how many books?....................

We have a problem in this house which no amount of shelving, storage or de-cluttering can resolve. All of us love books, no one more so than Jack. And, none of us can bear to part with them, even if they're outgrown, re-read 20 times, or not particularly good, we hang onto them. Wherever the children are in the house you can guarantee that there'll be a pile of books somewhere nearby. Which means that I spend an inordinate amount of time piling them on and then carting them back up the stairs. Every now and then I attempt a book cull but before I get chance to surreptitiously remove the bag from house to car and then charity shop I get caught and have to bring them all back in again. What's a mother to do??




I have to share a story about my gorgeous bookwormish boy. Jack is not what some people would call the bravest child. He doesn't like to take risks, can't swim, has only just learned to ride his bike, is terrified of dogs and cats and likes to be at home more than anywhere else. He also has a significant stammer. When the school held a talent show last year we assumed that he would not want to perform. How wrong we were. Our beautiful son wrote his own song, stood in front of the whole class with his best friend and sung and acted out the entire thing. To his disgust he lost to "Greased Lightning"! In our eyes he is the bravest, kindest little boy and we were so proud of him on that and every day.

On an entirely different subject, thank you so much for all your good luck wishes for my new job. I'm two days in and I think I can safely say that standing at a door shouting "Hello" at every customer is possibly not what I want to do for the rest of my life, but the girls who I'm working with are lovely, as are most of the customers, so I think I can stand it for six weeks! Needless to say I've spent (in my head) my wages six times over, and I've got my eye on a half price wreath at the moment, oh , and the napkin rings, cowl neck dress, rose print nightie etc, etc.........

Lastly, just had to show you my new gadget, a button maker. It's super quick and highly addictive, just what I need on these long winters' nights!

show and tell part one............

So...........where to start? I think it'll have to be the Vintage and Handmade fair last Saturday. What a day, it was fantastic from beginning to end. Plenty of others have blogged about it already and have the pictures to go with it. Needless to say, flump that I am, I forgot the camera so I'll have to leave it to Michele, Jayne and Hen to show you the loveliness of it all.

Michele and Jayne did the most wonderful job at creating a fantastic atmosphere, they had put in so much time and effort and it really showed. The stalls were the nicest I have seen, there were so many reasonably priced goodies that I had to reign myself in. However I did manage a few little purchases.......

...........first up, a truly gorgeous lampshade from Frances. It caught my eye the minute I walked into the hall and I bought it even before the doors opened, a serious advantage of being tea lady and therefore present a little earlier than most! It casts the most gorgeous glow when lit and I can't help myself gazing at it at regular intervals during the night. It makes me happy, bit sad I know, but I love it so who cares!



I also bought this pegboard and picnic basket from Frances. Of course it didn't help that her stall was on the way to the tearoom so I had to pass it on regular intervals, each time spying something too delicious to pass up. I can however assuage some of the guilt ; the picnic basket is a present, phew!

Next up came a few stocking fillers for Kits. The doll came from Michele (more on that later), the peg doll from Hesta, and the cute hanger and picture from the lovely Lucy.

..............also from Lucy is the tiny picture which fits perfectly on my printers tray in the kitchen.

Last but by no means least, Michele and Jayne presented me with a bag of treasures as a thank-you for being on tea duty. Totally unexpected and overwhelming, I was actually lost for words! All the goodies below, and the wooden doll were mine, all mine. Thank you so much ladies, I really didn't expect it, the pleasure was all mine, and Jayne's lovely daughter Tamzin kept me in order very nicely!

I also met up with the other stallholders whose blogs I've been following, namely Carol, Emma, Lynn, Jo, Ginny and Alice, Sal, Sue, Nicky and Annie. All of them lovely and very, very talented ladies. I also came across the whole mollycupcakes clan meandering amongst the goodies.

I can't praise the whole event highly enough and if you didn't make it this time you MUST (that's an order!) make the May event, come hell or high water. I'll be there without a doubt, kettle at the ready!

drawing breath...............

Hello again all. I'm back in blogland again, hurrah! There's so much to catch you all up on, not least the FANTASTIC Vintage and Handmade fair, but more of that later in the week.

Last Thursday saw the VH household in a complete state of disarray. When I have a fair coming up housework is normally the last thing on the list, however when the fair is in your house you have no choice but to clean it, at least the rooms where people may visit. Not only was the entire house covered in a carpet of white threads, the toilet smelling particularly wee-ish and the living room coated in soot from the fire, our (absent) builder decided to turn up and angle grind the entire front garden AND leave the front door open - aaarghh!


