[Mostly taken in 2007]
Dearest Blog Ladies,
I have just removed my favicon (an icon that comes up with my web address) and was wondering if those of you who have a problem accessing this site, are now finding it easier? Would you be kind enough to let me know. Thank you. Have a great weekend - this is our last ever without a proper shower as work starts on Monday morning - watch this space!
At long last here is my revamped 'dressing-table-shelf!' It has taken an age to finally get it finished - well it's not really finished because the little shelf at the top is only propped up on 2 enormous nails. This little bit of re-vamping didn't go to plan either because it took me 3 tries, yes 3, before I finally bought the right size of wood. Honestly, talk about being a blonde!
I'm sorry that I've been a bit behind with my emails. Please give me some time and I should be able to catch up. I'm still feeling snowed under (oh and I wish it was literally I really do - this hot weather plays havoc with my hormones) and the blog feels like the last thing on my to-do list plus I'm feeling a bit lacking in inspiration...help! I'm also a little sad because last night should have been the night I was to go and see Crosby, Stills & Nash but was unable to get a ticket. I did manage to catch half of their set at Glastonbury on Saturday and wallowed in a little David Crosby love;
only don't mention that to Chris if you happen to see him as I don't want him to get jealous!
And the sweet peas? Here they are..
their scent is wonderful and I'm hoping they will last until late August when our dear, dear friends from Australia come to stay. Another thing that has been bothering me is that some of you have mentioned you cannot open the blog. I have absolutely no idea why and would very grateful if anyone could help me solve the problem. About 4 weeks ago I made a favicon for the blog so I'm wondering if that could have changed something. Thank you.
Happy Thursday...xx
Is it Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday already? Yes, I started this post many times as you can see! I'm so sorry that I have been so quiet of late but it has been a rather full week (last week now) which I will try and tell you all about...
:Job:
The biggest bit of news to tell you is that I had an interview for a HLTA post at school. (The Government created a new tier of Teaching Assistants called Higher Level Teaching Assistants. This was done a few years ago to try and relive the workload/pressure of teachers by giving them some time out of the class for planning etc and then having a HLTA take the class in their place. I received the status 3 years ago & have been doing the role but it wasn't officially a 'HLTA' position. Three positions have now been created at my school and I applied for one of them and am happy to say I was successful. Also, I will be moving to Year 2 in September (the 6 and 7 year olds..yay, roll on Christmas as they are still at that magical age.) which I'mvery happy about too. There has been lots of unsettling talk about where I'd be moved to and what days I would have to work but so far all my changes at school are going to be good ones!
:Home:
The house is still looks like we have been burgled but there is reason in what looks like total madness! The bathroom will be started on Monday 6th July and the excitement is building daily. The hall and landing looks like a plumber's merchant and we find ourselves having to maneuver over our short projection toilet; heated towel rail; boxes of tiles; ironing board; shower rail and boxes of taps. We have taken this opportunity to totally re-organise the whole house, 2 sheds and garden. Yes, it's rather a mammoth task but it will be fantastic when it's done. We even need to find a new place to store our logs and have come up with a rather unusual way which I will share with you at a later date.
Now, I had better go and make dinner...
I don't really know how to describe the weekend that's just been and gone. It was rather a mixture of good and bad. Well, when I say bad I don't mean really bad probably just a bit negative and overwhelming ..ooh and guilty. Guilty because in spite of buying birthday presents and Father's Day cards 3 months (present) and 2 weeks (cards) ago they have yet to be posted and have missed the all important days. Apologetic phone calls all round. Negative because of the amount of organising and putting back to be done after the installation of our new boiler on Friday. But this in a way has been the good too, only sorting is not something I can get done very quickly as I tend to get distracted and am far too thorough which should be read as slow. Lucy described it perfectly yesterday - "Mummy, you just start painting the frames when you are meant to be organising them." Yes, I can see her point but how can I organise them and put them away if they're waiting to be painted?
