Kitchen clear out

Here are my kitchen shelves at the beginning of the week.......messy eh?
I've been dumping stuff on here for weeks knowing I was going to sort them out on my holiday.
I hate doing it as it takes for ever & my collection has grown since I moved in........I need more shelves!!!
You can read about the last time I did it here....whoops how long ago???

Better????

I found some cup hooks to display the mugs to try & free up space but it didn't work.

Spot my Homemaker china??

More about that another day.

After completing this mammoth task I realised I'd forgotten my EB mugs......oh no.....I'll have to slip them in somewhere. I've had to take loads off & hide it in cupboards.....OH hates my collections!!!

Just to remind you Show & Tell Sunday will be Sunday 4th April.....Easter Sunday.

The topic will be your favourite photo or picture & why.

I watched a TV programme about this & thought it was really interesting how everyone's taste varies.

It's ok you can have more then one!!!!

Back to work on Monday.......groan!!!
I didn't make my millions at the races so back to normal.

Make, Do and Mend, goodies & sad day.

Thanks for stopping by, sorry it's been a while.
First up here's an update on the new group....

Things have quieten down a little I'm pleased to say but I received a phone call yesterday from Make it and Mend it...............have you heard of them?
I said in my last post they were very keen on the idea & yesterday they offered me a chance to become one of their pilot projects.
On listening to their plans I know don't know what to do........ as you can imagine they get more out of it then me. They would like to offer a starter kit, you would normally buy but we can have it free for the first year. It would include an agenda that we would need to stick to & would cover everything from crafts to cookery.

So what should I do??
I don't want them hijacking my idea.......after all I've worked so hard on this but if I don't get involved they may just take the idea anyway, I was stupidly open with them :(
What would they do for us apart from supply materials?
I have to call them after the first meet to keep them informed.
So what should I do?
Go for it alone or team up with them?

The new web site is up & running, I've had a few new members since I mentioned it last time. We need more people to join & start this little community.
It's not just for people who can attend the meetings......it's for everyone, so come on over ladies & share your tips & ideas..... the link is on the side bar top left.

Anyway back to the point of this post........ 2 weeks ago I visited London & brought some goodies.....


A lovely new bag, I've looked at this one so many times full price..... I'm glad I waited because it was nearly 1/2 price. I love the apple mug, I thought it was going to disappear so I had to buy it for my ever growing mug collection!
The bowl is for OH....he's been waiting to use this for weeks but he had to wait until the photo shoot!
Also some union jack tissues & a little cat tin.

Today is a sad day for our family, 10 years ago I lost my nephew. It seems weird that 10 years have gone by so quickly. He was born in 1995 & they had to bring him back to life a few times, then a few months later we discovered he had a disease called Hunters syndrome.
Sometimes people say it's easier if you know....wrong..... it hung over our family for years just waiting for him to get worse. It was terrible when he went but he was so ill we all knew it was for the best. I'm a carrier for this disease as is my mum & 3 of my sisters, you really have to decide if you want children enough to risk spreading it......I don't & that's one of the reasons why I won't have children, thankfully I'm not that keen anyway!
Sorry to end on a downer but it's important to me so I wanted to share it with you.

Surprise trip......

Hello, hope you're all enjoying your weekend....although it has gone very fast.

I had a very pleasant surprise about a week ago, I was trying to book some time off before my holiday in March & was told I could have 4 days off this weekend. When I got home I had an email from my favourite band The Men They Couldn't Hang saying the were playing a one off gig in London on Friday!!!

After looking at each & every way we decided not to go because Zoe hasn't been very well & also the money....we just couldn't really afford it.
On Thursday I received a text from OH to say he had gone ahead........ everything was booked...including our favourite hotel in Tottenham Court Road!!

It meant leaving really early on Friday morning, when I got to the station the ticket had gone up by £14 since I checked the day before :(
After buying the very expensive ticket I was told my train was running 40 mins late so I could have waited the 1 1/2 hours until the cheaper train.
He told me to get the train that was leaving in 3 mins.......after a mad dash I made it only to find out it was the slow one that took 3 hours to get there. Not a great start!

Once in London there's only one thing to do.......shopping!!! After dumping my bag with OH at the hotel I set off to Marylebone High Street.
First stop..............

I didn't buy anything but it's nice to wander around looking at pretty things..... I find this a funny place..... the staff are not helpful at all! There was 2 ladies behind the counter chatting, they didn't say hello or anything........ in the last few years I've decide I will not spend in shops that don't deserve my custom. Sorry VV Rouleaux but you really need to sort this out....... it may be the posh part of London but at the end of the day you're a shop!!

So rant over .....next stop..........

I found the service better here so I did spend a few pennies!!! I wanted the Robin mug that I saw on the web site that was in the sale but unfortunately it's different in the shops.

And then finally of course I went here...................

