Pink feather Paradise

January is nearly gone.....

2012-01-25T16:31:00.001Z

Goodness me doesn't time fly... Its been a hectic month here... Many changes and fresh starts and battles and butting of heads... oh to be the mother of a 13 going on 14 year old girl.... I know I was a pain in arse when I was that age (in a moody melodramatic way!) I didn't try smoking till I was 15ish and it was very overrated and a complete waste of money... lol

Where to start....

Daniel was Joseph in a church nativity play....

lots of fun was had by me,

building backdrops and painting scenery and making the odd costume and props... had to paint it while it was slung over the kitchen door.... that was a late night of arty creativity... up to 4am painting the 2 backdrops...

Daniel enjoyed bringing his own certain something to the role of Joseph, but it was very well attended, apparently its the first time in a long time that the church pews have been filled... I'm not a church goer so I can't really comment...

Since this production were dabbling with the idea of putting on a village panto... and they were impressed with my painting ... in fact they looked quite surprised that I had done it at all! ;D

Roller blinds work surprisingly well as back drops... just got to keep your wits about you when your changing scenery! lol

I've been persuaded by a couple ladies in the village to start a craft club at the village hall. Its now meeting every other week and attendees bring along whatever craft they fancy and we sit and share ideas, chat about every day news and drink tea and coffee and perhaps eat a little cake! naughty but very nice ... on average we have 18 ladies popping along ...

Ive started selling a little yarn, patterns and associated bits and bobs at the village cafe, I'm not really making any money at it and to be honest that wasn't my plan... its just so difficult to purchase good quality yarn at affordable prices in this area and its more like I'm selling the excess of my own craft with a few extras that I've ordered in on request... its fun though and I'm learning so much through it...

Jamie has gone back to school, she had given up with the home schooling, was becoming impossible to get up in the mornings and with all my relatives and parents on both sides constantly being negative about it we decided that it would be easier all around if she went back to school. I felt very disappointed and a failure for a while, I think we could have accomplished as much if not more if she had been more open minded and less inclined to listening to family, that at the end of the day see her rarely and feel they know her so well... but hey ho... its her decision... She's still not getting up in the mornings and is still driving me insane but perhaps its retribution for all the moods I threw at my mum.

Les is still waiting to hear if he's staying on at his place of work or whether the impending redundancies will mean him leaving too... Unions like the contractors to be off site when these things are being sorted... so he's constantly on edge and searching the web for jobs that might be suitable or within a commutable distance.

Daniel is doing really well at school (yay! good news at last!) he makes me laugh way more than he makes me shout... he is the sunshine in my life most days...

My car finally became so unreliable that I plonked it on eBay as a spares or repair vehicle and it sold for £1300... I was so chuffed... and I have purchased a beast of a car...

I'm not convinced its the best idea I've ever had, however, as I'm now taking 2 other kids from the village to school with Jamie the 7 seats come in very handy.. lol
and it is so very easy to drive and the most comfortable car I have ever driven... hopefully I can afford to run it ... its a bit of a drinker! ;D

Oh and Christmas happened somewhere in amongst all this!

Next is Daniel's Birthday... then Jamie's birthday... both on school days... better get good at making cakes ... lol

I managed it last year! I'm sure I can do it again! ;D

Thats it for now... sorry for the mammoth catch up... I'll be posting weekly from now on...

take care and thanks for popping by
xx Alex

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New Year.... New blogger....

2012-01-02T17:21:00.003Z

I have been awful at this blogging lark... but as well as wishing you all a wonderful new year I promise to blog again on a regular basis... so much has changed and I hope that this year will be a good one...

I will be back soon and normal service shall resume! xxx

October.... oh how I love thee!

2011-10-05T22:56:00.001+01:00

This has to be one of my favourite months... the orange pumpkins and darkening evenings ... leaves turning to warm shades of golden red.... stunning....

Archie is growing into a stunning lad... can't believe how much he's changed in 19 weeks...

He's turning out to be quite the the crower... as I don't let them out till 7:30am he doesn't usually crow till about quarter to eight... so hopefully the neighbours won't get too agitated... however I wouldn't bet my life on it... I'm resigning myself to the fact that he's probably going to have to go... but I don't think I could wring his neck... he's so beautiful and not aggressive (at the moment!) towards me or Daniel... Les and Jamie very rarely visit the that part of the garden...

I regret never getting around ot planting my pumpkin seeds... I would love some growing in my garden now... however I do have plenty of bright orange nasturtiums to cheer myself up... plus some ripening strawberries... Ive seen crocuses shooting and heard about magnolia trees flowering... the seasons seem to be getting a little confused...

this is one of the 19 week old chicks... their not laying yet... not really expecting them too this year... Black rocks don't usually lay till 24 ish weeks... and thats getting pretty close to cooling down and stopping laying time... however the white sussex laid eggs right through last years snowy cold winter.... so we'll just wait and see... I've got no name for her yet...

I've cleared up the garden... trimmed back the unruly hedge... it could do with a buzz over with the hedge trimmer ... I mowed the lawn and the chickens were not phased at all... the compost heap is fit to bust... fruit trees have been tidied up... they sustained some damage this year with too heavy a crop and the windy weather during the summer holidays... I'm still learning how to care for fruit trees and how to use their fruits...

the school harvest festival was really good this year... lots of donations which the year 6 children take around the the bungalows and they sing some harvest songs to the older villagers in the day centre...

I still have a few apples to harvest... I really want to get some pie filling ready to freeze down... but as with most things I am really struggling to find the energy... and the umpf to get me started... I just cant jump start my enthusiasm... its all inside me but I feel like I'm ticking over ... going through the motions to get through each day... I could sit in the garden and just "be" all day if the nagging thought of all the other things I should be doing didn't rattle my brain...

The sky this morning was wonderful... a promise of warmth with the underlying threat of rain... thats exactly as my iphone took it ... looking from my back door... I am not keen on digitally enhancing pictures... I prefer the sheer joy of actually being in the right place at the right time and snapping that lucky shot...

I welly walked with the reception class this morning from 9 till 10... then whipped home got jamie started on English and took in a delivery from Tesco's and packed it away... then I had a bite to eat... kept jamie focused on her English and then as the sun came out took the chance to fill the chickens water feeders and cleaned out the coop...

I just managed to get it all done before 3pm then I shot off to school to pick up Daniel... put the coop back together, Daniel helped me by adding the bedding to the nesting area... and then it was indoors to wash up a few dishes and cook tea..

Looking back on today I suppose it was quite busy... I hadn't realised... however because its stuff that you know needs to be done its almost like it doesn't register as being stuff you actually want to do... does that make sense? probably not! lol

I think I shall pop off now, Les has returned from playing squash followed by a drink at the pub with his mate... we have major decisions to make about his current works contract... he's been told that he'll "probably" be let go at Christmas... the other 11 contractors will be gone by then... so we have to decide if we take a gamble and see if they find the funds to extend his contract in January or do we look for another job that will require commuting of about an hour of so or even him staying away all week... its tough times for everyone at the moment... but I am not a gambler... I feel we should make plans and be proactive about the situation rather than reactive when it actually happens...

its tricky though...

well ... night night..
may tomorrow morning bring you joy and love and take care

xx

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A little bit of this ....

2011-09-26T11:46:00.001+01:00

....and a little bit of that....
I've been busy doing some DIY, household bits and bobs, a crochet demonstration (which went real well!) and trying to get the garden, chickens and home ready for the onset of winter.... on the crochet front I've been having lots of fun...

My floppy dog eventually got some arms and his ears, body and tail were teazed out with a small wire pet brush till they were nice and fluffy...

I bought a new book... but I do find that crocheted toys are much sturdier and firmer than a knitted toy...

this was a very large flannel that I added a border too... its made with cotton dishcloth yarn...

the border was from my new border book...

and this creation was a quick "make it up" as you go along idea for a wash mitt, I have so many odds and ends of yarn that I really must use them up and as our bathroom is practically finished... I'll need a new flannel!

this was our bathroom at the end of July.... its been a huge project in a tiny room... dirty, dusty and at times soul destroying.... however the thought of having a bathroom that would look clean and tidy after you've cleared it with enough storage to actually not have to have the gubbings of 2 adults, a teenage girl and a 5 year old boy was soooo appealing...

and voila....

I am so pleased with the end result, last nights shower was such a pleasure... and all I have left to do is some painting .... Im such a happy girl right now!

This guy has found his voice... :( however ... he's not too noisy and only crows a few times in the morning and perhaps in the afternoon... however ... I am waiting to see if he will induce complaints from the neighbours... he's also found his purpose in life and he's targeting one of the older girls to hone his skills... if you get my drift... however ... she's not overly impressed with being the focus of his affections..

I have such a long list of things that I aught to be doing and a whole heap of things I'd rather be doing... lol ... so many creative ideas bouncing around in my head smothering the thoughts of the mundane and tedious chores that I know I should be accomplishing... sigh!

Les's Dad is unwell and currently in a ward at the local village hospital to convalesce ... he had been yo yo ing his way between home and the hospital in Dorchester however he was not getting any better and fluid was building up around his lungs as well as his heart... so thats another worry constantly preying on your mind... Les's is taking his mum to visit tonight...

A 2 bed bungalow has come up for sale in the village where we live... it would be perfect if Les's parents could move there, however we don't have the funds to put down a deposit although we'd be willing to take on the second mortgage... they currently rent a housing association property in Dorset so theres no home to sell to enable them to move closer...

its one of those tricky situations that needs sorting out... but needs the collaboration of family members... and to be honest is best left to Les and his sisters...

well I had better go... Jamie has gone for a hair cut and is having some high lights or low lights... lol ... who knows what shes having done.... needless to say i'll probably have to go and pay the extra... lol

take care
Alex
x

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Make, do and blend

2011-09-09T18:46:00.001+01:00

Some of my eggs and some small pullet eggs from the farm down the road and some spices and vinegar make for yummy pickled treats...

Just a shame I'm not suppose to be eating crisps... Nothing like a pickled egg in a bag of chipped potatoes....

Better buy a BIG bag of crisps... Lol

Mustard seeds soaking in Bombardier beer.... After a night in the drink they be mixed with spices and vinegar and blended....

Mixing....

Blending....

Jarred and waiting a couple of weeks till they can be tasted...

Recipe for any mustard lovers out there...

Tried using these for a crumble... They were okay... But not quite right... Think I might try again with a different method...

Crocheting a dog...

The head is from a pattern online... But the body I have invented...

I'm loving the yarn.... It's king cole riot chunky... 30% wool and 70% acrylic... It teases out really nicely with the use of the wire brush....

I've given him a fluffy tail and fluffy ears....

This fella has sat gathering dust since last year... Needs a clean before he can go on my table at a crochet demonstration I am doing on Tuesday... I had better dig out some yarn and spare hooks in case anyone wants to learn and they keep their hook and yarn.... I might have to charge them for them though... That would be okay ... Wouldn't it?

FB friends will have seen these photos so apologies to you guys....
Better get on and finish the dogs arms...

Take care
Xx

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Family Day....

2011-09-06T10:16:00.001+01:00

Ashamedly I have to admit we rarely go out as a family... which is so wrong.... but so easy to not do.... it takes effort and organisation to go out... and when the dad in the house is all focused on "I only get 2 days off and this needs doing or that needs doing!" .... well lets just say we never actually go anywhere

When I decided last week that we were going out as a family on Sunday I could see Mr P physically struggling with the prospect of not getting 2 days on the completeion of the bathroom... however .... even when Sunday morning was drizzly with rain I rebuffed all the comments he made.... adamant that we were going out

after checking the chickens... and making sure they had water and food... and telling Sir Archibald (Archie to his friends!) the 16 week old, hopefully non crowing cockerel, to keep an eye on the girls!

I walked the dog while Mr P went off and got fuel.... and then we I loaded the dog, children and Mr P into the car.... we were off to Moors Valley which was about an hours drive away....

We decided to go on the play trail as that was the most exciting for an energetic 5 year old... First was the ants nest... the woods had plenty of giant ant benches...

so many structures hidden amongst the trees...

Daniel ... and Jamie had plenty of fun exploring and racing around...

Trees throughout the woods were carved to add interest ....

and the weather was kind... the sound of the wind blowing through the pine trees was wonderful.... it sounded like the ocean...

the woodland floor was littered with amazing sculptures....

and Jamie was amazing at helping her little brother...

a simple bench was was never "just" a simple bench...

the maze was good for the adults.... the kids didn't quite get it though... they just squeezed through the gaps and left adults stranded.... perhaps that was the plan! lol

tunnels.....

Climbing....

and lots and lots of fun!

The dog wasn't overly impressed with being on a controlled lead length all the day... he used to having the whole length of the lead... however as we were with other people with children, bikes and dogs I kept him close.... just a shame other dog owners aren't quite as considerate... but he learnt a lot... and next time he'll be better... its our own fault... he's rarely been taken out on family outings as we have usually had a buggy in the boot .. thats going to change!

there was a huge lake...

with more wonderful sculptures....

and natural areas that was only missing some cattle or sheep or something! lol

a team of volunteers maintain and run a steam train ride... the kids caught the train back to the play areas ... only £3 for the both of them and Les and I walked with the dog....

and the trip home was much quieter than the trip there! ;D

it only cost us £8 for 4 and a half hours parking and as we didn't take a picnic we bought snacks and drinks there.... oh and some baskets... I LOVE basketry! ;D well they were only £1.50 each! lol

We will definitely be going back again...

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Police on MY doorstep....

2011-08-24T10:44:00.001+01:00

Even though you know you're a law abiding citizen isn't it amazing how the police parked outside your house can make you wonder...
what have I done!? lol

Friday 20th August...
The police are responding to a call from my elderly neighbour, Mr Danks, who has phoned Dorset Police from a caravan park somewhere in Dorset, to tell them he's concerned about his dog and that hasn't eaten for a few days....

they found Mr Danks front door unlocked and the back door wide open and one hungry Rottweiller... they fed him... and were sat in their car waiting for the RSPCA

I had a chat with them and went back indoors.... while chatting to Les I wondered if they had found his caged bird and knew the pond was full of koi carp.... so I popped back outside and spoke to the WPC .... she had found the bird at the bottom of the 160ft garden ... its cage placed inside an old aviary....

I've been told its a parakeet.... its tail feathers are all broken from constantly dragging them on the cage... I think he could do with a bigger cage... but anyway I digress...
The WPC is concerned that the dog has been sick .... and this is where I messed up BIG time.... I suggested that they leave the house keys with me and I'd pop in and feed the dog again... as he probably bolted his food through hunger ... she agreed and thanked me taking down my details... well its not like I'd be stuck caring for the animals, the RSPCA were on their way.... right?

Had to go and get fish food as I could find none in the house or sheds... bought biscuit to put with the few cans of meat that were there for the dog.... gave the parakeet some water....

Saturday 20th August:
*looking after Storm, feeding fish.... keeping an eye on the Parakeet

Sunday 21st August:
*Still looking after animals... on Friday the Police said "perhaps you could look after them for a couple days and hopefully Mr Danks will come home and take over....!"

Monday 22nd August:
*Phone police to ask if they have managed to contact Mr Danks and had any idea when he'd be home... they knew nothing as it was being dealt with by Dorset Police... they would phone them and ring me back...

*As it was my 40th birthday I popped out for lunch and a spot of shopping with family and returned to see a missed call...

*I phoned the police again to see if they had any news... Mr Danks was in Yeovil District Hospital... the Caravan park owner had contacted the police on Saturday as he was concerned about the state of Mr Danks health... This was on Saturday! ... The nurses were going to ask him if he had family that could take over the care of the animals....

*police rang back... or did I call them... oh I cant remember... but there were no relatives that they could contact... well actually thats a lie... there are a ton of relatives... however they only turn up to fleece the old boy of money...police officer then says.. "so can you look after them for a couple days as Mr Danks is going to be sent home then... ?"

now this statement concerned me... Mr Danks in my humble opinion was in no fit state to return home let alone care for a Rottweiler...

So I said NO!

the police officer said ... "not a problem..." he would contact Social Services as they had a duty to care for the dog....

So I waited for another call...

7pm the emergency duty team rang and had a long chat... they took lots of details agreed that Mr Danks needed to be assessed and should receive assistance to live at home... phew! someones listening... at last... however they cant do anything for the dog till tomorrow.... someone will ring me in the morning... but if they haven't rung by 11am im to ring the number she was about to give me....

Tuesday 23rd August:
*Still looking after the pets, and I potter about waiting for the phone call.... 11am comes and goes.... so I ring the number given.... *sigh!

*I get through to a receptionist who sounds about 12 and is as about as useful as a chocolate teapot... she cant find the number that I need to ring... hang on a minute... "excuse me but did you say a number that I have to ring?" oh yes! she says and goes quiet... she then takes my number so that she can ring me back with the number....

*Nasha from Somerset Direct rings back with a national number for the Cinnamon Trust... she cant find the local branch number but I should ring them and they give me a number for the local branch... :(

*I ring Cinnamon Trust and talk to Abby.... she takes details ... again.... and passes me to Bob.... (which of course must be said in a Blackadder fashion! lol) ... Bob says how can I help you..... I regale the whole story .... AGAIN! he enquired if the RSPCA had been contacted and I told him they didn't consider the dog abandoned... he laughed and commented at how useless they are... then told me that although Mr Danks qualified for assistance they were not willing to temporarily home a Rottweiler of dubious temperament with one of their volunteers...
I needed to phone the Duty Social Worker at Yeovil District Hospital and if they tried to fob me off I had to quote the "national assistance act" at them... they had a duty of care to Mr Danks animals and should pay for him to be temporarily kenneled...

*cup of strong coffee

*track down a phone number for the Hospital

*phone hospital.... they give me a direct dial number for Social services... if I end up back with the 12 year old I will not be amused....

*phoned direct dial number.... speak to someone who knows nothing about anything.... she puts me on hold..... comes back to inform me that someone in the hospital is dealing with it and they'll phone me back... everything goes quiet... whereupon I enquire if she'd like my phone number... she says ... uhhh... yes please... AARRGGHHHH!

*Social worker person phones me back... its now 1:30 pm.... she knows nothing... didn't know about the caravan park.... didn't know where Mr Danks lived.... didn't know about the bird or the fish.... didn't know what kinda dog it was... So from the top I retell the story .... again!
She would ask Mr Danks what he would like to happen to the dog and start phoning around to get him temporarily kenneled....

HOOORRRAAAYYYY!

*phone call at 5pm.... I'm excited... I answer it... and she says... "ohh I've been ringing around all afternoon... lol.... unfortunately I haven't been able to find anywhere that will temporarily kennel him... and although Mr Danks has asked that he be re-homed we don't want to take his dog away from him till he's better....."

"can you look after the pets for another night?"

how can I say no.... what are these incompetents trying to do to me...

Wednesday 24th August:
So here I am ... waiting for another phone call....

Storm is sat in his garden howling and barking.... and I am bewildered at how difficult it is for a bunch of people from police to social services that have all these powers at their finger tips to not be able to get this situation rectified...

He just wants to be cuddled, taught to walk on a lead, someone who's not going to feed him biscuits and cakes and fried food.... someone that isn't going to hit him with his walking stick.... he's a beautiful dog... and if it wasn't for Les I know damn well he would be up in my house with me by now....

so frustrated...

