Clearing the Garage

Whilst we were having the driveway done the spare fridge freezer in the garage decided to blow up. Well it had obviously had enough even though we had only had it about 20 years. They just don't make things to last these days!
Due to the inclement weather we were unable to get rid of it because it means moving stuff. I say "we" because the trailer is a 2 person job. So yesterday I arranged for the Daughter to come round and help as we were having a new second hand one coming.
I started clearing the back of the garage and moved enough stuff to get the old fridge freezer out of its corner and moved the stuff from in front of the trailer so the trailer could be moved. The daughter arrived (with Grandson and 2 dogs who went to watch a video) just in time  to get the trailer moved before the other fridge freezer arrived, which it duly did and was offloaded ontop the driveway.
As the "new" fridge freezer was smaller we decided to moved the cupboard that is in the garage to the corner where the old one was which meant emptying it. I had already emptied the wool stash out of it in the week, because the Mother and I decided if it was in the front room where we knit and watch tv we were more likely to use some of it instead of buying more.......well that is the idea anyway!
OK so after the decision to move the cupboard, the old fridge freezer was shunted onto the driveway and we emptied the rest of the stuff out of the cupboard. We decided to take all the old trichem paints to the tip as they will not paint any more (they have been there for 10 years so it is unlikely they will be used anyway) and we will sort through the rest of the trichem stuff sometime (probably in about another 10 years but there is always hope!) and managed to move the cupboard without it falling apart, and discovered there was another electric point behind it. Hooray we were on a roll. We then moved the "new" fridge freezer into place where the cupboard was and plugged it into the socket we had found and left it to settle before switching in on which will be today now.
All that was left then to do was to put the rest of the stuff back into the garage. So first the trailer which went in tighter to the wall and left more space to get tto the freezer and craft tables, then a decision to have a cuppa which then turned into lunch for all of us. After lunch I said I could manange as the Grandson wanted to do something with the Daughter seeing as the Grandaughter was out with her dad. So they went off and I finished off putting the things back that we are keeping. Stuff went into the car to go to the tip and a load of shelving which will not be used as too small or too big was put back intro the garage to go to the tip in the week when the Daughter can help again as her car boot is longer being an estate.

After a cuppa and a rest I decided the tip was for another day as it was 4ish and the traffic on the road to and from the tip would be horrendous at that time on a saturday, so I did an hour in the garden and planted the black and red currant bushes that I had bought before the snow and filled in the hole that had been dug yet again under my gate having first put another brink in the bottom. I think a fox keeps digging under it but have not seen it although I saw one the other end of the street the other week. Fingers crossed that it is deterred.
I now feel I have achieved something over the easter break apart from knitting and jam making!

Many thanks to the Daughter and to the friends we got the fridge freezer from for delivering it to us.
and today.......back to the jam making, raspberry I think.

Cats

Buddy

Buddy and Leya

This is Buddy, a pic taken a while ago. On Saturday he was put to sleep as he was not eating or drinking. Up until a few months ago he was quite happy and healthy although he was gettin quite old (at least 15). then he had a episode which was either a small stroke or something similar, but he recovered well. He was was the second of my daughters cats (a rescue) but had lived with me for quite a fews years when the daughter lived in accomodation where pets were not allowed. I also had Leya (also a rescue) her other cat who was a bit older than Buddy they came to me together. sadly Leya died before the daughter could have her back but she and the Grandchildren saw them almost daily.      


When I first fostered them I also had 2 cats of my own and they all got on well together. I had 2 long haired cats a black one Sooty who was rescued after being taken to the local vet (my landlord at the time) found after a nasty accident. He was a mess jaw, broken and other things but he recovered and lived to a hearty old age. Tasha was a grey and white  cat chosen by the daughter when she was about 14 and we lived in the same flat, the female kitten of the pet shop's cat. She also lived to a ripe old age before getting ill and being put kindly to sleep. Tasha was the only cat we have had that was not a rescue cat.

Buddy and Leya moved with me when the Mother and I moved here to where we still live and a couple of years ago Leya died one night in her sleep and I found her at the bottom of the stairs in the morning, she was also elderly.

