The Test

Loner - ISFP46% Extraversion, 26% Intuition, 46% Thinking, 40% Judging

Ahh...the sweet serenity. The utter perfection of all creation. The wondrous beauty of nature. The sweet sparrow singing along in the great orchestra we call life...

WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU? You're the type of person people always love to mock because they don't believe there's anyone ACTUALLY like you.

Do realise that you ostracise people with your behaviour or is it all subconscious? You're so quiet and reserved it's almost impossible to get to know you well, and when someone finally does, all you want to talk about is grace and beauty and harmony!

Ugh. Sure, you "genuinely care for others" and all that rubbish, but when it boils right down to the basics you take life far too seriously.

Throughout the entire test, I bet you were searching for "further clarification and hidden meaning" so that you might improve your pitiful life. And woe and behold if it betrayed your intense values system!

You need to STOP smelling the daisies. Believe it or not, logic does have a place in this world...imbecile.

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If you want to learn more about your personality type in a slightly less negative way, check out this.
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The other personality types are as follows...

Pushover - Introverted Sensing Feeling Judging
Criminal - Introverted Sensing Thinking Perceiving
Borefest - Introverted Sensing Thinking Judging
Almost Perfect - Introverted iNtuitive Feeling Perceiving
Freak - Introverted iNtuitive Feeling Judging
Loser - Introverted iNtuitive Thinking Perceiving
Crackpot - Introverted iNtuitive Thinking Judging
Clown - Extraverted Sensing Feeling Perceiving
Sap - Extraverted Sensing Feeling Judging
Commander - Extraverted Sensing Thinking Perceiving
Do Gooder - Extraverted Sensing Thinking Judging
Scumbag - Extraverted iNtuitive Feeling Perceiving
Busybody - Extraverted iNtuitive Feeling Judging
Prick - Extraverted iNtuitive Thinking Perceiving
Dictator - Extraverted iNtuitive Thinking Judging

HAPPY NEW YEAR

...TO ALL MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY. I hope 2007 is healthy, happy and prosperous for you all.

I started a new project today, Cottage Garden by Dinky Dyes. It might be finished tomorrow night, in which case I'll post a piccie on Tuesday. It's a fairly quick stitch, with silks rather than cottons. It'll be my first finish for 2007.

Annie's Quilt Squares

I finished these two squares yesterday, for the Aion Friends RR. It was a really quick stitch, with lovely colours. I haven't taken a photo of the whole thing, maybe I should have!

It's another wet day here in Blyth. If Ian ever gets his lazy backside out of bed I have to take him to Asda to get a CD changed that he got for C'mas. He got two the same and as I have the receipt for the one we got him...

We've been forecast gales and lots of rain for this weekend. Looks as though they've already started. My hanging baskets are being blown around like mad. I sure wish I didn't have to go out at all today.

Hey Guess What

Only 363 days to go till Christmas!

I remembered what else I got for presents...4 jigsaws and...oh poo, I've forgotten what the other thing was. TEA TOWEL! From my adopted nephews Guy and Mark. Thanks boys. I found both their names on it so I'm happy.

I need to get back into the stitching habit again. I haven't done any for a few days so I should look for the RR I need to do and make a start on it.

Very Productive Christmas Day

I hope everyone had a lovely day yesterday. We were up at about 7.30am. By the time everyone was ready it was about 8.15am and time to go round to Mam and Dad's for the day. Dene and Ian walked round with Mollie while Craig and I went in our separate cars (needed to bring back all the pressies!) Dene was Santa, well he did have the costume, and once he'd dished out all the gifts we set about opening them.

I had more and bigger presents than anyone else so I was VERY happy. I received...

• 4 Friends DVD box sets (I now have the full set of 10)
• Foot spa
• Nike Shock trainers
• Slippers
• Ankle boots
• Book about making fabric boxes
• The Proper Stitch book (when it arrives from the US)
• Sue Grafton book
• Torville & Dean DVD
• £40 gift token for Evans
• Lorri Birmingham chart - January/Garnet
• 18 Carrie's Creation threads - need 1 for full set
• Bottle of Mint Chocolate Baileys
• Tin of Quality Street
• Smellies from The Body Shop
• Burberry Gift Set (smellies)
• Personal Organiser/Filofax
• Paperweight
• Smellies from Lush
• Porcelain Thimble painting kit

Think I got a few more things too but can't remember what!

Dene was more than happy with his new TV and Craig received this new laptop back in October when I was bored and laid up in bed. He did have a few more things to open too though. Everyone else seemed to be happy with their presents. After lunch we played the DVD game 'Deal or No Deal' which seemed to take up most of the afternoon. We just had a buffet tea as we weren't really all that hungry. We came back round home a couple of hours later after loading the cars up. Then we just chilled out for the rest of the night and were able to have a drink.

BOXING DAY
Today was spent at home. Mam and Dad came round here at about 10.30am, half an hour after I'd returned from collecting Matty from his house. Ian and Craig were in charge of lunch and a bloody good job they made of it too. It was yummy. For pudding they made trifle and Ian made some meringues to with it. I don't like trifle so I had my own meringues with some fruit and cream. They were lovely, nice and crisp on the outside, soft and chewy in the middle. My brother Kevin was supposed to be working today but he'd only had three taxi jobs all morning so he came round for lunch too. We played Family Fortunes DVD game in the afternoon, followed by Ian's Little Britain DVD game. After another buffet tea Mam and Dad left and the rest of us played cards for a couple of hours. Kevin left soon after that and Craig and I were able to chill out and have another drink, and watch TV.

Tomorrow Dene is back at work; Kate doesn't go back till 2nd January, which is peeing Dene off immensely. LOL. I'm not planning on doing very much. I have to take Ian to Asda as he received two CD's the same and as I have the receipt for one of them it can go back. He can come with me and choose what he wants instead. I might get some of my stitching back out and do some or I may watch one of my many new DVDs. Haven't quite decided yet. Hmmm...decisions decisions.

Ran these up tonight!

Yes I know, very last minute, but had to do something cos apparently they chucked all their old stockings out last year. They were made of wool and it was difficult to get stuff in cos of all the trailing strands of wool. Of course, no one reminded me that they'd done that. Typical. So, I made these four stockings - one for Craig too - in a couple of hours. Ian helped me cut them out. They're just temporary, will make some better ones next year.

A Stitcher's Christmas

‘Twas the night before Christmas, and, oh, I was weary.
My stitching unfinished, my eyes getting bleary.
The stockings weren’t finished, the chimney was bare.
And I knew that morning soon would be there.

My children and husband were tucked in their beds,
But visions of backstiches ran through my head.
I’d stitched ornaments and presents and gifts by the ton,
And now, I was finally, almost, almost done.

As I poised my needle for one more backstitch,
I heard something outside that made my hand twitch.
I jumped up from my stitching, and flew to the door,
Pressed my eye to the peephole, tip-toe off the floor.

My stitching forgotten, I peered into the night.
When suddenly, I got a terrible fright.
On my porch appeared Santa, holding his sack.
He knocked softly, and I took a giant step back.

I unlocked the deadbolt, and let Santa in,
He entered and gave a mischievous grin.
"Hope you don’t mind if I come in the door?"
"Coming down the chimney can be quite a chore."

He said "You’re up late. Still working I see."
"Do you know how tired you’re going to be?"
"I know, Santa," I said, with a sigh,
"But I’m still backstitching the stars in the sky,"

"And the fields on that stocking look blobby you know,
I need to backstitch the drifts in the snow.
I’ve been stitching and stitching and stitching, no rest.
I just tried to finish stitching too much, I guess."

