmDIiZsK3KNLW9RlG6Y3UTe6DK0Bsxv9Rkxisf1lUyX_CixT9Lkm9aKSYw7n9B1vkejogTYlk5pJGK3k7IvwpbYHn7aUvaQIZ2YgrRNb6djQYf79-YLl10d/s1600-h/015.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337186823853227794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqVEZaRN29WMw-uFmPP5LR1QmDIiZsK3KNLW9RlG6Y3UTe6DK0Bsxv9Rkxisf1lUyX_CixT9Lkm9aKSYw7n9B1vkejogTYlk5pJGK3k7IvwpbYHn7aUvaQIZ2YgrRNb6djQYf79-YLl10d/s400/015.JPG" border="0" /></a>I may be back later in the week, if we haven't been washed away, see you all soon............. </div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2577008955151394501.post-28995833003586291662009-05-13T14:02:00.000-07:002009-05-15T06:09:23.707-07:00the week so far.................<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIEp3mvGM9tx1bd0ZcqCzTTR_i-SDvm_zlg-Zf6QrO0lW2TFVWUPSjY1ODv8htBZtzQqw42IXh1Gd6uSZYoB9LfxKbGGcu8KhgvsVMVfGBdE-9BG1fwwi78TSFgmAliDWsErJlg0wsmoEg/s1600-h/007.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336030702177894514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIEp3mvGM9tx1bd0ZcqCzTTR_i-SDvm_zlg-Zf6QrO0lW2TFVWUPSjY1ODv8htBZtzQqw42IXh1Gd6uSZYoB9LfxKbGGcu8KhgvsVMVfGBdE-9BG1fwwi78TSFgmAliDWsErJlg0wsmoEg/s400/007.JPG" border="0" /></a> This has been one of those weeks where nothing much has been done, a fairly relaxed affair, much mooching, wandering and pootling about. I have actually pulled my finger out and managed to make a couple of orders for people but I've also managed to grab the odd bit of sunshine earlier on in the week and created a few crocheted hangers in the garden. A nice quick and easy project, simply four lines of treble crochet sewn around the hanger with the addition of a simple flower. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335046828814335154" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzVlp3cvmNVhADx8fsN1iVhX6qmB8ixbu_gjqb3441mWF_AV1zY1KeLg7Wn-W29oLRbKM5Mbt0QYBE-uyv_BxKd648WHU9Prv_YWtG51KiqtjLshorCZw_oRnTjGYPcTnk-RBlAOOXS8HK/s400/008.JPG" border="0" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWq5aRDykSVZa45dUv7IQCYJeVav9kcmk9SSZw1p6y9gh7rOpN2PtE90DebMlAjPXekXlqQYxLRkktV8Uim-BMTTZ1cnvecNbQp6YF7QnMyCakKyuKWCeWJrb02PuomTBXK3zfPOVvgPL6/s1600-h/029.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335050103347495474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWq5aRDykSVZa45dUv7IQCYJeVav9kcmk9SSZw1p6y9gh7rOpN2PtE90DebMlAjPXekXlqQYxLRkktV8Uim-BMTTZ1cnvecNbQp6YF7QnMyCakKyuKWCeWJrb02PuomTBXK3zfPOVvgPL6/s400/029.JPG" border="0" /></a> I also dug out my rather large bead collection and added to my expanding necklace collection.<br /><div><div><div><div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK2rpPTJud4SLm3hzx9KLyR5YeTVugTZCxcVOvezHXo4T8xA19YY3AxUwBUH0Ia_GrYRWD73_sgFWgvYIhwMVkIXZLmQyQafBd3OU5QBacI04OCA9c5zVPGVM7TfbVOoFd4mHePqTkryBP/s1600-h/024.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335048861327868274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK2rpPTJud4SLm3hzx9KLyR5YeTVugTZCxcVOvezHXo4T8xA19YY3AxUwBUH0Ia_GrYRWD73_sgFWgvYIhwMVkIXZLmQyQafBd3OU5QBacI04OCA9c5zVPGVM7TfbVOoFd4mHePqTkryBP/s400/024.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtK_ehg-5ygjXYYur6s6lthhyy1owwe99w3tfLx3T_H8nkrJbbo1cd_yJfgJuh3-hsPZuc7JpavFmiZ0dsOReQtRWD2w-j1MxA50ynpCSpiVmTNOCRt__IAy6apPnExYVK2nEXCYICQ2zw/s1600-h/022.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335048858738168210" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtK_ehg-5ygjXYYur6s6lthhyy1owwe99w3tfLx3T_H8nkrJbbo1cd_yJfgJuh3-hsPZuc7JpavFmiZ0dsOReQtRWD2w-j1MxA50ynpCSpiVmTNOCRt__IAy6apPnExYVK2nEXCYICQ2zw/s400/022.JPG" border="0" /></a><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335050109894723858" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKrokDIaiuIGMar32FN99sVP69-4VsCPj8ECrehqyAhwpc-7CcTSDEKBc2RWEZjxNguYCqYHX2Fl92mcGbFCHTocB8BR6TfddxhzErz1z3MQcQo4ZSud3wFjM2JHREBWhQDKGJCRYM8iLd/s400/034.JPG" border="0" />One of the car boot finds came in very handily for these garden projects. An old folding table picked up for 50p now covered (very haphazardly) in oilcloth. This will undoubtedly accompany us on our camping trips this summer, the children have earmarked it for a few activities, poor table.<br /><br />Sitting in the garden I noticed that the few plants I do have seem to have a common theme, a colour I'm not usually fond of but one that pops up everywhere in my small bed..........<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336030690871703362" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwE4EZ7JWTBcj1NJvfdQPLZ87T6uDLSlITDrlnRSncz6x42l6KDDq7n9U0hja9ab3LS2HvEkZORg4DDDKdsgUFVhPLywJnkBBziVATHyJljH-Gn2y1hESfMct5CiLzfaTJzIv-NPUrcIZM/s400/003.JPG" border="0" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6JX2mH6mrMKe1PUaQCZpuaPs857Qw88eIswr9LwiG9QuXH9mLP5VCGCMMWFs8VHlX5dJSacv1ksisWc7WMb5cMv3ZRO4rtE9z36TuAMSHsvvhy1CTG5h57txVlmasXIF1kb4zE_MjYrlO/s1600-h/014.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335048100442961922" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6JX2mH6mrMKe1PUaQCZpuaPs857Qw88eIswr9LwiG9QuXH9mLP5VCGCMMWFs8VHlX5dJSacv1ksisWc7WMb5cMv3ZRO4rtE9z36TuAMSHsvvhy1CTG5h57txVlmasXIF1kb4zE_MjYrlO/s400/014.JPG" border="0" /></a> ...........purple. I'm drawn to purple flowers, especially alliums, I'm so impressed that the bulbs I chucked in the bed in November have produced the goods, I wasn't holding out much hope, so dire are my gardening skills. </div><div><br /><div><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQdrYP5X1QJN9ROkDMhlbiUnIb1XRzUk9F6O49jNApXwkHP9zzmv6XSVach0yeOIwFbNecYZIBCg1IbxxnJb0Mefkt5uQO-siQBLNwCJiYnoKIRQQn4C-9McB23teP3NogmHEOb6frC-Lf/s1600-h/012.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335048099069081858" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQdrYP5X1QJN9ROkDMhlbiUnIb1XRzUk9F6O49jNApXwkHP9zzmv6XSVach0yeOIwFbNecYZIBCg1IbxxnJb0Mefkt5uQO-siQBLNwCJiYnoKIRQQn4C-9McB23teP3NogmHEOb6frC-Lf/s400/012.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTSWr_GvvJXKRnLaoYRMha85hJUOjAKKTtBKyx0hqfo8WPlspmquTJ2EoSL8kiP-r5J2fZ2TM_MkT0mnPT7q6aT-sEdRxqm3ntbfvlewObQG0NCyI1ePQioHqzbyfJYnQKnmpubkT0Tq52/s1600-h/011.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335046832674129874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTSWr_GvvJXKRnLaoYRMha85hJUOjAKKTtBKyx0hqfo8WPlspmquTJ2EoSL8kiP-r5J2fZ2TM_MkT0mnPT7q6aT-sEdRxqm3ntbfvlewObQG0NCyI1ePQioHqzbyfJYnQKnmpubkT0Tq52/s400/011.JPG" border="0" /></a>Plans are afoot for our little garden, hopefully these will come to fruition in early June, although knowing our gardener the end of the month is more likely. There's also some very exciting (for me, anyhow) news which I'll update you on in the very near future. </div><div><br /></div><div></div><div>Lastly I have a huge apology to all for of you for a terrible error on my part. Whilst rummaging through the carnage downstairs which is supposed to be my sewing room I came across one of these...............<br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336033069234231346" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfLfSOb0c2Z9PYnabBDx6NgfLZmQCEomr_w2fxOZGTr_T02a9MGPpvvs6q4nXkq2cvGshLX5yk3ReKjWOQoEF8FwK9FA3L0oSatq0yH07MBYTugHsvdhU1wRYdhZcVmlgeZODsqi42C0ix/s400/blog2_319.jpg" border="0" />...............hmmmm I thought, why do I have another of these? Then the horrible realisation dawned that way back in December I had a little <a href="http://vintageheaven.blogspot.com/2008/12/ho-ho-ho-festive-spirit-kicks-in.html">giveaway</a> which I then forgot to give away. What can I say??!! Lesson learnt, don't arrange a giveaway a week before Christmas because in the excitement my shrivelled up brain will forget that I've done one. So sorry to all of you who left a comment. As an apology I went out and bought another one and I will be doing the draw and giving away two and some other goodies next Friday. I'll count in all those who left me comments back then and anyone who leaves me another before next Friday. Does that garbled message make sense to anyone? Just pop in and say hi if you haven't already and you're in!</div><div></div><div>Ok everyone, have a lovely weekend, I have a feeling car bootin' may be off this weekend (sob), I can hear my bank account breathing a sigh of relief, but you never know! <a href="http://emmabradshaw.blogspot.com/">Emma</a>, I'll be keeping an eye open for a table if we make it.</div><div></div><div>Byeeeee............</div></div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2577008955151394501.post-5019621212891065312009-05-12T14:25:00.000-07:002009-05-12T15:27:56.084-07:00car bootin' treasure..........Let's start with a couple of pics of my very own fashionista, useful blackmail material for those turbulent teenage years. Particularly loving the wedding veil and socks combo. This is how she walked around to a friends house to collect Jack, oh to be four and without any self consciousness again...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgja1JRLvhx5LhJe2Nyp4X6gCV26jWB2KbCdy8i2bHfoqC3lZdF2UEMBI16oP7bH6aA6iJCqZUAIPNHfvCLwENC8r5VT2KFt5IYsk_2z6WwLad-JcMXaX5LOvytoweo8FyuYooEOjgKWPjn/s1600-h/015.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335055365877354738" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgja1JRLvhx5LhJe2Nyp4X6gCV26jWB2KbCdy8i2bHfoqC3lZdF2UEMBI16oP7bH6aA6iJCqZUAIPNHfvCLwENC8r5VT2KFt5IYsk_2z6WwLad-JcMXaX5LOvytoweo8FyuYooEOjgKWPjn/s400/015.JPG" border="0" /></a> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335056077389404034" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQRotvUS58tYzramxYWyp9FLXBZxcZ-c-p3xHum1tE5gRkz1j_1PjpcxEvKL8kE8IuZBvhU8ry_E8fsXncop08wPom4Tht92F7jdAdV5x4z35o113b_Gy0utdwRu6FOoPF6m31rG_LMDGj/s400/023.JPG" border="0" />So, dear readers, would you like me to treat you to a quick peek at the latest car boot finds? Of course you do........... Sunday morning was bright and sunny so 7.30am found Andrea and I ready to start our regular saunter around what was a huge boot fair. This local (about 5 mins from my door) car boot has grown in both sellers and buyers and there's always a good atmosphere up there. There's been a distinct change in the people buying of late with a lot more arty / crafty looking people wandering around, people have cottoned on to the bargains to be had, great for the sellers but makes treasures a bit harder to come by. I nearly bopped a woman on the head with the two vintage windbreaks she snaffled just before I got to the stall. That's what keeps me going back, you just never know what you're going to find.<br /><br />Plants are a great car boot favourite, cheap and abundant, the choice is fantastic. This week I treated myself to a foxglove and aquilegia. Let's see how long it takes me or the rampant snails to finish them off.........<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7a3QoRfntJCaOJWVAGtxx8a8-VpEofujzmpogIymdwfzpklCgBp8_9EhzaT-chAMNm8odgKl3BfhAvuWsbW8QSUCb-5Ly9i1zszOLT29Jjzcr04j6rhHxfKdxfEZk3ha0y6zCeipXxAoL/s1600-h/001.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335054409972085538" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7a3QoRfntJCaOJWVAGtxx8a8-VpEofujzmpogIymdwfzpklCgBp8_9EhzaT-chAMNm8odgKl3BfhAvuWsbW8QSUCb-5Ly9i1zszOLT29Jjzcr04j6rhHxfKdxfEZk3ha0y6zCeipXxAoL/s400/001.JPG" border="0" /></a>Another fortuitous fabric find, two lovely patchwork cushions for £1. Lovely, lovely...........soon there'll be no space left on the sofa, that'll discourage lounging, doing my bit for a healthy lifestyle you see.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335053745883510530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN148tXSVdeFWX8DsbiD3-niKJrKRqZh21-rziEfLxk7MEU7dZTBzfrfjHbD8oyamoJ4baULPV2boHKVCHDtavWsZD_eCid_MAc5E0tGlIxNMUdsSPUwxdf9G5UNmgbxKwOIhACq8dhnXF/s400/026.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXnI_ii8uapCppTfp1XlKIsqdEnNAQrh2U86L11lYJEo8zim6lf7aEKc7Dj0X4sH4X__-38WZ0AY_WgpX5Cd9xy36tPhTo6oWGj3BCugX0nLfrahHgoIsm6xinyqLjOmH6Ah24ULsqK-Gn/s1600-h/031.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335053952235135810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 306px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXnI_ii8uapCppTfp1XlKIsqdEnNAQrh2U86L11lYJEo8zim6lf7aEKc7Dj0X4sH4X__-38WZ0AY_WgpX5Cd9xy36tPhTo6oWGj3BCugX0nLfrahHgoIsm6xinyqLjOmH6Ah24ULsqK-Gn/s400/031.JPG" border="0" /></a>Although I can now crochet I find it impossible to pass a granny square by, especially for the magic sum of £1 - the price of most things it seems. <br /><br /><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKUv7uTpKXApRzvCf9yBFJDL3Rv7R7j-zB_hlFAz8pProC6PsrXjW7YY2lsthNruCZfBFmSgocqfcslAlkOjUa4EqNycd2zaYaDX9kUtJXhqscONCdtgHvtKgYqGYKQDUQ5KVvSWxfk1NY/s1600-h/019.