September 2016

I'm so behind....... it's nearly the end of October & I'm only just posting about September.

At the beginning of the month I received a bomb shell as OH has decided to sell the house for financial reasons. I knew it was coming but hoping it wouldn't. Anyway I had a cut off date of 29th October & I'm still here!! I can't find anywhere that will take cats so OH has left & I'm still looking. We think I can stay here until April so fingers crossed something turns up before then.

So September was a blur really, I've not been able to walk due to the darker mornings & to be honest weight loss & fitness are the last things on my mind. 

I celebrated my volunteers 50th birthday with the team, attended the RSPCA Big Walkies, another trip to the bingo with my sister as a late birthday treat, spent time with the cats, knitting my Home Fires fair isle jumper & celebrating 8 years in Blogland.

I would love to say October was better but that's another story for another post!!

July 2016

We're half way through August & I'm only just getting around to blogging about July!

The weeks & months always go so fast, I feel like a hamster on a wheel!

So July........ remembering the Somme, day out to a 1940's weekend, lots of knitting, cats socks, spending time in beds with the cats, lots of walking, finally getting in my old dress, new PM, Prince Charles visiting Exeter, Andy winning Wimbledon, remembering Teddy & lots of work!!

Phew..... it sounds like a busy month.

It's been a year since I gave up the fundraising job & I'm enjoying being back in the shop. However I've now agreed to do the Ebay shop for all 9 shops..... what a fool!! 

As it's so busy in the shop I'm finding I'm doing more work at home so hence the lack of time. But..... everything we sell will help the animals so it's worth it.

You can find our shop here

Little Valley Animal Shelter 

Be back soon!

June 2016

Another month as gone to quickly.

So we're half way through the year....... it'll soon be Christmas!

 June was a busy month on the work front..... our annual AGM, national RSPCA week, national volunteer week, lots of events in the shop to raise extra money, celebrating our 25th anniversary at Little Valley & topped off with our annual Shelter Day at the end of the month.... phew!!

Outside of work we celebrated OH's birthday, I finished my jumper & started my Home Fire jumper. I visited the Dig For Victory show in Bristol,  treated the kids to a new toy, had some time off to spend with the kids & voted in the EU referendum........ what a shock???

Let's see what July brings

January 2016

January has come & gone.

I started the 3rd year of my Q&A book, spent time with the cats, worked really hard to finish my hexagon blanket (the deadline was the end of January - Fail!) remembered Holocaust memorial day, celebrated success in the shop with a night out with the team & shared old photo's for #waybackwhen 

One week into February & what a rubbish start........ on the 1st I struggled through the day feeling pretty rubbish but couldn't say why. When I finally got home I took a turn for the worse & by 9pm I was thinking of calling my sister to take me to hospital. I've never felt so ill..... sickness, shaking, dizzy & sweating...... not nice.

After a trip to the doctors on Tuesday morning it turned out I had a bad case of flu. 

I've never had flu before & I certainly don't want it again!

So a week in bed was on the cards....... I hate calling in sick, I haven't been off for over 2 years, but I didn't have a choice. I was as weak as a kitten & felt sick every time I though about food...... I really was ill!

The good news is I lost 1/2 in a week, perfect timing as I'm having a scan on Wednesday for Gallstones & I was told I should lose weight before.

There's always a positive side!

Back to work tomorrow, hope I have enough energy to make it through the day.

That was the year 2015

Another year has flown passed, we're already one month down in 2016 & I still haven't done my yearly catch up!

So here it is...

January

Staring my new job as fundraiser for the RSPCA, finishing my Christmas jumper, lighting a candle for holocaust memorial day & spending time with Bobby.

February

Under going lots of test at the doctors but they didn't solve the problem! Hugo was born & lots knitting.

March

New phone, starting my Victory jumper, treating myself to goodies & spending time with my family.

April

More crafting & meeting Paul Young

Celebrating VE day, voting (& feeling disappointed with the result!), fundraising events, getting my new glasses & another jumper finished.

June

More fundraising events, the most successful shelter day on record!, day out at Dig for Victory, celebrating OH's birthday & remembering Zoe.

July

My last month in the fundraising role, my nephew's wedding & starting yet another jumper.

August

My birthday month, day out with the family to another 1940's event, meeting Jeremy Corbyn & yet more knitting.

September 

Celebrating 7 years in blogland, getting over a nasty chest infection, taking part in the RSPCA Big Walkies & an evening out with friends.

October

Yet another new cardigan, cocktails with friends, more knitting & spending time with my children!

November

Christmas started early, my one & only craft fair of the year (not very successful), remembrance day & more cat cuddling.