Wish me luck... I'll give her till lunch time... then I shall be phoning her again...

xx

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Plum Crazy...

2011-08-17T08:44:00.001+01:00

I have a little Victoria plum tree in my garden.... and it is loaded to breaking point with beautiful plums.... I found a Delia Smith recipe for Victoria plum ketchup and decided that I would start making some after the plasterers had finished..

I easily picked this basket load in the drizzly rain on Monday afternoon

and there are a fair few left to ripen ...

plus the chickens are helping to clear up the fallen ones ... ;D

The plasterers are finishing up, they arrived at 8:30 and its was almost 2 when they finished... its looking fantastic so all I need to do is wait a few days for it to dry out

I have chosen a colour

Make do and mend.... however I do like the enamel green... but the blue will be fresh and light in a teeny tiny dark bathroom...

as the plasterers were packing up I started getting ready to pickle some pullet eggs from the farm shop... and I also popped a half dozen of my eggs in so that the jars contain small and large eggs...

Its odd, but I have never pickled eggs although its really not that tricky...

I do love the old fashioned kilner jars... I bought these last year... but I never got around to using them...

I bought a new preserving pan... a friend of my mums lent me her pan but as its aluminum it won't work on my induction hob... so I bought this one from Lakeland... plus a couple of spoons with hooks on the handles... on checking the recipe I realised I was short of onions so I hopped in the car and headed to the nearest food shop... oh I wish the summer sun would return... but we did have some glorious weather in the spring so I suppose beggars cant be choosers...

Once I got back I started to chop plums, onions and weigh raisins... and I managed to tie my first ever spice bag... lol... any sensible girl would have realized that this was probably not the time to start preserving but I was so excited I didn't notice the time...

TO top it all off I misread the recipe and added to many ingredients and it took me hours to reduce the mixture to a ketchup consistency...

but you do learn best from your mistakes so although I was up till 4am bottling plum ketchup I will now read the recipe very carefully in the future... and do my preserving in the mornings! ;D

I do hope its going to taste okay.... I still have wholegrain beer mustard and Autumn chutney to make...

I am however enjoying making use of the fruits and vegetables that are growing in my garden this year... and I completely thank my hens for making me more connected with my garden... as I tend to their needs I notice the garden and all its bounty...

Well I had better get on... lots to do and I'd better make a start...

xx Alex

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Kitchen clear out...

2011-08-15T00:14:00.001+01:00

After all the work gutting the bathroom the dust that has spread throughout the house is horrible... So as the worst of it has been completed and the plasterers are coming tomorrow to sort out the walls for us I decided that it was time to strip and clean the kitchen...

There are still pockets of clutter to clear...

However I am feeling very pleased with my clear out and clean up...

Hopefully the bathroom will not add too much more dust and debris but hopefully I can keep on top of it from now on...

and I'm contemplating using a mixed selection of tiles under the window sill, well if we're tiling the bathroom I might as well add some colour to the kitchen too.. ;D

I finally finished cleaning at 11:30 ish... and now I'm chilling out before bed... better head off soon as its almost quarter past midnight....

Just the lounge to clear up! *hurumpf!* lol ... that can wait till tomorrow... or maybe Tuesday! ;D

night all! xx

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Crocheting at Weymouth....

2011-08-10T09:13:00.001+01:00

Yesterday we went to Weymouth on the train from Yeovil Pen Mill....
It was packed and we had to stand all the way down... it was only three quarters of an hour but it was an annoyance with bags and people moving up and down the train in the hope of finding a seat... but we got there and I hired a sun bed... and found a spot next to a beach cafe...

I assumed as I was not going to be able to move too far from our bags to get refreshments when the kids had disappeared that this arrangement would be best! ;D ... the area in front of us soon filled up with more wind breaks and family encampments!

Daniel played while he waited for Jamie to return from the toilets ... she's of that age where she cant get changed in public! ;D

They disappeared several times and Daniel, who has had a fear of water, got soaked... thank you Jamie for looking after him so well!

It was quite cloudy at the beach... and Daniel decided a fleece would keep him warm and an ice cream would make him feel warmer... go figure! lol

of course if your going to queue for one ice cream then you might as well buy 2...

Jamie had a hot chocolate...

We managed to get seats on the way home ... and after Daniel mentioned that it had been a very busy day ... and that he'd done so very much... he fell asleep! aww!

The crochet I sat and did was a stash busting bag that I needed to finish...

Its even got an inside pocket....

The tab to close it can also be used to button up the pocket if so desired...

Needless to say ... I think I was the only person crocheting on the beach... and I seemed to be the only lone parent there too! ...

However the kids loved it and I was able to sit and crochet ... drinking cappuccino and enjoying the intermittent sunshine...

I wonder where my crochet will take me next?

xx

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Fancy a walk?

2011-08-08T13:17:00.002+01:00

Thought you'd like to join Smudge and myself on a little jaunt... You would ... Oh that's splendid .....

We'll walk down through the village and over the bridge and then clamber over the stile and off we shall go... thats good .. the cows are all the way over there...
Glad I brought my brolley... those clouds look a little ... heavy! lol

the next field is corn... looks almost ready too!

thats the river Yeo on our right... pretty low at the moment... it can get quite high with the heavy rains... looks pretty peaceful today...

Good job I always keep smudge on his extendie lead... I don't need him tearing off after sheep with their little-uns... Theres a little island off this field ... we'll pop over the little bridge on the way back...

look a busy bee... love the colours at this time of year...

Sloes getting ready for picking after the first frost... Last years sloe gin was wonderfully warming... ;D

Lets pop down here... haven't been this way before...

It might be considered a weed but its very pretty...

This looks promising ... it a green lane between fields... how wonderful... so many beautiful oak trees...

This one has acorns ... so it has to be 40 or is it 50 years old as they don't get acorns till they reach maturity... I think I read that somewhere! ;D

Oohh a break in the hedge... another big field of corn... what a beautiful day this has turned out to be!

Shall we keep going..? I think so... wonder where it leads to..?

I do love teasels ...

Well would you look at that... we've walked to Hummer...

Its starting to cloud over... the weathers so changeable these days... best head back the way we came...

I have to say for an iphone camera it is pretty good!

These look like gems hanging in the tree!

Not even sure what these are! lol

I'm sorry Smudge... but I can't help stopping and taking pictures! lol

Silver linings and glimpses of blue...

Fabulous corn fields and showery rain....

It really is a beautiful place ... even though I covet other peoples locations and countryside... I really do have a wealth of beauty on my doorstep...

This is the island in the sheep field I was telling you about ... and whomever owns it has installed a bench.. shall we sit a while and take in the view?

What can we hear? the water is babbling over the stones by the broken bridge... how handy that would have been to cross the river here... I dare say the fields are owned by different farmers now! :(
I can hear sheep... the pipping of a family of Morhens... Mum, Dad and 4 babies... I can hear the chirping of a Jenny Wren as she gathers bugs for her babies.. which are hidden away in a weaping willow trunk behind me... and the dog is panting... lol

What a perfect place to fix a bench... I can see this becoming a favorite hide away... bag of crochet... flask of tea... something sweet to munch on... oh yes ... this spot will suit me well!

The sky above is shaded... yet the warmth of the sun keeps the cool of the river at bay...

Smudge thinks we've been here long enough... he could be right you know... shall we head on back? ..... heave ho... and off we go!

The river is a little clogged... a few branches have fallen in and could really do with clearing... plenty of fish in here... you can usually find fishermen tucked away on the bank-side...

Back in the cow field... now we just have to hop over the style and turn left over the bridge...

Then back up the hill... shall we pop in the shop? they do sell some sticky buns... we'll I shouldn't but .... oh go on then.... my treat!

Its been lovely walking with you... so glad you could make it...
come back soon!

xx

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Preparing for a plum glut!

2011-08-05T07:54:00.001+01:00

I have a poor little Victoria plum tree that is struggling under the weight of it's fruit ... This year I am adamant that these fruits will not go to waste ....

Victoria Plum or Damson Ketchup

This is delicious served with cold meats or sausages and will keep indefinitely. Use bottles that have contained shop-bought ketchup or you can buy the old-fashioned type 'pop' bottles from good kitchen shops.

Makes 3½ pints (2 litres)
Ingredients
8 lb (3.6 kg) plums or damsons
8 oz (225 g) currants
1 lb (450 g) onions, peeled and chopped small
2 pints (1.2 litres) distilled white vinegar
2 oz (50 g) sea salt
1 lb (450 g) demerara sugar
Tie the following spices in a piece of muslin or gauze:
6-8 dried chillies
1 tablespoon black peppercorns
1 tablespoon mustard seeds
½ oz (10 g) fresh root ginger, peeled and grated
½ oz (10 g) whole allspice berries
2 whole garlic cloves, peeled
Conversions
Need help with conversions?
Equipment
There is no list of equipment specified for this recipe.

Method

First slit the plums with a sharp knife and remove the stones, then place the fruit into a preserving or large heavy-based pan and add the currants, onions and the bag of spices. Add half the vinegar, bring to the boil and simmer gently, uncovered, for about 30 minutes or until the mixture is soft.
Now remove the bag of spices, place the contents of the pan in a liquidiser and blend until perfectly smooth – if necessary sieve as well. Then rinse out the pan and return the purée and bag of spices to it, adding the salt, sugar and the remaining vinegar. Bring to simmering point and cook gently, uncovered, for 1½-2 hours or until the ketchup has reduced to approximately 3½ pints (2 litres). Stir now and then to prevent sticking.
In the meantime prepare the containers by boiling the bottles and their tops. When the ketchup is ready pour it into the bottles while they're still hot, filling them to within an inch (2.5 cm) of the top. Put on the tops immediately but screw them only half-way and if you're using the 'pop' type bottles push the top in but leave the lever up.
Next place the bottles in a larger deep pan (standing them on an upside down, heat-proof plate) and add warm water to within 1½ inches (4 cm) from the tops. Bring the water to the boil and after 10 minutes transfer the bottles to a wooden surface and complete the sealing.
_This recipe is taken from Delia Smith’s Complete Cookery Course and Delia Smith’s Complete Illustrated Cookery Course.

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All a dither....

2011-08-01T09:39:00.002+01:00

Lets get into this post gently....
especially as this weekend has been the dirtiest weekend that I can remember in a very long time... its has its high points and a few lows and yesterday I realized that in general men... well my man at least, requires guidance and to be told what the end result will be... and also to be re-assured that these problems that he sees are minimal and almost a figment of his imagination....

I think I mentioned previously that we could hear a leak in out teeny tiny hole of a bathroom but we could not find the leak..... so on Friday late afternoon, we set about gutting our bathroom... its a downstairs bathroom straight off the kitchen... and its horrid!

So I set about clearing out the accumulated bottles and toys that a family of 4 apparently cant live without... binned a load and stored away the rest for when the bathroom might actually be functional again.... (the children have at this point been dropped around to my mum and dads!)

Our house had an outside toilet, we still have the little building that the toilet use to be in, however it is bog-less.. lol ... so with this in mind the toilet in our bathroom will remain ... to be honest its newer than the bath and sink (which I believe are original!) the toilet was built onto the back of the house under a little sloping asbestos roof... which also requires replacing... *sigh*

Saturday witnessed more destruction and tile popping fun... the cast iron bath filled up quickly and I quietly stressed about the picnic we were attending at Stourhead that evening... no food organised and the bathroom and kitchen slowly filling up with dust and rubble.... *double sigh!*

However.... we managed to get cleaned up (cold hose showers in the garden! lol) and a picnic was quickly put together and we set off at 6:30 to pick up our good friends who were joining us for the evening... we took chairs this year and had an amazing time...

The evening was completed with Fireworks and its was a superb event.....

Sunday... (after a slow start due to a mystery headache! must have been something I ate! lol) we cracked on with the bathroom.... I worked all week clearing off the plaster, while Les was at work.
I feel I should mention at this point that we bought a shower and sink on friday afternoon... we were informed at the time that the items would take 3-4 weeks to be delivered!

But as it was half price and also had a further 15% off we decided to go ahead and order it... this is a 1200mm shower... I ordered the 1000mm one as our bathroom is a little less that 1400mm wide!

We also ordered a sink with storage...
As it turns out the shower and sink are being delivered tomorrow.... Arrggghh! I have absolutely no clue where I will put it when it arrives... they'll have to leave it on the driveway.... its a moulded stone shower base and I am not sure how we'll manage to move it but if we managed to lift the cast bath out in one piece then fingers crossed we can get it in with out damage to it or ourselves! ;D

This weekend we started discussing design... I love tongue and groove... and i'd love it in here... however its a small spaces and battening and cladding the lower portion of the walls would make it a little smaller... and I (in the interest of keeping it simple and going with the flow!) dropped my insistence of wanting it my way... thinking that if we just get the whole room plastered it would make life easier... however this actually sent Mr P into a spiraling free fall as I had dropped the reins and was not pushing the project forward... this suprised me!

after all this man is really clever, he designs electrical and mechanical aspects of helicopter production, he can tell you what part of a helicopter it is just by looking at a cad design image... he can real off part numbers for bolts and washers that quite frankly all look the same! however he could not cope with being in sole charge of designing a bathroom....

Yesterday I picked up the reins again...... I chose wall colouring, taps, worked out wall finishes and quelled his panic over how to run plumbing and electrics and how the effect that we were going to have was exactly as I wanted it to be...

who would have thought that our first week of a bathroom refit would have been full of so many highs and lows...

Today.... I need to track down a plasterer and perhaps a roofer/builder....

to be honest I'd rather sit and chill out.... lol

Time to hit the yellow pages and find myself a tradesman! ;D

take care
Alex
x

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Thoughts on Thursday...

2011-07-21T14:42:00.002+01:00

At nearly 40 I have come to the conclusion I'm a cynical optimist... I don't expect things to go my way as I'm not that lucky... However should things work out in a manner that is pleasing to me ... It's a bonus!

I'm a planner... But I'm learning to be spontaneous...

However I think I might be just learning to be better organized incase of a spontaneous event occurring...

For example ...
I have a beach bag full of everything you'd need for a beach visit from first aid kit to glasses for drinks and lotion for sun plus wet wipes for sticky ice-cream situations... It's all cram packed into a reasonable sized bag... Beach towel too... Mind you I think this exists because Les rarely suggests a trip to the beach so a bag was put together so that he didn't have time to change his mind ...

When stuff goes wrong... I am learning to shrug my shoulders and think... Oh well ... Shit happens... And that's my way these days...

This way of thinking could be my saving grace this weekend... we can hear a water leak in the bathroom... But we cannot see a water leak in the bathroom... So the bathroom will be gutted (it really needs doing!) and the leak found and repaired... We surmise it is under the tilled floor... Which I don't like as it's really slippery when you step out of the bath...

However there will be much debris, dust and muck spreading into the kitchen and a skip needs organising and the kids will be at mums till it's fairly clear to come home... Thank crunchie for mums that help and other half's that can turn their hands to most DIY duties... Fingers crossed I end up with the bathroom of my dreams... However if I expect a functioning bathroom then everything else is a bonus! ;D

I will do before and after pictures... Lol

Better go ... Daniel will be finishing school in 40 minutes .... And I have to get there a little early otherwise parking is a pain in the arse...

Take care
Alex
Xx

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Freecycle fun and games....

2011-07-20T18:49:00.001+01:00

Its been a busy Wednesday today...

Over the weekend I signed up for the Yeovil branch of Freecycle and while I was scanning through the reams of wanted and up for grabs listings I came across a request for a peddle tractor ... so I emailed her and asked if she was still looking... she was ... and she popped over from Sherborne this morning to pick up Daniel's tractor and trailer for her little granddaughter... Daniel is too big for it and to be honest it would have to be a tank with guns for Daniel to want it! lol

She was very pleased and very grateful....

I had enquired about a whicker hamper that someone in Yeovil had and a wooden standard lamp in Stalbridge... and although the hamper basket had gone she had another basket that she was getting rid of... and the wooden lamp was still available... so after the tractor had been collected we headed into Yeovil and picked up the basket...

Ideal for yarn storage... I think I will make a fabric liner and lid for it to keep the yarn dust free...

and off to Stalbridge we went ... I had directions and Daniel in the back as co pilot
and Jamie as map reader... what could possibly go wrong! ?

We made it there pretty easily.. the road was at times narrow and bumpy with the usual tailgating sports car firmly attached to the rear of my car... oohhh they make me mad! anyway we found the house... eventually and there was no body home! :(

No problem I thought and a car park was hunted down and we had a stroll around Stalbridge... and I love it .... I want to live there! lol

We popped to a charity shop and bought a couple of DVD's (£4) a TY spider called Spinner for Daniel (30p) ...

an original oil painting of dolphins... which are a little weird looking but I love the brushwork of the light on their backs... plus I love underwater images (50p)...

and a fairly large embroidered linen table cloth (£2.50) ...

which will look lovely on a table in the garden this summer... I am of course being very optimistic that the sunshine will return for more than an afternoon... ;D

It was nearing 12:30 and we had a choice of fish and chip shop or cafe... so we opted for the cafe which turned out to be at an independent supermarket called Dike and Sons... (which was a Nisa!) we use to have a wonderful little Nisa just down the road from us when we lived in Hazlemere (High Wycombe) and I do miss that shop... this one was amazing.. so clean and tidy and neat... a real mix of things and the cafe was superb... like a little chic cafe...

Daniel enjoyed a strawberry milkshake while I drank a black coffee and Jamie sipped a J20... then our food arrived... there was a little bit of swap se's that occurred ...

I had Jamie's side salad... with my cheese omlette (which was scrumptious)

Jamie had my chips with her Chicken Mayo baguette.... (which she thoroughly enjoyed)

and Daniel pinched some of his new found favorite... cucumber! lol
all in all it cost £17 and a few pence... I was very happy with the service and the quality of the food and it was such a lovely place to eat... no stupid little sachets of sauce each table had condiments and a holder with heinz tomato ketchup, brown sauce and mayonnaise...

For someone that hates the big supermarket chains this was wonderful... an independent shop that has been going since the days of the horse and cart that has managed to keep up with modern times...

THe staff were so friendly and its been open for 4 years and I didn't have a clue...

It even has a horse tether area should you need some shopping while out on a hack...

Les has been recently asking me what area would you like to live in (he wants to move to a bigger house!) and until now I didn't have a clue... now I have more than a clue... this is a proper village that is still thriving due to being able to change with the times without loosing its soul and its character...

While we were there Daniel chose the mugs for his main teacher and 2 classroom assistants

and a gift bag for the teacher that they have on a Friday... and the teacher that teaches them Spanish...

Just have to wrap up the mugs and he can take them in tomorrow... I wonder how many mugs they'll get!? lol

well I had better get on... kids to feed, washing up to do and tidy the lounge ready for an evening of crochet ... oohh nearly forgot... I finished a crocheted sausage dog!

I think the yarn is a little to busy... some self striping yarn would have been better... but I quite like the pattern... and I need to use up this patchy yarn...

Les is out this evening beating a squash ball around a small room... lol ... obviously followed by a visit to the pub...! ;D

I shall catch up with you all very soon.. now I have this Ipad sorted I am back on top form! xx

take care
Alex
x

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Blogpress.... will it work or won't it?