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335053471465122178" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 398px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKUv7uTpKXApRzvCf9yBFJDL3Rv7R7j-zB_hlFAz8pProC6PsrXjW7YY2lsthNruCZfBFmSgocqfcslAlkOjUa4EqNycd2zaYaDX9kUtJXhqscONCdtgHvtKgYqGYKQDUQ5KVvSWxfk1NY/s400/019.JPG" border="0" /></a> A fabulous red polka dot raincoat for the fashion queen, yes, you guessed it £1.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFpbwaE_kjiGcRdqHTpMXf-J3Hw0qV30LegJE0Qckus-gnd_7QriZVQVoc3xUMei6zhhnbox6QDkebZvkqYyRceJ4Og50UAm9hDIfIYwgNPrpqQsWaPPel8Gb78gfQyLjChhxPwzHwZ0Hr/s1600-h/018.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335053264604349394" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFpbwaE_kjiGcRdqHTpMXf-J3Hw0qV30LegJE0Qckus-gnd_7QriZVQVoc3xUMei6zhhnbox6QDkebZvkqYyRceJ4Og50UAm9hDIfIYwgNPrpqQsWaPPel8Gb78gfQyLjChhxPwzHwZ0Hr/s400/018.JPG" border="0" /></a>Here's where I pushed the boat out, couldn't resist this fair advertisement from Montana (apparently). Loving that name! Worth the £3, had to barter for this one, paying £5 for anything at the car boot is out of the question. </div><div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335051966165938850" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEief1uZw4Gnkd9iljr31Ku_7IAWSysuaKKMQN9DMbfk8BrTPrnMnTZYHW1NYCkMffHlhelo0Ncn8FovST0xcWfxMU8Na-MZzjb7e-Mg3h1vtTD4jZKV8VcFmpFR9Iaka7uvyTcZHB-vS69m/s400/015.JPG" border="0" />The colours are fantastic, really vibrant. Jack has his eye on it, but I have a space in mind in the kitchen once it's framed.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijLWmKbQcJqgCxeHzKpPvEL5y0CLCwCcarIQJSGNAGEVrCShchLvRYD9tqybxeQBaJgH73PbCyKgD2T78kpIg2dVcdL50fNCTt0kJ0t2fDwJoWkZrfc42rxhQV_RCbYdiBY21zN6ZWwpI9/s1600-h/017.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335053258869449490" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijLWmKbQcJqgCxeHzKpPvEL5y0CLCwCcarIQJSGNAGEVrCShchLvRYD9tqybxeQBaJgH73PbCyKgD2T78kpIg2dVcdL50fNCTt0kJ0t2fDwJoWkZrfc42rxhQV_RCbYdiBY21zN6ZWwpI9/s400/017.JPG" border="0" /></a>Bringing home something that Ian approves of always makes my Sunday jaunts more acceptable, the poster was well received but he loved this..............</div><div><br /><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVW-GR8asMAJCtBiLGH_TarQeEM8CCdIkLpDRP-xTnvo-JYxxTEhlptuECeFpIvrO1A-LJlAScp3qBC7qQDPdiKz-lQriUH-mJsGrwW_Gw0vlSsU3vxlLYeZhCYbUXeSk9c8kKq-pdvMcJ/s1600-h/001.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335051959562383586" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 386px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVW-GR8asMAJCtBiLGH_TarQeEM8CCdIkLpDRP-xTnvo-JYxxTEhlptuECeFpIvrO1A-LJlAScp3qBC7qQDPdiKz-lQriUH-mJsGrwW_Gw0vlSsU3vxlLYeZhCYbUXeSk9c8kKq-pdvMcJ/s400/001.JPG" border="0" /></a>..........our very own medicine cabinet for 50p. I virtually snatched it out of the bemused sellers' hands. Love that green, helps me forget the so-near-but-oh-so-far vintage windbreak ........just have to go back this weekend!</div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2577008955151394501.post-66228841195513377362009-05-03T08:47:00.000-07:002009-05-03T13:54:44.324-07:00two wheeled wonder..............<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331626893156400866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoB_SA6xjFE-LqFTiuoonJXr_QjeH-83cOrJDSmGhVaspV6Q81L4a4fR3syfXPuTD7Ml96s60Se2039Y9KakB14iNy0OwcqE-yvsBWmrVp13Lft07EbAxpvRtQRTzsyttPuRd_p1r4N1WK/s400/001.JPG" border="0" />Can somebody explain to me why our (or is it all?) children become hysterically giddy at bath time each and every night. Or why wearing a pair of green pants on your head whilst chasing your older brother round the bed is ever a good idea..............it always ends in tears! Phew, kidlets are now safely tucked up, the cider has been poured and peace and quiet has descended upon us.<br /><br />So, how are you all? Enjoying the long weekend? Ours has been stretched out by a couple of days, Ian took two days off last week and we managed a trip to Malvern without children........bliss! We had a civilised lunch, wandered around the bookshops and antique shops without the need for eyes in the back of our heads, and enjoyed a leisurely coffee. Forgot the camera of course, but Malvern is a lovely place, views to die for and fantastic people, well worth a visit.<br /><br />The rest of the weekend so far has been a quiet one. A trip to Burford for lunch yesterday, where I met the lovely Rachel from <a href="http://rubyred-design.blogspot.com/">Rubyred</a>. It's always so strange when you first meet a fellow blogger, almost as if you belong to a secret society, but within seconds we were chatting about blogland and everyone within it.<br /><br />Today will be marked down in our family life as a momentous one. Kitty took the plunge and this happened...................<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331640547604206514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3BHgtxom2ETtaqE3DQnIzQZ9CD2UQwBg6LOydAmz_ONM1EyrzFoMnzQfgd5FsfZ04MoycjzhNOD_G45C1x3ioHbjCE_M2oM8kFOIUVNLDzoux8l5qHiUIyArKombC86I-rigEoHfs2dze/s400/018.JPG" border="0" /><br />............a cautious start<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331640543381414066" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbV830oey9gAxaW8jLDd5FdhPHUzO1CV166Wlxp8JByTIlJphsSbu1hrI1lC3inwKhb0PvpLBoX_xv4zcTR4xNF60iVMnTCWRiRPVkSmi6HgorsIYSRvTsQKDJquDrBW_RDX7eKJn0y4Ak/s400/014.JPG" border="0" /><br />..................a helping hand from Daddy<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331626899218756642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkRlR0iS66xFxgbvSRLIZpBGFOembxf3Fvh1TI9lx4yHKgISuxG-hNoPBFtLIIW0Y132fkcbXWSBTmrMqPQJ2Af9OacapYGkuIzDcEsavOe-BLTi1cmBj6yKd0aaU4O6vMhH0h4elb-xXD/s400/007.JPG" border="0" /><br />.................and she's off!<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331626906664863602" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs86L4oNtialoRIqfP422dZimwdh1gIdO39UwYLOHC2kkn9D7HN8rRVqmAq-PCmhMrHnr15y9FptOBo3siYEvQB7CtLY-7TIWRxKjSlh9gfh4r62fEXcisGH-i3QJCJHeqWPFjiwQ0MpaH/s400/010.JPG" border="0" /><br />.................one very happy little girl and two ridiculously happy and proud parents.<br /><br />Meanwhile big brother whizzed around the park, darting amongst the trees and working up an appetite for ice-cream.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331642913216556738" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxvUbezr_E3vC298yyokeeCuQITPY_MLTX1Bw8pM-6BwNT-sAtjxBwDpgvZodQKGhkvn6eWrlToKTdbooSIRApoYj7pOcSTXCPk-2-NqvIk8ggkHpbnW7mtoR_hRFUf8hviPyiAy6z-y2V/s400/030.JPG" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331640556246140418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdQ9HNvosAkgsWJep6sJS8eURQQIqPdDmXKMJJ_wcr-y_SNd3v_iCtW_gpEHGXP8NXqkPph27WWAUnzAWAW6iTHkUzKRHTVIPUHdNjGmqtejsd_Npwq6FEb9yDjydpmrg2n609ZPudypXG/s400/029.JPG" border="0" /><br />Living here for a while means that we take this park for granted a little. Sometimes familiarity means that you don't notice just how beautiful a place is. Today whilst I waited under this tree, guarding Ian's bike and cameras whilst he chased Kit round the lawns I realised again why we love living here. This particular park is within five minutes walk from our front door and it really is a lovely place. Huge trees, two wonderful lakes, a few animals to feed and a pretty tea room make it near perfect really............<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331650742543009346" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD1d4I3Q5_CW82mF-teeGJa1R04Ojb0MtNsbg8t2s3F-aDeO2LoGb_q-wumIp2Y4rwH4eHpYERjMgN2fMA1VkBElI0dwjuaTpoMBdeIsLTr8pwQO6ot2lJbPry58gptya1oDZesx5e064Y/s400/005.JPG" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331642921402989698" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-lwfCI2JX3iaJ5VAWmrd1u6_NPTOq1avDEc7uB_t-08NgLcsseEcsLYNN-KOCJSTCcWNrtr7O1RrAhUDGJPxqzPbw21ZxHEkXCgRbX2Dv0TBHegDVPuWYdE7GTvAdJTKm6pgkU_kIe21f/s400/033.JPG" border="0" /><br />I had to finish with these pics of our own Gok Wan, confident of her own style and becoming more stubborn about it each day. This girl knows what she wants to wear, and she doesn't want any of it to match................<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiecq85F4s_QhGVjq3QDNbhE3hY2qeT0bdpFgwCInIHWZklnxZ8QCT5V5QcOw2kp-kWdkuMozUnvcRU0kcBXp6j9zuZgc487DuLqJYJc2Z-HoYZL6p2WoRTHHmZMD2DHP_2pwNpGDl1BPbs/s1600-h/054.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331664603889085458" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiecq85F4s_QhGVjq3QDNbhE3hY2qeT0bdpFgwCInIHWZklnxZ8QCT5V5QcOw2kp-kWdkuMozUnvcRU0kcBXp6j9zuZgc487DuLqJYJc2Z-HoYZL6p2WoRTHHmZMD2DHP_2pwNpGDl1BPbs/s400/054.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBbw-KIdI6PbjV_ghe3H1oJHTlIgadZYkV8fneJl2q2cHSH3wC3AJMFqsL4-LyLs9oLBNL9Ea_-MUTtAR7DQ4igTqB4h9e88XHN1LhqTptcHHRadijgvWcJx8QjT6rY2ZjjhyDFt4MKlmj/s1600-h/052.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331664597355015154" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBbw-KIdI6PbjV_ghe3H1oJHTlIgadZYkV8fneJl2q2cHSH3wC3AJMFqsL4-LyLs9oLBNL9Ea_-MUTtAR7DQ4igTqB4h9e88XHN1LhqTptcHHRadijgvWcJx8QjT6rY2ZjjhyDFt4MKlmj/s400/052.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUrg2jXYjEe-ESimKe4VkeR-ZwfRlZ7wpMVpsCQ0crFhx35f5Inh6L8VFiE-sPf0rv64aPz2ON-I0Vp5lgV5TMe16srUu22lqTO1NS1t_wgKHVii8pMcv20JJutxza5qciHtWIkWMGl4uh/s1600-h/041.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331650747539770610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUrg2jXYjEe-ESimKe4VkeR-ZwfRlZ7wpMVpsCQ0crFhx35f5Inh6L8VFiE-sPf0rv64aPz2ON-I0Vp5lgV5TMe16srUu22lqTO1NS1t_wgKHVii8pMcv20JJutxza5qciHtWIkWMGl4uh/s400/041.JPG" border="0" /></a> What's a mother to do?? And look at those little stripey legs finished off perfectly with gold shoes and an Ikea shoe horn used as a walking stick. Love her to bits!</div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2577008955151394501.post-9301299876704218892009-04-29T14:51:00.000-07:002009-04-29T15:54:59.155-07:00wielding the paintbrush..................Having procrastinated for long enough, a particular speciality of mine, I decided to venture into the spider (and probably rat) infested shed and dig out the old paint remnants and tackle a few of the jobs around the house.<br /><br />Our kitchen table was a £23 ebay bargain. It can be extended using the lovely wind out mechanism and fits in the space brilliantly. The top however was a mess, lots of different colours made worse by my attempts at stripping it back to give it that bleached farmhouse look. That didn't work so the next idea was to paint the top and leave the legs in their natural state. It's taken a bit of getting used to but now I think I like it. I figure if I ever get sick of it I'll just chuck some oilcloth over it.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTFYxPTkZIVDjuS1oG9VQt5vcH3m4EJBQFjpvasiHY6JA-jcNyMKoZgL4NZcKQzqwoIwblgkp3m5_Wkftq1lfcMj34q80QRDOHlXIIkfyOBpzPd8scmcWMZ3kvbL6OnJVDiiLWI0cWjvl8/s1600-h/031.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330237318354232994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTFYxPTkZIVDjuS1oG9VQt5vcH3m4EJBQFjpvasiHY6JA-jcNyMKoZgL4NZcKQzqwoIwblgkp3m5_Wkftq1lfcMj34q80QRDOHlXIIkfyOBpzPd8scmcWMZ3kvbL6OnJVDiiLWI0cWjvl8/s400/031.JPG" border="0" /></a>Next the lampbase I bought in the sale from Homesense. This was a perfectly acceptable cream base but I had visions of a red gloss version, similar to the ones Cath Kidston used to do. Out came the red gloss used for <a href="http://http//vintageheaven.blogspot.com/2008/04/taking-after-mummy.html">Jack's chair </a>, I added the beautiful shade purchased from Frances at the V&H fair and the transformation was complete.<a href="http://http//vintageheaven.blogspot.com/2008/04/taking-after-mummy.html"><br /></a><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330236717644594498" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6HTJ3CQbiQtiTWpWi7e2GxP6MWU6rNYeJkX2DVvXcmRvREs-Bv63jBZQfvHj3CmpISPdx31aVWDSPTceRYhfe8BiaesRzjMtSUeN85HGUfodAgdv4xdLRIg-5aqqB4E3aBq1jfvlfAatt/s400/029.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2HL8osYOxGCmYQIs6DHM38XtcE69roB9NX2AXnKGJcepisOw4V_JB8Jud9mR-dn2WcQkOeCv43x9bLC4W0wfanCGzxWSb35nKD4qeKqWhzQTbK-CXScB0pkrekqdIk59sqIrIbTOuL5LU/s1600-h/006.