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!)

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!

THE LONDON OLYMPIC'S - 2012

Wonderful! Brilliant! Excellent! Fantastic! Superb! Amazing!Spectacular!

This is just a group of words I've used over and over again in this past fortnight to try and describe my reaction to the London Olympics 2012 and the achievements of the Great Britain team.

I've rowed with the rowers, boxed with the boxers, swum with the swimmers, held my breathe in awe of our gymnasts and held on to the saddle as our horses have jumped and danced.

Just as I thought it couldn't get any better, last night I was out of my seat yet again, knitting flying in all directions as I cheered on Mo Farrah to the gold medal in the 5000 metres and then later had to watch through my fingers  as Tom Daley dived at his best to win for himself and his dad, the bronze medal.

Even though unfortunately we weren't able to get tickets to any of the events, I had the best seat in the house for the whole fortnight at home.

I have thorough enjoyed it all, as I hope you can probably tell?

Lots of sitting, meant lots of knitting and crochet which was a very pleasant bonus.

I've completed another panel of my blanket, just two more to do. So it should be completely finished by the end of the year - ever hopeful!

I also have got to grips with my crochet and here is just a small selection of granny squares that I've done.

I also have taken onboard yet another knitting project, this time for Kate, for her wedding.
It doesn't just involve wool and stuffing but fabric, thread and needle too, so could be complicated!
Feel free to guess!
 I will tell you more about it all in my next post, after I've sent out some help signals and I've got my head round what I've got to do!

GARDEN VISITORS!

Jo, our daughter in law bought this little bird house for us when she first started dating our son. It has hung in our virbunum tree in the corner of our garden ever since and birds have shown no interest in it until.........

 On Thursday I was out working in the garden all day and I could hear birds tweeting very loudly. Surely it couldn't be from the blackbirds nest that sits on top of the brick pillar under the shade of the virbunum tree, I was sure they'd flown a while ago.

 I was so surprised! Someone had at last taken a shine to our garden and Jo's vacant box, Mr and Mrs Wren had decided to bring up their new family in it. I suppose because we've been away and haven't been in the garden that much recently due to the weather that our visitors came along unnoticed.

Saturday morning came and mass activity in the garden, the little wrens had fledged their nest. The tiny birds were no bigger than the "o" you make with thumb and fore finger and they weren't wary at all, quite happily allowing us to get so very close with the camera.

They spent a long time scurrying around the plants, sitting on leaves while mum flew off and brought them back food.

In the afternoon all of sudden we noticed the silence. The baby wrens had finally found their wings!

It was an absolute pleasure having them stay with us!

ORKNEY WORKED IT'S MAGIC!

We've just got back from a week in the Orkney Islands, off the coast of Northern Scotland. We stayed on the mainland not far from Kirkwall and whilst the weather was very blustery at times and we did have some mist and a full day of rain, it didn't stop us getting out to see what the Orkney Islands promised to offer in their brochure.

Stunning scenery!

Wonderful cliff top walks - this one here was at Deerness.

Archeological sites - the Ring of Brodgar is just one of those that we visited.

The Italian Chapel

This was constructed by Italian POW during WW2 by putting two nissan huts together end to end and men painting all the inside to simulate brickwork. One of the POW'S Domenico Chiochetti  recreated the sanctuary end of the chapel by copying a postcard that he carried with him always.

At the end of the war when the prisoners were released Domenico remained on the Orkneys until the chapel was finished.

It was amazing to see!

We did also see plenty of sheep and a huge amount of cows!

An abundance of wildlife - hares (who moved too fast for their photo call!)

Birds!

Quite a few seals, who apparently come closer if you sing to them!

I tried - a quick melody of songs from musicals came forth and I have to say it did make them stare up at me but only probably because they couldn't believe what their ears were hearing.

They didn't really seem to want to come any closer!

Husband - well he had dropped well behind me at this point and I also noticed he'd pulled his hat right over his ears.