I never seem to relax during the weekend as they are just chore filled with the overriding feeling that everyone is having a better weekend than us. Help is needed so last week in the midst of buying tiles and shower rails I also bought 'The Wonderful Weekend Book' by Elspeth Thompson. The cover alone is worth the price. Only problem is that I'm yet to find the time to read it! But I will. Though I think the hard thing will be putting into practice the reclaiming and having a different mindset regarding the chores. And more importantly, perhaps having less around the house so I wont have to wade through clutter and never get to the end of tidying up. Ooh the word 'clutter' makes me instantly go on the defensive, all prickly and full of excuses! Ha - that and the word 'nag' though that word makes me cross as well as defensive because it unfairly labels woman who are trying to communicate (!!)..but enough of my rants and we'll move onto the good? I spent time painting the floor and door of our under-stairs cupboard where the lovely new boiler is, it looks so much better but we're yet to put things back as there have been shelves taken away. And upstairs in our bedroom where the water tank has been removed I will have a place for 2 extra shelves. I prettified the space by sticking a patchwork of Laura Ashley papers inside. This is not a good photo as it is not finished but it will give you an idea.
The top shelf is where we keep excess toiletries which look ugly so I've covered them with a tray cloth. And the second shelf is what I jokingly call my dressing table because it is (oh how I would love a lovely vintage one with little drawers and a mirror..sob). I'm wanting to put in a tiny shelf inside so I can store a bit more. This little alcove is usually hidden behind our sliding wardrobe doors but if it is seen it now looks a little more presentable.
And did I actually make it to the Bird Hide this weekend? Yes, but it wasn't overly exciting but I can tell you more about that tomorrow. Gee whizz that will make you want to come back to read about it wont it?!!
Now I better get down to the Post Office to appease my guilt...
I have been asked to share with you a wonderful event happening in London today and tomorrow, which I'm very pleased to do so. I hope many of you will be able to enjoy a fabulous opportunity and a bargain or two.
Lovely summer crafty sale!!
June 19th and 20th 2009 see a very special event happening in London. For the first time ever 3 unique designers are hosting their very own sale in the capital, complete with tea and cake!
The event will feature the funky knitted creatures of the black rabbit, the contemporary hand cast resin jewellery of Daisy Dunlop and the world famous tea cosies of Poppy Treffry. Normally only available at high end stores and galleries in the city, for this event they are offering the chance to shop a selection of samples and end of line bargains and to meet the designers.
Hosted in the atmospheric location of the Upper Hall at the Parish Centre, St James the Less, Westminster, the sale will take place on Friday 19th and Saturday 20th. Shoppers will be welcomed to the event with a selection of lovely, free, tea and coffee and lots of yummy cakes!
“We host this event regularly from our studio in Cornwall at Christmas time” said Poppy “and it’s always such a success that we thought it was time to take it on tour!”
The sale will run from 10am until 6pm on both days and will be full of the best array of bargains imaginable. It’s a fantastic chance to meet the makers and grab some treats!
Featured Makers
Dates: Fri 19th and Sat 20th June 2009
Opening Hours: 10am to 6pm
Entry: Free
Address: St. James the Less Westminster, Thorndike Street, off Moreton Street, London, SW1V 2PS
The boiler is being fitted as I type. All around me is chaos and one needs to make a treacherous journey through the dining room to sit at the table...in fact you can't sit at the table. Floor boards are up, cats are suitably freaked out, the entire contents of our under-stairs storage cupboards are spread out over the house, drills are drilling, soldering is setting our smoke alarm off every now and then and many cups of tea are being made.
And guess what? I'm excited and happy.
4 things that recently made me laugh..
4 places I have been in the last 7 days..
4 things I have watched in the last 7 days..
4 things that have touched my heart..
4 things that are driving me crazy..
4 places I would like to go..
4 things I'm hopeful for this week..
Ooh yes.. and Chris Martin's telephone number!