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330236707725475650" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 262px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2HL8osYOxGCmYQIs6DHM38XtcE69roB9NX2AXnKGJcepisOw4V_JB8Jud9mR-dn2WcQkOeCv43x9bLC4W0wfanCGzxWSb35nKD4qeKqWhzQTbK-CXScB0pkrekqdIk59sqIrIbTOuL5LU/s400/006.JPG" border="0" /></a>Finally, my latest treasure, a £1 car boot cabinet, hauled home last Sunday. This was a particularly fetching Germolene pink which didn't really sit well in our bedroom so another paint remnant was unearthed and it became this, a sky blue beauty. This blue is one of my favourite colours, it pops up everywhere in this house, it makes me smile and I find I'm drawn to it whenever I see it. The addition of a little bit of CK wonderfulness and it's a completely new (old)bedside table. Just got to find one for Ian's side now, not sure he'll agree to the floral loveliness though!</div><div> </div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330234912339998610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-udDXSehfVg0gYBYTnC6v4t73bn5KIui_NXlECkhC0805Hq8j5YLn6r12fPvJbhQUehqlnBJzckuOxd_CIbe9TQNax5JXsbPluHIHG5bwmM2m9xPPSa75de4-QSSWqFlV432aJAXOeXZp/s400/005.JPG" border="0" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRfU9mordccwl6U5oOfS4A432wWXDAJL4uxwhJC6TLw68rosQpwbrJL5brLW5XL1Nw0CUE28k1jyP4uL0bhwLLsqm5U1hWUSd4aIv0ZQfO1yPhIbxrgB12BnOdlqNHyKuTbYb6Q8NUD9s2/s1600-h/008.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330235522732728418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRfU9mordccwl6U5oOfS4A432wWXDAJL4uxwhJC6TLw68rosQpwbrJL5brLW5XL1Nw0CUE28k1jyP4uL0bhwLLsqm5U1hWUSd4aIv0ZQfO1yPhIbxrgB12BnOdlqNHyKuTbYb6Q8NUD9s2/s400/008.JPG" border="0" /></a><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330235516110586098" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjS3JZWwhPpP5Za7vWfe2AV1XeqquRAWELVABMZLg-gTHYKFbCLSepsCyS2ZElzXnulpSxwteWDHl85hkErBdumD0bL-mmsPcOjvHWlWHPguKrr_LxFdgMrD5kO5FptIBkkqS6iCS47PzG/s400/001.JPG" border="0" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5cchVoO_bAjv8GJHXpl1QQUeYbSX3DIYYz0fYvAmonCmmHpCaBrXxYs2PltDVNm07GCsiODDfjrSWzEKN6_V4N9KwKSA3v8ybPLQNl__9ZwLyn_rYIseZFePMCFXZz_As5EsE6kyaWADy/s1600-h/011.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330235519963431314" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5cchVoO_bAjv8GJHXpl1QQUeYbSX3DIYYz0fYvAmonCmmHpCaBrXxYs2PltDVNm07GCsiODDfjrSWzEKN6_V4N9KwKSA3v8ybPLQNl__9ZwLyn_rYIseZFePMCFXZz_As5EsE6kyaWADy/s400/011.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAeRLtAx0iwtA44ODPgCOfJbigYniapML9GHmWTpld81TNVisVbE-CdBPOkPttqLtSRn-kGUefqotCVuc7-JBsmtXrVY_sTAXjFR0J8GnlwCrMqSjZH-cymhNx4odaxlSeciZgiVXrHViT/s1600-h/006.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330234916292694034" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAeRLtAx0iwtA44ODPgCOfJbigYniapML9GHmWTpld81TNVisVbE-CdBPOkPttqLtSRn-kGUefqotCVuc7-JBsmtXrVY_sTAXjFR0J8GnlwCrMqSjZH-cymhNx4odaxlSeciZgiVXrHViT/s400/006.JPG" border="0" /></a>Lastly, whilst the creative urge was upon me I raided the box of gorgeous vintage cards I bought last year from the car boot (must show you those at some point) and made a new addition for Kit's wall. She's thrilled to bits with it, in fact she loves all her pictures, zoom in and you should be able to see the latest car boot picture, a Margaret Tarrant print - bottom left. The seller had some lovely large prints but at £10 each, way beyond my car boot budget. He must have taken pity on me because he gave me this damaged one for free, what a result! Don't look too closely at my new creation, as with most things I make it's slightly haphazard and lopsided, I'm far too impatient to get to the finished product. Same with painting, preparation - Pah! Sanding between coats - who are you kidding?! Surround them with enough stuff and nobody notices - I think!</div><div> </div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330237321337917522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrNUcpYF2Ifsk5OdqdtvUSF05AxDg8D8A4_BJMp6B1E1Xd5w2tQQozJ39TAIEgdR9sf9ejrh1dsLtJp5oGxMbXPhVGL8v7UeqwbSD3EIr3u6nngkq1GErtXRLnhEsgBCJ4LgkFPqTIt1da/s400/003.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330237327343337266" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht7fzCy84bWndEUDUowE6UxIl0FtMdutq3lg_-T50p03A61sTfhYXkkKiuT6Bpbth91tPkGu7CCKj2PeCuU9InQWSRHFUdjeUUVIR6EOXCocLor_EuvuTDWJbTVfSJpIeRBHB3GvjpAie8/s400/006.JPG" border="0" />And look there <a href="http://henhousehandmade.blogspot.com/">Hen</a>, see who's nestled among the blankets? I saw the one you made for the Munchkin and I couldn't resist having a go myself. I love it, so much so I have thought of adopting it and giving it a new home on our bed but I don't think I'll get away with that one!</div><div> </div><div>Now the sewing machine has been taken out of hibernation there may be a few more creations to show you soon...............</div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2577008955151394501.post-12440543667314987932009-04-26T12:46:00.000-07:002009-04-26T14:31:29.685-07:00a perfect weekend....................How are you all? Hope the sun's been shining down on you too. Despite yet more atrocious weather predictions the sun did indeed shine here, on and off. How fantastic it is to watch this sky at night knowing it probably means a great day in store. This weekend turned out to be the perfect mix of no plans and generally pleasing ourselves, which meant bike rides into town for coffee and cake, trips to the garden centre to stock up on geraniums, a garden clear out and just enjoying the unexpected sunshine.<br /><div></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr1r3fooZo_sL66DqyC5NqQbyFnGVR9UK2S5uCY5U8kF44X2prjj1mdN_JBIWQath9veSsCzzEpCVLnADxerseTHjCYBUo9G29Lljd3QyGr7sdhO3pN-D6jteWSkVt7qEOxdUT32cx2V_0/s1600-h/004.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329105719309567202" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr1r3fooZo_sL66DqyC5NqQbyFnGVR9UK2S5uCY5U8kF44X2prjj1mdN_JBIWQath9veSsCzzEpCVLnADxerseTHjCYBUo9G29Lljd3QyGr7sdhO3pN-D6jteWSkVt7qEOxdUT32cx2V_0/s400/004.JPG" border="0" /></a> Lovely enough for a last minute <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">barbeque</span>...............</div><br /><div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329107693118294802" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4hK1YAft9_FCd7p6Oow-oY7A0h3KJiBoqV6yUkD9B7LDwH7jxKjemhD9Hwnr79p329w9DQI4MJhs1oxFyIzIlligWzIBdL3NtuWD1wOj6uZg4Y4rqt9yvgjyL43yaLB2TENRpOGauBV4B/s400/040.JPG" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329093709721357602" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7REJY5afIyJW35hb-ep0ycTuNHeNGdjPM4tOQSgyhC0z2aqUfBzuL3OBpxvV76UXFwmOKwvKolnoXTFcHkaXjuI_7tBsPyjDVKev9cxWULNL5bxApQ9YdgtWo0aBrpDO3Peqr_DVQtD-K/s400/045.JPG" border="0" /></div><div> </div><div>Saturday afternoon brought a surprise <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">phonecall</span> from my lovely other half to tell me that he'd spotted a pair of boots I'd seen before Christmas but could in no way afford to treat myself to. These boots were now reduced to half price and did I want them? Did I??!! Bless him, just one of the many reasons that make him such a fab man to live with. Doesn't often cook, iron or clean the loo but a more thoughtful man you couldn't meet. Said boots are now residing in their box just waiting for their first outing - if this weather continues (who am I kidding?), they may not be out until Autumn.</div><div> </div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329093712117669842" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrXbnInVjrHe6oAqAHxRxwgWXDsfiFjqJxp83aCOW891e6zT2hdSoNX83Dt0GpfPI3YO0Mcak0k1IvK5X41PF-MC-PNw8MuQ-hRHEZi7UXbkEVfdY_16BcEQ517bUDqNmsEWYH_xIxvbWA/s400/049.JPG" border="0" /></div><div>This morning brought breakfast in bed for the two of us before the children woke up, one of the benefits of an early alarm call for the cat boot. 7.30<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">ish</span> and the familiar car horn outside means my car booting buddy is here and off we go for 3 hours of rummaging, laughter and bargains. Andrea spends a large amount of time whilst we wander shaking her head in disbelief at my treasures, still, it means there's no arguing over discoveries.</div><div> </div><div>And look at just a couple of the goodies that I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">rehomed</span> today. My favourite find just has to be this little beauty...............</div><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK879R10yiJlw8lDEK8FYnPgXz-UWybVL2qtYPVy7n_kl8Dso7GF7E5kv5LeTju8aWHCG4x0gETeQVdjKYo8ikHitrG7dj9RhK3yZoHTYwJRmJqhCFy21TNoRRTOPOys2_qh6WwZ25Lsj3/s1600-h/057.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329096229469385138" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK879R10yiJlw8lDEK8FYnPgXz-UWybVL2qtYPVy7n_kl8Dso7GF7E5kv5LeTju8aWHCG4x0gETeQVdjKYo8ikHitrG7dj9RhK3yZoHTYwJRmJqhCFy21TNoRRTOPOys2_qh6WwZ25Lsj3/s400/057.JPG" border="0" /></a>..................for 50p!! My heart <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">leapt</span> when I spotted it and tried ever so casually to wander (sprint) over and ask "how much?". I'm sure the lady selling was as bewildered as Andrea by my joy at finding such a little piece of deliciousness, but I'm thrilled to bits with it.<br /><br />This lovely little string box was £1, I'm a bit of a crinoline lady fan so this was a great find.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSYJz3FhH6FtQeWy3SJklD8KEqHaryupyfTJf3NCZVm8jA69IxK5KCk3QoTMpw3SgaO1jff8lSjrqcBJo6F7RR72T2xo7W1YDeHReABvcE6z9yLJd_fLgE4cFWCN7GOyKQXJ4pEDlhQFC2/s1600-h/054.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329096223998839954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSYJz3FhH6FtQeWy3SJklD8KEqHaryupyfTJf3NCZVm8jA69IxK5KCk3QoTMpw3SgaO1jff8lSjrqcBJo6F7RR72T2xo7W1YDeHReABvcE6z9yLJd_fLgE4cFWCN7GOyKQXJ4pEDlhQFC2/s400/054.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Finally, for today, these totally gorgeous <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">barkcloth</span> curtains for £1.50. Love 'em, love 'em, love 'em! Washed and out on the line to dry and gladdening my heart with every glimpse. Ian HATES them, but I think they may be destined to become cushions and a bag so he better get used to those gorgeous blooms!<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329095042763267218" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrhdHE18gmMYtNMLrFOKuDl_Jva49-STywPWW0bPUgpmgb2YvNbLPLxZzUhlXFvG02JB73rFqpdEA87zqmeidNLosev2inMV5n6teLQPYjB8p6m2NEfKwXuaBZ9thSsOGKLrM1wwMYFez8/s400/052.JPG" border="0" />..........want a closer peek?<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3HeXnbrzAO-gQ0YIlSHCL4B03cJHcLMGLV8Wb2A-LmdShSNRohuyxYwCDfcgBDQDq4oxZSMvtcNLc7UDFULd-wCq4qn8iuxq9rd_Guce65c77ZIrwpkSOn2n9p5EQRtfll4g7bGbHrFKi/s1600-h/053.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329095044009981154" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3HeXnbrzAO-gQ0YIlSHCL4B03cJHcLMGLV8Wb2A-LmdShSNRohuyxYwCDfcgBDQDq4oxZSMvtcNLc7UDFULd-wCq4qn8iuxq9rd_Guce65c77ZIrwpkSOn2n9p5EQRtfll4g7bGbHrFKi/s400/053.JPG" border="0" /></a> ................scrumptious!</div><div> </div><div>As you can tell, fickle old me has been drawn back into the land of blog. Is it only me who keeps feeling the need to stop one day, but loving it the next. Bear with me, for now I think I'll be sticking with it.</div><div> </div><div>Have a lovely week all....................xx</div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2577008955151394501.post-27166033947121139532009-04-08T10:48:00.000-07:002009-04-23T02:13:12.503-07:00beautiful derbyshire...............Squeezing this post in quickly before I tackle the ironing mountain. Time's whizzing by too fast at the moment and like many others I'm having second thoughts about my blog, spring brings with it so many things to do outdoors, and I can't see my screen properly in the sunshine!<br /><br />Anyhow, how were the Easter hols for you all? We started ours with a little break in the Peak District. Taking a tip from the lovely <a href="http://attic24.typepad.com/">Lucy</a> we decided to try a Youth Hostel. Ian has stayed in them for his cycling trips but we had never been as a family. It was fantastic! For campers like us it was serious luxury, the sight of the bunk beds sents the children in whooping, jumping paroxyms of delight, us parents less so since we were designated the bottom bunks.