"I know what you mean," he said with a smile.
"This is my busiest time of the year, by a mile."
He stooped down by the tree, and he opened his sack,
And began to pull presents out of his pack.

"I’ve got some things here I think you might like,
An oak stitching frame, and a brand new Ott-Light.
A bundle of floss, and a great big mat cutter,"
I smiled and felt my heart go a-flutter.

He put down gifts for us all, then he waved his right hand.
"Go to bed," he said, glancing at my floor stand.
He gave me a wink, and stepped out the door.
I just stood there a moment, glued to the floor.

After he’d left, I turned back to my chair,
Picked up the stockings, and started to stare.
The backstitching was done! The stars lit the sky!
And on my son’s stocking angels sung on high.

I ran to thank Santa for this final gift,
And watched as his sleigh started to lift.
I heard him exclaim as he pulled out of sight,
"Merry stitching to all, and to all a good night!"

Total Madness

We went food shopping in Asda at 6am this morning, thinking that it wouldn't be all that busy. Think next year I'll be going at 3am instead! It was total madness in there! The car park was full - luckily I managed to get the one remaining disabled spot - and we got inside the shop and it was absolutely HEAVING! Of course, we had to manoeuvre around stock trolleys, people who leave their trolley in the middle of the aisle and go off to look for something. Thankfully the old biddy brigade weren't out that early, apart from my Mam, but she went off on her own and did her shopping. She was finished and waiting for us a good 10 minutes before we even got to the checkout. The checkouts were chockablock, and the disabled one was four deep. Of course, none of the people waiting in line before us were in a wheelchair or on a scooter, but they all had trolleys piled high. The supermarkets are only closed for two days! Why does everyone have to stock up like food is going out of fashion? Our trolley was less than half full, and most of it was stuff for Boxing Day - wine, beer, fruit and veg etc - but other people were buying boat loads of stuff! Roll on January. Oh, and I was up in the middle of the night to do the blooming shopping and now I'm knackered and ready to go back to bed. But I can't cos I'm going to Jayne's Attic in about an hour.

My Own Santa

This is what greeted me when I came downstairs this morning. Dene and his work colleagues went to work in fancy dress today. Dene and another lad went as Santa, therewas an elf, a fairy, a nurse, a reindeer and someone who wasn't in fancy dress. They finished work at 4.30pm and then went to the pub for a few drinks. I was half expecting him to come home sozzled but surprisingly he was fairly sober.

Kate finished work at 2.30pm and she too went to a pub with her work mates. There were two blokes who were leaving today, so it was as much to say goodbye to them as to celebrate C'mas. Kate is now off till 2nd January, and has gone to Matty's till Sunday, but Dene is at work for three days next week. He's gutted.

I have now put all my stitching away till New Year and the sitting room is more or less tidy. I've even managed to clear all the junk off my arm chair so that I can sit on it! And the table is ALMOST cleared. See...miracles DO happen!

Ian came home for the holidays this afternoon. I had to phone the Child Benefit centre up today as we received a bank statement that made us realise we hadn't been getting any money for him since at least October. As he's still at college, in full time education, we should be getting some every week for him. They normally send a form out for us to fill in to find out if the kds are staying in education or starting work or what. We didn't get one this year, so his CB stopped the day he went back to college in September. The lad on the phone was really helpful, and once I'd told him what course Ian was on, which college he attends and when he went back, he said that we should get our arrears in 5-6 working days (so that'll be early in the new year seeing as the banks'll be shut most of the time) and our weekly payments should resume soon after that. No wonder Craig thought the money going in the bank every week was a bit short. LOL.

CA Update

Specially for Kathy. Here's an update on Celtic Autumn. As you can see I've done some beading and a bit more of the her dress. I think I might make a start on the right hand border, including beads, once I've done the rest of the lady. Then I can stitch the rest in hand.

Back from the framers

Mam and Dad got this back from the framers today. You can't see much of the frame but I think they've made a lovely job of it.

Celtic Autumn Update

I haven't stitched on Celtic Autumn since about August, while I was away, so it was nice to get back to it on Sunday evening. The first photo was taken back in August. The second photo taken tonight after a couple of days working on her. It's made a nice change to get back to CA, but I'll be putting her away again for a few days till all the C'mas madness is out of the way.

At long last the decorations are up (and back down lol) and the tree is up too. We have some pretty twinkly lights in the window, around the fireplace and in the passage at the front door. Very festive. I would take more pics but to be honest I can't be bothered...maybe in a couple of days time. For a change the sitting room is semi-tidy. Bet it doesn't last very long.

Molly chewed my oldest cookery book today. I'd had that book for more than 20 years! And there were some lovely recipes in it too...totally ruined.

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree...

...will you ever be taken out of the box??? As you can see it's been taken out of the loft but that's as far as it's got! Hopefully it and the decorations will be done today...don't hold your breath.

The cake still needs marzipanned and iced, but I keep eating the marzipan so we'll have to buy some more today when we go shopping.

2006 Ozark Sampler SAL - FINISHED!

Finally finished this last night. The last part of the chart came out round about September, but it's not something you can rush. LOL. Managed to quite a bit of this week's while on my back in bed - didn't need the chart and only a dozen colours used so couldn't lose any, though I did have to fight with Mollie a couple of times.

I am now looking forward to the 2007 SAL which starts in January some time.

Pinched this from Stitch & Stash Board

T'was the internet night before Christmas...

T'was the night before Christmas, when all through the net,
There were hackers a surfing, nerds? Yeah, you bet.
The e-mails were stacked by the modem with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there.

The newbies were nestled all snug by their screens,
While visions of java danced in their dreams.
My wife on the sofa and me with a snack,
We just settled down at my rig (it's a Mac).

When out in the web there arose such a clatter,
I jumped to the site to see what was the matter.
To a new page my Mac flew like a flash,
Then made a slight gurgle. It started to crash!!

I gasped at the thought and started to grouse,
Then turned my head sideways and clicked on my mouse.
When what to my wondering eyes should appear,
My Mac jumped to a page that wasn't quite clear.

When the image resolved, so bright and so quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick!
More rapid than main frames, more graphics they came,
Then Nick glanced toward my screen, my Mac called them by name;

"Now Compaq! Now Acer!" my speaker did reel,
"On Apple! On Gateway!" Santa started to squeal!
"Jump onto the circuits! And into the chip!
Now speed it up! Speed it up! Make this thing hip!"

The screensaver gave a flicker, he was into my "ram",
Then into my room, rose a full hologram!
He was dressed all in red, from his head to his shoes,
Whick were black (the white socks he really should lose).

He pulled out some discs, he had stored in his backpack.
Santa looked like a dude, who was rarin' to hack!
His eyes, how they twinkled! His glasses, how techno!
This ain't the same Santa that I used to know!

With a wink of his eye and a nod of his head,
Santa soon let me know I had nothing to dread.
He spoke not a word, gave my Mac a quick poke.
And accessed my 'C' drive with only a stroke.

He defraged my hard drive, and added a "Dimm".
Then threw in some cool games, just on a whim!
He worked without noise, his fingers they flew!
He distorted some pictures with Kai's Paver Goo!

He updated office, excel, and quicken,
Then added a screensaver with a red clucking chicken!
My eyes widened a bit, my mouth stood agape,
As he added the latest version of Netscape.

The drive gave a whirl, as if it were pleased,
St. Nick coyly smiled, the computer appeased.
Then placing his finger on the bridge of his nose,
Santa turned into nothing but ones and zeros!

He flew back into my screen and through my uplink,
Back into the net with barely a blink.
But I heard his sweet voice, as he flew from my sight,
"Happy surfing to all, and to all a good byte!"