There's nothing sweeter than a soft purring sleeping cat.
Especially, a curled up one who's been busy watching the world go by in the garden.
Such a hard life.
Changes are happening everywhere at the moment. Quite literally. I'm feeling quite giddy with the speed in which they are happening. This week we are having a new boiler fitted which has meant clearing out our under-stairs cupboard which houses the boiler and all manner of cleaning materials, mugs, tea towels, coats, iron and ironing board etc etc..in fact it is our only storage place. So you can imagine the upside downess of this rather-too-small-to-begin-with house at the moment. We will be having water tanks removed from our loft and the hot water tank in our bedroom so we will have a little more space when they're gone.
And the changes don't stop there. The lovely old shed of our next door neighbours which has been there for many, many years (and where we have kept our logs), has been pulled down due to it's age and condition, and burnt - hence the smoke
and a line full of washing. Grr.
We are also having our bathroom changed in a couple of weeks (goodbye to vile avocado bath suite. Yay!) Finally, we will have a proper shower at last. But before that it is stress city here as we need to choose what we want rather quickly. I never realised there is so much to it. My head is spinning with short projection toilets, mixer taps, basins that don't exceed 400mm, tiles, shower rails, soft close toilet seats..and on and on..
Unfortunately, there's no cast iron roll top baths on legs or even a traditional looking toilet and basin because of our tiny bathroom but we are still grateful for what we are getting and I am thinking of some Cath wallpaper on the walls without the tiles to make it more a 'Janie' bathroom despite our limitations. I'm also thinking Cath wallpaper might not be that practical but I'd rather have a go than to always wonder.
More changes are happening in my position at school. I will be probably moving year group in September and will be doing more planning and delivering of lessons. I'm looking forward to doing this but don't know yet where I'll be. Even the unit of work that I'm teaching my class this half term, is all about change and how to handle it. I could do with following that information myself as I'm not really partial to change!
So, I'm hoping that it will be business as usual over the following weeks and even if I don't have time for many words there will be some pictures of our progress so you can hold my hand through the banging, dust and chaos till we come out of the other side all white and shiny with a few flowers thrown in for good measure.
P.S
I've had one or two people mention to me that they are having problems opening my blog. I have no idea why this is happening and apologise. If I find out then I will let you know. I think you can access it through someone else's link meantime.
OK,ok..you can officially call me 'obsessed' - the 2 feeders in the tree have actually turned into.. not 3 ..or even 4 ..but 5!
I have every possible food (but not Nyjer seeds as I can't work out what to put them in as they are so fine) peanuts, a fat ball and 2 different wild bird mixes: and yes, the sparrows are still feeding. The odd thing though is that they won't go on any of the new feeders preferring the one on the far left that has a tray for them to sit on.
I had to smile yesterday when I arrived home after school - our neighbour's children were playing outside and I hadn't even got out of the car when 3 little excited faces were pressed up against the car window shouting,
"Jane,Jane, guess what? There have been birds on the feeders! I saw them this morning."
There certainly had as I am having to refill (the one) most days. I even had another sort of feathery visitor.
Poor thing had such a hard time balancing on the flimsy, tiny branches. They were buckling under his weight!
I have even bought myself a proper lidded container for storing the bird food.
Yes, I've got it bad - particularly when ringing home during the day and before I end the conversation with whoever is home, I ask if there are any birds on our feeders! Yeah really! And I'm thinking I might go to the local bird hide this weekend (situated in some woods) to get a proper 'bird fix'. Yes, I can see a bird theme beginning to happen inside and out.
Well, I think the day has finally come when I have found something that my sweet Anth has actually has rejected. Yup, the pink shirt with blue polka dots cannot be persuaded to join the other flowery beauties in his wardrobe: and I cannot understand why! It is made by Van Heusen who makes business shirts for men so despite Anth (and, if I'm honest, me too) having serious doubts that it was ever destined to be worn by a man; I think it must. What do you think? I have tried looking at the buttons to see what side they are on but that hasn't helped because I can't remember what side a man's buttons are!