Leya

Buddy missed her a lot, I was at work all day and we were always worried about the Mother tripping over him and he hated her walking stick as she is also elderly so when the daughter was in a place and could have him back she did. the Grandchildren were delighted and he would sleep on the Grandson's bed.

All the family are upset now he is gone he had been with us for a long while, the grandson is particularly upset as they were very close. Luckily they have the young dog to comfort them and the dogs of a family friend who is there a lot so hopefully they will get over the upset and remember the lovely cat we all had the pleasure of looking after.

Drive, Wall and Path 2

Before

dtain cover

Here to the left is my tatty drive before the work, the wall was falling down and the concrete breaking up.

This on the right is the new drain coever with slabs in to make it part of the path, clever I call it!

I asked if I could have a couple of the off cuts of salb because I have a flat bit by the trellis which has some old slab on where I take the green bin onto the grass when I am gardening and they just said they would sort something and below is the result a sloping and very neat slab to the grass!

sloped slab to grass

And last but not least the completed driveway form the road up to the garage. I am chuffed to bits. Many thanks to http://www.daveygardening.co.uk. I would reccommend them to anyone

completed driveway, wall and path

Drive,Wall and Path 1

As you know, we have been having a new drive, wall and path done. The chaps started last Monday and have been working hard, they pop in for 5 minutes when I make them a cup of tea and then off they go and don't even stop for food, they eat on the go. So the path and wall are finished and looking lovely, the path is slabbed and they have done it so the drain cover is slabbed too and looks like part of the path it is amazing! They have also made a sloped bit onto the grass where I take the green bin onto the grass when I am gardening because I asked if I could use a couple of off cuts to replace the old bit of concretey stuff I had there. The darker edge to the drive is laid and tomorrow they will be doing the drive and may well finish it. http://www.daveygardening.co.uk are the people I have used and I would highly recommend them. I will be taking some pics and putting them on here to show what a good job they have done for us.

Paradise Park Newhaven

Today I went to Paradise Park with the Daughter, Grandson, Grandaughter and family friend and had a lovely day.http://www.visitsoutheastengland.com/things-to-do/Paradise-Park-p61653.  
 It is a lovely place and we wandered round looking at the exhibition of planet earth which seemed to have everything from dinosaurs to shells and to crystals. Inside is a soft play area and outside another play area, a small train, cacti area and all sorts to many to mention. There is also a garden centre and a gift shop and a place for tea and food and we all had a good day.

It is a place we will go to again I expect, I certainly hope so because we all enjoyed the day out

Messy

Another week gone and a very messy garden! we are a week into having a new driveway, wall and path. it will look lovely when it is finished but until then it is a bit of a muddy mess. It has been so wet lately that everywhere is soggy. Still the old drive,wall and path was dismantled and taken away in short order and half the wall is done and some of the edging to the drive and it is going to be really nice. I am a very lucky lady, a new kitchen and a new driveway etc. You will have to pay to speak to me at this rate! Still if the wall hadn't been taken down it would have fallen down as as all the mortar had crumbled with the snow and ice of the last 2-3 years. In fact some of it had and it was placed back lose. In a week it should be finished and I will put up a pic or two.

Weekend

On Saturday it was my birthday so the daughter had arranged to collect me after work Friday evening to go to no 48 http://www.facebook.com/No48Bexhill   as my birthday treat. But before I finished work I had a text from the Mum to say the dishwasher was leaking! It is insured so not a problem really but I had to ring a good frined who is a plumber to go reound and turn the water supply the the machine off as the Mum couldn't. He kindly syphioned the water away so will ring on Monday to have it looked at.
The evening at 48 was really good we went to one of their music and meal nights, "The Exiles" were playing and we go to see them whenever we can. this time they were doing more Blues type stuff but they do allsorts.We were a group of 4, the Daughter and 2 friends and we all had a good time.

