Poppy in the lyrical costume : Designed and made by Jacky

Now I haven’t got a lot of time today:

1. Noel is very poorly (high temperature) – poor thing, he thought he was on the mend.

2. Wages had to be processed today – very important!!

3. When I get home from work, I need to make some bloomers for Poppy to wear tonight.

4. Sew elastic on hat for tonight.

5. Poppy’s Godmother (Linda) is travelling up from Southampton for dinner and the show.

6. Getting Poppy to the show on time, which is way before we have to be there.

and the very last thing - I hope so, anyway ...

7. Getting us (6) fed and to the show on time.


However why do you think this picture could be causing me so much excitement?

Answers on a postcard please :o)

Easter Weekend

Philippians 3:10-12 I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. (NIV)

How did you celebrate Easter?

Perhaps you attended the parade on Good Friday or your local church service on Sunday. You may have spent the holiday period with your family and all got together for a lovely meal.

Me, I spent it in bed – now now -*winks* don’t go there, it started with my back going (where I do not know, but I what I did know was that it hurt!) all to do with it being to cold at work and my body being tense and cold all day for several days. I had got up on the Wednesday even had a shower but as I put the towel round myself, that was it, my back went into spasm. I did manage to get my pants, t-shirt , jumper and one sock on but that was all, I could hardly breathe it was hurting so much. So I crawled back into bed, half dressed … and stayed there till Noel came home (early I have to say, because he is lovely like that). I was a little bit better on Thursday, so did get up and plod around so that I didn’t go completely stiff and watched films with Poppy who was on a TD (Teacher Training Day). I also managed a visit to the Chiropractor which always helps enormously. And later Toby came home on Easter leave, with dirty washing and a smile.


Toby home and Jill keeping him company.
Good Friday; I was feeling an improvement, and knowing that I had sewing to do for the show, I got up and toddled off to do some sewing, only to find that my ruffler decided to break – groan. Why is it when ever I offer to do sewing for Judith Hockaday, something always breaks – always. Louise also arrives from Hull and managed to do the whole journey in glorious sunshine.


Louise's first 'Teacher Board Picture'
So Saturday arrives with a flurry of snow (just like the day before)


The flurry of snow.
and I am on the phone tracking down a new ruffler, a lovely man in a Husqvarna shop in Bath, had one, just a ¾ hour drive away. Poppy is at dancing so the four of us pile into the car and drive to Bath. Now if you have ever been to Bath it is a beautiful city however, as soon as you reach the city limits it becomes grid lock.

Much to our amazement and with a little bit of help from Tom Tom, we drove within 5 minutes walk of the shop and found a parking space.

Now the going price for a ruffler for the Orchidea is approximately the £40.00 mark, however the guy (who owned the shop) had this particular ruffler hanging around (new and still bagged and boxed), he sold it to me for £15.00, yes £15.00, the box said it should have been £25.80, which is still well cheap and then he gave me another ruffler (second-hand) which he said "would hopefully fit my Emma" – what a bargain, I will definitely be visiting this shop again and would highly recommend it. The shop also holds quite a selection of patchwork and quilting fabric.

Back to Swindon to get new batteries put in several wrist watches!! Collect Poppy from dancing; buy some more overlocking thread from Sew Craft and then on to the Wyvern Theatre to pick up all the tickets I had pre-booked for the show. Now as I was getting out of the back seat, I smacked my head so hard on the door that didn’t quite open properly and the spring on the door moved backwards. I did still manage to go into the box office and buy all the tickets but didn’t my head hurt and I could just not think straight at all.

So Saturday started brilliantly but did it go down hill … my slight grumpiness became obvious why!! I now have a very sore head … we all then travelled home only to find a ‘snotty’ letter from the credit card company to say we had not paid. I cried, I knew I had paid it, and we are not talking a small amount of money either, it was over £4,500.00. The credit card company had shut an hour before for the long weekend, however having checked the bank, I had paid the wrong card number by one digit $%^&*, I went into panic over reacting mode – very unlike me, so I have to say the bump on the head got some of the blame. I just wanted to crawl up and die but I had sewing to do and sewing is what I did. 7 out of 16 cotton skirts, with at least 7 meters of ruffling round the bottom, which Noel and myself took turns to hem.


Evidence of Noel having learnt to hem on the overlocker.
Dinner time and then Noel and I went next door to have a quiet but pleasant evening in with our neighbours, who have the 8 month old twins. The twins were in bed but both had awful coughs so every now and then a small drink of water or a spoon full of medicine had to be administered.

Sunday – really did it happen – I woke with a migraine and Noel was not feeling so well either, he was suffering from a cold. However I am not sure what happened for the rest of the day, I slept all day and all that night.