I was hoping you might persuade him ever-so-gently to try it on just so we can see if it really is for a man. He might do it if you ask!
And if he won't? Well, either I'll wear it or it will be used for a sewing project, but I think all is not lost yet as it is sitting in the ever-growing ironing pile.
I only wish I could make up my mind if it's for a man or a woman!
Yes I know I've mentioned the lovely Caroline quite a few timesbefore, but I was thrilled to find a new feature about her and Jonathan's home in the latest Period Living. I dashed into Sainsburys for a couple of things but of course the lure of the magazine stand was too much and I had to have a quick flick through the new July editions. (Can it really be the July editions already?!)
I'm loving the sofa and cushions.
And my favourite picture from her house..
..the patchwork curtains. A few years ago, inspired by this picture, I bought some old, squared patchwork from ebay to do the same thing. Only my patchwork isn't quite as beautifully faded and vintage looking (in a tasteful french way) like hers!
Mmm..there's no comparison really, is there!? Ha! But they will have to do and I must get going and get these backed and put up. It's all systems go here at the moment because we are finally getting our boiler replaced and a new bathroom put in in 4 weeks time, so we are trying to choose bathroom suites/tiles/flooringand I can't have the ones I really want due to ££ and space. You know the usual stuff!! I hate all the choosing and uncertainty and realise that I could never be a person who buys an old wreck of a house and then does it up - you know the person I always thought I could be. No, I would be nightmare to live with worrying if I should have this style or that colour. It's funny how we learn things about ourselves along the way. If you have any advice about bathroom renovations then do let me know. Meanwhile I better get back to the mountain of Plumbing brochures to choose what we can't afford!
Yes, I am so excited because yesterday ..wait for it...
I HAD TO RE-FILL MY BIRD FEEDERS!!!!!!!
Did you get that people? I HAD TO RE-FILL MY BIRD FEEDERS!!!! There must have been a party!
I am officially 'someone who has re-filled a bird feeder' and I'm thrilled about it. It has made me absurdly happy all day. Did I tell you I had moved our feeders to a different part of the garden away from this position (the first post - Part One) - well they're now on our neighbours tree which hangs over the side of our alleyway. We have a better view from the house and more importantly, the kitchen window.
I noticed the feeders were almost empty and was blaming it on the wind blowing the feeders around assuming the food was falling on the ground. I then noticed that the sparrows were visiting rather more frequently. Could it be, I thought?
So yesterday evening Anth kindly got out the step ladder and I re-filled them. Then waited.
I didn't have to wait long to get some visitors so maybe it isn't the wind taking the food. Sadly, though it is only sparrows that have come to party on my feeders, but I'm ever hopeful we may get some other birds. Either way, I'm so thrilled that I have joined the ranks of 're-fillers of bird feeders.' Though not everyone is quite as thrilled as me when I overheard a, "I can see this costing a fortune!" Perhaps, it was the glazed look in my eye as I was dreaming out aloud about nesting boxes, bird baths, bird tables... oh yes, and one of those hidden nest box cameras things. Ooh, the possibilities are endless now I had to re-fill my feeders...sigh....
..a little bit of secret strawberry dipping i.e dipping strawberries into the sugar bowl.. (well, it's not really a bowl as such, more a chintz tea cup without a saucer found at a car boot sale. Much, much too lovely not to use and have on display.)
Don't tell the family the strawberries are now gone!
..:wearing:..
..my new 50p brooch and £1 necklace.
..:loving:..
..this cute little dog in his Christmas outfit from a Cadburys advert on the TV. (Lucy and I keep rewinding it to see him over and over again as he is only on screen for about 2 seconds. Needless to say, Anth starts to protest after the 6th time!)
..:smelling:..
..the first sweet peas of the summer.
..:reading:..