Ruddy Dog!

A couple of weeks ago our dog Mollie took a liking to one of my trainers, and started chewing it. That's fine, I can cope with that, I've had them a while and they were getting a bit the worse for wear. But they were lived in and comfortable. I could do with a new pair anyway. Mollie got a good bollocking and was in a mega huff for the rest of the day.

However, on Wednesday night, I wore the only other pair of decent shoes I own for the Stitch and Stashers C'mas Party. Silly me left them downstairs when I went to bed later that night and when I got up in the morning Mollie had decided she liked those too. So they are now unwearable. I can get away with the trainers, cos my trousers hide the worst parts, but no way can I wear these again. Another bollocking and another huff.

So that left me with a pair of slippers and a pair of flip-flop sandal type things only suitable for wearing in the summer, not snow, rain and cold! BRRRRR!

Today we went out to the opticians and then to one of the local shoe shops that has a sale on. Craig has bought me a new pair of boots and as they had a special offer on slippers - buy one pair get another pair for half price - we got Ian's and a new pair for me. Turns out it was just as well we got a pair for me, because when we got home the ruddy dog had chewed my other ones. Another telling off and a whack with said slipper and another huff. What the hell can we do to stop her chewing...short of pulling her teeth out?

And a joke!

A cross-stitcher was very naughty in this earthly life and didn't go to heaven. At the gates of Hades, she was met by the Devil. "Welcome,"he said, smirking at her. "Let me show you around your eternal home."

The Devil led her to a large room that looked uncannily like a large needlework shop. The stitcher blinked her eyes, wondering if what she saw was an illusion. No, it was true. The most wonderful needlework shop she had ever seen was right before her. Still unbelieving, she asked, "Is this real?" "Of course," murmured the Evil One. "Reach out and touch it."

The stitcher was worried that she would be zapped by 1000 volts, but reached out anyway, unable to help herself. IT WAS REAL! "May I look around?" she asked excitedly, all the while thinking, This can't be Hell! This is too good! "Of course," said the Devil. "This is your eternal reward."

The stitcher began to survey the particulars of her damnation. There was every chart ever published, including all the ones that were out of printing her lifetime and could never find. There was a full run of each needlework magazine, including all the old ones with the historical examples -and each issue was pristine. She continued to look with wonder.

Every thread imaginable was there; silks, cottons, metallics, pearl cottons,over-dyeds, hand-dyeds, rayon's and twisted-rayon's (Yes, maybe I am in Hell, she thought when she saw those)

Her eyes lit up when she saw the piles and piles of fabrics. There were bolts and bolts of every colour and every type. An array of beautiful thimbles were hers for the choosing, as were scissors and clever needlework gadgets; all organised just as she would have done it on earth.

And there, beside her favourite earthly stitching chair, were all her unfinished projects! Yes, she thought, you can take it with you. I have all the time I want now. I'm going to finish them at last.The stitchers fingers were just itching to get going!

She turned to Beelzebub and said, "THIS IS HEAVEN ! ! ! " "No," he rejoined. "This is Hell. DO YOU SEE ANY NEEDLES?"

Instructions For Life

Someone posted this on Aion and I thought it would make interesting reading for the people who read my blog. Or not as the case may be. LOL.

1. Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully.
2. Memorize your favorite poem.
3. Don't believe all you hear, spend all you have or sleep all you want.
4. When you say, "I love you", mean it.
5. When you say, "I'm sorry", look the person in the eye.
6. Be engaged at least six months before you get married.
7. Believe in love at first sight.
8. Never laugh at anyone's dreams. People who don't have dreams don''t have much.
9. Love deeply and passionately. You might get hurt but it's the only way to live life completely.
10. In disagreements, fight fairly. No name calling.
11. Don't judge people by their relatives.
12. Talk slowly but think quickly.
13. When someone asks you a question you don't want to answer, smile and ask, "Why do you want to know?"
14. Remember that great love and great achievements involve great risk.
15. Call your mom.
16. Say "bless you" when you hear someone sneeze.
17. When you lose, don't lose the lesson.
18. Remember the three R's: Respect for self; Respect for others; Responsibility for all your actions.
19. Don't let a little dispute injure a great friendship.
20. When you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.
21. Smile when picking up the phone. The caller will hear it in your voice.
22. Marry a man/woman you love to talk to. As you get older, their conversational skills will be as important as any other.
23. Spend some time alone.
24. Open your arms to change, but don't let go of your values.
25. Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.
26. Read more books and watch less TV.
27. Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back, you'll get to enjoy it a second time.
28. Trust in God but lock your car.
29. A loving atmosphere in your home is so important. Do all you can to create a tranquil harmonious home.
30. In disagreements with loved ones, deal with the current situation.Don't bring up the past.
31. Read between the lines.
32. Share your knowledge. It's a way to achieve immortality.
33. Be gentle with the earth.
34. Pray. There's immeasurable power in it.
35. Never interrupt when you are being flattered.
36. Mind your own business.
37. Don't trust a man/woman who doesn't close his/her eyes when you kiss.
38. Once a year, go someplace you've never been before.
39. If you make a lot of money, put it to use helping others while you are living. That is wealth's greatest satisfaction.
40. Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a stroke of luck.
41. Learn the rules then break some.
42. Remember that the best relationship is one where your love for each other is greater than your need for each other.
43. Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it.
44. Remember that your character is your destiny.
45. Approach love and cooking with reckless abandon.

Stitch and Stashers C'mas Party

Last night was the Stitch & Stasher's C'mas Party (from Jayne's Attic). It was held at the Half Moon and there were 12 of us altogether. We had a drink first while we were waiting for our table to be ready and then once we got to the table there were crackers and gifts - for those people who had understood the £5 bran tub concept, present company excluded! LOL. We all pulled our crackers and donned party hats. This is Jayne after pulling her cracker. She was wearing this wicked pair of glittery shoes, a bit like the red sparkly ones that Dorothy wore in the Wizard of Oz, but they were gold instead.

Soon we were being served with our starter. Some people had prawn cocktail and others had the leek and potato soup, which looked a bit thick but was absolutely delicious, and it was served with lots of French crusty bread. It went a bit downhill after that. The main course was turkey with all the trimmings, which 11 of us had. Jayne had the beef. There was plenty of meat, but the 'trimmings' were a bit on the meagre side. Nice enough, and hot, but almost everyone complained that there was no mash. Still, we all ate it up and awaited dessert. I wasn't having pudding, but it eventually arrived to everyone else, though we had to ask for two that were missing. Julia was eating hers with a fork (I think she had the chocolate sponge with cream) and the waitress asked her if she would like a spoon. Julia declined and said she would manage with the fork thanks. She was then asked how she would manage once she got to the cream. This is how she did it.

The waitress, who is also I think the landlady, was a right miserable so and so and whinged on that we hadn't given her the right orders. Then came the coffee/tea course. We were informed that we couldn't have tea as the kettle had blown up on Sunday and it hadn't been replaced yet, so we could only have coffee. A few people complained and the waitress said "What do you want me to do? Boil a pan of water?" Well, yes, obviously, or nuke a jugful in a microwave! Jayne asked for the bill and we paid up then headed to the Cherry Tree just along the road for coffees and teas. But then we got chucked out of there because Jayne's son Adam was with us and as it was after 9pm he wasn't allowed in. So we took our drinks to the picnic area outside and sat in the freezing cold to drink them.

Jayne was given the Hot Tap Award for services rendered to the stitching industry, and as a memento of the evening. Someone, who shall remain nameless, nicked the cover from the hot tap in the ladies at the Half Moon. That'll teach them for not having a kettle. Jayne gave a speech of thanks and soon after that we all went home.

