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!!

February 2016

I'm glad to see the back of you February!

I started the month with a lovely case of flu that made me take to my bed for a whole week! My brave little Bobby was bitten on the neck & needed veterinary treatment. I went to hospital for my long awaited scan & was diagnosed with gallstones! 

I also celebrated Hugo's first birthday, did lots of knitting, enjoyed spring daffodils, spent a day cooking, finally finished my hexagon blanket & started my blue bird cardigan!

Phew...... that's a lot in one month!

October 2015

October passed in a blur & looking back over the month I realised I hadn't done anything!!!

Due to holidays at work I had to work 3 weekends in a row but I did enjoy a morning at the boot sale with my parents, finding my lovely cat planter, a new cardigan, cocktails with friends, spending time with my children, knitting, knitting & more knitting!!!

I didn't even do anything for Halloween this year, any ideas on how to slow down time??

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!!

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!

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?

That was 2013!

Yep another year has passed us by…….. join me in looking back on what I did & didn't do!

January 

 I spent a lot of January working in Bristol, I was planning on going for the store managers position so was trying to impress…. wish I hadn't bothered! 

I also signed up to the 50 book challenge.

February 

 Making 1940's brooches, reading books & testing products.

March

 Holiday, yarn bombing, theatre, gigs & cracking on with my granny square blanket.

April

 An all time low….. lots of gigs, drinking too much & feeling unhappy due to work. I walked out on Sunday 28th April!

May

 Days out, spending time with loved ones & my girls…. feeling free!

June

Enjoying the sunshine, remembering Zoe, finally handing in my notice at Laura Ashley & getting a new job! 

July

Starting working for RSPCA, lovely sunshine, remembering Ted & feeling happy again!

August

 Days out with friends & family in the sunshine & rain! My birthday

September

 Remember Charlie, celebrating 5 years in blog land, days out & crafting.

October

 Make, Do and Mend moves to the shop, autumn sunshine, poorly foot & new shoes!

November

 Working hard in the garden, remembrance day, getting ready for Christmas & Crikey!

December

Feeling poorly, staying in bed, making lots & spending time with friends.

I think 2013 was the year I changed things….. I'm very good at going with the flow even if it makes my unhappy.

My plans for 2013 included…

• Get more cats! Nope…. worried the girls won't like it
• Sort my job out  Yep finally!!
• Pull my finger out with Make, Do and Mend or stop doing it I struggled throughout the year but pulled the plug in December
• Be more prepared for Crikey.... don't leave it until the last minute NOPE
• Sort out my crafting area Nope
• Decorate my living room & bathroom Nope
• Slow down & enjoy life more I think so!
• Sew an item of clothing Nope
• Finish my crochet blanket..... think it's about 5 years since I started! Nope but more about this in another post!
• Read more books - I've signed up for a challenge Yep
• Be happy! For the latter part of the year YES!!

I think I did ok!

So 2014….. what will you bring?

• Book in for 3 big craft fairs at Christmas & don't waste time throughout the year
• Plan ahead & make stock that will sell - be organised!
• Complete my things to do list
• Make something for me!
• Think of different ways to continue Make, Do and Mend on a small scale
• Continue reading
• Spend more time with my family (my mum has been poorly)
• Spend less time on my laptop & more time crafting 
• Stay happy!

I think that's enough to be going on with!

What plans do you have?

Christmas 2013

Over a week has passed since the big day, the decorations have been packed away for another year but I still wanted to do a quick reminder.

For me it's all about the food!! 

OH looks after me very well & cooks for me all day, you can see my lovely dinner (the best bit of the day), turkey sandwiches, pickled onions & the lovely Christmas cake my mum made us.

Popsy & Jean had stockings from my mum but you can see Popsy is not impressed!

I did very well on the presents……. a selection of Cath goodies, IWM calendar, 2 tins of biscuits, iPad case, cat bracelet, crazy cat lady figure (not sure why!!), handmade cat door stop from my sister who's just starting to knit again. Another yarn holder, ok so that was a gift to myself after seeing it on Julie's Facebook page. 

And my beautiful cat purse……. don't you think it looks like Popsy? Not sure what I'm going to use it for yet as I don't wear make up but I'm sure I'll think of something.

All in all it was a good one & this year I wasn't worn out from extra hours at work!

However I still feel terrible with my cough & haven't made it back since the new year :(

Chest x rays are all cleared (a good thing!) so now I'm just waiting for my blood test results to come back next week.

December flew passed as it always does….

I made a few gifts which Matthew seemed to like! I spent every Sunday in December with my family…. something I've never done before due to the joys of working. A evening at the theatre with my lovely Twitter friends, spending time with my girls & being in bed a lot!

I'll be back with a round up of 2013, book reviews & what I plan in 2014

Stay dry & safe!

It's nearly time…...

I've been away too long!

Sorry for the lack of posts but at least I'm keeping up with my advent calendar.

One of the reasons I've not been posting is because I've had the lurge :(

I've had 2 weeks of antibiotics which have made me feel really poorly, hopefully I'm on the mend now.

So what have I been up to….

The tree is up

An evening out with lovely Twitter friends. We went to the new burger bar that's opened in Exeter, then headed to The Bikeshed Theatre to see The Exeter Blitz Project

It was wonderful, I was so pleased I saw it. You can find out more about it here

I'm hoping it will come back next year so I can take pops.

I've been busy making Christmas presents

I'm so happy that I finish work at 1pm on Christmas Eve…… I'm used to working until 6pm!

I'll be home just in time to see It's a Wonderful Life!

2 1/2 days off…… bliss!