..'Watching the English' by Kate Fox. Very astute. Very clever. Very good.
..:bothered by:..
..an attack of the caterpillars. Astounded at the speed they have demolished my Verbascum.
..:noticing:..
..how my desk at school is ever-so-slowly starting to look like an extension of our home.(Yes, I even have my own desk! Well, it's not completely mine as I share it with the lovely Sarah who I job share with. Poor girl, I'm beginning to take it over with my enamel jug and fake flowers; flowery boxes and books on crochet! I don't think she minds though. Better check with her just in case.)
..:driving the lanes way:..
..to school because it's so beautiful and so much quicker as I'm always running late.
..:mourning:..
..the changing of my first home, The Grosvenor Hotel in Shaftesbury. A wonderful old building now being turned into horrid apartments and the once cobbled courtyard looks like this..
Mmm, I'm not good with change and I'm far too sentimental for my own good as I haven't even lived there for 35 years!
..:hoping:..
..well, something has to work. Hasn't it?
Yes, I know, I know...I've found another bedside table! This time it is for Anty and well, I couldn't really resist it when it was only £3.50.
"What's wrong with the one I've got?" Anth remarked, slightly puzzled.
"Well I think yours is looking a bit, er..tatty," (as if tatty would put me off!) "Trust me, I think this will be much better."
So I got to work. Sanding. Undercoat. 2 coats of cream gloss, and a bit of distressing...and voila
In the evening..
And in the day..
I even got around to painting his lamp base. Mmm..it's a very er, functional space - very Anth. Not sure how long it will remain this colour. Watch this space.
Gosh, it seems like a very long time since I have written a post - how have you all been? Thank you for all your comments for Alice. She is on her way there now. I've been on a solo road trip last week up to Salisbury to be with my mother during her various hospital appointments (no results yet.) It was the first time I had driven up to Salisbury alone and although I am a confident driver locally I panic at the thought of driving to places unknown. But that now has changed, sort of, with the help of my little friend the 'Tom Tom'. Well, I say 'friend' ...this little gadget and I have fallen (quite literally) out of love at least 6 blooming' times.
This is how it happens....
I leave the house saying my goodbyes with a flurry of hugs and kisses. I get into the car and pull out the Tom Tom and about a hundred attachments. I spend at least 3 minutes trying to plug in the tiny cable (why so small?) and typing in Mum and Rob's address. I then spend a further 10 minutes stretching over the steering wheel (my way too big bosoms pressing the car's horn by mistake) to try and attach the Tom Tom holder onto the windscreen. Struggle to then get the Tom Tom slotted into the holder. Holder and Tom Tom fall from the windscreen. Try again. Falls. And again. Notice that my journey time has changed to 1 minute to destination. Take Tom Tom out of holder and realise that the destination has changed to 'Home' where I was at that precise moment. The connector lead gets dislodged. No power. Fiddle with that. Type Mum and Rob's address in again. Struggle to get Tom Tom back into holder on the windscreen (bosoms thankfully nowhere near the horn). It falls down. Put it back. Notice that there is no sound now. In changing volume it falls from the holder. Put it back. Need to go to the bathroom. Go back into house. The girls both say, "Why are you still here?!" 20 minutes had elapsed. Leave the house again. It falls off 2 more times during the journey!
I made it safely to Honiton and as I was alone decided to stop off and to have a browse around the antique shops and look what I found..
..a new rug! Almost identical to our poor old burnt one. This one, unfortunately, wasn't a pound. Usually in the summer I like to put the rug away but as our carpet is burnt we need to have it to cover up the burnt bits.
I also found this wonderful mug (middle front row) and this actually was a pound.
I got to Salisbury safely and felt quite empowered that I managed the journey all by myself, well it's the Tom Tom that does all the work - it is an incredible little gadget..when it stays on the windscreen and behaves itself. It was lovely to spend some time with my mother and we even fitted in some TV watching together on the bed (Apprentice..love it..)