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322381937172809330" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijxqft-lQlcjZaXsOldwsnxz0xL9Wa2ZT5_CrZJZwHf3_8w-pH30q3yzKOo_MfsrVDhve_EpPshboWizm9hziRpLz3C7_qvKyi6dpGCkjn-aoIoEKJ0qql4RDMJM4dcH-lL0cLrtp24e0x/s400/011.JPG" border="0" />The <a href="http://www.yha.org.uk/find-accommodation/peak-district-sherwood/hostels/Ravenstor/">place</a> itself was amazing, set amongst the hills and with a gorgeous walk down to the river right on our doorstep. We could feel the stresses of daily life falling away as soon as we arrived and the whole three days were fab. <div> </div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322381942681442178" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAJRQ0YJcrilbpjV9mtjRwgG5SE8K13FHZGORji9VaVwsVYJYxK84BG3qe2V-p8Zw9mAu6xdfIxKr24E9I7GQmYMiyIvhJb4xvwYWbR7z3ZeJ-9VlNjKghEKo0WjlLpGodfkK8xWAukL7X/s400/113.JPG" border="0" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZfzcIFWnHkswGd3jHnP-7p8-SjAIFRZs5ILDgKXfF1WeSrkCcnjVZU7PSk0Q8LVY95YxWJUT8EU8D6fpdM_WeIzC8JW_pSNKI34qriCz3X3EO242wrpdyXg7Hy1HjXBWCHYXtNa7nMiM4/s1600-h/080.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322412890741079666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZfzcIFWnHkswGd3jHnP-7p8-SjAIFRZs5ILDgKXfF1WeSrkCcnjVZU7PSk0Q8LVY95YxWJUT8EU8D6fpdM_WeIzC8JW_pSNKI34qriCz3X3EO242wrpdyXg7Hy1HjXBWCHYXtNa7nMiM4/s400/080.JPG" border="0" /></a> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322387117564355394" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6BbA_AYmGxxSBW7mgN6jvWNNobid9teuDdb94ORhHloIlLqC4G716m7NI4sxF5cLDIWqVBL_V18Yv2TIkVhmexoGRNoaMMin-0ZYCM6hBuuQp_KZsChb9jXsGvLewrljAgZ2RIvnMtHjH/s400/018.JPG" border="0" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge6Q7eL7HQxC5L1SQy3qdaeykdQruWXwOCOo7_zYbPB5Y82A0-fVNwenplPj6ZY773QAf5sW1NUAnNwZAyirOP-JthH8uBUWLsZrE1D6SXBiMS2Li6MMtik-h4UGzYqyD9x9fOofqlMaWp/s1600-h/073.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322412892748203650" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge6Q7eL7HQxC5L1SQy3qdaeykdQruWXwOCOo7_zYbPB5Y82A0-fVNwenplPj6ZY773QAf5sW1NUAnNwZAyirOP-JthH8uBUWLsZrE1D6SXBiMS2Li6MMtik-h4UGzYqyD9x9fOofqlMaWp/s400/073.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Our days were spent walking, eating and just being together. We found a great 99p walks book in Bakewell and aimed for fairly short and interesting strolls, having a four year old with easily tired legs meant that Ian's shoulders took about a week to recover. She's not the most reliable of walkers but we took it in turns to cart her about when she needed it and bribed her with promises of chocolate and treats when exhaustion kicked in.<br /><br /><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYThyhQRmdVYIq78S1QrgMtWSD5Y_hQs4WdHVeYW3yMAg9lkefn2jzgJ8bw0JOfcet3shTgV6jJEeQZbwz5nk0V4zT9QkePyKPy9BEk-qgxQUekgFqSicxcibGX8WnkQ2C0GSz9KznUra1/s1600-h/063.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322412882347266338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYThyhQRmdVYIq78S1QrgMtWSD5Y_hQs4WdHVeYW3yMAg9lkefn2jzgJ8bw0JOfcet3shTgV6jJEeQZbwz5nk0V4zT9QkePyKPy9BEk-qgxQUekgFqSicxcibGX8WnkQ2C0GSz9KznUra1/s400/063.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBsV_b1NbMMwQOm6Ne3ENdiH-Hwa1bMqn9LbN9fU91P08LeqypoFuhhLzKTJmI6zKUazqPrw6l0ZikwfegeEacuWDtZz1WZ5N5aYjgdgQ8BoPkarI7pTLthppmEjZPuMbyFW4B9XUflQxv/s1600-h/057.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322410078134323458" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBsV_b1NbMMwQOm6Ne3ENdiH-Hwa1bMqn9LbN9fU91P08LeqypoFuhhLzKTJmI6zKUazqPrw6l0ZikwfegeEacuWDtZz1WZ5N5aYjgdgQ8BoPkarI7pTLthppmEjZPuMbyFW4B9XUflQxv/s400/057.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Derbyshire is a truly beautiful place, one I'd never visited before. The people are lovely, very welcoming and the scenery is spectacular. We had our usual "let's move here" moments until we realised that Ian would have a 2 hour each way commute each day! We'll definitely be going back as soon as we can.<br /><br /><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibrGHwwEIo1yKII5CI-eTmmYUGFFcEY4-D_97ibwn-19w1chXwPva4ES3ceXuevYUJSx4Fk-sJv-rsotzlNCQ5xd2Tur2rvMo6H67vx2YKEANeZlmzA8BcallpjxmHaq458216-q5XHBXH/s1600-h/054.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322410069836467218" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibrGHwwEIo1yKII5CI-eTmmYUGFFcEY4-D_97ibwn-19w1chXwPva4ES3ceXuevYUJSx4Fk-sJv-rsotzlNCQ5xd2Tur2rvMo6H67vx2YKEANeZlmzA8BcallpjxmHaq458216-q5XHBXH/s400/054.JPG" border="0" /></a>Signs of Spring were everywhere we looked and despite a dreadful weather forecast of heavy rain the sun shone on us every day. </div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQcaET7wkatNRVyq3c81142EbYAbHH1-e_bnKbFLDfdQN_JrnpCiyeyv2xztJIQRAovboPuOzWqz27_Qq6jpGAnxxJJnKRpNS66dgnvUef8EQWBxJlRW9Gt4xh80sHKNDwrbmphyxItyFq/s1600-h/052.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322410065389733106" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQcaET7wkatNRVyq3c81142EbYAbHH1-e_bnKbFLDfdQN_JrnpCiyeyv2xztJIQRAovboPuOzWqz27_Qq6jpGAnxxJJnKRpNS66dgnvUef8EQWBxJlRW9Gt4xh80sHKNDwrbmphyxItyFq/s400/052.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div>A hearty YHA breakfast set us up each morning, gazing out at the hills and deciding how to spend the day ahead. We had to tear the children away from the bunkbeds, I seriously think they'd have been happy to perch up there all day. We were all in bed by 9pm, lights off, unheard of for us parents but you don't have much choice when you're all in together. It did mean we were refreshed the next morning and ready for an early(ish) start.<br /></div><div><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0l0wnywkTWpzXQlP_MiSHzIhTUuf7OWAIE3hcJ5CcPEGXLC0gCjFAkpMIN9bvHtevfSuWwAcRWTFepDkEHpEnXWfLZ-1mTiLnQZ7gqfM6HC75Mhsg4zJLSDniS8LhJGe_DIdqxDShQKDD/s1600-h/030.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322387125142291186" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0l0wnywkTWpzXQlP_MiSHzIhTUuf7OWAIE3hcJ5CcPEGXLC0gCjFAkpMIN9bvHtevfSuWwAcRWTFepDkEHpEnXWfLZ-1mTiLnQZ7gqfM6HC75Mhsg4zJLSDniS8LhJGe_DIdqxDShQKDD/s400/030.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMm94ZrrWhFiyCSk3UqzEYWhzDTyjrg9F0sSW8SfPZSZZC6vUrKWqNLyy4-IRLH9UrkrRZR5vZdEcLIogoZ1__Y2wuLdETOUDWx_UczSLcshFxyv9wf6_ebPi9BvINx4cF1DVFR0WtFaJ6/s1600-h/027.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322387121875863298" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMm94ZrrWhFiyCSk3UqzEYWhzDTyjrg9F0sSW8SfPZSZZC6vUrKWqNLyy4-IRLH9UrkrRZR5vZdEcLIogoZ1__Y2wuLdETOUDWx_UczSLcshFxyv9wf6_ebPi9BvINx4cF1DVFR0WtFaJ6/s400/027.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj991ix3FbijuKz-wdMHn9cKfx80I-CzHN39n2u6Z-3tXXeW6Er01_jrsnHTKxHeHEAbCYxhQcoO5pTEgxJ6z4AIfzUo4F5YRTxTBkCXHGkfo_h-vstt0jLT6f6NRqACd9CgpxcYxYjOWes/s1600-h/013.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322381948732077618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj991ix3FbijuKz-wdMHn9cKfx80I-CzHN39n2u6Z-3tXXeW6Er01_jrsnHTKxHeHEAbCYxhQcoO5pTEgxJ6z4AIfzUo4F5YRTxTBkCXHGkfo_h-vstt0jLT6f6NRqACd9CgpxcYxYjOWes/s400/013.JPG" border="0" /></a></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br /><p>Now the decision is, which hostel do we try next?</p><p>See you all soon.................</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2577008955151394501.post-85668762349797616562009-03-31T12:30:00.000-07:002009-03-31T14:01:44.701-07:00I'm loving today......................<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-yzOpFoW39-GQz_HTfrS_k_GzrgmnPEdDxvXYhfwpHvqZf-jXDE6JAHx7o5A7fKJjrd9Ie-iddEM0KgoN-3dmEvRypHmRPTPFGD6ftgNgMti27-_G512P-3z72zZINJhoSSPQbHC59d__/s1600-h/016.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319449172585364146" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-yzOpFoW39-GQz_HTfrS_k_GzrgmnPEdDxvXYhfwpHvqZf-jXDE6JAHx7o5A7fKJjrd9Ie-iddEM0KgoN-3dmEvRypHmRPTPFGD6ftgNgMti27-_G512P-3z72zZINJhoSSPQbHC59d__/s400/016.JPG" border="0" /></a>.............the abundance of spring flowers everywhere at the moment.<br /><div><br /><div><div><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2aIQBTy94YQZpe6R2lK3lEDA4Ye7oXHLpf_pQxokaYSdfnhZd5udCieDf_JSWQHYJBOIR2UtpVs_TmRuHGPuODuJ9k4yJaOIERYkWUj_XVUHi322oYH5J-UV1j358wAPB2FReTHO1A2KB/s1600-h/014.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319446185749559122" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2aIQBTy94YQZpe6R2lK3lEDA4Ye7oXHLpf_pQxokaYSdfnhZd5udCieDf_JSWQHYJBOIR2UtpVs_TmRuHGPuODuJ9k4yJaOIERYkWUj_XVUHi322oYH5J-UV1j358wAPB2FReTHO1A2KB/s400/014.JPG" border="0" /></a> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319438502094729554" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-T3tW_NU8mpQ8G48QktFuavWUCCLskCcp3zL9-zjZPGY9LhMgkaDZTXudXRESPRUU_NsYR4fdtbRPKgN8-__005colWDWE47e1T0GY4mQJ-hhjX7-bhY7eIJpH2JHWw978RSHDbkpUPoD/s400/010.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319438492573469458" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbxmZlYBf6XYuy3Peq6rRUn-NYTQOUjmUQ1LihmyEAGaMFJ7UC6gUcM9zLjd29wyX894ePxy_t2W0J5xL6KX6VmPNwxDBHvTd9Zg9lqIPN9wNybFDipcQ-oo5-fGEMXZ-7lAoZ8WZMISxd/s400/006.JPG" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319438502592671522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsAbp5dUWN4wb62cwY2hyphenhyphenEwSJWpcgwHfHKnXOMIvbXfp7L8dF4apaN2RJUhccjV8dZ8tNO-u4byqXf3FzIkgXbNZ8X8dhhZMLunZro22xL5ezeB9q2C3C3V4Z2CWcWSw0Y9YGCTT_QYvoI/s400/007.JPG" border="0" /> .....................and being able to enjoy them even more with the doors flung open</div><div></div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319447174169082338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGwxlQj_aD5EeekTxlkmdWzjx4X5WopXkv67EG-WxlpMmN6ubINBYEgLrphJakLQ6_PENEUzyQG1LixxsKJFififiu5DpCDTJRtQ6OZP_kmhGcCBkNC3C9872EyLQ9GhefWJRxYGt26YI-/s400/052.JPG" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319447870432875682" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsHhPaqnSYfa34DYaQDwlDzkhCx7QAauEP92MoD7EfXIQR0Ku_yCxsl9ykiKmZynX_caHEw-9l9BJMb1JvJ7fUkHj7XP2_u7W0bRN_SIT57KATF7Sv71bDcd5ug2M2vMfpX6Bg7KvH_c3k/s400/053.JPG" border="0" />....................which in turn means the children spend all their waking hours in our little garden entertaining themselves, which therefore means a tidier, if much colder, house and dirty handprints over every surface.<br /><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319444217972386562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjonbbkwBLUXBMcccfeYvUqzsL47pz2jsK852EYTbF4bheaHqrH8KRKS2I2qLFOFqe1yMbePbLHLDcMKMqYjWp04lfMBlapFA6TpTO88W3_zu-sIRm3keyy3K5Aywizp8d1wn1KZAdLnD1h/s400/024.JPG" border="0" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvm-oyXXikrsN9Vz_ltUcT0hPUjb0QQKBYnEUfaz9ze9tmpQkc29NeyUqnLK4GPKx3hPpG4AbVxsLHtV0XNTqE1pBPXyTlQHT0LxDtuFlC0267LauYzhxR3Z5iK4QtwN2SUFkexKsNnUaQ/s1600-h/022.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319444210890556914" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvm-oyXXikrsN9Vz_ltUcT0hPUjb0QQKBYnEUfaz9ze9tmpQkc29NeyUqnLK4GPKx3hPpG4AbVxsLHtV0XNTqE1pBPXyTlQHT0LxDtuFlC0267LauYzhxR3Z5iK4QtwN2SUFkexKsNnUaQ/s400/022.JPG" border="0" /></a>.................enjoying the peace and quiet of the post school drop off and washing the breakfast dishes. Particularly loving my red mixing jug, used every morning in the pancake ritual.</div><div></div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319441753830432722" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj19xleSEtv4lyLr9E2m5gYaGWh_fgYhcUzer-IrjFfLpOqSDc_bGOXATn2od7PxFSo2JHknGm5w5Um9DUSj2Y0A_PoJAlI7rX3brZV5INi1x_U4vjOhZNVQqQ4c0KChwRzzlPfvJcE9QEG/s400/017.JPG" border="0" />.............changing the bed and relishing the anticipation of climbing into freshly pressed, line dried sheets, particularly this delicious new polka dot purchase from good old Dunelm Mill.</div><div><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319441743703260002" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHsOWyZDUy0wr7-KOo5Toz6q6Z7B6k2IpwhKzYo1OOi3CmKmgITG3sTPYxKGKxrMwJsxvnYXydtI_dze03nasEkoclovx-5UCE_nTpeAu7d2aNg0RUK8YExIXBY3cmipTY6XcaJ8JVjUR5/s400/015.JPG" border="0" />..........which goes perfectly with the new lightweight summer eiderdown.</div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq5PifZFCX1JN_HnZc3jwN6ZAXbeXQDWEsZB_wpOuotZLgJk5AvXfLNl87hliQeoNh1pfjo0n1Tx2gZ_DdJvwIMJCNeCloHtVkMK9Y0s3GGzN35MVGl0zyPt6Bgl7uu1P7FHQcWdOKjU2o/s1600-h/020.