New year giveaway.....

On Christmas eve I sat down to make myself a pair of crochet slippers. I receive emails from Lion brand yarn http://www.lionbrand.com/ & just before Christmas they sent an email through with free patterns for slippers. I was so excited the fact I could be waking up on Christmas day wearing my new granny square slippers..........but......

(Sorry about the rubbish photo's but I've been trying to take a photo for 2 days & couldn't be bothered to move from my armchair!!!!)

As you can see they came out really, really small!!!! The pattern said they're for a adult size 7-9 ... I don't think so.

The sole is 15cm in length.... if any of you have incredibly tiny feet or you have a little girl they may fit... please let me know. They are free to a good home, leave a comment before 7th Jan, I'll do a random number thingy & post them off.

I will try again but next time I'll use a bigger crochet hook.......

'Cozy night in' swap....

I've finally opened my swap..... I think me & Pixiedust @ Faerie Nuff are the last ones......

As you can see it was beautifully wrapped.....

I love the hot water bottle... just the right size for sitting in front the TV... I always use a hot water bottle as I don't like putting the central heating on unless it's freezing!!

Can you see the little lantern??? .. It looked so cozy on my mantle piece last night... also some soap which smelt good.... and some chocolate....sorry all gone now!!!

And last but not least some lavender cushions..... I've made so many lavender bags for gifts that I ran out of lavender to make one for me so I'm very pleased with this gift.

More gifts coming soon.........

Happy boxing day......

Merry Christmas

The gifts have been opened...(more on that tomorrow)

The table has been set......

The cats having their Christmas dinner .......

Hope you've all had a relaxing stress free day...... Merry Christmas everyone.....

Nearly there......

It's nearly time for us to put our feet up & relax until next year.
I had a lovely surprise when I got home today........

My giveaway gift from Vanessa at Just Original .... I won this box of goodies for doing 'Jamie Oliver's pass it on'....... remember???? I made the mackerel pate. Anyway I know that Vanessa's taken a break from blogging until the new year so I had forgotten about the giveaway. Look at all the things in the box......... I'm saving them until 'the big day' as this now doubles my presents!! I also have my swap gift that I haven't opened.... aren't I good!!! I was planning on opening that on Sunday but the day ran away..... I know it was the shortest day but that was just damn silly!!

I had to work early today (up since 5am!) but I did get home just after 5pm which was very nice.For the last few days I've been thinking about my late nan, at Christmas she used to make us all sausage rolls..... we used to laugh about how many she made. The pastry was a little heavy during her last few years but I always loved them. This is the 2nd Christmas without her & I would now give anything for one of Nanny M's sausages rolls........... so today I had a thought....if I can't have a Nanny M's I'll have a Josie-Mary's!!! And here they are.........

They taste damn fine.... hot straight from the oven.....mmmmmmmmm.......

I made some to take to work with me tomorrow along with the mince pies I made on Sunday. The rest I will have at tea time on Christmas day with some homemade pickled onions...... may be I'm turning into my nan!!!!!

Busy week.....

I guess like most people I've been very busy this week. It must be getting nearer as it's gone very quiet in 'blogland'!!! What with all the Christmas preparations & the terrible bugs that are going around no one has time to blog. I hope all you poorly people out there get better soon. As yet I've managed to escape it but we're dropping like flies at work so I hope it's not a matter of time.... after the year I've had I bet I get it for Christmas!!!




As you all know I went to see the pogues on Tuesday......it's was very good but packed to the rafters... very dangerous at a pogues gig!!! You couldn't move...the stairs going up & down were all full... I think the health & safety men would've had a field day. I was stood on tip top through out just to see the tops of their heads!!! They did all the old favourites including some very old ones that I haven't heard live before. They finished with 'Fairytale of NY' as always.... everyone is very drunk by this point so you just have to sing along & give a very big cheer when the snow comes down & Shane does his dance. Love it!! I didn't have that much to drink as you couldn't get to the bar & I hadn't had that much before we went in (I've done that before!!) However I did make up for it on the way home the next day!



So the rest of the week went by so fast.... the normal thing... work/bed/work/bed!!

It's now my last day off before Christmas & I'm trying really hard to get things done..... I've had to finish last minute presents & do loads of housework as I haven't been here all week. See what happens when you go out & enjoy yourself!!




I've made 30 mince pies.... don't look as well as I thought but they taste good.... well I had to try some!!!



Still need to wrap my gifts.... I hate that job!!!


I've decided not to decorate the house this year, it'll be the first time I've not done it. I always think it's a bit of a waste of time as we don't have visitors over so it's just us that sees it. It puts a lot of pressure on you to get the right tree, make sure it's up in time, make sure it's down in time etc. I'm not missing it until I see all your loving decorations.


Back to work tomorrow...... late nights this week to set the shop up for sale.... it starts on Boxing day this year so on Christmas eve we can't leave the store until it's all ready.... we close at 4pm & then rush like hell to get it done. Every year I say this will be my last in retail but I can't really do anything else so I guess I'll be saying the same thing next year. I have 2 days off for Christmas, going back on the Saturday then working until new year.... it's really sad that we have to do housework over Christmas but to me it's a normal day off......... Oh but I forgot you do get yummy turkey with pigs in blankets & bread sauce...... my favourite!!