Stash Attack!

I will really have to stay away from the Attic this close to C'mas. I was in there the other day and spent a small fortune - some threads, some pressies for a couple of people and some newly dyed fabric that Jayne does herself called Cranberry Milkshake that is absolutely gorgeous.

In the mail yesterday I received some DMC threads from Alli in Canada in exchange for a couple of magazines I sent her, which left me needing 20 threads to complete my collection of DMC. In today's post I received a book from the Craft Club called 'It's All About The Beads' which I'm really going to enjoy. And then there was the trip to the Attic! Oh boy! I had a field day in there today. I got the final 20 DMC threads to complete my collection - YIPPEE! - and all this other stuff.

20 DMC threads
22 Carries Creation threads (only need 19 for full set)
LE Dragon Floss threads
Count On Me Fabric (Jan - Garnet (Jayne dyes these herself))
2 Dragon Shades fabrics - Mermaids Message & C'mas Candy
2 Sassy's Fabrics - Purple Passion & Pumpkin Pleasure
2 Sugar Maple Fabrics - Summer Romance & Spoonful of Sugar

I'm in about eight collectors clubs but I only need 19 threads for Carrie's Creation so might have to change that one after next month.

I'm sitting here freezing. Mollie is lying in the doorway asleep. I think she's scared she might miss someone coming in. LOL. Dopey dog. It's alright for her, she's got a fur coat, she's nice and warm.

I haven't done a pick of stitching today. But I'm going to devote most of tomorrow to Footprints and try and get that bottom left corner finished. If it's not finished by C'mas then it won't be a kick in the pants off it.

I'm watching TV, waiting for Take That to come on. I was never really a big fan of them when they were huge, but I quite liked some of their songs. It'll be nice to hear some of the oldies again and sing along. Thankfully everyone is upstairs so I can wail as loud as I like.

Footprints

Yesterday, after I came home from taking the GW Sampler round to my parents', I did some work on this Footprints project that I'm doing for Marilyn. Well, actually, it's a bit of a joint effort as Craig is doing most of the writing - I can't stand backstitching! The top picture is after a couple of days of stitching. Craig had already done that much backstitching and I made a start on the picture in the corner.

Today I did some of the backstitched wording, some of the border of the bottom right, and some more of the footprint picture. Marilyn would like this back finished by Christmas if it's at all possible. We shall certainly do our best to get it back to her by then. It's quite a nice kit but I don't think it's one I would do for myself. More updates to follow...obviously.

I've also done another square on my Ozark Sampler SAL to try and get it finished before I start the 2007 one. I want to do a bit more before I take another photo of it though so you'll have to wait for that one. LOL.

Finished it!

Well, I put the final stitches into this sampler this morning, and I even remembered to initial and date it. I was well impressed. LOL. The photo doesn't do it justice, the editor on this laptop is crap. I think I'll have to install Photoshop, at least I know what I'm doing with that. I have taken the sampler round to Mam & Dad's so they can take it to the framers, then it has to go up to Alnwick with the C'mas presents and hidden.

On the home front, our washing machine has gone belly up. There were some clothes in it when it decided to conk out so I had to take those with me this morning and spin them in Mam's machine then bring them back to bung in the tumble dryer. The engineer is coming out sometime tomorrow to hopefully fix it. And I missed the postman this morning...he had a parcel for me that wouldn't fit through the letter box so will have to ask Craig to get it tomorrow for me.

More progress

I've worked on this virtually all day today, as you can probably tell. LOL. There's not much more to do on it, mostly the right hand side...the ribbon, a name, small flower at the top, larger cluster of flowers at the bottom and the rest of the border. With any luck it'll be finished by the weekend and I can give it to Mam for her to get it framed. Then I'll be able to get on and do some on Marilyn's, which Craig has very kindly started for me.

Golden Wedding Sampler WIP

I took this photo last night. However, I've been working on it this morning and now have a name on the left hand side, the border is almost up to the top left corner, the left hand ribbon is all done and I'm about a third of the way through the top left hand flower. I'm hoping this afternoon to get the flower finished and a start made on the wording along the top. Will post another WIP photo tomorrow.

Doesn't she scrub up well?

It's Kate's works Christmas party tonight and I managed to get her and Matty on camera just before I dropped them off at a local pub where they were meeting a couple of other people. This photo really does not do her justice. The decoration on her dress is silver bugle beads and they're very sparkly, which you can't tell on here. And she's wearing high heeled slingbacks. She had her hair curled specially, normally it's as straight as anything. I know I'm a bit biased but I think she looks lovely. Bet she doesn't come home looking as immaculate though, I know what she's like when she's had a drink. LOL.

Two new projects

I've started stitching this for my Aunt & Uncle's Golden Wedding anniversary which is at the beginning of January. I've changed the aida that was in the kit to evenweave in a forget-me-not blue shade. I've done the middle bit and am working my way round the border at the moment. I will post a WIP photo soon.

The other new project is something I've been sent by a friend for me to do for her. It's called Footprints by Bucilla. I'm not looking forward to all that backstitching so I hope she's not in too much of a hurry for it back. LOL.

Dare I post another finish?

I debated long and hard about posting a fourth finish in the same amount of days but then thought, oh what the hell. LOL. So here it is. This is for a RR on Aion, for the Aion Friends, and this is Clare's. Her theme is Wise Words and it's going to look lovely when it's finished and she's done all the cutting on the hardanger bits as well. I chose this one because of the lovely yellow flowers. One of my favourite colours. I hope Clare likes it.

On to the next project now. I have a Golden Wedding Sampler to do for my Aunt & Uncle (commissioned by Mam). It's not till February I think but if I don't make a start on it soon Mam will start and panic. Another friend, Marilyn, is sending me a project of hers to finish off for her as I'm quite a fast stitcher and I think she needs it in a hurry.

Another one bites the dust

Have just this minute finished this. This RR was actually cancelled but a couple (or 3) of us decided to still stitch our squares on the materials. This is Nicola's RR and will now be sent on to Kathy for her to do the final square. Hope Nicola likes the finished thing. It was a really quick stitch.

Gotcha Kate!

This'll teach you to nick Matty's clothes when he leaves them behind.

Poor lad won't have anything to wear without bumps in if you keep wearing them. ROFL!

Smokin' Needles is about right!

Phew, they haven't half been smoking the last few days. Not only did I finish the MP RR and the HAED, but I've also finished this English rose for Kathy's square on Kathy's Krafter's RR. I think I managed to get all the backstitching done, it was hard to make out on the chart. Hope you like it Kathy. On to the next one now.

Happy Dancing

I know this is gonna pee Kathy off immensely, one of the reasons I'm posting this at this time of night, but I have another finish. This is Heaven & Earth Designs (HAED) QS Silver Branch by Ian Daniels. No doubt Kate will end up with it, she ended up with my other HAED.

Michael Powell RR

Finished my section of this today for Kathy. My section is the middle bit, that has been backstitched. The person before me must have forgotten to do their bit. I can't wait to see these finished and receive mine back.

Driving Instructors!