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319443085556479090" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq5PifZFCX1JN_HnZc3jwN6ZAXbeXQDWEsZB_wpOuotZLgJk5AvXfLNl87hliQeoNh1pfjo0n1Tx2gZ_DdJvwIMJCNeCloHtVkMK9Y0s3GGzN35MVGl0zyPt6Bgl7uu1P7FHQcWdOKjU2o/s400/020.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-BfjzPMWxXbBsEo9q99X2rsjO_VybCTLIohQ_ND7iwG3R3fFX5mAmvtpjUD1XI_ICeIO8MwQMkebJ-oJ_VMaTkRMboEnrH4Q-G2V7bScDsOXI0xXmuinlDWHdEa2TTPha2dz9UOcHwBFI/s1600-h/019.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319443075639550146" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-BfjzPMWxXbBsEo9q99X2rsjO_VybCTLIohQ_ND7iwG3R3fFX5mAmvtpjUD1XI_ICeIO8MwQMkebJ-oJ_VMaTkRMboEnrH4Q-G2V7bScDsOXI0xXmuinlDWHdEa2TTPha2dz9UOcHwBFI/s400/019.JPG" border="0" /></a>.............grabbing all those wrinkled tomatoes from the fridge and oven drying them on a low heat with thyme then bottling them with basil ready for the tomato tart later this week.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319446190833985810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL5QKaFXsOCjDpG1mFJ-6x5c7uSoqFjs2G3YQY_GbomKnWWSBU347HnAJSmKuSoeRID5fAkb5vBUYb-29YRXCcAMWfnNX9Bu0_0belYKPSLXYb-RFp4RmYj8aZv1WcCAPKd0Q8jLUJKtJv/s400/015.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319446192858358354" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit0eSIsheqkILv599oiEEwCgl-AwBsSGVADhs6USL4obqlAJ9weXN9haa4OllIVBjXTmKH91cN2MEGjkP4-LweX6XtsmrmEmgBCs28TmiGFRcg1yBZNU937_qT4I4lQp9AmVsmzszCyPoV/s400/019.JPG" border="0" />All in all a quiet but productive morning spent at home, a less quiet afternoon spent at school, but more of that later..................</div><div> </div><div><em><span style="color:#6600cc;">ps. Forgot to say, thank you all for the fantastic comments about school, seems like I'm not the only one who has a bee in her bonnet about the starting age. I did enquire about starting Jack a year later but was told he would have to go in at Year 1 -does that make any sense?? Kit's actually a bit happier this week, we're looking forward to the Easter break so much. </span></em></div><div><em><span style="color:#6600cc;"></span></em> </div><div><em><span style="color:#6600cc;">Jack sends a big thank you for all your lovely comments about his circus, he's thrilled.</span></em></div><div><em><span style="color:#6600cc;"></span></em> </div><div><em><span style="color:#6600cc;">Good mummy has left the building, naggy old crone is back in town!!</span></em></div></div></div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com29tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2577008955151394501.post-56333596554754472472009-03-27T13:07:00.000-07:002009-03-29T13:03:08.032-07:00this week...........<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU4bXN8OJoEA0Ec-VsD3ypmAnfMnh9yuy7iLwZ9zSNWnRhKlmP0vgDJjrGpTTtJm9Z5uKFUoZTwAharM-9I-1OzD_djneHIqif23kb7g75hxLk5nnlhC_ztU0dIN6GF86z5a994DSzfIdl/s1600-h/003.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318699347723081122" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU4bXN8OJoEA0Ec-VsD3ypmAnfMnh9yuy7iLwZ9zSNWnRhKlmP0vgDJjrGpTTtJm9Z5uKFUoZTwAharM-9I-1OzD_djneHIqif23kb7g75hxLk5nnlhC_ztU0dIN6GF86z5a994DSzfIdl/s400/003.JPG" border="0" /></a> One of the greatest stress busters...............bed dancing. Guaranteed smiles all round!<br /><div></div><div> </div><div>Children bring an unbelievable amount of joy into your life but boy do they make it guilt ridden and emotional at times. After a remarkably smooth transition into school life Kit suddenly started to cry every morning before going in and not wanting to leave me. I know, common sense tells me that how a child is one week will have no bearing on how they are the next but she was worrying us. Suddenly our happy, giggly little girl had become quite unhappy and clingy and wasn't really able to explain why. We think it's probably the realisation that full time school will be the reality for the foreseeable future, quite a lot for a four year old to take on board.<br /><br />I have a huge problem with the age we send our children to school in this country. Both my children are summer babies which makes them very young for their year groups. Whilst Jack has managed pretty well Kit seems very little amongst her class. I really think that four year olds are too young to begin full time education, I'd be more than happy to have had mine at home for another year. Almost all of the children in Kit's class are tired, emotional and grumpy, why are we doing this to them at four?</div><div><br /><div>Ok everyone, rant over. Still with me? Good, let's have some pics. Whilst having a crisis of confidence this week and feeling the full force of good old parental guilt, I thought I'd make an extra effort to be a nice mummy and not the ranting old bag I'm prone to be, and then I thought I'd take photographs to show the children when I revert to normal, to prove that it actually did happen..........................</div><br /><div>Firstly, the good old no-bake cake making. One of the family favourites is good old fridge cake.........which was supposed to be the biscuit substitute for the week but only lasted three days. I mix a 100g bar of milk and one of dark chocolate, add a large lump of butter, two tablespoons of golden syrup, all the broken up biscuits from the bottom of the tin, smashed up, a bag of maltesers, again smashed up, and whatever nuts I have to hand, this week it was pistachios. Its truly delicious, go on......try it, the nuts make it positively healthy........<br /><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirbFovXoXNySPq0OS0Q1EfwwsW_G7QzJfqbzcUeJrQRrJfkDqePSuEQutVmh1g8yG_pjb8LEW5CquE7YFRP5W4ksrDwLX1gvqW1b3Sx0_zhOWuh_weRuZdeAFIg79XoVuHMa_MPdPH9aH-/s1600-h/rocky1"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317967721283189794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirbFovXoXNySPq0OS0Q1EfwwsW_G7QzJfqbzcUeJrQRrJfkDqePSuEQutVmh1g8yG_pjb8LEW5CquE7YFRP5W4ksrDwLX1gvqW1b3Sx0_zhOWuh_weRuZdeAFIg79XoVuHMa_MPdPH9aH-/s400/rocky1" border="0" /></a></div><div>Next, cornflake cakes for the school cake sale. Always a firm favourite and ones that I vividly remember making as a child. Mum would keep adding more and more cornflakes, we wouldn't believe that the chocolate would cover them but it always did.<br /></div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317963835541872162" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipYIfo9zBSAdnzSxPx2iJOUC2P1RRTjIOP2J0wz3CuwFkDyH4oXpxDdYZRaN08-t9FKXxxA-6S9HGgy78BgmtQGvy4bFCXmBdhbsUsLxFjdqMLcTp4xrOX3LAsAfexAoZ44HkUgWNB6aGr/s400/015.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317963841581496082" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKnIiAsdJoc5xQsj4YbxzK9aA8hjlaKXlLU2NORRePaLLfJx0MuSKklTlAfxfdBL6sx1v4JSfAngXzAuLgYmRcnxOeCYGxZjtqfQmLUBqwmV18FUW0246UEtzMmLetEo7McLwv7I1Fnk1k/s400/013.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317963834478055650" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx-D_uOkQzOvNRYbqGp1Acd3ZSJ28sQdshyyRDskW7KvDpR99m05G_h1lDPvjdKROVg3Asy-kNUls-0fHPeGZEdt8fZlhwr1A_f7w_-VCggZyCcFDHXgBueZt7gHqRZGUSIBsodahJwddh/s400/018.JPG" border="0" />Of course we had to try the eggs, just to make sure they were edible. I'm glad to report that they passed with flying colours!</div><br /><div><div>Jack's been creative with a few old loo rolls, making his own mini circus.............<br /></div><div><div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317967343616030194" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRFJaSv3zabvJRCRsWLKUiZtGnB_mx3_hMrKk-_lFkdIbudMnYV_XagmJa3DclqeqLocAs8NoF9DQtLYSnohoflYm6i-DPjq636pHWNZGqoV4CGbjHhiR1kSSg-yy9gasGSKRAVM3ypa8S/s400/jack1" border="0" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDHn7cZVA3yRcLLiQT3tqyvNByaOHKNCvA1cuVlwJ-UHyY9YOfJ_HYRoJlB1krbcRTyXd4NZJv_wkMImcmw1k4JF04FawKNpEUmrwI5KHvzjsnyurHm_ZnNOb9jBfQvYxnZu_KUrHKjIhM/s1600-h/jack"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317967339366630498" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDHn7cZVA3yRcLLiQT3tqyvNByaOHKNCvA1cuVlwJ-UHyY9YOfJ_HYRoJlB1krbcRTyXd4NZJv_wkMImcmw1k4JF04FawKNpEUmrwI5KHvzjsnyurHm_ZnNOb9jBfQvYxnZu_KUrHKjIhM/s400/jack" border="0" /></a>..................before going outside to practice his fire making skills, under my watchful eye. Damp twigs do not make the most ideal kindling but to give him his due he perseveres</div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317965185445038370" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSWayHnOwqCreKFxY7kVMKOoB-OGJwgmO3MvYvlUV51drC3Q9R4VNxMgZ9anSpSm_XnW98Leom_hhHr3k8uW0P8kCYpFpkDzydp_LPf0hG7uwwF-lMPAqKd_01MFwygfWdE4QU-7lAVVfs/s400/007.JPG" border="0" />meanwhile, conforming to the female stereotype perfectly Kit stays inside practicing her stitching............after helping Jack to waft the flames to life that is.<br /><br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifPzbZdjL102TdFuvEngFZvSopuSB47S564SSPPL-Lynj-VolLicTi5IN4YVZ9OM-FRq57ZPXRZIVr-9rUXlTwbbLEK1cPJuFTNQJCFvhS4OQ3_Mrie1p3gTaCDyJMxc4j4_83dKPoYkEl/s1600-h/001.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317965183724822066" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifPzbZdjL102TdFuvEngFZvSopuSB47S564SSPPL-Lynj-VolLicTi5IN4YVZ9OM-FRq57ZPXRZIVr-9rUXlTwbbLEK1cPJuFTNQJCFvhS4OQ3_Mrie1p3gTaCDyJMxc4j4_83dKPoYkEl/s400/001.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div>My creative urges were satisfied with a simple little project, 60 bookmarks for the new cookery book we've produced for the PTFA funds.......</div><div></div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318698687005250722" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMJW7zEO_mopkezQjglLarmX3i0aB3RBP_-co2J-TNR0e3r5mivsCtE0GnmmxzwiEZCfVoU8MauJ3PRCHWwpUvgjCNL3bhIRpt3VhaPYn9b86Z8vlvAX43NgJg2MfdgUVmVqsDYJvBR790/s400/008.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318697970444582882" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLl6_S2pg9lb7ofqxKLjf5WiTbVn396TsGk0WbEpD7l1VM8sGNcrgm-Kb4linepbLxNDoGH0_W71VXFHfCxqS6wnwwl1PaoOVQKkNXTrT4KjflaxW1RW6M_IKVD_2hkGE25kVgc_bkml33/s400/013.JPG" border="0" />At this point I feel should own up to yet another guilty pleasure.................<em><span style="font-size:78%;">ironing.</span></em> Yes, you did hear me correctly, I do actually quite like <span style="font-size:78%;"><em>ironing.</em> </span><span style="font-size:100%;">Oops, said it again. Before I come over as all 1950's housewifeish let me confess that I'm totally crap at all other domestic duties but ironing I'm quite happy to do. I actually iron very few of our clothes so it only takes a couple of hours in the week, so it's on with the radio and I can happily drift away. And when it's something as delicious as Kit's bedding I'm quite content.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317967337374735154" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMzveKj1CTzXPzmyvfBW_265hMmdRaNr1Fam5ZEVY8KILtbEko7ns_RysJulP68ujW0fOZOyfwjcRT9VpOoiqxsZNCAlNG1_mzecO7owpA46nVcCVerX-b7YLg7qX93YVU2f64Ynq4gQ1T/s400/iron" border="0" /> </span></div><div>So on that slightly sad note I'll leave you for now. Have a great week.......................x</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2577008955151394501.post-18860827195768863792009-03-22T15:48:00.000-07:002009-03-23T15:46:46.216-07:00sunny sunday...........What a lucky lady I was this weekend. After breakfast in bed the rest of the family piled into our bed to watch me open my lovely presents which included this..........<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316324999979378130" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw6YABZfXNgOnJDz0wBSeWSSRxLTM2qlKBBKvD0xKX8_o59QhCEqOEaay_5YDyAjHo4TeDr1f4wfwrJaLgCHtjPs5VJlHfYTRPZABssjp6ke1Tbct3j2fB3UzMhWxQxWbXMEbSPWcJKzeS/s400/006.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><p>...........and this, which I've had my eye on for ages..........</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316323184034197330" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjjVdQx1DT6FHWdNaLKJnVlUrnLsw8KKUiaFCsKrwCFf0G8SnXtHszM7bzBhNo0jg8i_OQIFLsxuTw8bPU4ESFPB_FEXp_OSLukRpdciHVH05UNK2MTVEl9jUBqrwXpuPQsDG8kuIoPKnk/s400/005.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316323177540687618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWbXtQnEx72ZjWZ-pz3g-iXCldwT6L-YsLyiGfHvyCc5rQsKI26DlDOlivodbmjFIOv1tHct26Xf3sPBoIHjxjzgWiLlo8LnAqUV_1JSMRULF1AFhkkSBd2FE367kBa5AYG6E7Gr69v4DR/s400/004.JPG" border="0" />I was also handed these fab cards which will be treasured forever...................