(.............see that washing on the line, aren't I the eternal optimist!)

After being up until 2am the night before because as usual I'd left everything 'til the last minute, I only just managed to avoid falling into a deep panic. Thanks to the help of Andrea it all came together just in time. Here's a few pics to show just a taster of the goodies on offer...................



It was a superb evening, it surpassed all of our expectations and gave me a healthy profit which I managed to spend the very next day at the Boden sale in town. I know, I know, far too middle England but I can't help it, I just love their children's clothes and I always sell them on later on Ebay.

The last few weeks have passed in a blur, but I will endeavour to post a couple more times this week about the CL fair and V&H fair. It's count down time now, only 2 weeks until I start work - yikes, I won't know what's hit me!

See you later in the week......................

crochet, country living and all things vintage.............

With keen anticipation four of us set off for our first crochet lesson at No.9 this Tuesday.We had two lovely tutors, Kristina and Julie who were very patient and set us off on our first crochet flower mission, so with help from Lucy we're now set to become crochet experts. Sadly poor old Anna was struck down with the dreaded lurgy but all her planning paid off and we had a fab time. Liz and I even managed to scoff a bacon sarnie at the same time as crocheting, marvellous! We're all looking forward to the next session. If you ever have a chance you really must visit No.9, it's a perfect cafe in every way.

This weekend is our annual November jaunt to London, on Sunday we will be leaving at some unearthly hour to make our way down to Islington for the Country Living fair - hurrah! No children, men or other distractions, plenty of shopping and laughs guaranteed! We'll be popping along to see Kathy and we're also planning a quick trip over to Spitalfields after the show. Can't wait.

Next week, of course, is the Vintage and Handmade fair over at Rangeworthy. I will be there in a tea making capacity, I'm far too cowardly to actually have a stall there. Michele and Jane have done such a fantastic job at organising this fair, it will be such a treat to see all those fellow bloggers and put faces to the cyber personalities. Of course the promise of all those handmade goodies is also a major bonus, no doubt a few Christmas presents will be snapped up. Hope to see you there.

Blogging will be a bit hit and miss over the next couple of weeks. Next Thursday evening will be our Christmas sale here in the VH household, which I'm madly sewing for. Andrea will be here along with a couple of friends selling their handmade brooches and pictures. If any of you are nearby please feel free to join us, there will be mulled wine aplenty!

Have a lovely weekend all..................

It's been a quiet weekend here in the VH household. A trip to the theatre for Kit, a cinema visit and sleepover for a (very) belated birthday treat for Jack, "Nanny McPhee" by the fire...............

a few leftover fireworks and sparklers, with a helping hand from Daddy................

yet more late night crochet and wine.............


a few favourite foods..................

a marathon monopoly session in which the boys seemed to take a little bit too much delight in bankrupting me..............

and a lot of mess on the kitchen table.

Plans for walks and swimming went completely awry and we hardly left the house and actually it was rather nice.

Crochet class at the lovely Anna's cafe begins Tuesday, can't wait, I shall endeavour to take the camera and keep you all updated...............

How come you're always left with the Bounty's when the trick or treaters have all gone??

Lots of news to catch you up on but I'll make it quick because it's nearly 9.30pm and I haven't eaten yet. Half term has been upon us and we've squeezed in a quick trip up to Scotland during which I discovered that I can crochet in the car without throwing up - yippeee, made the 8 hour journey so much more pleasant! We then went to stay with my folks for a few days, which involved a bit of nursing on my part because poor Mum has pneumonia, but is hopefully on the mend now.

We had a great Halloween weekend, visited a few neighbours, ate a few sausages, and threw a party here on the Saturday night with fireworks, chilli and a bit too much alcohol!


This is my attempt at the Country Living pumpkin fest, bit difficult to achieve with a kitchen knife and a screwdriver, funnily enough I didn't have a lino cutter to hand!

Today has been a nice restful one, a friend round for coffee and cake, fire lit and tonight a very quiet house because Ian is in London having dinner at the Houses of Parliament - how the other half live eh!


Last but not least, my most exciting little update.................drum roll please...........I appear to have got myself a job! I know, I know, most of the people who know me had to scrape themselves up off the floor when they heard! For 6 weeks, over Christmas I will be helping the well-to-do offload some of their spondoolies in The White Company. It fits in with school hours and it will be nice to earn some of my own money for a while. Of course, the staff discount had no bearing on my decision...............although there is a rather nice rosebud nightdress I've got my eye on!

