Where has the year gone?

I haven't posted since April, I have had lots happening both happy and sad. Suffice it to say that 3 funerals, particularly that of one of my younger brothers, have left a cloud hanging over the rest of the year's events.

Before the funerals,in May we had a wonderful month in France, visiting the War Cemeteries in the Somme area before moving on to the Vendee area. We found the Vendee to be re-inventing itself and it was lovely to experience cycling on the many dedicated routes through forest and on sea front. The weather was really good overall, and we will probably visit at this time of year again. Talking only recently to other AS owners who visited France in June, we discovered that June was not good weather-wise!

In July, we took our GS to Cornwall because he had a work experience placement at the Eden project,in the Mediterranean Biome. He had a lovely week and was well received by the gardeners there, who gave him lots of contact information.

August saw us back in Cornwall for our traditional holiday with GS, 'enjoying' the usual August weather. This year, our DD came down to Cornwall at the same time as us, but brought a tent for their holiday. Complete with twins and dog, they made the most of their time down in St Blazey Gate, not allowing the weather to cast a damper on their 12 day break. At the beginning of our stay, our DS and his family joined us for a long weekend, - our caravan and awning were bulging at the seams ;)

Needless to say, after a damp August, my DH and I needed a holiday! Luckily, we had booked a cruise for September earlier in the year. So the 17th saw us waved off by DD and GS at the local services on the motorway, and later that day we sailed away to enjoy glorious weather in the Mediterranean! We had visited this area in April 2009, but this trip included stops at a few new places, so there was plenty to discover, including Alhambra, Rome and Florence. But the Sagrada Familia holds a special place in our hearts - the interior is now complete and is spectacular. We are seriously thinking of driving down into Spain with our motorhome, so that we can have some 'quality' time there, instead of being rushed through.

Now we are in November, and the heat is on for Christmas. The cake was finally made yesterday, only two weeks late! But I'm sure we won't notice the difference, by the time I've fed it a little more alcohol ;)

Anniversary

No, not out wedding anniversary, or the anniversary of when we met, but the 30th anniversary of us moving into our home! It was the first Tuesday of the school Easter holiday in 1981 and it was a lovely day. Our new neighbour, Jean, made a cup of tea for us all during the move, which we were able to have outside. The move was accomplished without any major mishap as we had hired a removal firm to do the bulk of the hauling. DH made a couple of trips with the trailer, and also brought the caravan over - but we did only move a mile or so! One notable thing about the Easter holiday was the contrast in weather - rather like this year, where we have had some lovely warm days, but then it has become cold again, we had snow by the end of the holiday in 1981!

We are in the middle of sorting out our muddle in the bedrooms, because we have DD's 3 children coming to stay over the weekend while she and SIL fly to Scotland for a wedding. We need to have visitors more often, then the bedrooms won't get in such a mess.....artist's materials and textiles all over the place!! Either that or we extend to have a dedicated craft workshop......

Last Sewing Session this term

I was late arriving at my social sewing group today, despite my best efforts! I was so busy this morning, cutting more 9" squares of cream fabric, turning a tiny hem on each side and pressing them, that I forgot how time was ticking on, so lunch was late and so was I! My DH kindly acted as taxi driver and so I arrived some ten minutes late, late enough for my absence to be put down to me enjoying another holiday!

The squares are for my cathedral window patchwork, which is proving to be a challenge. No matter how careful I am when cutting out, and pressing the hems, the squares turn out to be not quite square, they refuse to tesselate exactly, and generally cause a headache! Fellow members of the group sympathise with me. They did cathedral windows patchwork round about Christmas, so know exactly what problems I'm experiencing.

This was our last session before Easter, and as DH and I are going to France in May it will be some time before I attend my sewing session again.

Our new car was fitted with a tow-bar today! Now we are back to normal. Until now I feel as if I have been deprived by not having the option of going off in the caravan! We have had the car since the end of November, over four months, DH putting off calling the specialist fitter until the weather was 'suitable'! Now we just need the opportunity to try the outfit out.

April, but no showers!

The weather is being incredibly kind to us this spring. We, that is my DH, DS, DD and their respective offspring, have spent most of the day in our orchard, with the children enjoying the space our bigger garden gives them. And yesterday was a similar day, and the day before, and the ...you catch my drift! It's only two weeks since we came back from our two week break in Cornwall, but already I miss the sound of the sea. We were so lucky that the sun shone (though there was a stiff breeze quite a bit of the time). We were down in Cornwall to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the opening of the Eden Project. Even though the official source I contacted at Eden stated that there was no one event planned for the 17th March, I had decided some time ago that we should be down there on the exact date anyway. We were there bright and early on the 17th, which was a bright but chilly morning, and who should be in the Tropical Biome but Tim Smit (Sir) being interviewed by a couple of young journalists from Sky News. Naturally, I stopped and waited for the interview to finish so that I could get Tim's autograph (again!) and in the conversation mentioned that we had come down from Nottingham for the opening day. Tim, with a nod to the journalists and towards us, indicated that we would be prime choice to be interviewed! So we gave an interview, but no one could find it on the Sky News or the internet, so probably the news editor decided that he had better things to do with his air-time!

