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

April Book Review

As the war takes its toll, the Nightingale nurses must do their bit for king and country…

Dora is the devoted mother of twin babies but, determined to help the war effort, she goes back to work at the Nightingale Hospital.

More used to nights out in the West End, Jennifer and Cissy volunteer in the hope of tending to handsome soldiers. They soon find out that nursing isn’t quite what they were expecting.

For shy and troubled Eve, the hospital provides an escape from the pressures of home, but the life of a nurse is never easy, especially at wartime.

Can the nurses rally together while war rages all around them? And will the Nightingale Hospital survive the Blitz?

Book 6 of 7 & it didn't disappoint! I just love these book & would highly recommend them. I'm going to give myself a break from these before buying the last one but I'm sure I'll come back to the characters very soon.

10/10

Victory In Europe

Today I will be remembering VE Day

I haven't finished my puzzle :-(

But I will wear my Victory jumper & brooch

Have my tea in my special mug

But I won't be celebrating with my boys as they're on a road trip

They're in my shop window display!

I've had so many nice comments about the window display & lots of older people have come in to tell me their stories of VE Day.... as you can imagine I loved that!!

March Book Review

As Christmas 1938 approaches, the staff at the Nightingale Hospital have their own wishes for the festive season. 

Ward sister Frannie Wallace is hoping she won’t have to live through another war like the one that claimed her beloved fiance. But with bomb defences going up all around London, it seems as if her hopes are in vain. 

Staff Nurse Helen Dawson wants to find happiness again after the death of her husband Charlie. A handsome stranger seems to offer the chance she wants. But is she looking for love in the wrong place? 

Matron Kathleen Fox struggles to keep up morale amongst her nurses as the hospital faces the threat of evacuation. But while everyone else worries about the future of the Nightingale, it’s for her own future that Kathleen truly fears.

As the country prepares itself for war, one thing is for sure – by the time next Christmas comes, nothing at the Nightingale Hospital will be the same again…

I loved this book even though it's not Christmas!

Yet another great book in the Nightingale series, I've started book 6 which is the last one I have :( I will be sad to leave the characters, I might have to bite the bullet & buy the last book even though it's not cheap.

10/10

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!!

Please light a candle today & take a moment to remember.

August 2015

Another August has come & gone!

It seemed to past in a blur & I didn't do very much!

At the start of the month I went to Lupton 1940's event with my brother & his family. This was the 3rd year we attended & rather then getting bigger it seems to have shrunk! Not much happening unless you like US army vehicles.

Cracking on with my Christmas cardigan & taking photo's of my fair isle berets for the internet.

Spending time with the children, dressing Bobby up!, attending a rally for Jeremy Corbyn & celebrating my birthday at the end of the month.

OH moved back in the middle of the month as his money ran out, I've had a year of being alone but over the last few months he's been spending more time here. I'm pleased but just waiting for the next time!

After a rubbish week off from work in July I was really looking forward to my break at the end of the month....... but stupid me lifted a very heavy 1940's sewing machine in a wooden cabinet on my last day of work so I've spent the last week at home in pain. Not a happy girl!

Hey ho my next week off is the beginning of December so lets hope that's better!

May Book Review

Only 1 book in May 

Struggling to make ends meet, Mary Anne Randall is offered no help by her drunk and abusive husband. A pawnbroking business run from the wash house at the back of her home is the only way she can hope to keep her three kids fed and clothed. 

But, as storm clouds gather over Europe, can Mary Anne break free from her loveless marriage for what might be a last chance at love...?

I wasn't aware this was the second book in the series when I started but I would say it wasn't necessary to read the first one. I enjoyed this book, I warmed to the characters straight away. I really felt for Mary Anne & wanted a better life for her. A lot of the books set in this era are a bit rose tinted which I don't think is strictly true, lots of women in this era had a very hard life & Mary Anne is just one of them. I look forward to reading the next book at some point in the future.

You can find it on Amazon here 

8/10

Victory Jumper

Back in March I took the plunge & started making my very own Victory Jumper!

I've had this pattern for a long time but I'd never got around to making it.

After working out how to re size it rather a lot...... they were so small in the 40's or is it we're so big now!!!..... I was on a roll.

I really enjoyed the pattern & found it knitted up quickly. I decided to knit it in DK to help make it larger. The only problem I had was with the sleeves, after increasing I found it was longer then it needed to be. I wanted the sleeves to be shorter & it was a real disappointment when it was finished but I'm happy with it now.

Ta-da!!!

 I love it!!

I can't believe how often I've worn it & have been asked a few time where I brought it...... they couldn't believe I knitted it!

Here it is with my 1940's flower corsage I knitted

And with my victory brooch I made for VE day

I hadn't knitted myself anything to wear for nearly 20 years but I'm cracking on now. In the last year I've made myself a cardigan

a Christmas jumper

& I'm just finishing off my land girl jumper

100g Stylecraft special double knitting

Midnight 3 balls - Claret 2 balls - Cream 1 ball

Total price = £11.34

Hours = 51 

Victory in Europe - 70 Years

Today we celebrate 70 years since the end of WW2

If you've been reading my blog for a while you'll know that if I could go back in time then it would be to this day

The joy is clear to see

On Monday I made a brooch

Today I proudly wore it with my Victory jumper

Although I should be happy & celebrating I feel sad today due to the election result.

I guess it's better to be passionate about something & lose then not care at all.

The funny thing is David getting back in won't effect me personally but it's the country I worry about...... what will happen to our NHS? More people visiting food banks?

I'm a hard working person so this should be my party but it's not!