2011-07-11T14:20:00.003+01:00

Hello guys... its been forever since my last post and I'd like to say that I have been researching ways and means to upload pictures but I'd be fibbing.... I have of course been teaching Jamie... running hither and thither after Daniel and watching the chicks grow and grow... Les of course gets whatever energy and attention is left over... lol

The chicks are still of unknown sex .... I keep changing my mind and wondering every day which I will be able to keep.... I'd like to keep a cockerel, although im not sure if the neighbours would kick up. I however get to listen to their dogs bark, alarms going of and someone banging away on his drums in a shed in his garden... however thats acceptable! lol

I currently suspect this one to be a cockerel ... I was going to call it Daphne from Scooby do as the cartoon character has red hair... however I need a back up plan incase it is indeed a boy! any ideas?

Jamie has been having her up days and her down days... she's spoken about going back to school as she misses her friends but I am hearing more horror stories about the quality of the education over there from other unhappy parents and I'm obviously the bad guy for sticking to my guns for homeschooling... I have started looking into clubs and activities that she could join to get a crowd of friends that aren't necessarily at her old school... she has a webcam and chats to them online... Les wants to send her to a local private school but I'm not sure whose bank account he's been looking at as I'm pretty sure ours won't cover it! although it is a fab school... also the thought of rubbing shoulders with the hoy palloy really un-nerves me... don't get me wrong I can be a snob at times but I really can't stand people who look down their noses at others before they have even taken the time to have a conversation with them... and there is no way in hell I could or would be bothered to dress like a fashion icon... I'd rather wear something comfy and sensible than ridiculous and short term... so the verdict is still out on that front!

she's been doing well... she likes sewing and making things...

wonder where she gets that from! lol .. this is her third project, shes making a peg bag... its a pattern from a book but we've slightly altered the design to fit our coat hanger and the appliqué frog is all her own design...

ta da ... I bought the frog fabric on ebay to co-ordinate with her design... I think it works well.

she made herself a bag after she made this patchwork pillow.... the pillow was her first real project using a sewing machine that had a working light and a foot peddle that worked properly... I suppose school equipment gets a rough time of it and they probably cant afford to keep it maintained...

Nanny has given Jamie her old machine so once we've given it a service and some new needles she'll be able to get creative in her own time as well as school time...

In such a small house its not easy to organise everything and I am not an organised person by nature... its not something that comes easy to me... don't get me wrong I can plan and organise a Fete or event but to keep a small house in order seems to be my downfall...

anyway enough of that ... what have I been doing for the past 5 weeks.... I've been drawing and crocheting...

This will hopefully become a little bag... its one of those "stalled" projects thats awaiting the return of my time and energies... one its finished I think I might felt it as its being made with pure wool..

This was a biro drawing that started as a doodle and grew into an A4 sketch... it was just after I had suffered a bout of chest pains and stress related unhappiness... I think the picture speaks for itself...

I drew this one the following day while I was at the pub, I think of him as the little hobgoblin that resides on top of my creativity... as you can see he's sat on top of my sketch books... and he's knocked over my ink...

I drew this 6 years ago... and a few weeks ago I re-drew it and finished it off in pastels

The yarn was given to me by a good friend and I am making it up into a bright and colourful beach type blanket...

The triangular edge will hopefully go all around the edge and I shall then carry on with it till I have run out of yarn...

I think I have finally realised that these creative moments aren't just a hobby they help keep me balanced and functioning...

When all else around me seems complicated and confusing drawing and creating is unchanged and constant... and fairly portable too! ;D

I do hope this Blogpress application allows me to upload this... its been really frustrating to not be able to blog ... I thought this ipad would make blogging easier... and like most technologies it has limitations and down sides...

Sorry to bore you to death with all my comings and goings... if this works I'll be back really soon to bore you some more! :D

Take care
Alex
x

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

I give up....

2011-05-25T10:26:00.001+01:00

The Ipad will not work for blogging... not until Apple actually make it possible to upload images... so I am cheating and I am using the works laptop... shhhh don't tell anyone... it'll be our little secret! ;D

So... whats been going on with all you lovely peeps... ? I hope you are all well and finding something positive to dwell on in this sometimes humdrum world we've managed to create! lol

I have been a bit busy teaching, cooking and fretting! .... well it would appear I'm a secret fretter and I don't mean that I can carve intricate woodwork either! ...

Where to start.... hhmmmmm

Well the teaching is going well, we were inspected by the LEA and we have been given the go ahead and approval to home school... he did say to not follow the curriculum in History, Geography and Religious Education though .... he suggested project work rather than individual subjects with these three... So today I will discuss with Jamie a subject or place that she would like to do a project on, after all, if its of interest to her then perhaps she'll be more enthusiastic about it... here's hoping!

We've been to Stourhead doing photography, but her favourite subject so far is design technology.... We got out the sewing machine and she has been learning how to cut fabric and plan a design and sew...

Luckily I already have a lot of equipment, cutting mats etc... I did go out and buy a rotary cutter which I confess I have never really used but now wonder how I survived without it! lol

The finished cushion made from materials I bought from my friend Joanne... and luckily Jamie has no attachments to her creations... her first words were... can I sell it! lol

The cooking is going well, I have to confess that I am lazy in the kitchen... it would appear that I am fairly capable but its not a great love of mine.. lol ... However I have cooked a meat and 2 veg meal every evening for the last 15 outta 17 nights... this is a major achievement for me and I do feel good about it. Its been decided that Friday night is fish and chip night and the chap down the road is most agreeable with this arrangement! as he loves the fish we get from the chip shop! lol

Its always been too easy to order a takeaway and we have gotten into bad habits as Id rather be out in the garden than cooking in the kitchen... however I'm getting better at prepping and juggling the two! ;D

Now ... the garden... I have fenced off the veg patch and I have planted runner beans and courgettes... so that's all coming along nicely...

and Daisy Kate our Sussex hen decided that it was time to go broody...

So she was moved from the Eglu cube, (she was stealing the other girls eggs!) and I bought 11 fertile eggs from my friend Dawn and moved her to her new broody coop... AKA an unused rabbit hutch! lol

She settled in well and here she stayed for the next 21 days....

Reading the Western Gazette and keeping up to date with local news! lol

The big day drew closer and a new nursery coop was bought on eBay... Les and Jamie drove to Leicester to collect it and the girls and I waited for signs of life!

Eventually on Day 23 I could wait no longer and I opened the hutch to see if she was okay... I had closed the hutch leaving her with food and water inside on day 22 when I noticed a black ball of fluff dissapearing under her wing...

As I opened the hutch and stepped back she jumped out and started eating dandelion leaves and clucking and tried to get her 4 chicks to follow... so I closed the hutch and the task of moving her and her brood to the other coop began...

Ta daaaa!
from 11 eggs 4 hatched successfully, and one died half hatched and the other six were unhatched and buried in the straw... to be honest 4 is plenty and nature has a way of deciding how many should live and I think she'll cope well with this many as its only her second go at being a mum!

This is Daisy Kate's baby from last year! Amber (aka Rusty) was born at Karen's house before I brought them home to live with me...

I just love sitting in the sunshine watching her teach them how to peck for food and preen themselves... they are such little mimics... her every action is copied!

on the creativity front I have managed a few things...

I did make a couple of dream catchers for Nicola...

we did a little swap and she sent me some fabulous Body shop products...

Thank you Nicola! love the Aloa vera face cream! xx

the bunny was crocheted around Easter and I sold him to a friend of my mums for £20...

I was stunned! ;D

But the yarn and other bits and bobs were probably that much so I covered costs...

This week Daniel has been poorly with a viral throat bug...

I took him to the doctors yesterday and he just said he'd get better on his own and to keep giving him nurofen and bring him back if it wasn't better in a few days...

he does seem a bit better today though!

so fingers crossed!

well that's about the lot for now...

I had better crack on and get Jamie sorted and feed Daniel... hang the washing out and so on and so forth!

No rest for the wicked!

I must have been really bad! lol

I hope I enjoyed it! xx

take care

Alex

being needed....

2011-05-12T17:34:00.000+01:00

makes me happy...

I know my children need me and I dare say Les needs me but this old gent down the road has nobody else.... I am so pleased with his visible improvement over this last week.. he's had a hot meal every day and I pop in before I drop Daniel into school to make sure he's all sorted for the day ahead. Yes, no doubt he is exaggerating the aches and pains as he doesn't want to be on his own with no one caring about him again, however I enjoy a bit of banter and a chat in the mornings... and as I am cooking a meal for my 3 each evening adding one more grateful mouth doesn't really make much of a difference.

The old boy is getting up and around and making a real effort to clean up and do some chores, and he's not so wobbly on his feet and seems a little more chirpy and cheerful... before he looked tired and close to tears, almost like he was wondering what the point of it all was.

Don't get me wrong, I do love to help and support people but I know 6 months down the line this might get a little tedious... but to be honest as I pointed out to my mum today (who's the same age as this gent!) I have grown up in a home where she was always caring for relatives, friends and acquaintances... its something I feel comfortable doing but I have no intention of mixing his care with my own family life... the two things are very separate things... my mum and dad are no spring chickens, but with my brother living at home still they have someone to care for and about them on a day to day basis....

So I shall take each day as it comes and paddle my little heart out as I crest each wave and enjoy the wind in my hair as I ride high... and then start paddling again towards the next peak of happiness and joy... the dips and troughs have to be endured to make the highs all so much more enjoyable... lol

So a chicken casserole sits bubbling in the slow cooker and par boiled potatoes are about to be put in the oven for roasting... a few peas and a yorkshire pudding and one grateful smile as I tap on his door and he pulls himself straight in his chair...

So if you are returning home from a crappy day at work and your good lady or man has placed your tea on the table... smile, say thank you and be grateful... don't be as crappy to him or her as your boss has been to you... be better than that and appreciate and be grateful...

xx take care
Alex
x

Good morning conscience..... do you have time for a chat?

2011-05-09T10:30:00.000+01:00

I have a little query that is playing on my heart and soul and I was wondering if you could shine any light on the situation...?

you'll give it a go ... thank you so much!

Late last night the elderly gent who lives down the road banged on my front door and scared me half to death... knocks on doors at gone 10:30 generally do not bode well... anyway I digress!

The gent in question ... lets call him Bob... had taken a tumble down his stairs and had been laying at the foot of the stairs wedged and unable to get up... obviously he had managed in the end as he was banging on my door but he had been there, by his account, all afternoon... he does have my phone number but was unable to call it on his mobile as he got a bit flustered and confused...

So I grab shoes, coat and mobile and escort him home... the next 2 and a half hours were spent talking, with me mostly listening and watching for any visible signs of trauma or injury... he complained of aches and pains but apart from wandering in conversation and retelling old stories with slight changes to information previously told he seemed fine...

his overweight Rottweiler constantly tried to state his dominance over me by leaning, licking and climbing on me but previously having owned a Doberman I am not at all phased by a rotty...

during the following few hours I made cups of tea for him and at twenty past one this morning I came home... promising to pop in this morning to make sure he was okay...

This morning he was still sat in his chair and seemed himself although complaining of a stiff shoulder and aches and pains... his sink is full of dishes, the ashtray over flowing, the fridge is steadily breeding biological warfare... as I walked in he said "kettles boiled!" but I had Daniel waiting to be driven to school so arranged to pop back at 11am after he returned from town as he was adamant that he had to collect his pension...

now conscience.... how can I ignore this mans needs and yet still have time for my own responsibilities... he is an elderly man who's family have abandoned him for whatever reasons... he is living in the past where his body is capable of many things that it cannot accomplish now and he talks in circles as he frantically searches for more conversation to keep his visitor there... he's lonely beyond belief and has a need to give you stuff to buy your attention... he's always telling you how much pension he gets and how much money he has in the bank and I know he has been ripped off financially by the last couple of women that have "helped" him... he talks about sex like he's still a viral young man... and would rather tell someone to piss off than accept help or advice... he's cantankerous and stubborn and yet I see a proud man struggling to accept the advancement of life...

Im not the type of person that can close the door and say "not my problem!" however this could very well escalate into a full time undertaking...

dear conscience do I help him and try to keep him at arms length and do as much as I can honestly do, being up front and honest with him from the start... or do I just help when really needed and keep my head down so as not to get caught the rest of the time?

Dilemmas and consequences .... its all so frustrating...

Les's rolls his eyes and I know I have so much on my plate these days but whats a girl to do?

thank you for listening
xx

n.b.. he's just popped around with a bag of chicken breasts... "as he wont eat them" ... he said his legs are still shaky but when I asked when was the last time he ate anything he couldn't answer me.... he's popping around to the old peoples day center around the back of where we live... I said to him on so many occasions that he should try and move into a bungalow around there but he wont have it... hopefully he'll have a cuppa and a biscuit... i shall still pop down at 11am and check on him...

iPad good... But iPad bad....

2011-05-08T12:36:00.000+01:00

Well what can I say... I paid £26 for a widget to upload photos and it has... Unfortunately the iPad will not allow me to upload images to blogger... Seems to be a common frustration, and I've even tried to upload to flickr and photo bucket with no success....

If anyone out there in the big blue yonder has a clue how I do this then please for the love of my sanity can you let me know! Lol

I also cannot write posts in compose mode only HTML so this is it people's.... This is my style of post and not by choice .... :(

Jamie's first week of homeschooling is going well, she's done so much writing that her hand hurt on Tuesday .. Wednesday was a photography lesson at Stourhead ... And Thursday was geography followed by a trip to the hairdressers and a girly hair dyeing session... Lol ... Friday was biology and although the topic had been covered at school she couldn't answer the quick test questions so we went over it again... Friday night she went to a Yeovil football club dinner with her nanny and Saturday she went to town with a friend... Today she's entertaining Daniel ... Well to be honest it sounds like the bedrooms are being trashed.. Lol and later when her dad gets home she'll be doing a little maths work with her dad. Tomorrow is English and she's currently reading Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier which we will be doing in English tomorrow...

Daisy Kate our white Suffolk hen is still sitting on 11 eggs eight days down and thirteen left to go. I have started working out an accommodation plan should she successfully hatch any... It's a little odd but I don't want to buy a second coop or shed to home them while they mature but you have to have a back up plan incase she hatches nearly all of them instead of 1 or 2. Last year she sat on 10 eggs and one chick hatched/survived so there's a chance she'll do better this year... So after much giggling and merriment Les and I decided to turn Daniel's playhouse into a nursery coop... Lol ... It'll need a little work and plenty of head scratching but I really don't want to outlay to much money on something that won't get used much...

I think I might pop upstairs and use jamie's laptop to upload some images... I'm sure she won't mind! ;D

Well I had better dash... My stomach is rumbling so I dare say the kids will be wanting something to eat too... Lol

Hope your all having a super Sunday
Take care
Alex
X

Happy Easter everybody....

2011-04-25T11:51:00.000+01:00

Well it's definitely Easter here... Egg hunt yesterday and lunch with the inlaws, Daisy, my white sussex, has gone broody... And off to my mum and dads today for more family fun and another egg hunt... Not that they need more chocolate... Lol

Beautiful weather and I'm sat here wondering if Jamie and I would have time to make red, white and blue bunting before Friday... Lol

Must go down and plant up my rhubarb, runner beans, sage, Rosemary and thyme... The veg patch is coming along nicely... Will have to net off the beans though! Lol

Going to update the iPad today so hopefully it might let me upload some pictures...

Wishing you all a wonderful day

Take care
Alex
X

How long? Crumbs doesn't time fly....

2011-04-20T17:32:00.001+01:00

Well where to start... I have a ton of photo's to share however I have yet to suss out how to upload them using this ipad... Apple products don't use flash player and I haven't yet purchased my £26 dongle to enable me to upload images...

However I can get you up to speed with the goings on over the last few weeks and the images can then follow in due course...

The biggest piece of news being that we have withdrawn Jamie from School and have decided that homeschooling will be the best way forward at the moment, to be honest her education (in my opinion!) is very lacking ... the attitude of her fellow school mates is diabolical and her attitude towards us was fast deteriorating as her friends filled her head with the fact that we were far too restricting and they were able to do pretty much as they pleased...

Other students from all different years were bitchy or snide and these occurrences were not dealt with in a satisfactory manner and Jamie took it upon herself to move class, the teachers kept trying to talk her out of it and eventually they allowed her a taster day in the class she wanted to move to... however an incident occurred that changed her mind about moving into that class when a gang of girls did a very vocal and embarrassing vote at lunchtime asking for a show of hands as to whether Jamie should "piss off"... However a couple weeks later after she had told the teachers that she didn't want to move the head of year told her that she needed her to move anyway as they needed the space in her class for another child.

That was the straw that broke the camels back really and on the last day of school I rang jamie in sick (as I had picked her up early the previous day due to monthly stomach cramps!) and told them that she would not be back after the Easter holidays and that I would be home schooling... their reply was "oh... ok.... could you send us an email please..." which I did.

I have trawled Amazon and have purchased text books and ring binders and paper arrived today from Staples.. I think after I have saved up I will get Rosette Stone so that she can learn french... however I am not sure if it just teaches spoken language or whether it will teach her written french too... I'll get her a passport and in the summer holidays she can visit her Uncle and Aunt in France to test out her language skills...

I think its going to be a learning experience for us both but I am really quite excited about it all...as is Jamie, its as if a weight has been lifted from around her shoulders and she is fast becoming a pleasurable teenager to know...

I have a long list of reading books that we might read and history, geography and a few other subjects will be much more field trip based... visiting places and learning out in the real world..

Daniel is currently enjoying school and I have no plans of home schooling him though! ;D

I have been busy gardening, chatting to the hens, crocheting and I even sold a crocheted rabbit for £20... I was stunned! I sat at the village cafe sewing on his whiskers and lines for his fingers and toes and a lady asked how much he was! I looked stunned and mum chirped up with "£20!" and she said "oohh yes..." I have a photo of him pre whiskers but alas I am at a loss as to how to load it up at the moment! lol

Well I had better pootle off and finish washing up and preparing tea...
hope you are all enjoying this glorious weather in the UK and i hope my far flung worldwide friends are all good and dandy! xx

I'll be back next week as I hope to get my conector for photo uploading at the weekend... I would go and get it tomorrow but I am helping out at a church run easter crafts day at Queen Camel village hall... I think I am in charge of the pottery table, air dry clay and little fingers... mmmm recipe for mess me thinks! ;D

take care
Alex
x

ooohhh new toys!

2011-03-05T20:20:00.000Z

Jamie wanted a laptop of her own and now that I no longer need to use word, spreadsheets and powerpoint I don't really need a laptop... so Jamie will be using the newly cleared off Vaio and I have put a little extra money in the kitty and upgraded to a Ipad... not sure its me but I will have to suck it and see! ;D

We have a business PC for Les's work so I can still do some boring and mundane stuff but I will not be using it for personal stuff... as of yet I haven't tried putting photo's onto the tiny little do dah so bear with me guys and gals...

I also bought a sewing box/table on castors from ebay... a whole £6.30 .... so I shall have to take a picture of that too!

plus this will probably look a little weird when I post it as apple products do not support flash player and it would appear that I am currently writing in html and I have no clue (at the moment!) how to write all the gobbledy gook that makes your stuff look pretty! ;D

so onward and upwards and fingers crossed for gadget happiness! lol

xxx Take care Alex xxx

7 things about me that won't change your life .....