Kate is due to take her driving test - first attempt - in less than two weeks. Her female driving instructor has never been very good at keeping appointments, but now she is pregnant and is even worse. She cancelled Saturday's lesson 5 minutes before the lesson was due to start, and so they arranged a two hour lesson for this coming Saturday instead. However, the instructor, Sam, texted Kate this morning and told her she could have a two hour lesson on Sunday at 10am instead. It's Kate's works C'mas party on Saturday night and no way on this earth is she going to be in a fit state, let alone under the legal limit, for a lesson at that time of the day. So Sam asked Kate if she could do an hour on Thursday and an hour on Friday after work instead. As Kate really needs to practice her manoevres more than anything else this isn't really ideal as it'll be pitch black, and she's better at doing them in the day time, after all, her test is through the day. Kate told her that would be no good.So, this morning, I've been on the phone, trying to find a female instructor - AT SHORT NOTICE - who can give her a two hour lesson on Saturday and two hours on her test date, with possibly a couple of lessons inbetween after work just to get used to driving a different car etc. Do you know how many driving schools there are in the yellow pages? And how FEW of them have female instructors?And now half an hour later, it appears to be sort of sorted. I rang a lady who can give her a two hour lesson on Saturday morning, but not the test. So Kate is going to postpone her test and rebook it for about four weeks time so that she can get used to the new instructor. I am so mad though. GRRRR!Rant over.

Back into the swing of things

After an almost two month break from stitching - it's almost impossible to stitch while lying flat on your back, specially when you're fat and everything slides off your belly! - I've finally got back into the swing of it. Had to do a bit of frogging on one of the RR's I've been doing, something I'm not used to cos I hardly ever frog. I'm now working on Kathy's Michael Powell RR and should have it finished tomorrow, ready to send to Rachel in Israel. And I'm trying to find out where my Folk Art Alphabet RR is. Last I heard Mandy had it, but dunno who has it now and it's almost finished. I hope it hasn't been filched or lost cos I paid good money for the chart and sent the original around with it. Will just to buy it again if it has and do it myself. It's a Merry Heart design and really lovely. Not your usual alphabet.

Next I have my Ozark Sampler 2006 to finish off; a HAED to finish, about 200 stitches on that; another MP RR that Craig has been working on while I was ill but which I might have to finish off as he just doesn't have the time really; and a RR for Nicola which I think Craig could have as I haven't seen it for a while. But there's no real hurry for that. Then there's my Celtic Autumn that I should really do some work on too, as I haven't worked on her since about August. SIGH!!

Happy Birthday Spud!

Yesterday, the 18th, (incidentally the same day as Ant McPartlin and that Danish goalie bloke whose name has momentarily escaped me. Oh, Peter Schmeikel (sp)) was my baby girl's birthday. She was 19. God it doesn't seem like two minutes since she was a 10lbs 13ozs baby in the Princess Mary Maternity Hospital in Newcastle. And now, here she is, with a boyfriend who sleeps over(!), her first one, taking driving lessons and with her practical test at the end of this month, and been working in the same place since she left school almost. I'm really proud of her and I love her very much. HAPPY BIRTHDAY KATE!

I've been tagged.

By Kathy. What I have to do is name the 7 songs I'm listening to the most lately. I think. Considering I've been flat on my back for the best part of two months and not listened to anything much I think I'll just list my 7 favourite songs then tag the next 7 people. Not in any particular order.

1. It's My Life - Bon Jovi
2. I Can't Dance - Scissor Sisters
3. Ruby Don't Take Your Love To Town - Kenny Rogers
4. From This Moment On - Shania Twain (played at my wedding to Craig)
5. Like A Rose - A1 (First CD Craig ever bought me)
6. Shang-a-Lang - Bay City Rollers
7. Always - Bon Jovi

And now I tag: Mandy, Heather, Karen, Sharon, Ashleigh, Simone and Andrea.

Bad backs and bedpans!

Since we got back from Prague at the beginning of October I've been flat on my back with excrutiating back pain. After a few home visits from the GP I was eventually ambulanced to the Wansbeck Hospital for x-rays. I was pain-killered, prodded and poked lots of times and eventually admitted. Because the sensation in my right leg was getting worse the bods at the Wansbeck decided I needed an MRI scan to try and find something on there. So I was transferred to Newcastle General Hospital two days later.

Yesterday, after 10 days in hospital, I got home at about 3.30pm (with a detour to see my parents) and about 20 mins later was visited by the Get Well Soon fairy bearing gifts...huge bunch of flowers, Thorntons choccies, a card and a balloon...in the shape of Jayne from the Attic. The Fairy that is, not the balloon! Just thought I'd better make that clear. After that it was on to the message boards to try and catch up with some posts and say lots of thank yous.

THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! Think that's enough! To everyone who sent replies to Craig and Kathie's updates and a HUGE thank you to my darling hubby (who can't spell to save his life bless him) and my bestest sis Kathy (who has hidden the HUG smiley?) who kept you all updated, and probably bored sh...I mean witless.

I am not on any painkillers cos they don't work. But if you ever get the chance to have Oramorph - liquid morphine - take it cos it is absolutely gorgeous. The nurses kept giving me a drink of water to wash it down with but I kept telling them to just bring me the bottle and a straw! Nothing doing.

For those of you on Aion, that read my blog, that mentioned the dishy ambulance men, there were a couple, and one of them took me between the Wansbeck and the General so I got a double dose. Oh and the MRI bloke was a bit of alright too - he had gorgeous eyes. It's a shame the same can't be said of the woman who did my back xrays. What a miserable shrivelled up old bag she was! And she gave me no help whatsoever to move from the trolley to the xray bed, even though she could see I was in agony and could barely move.

Got off the track a bit there. Had to mop up the drool.

The nerve root injection seems to have done the trick for now, though to be honest the pain in my back is just back to the dull ache that it was before it went totally beserk at the beginning of October. They won't operate on my back because there needs to be more of the disc sticking out for them to grab hold of than there is at the moment. Wonder if jumping up and down will help. They don't like to operate unless it's totally necessary in case it makes it any worse. However, I have a couple of sticks to help me walk, which will soon be down to one cos my left shoulder is protesting very loudly at all this extra activity. Did I ever mention my frozen shoulders?

Anyway, the Newcastle General is still a dump. It was a dump when my kids were born, which is why they were born somewhere else, and it's still a dump. The food is revolting and god knows why they get you to fill in a menu card cos you never get what you order.

Most of the staff were ok, and I'm sure quite a few of them were quite pleased to see the back of me cos I can be a real grumpy mare when I'm woken up too early. I mean to say, it can't be humane to be expected to eat breakfast at 8am? It should be outlawed, we should petition Downing Street! And some stupid AMATEUR doctor, who was probably a consultant or something, woke me up on Sunday morning at 5.40 AM(!) to get some blood off me for a test. He had raging flu and was breathing all over me, but I soon scuppered his plans and he couldn't find a vein. Didn't take me long to get back to sleep either. Mind you, I did get a return visit later from a much nicer Doctor called Alister who DID find my veins eventually. Took him a few attempts, but he managed it the first time he tried it a few days previously, and managed it this time too, bless his little cotton socks. Mind you, you should see the state of my arms.

The nurse removed the canula that was giving me the saline solution yesterday and the catheter was removed at about 6.30am this morning. Oh boy, what a relief to pee!The physiotherapist saw me this morning and said I was a changed woman (she was one of the people I was grumpy with earlier in the week), gave me some sticks, practised on the stairs with me, but I keep forgetting which foot to put where and when and where the stick is supposed to be at the same time. It's going to be fun if I'm somewhere busy and I use stairs - which admittedly doesn't usually happen - and I cause a gridlock. Looking forward to that one.

Flat on my back!

Since we got back from Prague I've been having problems with my back and now that I managed to get up the stairs I can't get back down them, so I'm stuck in bed. I have never been so bored in my life! There is only so much Bejewelled a person can play, there's never anyone on MSN that I can annoy - I mean, talk to - and I never get any emails. I can't even stitch lying down. Believe me, I've tried. I'm fast running out of books to read and think I'll be starting on Craig's Harry Potter books before too long, as I've never read them before.