It should be spring

Although the sun is shining brightly, there is a keen wind which makes being outside something of a chore instead of a pleasure. I went out to put some peanut butter on the bird table to see if any bird was interested, then detached a Christmas wreath from our neighbours' side of the fence, and unfastened all the fiddly little bits of garden twine which I had used to secure the circle of ivy, holly and leylandii. But I didn't stay out long! However, signs of spring are showing in the bursting buds of cotoneaster, flowering currant (ribes sanguineum) and forsythia. There is a cheeky primula hiding its rosy petals beneath a large sage plant, and snowdrops nodding in agreement with the wind.

I have used my time indoors this week to indulge in a touchy feely experience - I have been making new curtains for the bedroom. The fabric is a patchwork square pattern called 'Vinny', in my favourite colours of shades of pink, lilac and aqua.......delicious! I am toying with the idea of using the leftovers to cut up into the squares of colour and creating a Cathedral Windows patchwork, perhaps making a couple of scatter cushions for the bed, or a 'runner' to place across the bed, near the foot, as is the fashion at the moment. The colours are intoxicating me!!

Grandson

Today has been spent in the company of our 15 year old grandson. He has a scout/guide outing to the Snowdome next Saturday, and was in dire need of some decent suitable footwear for the activities. Having looked at websites for Decathlon and Go Outdoors, we saw on the Yeoman's Outdoors website that they had a pair of waterproof walking shoes at a reasonable price, so I rang the branch in Ilkeston and yes, they had the same stock as the website at the same price. So we duly picked up Big T and sorted him out with the shoes (size 11 arghhhh!) and then a pair of waterproof over trousers, and I decided to have a pair of walking boots, very dainty ones, for the occasions when I go for a tramp. This shopping was completed in time for us to consider it to be lunchtime, so went to a local mill shop and had lunch there.

We had been aware of the poor condition of Big T's bed mattress, and considering his back problems took the opportunity of having him with us to go and 'test drive' a few mattresses. We drove to a retail park in Nottingham and had the benefit of the expertise of a senior salesperson, who discussed our needs with us and allowed us time to test the various products with no pressure. We were lucky that the mattress Big T found most comfortable was available from stock and came in a roll that was easily transportable in the back of the car, avoiding a £35 delivery charge!

A very productive day!

New Year

Yes, Happy New Year to everyone!

We had a busy Christmas, with Granny being delivered to us by my nephew and his family on Tuesday 21st. It was lovely to start the Christmas celebrations this way. Lunch was a family affair around the large table in the dining room - 5 adults and a 5 year old (who actually liked the Spanish sauce I cooked the chicken in!). And the playmobil we keep here for the granchildren to play with was much admired by the said 5 year old -and his mum!! We have received the ultimate accolade - Sam would be happy to visit again!

Christmas lunch went smoothly, with the turkey resting for 1.5hrs under 3 tea towels, as recommended by Jamie Oliver. It certainly helped to free the oven for the roast potatoes and parsnips, sausages in bacon, and 2 kinds of stuffing. I served the prawn cocktails in cups on saucers for a change, it looked very 'designer'! But why is it that the Christmas lunch seems to take longer to eat with each successive year?? We (+Granny, DD and family) sat down at 1.30, and I only got up to fetch the dessert at 2.55! Well, that's one way to fill an afternoon...

DD and family left at around 8pm, DD needing to chill in her own home because she is still under the weather from a bug.

Boxing Day brought our DS and his 2 girls for the day, with DIL joining us after she had finished work (in the retail sector).

Monday, DB and his wife suffered the stress of a trip (slow) down the motorway, to join us for tea and then take Granny back to her 'cottage'. DS and family joined us at around 5 pm, so that the girls could enjoy the silliness of DB!

So that was Christmas..

By the time New Year's Eve arrived, I decided my DH and I should join Granny for the celebrations, her first New Year in her 'cottage'. So I phoned her and warned her we were going to her place, then shopped for something nice for dinner at M&S! We opened champagne (M&S)and toasted the New Year with Granny's next door neighbour, Sue, and sent a glass of champers back with her for her mum who was unable to join us.

We stayed with her until Monday, having had a trip to Chatsworth on Sunday and enjoyed Sunday lunch there, and doing a little shopping in the farm shop; a Tesco trip on Monday morning made sure that she was stocked up enough should the snow show up again!