2011-02-19T10:45:00.000Z

I'm pretty sure you don't really need to or want to know these things about me but Taz of "Cut it and Pin it" fame says I have to so here goes....

however the rules state I have to gift Taz with a compliment and to be honest I could not say a bad word about her... she's mad, fun and one of the best "virtual" friends a girl could ask for and if it weren't for the 527 miles between us, and as I wouldn't travel by car it would take 1 day and 3 hours to get there by train..., I think we would be good pub going friends getting up to all sorts of mischief... however as I am in the south and she is in the north I will stick to soaking up her wit, charm and good humour through blogging and facebook...

luv ya hunni bun!

I left Stockport art college with a HND distinction in Surface Pattern Design and was offered a job in Oldham designing duvet covers and bedding...

I turned it down as I thought I was in love with my boyfriend back in Somerset... I returned home, bought a house with him and set up a studio in a member of his families converted loft space above a barn ... With an agent in Stoke I sold many designs to Europe for wallpapers, tea towels and bedding... I however struggled to change from working in a studio with 15 other girls to suddenly being on my own and I gave it up... and got a "proper" job working in Boots the Chemist.... it paid the bills and was the easy option...

I use to play the piano as a child, I could not grasp reading music but I could learn a piece by memory and almost conned my piano teacher into thinking I was really good... however I forgot to turn the page on the music and she caught me out... I resented all the practice and gave up at about 14 ... I think! ;D

I learnt to ride a horse at a very early age at RNAS Yeovilton... I was apparently good... although I did have a tendency to fall off.... a lot!

I carried on horse riding till I was 16 but as I went with a friend and her mum it all ended when we went our separate ways at college.... I still love horse riding and one day I will ride again...

I am afraid of heights and of the dark... and spiders are not good either! ;D

I dream of the day of having a pair of real cowboy boots ... and then one day riding a real ranch horse in America... and it will happen ! lol

Things I have done or tried...

Ballroom and Latin American dancing (to grade silver), Trampolining (competitions and for fun) , Piano, Abseiling (eldest brothers idea of fun! ), Windsurfing (eldest brothers board...got on shot out to sea, jumped off swam back... Greg didn't tell me how to turn it around!), Rollerskating (roller skated everywhere, even with a portfolio and art box), Horse riding, Ice Skating (on the odd occasion we visited an ice rink!), Skiing (snow for a school trip to Italy! and artificial all the time when they built a slope in Yeovil which is now derelict), Swimming( all the time at the old Yeovil pool)

I am a run of the mill, not very interesting know it all.... I love to learn but I zone out when people continuously drone on about things that do not interest me... I try to be polite and focus my mind but I find it incredibly hard... I am far too accommodating and will do what other people want to do rather than disagree... as I hate to upset people and hurt their feelings... I am my own worse enemy! ;D

there you have it... I was struggling with that.... its times like these that you realise you are really sad... lol

anyway I will pass this onto anyone that fancy's a challenge! ;D

x Alex

Show and tell....

2011-02-15T13:53:00.002Z

I don't remember show and tell at school

Back in my school days I don't remember there being very much of a cross over between home life and school life, unlike today where parents are expected to attend workshops and go on welly walks...

But I have snapped some pictures this morning and apologies for the bad lighting but I think someone up there forgot to put some money in the meter as the sun doesn't seem to be able to shine today! ;D

a lap sized blanket... finally finished!

My love of wall vases shared....

Old enamel ware looks perfect with spring colour...

Eggs, Birds and Mums Sylvac vase...

Valentines gifts from wonderful blog friends, I love my new bunny and the bunting is perfect

Thank you Pat xxx

So many treats and goodies, Haribo, chocolate, biscuits, cookie cutters and ribbon,

a beautiful hand stitched felt heart... an e-card from Canada too!

Jim, Lisa, Clare, Pat and Nina you are all so very kind....

and I thank you all so much, your kindness has jolted my man from his stupor and I ... wait for it!

received a card and gifts.... yes I really did get a card! ;D

I cooked a simple meal of Pork steaks, new potatoes and Cauliflower cheese... all our favourites and it tasted amazing... I bought locally produced Cherry wine and it was beautiful... we chatted and laughed and it was wonderful...

Its a little rainy today... and I am going on a welly walk with Daniel and his class mates tomorrow... there are quite a few parents going so I am looking forward to a morning having some fun in the woods practising the children's super powers as they are designing Super hero's and learning about make believe and using there imaginations! which Daniel has no difficulties in doing! ;D

Fingers crossed the sun shines for us tomorrow!

Love and hugs to you all!

Take care

Alex

A quick thank you...

2011-02-14T23:58:00.000Z

Thank you so much to all you wonderful, kind, thoughtful friends... the bestest friends in fact that a girl could wish for... the ones that have kick started my other half through... I fear... guilt ... into buying me a card and a few lovely gifts for my first real Valentine... I am content... I am happy ... I am so thrilled and grateful...

Tomorrrow I shall show and tell... for tonight I crave the warmth and rest that my bed promises me...

you are so very kind...

and I LOVE YOU ALL

xxxxx

The gift....

2011-02-13T14:14:00.000Z

My Mum gave me this picture of Auntie Emma, I don't think she's my Auntie... probably a great Aunt but this photo started something...

I mentioned it to my Auntie (mums sister) and she asked if I could email her a copy... which I gladly did...

In return my cousin emailed me photos from their archives that they are sorting through and I was so pleased...

Don't they all look so handsome...

My Grandpa is the proud gent sporting the moustache... I remember squealing with mixture of glee, excitement and apprehension when he would grab me and kiss my neck followed by a raspberry and the tickling torment of that very moustache...

Grandpa and Nanny...

I think this was my eldest cousins wedding...

I have very few memories of Nanny... the ones I do have are not all moments of fun and laughter... I am sure there were times but I was little and when you don't fully comprehend that people won't be around forever you don't cherish the moments you do have... I remember Nanny smiling as she banged a chair to let Grandpa (who was down below in his workshop) know that lunch was ready...(When Grandpa passed I asked if I could have the chair and it sits in my kitchen now!) I remember her grabbing hold of the spin dryer in a attempt to stop it travelling all around the tiny kitchen... but I also remember holding a bowl for her to cough up phlegm into as she slowly diminished from Parkinson's Disease... I think I was 9 or 10 when she passed...

My youngest Cousin looking beautiful in her Mary Poppin-Esq hat.. then me, and the daughters of friends of the family...

My Aunt... Grandpa and Nanny and my mum...

according to my mum... and obviously this will be a differing account to that of my Aunt...

Grandpa commented that he didn't realise that his daughters where part of the Mafia...

he thought their attire somewhat modern! especially with Auntie's reactolight glasses ;D

Grandpa and my eldest cousin of 10 or so years senior to myself...

I remember loving her high heel shoes and thinking she was very cool

I wish I had a big enough house to invite grandparents and parents to for celebration meals and gatherings, I remember playing cards at my Aunts at that very table on boxing day, the thrill of winning tuppences and pennies playing Blackjack or 21 as I knew it...

This next picture had me in tears though...

I have very few pictures of myself being natural... they are usually all posed and have memories attached with the phrases "stand up straight" or "now smile!"

Me with Grandpa...

I did so love those slippers... I loved the way the heels made that click clack noise on hard floors... I was a grown up in those slippers... I have this as the screen saver on my phone and I smile every time I see it...

I thank my cousin for sending me these photos and its helped me put my memories of my childhood to bed...

I by no means had a bad childhood, but when I think back I can only remember the low moments...

do you find that?

I remember the cross words, the "shh ... don't bother your father" piano practice while my friends played outside on a summers day... lying in bed listening to my older brothers playing in the garden... or having their "midnight feasts" at dusk with the neighbours children in their "china club"...

I seem to have spent my past resenting the things I thought I missed out on... but this one photo has jolted me into dredging my memory for the good times I did experience some are still foggy but they are coming back and am happy to change the polarity of my past...

no longer will I dwell on the negative

just the smiles and hugs of my past

I feel like I have cleared a gateway of brambles and thorns and I am stepping through into the sunshine, oh no doubt there are rain clouds on the horizon but you can't deal with new joys and sadness's very well when you are still weighed down by the sodden woolen coat of your past...

I'm now in my lightweight anorak, with my polka dot umbrella and I seem to have found a new bounce in my step...

I have even finished a crocheted blanket ... I am not good at finishing things...

This year will be about dealing with unfinished business...

Today it is windy wet and rainy but I am grateful for the hugs from my son, the cup of tea I shall make myself, the sunshine that shone yesterday, the eggs that the girls have laid for me even though they are enduring windy wet weather and lastly the comments and support given to me by friends all over the world...

Thank you

Alex

Love and all things lovely....

2011-02-01T10:02:00.001Z

Its February and love is in the air....

I realise that valentines day is a commercial nightmare but it didn't use to be... honest! ;D

I remember back when I was at school that I always dreamt of receiving a card... every year I would get my hopes up and every year I would be disappointed... I was a sensible girl at school... the youngest in my year and yet the most mature and grown up... tall for my age it was expected of me by my peers, teachers and family... I grew up quickly and kept people at arms reach... I still yearn for that lavish gesture... a flower.. a card... something bold that makes your heart flip flop and leaves you flush with excitement and wishing you worked in a very public place so that everyone would see how much your loved... My first ever boyfriend got it...although he was a control freak and not meant to be, understood how to woo a lady... he knew how to ring all the right bells make you feel like one in a million...

However after 7 and a half years and a year into owning our first house he dumped me for his secretary ....

so not such a catch after all! ;D

She bath'd with the roses red, and violets blew,

And all the sweetest flowres, that in the forrest grew.

The Faerie Queene (1590)

Edmund Spenser

Les (Mr P) doesn't "do" romance.... doesn't really do Easter, Birthdays or Christmas and as were not married he luckily cannot miss our anniversary... I have handily forgotten the date we met and the only reminder I get is from his mother and I wish she would forget it too!

The words "I love you" are very rarely heard, in fact I can't physically remember hearing them... however my mum has informed me that my dad never used those words to her either... she's ask him if he loved her and he'd reply "I'm still here aren't I" so I can only assume its more prolific than I suspected...

However I still find myself hoping, praying and yearning for some kind of recognition of love after all these years.... a cup of tea in bed... or a unexpected lunch or dinner in or out... something to whisk me off my feet... it wouldn't take much I promise you...

So with the usual comment of "pah... Valentines day is a waste of money... its so commercialised and whats the point!" why not choose to not be commercial... make the effort to pack a picnic and go out for a stroll... or make a card or if you do buy a card put more in it other than "to.... " and "from....." write something lovely and personal and show that you do take notice of the person that shares your ups and downs for the rest of the year... make heart shaped biscuits and pop them in his/her lunch box...

but this has to be a 2 way street ....

its so soul destroying to give your heart every February and get nothing in return... its like putting your heart on the wall only for it to be pelted with stones by a lad with a sling shot... last year I bought Les a card... I think he even saw the envelope... he expected it... he had nothing as usual for me... so I put his in the bin... childish I know but why set myself up for disappointment...

Saint Valentine has even been removed from the Catholic calendar... even though the idea that he married single men and their ladies secretly as Emperor Claudius did not want married men as they wouldn't be such good soldiers is unsubstantiated in historical texts but surely its a chance to show someone you care...

The rose is red, the violets blue

the honey's sweet, and so are you

Thou are my love and I am thine

I drew thee to my Valentine

The lot was cast and then I drew

And fortune said it shou'd be you.

Gammer Gurton's Garland (1784)

I realise there are plenty of ladies out there that are treated wonderfully and they in return hopefully treat their men fantastically... however there are plenty of us out here that get nothing and not much else the rest of the year either... its a lovely idea that we should love and appreciate each other all year not just on February 14th but it doesn't happen for us all... so we need a day to grasp onto and hope that this year will be different...

If any of you lovely bloggy people would like me to send you a card this valentines drop me an email with your address and I will pop a card in the post to you...

Its obviously not the love of an unrequited passionate type but it would be full of love for a fellow romantic with dreams and hopes...

take care

Alex

I think....

2011-01-26T15:51:00.001Z

its true sometimes I do! lol ... that I might be rounding that corner... peeking cautiously around the edge to see if its all safe and clear.... not sure whom or what I would not like meet but I am building up the courage to peek...

I have lots to share... however today is not the day... I have snatched a few minutes to post this while Daniel is otherwise occupied with a film on telly... he was unwell last night.. I am not sure if it was/is a bug or if he's got grumbling big teeth... symptoms are tummy ache, red cheeks and earache... does sound tooth related to me but we'll see...!

My bestest "real life" buddy gave me a fabulous book which I want to share with you all... plus I have decided to drag out all my works in progress and share them all with you... and get them finished! yay!

and I am on a new being a better mother and housewife routine and this is the first week of my actually making a meal plan for teas this week and so far I have stuck to it... Monday was roast chicken... Tuesday I made chicken pie (with the left over meat... the cat and the dog love it when I strip the chicken carcass! lol) and tonight its sweetcorn fritters and sausages... and maybe some chipped potatoes... I haven't attempted sweetcorn fritters before so fingers crossed for me that Nigella's recipe is simple enough for me to follow!

Added at 9:55pm wednesday evening...... now I have to speak quietly as I am suppose to be going to bed... but I had to share a photo of my fritters with you... they were really easy too! ... once I found the right temperature to have the hob... still getting use to the instant heat of an induction hob... lol

In the spirit of getting both our arses in gear Joanne and I now do our food shopping together on a Monday morning and we have even found a lovely cafe to have breakfast in beforehand... plus there's a lovely charity shop next door, so every Monday I will endeavour to take one carrier bag of unwanted items in and possibly emerged with a new treasure .....

This Mondays treasure was ......

some lovely pink ware.... the teapot has a London port scene on it and the sugar bowl and jug has a Plymouth port scene...
This over sized mug was included in the set although its not the same design as it states its a Grindley and co etching... however as its dishwasher and microwave proof its a modern piece but I love its vast size and the handle is so comfy...
I could not leave it behind.... not for a £4 purchase price... for the whole set!

I have been drinking from the cup since Monday..and have used the teapot several times... which pours beautifully...
Its amazing how £4 spent has given me so much pleasure...

Thank you all so much for your kind words and support...
all I need now is some sunshine one after noon so that I can spread out my works in progress on my bed and takes some pictures... perhaps you can jig me along and get me finishing them all...

Thank you
take care
Alex
x

2011-01-20T16:00:00.001Z

Daisy, Amber and Hettie

Well hello there ....

How the devil are you today?

Me..... oh I'm fine.... a little tired.... a little fed up.... a little disillusioned by life in general...

don't get me wrong my day to day existence could be much worse and I appreciate that I have so much and that I am well looked after but I just feel like I am missing a part of me... does that make sense?
probably not! ;D

I am just me and I am sure I will work out what I need to accomplish to make myself whole again... perhaps its just our always changing role in life that makes us sometimes loose track of who we are....

I think I miss being a girl friend to Les.... I seem these days to be so busy being a mum and have ended up just being his friend... its probably all my own doing as I fully immersed myself in my new role as mum... but now Daniel is closing in on his fifth birthday I feel that I would like to regain the girl part of our relationship....

oh crikey its all getting a bit deep and mushy! onward and upward... lol

The past couple of days here in the sunny south have begun with very beautiful hoarfrost's and lots of fog...

I decided to snap some piccies of the beautiful frost on the leaves in the garden...

Nature really is beautiful and brutal at the same time...

it looks like jack frost has been practicing his cocktail skill and dipping the edge of all the leaves in sugar!

Well as its a Thursday I headed for the village hall for a cup of coffee with the locals and to meet up with mum and some of her friends... however with the sun trying to burn its way through the fog I thought I would take my camera down to the river just below the hall and see what I could see!

I do love living near the river... I know it means more midges and mosquito's in the summer months but the wildlife that is attracted to the river banks is wonderful to watch...

I have to admit I was unusually quiet at the cafe... I had a lovely cup of coffee and I bought some rock cakes to share with the chickens... I know I'm spoiling them! lol

I bought some strawberry jam for Daniels sandwiches and a card for Jamie to give to her brother for his birthday in 11 days time... I have ordered the cake from the same lady who made my Christmas cake and I think Daniel will be very pleased as its and army cake with a tank and little army men all over it! I think she's doing hills and camouflage too!

I have no clue what to get him for his birthday... he does keep mentioning a scooby doo game that he's seen advertised and as he loves to have a cup of tea with me I have bought him a china mug with his name on it...

Hettie, daisy and Amber

He's very excited at the moment as I think another hen has started laying eggs... its a darker shade of brown to Daisy's (who has been laying since we took ownership of them!) but Daniel is adamant that the new coloured egg came from his chicken ... Hettie!

It could well be as she has come back to full feathered glory after her moult...

So all in all I am still here... no major reasons for being away for so long just feeling a little blurgh!

Saturday will be a "Me!" day I think ... Les will probably be at the unit (fixing something! lol) and Daniel and Jamie are off to watch Yeovil play football with their Nanny... (well Jamie will probably watch... Daniel has a habit of getting bored and going to sleep!)

Well I had better get off here and get down the garden... Daniel's keeping on at me to go and check the chickens... its become a bit of ritual when her gets home from school... I collected a pale cream coloured egg this morning so its fingers crossed for another tan brown one...

I promise to be back soon with a little more zing in my step

as Wallace says to Gromit "I think the spring has gone from my bungee!"

take care

Alex

2011..... What's the new year going to bring you?

2010-12-31T14:25:00.001Z

I have no plans for this evening...

I spent most of my informative years babysitting for neighbours so that they could go out

and celebrate New Years Eve... and the few parties I attended were sometimes fun and sometimes not....

Since being with Les I have no memory of going out on New Years Eve... apart from the first year I knew him and we went to a beach party at his local pub... which has now been turned into an up market restaurant... :(

Les is unwell at the moment so I dare say he'll be in bed before midnight and I might stay up and watch the fireworks.... but that will be about it... I have never really understood the need to celebrate the start of a new year... and I am not sure why? I've never been one for gatherings of people all jostling for the bar and getting toes trodden on while wearing something uncomfortable and to be honest not very warm and cosy... I think perhaps I have been old fashioned all my life... lol

Don't get me wrong I have partied in my day and I have been as hung over as the best of them.. these days it just doesn't appeal....

     I have started writing a journal after my friend Joanne gave me a beautiful notebook for Christmas... its almost like a mini blog post every day... and in the New Year I have to pay more attention to my blog... I promise...!

     I also want to get caught up with commitments and clear all the tangled seaweed of jobs that seem to have entwined themselves around my legs... I am feeling a little lost at sea at the moment but I need to stop spinning around and calm the maelstrom around me... take a deep breath and set a steady course....