Monday – Noel is really suffering from the cold which was also beginning to settle on his chest. I managed to get up and with the assistance of lots of tablets throughout the day (which I hate doing), but I did manage to sew the rest of the skirts.


16 Lime Green Villager Skirts

Close up of ruffles
Toby went and delivered them only to be given lots and lots of lime and orange coloured straps to hem. I just got on and did them all, to my surprise they were all done within a couple of hours and back they went.

That was the end of the bank holiday weekend. Tuesday I went back to work and just for good measure another visit to Chiro. Noel was off work yesterday but he is feeling a lot better today and has returned to work. Just as well as this evening is Poppy's dress rehearsal, ready for the show which starts tomorrow evening and timings for home live really go out of the window!!

Last but not least the bump on my head is only egg size now and shrinking I am pleased to say, the credit card payment was put into a holding account and should be being moved into our account as I write this and the sun is shining.

It makes me sad - Politics

Now, I am not normally really very bothered about politics, sorry to those who think I should be, but I’m not. However, as a child I fell in love with the mysteries of Tibet (and Mongolia), beautiful, secret, forbidden countries.

During my life time, I have seen these countries open up to the world; I have still yet to visit either of them.

Now a man whom to me has always seemed to be the epitome of inner piece and tranquillity is the Dalai Lama, the head of Buddhism.



However the Dalai Lama has just been blamed by the Chinese Prime Minister, Mr Wen, for all of the unrest in Tibet.

This makes me really sad, now I do not live in Tibet and/or China; I am not a Communist or a Buddhist and this is my personal opinion, from somebody who has never met the Dalai Lama or Mr Wen, but could this be true?

My own questions are:

Does the Dalai Lama want to go back home to Lhasa to die, therefore causing unrest and bring Tibet’s occupation back into the fore front of the media, especially as the 2008 Beijing Olympics are about to happen?

However on the other hand, Dharamsala in India has been his home for 49 years and has strong Buddhist links. He has always seemed such an honest, down-to-earth leader and would seem to me against all forms of violence.

Or is Mr Wen just trying to blame someone else for the violence that is being reported?

However would Mr Wen really want such bad publicity at this very important time for China?

I do not know any of the answers, I wish I did, but what I do know is that; people are dying.

It makes me sad, very sad.

Free Tibet

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a little extra post

To my FIL; Noel Snr, who lives in Florida, USA.

Wishing you a very Happy St. Patrick's Day



Love from Noel Jnr, Jacky, Toby and Poppy xxx (UK)

Click : To see why; This day is not really happening in the Christian calendar.

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My Garden Grows

Just a few days until it is Spring Equinox and the trees and plants are really coming to life, something that makes me feel refreshed.



Hellebore



I have a couple of these planted up with daffodils and tulips.



I just love the way these pods, pop!



A thank you present – Honeysuckle

It has been two weeks since home became:
‘Then There Were Three’

For a little while at home we acquired an extra teenager. The teenager’s home life had gone a bit array. Mum who has done a fantastic job of being a single mum for 15 years, had just had enough and wasn’t coping very well with the changes of a young child into a teenager. So to give everybody a break, and to let all sorts of feelings become more realistic, Noel and I said we would take the teenager home with us. No time scales, just much needed time ... I gave a listening ear to Mum and teenager in turn and then mediated between the two; so that new, appropriate ground rules, respect and communication values could be addressed.

The first weekend Poppy was at her Godmother's in Southampton, which gave Noel and I some one-to-one time with our guest. On the way back from Southampton we picked up Toby and we all went for dinner at Blubeckers, Noel and I felt that it might do our extra family member some good, talking through being a teenager to a single mum. Toby was excellent and with no prompting from me, he got the jist of the situation very quickly, all in all it was a very positive and enjoyable evening.

It took a couple of weeks, which included tears, shouting, cuddles and chores, we all got there. It has now been two weeks since our lodger went home and I am very pleased to announce that all is well at their home – lots of smiles and laughter.

As a thank you from Mum, something I didn’t expect because just making the family work together again was all I needed, I was bought the lovely Honeysuckle, pot, compost (above picture) and a big tin of Roses for us all to eat.



Poppy struggled a little bit with the extra teenager, as (her words) “I like being the centre of attention and getting all the attention”. I was really proud that she was to tell me very nicely what her feelings were, but also let down that she was being, say; ‘slightly selfish’, however after chatting she decided she was grateful that her mum and dad were actually ‘OK’!!

So all in all it has done both families a lot of good.

Now another reason I knew time was ticking on about posting ...

