Show and Tell Sunday

This month is your Favourite Holiday Destination hosted by Justine.

Mine is C'an Pastilla in Mallorca.
We've been visiting the little fishing village since 1997 since we stumbled across it by accident.

We never stay for long, the longest time was 10 days, it's always a bit of a flying visit...any thing from 2 - 4 nights. I always find it really hard to find someone to look after the cats so never go away for long....it also means we used to go more often.

It's not everyone's cup of tea but for us it's perfect, like slipping on an old pair of slippers! From landing we can be at the hotel within 20 mins, this is the view from the hotel we stay in.

There are lots of ex pats but it does have a nice mix and I feel safe to walk the street alone.
Over the years we have made friends with several bar owners so we always get a warm welcome.

To celebrate my 29th birthday we had a lovely meal in the Spanish restaurant over looking the bay.....

Blimey that was 10 years ago!!!!

We had a fantastic weekend there about 5 years ago just before Christmas.....it was so perfect, I had 5 days off from work the weekend before Christmas (very rare in retail!), we travelled to London on the Friday to see The Men They Couldn't Hang before flying out on Saturday morning. We spent Saturday & Sunday relaxing it the warm....unheard of in December!..... before flying back to London on Monday to see The Pogues. It was the best Christmas present ever.

I've was unable to go back for 3 years due to the cats being old & ill but last October I took the plunge & went for 2 night......

You can read about it here.

I must confess this wasn't the best time, I was very worried Zoe wouldn't be here when I got back so never really relaxed. May be it's time to go back now she's gone but I still have Nanny to worry about!!!

OH is planning on moving there in September, he'll be there 3 out of 4 weeks.....and who can blame him! At least I'll have a holiday home!

So that's mine......what's yours?

Next month Show & Tell is Sunday 5th September......does anyone want to host it?

I'll be back later today to announce the winner of my giveaway.

Books

Hello everyone, well this wasn't what I was going to post about but I've just finished this book & wanted to share it with you. You'll have to wait a bit longer to see my CK goodies.

As you know I did a post about the 1st Jennifer Worth book... Call the Midwife.... lots of you had read it & I wonder how many have read this?

Call the Midwife was in my book cupboard for months before I finally got around to reading it, I loved it so when Penny gave me this to read I couldn't wait. At the time I was reading another book......

Have you read it?
My friends mum lent it to me...... I'm not sure.... it was a bit fluffy for me. It took for ever to read..... in fact about 2 months which is a long time for me!! I was glad when I finished it so I could start on the next...... don't you just hate it when someone says 'read this book it great'.... well no it's not great, I must confess it was too happy for me....lol!!! OH always says I like doom & gloom things!

This book is excellent, I couldn't put it down at the end...some sad stories.
I love social history books, I find them fascinating, how times have changed & this was all in my parents life time. It does make me angry looking at some of the children today after reading this....... last night they were climbing over the roof of my doctors..... I could see them running over the roof & trying to smash windows. They aged from about 6 - 10 years old, they were jumping off & I was really hoping one would hurt himself...... god that makes me sound terrible!!
I called the police as they are supposed break up gangs.... there was about 20 of them.... I was told they were only children!!! I don't think so....more like animals! Where are they parents?
Would you let your 6 year old go out & play without knowing where they are?

Just before I go I wanted to tell you about the film I watched on Saturday night...... I'd taken the weekend off because The Pogues were playing at the Beautiful Days festival which is in Ottery St Mary..... about 15 mins from my parents house....but I couldn't get tickets. Sulking....me??? Oh yes!!
Anyway about the film..... it was The Wrestler..... Have you seen it??
We couldn't decide on a film we both liked & after hearing all the hype I thought we'd give it ago.
It's was really good, I can't stop thinking about it. No Victoria I'm not going to take on the role of this film....lol!!
I thought it was really moving & I really felt for him. Micky Rourke was excellent, which did surprise me. It may not be everyones cup of tea but I do recommend it. There was only a few bits I couldn't watch...hate violence, gives me nightmares!

Only 1 week to go before my holiday...... off next weekend to see The Men They Couldn't Hang..... I'm seeing them on Saturday & it's my birthday on Sunday. Funny thing is OH took me to see this band for my 18th birthday in London...... it'll be my 38th birthday next weekend..... still enjoying seeing them but can't keep up anymore :(

Back soon

Happy St Patrick's day

Good morning to you all...this was me this morning when I opened the curtains to a beautiful sunny day in ummmmm...... Exeter!!!!

As some of you know I celebrate St Patrick's day every year & I can't remember the last time I worked on that day or the day after!!! We've been to loads of gigs around the country but over the years this seems to have stopped...most people celebrate on the weekend before or after as this is when the pubs will cash in!!! Last year was my first at home & we went to a local pub in Crediton where food was put on & music played... however this year will just be me & my OH as everyone forgot!!! Never mind we'll have a good time on our own.