At least since Friday I've had a commode and the bucket has been banished back downstairs. I've decided to stop the painkillers as they aren't helping anyway and the only thing they do is cause constipation. Not a good thing.

Mam, Dad and my brother Kevin came round for Sunday lunch today. I had mine up here, followed by a very delicious apple crumble and custard. I think the crumble was a joint effort between Craig and Ian. It was yummy. Now everyone has gone again and Craig is asleep beside me as he's knackered, bless him. Wonder what's for tea LOL.

Holiday in Prague

Hi Everyone! Sorry I haven't written in here for a while, but I've been flat on my back since we got back from Prague, and still am in fact. But I'll bore you all rigid about our holiday seeing as I've got nothing better to do. LOL.

We set out for Birmingham airport on Sunday 1 October early in the morning. We were miles too early for check in so we paid a visit to a couple of friends, Bob and Frances who also live in Birmingham, with their grandson Daniel. We had a cuppa and a catch up chat then we followed them to the airport so they could show us how to get there. By the time we got out of the car it was bucketing down so we had a mad dash to the bus stop to get the courtesty bus to the terminal. Luckily we managed to get the last disabled parking space and it wasn't far from the shelter. We had to wait about 10 mins for the bus but it finally arrived and we were duly dumped at the terminal. With two suitcases and a couple of pieces of hand luggage. We were still too early for check in so we had a wander around the airport for half an hour or so then checked in and got rid of the two cases. What a relief. We then went upstairs to Frankie & Bennie's and had something to eat, as by this time we were both starving. After an hour or so we went to the departure lounge where we found out that our plane was going to be delayed, due to a technical fault. GREAT! Thankfully it wasn't delayed too long and the flight that was supposed to leave at 3.30pm finally took off at 4.45pm.

It was a great flight and I had the window seat, though with hindsight I should have let Craig sit there as he'd never been on a plane before. Anyway, he bought me a lovely pair of crystal ear rings on the plane and we both had a bit of a nap. We arrived at Prague airport about two hours later, got through passport control and collected our luggage, before finding our taxi driver to take us to the Hotel Duo.

It was about 9pm when we got the hotel and checked in. The Duo is absolutely huge, with two towers and is classed as 4*. Thankfully we'd had the foresight to book a disabled room and we were on the ground floor, with a view overlooking the front of the hotel. We dumped our cases and decided to have a look round and get something to eat. There are a couple of gift shops in the main reception, as well as two resaurants and a buffet restaurant upstairs, which is where we went for our meal. Actually I wish we hadn't as it wasn't very nice, although Craig seemed to enjoy it. After we'd eaten we wandered round a bit more then went back to our room and unpacked. We were absolutely knackered, so after a quick shower we were ready for bed and we didn't take much rocking.

After our breakfast on the 2nd, and after Craig had opened his birthday cards, we took the courtesy bus to Ladvi Metro station and took the metro to Prague city centre. We took loads of photos of the National Gallery, Wenceslas Square and various places on the way down to the Town Square, which is where the Astronomical Clock is. We sat in one of the open cafes and had a few drinks while waiting for the clock to do its stuff. Craig then decided he would go to the top of the tower and have a look at the view. We thought there would be stairs all the way to the top but there were a couple of elevators, so I went up too after about 15 mins. WOW! What a fantastic view from up there. I'll be uploading some photos to Webshots soon and you'll be able to access them from the link on the right.

From the square we wandered down to Charles Bridge, which has lots of statues all along the length. We walked to the other side and by then my legs were killing me so we spent half an hour in the park before heading to a metro station to go back to Ladvi and the bus back to the hotel. We had a bit of a rest and got changed then waited at the front of the hotel for a mini bus to pick us up for a tour of Prague by night. It was quite interesting but nothing we hadn't already seen in the daylight. I did come to the conclusion however that everybody who drives in Prague has attended the Totally Insane School of Motoring. Cab drivers, bus drivers and mini bus drivers took the Advanced Course! We were dropped off a pier on the river and spent the next couple of hours on a boat trip down the river. I forget the name of it. There was a buffet dinner served and you could help yourself to as much as you could. There were a couple of Swede's sharing our table and four Brits on the table behind us. We had a good laugh and Craig thoroughly enjoyed his birthday treat. We were dropped off at another pier at 10pm and walked back through the streets to a metro station. From Ladvi we had to get a bus back to the hotel as the courtesy bus wasn't running at that time of night. We had a quick drink in the hotel bar then tootled off to bed, knackered.

The next day we had booked to go on a Grand Tour of Prague, so after breakfast we were again waiting at the front of the hotel to be picked up by the tour company mini bus. We joined the rest of the tour group, or rather they joined us, and pretty much did a quick tour of what we'd already seen before heading uphill to the castle. To be honest it's not a castle as such, it's more like a small estate full of palaces and churches, and St Vitus Cathedral which is huge and has some gorgeous stained glass windows. I'm just glad we were walking down the hill and didn't have to walk up it. We stopped halfway down the hill for a pee break and a quick cuppa before heading down the rest of the steep hill to the mini bus. My legs were about ready to give up by this time and I was well pleased to get back to the bus. We finished off the tour going through the Jewish Quarter and back to the Town Square. We had a look through a couple of shops then went back to the Duo for a rest. We hadn't had a chance to look at Golden Row at the Castle, which I was pretty disappointed about as I'd wanted to look for some beads, but Craig said he would try and go back the following day and see what he could find. For dinner that night we went to one of the other hotel restaurants and had a delicious meal before having a few drinks in the bar. There was an artist selling his work in the reception near where we were sitting so we bought a couple of pictures for us to get framed when we got home. I eventually gave in at about 10pm and went back to the room. I packed most of my case then went to bed.

We were up nice and early on Wednesday morning, showered, finished packing and had our breakfast then checked out. We were able to leave our luggage in the hotel and then I sat and read in the lounge while Craig went back to the Castle to see if he could find some beads. He was back a couple of hours later with quite a few beads, bless him. We had a taxi booked to take us to the airport and got checked in eventually. Thankfully the plane wasn't delayed that much on the way back to Birmingham and we were back at about 9.30pm. I wasn't in a fit state to drive so Craig drove all the way home and we were in our bed by half past two in the morning.

Since then I've been virtually bedbound and unable to walk. It's at the stage now where I can't get up and down the stairs and am confined to bed all the time. The pain in my back and down the back of my right leg is horrendous. I've had the doctor out twice and have painkillers, anti-inflammatories and some muscle relaxants, but none of them are working at the minute. I wish they would cos I hate lying on my back.

I'd like you to meet...

...MOLLY!
She's 5 months old and a bit of a Heinz 57, although I think she could have a bit of lurcher or wolf hound in her. We picked her up from the dog shelter on Saturday afternoon, where she had been for a couple of days. We have all her previous medical/vet history and a voucher to get her spayed for free. She is already microchipped, we just need to ring the chipping place up and get the details changed. She's really friendly and very bouncy. LOL. Isn't she cute?

Winter Hanging Baskets

Our local council's housing department runs a gardening club where every month or so people meet up at a nearby garden centre and they get a talk or something. Well today it was about winter hanging baskets. Craig and I decided to go along to it and we came away with two lovely baskets that we made up ourselves. We got two free plants each but we had to pay for the rest of them, and the baskets themselves, though not the potting compost. They are now hanging at the front of the house and if I get round to it I will take a photo tomorrow.