Valentine’s Day

Just look what my lovely husband bought me; a three month sock yarn club membership from Yarn Yard:

This was my first months parcel:



Lovely colours, since receiving them I have been going through my knitting book (mine is actually 25 years old, so the cover is different!), so that I can decide on a pattern to design my first ever sock pattern. Which is one of my new ambitions ...

And this was my second parcel: I have the parcel’s sent to work, so that I know they get delivered safely and not pushed and shoved through my narrow letter box at home. Therefore what more could a girl want; a lovely cup of tea (and yes I do drink it that weak but I also know that a certain ‘Scottish Lady’ who dyes this beautiful yarn, does to) and a package containing the most fabulous colours I could dream off.



I have just one more parcel to go, so as you may have noted on my wish list I now have Yarn Yard Sock Club (2) ... here’s is hoping ... *big grin*.

An Apology

Last Thursday as I was rushing home at lunch time (2pm) to let the dogs out, this is what I saw coming in the opposite direction. I had my camera on the seat next to me, both lanes were clear of traffic and it was just starting to rain, so I slowed down and quickly took this picture through my windscreen of the car. It was all guys and they all looked wet and tired, including the ponies.

However the guy, who’s face you can see behind the white pony, shouted at me (not horribly, just so that I could hear), "it would have been nice if you had asked", and you know what, it would have been. I felt awful at my bad manners, so while rushing around at home I remembered that I had a home-made fruit cake sitting in the cupboard, so I rung Noel quickly, explained what had happened and would he mind if I gave them the cake, he didn’t mind and understood my reasoning.

So back in the car, up the hill and I managed to catch up with them about a mile away from where I first saw them all. I parked in a lay-by and walked back along the verge to greet them. The dogs came rushing up to me, I wish I had also brought some dog food but I didn’t see the dogs first time round. The guys were a bit hesitant at first, wondering what I was doing. The guy who had spoken to me was now sat on a cart, anyway they all stopped and I said “you were right, I should have asked first and please except this home-made cake as an apology”, I could not have put bigger grins on their faces than if I had kissed them all!!!

I am so pleased I said sorry, and I would like to say thank you to them (not that they will probably ever see it) for this picture;



Safe journey lads ...

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Lots to Share

I have so much to share with you, that I am actually not sure where to start, so after much dilemma, I decided to share my ‘Mothering Sunday’ with you.

I had my mother’s day a week late; reasons being, Noel was away the 2nd March and Poppy had lots of show rehearsals, so they both asked if I minded – of course I didn’t mind, I am a mum everyday ... do I need to say more!

The day was still busy as Poppy had Emma to sleep over, so no breakfast in bed for me - em not a great start Poppy *winks*. Then the day started; dropped Emma home, Poppy to rehearsals, Noel and I did some very boring but much required housework. Pick up Poppy, buy some fresh baguettes, brie and grapes for lunch, have lunch, drop Poppy back (different hall) for more rehearsals. Noel and I washed the cars; to say they were minging is an understatement. Dinner is put in the oven and back to pick up Poppy. We try and do this together to make the most of anything she has to share with us.

Then I was sent up stairs, to do anything, just be out of the way was the instructions, so of course I went to see what was happening on the net ...

This is what I came down to: 100 Ballons



The presents on the table were a novel, six cream eggs and;



A book that I sort of wanted but didn’t really need – so an excellent present.

I really enjoy Jamie Oliver's programme, not just because of what he cooks but because he makes me giggle and I think he most have his own olive grove. He uses so much olive oil, I am sure it could sink a ship. But also because he has the most laid back, scruffiest, knowledgeable gardener, you could ever see on television.

Knitting:

Remember my third FCS, well I have finished it and very pleased with the colours this time.



A close up of colours and stitches and the overall look:



Me:

Now before I show you some sewing in progress, I need a new driving license, you know one of those plastic photo cards, really haven't wanted to but I really must get one. So I asked Noel to take an appropriate photograph, ready to send off with my application. I wanted a photograph; something that I hope I wouldn’t be to embarrassed to show people, if I had to. Well, after many attempts – me being fussy mainly – this is the final result, far to serious but this is what I believe is required;



Sewing:

Now I can show you the pictures of my sewing and you will notice a very major change;



Sewing Poppy’s lyrical costume in a very sunny conservatory.



A close up of my purple (Plum) hair – I love it. My very clever husband dyed it for me and when I had my hair cut at the weekend, my hairdresser Caroline wanted me to congratulate him on doing an excellent job and very good, all over coverage.

After Noel dyed my hair I then did Poppy’s a far longer job – time wise and hair length, we just manage to get the hair dyed using two packets.



Just look at that concentration on my face!!

Sunshire:

We had beautiful sun shine at the weekend, in fact as we all know it was the lull before the storm, this is a picture of the beautiful daffodils in our village,



and to finish ... the ducks ... superb.