We celebrate for lots of reasons which I won't bore you with but the main one is we love the music..... maybe some River dancing will happen later!!!

So there will be some of this.........

A few of these..........

I have the hip flask ready.... just buy the coffee but don't tell the publicans!!!!

We will be listening to this.........

The Dubliners

And this.............

The Pogues

And a little bit of this......

The men they couldn't hang
I couldn't even tell you how many times I've seen this band in the last 20 years .

Just hope I don't end up like this........


Hope you all have a great day what ever you do....


PS. I hope to be back tomorrow with a nice sensible crochet post!!!!

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!!!

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.

Anyone got snow????

I'm loving the winter weather although not happy about having to put the heating on in October. I did wait until the last minute & the heating did kick in at 5, maybe my house is really cold!!

I've been off today, so enjoying the lovely sunshine this morning. I was in the garden sorting out my lavender for the bags I plan to make for Christmas. Hope I haven't taken on too much. I've just got my Christmas rota, why do I have to work in retail?? It's not good, only 1 more Saturday off before Christmas! Every year I say this will be may last as I would like to have a life & see friends etc over the festive period. This is the first year we are opening boxing day..... hate it, why can't people stay at home! I'm working late on Christmas eve & off boxing day but they're hinting for 1 manager to do both days. Bet it'll have to me because I'm having 2 days off the week before to see the Pogues.


One of the ladies I work with has just opened an Etsy shop selling children's clothes. She also makes Pippa dolls clothes & sells on eBay. Remember Pippa? I'd forgotten how small she was. Check out the shop & see how clever Penny is...


http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6266325

I brought this lovely t-light holder from LA a few weeks ago but keep forgetting to share it with you. It was really cheap so I thought he would be very small but I was wrong! I love getting cozy with the lights off & just candles but I can't see to knit!!

Hope you're all having a good week & not too cold.

What Josie-Mary did on her holiday....

Well another very quick week's holiday is over and yes I was right last week, I'm not feeling so smug today!

So did I do all my jobs??? Did I heck as like!!! I managed to do some but I also had some lazy days, why do we always feel guilty of that?? Yes I did lay in bed one afternoon & watched a film...is that soooo wrong?? But I do feel bad now because I still have a long list of things that didn't get done and my next holiday won't be until February or March. Can I make it??

So what did I do.....

I put up my Whirligig.

















I do love these but they're getting harder to find. I've been looking for a wood chopper for years without any luck. Mum & dad found this on their travels & gave it to me for my birthday at the end of August. Yes it really has taken me that long to put it up!!

I made 10 jars of pickled onions, all for Christmas gifts, now I can focus on making my own. I hate pealing the onions but you can't beat home made so I have to do it.

I made a bag.


















I mentioned this a while ago, didn't come out as well as I hoped but hey it cost me under £5 and it's my first attempt. As I was making it I thought how lucky I was to have a mum who showed me how to make things. I've met so many people who wouldn't even know where to start. So even if it's not the best bag in the world at least I made it!!

I made a lovely pie & pasties. Ohh the joy of having the time to do this kind of things. I have some left ready to take to work. I also made the mackerel pate from just original's blog. Very yummy & easy to make.

















I've started to make my friends little girl a toy, not sure what it'll be. It was a doll but I'm now thinking I could change it to a cat! What do you think??


The box is going to be the bed & I've made some granny squares to make the blanket.

I've also dusted my kitchen shelves.....



I won't tell you how long ago this was done but as you can see it's a bit of a task!!! My motto is.... the more you have on a shelf the less room there is for dust! You may have noticed that I collect everything... I love Cornish blue, these are just the pieces we don't use. Also I can never resist a Fred at the bootie. And yes of course there's lots of red & white things.
















I went to Morrison's shopping & had to buy this lovely shower cap........will I use it??? Not sure but it was a bargain & will look good in the bath room!!



Now I written all this down I feel I've done quite a lot so now I won't feel bad about sitting down all afternoon!! Don't forget I've had to do general house work all week as well.....yeah I feel good now!

I'm going to make a list on my blog of all the things I need to do before Christmas. I always think one more list won't hurt!


Back to work tomorrow, not looking forward to it as I feel really rough with a cold. I've fought it all week with loads of drugs but it's finally come out. This always happens to me at this time of year. Last year I had the same week off & was really ill so had to take the following week off sick. Hope I feel better as I'd hate to have to call in sick again, I think they're just getting over the fact I had to take 5 days of when my cat died in September. Maybe my friend was right, I shouldn't have wasted that time off (yes she did say that!!)


The next thing to look forward to is going to see The Pogues in Bristol on the 16th December. Didn't make it last year but we normally go to London every year to see them, it's our Christmas present to each other. The tickets cost a bomb but it's a fantastic night...I think....can't always remember it!! But it's lovely when they sing fairytale of new york at the end at snow starts falling & the very drunk fans sing along!

Hope everyone plans to watch 'Little Dorrit', I'm hoping it will be as good as 'Bleak house'. Have a good week.