The view from their balcony is just stunning overlooking the water meadows with the spire of the Cathedral in the background.
I came home on Thursday with big ideas to stop off in Shaftesbury and the Girls Own Store in Bridport, which is a shop I have always wanted to go to. Rob helped me out to the car with my bags and paused waiting to wave me off.
"Umm, I'll probably be a little time sorting out the Tom Tom." I say.
He sensibly goes back into the house. This time it only took 5 minutes to sort out and a further 44 minutes later I was sitting here in Shaftesbury having a cup of tea.
"Guess where I am?" I excitedly ask Anth on my mobile. I then proceeded to take 21 photographs of Gold Hill - all so similar you could hardly tell the difference. How many photos of Gold Hill does one need I ask myself. But I just can't help myself, it is my absolute favourite view in the world. I'll just show you one more - OK?
I wandered around Shaftesbury at my own pace, enjoying the freedom to go and do what I wanted to do without anyone moaning at me. I didn't go to The Girls Own Store this time but know that it wont be the last of my little road trips as our Tom Tom has given me that little bit of confidence to drive into the unknown, quite literally.
And guess what? The blinkin'/wonderful thing stayed exactly where I put it on the way back home!
Well, sometimes at the age of 14, life can be pretty hard. Especially for a girl. You know the issues....friends, clothes, make up, exams, etc. Luckily I'm quite a sensible girl and my friends and I are not the sort to go out drinking and do all the things you may expect from some teenagers! Oh, and in case you haven't realised, this is Alice :)
Ok, so here is the start of my story. I was standing awkwardly outside my school hall, greeting parents as they carried their tissues, sad about their 16 year old children growing up and having their last day at secondary school. I was very fortunate to be asked to be a prefect for the duration of the service as the year above me were on work experience. I heard my name being called by one of my favourite teachers. He pulled me to one side and told me about this retreat that is happening on the 1st of June for 4 days at a lovely mansion in Kintbury.
"It helps you to understand yourself better, feel more confident with yourself and to get in touch with God and your faith."
Suddenly my eyes lit up. I was beaming with delight to think I could experience an opportunity like that. And when I went home to tell Mum and Dad the first thing I decided to say was 'it's free' then my Dad's eyes lit up (:
"But," I interrupted, "it's £30 for the travel costs."
Then the smile on my Dad's face turned upside down. I have recently been on quite a few trips so it took a bit of persuading, but in the end Mummy managed to change his mind. I will have to do a crazy amount of chores though, but I am so happy about going on this retreat. My friend Caitlin will be sharing a room with me as all the rest of my friends do not want to go. My teacher said,
"That might not be a bad thing Alice, as all you'd do is talk, so it really wouldn't be like a retreat; more like school lunch times but for 4 days straight!"
I smiled and agreed with her, as that was probably very true! I decided to go onto the website of this retreat to show you some of the pictures. I found....
My retreat starts on Monday, in 3 days. I'm quite nervous as I have never done something like this before but I am also very excited. Mum and Dad say they would love to go to a retreat so I am very fortunate. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed my blog today (: I wanted to give mum a break as she has been away staying with Granny (who is not too well) in Salisbury but she back now. So have a lovely weekend and I hope to blog again soon.
Alice x
Do you remember this post many years ago? April 2006 to be precise. Well, the love is still there..
..nothing's changed..well perhaps the presence of sparkly green eye shadow and a dozen bracelets!
Ahh...
Jane Brocket: Cherry Cake and Ginger Beer: A Golden Treasury of Classic Treats
Faythe Levine: Handmade Nation: The Rise of DIY, Art, Craft, and Design
Amanda Blake Soule: The Creative Family: How to Encourage Imagination and Nurture Family Connections
Sally Page: The Flower Shop: A Year in the Life of an English Country Flower Shop
Selina Lake: Bazaar Style: Decoratiing with Market and Vintage Finds