     I have never been good at facing my fears or dealing with tricky situations and running away has always been my chosen defence... but I think... no.. I know that this is not going to work anymore... I have to stand tall and deal with all the debris that may knock me clean off my feet... this is the year where I will test the theory "that which doesn't kill you makes you stronger"

     Christmas was good... nothing out of the ordinary... but good.... I think I have finally stopped trying to feel the child like thrill that Christmas use to hold and have realised that the excitement and joy of Christmas was not delivered by it being Christmas it was delivered by my Mum.... She worked hard to try and get me the gifts I coveted... well the affordable ones! ;D
     Mum fed us, cleaned up after us, worked hard to organise parties and family visits.... and I thank her for it... but now is the time for me to deliver these things to my children... Now all I have to do is take all the decorations down and transfer them into storage in my mum and dads garage again... I don't like lofts and the sheds are not water tight or critter proof so mum's garage is perfect! ;D

      This year we stayed home for Christmas dinner and I spent the morning watching a film (The Last Airbender) with the children while Les did the Christmas dinner... and he did a fantastic job too... I helped with prepping the turkey crown and Les sorted the sprouts, roast parsnips, Leeks in butter, roast spuds, carrots and pigs in blankets... after dinner was devoured we cleared up and once I had gotten the girls into the coop we headed for my Mum and Dads with a basket of crochet to relax with... the children enjoyed spending time with their visiting cousins and I enjoyed some quality crochet time... I watched Poirot... and even though my youngest brother blurted out the ending it was still an enjoyable evening... lol

I received some wonderful gifts from family and friends... My mum bought me these 2 signs but my youngest brother told her they were rude and that she couldn't give them to me... I love them... so it just shows how little my brothers understand me ... lol

They were 2 separate signs but I am quickly running out of wall space so I have altered them to hang together... and are in full view of anyone entering through the back door...! ;D

My Dear bloggy friend Lisa Ridgeon sent me a surprise parcel of Christmas decorations that she made... the 2 hanging origami creations are amazing... and the felt ginger bread man, Christmas pudding and snowman are wonderful... and the 2 origami birds will be on display all year around with a couple others that Lisa made me... I will take better photo's when we get any sunshine... its so dull and dreary at the moment... and also I need to photograph and show off a beautiful stitchery that Suzie sent me... I am going to get it framed... and it has inspired me to start a little stitching of my own! ;D

I bought a Christmas cake from Emily Waters at our village cafe... and its beautifully gorgeously scrummy... Daniel of course loves the icing and I love the fruit cake so all in all we are enjoying the partnership! lol

The chickens are all doing well... Daisy is still laying an egg nearly every day... and Hettie has regrown her tail feathers and seems even more bossy now... and Amber is just trying to keep out of the grumpy Hettie's way... I think as Amber is maturing a little power struggle is emerging... and Amber is standing up for herself a little more often than running away... lol I gave 6 eggs to Les's mum on Boxing Day and she was over the moon...

I hope this New Year ahead of us brings you all as much joy and happiness as can be afforded and that the darker moments are short and unable to cause upset or harm to you and your loved ones...

May days of sunshine and joy visit you all.... love and hugs Alex x

-15 in Yeovilton....

2010-12-19T06:48:00.000Z

... and apparently not going above -2 today....

I know there are colder places that people live but most of us over here are not geared up for these kinds of temperatures... our homes are not designed or insulated for lows like these and they are also not suited to the humidity and heat that we sometimes get in the summer... basically were buggered! ;D

The girls haven't ventured outside the run for the past 2 days... I managed to get to a local farm shop and buy some veggies and a bin bag of straw so they are cosy at night sleeping in their nest box...

Daisy (White Sussex) is still laying nearly every day... and Hettie (the Wyandote) has regrown her tail feathers and is looking a little better after her moult...

Luckily for them I order sweetcorn cobettes instead of tinned sweetcorn so they had a real treat on Friday...

Obviously we could have eaten the corn on the cob but I felt they deserved it more than us...

The snow is so beautiful... and I can't believe how quiet the main road through Mudford is usually its the main route that the emergency services use to get to the A303 and we hear sirens regularly through the day but yesterday not one came through... at times like these you can imagine how lovely the village must have been before cars were so prevalent and everyone had one... back in the days when a car was a luxury item not a necessity and expected right....

The clouds and fog cleared today and the sun shone in a beautiful blue sky it reminded me of an Italian ski trip ...I went on when I was 15 it was over Christmas and I went with the school ...24 years ago.... goodness gracious me... I feel really old now! ;D

They are predicting more snow tomorrow... but we have nowhere to be today so its another day of games, eating and perhaps a little crochet...if I'm really lucky... !

Daniel started complaining of a sore throat, earache and tummy ache last weekend... and for once I got my arse in gear and popped him to the doctors on Wednesday... she thought he might have an ear infection so she gave him antibiotics and he's been getting better... however this morning he's complaining of tummy ache again and the ear that wasn't blocked and ache-y now is... I have seen a lot of entries on Face book reporting adults and children with the same symptoms so I think this might be a bug that's going around...

So today started at 4:30am as Daniel "wasn't comfortable" in bed... although I certainly was! ;D

and I am wrapped up with a blanket doing this blog entry... its 13 degrees in the kitchen and I think the lounge is starting to warm up a little now that I have revived the glowing embers to a flickering fire...Daniel is on the settee under his duvet...

I think today will require the slow cooker and a chicken casserole and I have a hankering of suet dumplings too... definitely warming comfort food on the cards today...

Wherever you may be warm or cold

take care

Alex

Expectations, assumptions and fairytales....

2010-12-12T12:35:00.000Z

Life is full of them... you grow up watching musicals and happy ever after endings where men are romantic and chase after their true love to make them theirs, you hear of those few true romantics that exist that do whisk their girlfriends and wives away for romantic weekends and buy them gifts and flowers and make an effort to make them feel special and loved... but you soon realise that this is a minority not the main.... but you never loose the hope that one day this will change and the man that you have chosen as your partner will one day lavish you with love and a gesture that makes you smile from the center of your heart to the tips of your toes...

Being the youngest of 4 and the only girl I had so many assumptions as I grew up... I assumed as I neared 17 that like my friends at school and college I would be given driving lessons for my birthday present and that like my brothers a car would be made available... they drove dads Maxi... but nothing happened ... no lessons appeared and I had met my first boyfriend at 15 and a half and we were together for 7 years...he drove me around and my dad would fetch and carry me the rest of the time... mum doesn't drive and it would appear Samways women do not do this...

When I eventually met Les in 1996 I still didn't drive and at 25 I had an idea of getting married and doing it differently to my cousins and middle brother who had weddings of escalating amazingness as fashion and venues grew in size and splendor... I did not see the point in trying to match these events but I had an expectation that dad would look forward to walking his only daughter down the aisle... Les and I got engaged in Brighton a month or so after we got together and we were met by no real reaction apart from surprise... no party no gifts no cards... that I can recollect... I am not sure if you usually get any of the these things but again ... expectations!

So Les and I researched weddings and decided that we would get married abroad in Austria, his Uncle loved Austria and visited it many times during his life and as I had never met him before his death and Les's mum was very close to her brother we thought it would be lovely to take his mum and dad there especially as at that time they had never been abroad, my dad would not go to Austria as he was stationed there during the war and mum suggested that we just go off and get married and come back and tell them... which would have hurt Les's mum and dad... so instead we just lived as married people and have been engaged for the last 14 years...

So we bought a house, got a dog... had a baby! and Les and I live as a married couple, faithful and true in our relationship... we support each other and have moments when we despair of each others inadequacies... but we have never argued never screamed and shouted at each other whether this is a good thing or a bad thing I have no clue.. its just the way we are... a few years later when we could afford it we had Daniel and I became the mum that I couldn't be with Jamie as our situation required two incomes at the time and Jamie spent the bulk of her childhood with my mum... which I resented....

Daniel was born in High Wycombe where we lived for 18 months and I became a grown up.. no mum to make my life easy by "helping with the baby" I had to cope, I had to learn and as I have very few memories of Jamies childhood it was like being a new mum... and when we did eventually move back to Somerset I was begining to be me....

So after a few years here getting more niggled by the assumptions of neighbours, school and officials that I am Mrs Porter I have decided that its about time that I do have the same surname as the rest of "my" family and as I do not covet the attention of walking down the aisle and as I am not a religious person I think I am more spiritual in my beliefs and that the registry office looks like an office... I am opting for the unconvential and just changing my name and title by deed poll... Les and I will both have new rings to replace our engagement rings

So I have paid my £53 and the paperwork is hopefully on its way... I will sign it in front of a witness who also signs it and thats it! all done.... I will have 3 copies of the document to send to the DVLA, Passport office and bank and I will be known from that day forth as Mrs Porter, a Samways no more!

I think we'll go out for a meal and its strange but I feel so excited at the prospect of being a Porter... I have even found a ring that will mean something to me as its my birthstone (Peridot) with Les's birthstone (diamond) either side... I hope they still have it in stock...

Unconventional .?.. perhaps.... but for anyone that knows me... its very me! ;D

very honest and open, you wear your heart on your sleeve and always try to remain positive and look on the bright side even when things are really tough.
You are always thinking of others and should spend a little more time thinking of yourself xx

Beki (facebook blogfriend!)

the above is so true... how can someone who I have never met in person know me so well..? ;D

this is something for me.... oh and I eventually learnt to drive about 6 years ago when I worked for the council they paid for 20 lessons as they wanted me to take on the driving of a 3 and a half ton van to do collections...

This post is more a diary entry and a theraputic release... Mum dislikes me being so open and honest, its not the done thing... but if it helps me its worth doing...

I hope your all having good weekends... Daniel is suffering from his first bad stomach so I am reasoning with an almost 5 year old that popping in your pants could have tragic concequenses...

take care

Alex

x

What if....

2010-12-06T00:53:00.000Z

Now I am no scientist (as my dad thought I should do languages and typing... as girls are secretaries!) but I have been reading up on ideas and views why our weather is so out of kilter.... and I have come across a fascinating but slightly terrifying theory....

Its all to do with the gulf stream....

and apparently its what gives Britain its fairly warm nondescript temperatures and weather patterns... the warm seas from the gulf stop us from freezing like Moscow and Northern Canada... which are level either side of us on the globe...

So if the gulf stream has been disrupted by melting icebergs or BP oil disaster in the gulf of Mexico, has this effected our climate and plunged us into an earlier than normal winter....

Are any of you stocking up, preparing for what might be a long cold winter and if so what kinda things are you doing?

I know I have to stock up on coal and wood... should have pulled my finger out of my arse and stocked up all over the summer but you keep putting it off till tomorrow... and suddenly tomorrow is cold grey and not nice at all!

I don't have much in the way of larder storage but I really aught to stock up and as we only have electric perhaps I aught to get some gas canisters for the camping gas stove we have....

Should we be preparing for what might be a real corker of a winter after all it couldn't hurt...

and what about our neighbours... we should be checking on them and making sure they are all okay... shouldn't we? or is that being pushy and nosey...?

I'm glad my youngest brother still lives at home... at least I know that there is someone there to make sure they are warm and the path is safe and that they have food in the house...

Do you know your neighbours? do you talk to them make conversation with them or is it a quick dash to the car and off to where ever your life takes you?

I know my neighbours 2 doors either side of me... I know others by sight in the village but I would have no clue if they have family or assistance or someone to call... at what point can you say... "they are not my responsibility?"

Hypothermia is the biggest killer at this time of the year and you can get too cold and then actually die hours later... once your back in your home... I keep trying to tell Jamie that she has to wear a coat to school and a hat and gloves... but she just gives me that look... she even told me that they are not allowed to wear scarves at school...

Please be careful out there my dear friends

wrap up warm in many layers and slap on your hat and gloves.... make sure your phone is charged and has credit...

I think it will be an interesting winter this year...

take care

Alex

Well it arrived....

2010-12-02T13:27:00.000Z

and the chickens are not much impressed...

Well to be honest Daisy the white Sussex was very dismissive of it all and strode through the white stuff like it wasn't even there... the youngster Amber, the beautiful Barnvelder... (front of the bus queue!lol) was not impressed... she flapped and squawked and hopped to her mum over by the hedge... and then not to be out done the scruffy Wyandotte Hettie had to do the same... we were going to call her Rosie but Hettie seems to fit her nicely... she seems to be always het up about something... we have only had about 2 and a half inches of snow but its enough to make everything look seasonal...

Amber is beautiful... and really nosey...

The Eglu run has been roofed and has a complete side covered in... plus its under the flat roof that the previous owner parked his tractor in... no word of a lie... he collected and restored old fashioned tractors... he had 2 here when I viewed the house...

This is all the lawn and an area of gravel that the girls have to roam around in... they have made no breaks for freedom and hopefully are content with their new area...

I am trying to get some Verm x into them as I have found some big spaghetti like worms in one or two of the droppings in the coop... however whether they drink any water while there's snow to eat I have no clue... I might have to get some of the pellet form instead... and perhaps see if I can find a vet or something to do a dropping analysis...

Due to the snow the buses aren't running.... therefore Jamie can't get to school and Mr P can't get to work... so Daniel has had the day off too and Les has driven the car to work...

Such a hardship having to stay home and play in the snow! lol

Daniels barn is on the drive ready to be gotten rid of... luckily I put the bags of wood that mum got me inside to keep dry ...

I hope you are all keeping warm and our electric key meter is eating money like its going out of fashion... we put £40 in it last week and we've put another £40 in today... I think its going to be a long expensive winter if the temperatures don't pick up a little...

Well I suppose I had better get some lunch...

and work out what we're having for tea...

Everything Happens For a reason...

2010-11-22T23:31:00.001Z

.... although sometimes it's hard to see but there is usually a plus to even the most annoying or disappointing of occurrences.

I have been stalling on getting chickens for my Eglu Cube...

It has sat on the lawn for what seems an age waiting patiently to home some feathered ladies... and I have constantly made excuses to myself why I should wait a little longer... wait till the kids are on holiday... wait until the kids are back at school.... well it would be better if I waited till after bonfire night... then I realised that I was just ever so slightly nervous of the responsibility and the unknown... and to be honest I have a slight fear of flappy things! lol

Well I have over the past few weeks started using Facebook... (regular followers are welcome to be my friend! Alex Samways is my real life name! lol) and a lovely lady I met through blogging has become my friend on Facebook and we have been chatting and we have met a few times in real life as she lives very near me... Karen of Karen's Playtime emailed me via FB and asked if I had gotten any chickens yet... Karen has 5 chickens and she needed to re home them and wondered if I would be willing to take 3 from her... I was unsure to begin with but then I remembered something that someone once told me, that sometimes when an opportunity comes your way you just have to grab hold of it and hold on tight and see where it takes you... so I swallowed hard and took the plunge!

On Friday Daniel and I drove to Karen's house and her husband kindly caught the 3 ladies that would be moving into their new modern home... and after farewells and a deep breath they were loaded in their cage into my car... and I drove very carefully home...

The eglu had been cleaned and while the girls sat on the lawn in their travelling cage taking in the sight of their new home I made good their modern plastic cube house...

Apprehensively I reached into he cage and gently picked up the smallest chicken who I think is a Wyandotte hybrid I can't remember the name Karen gave her (Daniel has renamed her Rosie)... and I placed her in her the coop... she shot straight for the door and down into the run...

one down 2 to go...

this time I gently removed the largest of the girls I think she may be a Barnevelder her name was Rusty (renamed by Jamie to Amber) she too was very calm and I placed her into the coop and she headed out into the run....

last was the white Sussex called Kate (renamed by me to Daisy, my favourite flower!) Daisy was not so calm...

but I calmed the flapping chook and gently subdued her escaped flapping wings and placed her in the coop... I expected her to head for the door too... she decided to check the joint out and headed for the nest box... and made herself comfy! lol

The other 2 started pecking and tearing at the dandelions and grass and scratching around for bugs and worms... then Amber hopped up the ladder and went in to find her mum... you see Amber was hatched from an egg by Daisy and they are connected with a very strong mother daughter bond... as dusk fell I checked on the girls and eventually they hopped up into the coop and I slid the door closed...

Saturday morning Mr P and I got up made a coffee and headed for the garden...

I slid open the door and the girls emerged.... and low and behold in the nest box was a beautiful egg...

Daisy is our number one layer ... her daughter hasn't yet started laying and Rosie hasn't laid either... (she's too busy running around bullying Amber! lol)

By Sunday morning we had 2 eggs and Daniel and I ate like kings! lol

and this morning there was another egg... daisy is a wonderful layer...

This is Daniels bossy Wyandotte hybrid (I think its a hybrid!) I will have to ask my Cousin as it turns out Karen bought her and the white Sussex from her... what a small world it is! ;D

This is Daisy and her daughter Amber... Daisy has dug herself a hole and promptly spent the morning rolling in it and her daughter was very comically copying her! lol

I spent this afternoon clearing the garden of toys and garden machinery and I have chicken proofed the gate and checked the wire fence in the hedge for holes and gaps and an hour before dusk I opened the door on the run and sat back and watched... they eventually realised their play area had grown and wandered out...

they wandered and scratched and pecked and I worried and felt like a parent letting their child free in the big wide world for the first time... wondering what I would do if they found a hole and got into a neighbours garden... but as the blackbird sang and dusk fell Amber collected her mum and they raced to the run and hopped up in the coop... Rosie the grumpy Wyandotte hadn't paid attention and for a few minutes panicked at her inability to find the door into the run but eventually she sussed it and hopped up into the coop and I slid the door closed...

I do apologise for going on about something as simple as a few chickens... but I am so pleased that Karen's impending arrival of her second child has in a way meant that I have been pushed into dealing with the fear of the unknown... everything really does happen for a reason... and Karen can visit her chickens and be happy in the knowledge that I have fallen in love with these comical characters...

Thank you Karen... x

On a completely different note.... Do you remember when you were little and your bed seemed huge and comfy

I envy Daniel... lol

these days I sleep fitfully and sometimes lie listening to the snoring bed partner beside me considering the merits of twin beds and possibly separate rooms! lol

if only we had a spare bedroom! ;D

Mr P, Jamie and Daniel have this chesty cough and cold thing that is doing the rounds... I seem to have a sneezy nose at the moment but no cough as of yet...

The car has died, and my brother has kindly said yes to coming and giving Daniel and I a lift to school in the morning.... I dare say I can catch a bus over to pick him up...

Life continues to throw a curve ball every now and again but everything needs balance so I am happy to deal with the rough so that I can appreciate the smooth...

and as us Brits seem to revel in the depressing and the bad side of everything and the press love the dark things and ignore the good things we have... this household will be celebrating thanks giving on Thursday and sitting down together for a roast turkey dinner, (I have even asked Mr P to get home earlier so that we can have dinner together for a change) with butternut squash, sweet potato. peas and corn on the cob... I will make an apple pie and as I am intrigued to taste some... a pumpkin pie...

Wishing you all a fabulous week

Take care

Alex

Lost in my own little world

2010-11-10T16:34:00.001Z

Thank you Rose from Second Hand Rose for thinking of me when she passed this award on... I have to admit when she contacted me to let me know it kinda kicked my arse to get me blogging again... Do pop over to see Rose she's a lovely lady and her blog its a real treasure trove...

Where have I been and what have i been up to...?

well nowhere really and not a whole hell of a lot really ...

I have been milling about in my own little world of late....

sometimes its been a nice place to be other times its been horrible and grey...

I have however been crocheting and trying to be creative but the things I am ignoring are starting to get me down...

Those jobs that you know are necessary but are no fun, never get noticed or appreciate by the anyone else... the things that are expected and demanded of you, but leave you tired and unable to do anything that you'd actually like to do...

