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.

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!

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!

October 2014

Hello....... I've been away so long!

My poor blog never gets any love these days, Instagram has well & truly taken over.

Just popping in to let you know what I got up to in October

It was a busy month for me...... catching up with friends, seeing The Beat, getting hooked on puzzles, cracking on with my Christmas jumper, making lots & lots of poppies, celebrating Halloween with the family & of course spending time with my girls.

Only 2 months left of 2014...... Crikey!!!!!

November is shaping up to be just as busy. I have 2 craft fairs booked in..... it's the only 2 I planned to do this year & of course I'm not ready! So I'll be busy making over the next few weeks.

I also have lots going on at work, I've been asked to organise a Christmas raffle for all 9 shops, decorate the charity Christmas tree in the city centre & come up with some ideas for fund raising for 2015...... phew!!

So you can see why I don't have much time for blogging!

September 2014

I've been away too long & the weeks are marching on :(

So September came & went in a haze!

I finally received my anniversary present from OH...... we've been waiting since Christmas!.... top left corner, it's the new The Men They Couldn't Hang album that OH pledged, look closely & you'll see my name!!!

We remember our lovely Charlie who pass away 6 years ago, I had my 6th anniversary in blogland, started my Christmas jumper, tried to make loads for the November Crikey It's Vintage fair, finding goodies in my shop, a 1940's day out & of course spending time with my beautiful girls.

September was a lovely months & the sun shone lots. I'm getting used to living on my own but not looking forward to February when OH's lease is up on his new place...... I really don't want to move all my junk!!!

Hope I can find time to blog soon.

August 2014

Summer has nearly gone & autumn is knocking on the door.

August was a funny month...... it started with lights out to remember WW1, lots of knitting, treats from customers & volunteers, starting my Christmas jumper, treating myself to yet another cardigan & spending lots of time with my girls.

It finished with my birthday

My gifts this year 

Beautiful vintage candle holder

I spent a lot of August alone, including most of my birthday. OH has decided to move out as he hates living here, at the moment he's taken a room in the city centre for 6 months to see how it goes. It all feels a bit weird & lonely but I have to get used to it. I'm learning to cook to try & save money as I'm paying all the bills so takeaway & M&S is not on the cards!

September is my favourite month but at the moment it's hard to look on the bright side. My deputy manager has left so I'm alone in the shop, I'm trying to sort out cover for days off but not getting very far. Fingers crossed we find someone soon. I need to knuckle down & focus on now rather than worrying about what will happen in 6 months time.

Hopefully September will be better! 

Still Here......

'cor blimey where does the time go??

I can't believe I haven't posted for nearly 2 weeks! August seems to be flying by & what with a turn in the weather it feels like autumn is nearly here. 

I don't seem to have done much which is why I haven't posted anything. At the end of July we went to Bridport vintage market.

We found a couple of bargains for my mums birthday & I found some lovely fabric

I did have plans to make a cushion but it's still on the back of my chair, well at least it's not packed away in my fabric box.

I've been busy making poppies for my Etsy shop

I've also been spending time with my girls & of course working.

I was due to have a holiday next week but unfortunately I've had to cancel it as there was no one to cover the shop :(

I've got a 4 day weekend from the 28th to celebrate my birthday then it's back to the grind stone!

My deputy leaves the week after so I'm not sure when my next day off will be, I better make the most of it.

Pop over to see me on Instagram as I find it easier than blogging.

July 2014

Another July has passed us by

I remembered the Somme on the 1st, went to another 1940's event with the family, knitted lots, treated myself to some flowers, had a relaxing spa evening, spent lots of time with my girls & remembered Teddy at the end of the month...... can't believe it's been 2 years since he left me :( 

We also celebrated our 1st birthday in the shop.

It's been a good sunny month

Another Week.....

Another week has passed me by

Busy trying to finish my cardigan

Picking the right buttons

Holding a Temple Spa pamper evening in the shop...... yes I did buy something!

Waking up to find my flowers had opened

More pampering..... this time my poor feet.

A Saturday day off treat!

I haven't enjoyed being a counselor at work this week or the thunder storms but a part from that it's been a good one.

Crikey It's Over!

The sun certainly had it's hat on yesterday!

Unlike last year when it rained for most of the weekend & traders were chasing their gazebos around the field.

I did manage to walk around & say hello to other traders but tried very hard not to spend money!

We raised lots of money for the shelter & spread the word about the wonderful work they do.

Lots of raffle tickets were sold for the knitted Noah's Ark. I've now set up a Just Giving page for those people who can't make it to the shop.

You can find it here

It's pretty big so the winner must be able to collect from the shop.

Hope you've all enjoyed the sunny weekend.

D Day - 70 Years On

Ok so I know I'm a day late posting this!

Yesterday I spent the morning watching the BBC coverage then I had a date with a pint of cider & some birthday cake!

You see D Day is also OH's birthday! 

We spent the afternoon in the pub with friends.

I also did a little nod to D Day in my shop

A lovely being creative with my windows & it's great having lovely comments from customers

I'm enjoying 3 days off at the moment which is great. Only 1 day left to do all my housework but I'm hoping to fit in the boot sale & see my nephew after his big operation on Friday.

Hope you're all having a lovely weekend

I'm back!

I've been away too long..... is it me or are the weeks flying by?

So what have I been up to

Spending time with my girls 

Playing with my brothers new puppy...... I'm not jealous!

Making a cardigan for myself!

Trying to take 10 mins a day to slow down

Trying to eat less!

I've lost 9 pounds in 5 weeks........ it's slow progress! 

Life is good at the moment. I'm so pleased I decided to take this year off from selling, I'm really enjoying making things for me. Also I don't have the stress of Make, Do and Mend & work is great.

Funny how things change in a year :) 

April 2014

4 months have already marched past!

April was a good month with lots of making including my first ever sewing project..... check back for my Sew for Victory post over the weekend. I spent time with my girls (as always!), had a day out with the family, started to count calories (not so good) & started walking to work again after a 5 year break!

It was a year ago on Monday when I walked out of Laura Ashley for the last time, I can't believe I was that person who was so unhappy & being ill everyday because I didn't want to go to work. I hated the bosses & was treated like a child with no thanks for the hard work I put in. I don't get much thanks now but at least at the end of a hard day I know I've helped the animals which is a great feeling!

It also helps that I don't have to work Sundays & had 4 days off for Easter..... a first since 1997 for me! We've changed our opening hours this week so I actually get to leave at 5pm.... I got home at 5.20 today........ fantastic!!! In my previous jobs I would be looking at 6.45.

All in all this makes Joe a very happy girly :)