<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316324977287427698" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4aFdjNaDxHuzbpyPv0qmqp148SXCFfwpKbUhXjtDf1buafzkpUuMKinDeqWGRGxR_ktY_lhoSF7K7frVYCfiKrXwNdXF-Yr3aId0445gei6mWU84No-vMYOtWx77ou938utCnABsPVagg/s400/008.JPG" border="0" />Sunday morning means my regular car boot trip, the sun this weekend meant that it was huge and busier than I think I've ever seen it. It wasn't a particularly fruitful trip but I did manage to pick up this sweet little blanket which will be perfect for our camping trips later this year.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0TQEdh_K3jZkFuXe6FMLQztUtISSbXGcXOUF7DbGfABdhV4g0QCBQKKMl9zcqBqM2TktpQbsC_-oiGp-neKzPLj-bsYz08-Hnz-HFtkCQXYkfcEVCelWe1qQN4jP3gSNcjoPwo8gQ70_7/s1600-h/010.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316324990576625122" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0TQEdh_K3jZkFuXe6FMLQztUtISSbXGcXOUF7DbGfABdhV4g0QCBQKKMl9zcqBqM2TktpQbsC_-oiGp-neKzPLj-bsYz08-Hnz-HFtkCQXYkfcEVCelWe1qQN4jP3gSNcjoPwo8gQ70_7/s400/010.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />The afternoon brought a trip to one of our favourite NT haunts, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Hidcote</span> Manor, the most beautiful garden in nearby Broadway. As soon as we arrive the children are seized with the desperate urge to run in any direction. The gardens are set out in a series of rooms and are a delight to visit at any time of the year. Although it is always busy there's plenty of space and it never feels crowded. We followed our little guides on a very fast and furious trip around the different "rooms" loving their enthusiasm and delight at each discovery. Each time we visit, this long avenue just begs to be raced along and this time we weren't disappointed. Whilst we took a moment to catch our breath the two of them disappeared into the distance and then returned at a much slower pace. </p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316148469386011970" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo9kp9tD1XtfG1FB4vDcJ95WiGdOXOM1zHD-xjE0yoaw_EAVmGkq777jfgbOHSQyziQ_xiN1OomfWaz-mq0V94EF8BWDq1JwSN5x8vrn0bc7BjGXJfsEgqYSFc0brJDeLdzIltkduvaygZ/s400/hidcotemosaic1.jpg" border="0" /><br />We had a much deserved snack break on my favourite bench under the Wisteria which is a sight to behold later in the year...........<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316150771493450498" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvoxRLx44FTKgvmSC_MWAa0G4GWqPOp5xuoSGLyJx_XzjYhVjVW4LBFcVhbd_ZRzgwPSrhWe5QJ4yCQRVoh-vgWehfVY9jTPHQ_8ft1wseDnUIQW3ruB6o2P9x6UWp9OoWJPC689lE0_ET/s400/111.JPG" border="0" /><br />.................and we admired the gorgeous flowers, in particular the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">hellebores</span>, tulips and primroses.</p><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiQHT2EZe8vpYUnyodpg3yE2l1sezaOyBkTfq-5hpjg1Spm9vjPqmzfHucaWwl9Pbofhj-E4tDpdXOsVPkyvCpUyohGdacckUFTNXYyYVZPBrS9KOVwOJgxm7HtCgoEptDSVDyp-b2oC19/s1600-h/hidcotemosaic3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316153799944139506" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiQHT2EZe8vpYUnyodpg3yE2l1sezaOyBkTfq-5hpjg1Spm9vjPqmzfHucaWwl9Pbofhj-E4tDpdXOsVPkyvCpUyohGdacckUFTNXYyYVZPBrS9KOVwOJgxm7HtCgoEptDSVDyp-b2oC19/s400/hidcotemosaic3.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316148044001269282" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF8doXw1vwtXi-2k5JqKHUnM1uitTrgo1L1_pXGn_P61L4-xbLx43AlGUCzaVfsi-rBPzs3CDNEMlh5ms5bus3iSmunO_yhOv_7rPwYPRBaDtpU5xtRl22WhFKlyWHp9eNJyH700uWHnr-/s400/hidcotemosaic2.jpg" border="0" /><br />...............and we finished it all off with tea and chocolate cake in the cafe. Perfect, worth all the sleepless nights, anguish, guilt and mess that having children brings. Spending time with my little family is (mostly) the best thing of all.<br /><br />Before I go I have to mention <a href="http://http//www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_ss_w_h__0_5?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=i%27ve+loved+you+so+long&sprefix=I%27ve+">this film</a>. We watched it this weekend after seeing Kristin Scott Thomas nominated for an Oscar (or <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Bafta</span>, can't remember) for it. It was superb, you have to see it!<br /><br /><div><div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316328747895290370" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD_Z4P__ZwkDbCO2ChEQRg7CdYUFfLWNzBQrynxabo-CWEobubefaqfXq3mC02VPEDR76CwhRxu0JZEFlLAQ6YzJ3RU3ulAF6hRlWgW0TFBxEjHSg6eqWw-excRfH6lAPHvgJhmAY1-Zbi/s400/kristin.gif" border="0" />See you later in the week, let's see if I can make it two posts this week............. </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2577008955151394501.post-30691547482033962102009-03-17T13:58:00.001-07:002009-03-17T15:17:47.746-07:00crochet paradise............................well, how fantastic has this weather been?! After a frantic two day post weekend clean (kids, mess, food, toys etc...) the house is more sparkling than usual and I had an hour to sit out and enjoy the sun with the afternoon play and a bit of this..........<br /><div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314265497289737282" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhybqH8cBfIKWjbgjV2LS7iRIb6wbphOqHNHorVxVnJf_eACqlgVLi_DJMGl4cMtHPOxxrQ55qS8BDGOhaPRYBG-r20O-0LOzv1KztE5bvnCDuq1ht1kx-0wz1XL9kSt9fnfSflRvyoJjnj/s400/042.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314265506724896818" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiipgIbnnwQvTXPYv6SJEQkBDmFBNh7AjQq_-DcBJe0T6gIAuGo-lKq49oxM81mwPbWHiPqynh1JDI4KyGo2b_dPEs9P4YouXJ5Lq83L0sMLdHPqqUBIEWJq2ZVJDuzTFBXrkD7hTdq8GBk/s400/040.JPG" border="0" /></div><div>...............another round cushion in the making, this time as a gift for mum, It was so fantastic to sit outside, listen to the birds and enjoy the sun on my face. Isn't it great to be outside again, the children are barefoot in the garden once more, filthy feet are the order of the day.</div><br /><div>As usual the garden is not looking at it's best. Having neither gardening skills nor knowledge means that plants do not thrive in my care, there are bare spots aplenty where there should be flowers. However some of the bulbs I planted in autumn are beginning to show and today I noticed this little lonesome beauty nestled amongst the weeds.............</div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314267458132435682" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTI5nKN9AcPzDA_2ecYpMCTfemP2Y-P-Ib_xuuuNobe3iEuuZwpUUtTlzwUoIIiSHSesrCJS-PtUV2PZZGa8hOY44elpJwfZw4TmATG4xw-5NpGUBCztQ1sIO8vM-6xiZZzKSQX0wWBr4Q/s400/039.JPG" border="0" /></div><div>..........more of which are dotted around the house, courtesy of good old B&Q which had a great offer on.</div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjupFuNjK3x_Xgfo5mNZhtGsefOHZ1I567qCUbLVgGrGngMM4SvDI8QGNDo2FbgXcxC46chmvyEeYn8YjHvLQmRJ3yXvevtdHf_KCRVGPNBeN9lXBPGbRpVlU834U1ILFJmT981RRkUx8mZ/s1600-h/008.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314268136266552386" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjupFuNjK3x_Xgfo5mNZhtGsefOHZ1I567qCUbLVgGrGngMM4SvDI8QGNDo2FbgXcxC46chmvyEeYn8YjHvLQmRJ3yXvevtdHf_KCRVGPNBeN9lXBPGbRpVlU834U1ILFJmT981RRkUx8mZ/s400/008.JPG" border="0" /></a>............and of course, the hyacinths keep on going, this one is particularly fragrant.<br /></div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga07pFaNH9FlVq2YEHo9R5EnXahGpySd0zvZ66TmOpDl-7SMXzMw6S0AmQNgMgfXjOGlDaLYXebaQYk4u58xUt_n-S3TkVNsJj7AB7rmnSCKk4f3sx55tNL1p3z-PJHBuE4Rm1M-LgQfJ6/s1600-h/002.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314267469841115746" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga07pFaNH9FlVq2YEHo9R5EnXahGpySd0zvZ66TmOpDl-7SMXzMw6S0AmQNgMgfXjOGlDaLYXebaQYk4u58xUt_n-S3TkVNsJj7AB7rmnSCKk4f3sx55tNL1p3z-PJHBuE4Rm1M-LgQfJ6/s400/002.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTVybooC42ZvUXw5s9vIX_cMQX9GEtINFJtdoH1twVrqCPDQbR_MQl-vOLHsGywUcGaXIbA4_lxPOm8zmz1h2CkRtY42ea6VIcm8BHCUaNnfV2Onf7E6Fkv_hk3ZwQdbZfEDj-VQjJ-nJZ/s1600-h/001.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314267464004749378" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTVybooC42ZvUXw5s9vIX_cMQX9GEtINFJtdoH1twVrqCPDQbR_MQl-vOLHsGywUcGaXIbA4_lxPOm8zmz1h2CkRtY42ea6VIcm8BHCUaNnfV2Onf7E6Fkv_hk3ZwQdbZfEDj-VQjJ-nJZ/s400/001.JPG" border="0" /></a>Did you notice that new mug up there?............yet another to add to my rather large collection, along with the Portmerion one I bought last week it's fast becoming a firm favourite, it's the perfect size for my cuppa. We had a girls only shopping trip to Bicester Village last weekend and of course the first stop had to be the Cath Kidston outlet store, from where said mug was purchased along with a couple of other goodies, including 3 metres of the most gorgeous dress fabric.........now all I need is a seamstress to run me up a tea dress. <div><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314276121267024914" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvQLZpLjsZtXMnN6WByrPbVfG1BPsuiHvTlmoIWeR5uo70ayH7UladW41auqbmB2Xh3WDq4XNjKRSd_laQJZKB74reptTfW3MkvOAXYUZbc6zFu7fwgXUAx3c90Vv5NnXANuHIdDHo0J5j/s400/023.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314276101387794642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil-j65Bwi3bT6Yk9V_pzfMGYQS21E64owteZwU2OGk6P1-1LO0BJROT4NF99qJkZLFA6aO5hovB3LrfhkeE3g-5zqc5hl17gicc-WPyUe8INnW8fACW-WWVVhPMbDz6wlYcNuQOBf0yDxZ/s400/025.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314276109884850050" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiv0aoQIaoeI4G_cPyfGA_-hBmjKFTPgCBx4K1w33jE8_aEx4cN_ZLsXSyeKvVS1m7kuJ4bVWMTy-q1xm1BV4UVYhZtmzZLWnC2sk823XHZwLmCdMMjf_Wvq5HR8s0XeT7twSgGx6ia8in/s400/005.JPG" border="0" />I also bought this bath bar, much to Ian's delight. As he put it :: "Will that be going in the bathroom cupboard along with the other two you bought which drove you mad?" No, no, no, this one will be different, it's light and won't chip the bath every time the children knock it off. Besides how lovely my soaps and new flannel look on it. So I have to remove it and replace it every night, no matter, it gives me pleasure to look at it, this is the PERFECT bath bar and here it will stay....................</div><div></div><div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314277324491672114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQWBhwTJ2-36n9m2Rj-MJQ2lCkBlxSXbt8ryxYFougKCOSEjo_AjbtthRbJ6Zq31Aq1US3HY41CEpfmWAYTWyPHgT4CztT7dT1qJNpDZ0aO16gMYttlmsecgt3RmYfE0AfTpGGy7qgzhfJ/s400/020.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314277330623642978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQX4OkJUisX6Rg2SPOWZcWgexPi9R4h6i_OjNdycS6btg5EPkc9gvAd6IdmCK54QZEHP6juTyhb3K73D5tO9RSxfLjCR3eNZo3jRqHZAUn_s7Sjh_oK30X1L_xogkXCZFJWIbi_ZQPeCqO/s400/012.JPG" border="0" />..........(if you look closely you can catch a glimpse of our horrific shower and revolting loo in the background - yeuch!)<br /><br />Enjoy the sun everyone.......................... </div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2577008955151394501.post-70878984320732961152009-03-09T15:56:00.000-07:002009-03-09T16:34:22.721-07:00and then the sun shone...........brieflyOur yearly race going guests arrived today which means five days of cooking breakfasts for five people every morning, by the end of the week I'll be happy never to see another sausage. It also meant we had to do the BIG clean up over the weekend. This generally only happens if we have visitors and normally can be confined to only a couple of the rooms, however having the entire house full of people means that we have to clean the whole lot, no mean feat when it's usually only treated to the odd blowing away of dust and half hearted hoovering. Possessing a crap hoover which will only work with a hand held attachment means that I do most of my cleaning on my knees, and yesterday, whilst the sun was shining, this gave me a whole new perspective on my clean and shiny(ish) rooms. I rushed off to grab the camera to catch the moment and to remind me that sometimes the house can look pretty nice, even the horrible bathroom............