However Mr P has finally gotten his unit... its a few miles away from us but he's all excited at the prospect of having a fairly big space to play with all his tools and gadgets and has all these fantasies of doing up cars and servicing and rebuilding his motorbikes... Can we afford it...? probably not.... do you still have to pay business rates even though its for personal use and your not going to make any income whatsoever...? oh yes... its free this year... next year we have to pay although we'll get some kinda discount... he doesn't really mind and I dare say we'll manage...and to be honest I am looking forward to having weekends to myself... I was thinking that it was going to be a bad thing but realising that I seem to stress about the children being noisy and winding him up all weekend its probably best that he's off doing his thing and at least when we do see him he'll be cheerier and hopefully more patient with the children... at least once all his stuff is shifted out of the garage I can have it removed as its an asbestos garage and has more holes than a colander... and perhaps replace it with something more useful.... perhaps a studio ... a playroom for me!

if I ever did get a space of my own... my head says I should save up for a wooden construction and plonk it on the pad where the garage is...

Something like this but a bit smaller....

however a good structure will cost a few thousands...

and my heart says "buy an old , yet watertight, caravan " and use that as a studio... at least when I have had enough I can hitch it up and go gypsy... lol

and it would be about £500 if I was lucky...

and if we ever move I can take my studio with me!

pipe dreams and day dreams are my absolute talent!

My friend Joanne has been going through old photo's and she found something very rare indeed...

pictures of me! lol

would you like to see?

now be kind and unfortunately I don't look much like these photo's anymore... I haven't grown a second head or anything its just that 2 kids and too much chocolate have left their mark over the last 14 years... lol

I popped down to Cornwall in 1996 to visit Joanne when she was working in a lovely little seaside village hotel...

I think the picture on the left was the same time but I can't be sure... memory isn't as good as it use to be and all that... well I am getting on a bit now ...

I'll be forty next August!

It's a lovely village and the old boat house that Joanne and a few other staff stayed in was right opposite the restaurant next to the sea.... I would have happily stayed there forever... shame I can't remember the name of it... see... its that dodgy memory again... lol

Well I had better shift my fat rear and get tea done and light the fire... its surprising how the temperature drops when the sun goes down...

Hope you are all well

take care

Alex

First time I have ever rung 999!

2010-10-27T13:39:00.002+01:00

Well the day started off fine... Jamie was picked up by her new friend and her mum and off they went to the cinema... Jamie was dropped back at about 3pm and all was good in the world...

Then "BANG"

I thought what on earth was that..?

thinking the kids had broken something big time to make that much noise... I poked my head out the front door and saw smoke... so I dashed out to see what was up... neighbours parked car was on the pavement blue car had hit it... hard!

dashed indoors grabbed the phone and dialed 999....

requested police... and an ambulance as the driver looked a little shook up...gave all the details and registrations of the vehicles involved...

2 SSDC council workers had stopped as well as the lady from the car behind who had witnessed the whole thing...

after the police were called I dashed indoors told the children to behave and stay indoors... made the lady that had crashed a cup of tea, grabbed my coat and with cup of tea in hand headed back outside... the lady was quite shook up and held my hand in a vice like grip as she sipped her tea...

The ambulance arrived first and took the lady into the ambulance to give her a once over...

The police arrived one directed traffic the other seemed to spend his time in his speed catching camera van... I assume checking registrations etc... I heard the one directing traffic say to the other.. " what do we do with these vehicles? we don't get them cleared any more?"

My Neighbours car had been shunted approx. 6 meters up the road... she was apparently doing 30mph...

eventually they took the witness's statement and she went on and the 2 SSDC staff had left 10 minutes earlier...

I stood and watched with my elderly neighbour from 2 doors down and then the lady involved was out of the ambulance and stood by her wreck of a car... the ambulance left... the policeman spoke to the lady telling her that she would have to call her insurance company once she gets home... and that her insurance company would send out a recovery vehicle and take her car away in a couple of hours time... he then left!

I stood there and wondered what she would do now... I asked her if she had contacted anyone to come and get her... she said no... she would have to call a taxi... I asked if she had a number for a taxi that she would prefer and she seemed very confused and managed to get me a taxi rank business card from her handbag... I phoned the taxi rank in Sherborne and they came to pick her up eventually but she was confused and I was worried... the taxi driver knew her... apparently she uses them a lot... the last time this particular taxi driver had picked her up he had to rescue her from her bathroom floor... she couldn't get up!

we both had to help her to his car, he seemed very nice and I expressed my concerns for her and he told me he would make sure she got home after she had been to the chiropodist in Yeovil...

I took the above photos for my neighbours and went indoors...

an hour later there was a knock at the door and a bloke from the recovery service was enquiring which vehicle was to be recovered... So off out I go again and explain whats happened and what he has to do... whereupon he says " I can't load that vehicle without blocking up the road and where are the police... they usually hang around to stop the traffic while I load on a busy road like this..." So I ask if he'd like me to call the police again...? he says yes please...so I wonder who would have a direct dial number for the police station...?

My mum is bound to have one... its turns out that she hasn't the direct dial number but she does have a non emergency number so I phone that ... explain the recovery drivers predicament and within 15 minutes the police officer is back.....

The car is eventually loaded and I had a chat with the police man about the driver of the blue car... I think she was partially sighted as when I handed back the business card with the number for the taxi she could not see it and it was about 10 inches from her face on the left hand side... I also mentioned that she had commented to me that she always used this taxi rank as she hadn't driven in 4 months... the Police officer looked a little concerned and said the ambulancemen had said she was fine.... however he would contact the DVLA....

He also asked that I tell my neighbours when they got home that he would be around between 6:30 and 6:45 to pass on the ladies insurance details ... its now 5 o'clock...

Well with brush and spade in hand I went back out around 5:45 to sweep up the pavement and road and await the return of my neighbours who work in Exeter... needless to say they were gutted... I popped around with the pictures at about 6:30 and the policeman had not arrived yet....

Last night I lay in bed wondering if I had done enough... cursing myself for not getting the lady a blanket... wondering if the numbness in her right hand that she was commenting about as she got in the taxi was a stroke or a delayed reaction to the accident or just the cold.... wondering if I should have somehow gotten her into the house... then realising with all the steps leading to my house that she wouldn't have made it that far...

This morning I got up and rang the Chiropodist in Yeovil where the taxi had taken her and asked the receptionist if she had arrived safely and was alright... they had thought her a little confused and also said that her vision was impaired as she emptied he bag looking for her purse and could not see it on the side to the left of her... they phoned for a taxi with the same firm in Sherborne and she was collected and I assume returned home... the receptionist said that she would ring the lady and ring me to let me know if she was okay... no phone call as of yet though and that was 4 hours ago...

I think I might ring the taxi firm as they had last contact with her... just to see if they know of any family she might have or a neighbour that could check on her...

I know I am being daft but I do worry, its just the way I was created... ;-)

I will let you all know if I hear any more!

fingers crossed she is well and hopefully will not be purchasing another car...

Update:

I have just phoned the taxi company that took the lady home after her appointment in Yeovil and they picked her up today and took her to the doctors and took her home again and she's okay...

phew.... thank goodness for that!

I shall sleep easier tonight! lol

x Alex

Monday Bloghop.... and a continuation of an idea

2010-10-25T16:33:00.001+01:00

Jabacue over at Ocean Breezes has posted a simple post and I want to run with it!

however my photo's are not as stunning as his... lol

Your beliefs become your thoughts
Your thoughts become your words
Your words become your actions
Your actions become your habits
Your habits become your values
Your values become your destiny'

Mahatma Gandhi

I believe there is good in everyone and everything even though sometimes you may have to look really hard to see it and it might be tiny and somewhat insignificant but that seed of good can grow and blossom if given the right help and support ..

My thoughts are therefore are of kindness, patience and love. Of slowing down and actually seeing everything around me, to value what I have instead of coveting what I don't....

My words are supportive, polite and hopefully truthful and kind. I see less point in speaking negatively, it serves no purpose other to lower other peoples spirits and you gain nothing from these outburst... its the emotional equivalent of a chocolate bar... you feel good for 5 minutes and then feel drained and low for the rest of the day... realising that you shouldn't have done or said what you did...

My actions are clear and yet this is where I sometimes stumble... I sometimes lapse into self centered moments of selfishness...but I realise that these moments of self protection are caused by people who take ... they drain you and give nothing in return... have you ever met someone who after you have spent some time with them you feel exhausted... like your spirit and energies have been stripped from your core?

This is where I find myself on the journey to being a content human being..

My habits are changing and I am discarding bad habits as quickly as I can without loosing direction and purpose.. this is also a work in progress....

My Values are clear and to be honest totally achievable with hard work and perseverance....

After all the good things in life are worth the effort ...

My destiny.... will become clear .... eventually!

Just returned from our welly walk...

(thats what they call it when they don their wellies and go out for a stroll at Daniels school!)

and the dog, Daniel and I are now happily tired....

Jamie has returned from town, her new bus buddy (whose birthday is the day before Jamie's) popped around at 1pm and her mum and dad dropped them into town then picked them up again and returned her home for 4:15... She bought Daniel a teddy bear! ahhhhhh

so I had better have a cuppa and clear up and get ready for tea...

Sometimes the joys of parenting and housekeeping elude me and I wonder what its all about...

I thank all you amazing wonderful people for keeping my minds eye focused on the bigger picture

take care

Alex

2010-10-23T21:35:00.001+01:00

I started crocheting these Christmas bauble beaded stars last year...

I gave one to my Aunt for Christmas inside a hamper of goodies and I have just posted a red one to my blog land friend Lisa (Lisa Ridgeon Originals)

The pattern was from an issue of Crochet world... I think it was last December issue...

I have 3 pearlised white ones to bead up and a gold one from last year that was never completed, I think from one ball of coats sparkly crochet thread I can get 4 stars...

Last year I bought the beads from a bead shop in town and at anything from 20p to £1.20 each it was a bit expensive... this year I have bought some beads from China so hopefully they'll be a little more affordable to make... but you know me and sparkly things .. lol

Lisa (Lisa Ridgeon Originals) made some bits and bobs for a bazaar she's doing and I fell in love with an IPhone pouch and note book she had made in this lovely cute woodland fabric... needless to say I bought them.. I do so love having things around me that my friends have made... I think its because I know its been made with care and thought and love...

included in my delivery was this beautiful Origami bird... I dare say with a fair few hours of swearing and cursing I could make them myself but I have asked her to make me 9 for my Christmas tree this year... obviously I will pay for them but how wonderful it will be to see something on my tree that has been hand made by a good friend.... and come January I shall wrap them up in tissue paper and keep them safe till next Christmas...

I think the one above will be on display all year round... I also have one large bird and 2 small birds that decorate my mirror in the lounge that Lisa sent me before when I bought felt cakes and last Halloweens ghosts... I do like birds...

Another picture of Rachel's (Contented) mug mat... fantastic isn't it!

I have been learning a new crochet stitch which when I was reading the pattern made no sense to me at all... however I have now mastered the trinity stitch and if they had just said "crochet 3 together" I would have grasped what the hell they were going on about much quicker! lol

So I shall leave you now with all these creative makes by 2 of my bestest bloggy buddies and I would just like to thank you all for being my friends...

I do so love and appreciate you all

it would appear that I have been blogging for 2 years so I think a give away will soon be in order

once I have sent out a very late and delayed swap parcel...

oops!

big hugs to you all

Alex

Working my way back....

2010-10-22T15:21:00.001+01:00

Last Night was Daniel's first school Disco... A "Halloween" disco and the first school event I have been able to drop a child at and leave... as I usually have helped out or organised or been involved in doing some aspect... it was wonderful to just be "a parent!" and as I walked away I hoped Daniel would enjoy himself and I headed for the pub across the road for an hour and 15 minutes drinking time with Mr P.... what a strange experience... being "a normal parent" and not a PTA Parent...do you know what...? I LIKED IT! lol

I am going to stick to my guns and not get involved this year and have a break from it all... they have a "new team" of energy filled mums and I am sure they will have as much fun doing it as I did... read into that what you will.... ;D

I won a giveaway over at Contented and Rachel posted me this lovely hand made mug mat and a scrummy bar of chocolate and a little notebook... which the last time I saw it was firmly grasped in Daniels little hand.. probably never to be seen again as he does love to squirrel things away... can't think who he takes after! ;D

Isn't it lovely... ?

I have made my art deco writing bureau into a laptop desk and it sits lovely on top with my cuppa.... I am stunned that I haven't tucked into the chocolate yet... but its early days... it only the first day of the half term holidays ! lol

thank you sooooo much Rachel... you're one very clever and lovely lady!

Last Sunday Mr P and I woke early to a lovely frost and as the children were staying at nanny's (they went to watch Yeovil play football on the Saturday... Daniel curled up on the seat next to nanny and went to sleep... he finds football a little boring! lol) anyway I digress ... Mr P and I went foraging for Sloes... we found a few and returned to make Sloe gin...

Over the past few weeks I have been a real martyr and I have been drinking local cider to get the empty bottles... (wink, wink.... hiccup!)

So after half filling with gin... I started pricking the sloes and popping them in the bottle when the gin neared the top of the bottle we added 150g of sugar... popped the lid on and gave it a shake... trouble was we ran out of sloes... so we headed out again and found a ton of Blackthorn bushes and returned to carry on the manufacturing of Christmas yumyness.... the next problem arose when we ran out of gin... so as I was going to pick up the children anyway I popped in a few shops and tracked down some gin that I didn't need a second mortgage to buy... (so expensive!)

anyway once I arrived home with 2 tired children and bags of gin... (I have no clue what the neighbours must have thought!) and the production continued... Daniel helped weigh and add sugar Jamie helped liding and shaking bottles and now we have enough sloe gin to fill 12 pint bottles.... y-u-u-mmy!

I had to clear 2 shelves to store it till Christmas...

This was a sunrise I captured from Jamie's bedroom window... I do love these crisp mornings and now we have the fire lit and the colours of Autumn are in flow I am in my element... I am not a summer person... being a Leo I love the colours of Autumn...

A quick update on Jamie and the bus situation... I can't remember if I mentioned it but I sent an email to our MP last month regarding my feelings and findings regarding the treatment I received with the school bus... I made clear to Mr Laws that I didn't expect him to get anything sorted just that he might like to know what happens in the day to day lives of his constituents and the bureaucratic hoops we have to jump through and stomach... well last Monday I received a letter from the House of Commons... from Mr Laws and he stated that he had passed my comment onto Somerset County Council... that afternoon I received a phone call from SCC and long story short I was offered a seat on the bus.... just goes to prove that complaining to a person in a position to do something who actually makes the effort to use their powers for good... can make a difference! ... I have to giggle but today I phoned back SCC and turned down the place as Jamie is loving the trip to school on the Service bus... she has made a friend too... a girl that lives in Yeovil goes to a private school in the next Village on from Castle Cary and her mum and dad now drop her at the same stop as Jamie... So I have to admit that from this experience I have learnt to trust my daughter and that everything happens for a reason... Jamie has become a little less annoying ... and a little more loving... and a little more responsible for herself... I am now trying to teach her some street smarts and hopefully all will be good... for a little while anyway...lol

Well I will try to keep it a little shorter between posts... but I have been busy crocheting and loving my full days to myself.. Daniel started school full time this week... its lovely!

Have a fabulous weekend

take care

Alex

Naughty National Trust

2010-10-12T17:30:00.001+01:00

Wonderful beech trees in the field next door to Fyne Court... I love beech trees...

Now I know that regardless of it being as expected or being a bit of a disappointment a trip out and about is better than being stuck at home doing the chores...

but when you get very few days to yourself to do something that "you" want to do its really quite annoying when a place is advertised as something its not its a little frustrating when you have travelled for over an hour to get there and its not very well sign posted

.... Joanne and I decided to go to Stourhead again... and I (foolishly) suggested we try a new national trust venue called Fyne Court in Bloomfield in between Taunton and Bridgewater...

The National Trust say:

A real hidden Somerset gem, back under Trust management. Originally designed as the pleasure grounds of the Crosse family and the pioneer 19th-century electrician Andrew Crosse. Spend a magical day walking through the woodland garden, before meandering through bluebell-filled copses and the delightful meadows on the wider estate

Don't miss

Walk through an enchanting landscape with folly and boathouse.
Learn about the scientist Andrew Crosse, 'thunder and lightning man'.
Visit our nature reserve and follow our nature trails.

Now I fully understand that it is October and the leaves are falling from the trees and that the bluebells will not be flowering but this place was a real mess

I think this is the folly....

I am pleased with this image of the window... I would liked to have gone further in but the doorway was barricaded with red and white stripey tape and the roof didn't look too safe... I think I might get this one printed and use it for reference for a pencil drawing... perhaps add a candle stick or something...

It is in a pretty bad state of dereliction with rubbish and graffiti on the walls... the windows are broken...

This tower has some kind of metal wheels and ironwork in the middle so it might house the controls for the sluice gates for the pleasure boating river that they believe the Crosse family built to boat on and to feed the 5 ponds in the lower part of the garden... the other tower is being used to store really old roof tiles... maybe from the boat house and piles of something covered in dusty paper...

The boating lake/river is overgrown and empty of water... at the end of this is a lovely little boat house and its roof has gone and its full of silt and mud...

we bumped into 2 girls that worked for the National trust and they had a couple of grass rakes and were heading along the "boating lake path" to rake the leaves off the paths... after talking to them we found out that a national wildlife society (can't remember exactly what it was called!) has run it for the last 30 or so years as a nature reserve... and the National Trust took over its management last year... the NT must have leased or rented it to the wildlife people as it says on the nerdnet that the NT have owned it for 37 years...the walled garden is a mess and the five ponds are full of silt and very overgrown... the water looks stagnant and as its in a valley between the hills it feels very cold and a little sad...
in fact I wish I had taken photo's to share with you but, you'll think me weird but it felt so sad I just wanted to get out... large clumps of brambles are taking over and the trees are chaotic and self seeded...
I realise its good to have natural landscapes and it would be wrong to turn it into a formal garden but a wild woodland garden would suit this spot... but leaving something to go naturally wild is different to managing a wildlife woodland...it takes work and effort and knowledge and an ability to know when to stop and not go too far...
it will take an awful amount of work and money to get it up to scratch... its not an easy place to get to and as a source of revenue and income I think its probably not a viable venture, such a shame... there is a garden under all the chaos that someone put a lot of thought and effort into and it has been lost...

Joanne was a little disappointed too...

I think if the National Trust had advertised it as "a project in progress" or even that the garden was being re-worked it would not have been so disappointing...

I suppose this is one of those incidents of learning that to slow down you have to learn to appreciate the small things as well as the splendid wonderfully huge things... Stourhead is a wonderfully huge manicured beauty of a garden and house... this was one of the small things.. unloved and discarded... maybe one day it will be loved again....

In an attempt to save the day and take Joanne somewhere that would raise her spirits I called into Montacute House... it said closed on the gate... but I thought "nah... it can't be!" so I drove straight on in... parked up... we got out and wandered towards the reception... the door was closed but the gate to the gardens was open... as were both members and wouldn't have to pay anyway we walked on through....

The driveway leading to Montacute house

Joanne had never been there... we wander around the back of the house and commented on how quiet it was .... that's when we realised it was really closed after all! lol

So we will pop back there again tomorrow...

I am not a great lover of formal gardens.. I much prefer a more natural wild garden but the architecture is amazing so hopefully I will find a few bits and bobs to photograph... ;D

big hugs to you all

Alex

Lovely day....

2010-10-11T08:21:00.001+01:00

Front garden bird feeder.....

Up at 6am and it felt surprisingly good...

I have always been a bit of a night owl but I can see the benefit and merit of getting up early and going to bed a bit earlier...

well its 8am and I would normally be herding the children into the car picking up bags, asking all the usual questions... do you need the loo..? have you got your coat... lunch money.... PE kit..... homework...?