I'm looking forward to starting work on things for myself now all the gifts have been done.... I've starting thinking of all the things I can make.... I'm getting a sewing machine from mum & dad & the crochet flower book from a friend....... I need to finish my granny square blanket that I started in March..... aahhhhhh so many things to do! I'm also thinking of selling somethings as I keep being asked, maybe this will be my ticket out of retail........ sitting at home knitting with my cats .... bliss!!!


I plan to be back before Christmas....... hope you're nearly done with the shopping etc & you can all put your feet up & relax... yeah right!!!

White Christmas.....

Did you know that White Christmas is coming to the big screen????

It's only being shown in 77 cinemas throughout the country, unfortunately no cinema in Exeter is showing this but hopefully some of you will be able to catch it. It's one of my favourite films, I love the bit on the train when they sing 'Snow, Snow, Snow' I try to watch it every year but to see it on the big screen would be something else.

But we are getting 'It's a wonderful life' at the picture house in Exeter... it's being shown on Sunday 21st at 2pm & Tuesday 23rd at 8.15pm. I'm going to ask around to see if anyone would like to go on the Tuesday evening.... don't like going alone. Can you believe I've never seen this film!!! People keep telling me I would love it & I was given it on DVD about 3 years ago but missed placed it in the move, I found it last week & it's on the side ready to watch but I think I would prefer to see it at the cinema.

Please let me know if you get to see theses film .

Thanks for the award Mel, you're too kind.... I won't pass it on at the moment because I know how busy everyone is..... I'll wait until the new year.

I'm now off to try & make some Stanley's.... I'll let you know how I get on.

Thanks for all your comments about my bank.... I'm checking everyday just in case it goes in early.

Bad to worst......

Just thought I'd share my bad week with you ... it won't take long!!

Sunday morning very early I received an email from Paypal saying there was a problem with my card & as I'd just done my first transaction I thought I better check it out....... so I clink on the link..... yeah OK I know what you're all thinking..... I've been saying that to myself all week!!! I put in all my personal details & then hit save........ nothing happened.... 'oh poo' I said to myself!!! I sent the email to Paypal & they confirmed my worst fear.... yes I'd been had!! Someone out there has all my details. I've cancelled my account so fingers crossed.

Wednesday morning on my way to work I stopped at the cash point to draw £250 out to pay bills, my card came out & it said the transaction had been cancelled. I tried again at another ATM & it said I had drawn out my full allowance for today....... ooooohhhhhh no!!! I ran to work & called the bank. Yes they confirmed that £250 had come out of my account but should be back in by the end of the day.

Thursday morning I checked my bank & nothing..... I rang & was told that it wouldn't 'just' go back in & I had to complete a dispute form. It will take 10 working days to go back in (if I get it back!!!) so won't be this side of Christmas. I now have to use my going out/food/present money to live on. I don't have a overdraft or any credit cards, so can't fall back on anything.

So the question I have to ask is.....can anything else go wrong???

I'm sooooooo looking forward to Tuesday 16th when I go to Bristol to see the pogues.... sod the money I plan to have a good time (even if I have to eat baked beans for Christmas lunch!!!)

aaaahhhhhh feel better now for getting that off my chest. Loving all your Christmas trees etc, so nice to see your houses.

Christmas party

As you know last night was my works Christmas party, it wasn't that bad although it did have it's moments!!! Why do some people get so loud after just 1 glass of wine??? We did get told off for being noisy...... not me I'd like to add as I was outside smoking.


We went to the anchor inn in Cockwood, about 20 mins drive from Exeter. It was lovely, this was my first visit but I'd heard the food was good. There was sooooo much food.... we were all stuffed & I couldn't manage the cheese board which is very unlike me!!


We didn't have the tradition meal, I was a bit disappointed because I love roast turkey, but I changed my mind on the night... it was gorgeous!!!


If you live locally do go.......

http://www.anchorinncockwood.com/

I'm planning on going again in the new year & we're arranging a summer work night out as it has a terrace & as you can see a lovely view. I preferred it at this time of year because it had loads of Christmas lights outside with singing snowmen!!!

Hope you're all having a good weekend......

Dear little deer....

Look what I got today.......


It's Santa's little helper... I purchased this from Michele at COWBOYS & CUSTARD on Sunday to make me feel better & it arrived today.... excellent service!! She also included a card which I really liked on her blog but couldn't afford it so thanks again Michele.

See how lovely he looks on my mantlepiece.........

You can just see my other deer which is made from pink flock..... there's a red one the other side of the candle holder. They're supposed to be for Christmas but I think if you like something you should be able to look at it all year round.









I would love to say that this made me feel brighter but it didn't.... I just can't seem to shake this off. Normally when I feel down it only last a few days but I just feel grumpy all the time!!! Another day off doing housework today but I did manage to get the sewing machine out for an hour.


Not sure why I feel like this.........could it be Christmas??? Work??? Lots of changes going on at home so maybe it's all too much. I feel so put on at the moment & totally taken for granted, someone left me a comment saying I should spend more time with the people who truly love me but do know what..... the way I'm feeling at the moment I'm not sure who that is.


Sorry to end on a downer..... 13 hour shift tomorrow.... yippee!!!!