Monday 24 September 2012

TRYING TO BE CHEERFUL, BUT IT'S MONDAY AND IT'S RAINING!

I really wasn't feeling that great over the weekend, a rotten cold and cough really dragged me down. We had a busy weekend planned as well, spring cleaning or should I say, autumn cleaning the garage. Michael has a new boat arriving in the next few days, not to replace the one we already have in the garage but to accompany it.

I stayed in bed on Saturday morning while Michael turfed everything out into the garden for analysis, either heading for the ebay pile or the skip. Whilst in the midst of doing this gigantic job, he also ("it won't take me a minute!") dug a brand new hole for the new washing line.
"A little more difficult than I first thought", he exclaimed when he caught my eyes peering down from an upstairs window.
Well, it was at this very point that I knew I was feeling quite ill. 
Not only did the garden look like a replica of Steptoe & Sons yard with the new line up in it's new position, but the hole that had been dug to  expose the huge concrete bolder which surrounded the old washing line hole was enormous. If I hadn't known better it could easily have been mistaken for an archeological dig  to find some old ancient castle complete with moat.
Unfortunately no photos taken, because I felt that rough, but hopefully your imagination can run riot.
As I said, I knew I was ill. " That's great, you're doing a good job!"
I went back to bed.

Today, I feel much much better and ask the question, why is that when you have had to take an enforced through illness, couple of days out that the very next day you feel that the house hasn't been cleaned for at least a 100 years and the whole country is waiting for you to catch up with the washing?

Here I am on a Monday morning, dusting, hoovering, cleaning the cooker and washing everything in sight. I can't put any of if out on the newly installed washing line because, it's raining!
I do usually try to get the washing outside so today I think the tumble dryer took it's time leaping into action, probably it was choking on it's own dust!
Mmmm, tumble dryers. Why is it, that you can peg everything out on the line, it dries and you bring it all in. Yet, to use the tumble dryer, you have to sort the washing, read the labels and ensure things that can't be tumbled don't go in there?
Big mistake this morning, new hand knitted woolly socks in, tight, shrunk socks out.  In desperation I shoved them on my feet and although the wool crackled in protest more than a bit  I do think they've stretched back to near normal size.
My new monsoon top, worn only about four times in all, didn't fare so well. Of all the things in there, old tee shirts, tea towels etc it was this particular top that clung to the door a little too tightly and came out with several holes in the front. Why?

Persevering, I now have a date with the ironing board and iron, what a treat!

I'm also going to leave you with some pictures from our holiday of kite paragliders on the great sand dune of Pyla, near Archachon. It was just 3 weeks ago, and it was sunny and hot.
Oh what a lovely thought!

(And if you're wondering what happened to the enormous hole in my garden, Michael did come to the rescue. On Sunday he returned the yard back to our garden. The hole was filled in, grass seed was bought and scattered. Thankfully, it is being well watered in today!)





Wednesday 12 September 2012

AS TIME FLIES BY!

I really can't believe it's been a whole month since my last post. It's not that I haven't had anything to say because those who know me will confirm I always have plenty of old chat. Probably, it's just that I've become caught up with doing this and that.

Throughout August I've spent lots of time with my grand daughters which has been great. Also, there's been lots of arrangements being made for my daughters wedding in December. Thankfully not on the 24th of December but the 22nd!! I won't know whether I should be plucking feathers from the turkey or sticking feathers in my hat. 
Keeping calm about it all is the best course of action I feel BUT the shopping for the other great event in December has to be and will be completed, including wrapping and labels by the last day in November.

I've kept busy with my knitting, the sky scarf is now enormous. Plus, I'm continuing with the knitted blanket and crocheted granny squares which I have to say look nothing like they do on the pattern. These two projects have however had to be side stepped as I've been commissioned by Kate to make the gifts for her four little flower girls, four knitted flower girl dolls. "Oh, heck!" I throw my hands up and exclaim.

Now what else have I been doing?


 Oh yes, holidaying, we've just come back from a week in Arcachon France. It was very nice, very relaxing and the sun shone! 


The only trouble with summer holidays is that when you get home you find a few of these growing in your veg patch. Not just one but five!! We've managed to eat a little, given away a lot and Michael took this one to work today. I don't fully understand why but it's gone.


For the record it is a courgette!