This morning there was a lovely sunrise (typical! lol) and Jamie, Daniel and I waited for the bus and once the driver decided that Jamie was really only 12 (can anyone suggest a type of proof of age that bus drivers will accept?) I paid £16 for a weekly ticket.... and warned her not to loose it!

So off she went, looking pretty pleased with herself and she should be back about quarter to five tonight... I am really quite excited as it will mean I can actually get tea and they can eat at a reasonable hour and perhaps get to bed at a better time...

last night they were up late... its quite funny to listen to a 4 year old and a 12 year old talking to their dad at the back door about the stars and the planets... it was a beautiful clear night last night...

well I had better get going ... its 10 past 8 and I have a packed lunch to make... school dinners today was not suitable for Daniel... he wouldn't have eaten any of the selection today... but he'll have cooked for the rest of the week....

Thanks for all your kind words and support and whhhoooooo hoooooo I am not driving the 44 mile school run today... all I have to do is 12 miles with Daniel... yay!

big hugs to you all...

Alex

Update:

I have been to town and bought a new waterproof fleece, walking boots and some walking socks...

unfortunately I parked in a silly car park near a bead shop and I bought beads... but hey these things happen and I am sure I will deal with my addiction for sparkly shiny things one day...

is their a "magpie's anonymous"?

My name is Alex.... and I ... sob sob sniff... buy shiny sparkly things... hangs head in shame!

and even more good news....

I won Rachel's giveaway... its not the euro millions but it has made me just as happy... I love her work and the little coaster will have pride of place next to my chair... Thank you Rachel... me thinks with this sort of luck I should buy a lottery ticket this week! lol

if you should feel a slight tremor it isn't an earthquake its just ME doing a happy dance in her new walking boots! ;D

and I don't have to drive anywhere at all for the rest of the day!

Hooooooo-RAY!

hugs and stuff

Alex

Early bird catches the sunrise....

2010-10-09T14:28:00.000+01:00

Unfortunately the sunrise was not to be....

it was dark and a little windy at 5:30am, I was ready to be picked up at 6:30am by my buddy Joanne and we drove to Sparkford to try and catch a sunrise after parking Joannes car and climbing a gate and wandering through someones field in the dark, avoiding dark patches on the ground suspecting them to be sheep poo and giggling like giddy girls we eventually made it to the spot that I had viewed a beautiful sunrise the day before during my school run but unfortunately the sunrise was a no show. Misty, windy and total cloud cover obliterated it from our view.

Unperturbed we jumped back into Sparky (Joannes car!) and drove around the countryside chatting like a couple of teenagers looking for inspiration... it was a misty windy morning and although we are promised some clearing skies later today our spirits were not dampened...

After all we were "out!" no breakfasts, beds, drinks or conversations to make with children or partners, just a couple of girls out on an adventure with a flask of tea (thanks Joanne!) and a couple of muesli bars.... the wind in our hair and a smile on our faces....

After our random lane driving and reversing as we came face to face with bemused farmers in their monstrous vehicles we laughed as we looked for somewhere to go... maps discarded we happened across a sign for King Alfred's Tower... so we headed towards that...

Damp, windy, misty and beautiful....

we headed for the woods that surround the peninsula.... feet getting damper as we traipsed through the long wet grass... still chatting with the odd click of camera's and watching out for mud and puddles...

What a wonderful way to spend Saturday morning and I think with a few more mornings like this I might be able to re balance my equilibrium., re-center my mind and start to be me again.... I could have stayed longer but I had to be home at a sensible time so that Mr P and Jamie could do a trial run on the bus to Ansford so that she's ready for Monday morning when she'll be making her own way to school...

I was home by 10am and everyone had coped... the house was still standing... and Daniel (at least) missed me! lol

I can sit and plan my next day out, which will be Tuesday when Daniel has a full day at school... I have even bought walking maps so that I can see more of the place that I live in and yet never explore

Thank you Joanne for joining me on my little jolly it was lovely to have someone to chat and prat around with... its good to be a wally every once in a while! lol

Hope you all having a lovely weekend

Chat again soon

Alex

Thank you all sooooo much

2010-10-07T08:06:00.000+01:00

you are so lovely and kind and your words have helped me so much....

just a quick round up of whats going on....

I feel good today and that's a really big deal for me! lol

After the "bad" day I think the fact that I told Mr P that it just wasn't working and that Jamie would have to move schools and pull up her socks or things were only going to get worse was the first step

the next step was that Jamie was given a choice for the time being of earning the things that she believes are her god given right to own... for example she wants a laptop... fair enough but were not paying for the whole thing... she has to save half and we'll pay the other half... her solution was to not eat lunch and keep her lunch money... she even went to the canteen to find out what was for lunch so she could tell me the right thing when I asked her what she'd had.... she is willing to gain money by deceit but not willing to earn it with simple chores... make your bed, walk the dog, wash up etc.... she cried, Mr P shouted and then calmed down and we tried reasoning with her.... all we got was the shoulder shrug and the daft look on her face... probably a normal teenager thing!

Anyway she will be catching the normal bus that goes through the village and she will have to catch it at 7:30am and she'll have to get off at the right stop... Mr P will be doing a dry run with her on Saturday to make sure she knows where to get off... but perhaps a little responsibility is what she needs.... allegedly she is going to help out more around the house but at the moment she is still sleeping through her alarm and I am having to chase around after her... so we will see....

I decided as yesterday morning was nice to pop to the garden center, I do so love to be amongst plants and living things they seem to energise me and I met a friend to have a cup of tea and a slice of cake....

I bought some tins of biscuits and fudge for Christmas gifts ( I love pretty tins!) and then I headed off to pick up Daniel...

oh my goodness look at the time.... 8am... gotta go... school run to do....

chat again later!

love you all so much and thank you for your support and words of love and kindness!

x Alex

Lost it big time this morning....

2010-10-05T10:39:00.000+01:00

Jamie is at the age where if its not her mess why should she pick it up....

So while I was grabbing a few bits before flying out the door this morning to do the school run I could hear her out on the drive mythering on at Daniel about his tissues that he left on the back seat of the car.... first thing that crosses my mind is " oh damn, I didn't pick up those tissues" because after all everything around here is my responsibility

as I continued to listen to her go on at Daniel a switch in my head clicked and I was annoyed....

She could have just picked them up and put them in the wheelie bin next to the car....

not her mess though!

so why be helpful to me?

Unfortunately by the time I got to the car I lost it and it all flowed out...

Last night she asked that I go on Amazon and buy her 2 more books by the time I came down from putting Daniel to bed at 8pm she had left Amazon on the laptop and the books in question on the screen...

this is a girl that doesn't tidy her room or keep it tidy, moans if I ask her to walk the dog, can't be bothered to play with her 4 year old brother (who thinks she's the best thing since sliced bread) tells "white" lies to get out of anything that she doesn't fancy doing and yet I am to be hounded in my own bed at 10 o'clock last night by her asking if I had bought them for her... Mr P nearly hits the roof and I point out to Jamie that she should be in bed and now is not the time...

This is a twelve year old girl that begs me not to move her to another school as she has "friends" and yet she spent the whole of the summer holidays at her nanny's or here and didn't make an effort to contact any of these "friends" for 6 weeks...

Well I start out on my daily routine this morning driving in a not too good a mood... livid would cover it I suppose.... luckily my guardian angel sent speed restricting traffic to cool my driving and save us from ending up flipped over in the hedge... However by the time I reach Sparkford it all falls apart...

Before you enter the village of Sparkford there is a garage and a Mc Donald's on the A303 a road runs behind this garage and if you don't want to go around the roundabout you can nip along this fairly narrow 2 lane road... there are houses on the right of me and the garage is on the other side of a hedge on the left...

Children waiting for the school bus to Ansford wait in a gap in the hedge... they have a habit of leaning forward into the road which is frankly dangerous.. and last week they laid debris, branches etc across the road which I luckily veered around as there was no traffic coming the other way...

This morning however I was not in a mood to ignore the item thrown at my car as I passed and if I hadn't been in such a state I would have probably found some humour in their horrified faces as I screeched to a halt and reversed back up to them.... Jamie slowly died in the back seat of the car as I put on the hazard lights got out of the car and went to have a "chat " with these youngsters...

I was so annoyed that I quite frankly can't remember what I said ... I am pretty sure it was swear word free and although ranting I think it was semi coherent! lol

I am sick of people putting up with this kind of behaviour, I am sick of fully grown adults being too worried about the consequences of dealing with these stupid children... if there parents want a word with me "bring it on!" While they are in a school uniform they are an advert and a reflection on that school they can be 11 miles from school but they should behave like they are at school... mind you considering some of the tales I have heard from Jamie about mass fights in a part of the school that is not watched over by teachers perhaps this is how they behave at school...

I further embarrassed Jamie as I pulled up outside the front of school turned off the engine and went into school to apologise for loosing it with their pupils and to make them aware of their behaviour while waiting for their bus... by this time I was almost in tears... and I left my name, and someone will be calling me later...

I am tired, I am low, I am really fed up...

I manged to drive a few miles out of Ansford before I had to pull over and have a good cry... Daniel was a little confused asking whats wrong Mummy...?

but after a couple of minutes I took a few deep breaths and made it back to Queen Camel in time to get Daniel into school.... after buying him another school jumper as he used the sleeve of his jumper as a hanky yesterday and I ran out of time to wash it and get it dry last night... I stood in the playground and held it together behind my sunglasses...

I know its only a car trip, and i feel pathetic that I can't cope with it but its just so ... oh I don't know... I can't even think of the words...

Next week they have decided that the nursery children can stay all day on Tuesday and Wednesday, so at least I have something to look forward to.... I can only assume being a parent comes more naturally to some than others... one lady at school is expecting her 6th child and the 5 she already has are all under 7years old... and she seems to revel in being a mum or do these people go home and cry and scream and shout and feel tired all the time and are just as screwed up as me...? she is 9 years younger than me so perhaps I would have coped better 9 years ago... or perhaps I am just selfish wanting time during the day to myself and begrudging taxiing my kids around the countryside...

Perhaps my oldest brother has it right

"I am not having children as it will interfere with my lifestyle"

should that have been my motto 12 years ago?

I am sure the good times should be balancing out the rough times... do I have a torrent of good times to come my way? or am I just too tired to notice these good times happening around me?

Sorry to be so down, but this is my space to air my thoughts and if I do end up flip side in a hedge then at least you'll all know why, I have noticed that people around me have stopped asking the "how are you?" question its official ...

I have become a bore! the emotional leper...

People around here are eager to know me when I can run and organise a fete or serve teas and coffees in the village cafe or help with arts and crafts at the pre-school but once you are worn out and unable to function in the way that they require of you its small talk and subject changing... looking the other way during a conversation to break to topic... Your not being the person they want you to be and that's not comfortable or desired

Why in our society is showing emotions a weakness? why are we shunned the minute we show a flaw or inability to cope...?

The old boy down the road is shunned by neighbours because he is old, cantankerous and lonely and suffering from Parkinson's disease... he is constantly being ripped off by woman of all ages offering him support and comfort in return for him paying for this and that.... he spent over an hour Saturday sat in my kitchen shakily drinking a cup of tea... he cried, he talked, he laughed and I listened...

perhaps that's my problem I listen to people... I attract the lonely and the fed up, perhaps like attracts to like...

Mr P was not impressed, he rolls his eyes every time I spend time befriending the strangers that are ignored by the many...

Friday I picked Mr P up from work and I popped into Asda while Mr P and the children sat in the car and waited, when I came out after grabbing a few essentials it was lashing it down with rain... I had a vague idea where Mr P was parked but headed for the bus shelter half way across the car park... an elderly lady stood there muttering and cursing as the shelter provided no cover as the roof wasn't deep enough and too high, while I stood scanning the car park for Mr P I chatted to her about the state of things today and I listened to her rant... she ended it with a smile and an apology for being a grumpy old lady... but at least I had listened and she felt that she had been heard...

So on that note I apologise for being a middle aged grump, I am smiling at you all and I thank you for listening...

xxxx

Alex

Just checking in....

2010-10-04T12:35:00.000+01:00

I am still walking, breathing and driving 50 miles a day... thought I had better just pop in and let you all know that I am still around! lol

I won't bore you with all the dreary details as I am fed up with mythering on about it... but I have to be quick as Daniel needs collecting at 12:50 and it takes 15 minutes to get there...Daniel has 2 more weeks of half days and then he starts full days.... to be honest he's ready now... but I do love the way he runs towards me with his arms spread wide saying "Mu-u-m-mmy!" little things like that make my on off day almost bearable...

The sun is shining outside and I am pondering what to do for the hour and three quarters before picking up Jamie.... we have had a lot of rain and everything is very wet... I suppose I really aught to come home and start getting tea ready but the blue skies and sunshine are calling me to be out in the fresh air recharging my flat battery...

I have been creating so I will take some pictures later and post them...

and a little thank you to Mother of Purl for dropping me a line through Ravelry...

I suppose if I change my perspective things will eventually look up.... just need the umpf to get up and make that difference in my life... and perhaps if I just accept the cost and the travelling and the tiredness then it might become easier... ;D

One quick funny though!

I did a big Chicken roast dinner yesterday and as I took the chicken out of the rottisserie and laid it on the carving plate Daniel came into the kitchen... he poked his nose over the edge of the counter top and stared intently at the chicken.... then with a inquiring voice he asked

"is that chicken dead?"

I heard Mr P choke on his cup of tea in the lounge and I answered

"yes, its dead..."

whereupon he inquired...

"why have you chopped off its feet and head?"

I told him that they are like that in the shop where I bought it and that we don't eat the head and the feet, his reply was

"oh... we only eat its body don't we?"

and then he told me he didn't want any, he'd just have some yorkshire puddings and peas and sweetcorn....

I realise yorkshire puddings are usually served up with beef but this young man would eat them for breakfast if he could! lol

well my alarm has bleeped on my phone... had to start doing that as I fell asleep one morning a week or so ago and was 15 minutes late picking him up!

woops!

Hello you.... how the devil are you...?

2010-09-17T17:01:00.000+01:00

Feeling good I hope....

Me ?

oh I am fine....

thank you for asking ....

I do so love all you caring, sharing, lovely people...

a few things are still preying on my mind but life is too short to bore you with the daily grind and grief of living in the grey areas of this strange little thing called "life" and to delve too deeply into the question "what exactly is the point of it all" would open a can of worms that is, in my humble opinion, on a par with Pandora's box.... to be honest I think I am one Prozac short of a smile these days as it is...

We have had a visit from the Pope, not personally I mean the country I live in... now I have no real religious beliefs and to be honest the Government have never asked me how I think they should spend our hard earned taxes so I have little opinion to share on that issue either... but I have a question for people that have religion in their lives... are your lives easier? do you have to deal with the everyday rubbish that seems to be filling up my life at the moment? or does God (whomever he/she might be) shelter you from these like a giant umbrella?

I don't know why I have no religion... could be that my parents were not that way inclined... I did go to Sunday school with my friend... I enjoyed the colouring in and the bible stories were good... I have always been brought up to consider others and mind my manners which a lady on the radio yesterday said was the root of Catholicism... and I live my life in a considerate and community based manner... perhaps if I didn't analyse everything so much I might have religion in my life... I have no clue where I am going with this! lol

I almost watched a programme about the designing and building of a Malaysian garden that won a gold at Chelsea and the plants man went to Malaysia to research his designs.... he stayed in a small Malaysian village and everyone lived in a very tight knit community where the consequences of your actions and the repercussions they may cause to your friends and family were far more important than your own needs... it was a way of life that does not seem to exist in the bigger part of the modern world.... Unfortunately I didn't see the end of the programme as I was putting the kids to bed...

Well this week has been a tough one... Daniel was sick on Sunday afternoon... he was fine in himself but I followed the 48 hour rule for returning to school after vomiting and Daniel stayed home Monday and Tuesday... and as I was full of cold too Jamie stayed off school as I didn't feel well enough to drive... They are both back to school now and the commuting has begun again... I rang Somerset County Council today and after talking to 5 different departments I was informed the lady I need to speak to is off today and that she'll ring me back on Monday... knowing my luck I will be out driving when she rings... I think I will give them my mobile number in future ...lol and the ever growing pessimist taking up residence in my being thinks that the phone call will not come anyway... I shall ring again on Monday..

I think the half term "Halloween Holidays" will be the crunch time... I have to set myself a deadline to make a decision as I cannot keep going with no end in sight... at least if she moves school it will just mean a new tie as the rest of the uniform is the same... my only concern is that Jamie isn't good at making new friends, she's not the most sociable of girls and currently spends most of her time being moody and teenager - ee.... not a lot of fun... Daniel is loving school and now has lunch at school the week before half term he will start full days so I will be half an hour later picking up Jamie as I can't be in 2 places at the same time... but at least my day will be longer and I can get more stuff done...

I still haven't sorted out hte chickens but my cousin has some hybrids available next week so I think I might take a look and see if they appeal... I think I will get 3 and if I don't get on and sort it out then it'll never happen! lol Mr P was worried about what would happen when we go on holiday... as we have never had a holiday I am not sure whether he was joking or promising me a holiday next year... lol

So much to do and not sure where to start...

but at least its FRIDAY!

we are having a Chinese and a bottle of wine (or 2) as a treat perhaps that will ease the neck and shoulder pain that seems to have struck ... I think its just tense muscles but perhaps some hard labour in the garden clearing and sorting will loosen me up a bit...

well I had better go and get on with the washing up...

wishing you all fantastic weekends and I hope the sun shines on you wherever you may be

take care

Alex

I could cry.... for all the wrong reasons!

2010-09-10T09:45:00.005+01:00

This is not a reason to cry...
Maybe I am a hard hearted mother but I have no fears or concerns about my beautiful boy going to school... he's ready and it is the next step in him becoming a balanced self sufficient young man... there were no tears, no sobbing and clinging to each other ...
I said "bye, seeya later!"... he waved, smiled and blew me a kiss!

That was Thursday... Friday was the same and for a treat Saturday afternoon we went to the seaside for tea....

Still no real reason for tears I hear you say!

yep you'd be right!

So what possibly could be wrong?

Driving!

I have come to realise that driving is not my "thang"... this could explain why I never jumped at the chance of being a rep or long distance lorry driver...

The school run is officially killing me.... but I think the biggest downer is the fact that I cannot see a light at the end of the tunnel... Somerset County Council have basically told me its "not their problem" and that I chose for my daughter to go to a school outside the catchment area. They are not required to accommodate these children within the school transport system... she's welcome to a seat on the bus if there's one spare and they will kindly take the £550.00 a year but if there's no spare seats.... tough luck!

With this in mind there is little point Jamie (12 year old daughter) continuing at this smaller, much nicer, friendlier Secondary School as I can't afford the £70 a week in fuel to get her there and back.... and there is little point Daniel attending Queen Camel village school that is so much nicer than Yeovil's Infant schools....

It would appear that because we can't afford to live in the villages further away from Yeovil (we are in the first village out!) that my children do not qualify for assistance to get them to school... we don't claim benefits, tax credits and we don't expect free hand outs we don't even expect a free bus ride... we are happy to pay £550.00 for Jamie to go to school in an area where her friends go and where the school treats the children as individuals and not just one of the masses...