The guy in the window was dressing it with all the new things!!! I love the new small green spot hand bag! He was very friendly & we had a chat about the colours for the Spring collection.... I can tell you ladies it's not red...... it's going to be very muted blues, greens & beige......mmmmmm that will save me a fortune as I not keen on blues & greens.....bet I find something I like though!
The pictures not great because outside the shop was full of Japanese tourist taking photo's!

I'll be back to show you my goodies later.

So in the evening we went to The 100 Club in Oxford street, I really like this venue....... it's a bit odd being in a busy street & I wonder how many people know it's there!

The band was fantastic as always..... you can read about here, here & here...... yes as you can see I do like this band! I think everyone was a bit worse for wear by the end of the evening including the band!!!!

We came home yesterday & that's when things started to go wrong :(

I could feel a pain in my chest & I knew this was the start of my really bad back pain...... I've been in hospital twice for this, the last time in July 08.
When it came again in October I stayed calm & took pills ......I used to have about 18 months break between each attack but not this time.

I was lucky that I got home just in time...... I collapsed on the kitchen floor & was rolling around in serious pain..... I've never had it that bad before. OH was trying to make me go to A&E but it's just not worth it....... they can't find anything wrong with me. I was firing very strong painkillers down but nothing would make it go away. It comes in waves, normally 2 attacks but this time it was 3...... the last 2 being very bad....... It knocked me for six......OH had to carry me to bed where I slept for about 10 hours.

Today I've been sleeping..... it really annoying because I had loads to do trying to sort out the knitting group but I'm so worn out.
The pain is still there & I'm taking my 'crazy' pills, tomorrow I'm going to the doctors to try & get some answers...... this is not good enough.... can you imagine what would have happened if it came on on the train???

I'm trying to work out if there's a pattern, the last time it happened I had been away & also been drinking but the first 2 times I hadn't. I just hope it goes away for a long time this time.

Today the weather has been beautiful.......Nanny has enjoyed the sun.......

I just had to share this funny photo........ he was yawning but I think it looks like he's laughing! Now if you knew Nanny you would know that wouldn't happen....... he's a miserable git!!!

Have you seen this....... I know everyone is donating money to the earthquake but please spare a thought to the animals.....that's where my money has gone.

I'll be back soon to share my goodies.

Terribly British & being naughty...

Hello everyone, sorry I've not been about...more about that later.

Everyone was so keen to see what I treated myself to at the famous CK so I feel you may be disappointed!!

Here it is.......

Nice shadow there...sorry about that.
Once I'd laid it out I realised it was all terribly British!
The cowboy mug is for OH, he wanted a large mug for his coffee as he broke his last one, he said he wasn't fussy so could I just pop to poundland .....
Poundland I don't think so, it won't go with the kitchen!!!!...... with that I just got a shake of the head! Now the mug had to sit in the kitchen since Monday waiting for me to take the photo...men...they just don't understand!!

I love the EB beaker, I've seen this on a few blogs & really wanted one. I'm going to take it to work as I'm fed up of everyone using my plastic cup, now there is no mistake who this belongs to!
I'm loving the CK hankies this is my 3rd... I think I might wear this to work tomorrow as a little pick me up.

More garden photo's now........

This was my harvest on Tuesday...not much is it?
These are all my potatoes, they started to get blight so I thought it was best to pull them up now. I brought the plants from B&Q ....£5..... the most expensive potatoes I've ever brought!

Butternut squash has grown loads but no fruits as yet.....

I've heard they take a while to take off but once they do you can't stop them.
See the kale in the pot? The slugs have been having a field day, I seen some the size of small rodents.... yuk!!
I think this may be the last year growing veg as it's such a waste of money, I planted alot this year because they said it was going to be 'a BBQ summer' & look what happens? My peas have rotted & my potatoes & tomatoes have blight...how sad :(

Now I guess you want to know why I've been naughty?

Well I treated myself to a wii...... I've been wanting one for about 2 years but can't bring myself to spend that much. Last month I got another bonus...enough to buy it out right.... so I've been checking out the deals for the last 2 weeks but still haven't brought one.... I'm rubbish at making a decision!
OH decided enough is enough & brought it for us..... I only have to pay half...yippee!!! It arrived yesterday which so happen to be my day off.
I'm planning on getting the fit board, OH didn't get that deal, I went to look today & couldn't decide...... do you see a pattern?!!

So yesterday afternoon when I should have been doing jobs & blogging I was playing tennis!!!
If you don't hear from me for a bit you know what I'm doing!
I determined to get to that target weight for my birthday...only 8 pounds to go but only 3 weeks to do it..... tennis everyday me thinks!!

I received a lovely crocheted brooch from Rose in the post last week.... thanks so much.
Sorry I haven't got a photo... it didn't come out.... phew I hear you say!! I know my photo's are rubbish, may be I should buy a camera with my next bonus.

Hope you've all had a great week, enjoy your weekend what ever you have planned.

I did it.......

Yes this is my 100th post!!!

Who would have thought I would make it..... on my first post here you can read why I started blogging.... I never thought I would be still posting nearly a year later.