I'll finish with a couple of housey shots. At breakfast I looked over at these gorgeous flowers given to me by a friend and had to take a photo, I know they're probably out of season, sorry Lucy, but you have to admit they are fab.

..............and this tree outside our kitchen doors is a real treat too....

Have a lovely week all...............

rock and roll......

I couldn't resist taking some sneaky pics when I saw this...............

You can't get Jack near a disco but give him a bit of Green Day (his choice, not mine, I'm just not that cool) and his best buddy and he really lets rip. I love that these two are growing up together, neither of them fits into the mould but to me they are just perfect and watching their friendship evolve is a joy.........................

from one granny to another.............

You can blame lovely Lucy over at Attic24 for this one. She's been asking for a photo of my granny squares, so here goes, (drum roll please.............)

What do you think? I'm up to 14 squares, averaging about 1 1/2 a night, and I think I may be becoming a bit addicted. My friend Liz and I are becoming total crochet bores and every time we see each other we compare notes and often squares, in fact she even has photos of hers! Our other friends just roll their eyes in despair whenever the subject comes up. Last night Ian was away and I shuffled off to bed with a hot water bottle, my wool, hook and the radio and for two hours I was in total bliss, real champagne lifestyle I lead, eh!

Similarly to Lucy, twice a year I treat myself to a haircut, normally once the grey hairs outnumber the brown and I can't get a brush through it. My hairdresser Ian is a miracle worker and did this to me today, ta dah.................

....................not entirely sure what the mad staring eyes are all about but flip, it's so hard taking a self portrait, my arms aren't long enough, unless you want to see the inside of my nostrils (no, though not) so I had to resort to the mirror and totally confused myself with which way to look. If I was rich I would have someone to style my hair daily, I don't think my "wash it and leave it" efforts really cut the ice but twice a year Ian makes me look vaguely pretty, or as Jack put it "like you did when you were young"!!

I'll finish with this, no relevance to anything really but look at the colour, imagine how good they tasted!

.................still here!

Yes, good or bad news depending on your point of view, I am still here. I can't make any excuses, I'm just crap at this blogging lark! I can't use the "I'm too busy" excuse because I know of others who are far, far busier than me but they still find the time to blog. I have no time management skills whatsoever, I reach the end of the 6 child free hours each day without achieving half of the things I should have done. I'm the queen of procrastination, even down to posting letters, cards etc., it's always a "tomorrow" job. Can somebody give me the secret of how a fab blogger like Amanda Soule of great Soulemama fame can home school three children, write a book, blog almost daily, and manage to cook, clean and remain sane - How?? It's not that I doubt she does it, I just want to know how, I can barely organise our little family and house!

We've settled into our new routine with remarkable ease, although Kit is almost on her knees with exhaustion by the end of the week. I'm getting used to the empty house (actually I did get used to it pretty quickly, but don't tell!). I do have the odd pang when I see a mum and toddler together, from a nostalgic point of view and also because I know the baby phase has gone forever and I miss lots about it, but I love the peace that descends on the house when it's empty and I'm so pleased to see them at the end of the day, even if they're not too thrilled at seeing me.

Our mornings have begun to follow the same pattern, books in bed whilst I shower and then pancakes every day, which is a joy if it goes well but if they dare to stick I have been known to fling the spatula across the kitchen whilst screaming hysterically, causing Jack to roll his eyes to the heavens whilst entertaining us with rather energetic drumming on his practice drum kit (ie. shoe boxes) until I can take no more. At this point I normally realise that we have five minutes to get to school and teeth haven't been cleaned or shoes put on and panic ensues. I can regularly be seen giving both children a lift on my bike to school - good for the legs, I count it as my morning exercise and it means I've earned a Kit Kat for breakfast when I get back.

I've had the best week at the Literature festival this week. Mum came to stay for the whole time and we've been to lots of different talks, from the Radio 4 news quiz to Alan Carr, from Gloria Hunniford to Jean Paul Sartre. Mum is obsessed with history so we went along to a few that I wouldn't have booked for myself but they were fantastic. I feel like my little brain has had a bit of a wake up call and I've loved every minute. The children had two weekends packed with events and we're all knackered but have had a whale of a time. I will try to catch up this week with you all, but I also have to find time to fit in my new obsession - granny squares - yes I can crochet - Yeah!!!! I'm off for a boiled egg lunch now, see you soon...........