Slightly Remise

A fantastic picture of the moon to start this one off ....



A beautiful sunny morning, taken at approximately

0830 hours, showing the setting moon.

Please accept my apologies, I have been slightly remise in not blogging for the last few weeks, I have so missed it, but have just not found the energy or time to catch up and then I felt guilty that I had not written thing up to date. Silly lady because it is my blog and nobody tells me off for not making an entry, daft isn’t how the brain works!

Coke, Hormones and Stress

An answer to my sixes and sevens feeling; I have a history of drinking to much coca cola since I was 15 years of age, which coincided with me leaving home. I have drunk at least 2 if not 3 or 4 can’s a day. It was my staple diet for far to long. In my defence I only drink the very weakest of tea, am allergic to coffee and alcohol and wasn’t that keen on water or squash or even fruit juices. Therefore very limited in what I was able to drink however, last August, I got some virus and really went off most food in one way or another and this included coke. I was able to drink to water, very surprising but much healthier for my inner system! As I got better I still didn’t particularly like the taste of coke and much to everybody’s surprise I continued with the water or Hi Juice (in my opinion better tasting than squash).

Now one of the biggest beneficial side effects of not drinking coke was that I didn’t suffer quite as badly from the hormones. It took a couple of months to realise but I was definitely benefiting from not drinking coke.

Then it all went a bit pear shaped, you see Toby is also addicted to coke so over the Christmas period a lot of coke was bought and in the cupboard and for some unknown reason I kept 'having the need' to drink some. I started to drink more and more, saying that, no more than 2 cans but mostly a shared can here and there, nobody including myself thought any more of it, until three weeks ago when the hormones started to kick in and oh my goodness, didn’t I go down hill, only three time before have I felt so down and ratty, once when I was prescribed the conceptive pill, the second the marina coil and the third when I had to have the implant. On all three occasions I was so poorly, I cannot describe it to you. I was able to go to work but could hardly function and when I came home I just wanted to sleep, partly because I was exhausted from having dreadful temperature differences during the night and just not being able to sleep and also I felt safe while in bed. This way I knew I could keep my mouth shut and not be a horrible mum / wife.

The next ten days were a nightmare; I was so bloated from water retention that I did a good impression of the ‘Michelin Man’;



Except no way as smiley! My skin was so sore, that the heat rashes would bleed, as would my gums when brushing my teeth, so all in all, I just felt very sorry for myself.

Having also having been to visit the doctor it would also seem that I am suffering from PTSD, if you don't mind, I will explain more in another post!

How and why my family still loved me, while I was like this, I will never know, but thankfully they did.

Stress for someone else:

While working away at my desk, this poor lorry driver got stuck on the edge of the field opposite my window, he was actually delivering goods to the small unit next to our workshop. The guy who runs this unit, seriously needs to return to school and complete his 'Good Citizen Award', because he just didn't want to help this guy at all. However my boss, the workshop manager and myself made up wood wedges and wire fencing for support to free him. One very grateful Welsh Man.

I'm starting to feel better;

Over time has seen the washing pile become more manageable and fitting back into the linen basket and not all over the bedroom floor. The dusting and hovering are up to date. Lots of little things that make me feel so much better.

and then this happens:

Standing in the kitchen a couple of weeks ago, I looked up and noticed a small shadow on the ceiling, I showed Noel, he touched it and it was slightly damp. Now we have a family bathroom that in the 3 ½ years of living here has been used no more than half a dozen times. We call it the posh bathroom, but over the Christmas period we had to use this bathroom, due to the en-suite shower leaking again. An on going problem since moving in, which has resulted in us having to have all new carpets in our bedroom and the en-suite. This has caused so much stress over the years, partly because we have to keep going back to the builders, who really just don’t want to know. I could write a story on how ‘crap’ these builders are but that would be another story ….

Let’s just say that most (and here I mean all) of our neighbours have a very low opinion of this company.

Back to the ceiling, yes you have probably guessed it, the posh bathroom plumbing has leaked. Why has it leaked … because the plumber never bothered to tighten up the waste pipe and because we used it for more than a day, the pressure of so much water caused the water leak.

This is what we found when we looked, it could be worse but another carpet stained due to diabolical workmanship.



The bath panel has swelled and cracked and there are two stains on the carpet, one at each end of the bath. Luckily the kitchen ceiling has dried out okay, I think this is because we caught it so quickly.

So all in all a bit of a difficult time for me and the family, but "onwards and upwards", as they say.

To finish on a high - which is how I feel, now that I have completed this posting and that I know I will be back very soon, please enjoy this lovely picture I took by the field, here at work.

Snowdrops taken just outside the barn.