I really don't understand why!

The wildflowers were so so beautiful and plentiful!

AND there was just a glimmer of blue sky and sunshine!

The Orkney Islands offer lots if you just want to get away from it all.

Loved It!

A BRILLIANT FOUR DAYS PLUS A SKY SCARF UPDATE

We have just had the most wonderful weekend. 

To start us off on Friday we had a family wedding, it was lovely that nearly all of my Dad's family could be together. My Dad was one of 9 and although I'm an only child I have many cousins who might not get together that often but when we do, it's like we're together all the time. There was a great deal of chatting, lots of laughing and by the end of the evening much dancing. My mum and dad (approaching 90 loved every minute of it!)

I think I can say for us all that we had a brilliant time.

I woke up on Saturday and remembered that 33 years ago to the day I woke up on a mattress on the floor! It was the day of my wedding and we had so many guests staying with us that mum thought it would be best if I moved out of my bedroom a day early and give someone MY bed!!!

She loves me really ( I think) and I suppose I didn't really mind, neither can I remember waking up with back pain. But, NO bed to sleep in meant NO room to get ready in. Thankfully, the landing was quite spacious, although I had to share it with my four bridesmaids!

It does remain a memory to treasure.

So back to the present and off we went to Dedham for a champagne afternoon tea at  Maison Talbooth.

We spent a very relaxing time on the terrace and the afternoon tea hit the spot! It was all really nice and so peaceful. I can understand why Constable loved this area, it is so picturesque. Especially on a sunny day!!

From Dedham we drove up to Ipswich and had an evening walk around the dock. 

The thames barges Hydrogen and Thistle were moored there, which was strange because we normally see them at home moored at the quay in Maldon.

We really like Ipswich Dock yet, we don't visit very often. Next time, we'll spend a little longer, perhaps have a meal and stay for the evening. We were too full to eat anything else on Saturday after our afternoon tea.

On Sunday Jessica had an early 3rd birthday treat, some presents, a birthday lunch and a Peppa Pig birthday cake, which I posted about on my blog earlier. That was all good fun and I was full up once more with sandwiches and cakes.

In the afternoon I took these photos of my sky scarf which is now at it's halfway stage. It is beginning to get quite heavy now, I dread to think if I'll ever be able to wear the finished article around my neck. I think I'd end up with a permanent stoop!
I do plan however to decorate the spare room with these colours in mind and have the scarf across the bottom of the bed.

Finally to finish off our long weekend, we were very lucky to be invited on a boat trip from Orford in Suffolk on The Lady Florence. Michael's brother was celebrating his 60th birthday yesterday so 6 of us in the late afternoon set off from the quay with a gale blowing and dark clouds looming overhead.

Along the river, passed Orford Ness we headed towards Aldeburgh. The boat can carry just 12 passengers.

From Aldeburgh the boat made it's return journey while we went inside to be served a delicious freshly prepared meal. I have to say we really enjoyed ourselves and as we passed our original starting place we took our coffee out on deck while the boat chugged past the RSPB Sanctuary at Havergate Island.
We then returned to Orford and as we stepped back on to the quay the rain finally came. I think we were so lucky we didn't get a shower or two while onboard.
I'd definitely recommend this trip!

PEPPER PIG BIRTHDAY CAKE

Jessica will be 3 this week and a huge Pepper Pig fan. So, the request was put in for Granny to bake the birthday cake.
This is just 2 plain sponges that were baked in a swiss roll tin and sandwiched together with butter cream and jam. After covering with white icing I used an oversized picture of peppa as a template and cut out first the body in pink and then the red dress which I laid over the top. I added the arms, legs, ears, tail and feet and eyes (liquorice) at the end.
I cheated with the letters, managing to buy them, which was handy.
We took the cake round for Jessica at lunch time today as we had a family tea party.
By the time we left, Peppa was legless.
The cake tasted very nice.

I have another post which will follow in a day or two with a sky scarf update.