On Saturday we began the year at St Barnabus Church Second Saturday Craft Fairs and did reasonably well which was good. It was quite cold though! we didn't see a couple of our regulars so I hope they are ok and not suffering from any dready lurgy of any sort. I had tried a new line of flap ear hats, I made a really thick one which sold (see pic which actually looked better int the flesah so to speak) and some thinner ones which I lined with fleece which also look better in the flesh!
After the fair the Daughter and I had originally planned to go to a friends in Brighton, but it was cold and rainy and the forecastwas for even colder so we decided not to risk the weather so she and our friend of the dogs came round to ours and we all had chinese and watched the Phantom of the Opera 25th annivesary video and a good time was had by all.

New Kitchen

So last week after 3 days hard work (not mine I hasten to add as althought I can do some DIY I am not that good or qualified) I had a new kitchen. Hooray!!! Although actually not completely new, but a new hob and built in oven and a new sink and worktops all shiny and lovely. A friend of ours does this sort of thing for a living so we had him in to do our kitchen. The Mum decided that if we had a built in oven she might be able to do some cooking again as she could not lift things out of our old oven. I was quite happy to go along with this and so here it is. 

Before

After

new sink

New counter top

Then she said that as we couldn't have the new sink we wanted put in last year because it wouldn't fit in the current work top, we might as well do that too, so we did. She also decided that we would have to have new work tops all round or we would have one odd one, so we did! The oven and hob are lovely and I am chuffed to bits with it all. Now to get used to it and start to make some more jams for the craft fair next weekend. Watch this space!

Welcome to 2013 everyone.

Ours has not got off to the best start as the Grandson had a blinding (literally) migraine just after the new year started and then another yesterday evening, poor young man just after his 13th birthday too, this puberty lark is not fun! Also I have just heard today that a friend I have known since I was 6 has succumbed to the cancer that struck her years ago but which had recurred after being in abeyance for many years. So sad for everyone particularly her family that have to deal with their loss. Bless her and them.

 We did however have a lovely New Year's Eve party at the Daughter's with friends and the children around, so that was fun albeit a bit exhausting from the clearing up we had to do to get the house ready, still that is less for the daughter to do later.

 I have been doing lots of knitting as I had several orders for small items like fingerless gloves and have sold quite a lot over the last few months. I have just knitted a hat with earflaps which I plan to line with fleece. I may however do some with and some without and see how they sell at the craft fairs which Mum and I will continue to do. I will need to make more jam and chutney too as although we have no fairs until February Mum is getting a built in oven and new hob and a new sink and worktops done around 23rd Jan, so need to get stuff cooked before just in case I cannot get in the kitchen for a week or 2 (it will probably be done quite quickly but I am not taking any chances in case little things become big!) it will be lovely to have an oven that we don't have to bend down to (and Mum can use as she cannot do the bending and lifting out with the present one) and a new sink that can be cleaned easily without have to use bleach all the time!

There may also be some sewing in the offing which will be a change from the mending and altering that I have done during the last year. 

I have done no blogging for ages so guess I will be an intermittent blogger but who knows I may get inspiration from time to time.

 All in all there is lots to look forward to so watch this space and who knows what you may see

Happy New Year

I wrote a lovely blog over the New Year and it has somehow disappeared in to the ether! I have been busy haviing some new items put into my kitchen over the last week and will endeavour to write about it in my next blog when I have a bit more time.
This blog is a quickly to say I have been following a blog late calledhttp://www.chickenstitches.com/blog which I find interesting it is about a fellow knitter who lives in Israel. she has a bogiversry today and this blog is to celebrate with her. Happy Blogiversary Henka

so short and sweet folks as off to the garden centre with the Mum and the daughter. Hopefully more again soon as I was rather lax latterly last year

I have found it and posted it although I was sure I had posted it when I wrote it.....another senior moment then!

 Well this was a lovely surprise I have been given a beautiful blogger award not ONCE but TWICE!!!!  firstly my lovely daughter http://sutleress.blogspot.co.uk/ and then a special friend of ours (and my honorary no 2 daughter) http://stationery-pigeon.blogspot.co.uk/ I was knocked out by it all.