I love reading back on my posts...the happy things, the bad times & everything in between. I also love looking at the photo's, the changing of the seasons.... Christmas, snow, spring & the hope for a long hot summer..lol!! The pictures of how my garden has changed & of course my crafting.
I've always enjoyed crafting but had no one to share this with...until now.... I've made some great friends along the way. Some I've been lucky enough to meet.
So thank you all for taking time out to read my blog.

So to celebrate I've decided to do a giveaway, I've only done one before so I think it's about time.
Not sure what the giveaway will be but I'm sure it will include one of these....

Maybe one of these.....

and one of these...

And maybe something that will look a bit like this....

I will do the random number thingy so leave a comment before the end of Sunday 26th July if you would like to be included.

Hope you're all having a good week.

Horray for hoildays!!!!!

Hope you're all having a great bank holiday weekend.... this was me at the end of work today!!!

Now I know what you're thinking..... blimey is she on holiday again??? & the answer would be yes!!! I plan my holidays 6-7 weeks apart & normally take 1 week at a time. Don't forget I do have to work from November til end of Jan with no holiday.

I thought I'd share my treats from London with you. First up Cath Kidston.......

I've been trying to get theses hankies for sometime but they're always out of stock...... but Tuesday was my lucky day. I loved them so much I had to buy all 3!!!

Now I think they're very large for hankies..... just how big does Cath think our noses are??!!!

I'm trying different things at the moment...... head scarf, neck scarf or possibly a cushion cover, although the boat one is very thin...... any ideas???

I also treated myself to these gloves.......

I spotted them.... get it!!!!...... when I went a few weeks ago but thought £6 was a lot for gloves that will get covered in mud within minutes but I couldn't stop thinking about them so when I saw them again I went for it. It did help that last Sunday I cut the top off of one of the thumbs on my old gloves so of course I need more!!

Emma Bridgewater next.......

Now this really was my lucky day as I've been trying to find one for ages, I know I could buy on Ebay but I hate using PayPal. It was the last one in the window so I was chuffed to bits!!!

Don't all my goodies look lovely together???

I wonder how many more treats I can buy for going to the horrible health & safety training!!!

We have a mid season sale on in habitat at the moment...... we have some good bargains & I couldn't resist this.........



A box of 16 scented candles. At Christmas these were £35!!! wow that's a lot for something you burn, they did go in the sale but at £25 I still wasn't going to buy them...... yesterday I noticed they are now £12.50...... £10 with my discount.... bargain!!! There's so many different ones....coffee, lavender, fig, fresh air (!)... I'm burning mowed grass now but I can't really smell it ....maybe not such a great bargain!!

I was sent this so I thought I'd share it with you.....enjoy.....


My dream cat.

A day in the big smoke

Hope everyone made the most of the last sunny day before the bank holiday weekend... I've just seen the weather forecast & it's not looking good. Shame as I have 3 days off.

Yesterday I took the train to the big smoke. It was a lovely journey leaving Exeter at a very bright & early 6.55!!! The sun was out, I read my book & enjoyed the peace & quite.... that is until the lady behind me started to eat a packet of crisps!!!!

I had a managers meeting in the Tottenham Court Road Store..... it was ok but I did feel like Alan Sugar was going to walk in at anytime. Maybe I should enter the apprentice next year...LOL!

The meeting was planned to finish at 4pm but at 3.15 she called it a day...yippee!!!

I was asked to go for coffee with the other people before getting our trains but I thought heck no...I'm off..... I have a date with...........

Yes that's right I had to pay Cath a visit. I was really pleased with myself because I normally just come home because I don't like walking around London on my own...boring....but yesterday I went for it. So after a bit of a (hot) walk I found Cath & all was well. I went to buy the boat hankie but they had sold out...never mind I found some other things.

Some dusters, a very cheap box (only £1!!), a lovely red spotty bowl & some fabric. Now I'm not sure what I'm going to make but I'll think of something.

So why stop there..... normally when I go to London I leave OH in the pub & hurry around but yesterday my train didn't leave until 5pm so I took a wander in Marylebone High Street.

I went to VV Rouleaux & brought some ribbon.....



I had really been looking forward to visiting but I wasn't impressed with the service.

Then I headed back to Baker Street tube & I spotted good old Emma Bridgewater....





Just had to buy this mug, I looked at it in Bristol but didn't buy it.... it takes along time for me to spend money!!! I knew as soon as I got home I would regret not buying it so I did it....

Now I need to sort my shelves out in the kitchen as they're too full.

Today was back to normal rubbish shops!! I did pop to Oxfam & another charity shop in my lunch break & brought theses goodies......

I love plastic knitting needles & I also found a crochet hook, I did have to ask & they brought out a big box...LOL! The lovely hankies were 50p for 3 ....bargain.... cheaper then CK but maybe not as nice!!!
I've been collecting ladybird books for a bout 6 months so I was pleased to find these.
I must show you my collection soon.

Only 1 day to go before my break.