<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311327547160872994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4QSyZG02SLdgLYTCNf9t0oNl4rxgfW4Ym55rtUMrjpHrx1TK1LO8tS6dH71p2hRfF9GCNj5r_M4_B44WDZ4_jY4v_QmUdoYgOva3XakZ0YWZqAM44wG9xS1v8H-9Krv3Nyfx8pmsw74RA/s400/070.JPG" border="0" /><br />..............what you can't see is the completely foul, cracked toilet with duck tape trying, and failing, to stop the drip, or the mouldy old shower cabinet. This picture makes me love my grubby old bathroom a little bit more, I've no choice really, it'll be another year before we can update it.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQcDQWrwZY-ql2RbXV59b0gtTfMcCNUDUDjn0rhszynRk91kXy90ZTyc_aFFSInA5_VbCnX9XkUUlPka62T3ID4tryz1QEFn6ywWXCKwRfSL2ak9ZG_JpYnNAy1Lynjbb2eWDEMk9sKGR-/s1600-h/074.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311328323493183730" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQcDQWrwZY-ql2RbXV59b0gtTfMcCNUDUDjn0rhszynRk91kXy90ZTyc_aFFSInA5_VbCnX9XkUUlPka62T3ID4tryz1QEFn6ywWXCKwRfSL2ak9ZG_JpYnNAy1Lynjbb2eWDEMk9sKGR-/s400/074.JPG" border="0" /></a> Now this room, our bedroom, I do love, especially when it's cleared of all the usual family stuff. It never looks like this, there's always a pile of washing to be put away, numerous children's books and toys lying around, and all the other detritus we can't find a home for seems to gravitate towards here and stay for months. Now it's calm and peaceful, but for how long?...........<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHRdC4F3mhxW0TEb5mLfW_JYjxgfy63SsXlNBDw9Hd5DFktlwukyWTU5uRYunVn1Ig41HxW3GQ9ULUfwAIHRWs7pQPzBvT5VnghKCrTjGNiSDYSyHxetvjaWg9XDrvxZyKkCPgcGeMVtLN/s1600-h/076.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311327554530302754" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHRdC4F3mhxW0TEb5mLfW_JYjxgfy63SsXlNBDw9Hd5DFktlwukyWTU5uRYunVn1Ig41HxW3GQ9ULUfwAIHRWs7pQPzBvT5VnghKCrTjGNiSDYSyHxetvjaWg9XDrvxZyKkCPgcGeMVtLN/s400/076.JPG" border="0" /></a> A peek into Kit's room. I like this "through the door" view, it means I can hide the mess behind said door, isn't blogland a wonderful, make believe place, you can pretend to have a lovely tidy home because nobody can see round the corners!<br /><br /><div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311326762382426450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifKJE1mCkcIAdR374frV_uwlZ9kt5bjm-En_BYxIMRHsTzEtR5tCoeXBVwNrKnJ-4G8VPj-dof_6cfrFARxskUbuDwCyI92HDuc_4yVZ7IusJs0JVhIo3dtBfcuOTJhd8wdBsctsp7AZ9f/s400/077.JPG" border="0" />Finally a glimpse of our sitting room. The console table was dragged up from the basement sewing room single handedly by me which involved lots of muttering, bad language and mild panic as I realised how heavy it was. It used to be a dark brown but looks so much better in the pale pistachio colour. Notice yet more hyacinths waiting to burst forth............<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyIyTIwP6p3O_dRLBicz3AcN-r7CE2rG1Cz4zQGjlOFuCxUcjPHvwl9Rwn9fu4RqWumWc42i_z3V8s5m5-RpduqNmFMxOgGdetYkKl9kQMZ9kRe5FwXludZHRZIQSkkaOoaO4nfIzOKFjn/s1600-h/007.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311326754118066194" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyIyTIwP6p3O_dRLBicz3AcN-r7CE2rG1Cz4zQGjlOFuCxUcjPHvwl9Rwn9fu4RqWumWc42i_z3V8s5m5-RpduqNmFMxOgGdetYkKl9kQMZ9kRe5FwXludZHRZIQSkkaOoaO4nfIzOKFjn/s400/007.JPG" border="0" /></a> So there you go, another post about not very much at all. I'm just pleased to have a tidy house, enjoying that clear brain feeling and kidding myself it'll last - hah! I give it three days at the most!</div><div> </div><div>See you all soon...............x<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDwJiFStZXV50OMHL6LpkKiC1-dKXguWTcPPxQ-b-S5uMkWxfZ56GTTuBsmZJq61TuSuoVNV0qrtzsU4HJGxcR_QDeUnsZ7qGvh_I-8i3ggt_BUzUYyKmfwb8DTYVCqCrC3QC_l-87cwt5/s1600-h/007.JPG"></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com40tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2577008955151394501.post-80311299456576899732009-03-08T14:50:00.000-07:002009-03-08T15:23:22.924-07:00things I'm loving right now.............a fab new enamel bucket and mop, hopefully this will entice me into cleaning the kitchen floor more than twice a year................then again, maybe not<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF9N5MAAVSjj6UaEDaxxD9MgFXbYSNCihoH3OxzEniqpR7bpDbtvEaS6z7_WXMI_iqyYnOzZansL0TsE50Z2heoBhZeIo3FcKhtrTBTIfFgv3GN0CViaA8c8UFYtL7NJB0YTa7hk1s2-bn/s1600-h/069.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310942233623260386" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF9N5MAAVSjj6UaEDaxxD9MgFXbYSNCihoH3OxzEniqpR7bpDbtvEaS6z7_WXMI_iqyYnOzZansL0TsE50Z2heoBhZeIo3FcKhtrTBTIfFgv3GN0CViaA8c8UFYtL7NJB0YTa7hk1s2-bn/s400/069.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>a gorgeous new mug to add to the never ending collection</div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYTw_88LE8BEibCFDwrwMi3WmmZeAqafwTBq_I3xNaO_272NCbreDxw_lwMq-P4NJPWnhbVeLEoi4zSQPhyphenhyphenp5zBRCeKWCXaAkcmvD7AKNAiJDUx6-z77ftcoi23WrsujWjiwhBdtKNA2o5/s1600-h/075.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310942228231388786" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYTw_88LE8BEibCFDwrwMi3WmmZeAqafwTBq_I3xNaO_272NCbreDxw_lwMq-P4NJPWnhbVeLEoi4zSQPhyphenhyphenp5zBRCeKWCXaAkcmvD7AKNAiJDUx6-z77ftcoi23WrsujWjiwhBdtKNA2o5/s400/075.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div></div><div><br /><br /><br /></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>some lovely new owl stationery from Paperchase</div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilysVT2hn-vYnu8XaM7lZHlNhp28wwf8Jr8DiOkr2kRg9PJrbeIyKA-FAnDeV3DGDtwUuzv7-CX7oolP60tFnqQDOilesqis0VU0wGYeelPz_oWL-kicIC1V0ms8Kn0DyVEdaXuMYlyRkS/s1600-h/065.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310942223998156626" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilysVT2hn-vYnu8XaM7lZHlNhp28wwf8Jr8DiOkr2kRg9PJrbeIyKA-FAnDeV3DGDtwUuzv7-CX7oolP60tFnqQDOilesqis0VU0wGYeelPz_oWL-kicIC1V0ms8Kn0DyVEdaXuMYlyRkS/s400/065.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>enough sunshine for a garden picnic</div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHHLpghHpBSDw4m2o5zhkletZ_n76Uxsb3oOJvsTWp1bRlCOHtJqwUJmQ17UJXwFf7dI_L5SE-80XRqXGGwF0fWr-sT39cqcRFMiwN1llrVDeO6d7Gp6YjgzF8E5JrDo6nbZNXyznlvrSn/s1600-h/048.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310942225294190034" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHHLpghHpBSDw4m2o5zhkletZ_n76Uxsb3oOJvsTWp1bRlCOHtJqwUJmQ17UJXwFf7dI_L5SE-80XRqXGGwF0fWr-sT39cqcRFMiwN1llrVDeO6d7Gp6YjgzF8E5JrDo6nbZNXyznlvrSn/s400/048.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><div>beautiful and very pink primroses<br /><br /></div><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMAUklxKsgtARoyWCiOmPdjUEGHindQM72XcssWuxXdNv4OKLIFh3TWH5NRGYap_R9Z2Ry-ouvH_r37WXuZqb2Zzd9bNv5bs5xTbBA9xffgUZX2H10ver_1OY0IkpQIqOSE4MN049fjbUx/s1600-h/061.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310938362483036226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMAUklxKsgtARoyWCiOmPdjUEGHindQM72XcssWuxXdNv4OKLIFh3TWH5NRGYap_R9Z2Ry-ouvH_r37WXuZqb2Zzd9bNv5bs5xTbBA9xffgUZX2H10ver_1OY0IkpQIqOSE4MN049fjbUx/s400/061.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVZbWheVkCw2D5_4WcRnHdklGgzsvxAMAINCELLZiJeOZTmAAFKVJ51VKz9uMADMSAA9r3dTX4QbcECf4nMt0gUNcyxnnLQ6tV36Ng-CeIgbyzcItkWBehYm_FlHIoJ6oeyYEYWwTYd49W/s1600-h/059.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310938353021879202" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVZbWheVkCw2D5_4WcRnHdklGgzsvxAMAINCELLZiJeOZTmAAFKVJ51VKz9uMADMSAA9r3dTX4QbcECf4nMt0gUNcyxnnLQ6tV36Ng-CeIgbyzcItkWBehYm_FlHIoJ6oeyYEYWwTYd49W/s400/059.JPG" border="0" /></a> Hope you've all had a great weekend, just a quickie tonight because blogger is seriously confused and is beginning to drive me mad, back soon x.....................<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2577008955151394501.post-4889208196284033482009-02-17T07:27:00.000-08:002009-02-20T13:57:56.725-08:00collections............................Whilst wandering aimlessly round the house last week, a skill I particularly excel in, I happened upon a few of the little collections going on around here at the moment................<br /><br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304999239915900962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUB1v1ylSv3uHjceni-2dEk9spLMWGyV0pdv5L2-MKd4jNroYYPcnQe7Nyt7JgEZdFqlCtGOUxOO0V2Z9Nt5fwfmUmvvf_cK6I3G5L2I-opLGBxxJCg3Bdy10t_aiX6zyb4Dn6_Fa9fXiw/s400/mosaic1692440.jpg" border="0" />Crochet..........it's everywhere. From the squares for my niece's baby blanket (must be finished next week, and boy, it's taken a long time) to the round cushion inspired by <a href="http://posy.typepad.com/">posy</a> and now requested by nearly every family member, to little crochet flowers dotted around the place, the house is being taken over by baskets of yarn and every evening I'm to be found in my favourite armchair, glass of wine and chilled chocolate to hand, crocheting away. I think Ian finds it slightly disturbing and I have many times been likened to an old crone sitting at the gallows - NOT the image I like to think I'm portraying!<br /><div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304997086984270130" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxqp1rpSCJ5qDS5XrDsTHCKbu7nAFnDnbBFTIw1hpDBJ2_LB-4fEStjykkYZAXwjT-DyIayF4lr2CqdcaUUiFjv2riijTieS_sZY3qBIl0qhDWmj3OKVT3J6gho4F6ds9aEdFIL6QnPx2I/s400/mosaic8920486.jpg" border="0" /> Bulbs..............oh, the joy! Flowers I can actually grow, why has it taken me so long to discover this? Now they're everywhere, you name it I shove a collection of £1.26 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Lidl</span> bulbs in and a few days later, flowers galore - pure bliss, and an extra place to push in a few crocheted flowers.<br /></div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304997093682580018" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYnb4Uxc9LcHeYhWZBtz4iu4n-VfwESgTX7o-gtH60dSbRjMeJ8GBTZysZhwPNC3bW2xO-m13wz-jxaE13N8C3Gdtg_FkzUwdV6QwEX03M5Tid4_qL8nG99WFrlrrnSC6O2SdWtNzovJ8J/s400/mosaic5245785.jpg" border="0" /> Beads..................hanging from the pretty rose hooks I bought in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">TK</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Maxx</span>. The perfect spot to keep them, I can see them, admire their colourful <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">sparkliness</span> and it makes choosing one each day <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">soooo</span> easy. I'm a cheap jewellery fan, I have no diamonds or gold. I always have a favourite on the go, this is the one at the moment, isn't it fab?............. </div><div></div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305000134049426386" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7NAapcw_REajDDQwS-a5i86hnmIFjLwrJ1f-BvZGtWjfGs7Q6L8ufEKQT8tOMSaQbLA20TkI1a-4sTfmQpzX_caw2FS2-cgzv5nyV_R0B4urSuU0SqVWdAuIJGQtBC8PGV59tTPN6soGF/s400/mosaic8308738.jpg" border="0" />Stuffed toys................obsessed is the word I'd use for my children, they can't get enough of them. can hardly get into bed because of them, all the old bits of crap that no-one else wants, we bring 'em home and squeeze them in. For a person with a bed making obsession it gives me palpitations. I have to fold the duvet around them because under no circumstances am I to MOVE THEM! I don't know how they sleep with them all but it makes them happy, which in turn makes me happy so I have live with the untidy beds (deep breathing, telling myself it doesn't matter, only looking at the bed with one eyes open - I've tried it all)</div></div><div><div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304998666518701730" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 180px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyiiNF-aln9EP0fRqwuH3UljliBKXCFB5xljPwGx3Uolp8UYG8Y5q3WhtwsOfDDueJ2bnwVj7wAa7oHzWFR5D0ynBYTnwTJV2ikzzXXyvqExULkyHiK8kcZeblECtQQ9rbaV5jN3VIJqYb/s400/3287899951_979d533888_m.jpg" border="0" /><br />So, there you are, a brief glimpse of our overly cluttered house, see you all soon.....................<br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com33tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2577008955151394501.post-57867321334008476952009-02-17T06:38:00.000-08:002009-02-18T11:37:14.350-08:00creeping in, full of apologies...........................what can I say? For a while there I lost my blogging mojo, no idea why. Blogging does take up a lot of time and I wanted to claim back my old life for a short while. It has made me realise just how much space blogging fills so from now on I will keep it up but just not as regularly as before (hah! I hear you say, I was hardly reliable anyway!) This seems to be a common thread amongst many bloggers at the moment, so I know I'm not alone.