This was the first I had heard of this award and now need to fulfil the criteria and say 7 things about myself that I haven't already said.

1.  I have said I have a daughter and mentioned her many times, but to me she is not only my daughter but my closest friend and I know we have been through many lives together in various forms and guises. She has been with me through many ups and downs in this present life and I really do not know how I would cope without her.
2.  I love music and to sing although I don't sing as much as I used to. At one time I sang all the time. Luckily I sing tolerably well and having perfect pitch I sing in tune but am not good at singing on my own in public as I forget the words!
3. When I was little my Mum always maintained that I was not shy because I chattered all the time to all and sundry, however as I got older it became a good cover up and when I meet someone new I tend to burble lots. I have absolutely no idea of what I am saying but it is my defence system.
4. What you see is what you get and I try to have no pretence, however it seems that often I come across as more efficient and confident than I really am but I am not sure why, so maybe I do pretend without realising it.
5. I trained for 2 years to be an Occupational Therapist (it was a 3 year course) but was unable to passs my anatomy exam and after 2 attempts gave up.
6. I hope that as I go through this life I can be of help to those I meet along the way.
7. I really do talk a lot of rubbish

so now my nominations

1.  http://sutleress.blogspot.co.uk/ This is of course the daughter as you will know and I chose her for the above reasons and also because she struggles daily with health issues and is brave about it all and is trying so hard to conquer the emotional issues that have arisne from it all. she is an inspiration to us all
2. http://stationery-pigeon.blogspot.co.uk/ This is the other one, she is also an inspiration as she struggles to fight an illness she has had from child hood as you will see if you read her blog. it is a huge undertaking and can only be won a little step at a time (well to us but to her horrendously huge) I admire her guts tremendously
3. http://morgaine-le-fays-textiles.blogspot.co.uk/ A fantastic blog (and friend) about Antique fabrics and other things worthy of any award.
4. http://crystaljigsaw.blogspot.co.uk/ I do not personally know this lady but I love her writing and the way she deals with what life throws at her, and the way she never gives up.
5. http://curiositything.blogspot.co.uk/ another friend but this time a young friend (young enough to be my grandaughter). I like her style of writing and she is a lovedly young lady.
6. http://the-panopticon.blogspot.co.uk/ Again the stylke of writing and the subjects are interesting, I logged onto this through another friend and just like to read it.
7. to be added as I am not following anyone else at the moment.

                                                      This is what to do now:

Put down seven facts about yourself,

You link to the blog of the person who nominated you,

You link to seven bloggers who you think deserve the award,

You let those bloggers know they have been nominated.

 Simple as that. I look forward to reading your facts xx

The weekend just past was the first reenactment of the season for me and mine (but only the daughter came as the grand children were with their fathers) so we went off to Caldicot castle in Wales for the bank holiday. We had a good time meeting up with some old friends and some new. it was a bit watery at times and we ended up packing up in thre rain on Monday and also having to cancel our "Wars of the roses in 20 minutes" as the arena was far too slippery and totally unsafe which was a shame, it had been fun doing it on the Sunday!
Our Group won a prize for the Best Reenactment Group which was fantastic and on sunday evening we went to the castle to have a dance and I had a jive for the first time in about 20 odd years it was fun but breathless!
The drive to and fro went very well and was relatively stressless.
the daughter and I really enjoyed ourselves as we always do when we do reenactment and are looking forward tho the next one which is much more local ie Badlesmere in Kent
Until then a craft fair and more sewing and a museum sponsored walk and goodness knows what else! Busy, Busy, Busy!!!

Keeping Busy

I haven't felt much like blogging the last couple of weeks, but they have been busy none the less, knitting sewing and attending hospital twice in the last week ....not for my self but the grandchildren! The Granddaughter sprained her ankle (again) so there we were at A&E. Luckily it was an xray and all ok but you have to check especially when told "I heard it click" and the ankle is a monstous size and very hot and red!
The Grandson had a proper appointment due to numerous nose bleeds lasting a bit too long for comfort. He had his nose cauterised and now claims it is nowbionic because they use Silver Nitrate  to seal the necessary area.
It is my turn on Wednesday am for the faulty knee, will probably discuss the injection I had last time which was agonising and left me unable to walk for over half a day (not good when you are supposed to go to work!)  It was a pain free couple of months or so afterwards tho I have to say but for 2 months pain free? although I must also say the pain comes and goes in varying degrees so I don't know.