Someone is coming round tomorrow to see about us getting a dog. We went to the Dog & Cat shelters but there wasn't really anything we fancied, so I rang an animal rescue charity up before we went on holiday and found out some of the details. The animals they have for rehoming aren't kept in kennels like they are in the shelter, they're farmed out to carers, fosterers if you like, and they look after them till they can be rehomed. That way, the charity knows all their medical history, whether they're good with kids, etc etc. Someone comes out to do a home visit and to see what we require, then they go away, look at what they have and bring round a dog that they think is suitable for us. It's left with us for a couple of hours and we can take it for a walk and see how everyone gets on with it. If everything is ok, then that's it, the dog is ours, if not it's taken away and they look for something else. There is a small fee to pay every week for a year, a sort of contract, I suppose to ensure that we're serious about keeping the dog, and after the year the donation is optional. Now the only problem is which kind of dog to have - Craig likes labradors, and Dene likes border collies. Wonder who is going to win.

A couple of HDs

Since I got back from my holiday I have managed to finish off a couple of things. First of all I finished off Hyacinth House with the charms that I had to wait for from Australia. They arrived while I was away. There should be a couple of butterfly charms on there too, just above the blue flowers, but I could only get one and it was too big so I decided not to bother. I also didn't bother with the outside border and just did a simple line border instead. Once it's framed it'll look ok.

The second thing to finish was this Merry Hearts design called Garden 9 Patch. This was started as a RR last year on Jayne's message board but it came home with two squares left to do and the words around the border. Yesterday I decided to finish it off and I stitched the flower in the top middle square and the beehive to the right of that, finishing the words off last night while I was watching TV. I know Sheila and Jayne stitched on this but I can't remember who else, so if you're reading this, THANK YOU!

I have a couple more RR's to work on now, and my Nutty Stitchers RR to finish off too. Will post piccies when they're done (and if I remember).

Happy Holiday!

Well we made it back from Scarborough. After picking up my parents on Monday (4th) we set off at about 9:15am and arrived at the guest house just after noon. Not bad going considering I drove some of the way. We unpacked our cases then went for a bit of a walk - thankfully downhill - through Peasholme Park. We were hoping to see a naval battle that they have on there, but we'd missed the last one by a day, and they were finished for the season. We had a snack to eat as we were all starving.

We got the bus from the North Bay along to the South Bay, where all the action is. Not that there's much of that in Scarborough these days. There wasn't even anything on at the theatre, all the shows had finished the week before. There were only 4 donkeys on the beach. I can remember when I was little, and even when I took my three kids when they were younger, how Scarborough was always a hive of activity. But now it's looking a bit sad and neglected and could do with a huge boost. There is apparently going to be a big complex built at the North Bay, to replace the Corner Cafe and the swimming pool (where Dene will tell you I tried to drown him when he was little and I took him on one of the big slides!) but goodness knows if that will help.

Anyway, I digress. We walked along the promenade, slowly, with frequent stops. After a couple of hours Dad was shattered so we got the bus back to the North Bay and walked back to the guest house, The Tamarind. We had a relaxing hour in our rooms before venturing out to find somewhere to eat. We had passed a nice looking pub on our way into Scarborough called the Ivanhoe so that's where we went. According to the menu they did a buffet, but when we tried to order it the barmaid said that it wasn't available on a Monday. The food we did eventually end up with was quite nice and there was plenty of it on the plate, very good value for money. Afterwards we went back along to the South Bay and had an hour in the arcades, before heading back to the GH and getting some well deserved sleep - we were knackered!

After breakfast on Tuesday Craig and I went to the Sealife Centre at the extreme end of the North Bay. We spent a couple of hours in there before meeting Mam and Dad in the town centre where they had been browsing round the shops. After a snack for lunch we browsed a few more shops then went down to the promenade and had a short walk followed by a sit down so we could people watch - and believe me, there are some strange people about! By mid afternoon we were worn out so it was back to the GH for a rest. For dinner that evening we decided to try the Ivanhoe again so we could have the buffet. However, this time when we tried to order it we were told that it was only available during the holidays. BUGGER! We decided not to bother with a meal there and went to the Old Scalby Mill instead. The food on their menu was pretty basic so after a quick drink we went to another pub. They didn't have food available so we tried the Ramshill Hotel. This used to be a really plush pub, but it's gone downhill since I was younger, and it's more like an old man's pub (no offence to old men), smoky and not nice at all. We came out of there - the food menu was crap too - and ended up at the Coffee Bean cafe at the bottom of Columbus Ravine. We'd had a sandwich there the previous day and it was quite nice, however, I didn't think much of the haddock and chips that I was served with this time. The fish wasn't very big, just a tiddler, and it was watery too. And I only had a few chips on the plate. Mam's gammon steak was quite big, but it looked anaemic and undercooked. By the time we were finished it was getting quite late so Mam and Dad went back to the GH for a drink in the bar, while Craig and I went along to the South Bay and went in the arcades on the 2p machines.

Wednesday was bright and sunny so after breakfast we drove to Bridlington. Like Scarborough it's in a bit of a decline these days and has changed even since we were there for Mam and Dad's 40th wedding anniversary celebrations in 2004. We wandered round the shops and along the promenade but there was nothing inspiring there to see or do. We had some lunch then went back to Scarborough. After a rest in the afternoon we went out for dinner to the Scarborough pub which is a Hungry Horse establishment. The meals were all lovely, on huge 17" plates and good value for money. YUMMY! We were all stuffed by the time we were finished and although we'd walked our little leggies off all day we had a walk along the promenade at South Bay before heading back to the GH for a drink in the bar.

On Thursday it was another nice day, although a tad windy. We decided to go to Goathland, which is the setting for the TV series 'Heartbeat'. There are photos in Webshots of our visit to this lovely little village. If Mam and Dad hadn't been there we would have probably taken a trip on the North York Moors Railway. Maybe next time! We went back to the GH mid afternoon and had another rest for an hour, well I rested and Craig started packing our case. For dinner that evening we went back to the Scarborough pub and ate another delicious meal. We spent an hour in the arcades before heading back to the GH and having a few drinks in the bar.

After breakfast on Friday we loaded the car up and headed for home. Dene had rang me at 8am to tell me that we wouldn't be able to get back in the house when we got back as the handle was broken. It's been working loose for a few months now, ever since we had the lock replaced, and it finally went on Friday morning while Dene was locking the door on his way out to work. I had to phone my brother Kevin and get him to ring the council so that someone would come out and fix it. We arranged to meet the workman at the house at 2pm, giving us plenty of time to get home. After a quick sortie into Asda for bread and milk we dropped Mam and Dad off at their place, had a quick cuppa then came round here to sit in the car. We came early just in case the workman was early and read our books while we waited. A locksmith eventually turned up at 2.30pm and it took him about 15 minutes to drill and hammer his way through the lock/handle. He had to go away again to get the right bits to replace it but once he came back it didn't take him long.

We had a great time on holiday, though I wasn't all that impressed with Scarborough. Roll on 1st October when Craig and I are going to Prague...can't wait! The furthest Craig has been is France and he's never ever been on a plane so it's going to be a totally new experience for him.

PLEASE NOTE THERE ARE NEW PHOTOS IN WEBSHOTS!

Busy Busy Busy...

...making needlecases. I think I made 8 today, all different. I'll be putting pics in to my Webshots when I get around to it. They're on the computer, just haven't got round to uploading them yet. After they were done I kitted up another four Elizabeth's Designs charts, although I will need to order some of the more specialised threads and charms. Tonight I made a start on the first one, called Hyacinth House. I've done the right hand window, the window box with the flowers in it, the grass under the tree and half of the tree trunk. Hopefully will get quite a bit more done tomorrow.