December

Finally I could wear my Christmas jumper! Spending more time with my family & partying!

2015 was a good year!

My plans for 2015....

• Be amazing in my new job! - This didn't work out, unfortunatley they didn't want a fundraiser & it showed! I wasn't allowed to do anything so decided it was time to leave when my 6 month contract was up
• Sort out my crafting area - Nope, still a mess & getting worse
• Decorate my living room & bathroom - Nope, the bathroom is worse now thanks to my leaky toilet
• Read more books - Nope, still haven't found my reading mojo

• Plan ahead & make stock that will sell - be organised! - A little but I've decided that selling my knitting is going to make my millions so I will be rethinking this in 2016
• Complete my things to do list - Nearly!
• Make things for me - Yes indeed..... 4 jumper, landgirl, brooches & more
• Try to continue Make, Do and Mend on a small scale - Nope, the months just disappeared
• Spend time with my family - Yep
• Spend less time on my laptop & more time crafting - This is still a problem, need to try harder in 2016
• Stay happy! - I think so!

2016 plans include 

 

• Sort out my crafting area 
• Decorate my living room & bathroom 
• Read more books

• Plan ahead & make stock that will sell online (no more craft fairs)
• Complete my things to do list
• Continue to make things for me
• Set up a few Make, Do and Mend craft meetings
• Try to come off my pills that are making me lazy & sleepy 
• Spend time with my family
• Spend less time on my laptop & more time crafting 
• Stay happy!

Come on Josie-Mary...... you can do it this year!!

September 2015

September came & went...... and so did October!!!

It was a beautiful sunny month. 

I enjoyed a week off, new birthday shoes, spending time with my children, celebrating 7 years in blogland, knitting for Crikey in November, a night out with the girls seeing Rocky Horror Live & walking 5k for the RSPCA Big Walkies.

I didn't enjoy having a chest infection for over a week!!

July 2015

I've been away too long! 

July seemed to pass in a blur...... remembering the Somme, the wedding of my nephew, a week off from work,  knitting cats, starting my Christmas cardigan, spending lots of time at home alone, finishing my temporary job as a fundraiser, having one last chance to see the rescue cats & the big blue moon!!!

August feels like a fresh new start...... I'm back in my shop full time & feeling much happier, funny how my eczema has nearly cleared up! OH has moved back, we'll wait & see how long that last!

I hope August slows down a bit!

June 2015

Half way through 2015!

June was a very busy month for me..... 1st June saw the start of the national RSPCA week which as part of my new role I had to help organise a collection day at Tesco's & a coffee morning in Exeter High Street. Celebrating OH's birthday with a yummy cake & lots of shots! 

Finishing my Landgirl jumper, remembering Zoe, cracking on with my hexagon blanket, spending time with my children, treating myself to some great badges from The Scout Project, a day out to Bristol for the Dig for Victory show.

Then I finished the month off with the Shelter Day which you already know about.

Phew..... I hope July will be a bit slower!

May 2015

I can't believe May has come & gone.

I started the month getting ready for VE day by making Victory brooches & completing my special window display.

Attended my friends daughter's fundraising event, she swam a mile to raise money for Little Valley Animal Shelter.

Feeling gutted at the election results :-( 

Finding out I have to wear glasses for reading, spending time with my cats, feeling stressed out at work & finishing my land girl jumper (more about that in another post)

When I look back over the month it went by in a flash & I didn't seem to have time to do very much. I'm so focused on our Shelter day at the end of June I think I'm wishing the weeks away. I hope the year slows down after that!

April 2015

Funny how I only seem to find time to get on here once a month now!

Like many bloggers I prefer Instagram as it's some much quicker.

Another month of 2105 has come & gone........ April was a month for making. I finished my Victory jumper, knitted a land girl for my VE day window display, made a 1940's brooch & knitted a jumper for a poorly ferret.

I also enjoyed the Easter break, spending time with my friend & her new baby, sunny days & seeing Paul Young.

Apart from that is seems to have passed in a blur :( 

Let's see what May brings.

February 2015

A busy month of knitting, singing along at the Sound of Music, spending time at the doctors, finding goodies in the shop, visiting Bath Cats & Dogs home, enjoying my new jobs & the perks that go with it. Plus welcoming Hugo to the world.

Spring is just around the corner...... come on March let's see what you bring!

January 2015

The first month of the year has flown by.

I enjoyed 2 weeks off & the winter sunshine. I finished my Christmas jumper, received treats from a fellow blogger, remembered the holocaust & of course I spent time with the children.

At the end of the month I started a new job!!

I will now be working 2 days a week at the RSPCA Little Valley animal shelter as the fundraiser.