I have started (or should I say restarted) a Landsknecht jacket for one of my reenactment friends and have been discussing style and what to do. The back is done and fine (see abvoe), the front has 3 possibilities so he is having to decide.
To the left is the one discussed today but then I wasn't sure if it looked right. It will be slashed and have colours pulled through the slashing so will not look so plain at the end. to the right was the oroginal ide when discussed quite a while ago. to open down the side and again have slashing

this is the third, diagonal sripes one side and straight stripes the other again it will be slashed with colour pulled through (to be decided) the sleeves are still to be discussed whether to keep to the original idea of alter it.
It is an interesting project and is keeping me occupied.

                             Watch This Space

This weekend ws an ok weekend. We had a Craft Fair on Saturday at St Barnabus Church, (we being myself, the Mother and the Crafty Claires) and it went well. We sold a fair few jams,and chutneys and some knitted bits and the Crafty Claires sold some cards and other bits. We got our table money and a bit over and that is fine by us.
On Sunday I did some potting on in the garden, it was a bit chilly but nice to be outside. I potted on tomatoes, cucumbers, and red and yellow peppers, split and planted out some carnations and potted on some carnation cuttings that I had taken from some pretty cut flowers that we had, I cannot remember the colour though so it will be a surprise if and when they bloom. In the evenings on both days I knitted accompanied by the tv and the Mother. it is amazing how the kniiting grows when watching tv. However I really must get some sewing done too.

Every school holiday a friend and I make sure we go out together either for the day or an afternoon. We both lead similar busy lives, we work at a residential special needs school but this year on different living houses so we don't see each other at work much, maybe for 5 mins during the week. We both live with our elderley mothers and we both have children and grandchildren, I have a daughter who is not so well and she has a daughter-in-law who suffered a very serious brain tumour and although is ok now, well who knows what the future holds.
So a couple of days ago it was lovely and sunny so we went to visit Pashley Manor Gardens in Ticehurst
http://pashleymanorgardens This is the front of  the house which has a Tudor Facade.

Front of the house.

There has been a house there since the 1200's but this  is from the 1500's, however as it is a

Rear of the house.

family home it is not open to the public, but the gardens are beautiful and well worth a visit or several.
  The garden lies ammongst some of the rolling countryside on the Kent/Sussex Border and the vistas are
wonderful. There is also a lot of statuary and wood carvings and as you walk throught the different areas you suddenly come across them and I went a bit mad photographing lots of the wooden faces, If you would like to see all the photos I took please feel free to look on my Flickr page. http://www.flickr.com/photos/14732552@N03/sets/72157629434579060/
To the left is one of the first statues we saw (apart from the one coming down the drive and I was so surprised because it is different and so full of life To the right is a sample of the carved faces. this is probably not the best, but I liked it because it reminds me of the old fashioned pictures of the wind blowing. Below is a picture of a black swan which we saw to our great surprise as we walked aound one of the lakes.
Later we saw another and under the foliage at the edge of the lake first one and then another cygnet.I have never see black swans before and we heard the (we assumed) mother calling too.
All in all we had a lovely time pottering in the sunshine and they have a nice cafe where the cakes are huge! It doesn't come any better.