I should really do some work on Celtic Autumn as it's ages since I worked on her. I did stitch some beads on while I was at Kathy's but you can't really see them on the photo. I have, however, worked out how to take close up photos with my digital camera (only had the bloody thing a year) so maybe the next pic will show them up more. Fingers crossed eh? It's amazing what you can find out when you read the instruction book. LOL!

Not long now till Craig and I go on holiday to Scarborough. We're going with my Mam and Dad, the first week in September. We decided against a caravan again this time as my parents aren't really keen on vans. We're staying in a proper guest house for a change and won't have to do any cooking or shopping for food. We're only going B&B though so will still have to buy something for lunch and tea. I googled eateries this afternoon and there seems to be a fair few places we can go.

And then, at the beginning of October, Craig and I are off to Prague for four days. It'll be Craig's birthday our second day there, so I'm hoping it's going to be really special for him. He's never flown before so that'll be a novel experience in itself, and the furthest he's been abroad has been northern France/Belgium on a baccy and booze run...LOL. We're both really looking forward to going.

Road Trip Part 3

VISITING LYNN!

I arrived at Lynn's (in Shropshire) in the afternoon and after being shown to my bedroom and where everything else was we had a relaxing time, chatting and doing a little bit of stitching. I seem to have been a bit of an inspiration to both Lynn and Kathy as they both said they'd sewn more with me there than they would have normally. Now there's a ringing endorsement! LOL. As Lynn was in the middle of having her kitchen overhauled we had fish and chips from the chippy for our tea that night, and it was yummy.

On Sunday we went to a local garden centre called Bridgemere, which had a Hobbycraft and had a mooch around in there. As Lynn's kitchen was still unusable we had lunch in the restaurant before heading back to Lynn's house. We did a little bit of stitching in the afternoon, relaxing and chatting. While I was at Lynn's I stitched a square on one of her round robins, the Margaret Sherry 12 Days Of Christmas that I had been going to join in but then had to pull out of. I ended up stitching on Kathy's RR (on glittery evenweave!) and got it finished before I left. Lynn was really grateful as she doesn't like glittery material.

On another day we went to a candle making place. There isn't a web site but I found this info about it...

CHESHIRE WORKSHOPS
Burwardsley, Nr Chester, Cheshire CH3 9PFTel: 01829 770401Open: 7 days a week 10.00am-5.00pm. Free Admission & Car parking.
Candle workshops set in the heart of Cheshire. Hand carved candle making, unique brushed and dipped candles made as you wait, glass artist, gift shop and restaurant. The workshops are a delight for children of all ages. They can try their hand at approximately 10 different activities including candlemaking, pottery, badge making and many many more while you are able to explore the factory and gift shop.
Nestling deep in the heart of the beautiful Cheshire countryside flanked by rolling hills and the twin castles of Peckforton and Beeston. Candle supplies at factory prices. Cheshire Workshops are situated only 20 minutes from Chester and 60 minutes from Manchester. Follow the Tourist Board brown signs ‘Candle Workshops’ from A49, A41 or A534.

After the candle shop we went to the ice cream farm where the three of us (Lynn's daughter Cindy came too) had a scrumptious ice cream. Mine was Bailey's flavour and was really delicious. Another afternoon was spent in Shrewsbury where we had a good look round some of the shops and had a snack in a little cafe. I surprised Lynn with a little present of a perfume bottle, which she collects, and we bought Colette a birthday present - a wind chime with fairies on it.

I had a great time with Lynn but it was time to leave on Saturday morning. I was heading to Nottingham next to stay with Colette for the night. The 19th August was Colly's birthday and I arrived just after noon. I gave her the card and present from Lynn and I, which she loved, and her husband Richard made us all some lunch which was delicious. Later in the afternoon we had chocolate cake and a few hours later we had Chinese takeaway before retiring to the sitting room to watch a Cher in Concert DVD. Colly adores Cher! Richard made us some extremely drinkable gin and tonics (well I had bitter lemon) and we got slightly squiffy. I think Colette really enjoyed her birthday and she got away with murder, but it was allowed, cos it was HER BIRTHDAY after all. LOL.

After a light breakfast on Sunday morning (we were still stuffed from the night before) I headed for home and arrived back at 2pm, just in time for lunch. Kate cooked and it was very nice....roast lamb. I got the kids to help me empty the car and most of it is now upstairs and put away. Boy was I knackered when I got back.

Road Trip Part 2

VISITING KATHY!

After a very enjoyable week with Sue and Chris (thank you for having me stay), I headed over to North Somerset on the Monday to stay with Kathy and her family for a few days. I reached her house round about noon and again we had a relaxing afternoon with some stitching. I had a couple of round robins to do, one of which was to pass on to Kathy, and the other to pass on to Jackie who lives in the next village and who was coming to Kathy's on Wednesday afternoon. Neither of them took very long to do and I was able to pass them on successfully.

On the Tuesday we took the twins to Bristol Zoo after a visit to the dentist. We took a picnic lunch with us and sat on the grass to eat it when we were halfway round the animals. There are a few photos in my webshots albums on the left if you want to go and mooch.

Again there was a visit to Hobbycraft on one day, and that was the same day we went to Wildwalk at Bristol which had a living rainforest and which was fairly interesting, although I dont think the twins were really impressed. Towards the end of the week Kathy took me to her LNS where I spent a boat load of money on beading supplies. I could have spent more but decided to pace myself, after all, I still had another week to go!

I left Kathy's on Saturday morning to go to Lynn's and was very sad to say goodbye. But hopefully I'll be going back to stay with Kathy in November while her husband Nick is away on business.

Road Trip Part 1

I've got loads to catch up on so thought I'd better make a start.

VISITING SUE!

On Tuesday 1st August I started my trip to Tonbridge in Kent to visit Sue. After giving a lorry driver some directions 5 mins down the road I was on my way. I had a couple of stops on the journey and thought I would be stuck on the M25 for a while, but the traffic was flowing quite steadily there so I'd obviously missed rush hour. The sat-nav did its job admirably and got me to Sue's at about 2.30pm. Not bad going. Actually it could have been earlier.

Sue helped me empty the car and then we sat and relaxed all afternoon. She had a good rummage through my stash crates and picked what she wanted from the free-for-all crate. She even left some stuff for Kathy and Lynn! LOL.

Sue and Chris haven't lived in their new house for very long, but they've got it really comfortable already and the spare bedroom, where I was sleeping, was great with lots of room and a new bed. The weather was fairly hot all week while I was there so we got out and about a few times.

On one day we went to Blue Water shopping mall. We'd had to wait in for someone to come and fix the lock on the front door so it was fairly late by the time we got there. Sue needed to buy an outfit for a wedding later in the week, so we spent an hour in Evans while she tried lots of stuff on. She eventually settled on a lovely cream skirt and a matching top, plus a few other things that made their way to the cash desk.

Another morning was spent in a closed down craft shop in Sevenoaks, where Sue had been donated leftover stock for her special needs class. We managed to fill the boot before calling it a day. Of course there was the obligatory trip to Hobbycraft where the staff know nothing and everything is overpriced, but I still managed to spend a little bit of money. As you do! And we also visited a garden centre but I can't remember the name of it. There was a small craft shop there, that was full to the rafters with stuff, but you could hardly get moved in there. Didn't spend much in there, if anything.

On the Friday of that week, Chris and Sue went to a wedding so I was home alone with my stitching. I'd been working on my Saturday project for most of the week so I did as much of that as I could. I had to order some thread, beads and charms to finish it off properly, and managed to do that once I got home again. As the weather was nice that day, I did my dirty washing, got it dried outside and did some reading. Later on I watched some TV then had an early night. Sue and Chris returned early morning. The following day Sue went to the hospital as she had been stung by a wasp under her eye during the wedding and she reacted badly to it.