This is a great opportunity & something I've been keen on doing for a while. It's my first ever office job & after one day of sitting on my bum for 8 hours I did find it pretty hard.

Thankfully I will still be in the shop for the last 3 days of the week so I'll still be dashing about.

We need to raise £1m to re build the dog kennels...... guess I'll be busy then!

That Was 2014

Another year has passed us by.....

January

Starting the year feeling poorly, spending time with my girls, finishing my crochet blanket after 5 years, joining in with Knit For Victory by making my hat.

February

 Trying to finish my hexagon blanket, spring flowers, more knitting & some reading 

March

Busy month for crafting, finished Matthews 1940's tank top, made a bow scarf for me (I live in it!), adjusted my charity shop bargain skirt (haven't worn it yet!), made a fox scarf (haven't worn it yet!), making flower brooches. First Crikey it's Vintage, I was selling for the shop. 

April

Trying to lose a few pounds by walking to work. Joining in with Sew For Victory but making my first ever item of clothing...... a pair of swing pants (I haven't worn them yet!) Making more brooches, spending time with my family & celebrating Easter.

May

Doing a VE day window display, meeting my nephew dog for the first time, trip to the theatre to see Birdsong, being mindful with some me time, finally making my airman & enjoying bank holiday weekends.

June

Remembering D-Day & Zoe, making cats for our window display, a day out at a 1940's event, another Crikey for the shop & enjoying the sunshine.

July

Remembering the Somme & Teddy. A day out at Dig For Victory 1940's event, a visit to the Bridport vintage fair, starting my cardigan & finishing all 2 more service men.

August

My birthday!! A day out with my parents, treating myself to yet another cardigan, starting my Christmas jumper, making poppies for the British Legion & remembering the 100th anniversary of WW1.

September

Remembering Charlie, celebrating 6 years in blog land, having my name in print on TMTCH album. finding bargains in my shop, Lupton 1940's event & more knitting.

October

Nights out with friends, days out with family, raising lots of money through my poppies & my first puzzle.

November

Remembrance day, seeing Amsterdam, travelling on buses, celebrating Claire's 40th, another Crikey this time for me & decorating the Little Valley Christmas tree.

December

Bertie Bear came to live with us! Counting down to Christmas, making decorations, finishing orders, Christmas meal with the family & resting!!!

Phew that was a busy year..... I can't believe how much I made!

My plans for 2014 included…

• Book in for 3 big craft fairs at Christmas & don't waste time throughout the year - NOPE - I only did one fair & it was successful but as always I wasted time throughout the year
• Plan ahead & make stock that will sell - be organised! - Of course not!
• Complete my things to do list - NOPE.... yet another year when it carries over
• Make something for me! YES!!!!  Hat, turban, trousers, red cardigan, gloves, 3 service men, poppy brooch, Christmas jumper, scarf, 
• Think of different ways to continue Make, Do and Mend on a small scale - No, maybe this year
• Continue reading - I've lost my mojo again 
• Spend more time with my family (my mum has been poorly) - I think so
• Spend less time on my laptop & more time crafting - Nope..... must try harder!
• Stay happy! Great start to the year but went pear shape when Paul moved out in August & the house started falling apart.

So 2015….. what will you bring?

• Be amazing in my new job! (More on that later in January)
• Sort out my crafting area 
• Decorate my living room & bathroom 
• Read more books

• Plan ahead & make stock that will sell - be organised!
• Complete my things to do list
• Make things for me
• Try to continue Make, Do and Mend on a small scale
• Spend time with my family
• Spend less time on my laptop & more time crafting 
• Stay happy!

I must stay focused this year!

What plans do you have?

November 2014

oh boy oh boy I've been away for weeks!

November started really good..... I sold lots of poppies to raise money for The British Legion, decorated our charity Christmas tree, spent an afternoon travelling around the city on old buses & went to see the fabulous Amsterdam.

It then went pear shape on the 11th when water started coming through the ceiling :(

An emergency roofer was called & I was told I needed a new roof.

After weeks of phone calls & roofers not turning up I've finally got it sorted.

The end of the month saw me celebrating my friends 40th birthday...... I can't believe we met just after her 18th!!

I also had 2 craft fairs at the end of the month. The 1st one was at Exeter library, although I only sold 1 brooch I did enjoy the talk given by Amanda Prowse. Have you read any of her books? I haven't but I might be tempted now.

Crikey was a real success for me this year with my bow scarves being the best seller.

I also have a number of orders from the fair so unfortunately my Christmas jumper is on the back burner..... maybe next year!

Only 2 weeks until the big day...... why does time go so fast?