The kick in the teeth is when the powers that be quite frankly don't give a donkeys dick for the tax paying hard working population that live in the fringes of the "catchment" area of all those wonderful rules and regulations...

My mental health should not be suffering due to an issue over a school for my daughter, its ridiculous that this is causing me so much upset... there are people out there in much worse crisis than me... homeless, starving, abused and on and on.....

and the system abusers just keep going and take more and more, for example another family living purely on benefits neither parents have ever worked and as they now have 8 children the council are knocking 2 houses into one... last week it was a family of 12 that had 2 houses knocked into one...

trying to live by the rules is pointless and depressing!

Perhaps I should just cut back on something else (not sure what though, we have never had a holiday) and pay the £2,700 in fuel this year to get Jamie to school after all her education and future is worth it... maybe I will eventually get use to driving 50 miles a day...

isn't that what we do?

keep plugging away and live with the bureaucratic bull sh*t... what with that and our amazing talent at queuing that's what makes us fabulously English!

Well if you have made it this far I commend you
and I apologise for having a rant

I am just tired

on a more cheerful note...
would you like to see the downside of having a stainless steel worktop?

The culprit of course is!

The kitchen is almost done and I shall reveal it to you all soon...

well its 11 O'clock and I have half an hour before I have to go and pick up Daniel... next week he'll be having lunch at school so it will be a 1pm pick up... after Halloween Daniel will start full days at school... so at least the school run will be 6 miles less a day... lol

big hugs to you all and I hope you are all well
take care
Alex
x

Versatile? aw shucks... do you think so?

2010-09-03T13:57:00.006+01:00

I have received an award from the lovely Jacey at Coffee n Crochet thank you ! I love her blog and the crochet creations , charity shop finds, hedgerow foraging and scrummy cakes..... a real mixed bag of a blog....

now I have to do 3 things...

thank the award giver...... check!
tell you 7 interesting things about myself.... oh crumbs!
and give the award to 15 fellow blogger's..... okaly dokaly!

now let me see!

1.
even though I have always stated "team player" on all my CV's I really much prefer to get on and do a job by myself... firm believer in " if you want something done properly.... do it yourself!"

2.
Having 3 older brothers I have always veered away from being a "girly girl" but I have in the past year or 2 I have accepted that I love pretty things... and am starting to be the real me... pleasing myself rather than anyone else....

3.
I use to be totally ambidextrous and could write perfectly with both hands... when I was little my teachers told me to only write with my right hand but I still do most things with either hand...

4.
I have a fear of heights but would love to go up in a hot air balloon

5.
I can roller skate, ski, trampoline, ballroom dance, ride a bicycle and swim
(not all at the same time though!)

6.
I cannot stand Marmite... but I love Mr P enough to make him a Marmite sandwich

7.
I love Reese's Nutrageous bars, if I find them in a shop I buy 3 or 4 and hide them at home...

now for the 15 lucky award winners.... let me see!

1. Ratbag
This lady has had her share of ups and downs and her blog is a mixture of what is going on in this amazing ladies life...and random funny thoughts and happenings... love you Taz, hope your feeling better soon....

2. Sweet Locus Lane Farm
I love this blog for its recipes, its full of real life in a Country I would love to visit and/or live in one day...

3. Cally's Cottage
Such a lovely blog and she loves the same things as me... especially the house in Practical Magic...

4. Menopausal musing
Cathy is a wonderful lady always a supportive word and her posts are amusing sometimes obscure but always wonderful

5. Somerset Seasons
Such a love of nature and the world around us, she helps to keep me grounded and connected with the world around me, sharpening my eyes to notice the un-noticed...

6. Down East Doing Stuff
an amazing artist and posts about the most hilarious goings on at times yet also shares the real stuff... I am loving getting to know this lady and her "birdman" husband

7. Gambits View
This Lady is such a star... through thick and thin and through pain and poorly health she still keeps smiling and crochet and knits her way through life... and she makes me think outside the box and I love her for it! big hugs to you, hope your feeling better today!

8. Marigold Jam
A lovely lady living in my neck of the woods, we will have to meet up one day soon! lol
with amazing childhood memories and a varied content blog ... superb!

9. A Bun Can dance
Denise is a wonderful lady who also opens my eyes to seeing things from a different perspective... and I appreciate this especially when my eyes are a little foggy

10. One day at a time
now this lady is definitely keeping it real... there's no beating around the bush with this gal... lol
I love stopping by for a visit and checking out what she up to on the other side of the pond...

11. Serendipity, Raindrops and Roses
I love this blog and back reading about her visit to England while accompanying a friend was so exciting to read about a visitors view of the place where you live... so many differing creative talents and a lovely lady to boot!

12.Dollytub Cottage
what a hoot this mad cap lady is... she's started an agony aunt service too! lol love her to bits!

13. Itch2Stitch
Do you remember the illustrations in the old Enid Blyton or Milly Molly Mandy books? this wonderful lady paints pictures just like those and she embroiders them too and the antics of her and George are hilarious at times... big hugs to you Susie and happy holidays in London...

14. Smilernpb
Nicola has become a good friend since we did a swap many moons ago... and her blog covers the trials and tribulations of being a mum of 3, when she has any spare time she makes some fantastic felt and cross stitch pieces too! I have a beautiful owl and a flowery button badge (that's on my bag!) and seaside cross stitch picture... Hi Nicola!

15. Roman Sock
Now this blog is fairly new to me I came across it when I was searching for a tortoise crochet pattern and her amigurumi patterns are amazing and I love how she brushes the yarn to make the animals fluffy and cute.... so much talent....

16. Snippity Gibbet
this lady is amazing and her creations with a piece of paper and a pair of scissors are so beautiful... I dearly wish she were teaching art to my children such creativeness is a joy to behold..

17. Mary Poppins
Now I don't know how she does it but this lady is "connected!" and she hosts the most amazing giveaways... and she's a fabulous crafty lady too making wonderful creations... I am currently working on a swap parcel for her and I hope to have it posted very soon... trouble is I have fallen out of love with the creation I have made her .. do you ever do that? and I think tomorrow morning I will make something different! lol

18. Lisa Ridgeon Originals
I love Lisa's creations I have many items that she has made from cakes to Halloween creations... a very friendly person who I promise I will meet up with one day... lol

19. Contented
Rachel is fabulous blogger and I love her little felt birdie brooches that she makes (I have just bought 2 more... lol) and her blog is full of scrummy fabric and creations... today I am wearing an orange birdie brooch... and I always get comments about them... the others adorn my bag... be a shame to leave them at home! lol

20. oh my goodness I was only suppose to do 15! lol

I love all of my fellow bloggers for a whole host of different reasons... I always follow people who follow me and I always add you to my side bar... I may not always comment but I try to as often as I can...

take care all you lovely scrummy people
and have a wonderful weekend where ever you may be!

I will be back next week with the comings and goings of Daniels first days at school and the final reveal on the kitchen

Morning all...

2010-08-28T06:29:00.005+01:00

How the kitchen use to be....

Thought I'd pop on to let you know how another weekend of DIY is going...

On Thursday I spent most of the morning at a Pre-school meeting.... although Danny is going up to "big School" in September I am still helping out at Pre-school... I find it incredible to think that they don't seem to have a artistic member of staff.. I suppose when you have always drawn, painted and crafted at something you assume its easy and everyone can do it... anyway I will be helping out in the mornings while Daniel is at school, so at least I will be in the same village as his school...

Thursday afternoon was a trip to the library and then picking Mr P up from work and after a change of driver we were off to Bristol Ikea... I don't like driving to or around Bristol I am sure if an emergency occurred and I had to get there then I could manage it but on this occasion I let Mr P drive... lol

The traffic on the way up was not too bad but we hit the motorways around Bristol at rush hour and it was horrendous... but we made it there in fairly good time giving us 3 hours to shop... after some meatballs and berries in the restaurant ( which were very scrummy!) we headed to the showroom... and the shopping began... The sink I had chosen on line was "out of stock" so I chose a single sink instead of a bowl and a half... and I eventually chose taps.. who'd have thought it so difficult.. after tracking down the breakfast table and working out its location in the warehouse we headed for the checkouts

Unfortunately as we headed for the doors to drive around to the collection point a tanoy announcement asked me to go to returns... isn't it amazing how something like this can make you feel incredibly guilty... even though you know you haven't down anything wrong!...where-upon I eventually found out that the taps were out of stock too... oh joy!

So we collected the sink and headed home through the bad visibility drizzly rain we managed to miss a crash on the motorway, there were 5 or 6 cars on the hard shoulder and a light smattering of debris all over the road but luckily that was the only accident and after about an hour we were home .... Chinese for tea and then off to bed ready for a day of plumbing and final kitchen destruction..

We popped to B & Q and picked up cabinets and a few plumbing supplies and a new tap, identical to the one I chose in Ikea... still took me an age to choose it though! lol

and now after an afternoon of removal, clearing and fitting we have managed to add a new window sill and blinds and Mr P will be chasing in some electrical wiring, fitting skirting boards, running new plumbing and fitting a boiler ready for inspection... so another busy day ahead today...

The children are still with mum and dad... and mum even managed to take Daniel to the hairdressers and he had his hair cut properly for the first time ever... not a hack job done by me! lol

Its a beautiful crisp sunny morning here, which will be fantastic tonic to raise our flagging energy, I was up with the sunrise this morning... I didn't sleep well and I felt a little off colour so I thought I might as well get up and let you all know whats going on... feeling better now after a cuppa tea and a breath of fresh air...

with any luck we'll have hot running water again after a year and a half of going without... although currently with the water turned off we have no flushing toilet... :D
however I think its that usual thing of it getting worse before it gets better! lol

Well its 7:30 and Mr P is still in bed... I am of to grab a bowl of muesli and another cuppa
have a good weekend
Alex
x

Oh I do so love enamel ware!

2010-08-25T19:11:00.007+01:00

I recently spotted a fabulous piece of french enamel ware on Troc, Broc and Recup
and I fell in love... one of those "I covet thee" moments... lol
So I popped over to her little blog shop and clicked it into my basket...
although Paypal was all in French I just kept plugging away and eventually it was mine...
Yesterday it arrived and I love the wrapping paper...

I was in the middle of trying to choose some fabric to cover the old cork notice board that no longer fits with the new kitchen colour scheme...

I am so loving my new enamel ware lunch box... however it will be a loving home for my small crochet projects and the tray in the top will be perfect for scissors and darning needles... the lovely heart was sent as a little gift when I purchased 3 more felt birds from Rachel at Contented I must photograph them... plus I have to pop over and purchase a couple more... I accidentally felted my original green one... its still good but very small and a little "curly" around the edges now! lol
I eventually chose a fabric for my notice board... would you like to see?

I love patterns and deep, strong colours... I do love pastels but I rarely seem to go for pastels on their own...

I think I may add more jute string so that I can hold more notes and cards on it... but I am happy with the overall effect... the fabric was from the Scrapstore and I have a little more left that I think i might use in some Christmas bunting for the kitchen... I might have enough for a tea cosy if I am lucky! ;D

The rustic heart was bought back in the spring from a shop in Sherborne... and the bird was from Patchwork Pottery a couple of years ago...
I do so love birdies! lol

anyway I had better get on and tidy up a bit... I have a couple of chick flicks to watch before tomorrow... and a glass of Baileys with my name on it! lol

Today I have been writting out preserving recipes from books that I had from the library, I had better take them back tomorrow too...

I am so excited about getting my kitchen finished then I will be picking the victoria plums and apples in the garden...

I'm nearly ready to get the chickens so all in all I am enjoying a peak in my mood at hte moment... its strange but as I clear the house and get it into order the stresses on my mind seem to be lessening and I am starting to feel capable of dealing with things more...

the children are off to Mum and Dad's tomorrow morning and I have a few errands to run and then I will pick up Mr P from work and we are off to Ikea to buy the sink, taps and breakfast bar... Soooooo excited!

Thanks for popping by... hope you are all well and even though the weather down here in Somerset has been horrendous today I hope the sun is shining wherever you may be!

take care
Alex
x

Birthday Weekend Fun

2010-08-23T09:59:00.010+01:00

Sunday was my 39th and we spent the day doing some more kitchen DIY...

You see where the lower key cupboard is?

Forgot the before picture! sorry...

the one with the jug and nest on it.... well Mr P cut a hole in the back of it and has cunningly hidden the horrible telephone socket and managed to run the cable that needs to go to the telly in the lounge through the under stairs cupboard and through the lounge wall.... so my temporary fix of a telephone extension lead draped around the door like some kind of glitter less tinsel has now been resolved... I was so pleased and he thought me insane as it was not in his opinion very exciting... but its these little niggly things that we "put up with" that really make a difference when they are done...

now as the under stairs cupboard is very deep and gets shallower towards the back its not that usable, I do not like enclosed shed like spaces... and needed the storage to be towards the front and accessible... however we do still need access to the rear of the under stairs as we will have to treat some bricks once we have removed the driveway on the other side of the exterior wall...

the previous owner put in a driveway above the damp proof course and has caused problems... but that's another story for another day... lol

and the above picture is the new solution to my storage problems... this will house baking and preserving and other occasionally used items.... I painted the brickwork between the shelves each a different colour... partly because I am a colour addict and because while emptying the racking (that is still in the cupboard behind the shelves) I found 6 tester pots that I used to paint blown "Easter" eggs a couple of years back...

So I gave them a good shake and started painting while Mr P sat and rolled his eyes at my apparent insanity... lol

Now the great door debacle.....
Paint it white... stable door it..... replace it with a shaker style ready painted door.... or get rid of it completely... Mr P likes doors and the fact that stuff is hidden within... I like openness and space and the fact that its on view means I have to try harder to keep it tidy... a skill I hope to get good at as I grow older... not panning out as hoped at the moment though! lol

anyway!

Our kitchen has 4 doors which feels ways too cluttered for me... all the doors (apart from the white UPVC back door) are pine and varnished... I much prefer doors to be white and blend into the wall... not stand out like a sore thumb... so with this in mind I decided yesterday that the door on the under stairs cupboard had to go....

by far the easiest option and it appealed to me... Mr P... not so much!
anyway Mr P carelessly left a screwdriver lying around and while he was in the garden the door fell off all by its self... honest!

So Mr P set about removing that strip of wood that stops the door from going all the way through the frame and sanding and cleaning it up ready for painting....

I took a photo of the new all improved storage area this morning and its the best birthday I have ever had!

my birthday in the traditional sense was really good...
I expected nothing so everything was a bonus and a real treat

Jamie bought me (with her own money!) a picture and a heart key ring
Daniel gave me (bought on his behalf by Jamie) a lovely picture frame
Mum and Dad gave me a gift voucher for a meal at the pub down the road and a jumper
My youngest brother gave me a BIG bottle of Baileys....mmmm yummy!
Mums friend Janet gave me another gift voucher for the pub
My best buddy Joanne gave me 3 fabulous magazines and a tea time set (you can see it next to the teapot below)
and Parents in Law gave me a jumper and came to visit with a Birthday tea...

and for someone that really shouldn't be eating cake this little caramel cake was perfect...

All in all I had a lovely calm go with the flow day and I loved it....

Mr P is working short days this week as his current employer has given him a quota of hours that he has to work each month and as long as he is at work during core hours he can do the rest when he likes... so this week he can finish at 4 and have Friday off...

with this in mind we are aiming on getting the last part of the kitchen finished....

I might have hot water next week... I have only been without it for a year and a half! lol

finally I would like to thank everyone who has sent me birthday greetings via face book...
I don't really use face book much but it was really lovely to have so many birthday wishes yesterday...

really big hugs to you all!

x Alex

Domestic Goddess.... in training!

2010-08-12T12:28:00.007+01:00

I received a surprise in the post this morning...

I had completely forgotten that I had won a giveaway over at Faerie Nuff
so this morning I am now the proud owner of ...

A handbook to teach me all I need to know about being a domestic goddess... and boy do I need some direction in this topic...
However I will need to recruit friends to entertain once I have mastered the skills explained withing this little red bible of domesticity! lol

I have tried on the gloves and Jamie laughed her head off!
a little harsh I think! ;D

however these might look very fetching when cleaning out the chickens (when I eventually get them!) and it will also give the neighbours the final proof that I have completely lost it!
Thank you Pixie Dust for the lovely gift...

Now onto a little Crochet love... I am getting all floral with some little big wool... very cosy!

I bought an old pattern from eBay for this shawl... the pattern shows up much better in the plain colour...

I am going to have to make it a patchwork pinwheel as I don't have enough of any one yarn to do it all the same... if it turns out nice I may work out how much I would need to do it in one colour and start another one... its a fun pattern to do...

This is a pattern out of a newish book

The flower pattern is from here too...

I am thinking of making these squares into a cushion cover front and use some cord for the rest of the cushion...

I still have the baby blanket to finish... and another couple of pieces that are still WIP's...

I really need to focus and get some things finished... lol

hope your having a good Thursday...
we are off to the Library this afternoon and on Friday Mr P and I will be driving down to Cornwall to collect my new car...

its all go here
as usual!
//(*_*)\\

take care
hugs
Alex
x

Pink feather Paradise

January is nearly gone.....

New Year.... New blogger....

October.... oh how I love thee!

A little bit of this ....

Make, do and blend

Family Day....

Police on MY doorstep....

Plum Crazy...

Kitchen clear out...

Crocheting at Weymouth....

Fancy a walk?

Preparing for a plum glut!

All a dither....

Thoughts on Thursday...

Freecycle fun and games....

Blogpress.... will it work or won't it?

I give up....

being needed....

Good morning conscience..... do you have time for a chat?

iPad good... But iPad bad....

Happy Easter everybody....

How long? Crumbs doesn't time fly....

ooohhh new toys!

7 things about me that won't change your life .....

Show and tell....

A quick thank you...

The gift....

Love and all things lovely....

I think....

2011..... What's the new year going to bring you?

-15 in Yeovilton....

Expectations, assumptions and fairytales....

very honest and open, you wear your heart on your sleeve and always try to remain positive and look on the bright side even when things are really tough.You are always thinking of others and should spend a little more time thinking of yourself xx

Beki (facebook blogfriend!)

the above is so true... how can someone who I have never met in person know me so well..? ;D

this is something for me.... oh and I eventually learnt to drive about 6 years ago when I worked for the council they paid for 20 lessons as they wanted me to take on the driving of a 3 and a half ton van to do collections...

This post is more a diary entry and a theraputic release... Mum dislikes me being so open and honest, its not the done thing... but if it helps me its worth doing...

I hope your all having good weekends... Daniel is suffering from his first bad stomach so I am reasoning with an almost 5 year old that popping in your pants could have tragic concequenses...

take care

Alex

x

What if....

Well it arrived....

Everything Happens For a reason...

Lost in my own little world

First time I have ever rung 999!

Monday Bloghop.... and a continuation of an idea

Working my way back....

Naughty National Trust

Lovely day....

Early bird catches the sunrise....

Thank you all sooooo much

Lost it big time this morning....

Just checking in....

Hello you.... how the devil are you...?

I could cry.... for all the wrong reasons!

Versatile? aw shucks... do you think so?

Morning all...

Oh I do so love enamel ware!

Birthday Weekend Fun

Domestic Goddess.... in training!

very honest and open, you wear your heart on your sleeve and always try to remain positive and look on the bright side even when things are really tough.
You are always thinking of others and should spend a little more time thinking of yourself xx