Yesterday was my Mother's Cousin's birthday and today I went to see her with the cards and presents as she was out when we phoned yesterday. The cousin is the youngest of my Mother's cousins being the daughter of my Grandfather's youngest sister, who got married in 1932 and the point of this waffle is that today I was given  the christening gown that was made out of my Great Aunt's wedding dress. My cousin has no children to leave it to and her brothers have never been interested, so as she knows I am a seamstress and that I love historical costume (as does my daughter) she is happy for me to have it and keep it in the family. Any one who wishes to see more pics please feel free to visit http://www.facebook.com/pages/History-Stitchery/227351787300111

I was also given the stockings she wore for the wedding and a nightdress case made for her by my Great Grandmother but I don't know when it was made so have no idea how old it is. Again there are more pics at the above address. at a later date I will also be given the family bible as she knows another of my interests is family history and I have done a lot of research into my family.

Proud Nanny Moment

I was so proud of the Grandson last night. He belongs to the local Astronomy Club (http://www.facebook.com/pages/East-Sussex-Astronomical-Society-ESAS/110752942323841 ) and is by far the youngest member. At the end of last week he went on a school trip to Space Camp in Belgium and had a wonderful time doing all sorts of things (see also http://sutleress.blogspot.co.uk/ for pics). Last night at the ESAS meeting some of his pics were shown and he stood in front of a hall full of people and said a few words about each picture.Tthe whole thing was filmed and pics taken and he had 2 microphones attached to him one for the sound system and one for the camera. If he was nervous it didn't show and he got a couple of laughs. He sounded so grown up and confident, it was just fantastic. His Mum and I popped in for the talk and we are both so proud of him.

Start of the Easter Hols

It has been a busy weekend. On Saturday I wasn't to good (headachey) in the morning so I stayed bed as I was to go out in the evening. The Grandaughter came to stay with Mum as the Daughter and I were going out together. We had a belated celebration of the Daughter's 35th birthday and 6 of us went from here to the dog racing at Hove. We were joined by one friend from Brighton, but unfortunately others couldn't make it which was quite disappointing. We had a good time non the less and all said we would do it again it was good fun. Got back about midnight and the Daughter (and Grandaughter) stayed over.

On Sunday it was the Daughter's turn to not feel good, she hadn't slept well which is unusual when she is at mine, so she stayed in bed. I did some sewing continuing the medieval kirtle I started a short while ago and it now needs another fitting before I can proceed. I also cut out a petticoat (now know as a skirt) for the Grandaughter and also one for myself for some Napoleonic costume I will be making and also did a bit in the garden. Unfortunately my back is now telling me all about it .

In the evening I relaxed with my knitting and the tv and watched the first part of Silent Witness which I like but don't often watch as it is always in 2 parts and with the shifts I work I often miss bits and so I don't bother. it was all in all a good weekend.

First time in an Ambulance!

It is finally the Easter Holidays and the students all went home today. At one stage I thought one of them would not get the coach as we were stuck in the hospital where the student had been taken by ambulance that morning having been poorly the previous night and again in the morning. I was chosen to travel with him, possibly as I had been with him during the previous evening and was around the next morning. We had to wait some time to see a Dr as the A&E was fairly busy. I have every admiration for the staff who work there and who work in the hospital generally as it is always busy and they work so hard and are always cheerful and kind. Eventually we saw the doctor and were able to get a taxi back to the school. However the coaches were due to leave at 1 and as it was 12.45, I thought we would not make it. Luckily they decided to hold the coach back and wait for the student who then got on having had no breakfast or dinner. They said however they would have some food available on the coach and I hope the student got home safely and was not poorly again!
It was a very different work shift from the norm and a first for me going in an ambulance where the medics were lovely to the student.
We do see life as my Mother would say!

Catch Up

It has been a busy couple of weeks really. We went to Bedgebury on Mothering Sunday and managed to get Mum out on her scooter only to have the battery die two thirds of the way up a hill (as described in http://sutleress.blogspot.co.uk/ ) meaning daughter had to go get help, but it was hilarious and could only happen to us.
We are all busy making stuff for the next craft fair which is on the 14th April at St Barnabus Hall in Bexhill and at the weekend the daughter and I went to Brighton to a Vintage Craft Fair and got some lovely buttons and some new ideas for crafts. It was a beautiful day and afterwards we went to visit a friend and went for a walk along the sea front in the sun and had a lovely catch up.
So on we go and watch this space for pics of the latest project when completed.