<br /><br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304189572437976626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjivFn_VfhYvKHnjVzmdMwJpLd1OM5NTtbBkLlxdDiSJRwb9XutNWvoNeik40Fe42TGJ0ZZ8viRnMqPV3WY7uIWvLxN5S25docAYqr8MvnKmYVRhAoM0cNsPPADEvygTv5op_2jSqk5bJJx/s400/mosaic6792861.jpg" border="0" />...............bit of mosaic inspiration there from <a href="http://attic24.typepad.com/">Lucy</a>, one of the many ways I've been wasting time recently!<br /><br /><div>So..........what's been happening in the VH household? Much the same as ever apart from the FANTASTIC snowy days we enjoyed a couple of weeks back. Much sledging and snowballing took place but I'm so far behind the rest of you that I won't bore you with too many photos, although I can't resist a couple. I love snow with a passion, waking up and seeing that glow through the windows fills me with glee and we had the added bonus of time off school. We managed to find a part of a nearby hill that no-one else had discovered and had a whale of a time. We even dragged a very pregnant friend and daughter along to join in, thankfully it didn't induce early labour, my nursing skills aren't up to much! </div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304191679491763138" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWEgWOTidDA2NrYzYXxC9_T7xZ3Qu_UycrwFXJ2Si7xnJ-CZXxcEE6Xdjr8FrndYrzN4OcwRgh_RaAF7fXNzrwJJjD7b142M1vCrt7tOgosLlrKYhMrkEYI51MjWyQ7U6AK_CEnGwkvX-h/s400/blog+505.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304191995567418130" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6YgY3_FFI6CTb5DMMaM5GSi_dhmdQ6qR2LD7gGDVdttB5d-QXDwlDz7h0uFGRMIENJeQRxi1qdIblMzJjlcl7bXSOIrk-1koOMXf85s7JvcZY7FUtFKoa7jMwj8eY6SavUXndzBce6wPV/s400/blog+497.jpg" border="0" /></div><div>I've been filling my child free days with crochet (one baby blanket nearly done), coffee (with my new whizzer) and cakes, half hearted housework, a bit of helping in school and completing orders for a few people. Much the same as ever really. We're half way through the half term break right now and we've had a house full of children for the last few days. Jack and I are grabbing a few moments peace by the fire whilst Kit plays with one of her school friends. Needless to say Jack is engrossed in his latest library book, and at the same time pestering me to play on my new laptop (yippee, now I can watch tv and blog!)</div><div></div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304196952014569378" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrHR3Yy-H5k6pjfrK8RuIFn-Qo8JLwuZS0hWRFH-55D4AJJTcA0DuW5KGdrLX9NU5YVIJFh7RvOERjrKBS_tSK09LQ9fnElPHrWqSDYRs1OyB4jGn8Y-sR_UoLbTSulHnMseOB4xbcv9WB/s400/blog2+583.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304196255753227746" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWwqKbSj3VHHRjVPSwG49hvTLFcK3gP50sPQrAEvYmPpxAy94yCPv8qM7AusmzgyYbKMPPDN4m3LXhZBbnt1oM5RteBmptbmuaYpGj6CXSphcJrkxoHYKPZfJHZprVqlsL4FymyubQRJGV/s400/blog2+595.jpg" border="0" />We had a fab weekend with friends from Dorset, hence lots of noise, food and just a little bit of alcohol. Sunday we walked it all off through the (unexpected) rain and when they left we settled in by the fire with "101 Dalmations" and pancakes - the perfect way to end a lovely weekend.</div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304192899339360082" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcArrelWCOIUSAZmKpMNvfaDoZYajVoS5iQ__TG6mQ1yNgS1C8lxOra2glBPA7PMtqxvmdSAIuuZVOgrmYubbB0tZrIsGmbLR-qm7SA3lyck4BMCogM-ObkPvtFkoYui-tde0pu6CzjkS8/s400/blog+569.jpg" border="0" />At some point in the week Kit will no doubt ask me to "play schools" with her, a request which I'm reluctant to admit does not fill me with joy. It involves me sitting on the hard floor whilst she tries to remember all thirty children in her class so she can take the register. This has to be done whilst trying to hold three different coloured pens which regularly drop on the floor and have to be retrieved, which invariably leads to the losing of the place in the register and starting all over again. Call me a meanie but I can think of a few other more pleasurable ways to pass an hour, selfless mother<em> </em>I certainly am not!</div><div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304194823866254050" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 202px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK2VfCw_x-Fgnd0Us6l1TTjSsWCQB-MwOmW5NA_9r4B6muFyZsWg0iWOztLOJJsEvvSjrx_burkbelYo5lQTGFlo7z6Nc3qVVpcLrldmKYlo2Who0pswy_xIU4VZ1wZvUt6qiJK6DCZVNP/s400/mosaic4273121.jpg" border="0" />Meanwhile Jack will be up in his room shaking the floorboards with the latest musical acquisition, no doubt much to the delight of our neighbours. Every Saturday he trips up the street to have lessons from one of the neighbour's sons and then comes home to practice and make sure we're properly awake. I have to admit to feeling a little bit envious, how cool it'd be to be a 38 year old drum playing mum, unfortunately possessing no rhythm makes it slightly challenging for me so I end up sitting there looking a bit dumb and not really knowing what to hit next.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304193710438533858" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz_BH7qN0a-41cbcGUpG2k9feyECXMHzOl-LV8KytzpkQUvwjeHO1KCmipNXi-TFBNyD5r7RrKyDKkP22TlvwoKbckfNHyfLI_eVGFqj8Ce2H52wU92MFTym0HUPoGjpepymgAEH5Rb4IC/s400/blog+531.jpg" border="0" />Back soon............................</div></div></div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2577008955151394501.post-30697141706226613122009-01-05T02:12:00.000-08:002009-01-06T02:49:22.008-08:00blimey it's cold!...........Hello everyone, and a very happy new year to you all! Did you have a good Christmas? I have been lurking in the few spare moments I've had so I have caught up with most of you and it seems, apart from the dreaded lurgy which struck a few of you, a fab time was had by all.<br /><div><div> </div><div>We had a lovely time. A very quiet Christmas with just the four of us, highly unusual but very enjoyable nonetheless. It meant that we actually had time to play with the children and go on bike rides and long walks. It did us good to have that concentrated time together, no stress, little food preparation and plenty of sitting by the fire.</div><br /><div>Christmas morning was a joy, look who arrived.....................</div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioZzXY7k0dbDeaWE9SNUH6KdJFB67whFa5YT7bNdsmTrebXF9hKffBjwN7Oh3HbEUpFpnemunevEPtr8RNaajZR843aaxMceJ2j3ATHMgYqEmGt9SThIiCYe9j0NbsfYcTWnHiSbbIBm2J/s1600-h/blog2+429.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287769128784163106" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioZzXY7k0dbDeaWE9SNUH6KdJFB67whFa5YT7bNdsmTrebXF9hKffBjwN7Oh3HbEUpFpnemunevEPtr8RNaajZR843aaxMceJ2j3ATHMgYqEmGt9SThIiCYe9j0NbsfYcTWnHiSbbIBm2J/s400/blog2+429.jpg" border="0" /></a>..................from Father Christmas (via Nicky at the Vintage Magpie). How cute is she, Kit loves her - nearly as much as I do!</div><br /><div>There was much frantic ripping of paper................</div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287752689794453842" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicJGOnYEgRd69pro4-0REvb_u2Wj1PNg_eTC-VecxjI3a72GmcncvKxyg5r8tr1TsKpaq0Sibu1ld356fWgNGyey4sa_qbQy1t472_gxmBDT8BBQWxTvPprq_8Hp5VFhubtbTeVf2a-B_-/s400/blog2+498.jpg" border="0" /></div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287752699879158402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhms9Sw36OkF-9v6Q85h_sYicxkJy0vFpCJfmGu_SS21vJivIlPxNSWyoY2SsYJ7rXAjDYC_90CAgN6K89GPkkwlgGPKpOAdVheL6kaB8U4eq5D0a7DjwK6bFBw1NhFsxWn_LCy1taaiQpf/s400/blog2+500.jpg" border="0" /></div><div>..................squeals of joy, and strumming...........</div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287752703116076674" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhCeU3qPc9VhVEnNHNAY8GS6FFZReV7WHfLWkmoAM6mW9uIsswb26CWWm1eb1lpvBV3vF1ASLL0xUOyxzfWBEOCWzygiC8Qpt6tyVflgw1_CpEmg40Gicls1eEzm4Xe7IzkzCDnyeRxVUC/s400/blog2+512.jpg" border="0" /></div><div>The weather down here has been perfect for long wintry walks. Boxing day we shrugged off our Christmas Day stupor and went for a lovely walk around the local racecourse, one of our favourite haunts. It was cold, very very cold, but a beautiful day and the perfect <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">antidote</span> to all those <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">choccies</span>, sausages and turkey!</div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287754806481566546" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5M2rz_Gxf4ZKiYwUd8eDpHX2bH6s64Ac_5ATrV9bsSW4IHdrHR__KbqaJIlSPkLVzwPiXLA_mDjSr_iQN_fWB7WVybq9j_Qe4uDQaSo7h_7Q12MD9i7CR_SsYSibpUMFyAdKMia_Yi5Js/s400/blog2+545.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287754803032653490" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2HLwG3ZspZLetKasNpfIInIq50AI8Fn0UVg5FNFhU3_pKbHr4gg7DoqWM21Myzw1qyNTDnvwYF0D4pHglWy_O8PItjfuet0szwPS0wCf2Vqc3pKxS9_YhRsToguHmidoPwtLc0rIA6b4H/s400/blog2+550.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287754800581660450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0WPwyS272WcksU63bXuNF0cMeDz6vP6V6HRisohO9qPSgbqqLY13A6j74OaxQljTV5waWKL585ZSWx1Wp_ENIZeb7BnmO-WcrHbF2OJCcRxeWbgUg-k1z1a29xuSJ0Xz8y_74lZ8oa_Du/s400/blog2+536.jpg" border="0" />New Year was a much more raucous affair with friends and family gathered here to see in 2009. Plenty of food, bubbly, laughter, singing and story telling, the perfect way to see in the new year.<br />Yesterday saw me having to drag two very warm, sleepy and reluctant children from under the covers to start the new school term. Fortunately for me there was something outside to tempt them..............</div><br /><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEIzpAX_Ych1j31Zc8YigotHmD7rmMvbgFI4XASxNjk2_4fhrtvE3CAzRJa154Y1qNiGSgBhrzLwDR3jOL3Lx0EZRJDICqu57kHvxOCFfRpju11gsEq8dPP3ihVRKA9JMkXqSzjlDNfvOx/s1600-h/blog2+482.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287769121385199186" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEIzpAX_Ych1j31Zc8YigotHmD7rmMvbgFI4XASxNjk2_4fhrtvE3CAzRJa154Y1qNiGSgBhrzLwDR3jOL3Lx0EZRJDICqu57kHvxOCFfRpju11gsEq8dPP3ihVRKA9JMkXqSzjlDNfvOx/s400/blog2+482.jpg" border="0" /></a> ..................before they were even dressed and in the low morning light they threw on coats and wellies over pyjamas and were in the garden building a tiny "snow hawk" and throwing snow at the open doors, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">ie</span>. into the kitchen!<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288130222650079250" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYUa_AhtHyUv7N3xi6GVFFtP-U6e3z-m3EYDIzEj7GR81OHUv14ofnUFtNfxpkoMgzKczWvlx2__bACpyr9zV4jwMSdGoEpvUHukNh-PWNDRSjhcGTgSKzpp3m8ZjOSDB4rfZKoG0a6tml/s400/blog2+566.jpg" border="0" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjN4XRp1mbohDY15FQADBeFtP6sHgsINvriA8OSmd5FtZ6FLfRJlCYg8BcANAH_eKeKRwFd8lX-LWWhb6XirjEH2Cwo8r7mhnt0kZvUMHTYKA2z5ziEigf-OzRREEzlIMo2I9TYcO1zYv5/s1600-h/blog2+479.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287769112084955138" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjN4XRp1mbohDY15FQADBeFtP6sHgsINvriA8OSmd5FtZ6FLfRJlCYg8BcANAH_eKeKRwFd8lX-LWWhb6XirjEH2Cwo8r7mhnt0kZvUMHTYKA2z5ziEigf-OzRREEzlIMo2I9TYcO1zYv5/s400/blog2+479.jpg" border="0" /></a> Whilst they were at school I cleared the house of Christmas clutter, boxed it all up and put it away until next year. Now for the big clean up, sigh................<br /><br /><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288130236334227362" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgejxATvt_zV95aHCyOeeS4YVHuXCzc6yUodna9ba3ISWV0IeXuhWY0Cx7J-w_frhgIfOdS7uXLTaQkwFIxKxZ4UedgCeR8vAwSuQyWxWP0ygZtW_gLj0fkZ_TsfDG-jBrZ00w7RDWycpaW/s400/blog2+560.jpg" border="0" />My brief stint at a working life is over, I enjoyed it but have to say I'm glad to have a bit of time to myself in the house again, like the rest of you there are a million and one things to do, now where to start?<br /><div> </div><div>And no, I haven't forgotten the great button maker give away. I shall be back later in the week with the winner.................... </div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com40