The Peak District

Here I am again to bore you with details of our week in the Peak District. The cottage there couldn't have been more different from Liverton Lodge in Yorkshire if it had tried. It looked very tiny from the outside but was deceptively spacious inside. There was a very modern kitchen (with a boiler that worked!), a dining room and large sitting room. The stairs led off from the sitting room where upstairs were two bedrooms, one with a double bed and the second with twin beds, there was also a very nice bathroom, the whole place was very tastefully decorated.

We collected the key from Ivy House Farm (the cottage was Ivy Cottage)where we were given a very warm welcome from Christine the owner. She took us to the cottage where she had laid out a welcome tray, there was also a bowl of fresh eggs from her chickens and milk in the fridge. There was even a vase of fresh flowers in the sitting room, a lovely surprise.

The garden, whilst not huge was completely secure with plenty of room for Bonnie to run around. In the field next to the cottage were chickens .... Bonnie had never seen chickens close up before and she was fascinated! She spent hours each day watching them and trying to get closer to play with them (at least we always knew where she was), and she had no trouble going outside on her own there!

The heatwave continued for the first few days but then it began to get very windy and noticably cooler, in fact the wind felt bitterly cold on the last morning as we walked Bonnie in the fields.

We knew it was time to go home though when we had a power cut at 3am and the smoke alarm kept "bleeping" keeping us awake for most of the night. The next morning there was still no electicity and so yet again no hot water and this time not even a cup of tea and some breakfast .... I never thought I would be glad of a service station for breakfast!! Still other than that we had a brilliant time.

Now of course it's back to reality and all the washing and ironing. Still I can now look forward to "Craftaway Saturday" ... not far away now!

I'm Back!

I'm back ..... yes I know, you didn't even realise I had gone! Well I've been on holiday for a couple of weeks. The first week we went up to North Yorkshire where we met up with my Sister Joan, she and her partner Ron have a B&B in Whitby, we had the best time ever and even better they are coming down here to Hampshire to spend Christmas with us before going off on a cruise for a couple of weeks .... I can't wait!

The cottage we rented (well it wasn't a cottage really) was HUGE! Here's a photo of it, it had an impressive entrance hall with a sitting room on either side of the hall, both with TV's and one with a grand piano! At the end of the hall it went into a T shape, to the left was another hall a dining room and kitchen with a utility/boiler room leading off. To the right was a bathroom and shower, a cloakroom/telephone room an a walk in cupboard. Upstairs were 4 big bedrooms, two with king size beds and two with twin beds, there was also another bathroom and seperate WC, up another set of stair leading to the attic was another twin bedded room and various other rooms that were locked. The garden was also very big. All this and there were just 3 of us plus Bonnie.

The only problem was that as the house was so big Bonnie was never quite sure where we were and so she would never go out of the house on her own (I have a very neurotic dog!).

The weather was perfect, we arrived just right for the heatwave .... wonderful!!

The only probem we had was on the last day when the boiler decided to pack up and so we had no hot water at all! So after a cold wash and breakfast off we set for our second week in the Peak District.... more about that later.

Turmoil

Isn't this a great photo? It's Spooky catching his ball, I'm not sure if it was Adrian or Rachel who took it but I love it!

Lewis goes to Birmingham University tomorrow, I'm sure Deb is in a state of emotional turmoil, I know I am!!!

I've just spoken to Lewis, he's amazing it doesn't seem to phaze him at all.

Total change of subject ..... we've been out today to get Bonnie a new winter wardrobe! OK a new waterproof jacket and a lead. We have been invited to my niece's wedding on 5th November and as we don't have a "baby" sitter Bonnie will have to go too. We've checked with the Hotel and they are fine about it (and she has been to church before and is very well behaved) but a girl does need a new outfit to look her best! Hence the new outfit .... a stylish light grey jacket with reflective stripe and a red plaited lead (to match her red harness (when she wears that she knows it is best behaviour and not just walkies) and who knows, I may just make her a matching corsage!

Craftaway Saturday is well underway now, I have just approved the "proof" for the advertisement in the local freebie mag. "The Herald" so we will very soon be "famous" or should that be notorious?! I'm so excited about it (the nerves may kick in later~!)

Time is flying

Time at the moment seems to be flying by. It's next Sunday that Lewis goes to University, just over a week ago Adrian and Deb invited both families to a meal at a Spanish Restaurant and Tapas Bar. It was a combination of Lewis's 19th Birthday, well done in his A levels (and Rachel's GCSE taken early)and farewell. We had a great time and a lovely meal. I thought that was the last time I would see Lewis until Christmas, then Friday evening Adrian rang to ask if they could all come over Saturday afternoon .... a wonderful surprise, they stayed for tea so that was a special bonus visit, sadly I now know that I won't see Lewis again until Christmas. Still look on the bright side .... it won't be long before it is here!! (that's a bright side? ... what am I saying?!)

The posters are now going up for Craftaway Saturday and we already have our first customers booked .... all very exciting. We now have tomorrow and next Wednesday to get the final preparations done as then we are each on holiday on consecutive weeks, after which there will be one more Wednesday get together with the three of us before the Workshop!!!

Craftaway Saturday

Can I have a roll of the drums please to get your attention?! ....... I can now give you the news that has been getting me so excited .... our new venture, or should that be adventure?

The two Sue's and myself are about to hold our first of what we hope will be many crafting workshops. The first is to be a full day workshop on Saturday 29th October which we have called "Craftaway Saturday". It will a chance to learn about colours, textures, try out different craft mediums, learn new techniques and generally have a play and meet other like minded people. We will provide everything needed for an enjoyable day, all materials, morning coffee and biscuits, a ploughmans lunch and afternoon tea and a cupcake ..... can't be bad eh?

This is the poster that we have produced, so if you live anywhere near Dibden Purlieu in Hampshire then do come along and join us you will be made very welcome.

Exciting times

Goodness, where is the time going? Is it really 3 months since my last post?

What has been happening? Well my wonderful Grandson Lewis got his A level results through, he needed A passes in Maths and Pure Maths plus a B in any other subject to get into the university of his choice, but he did one better and got A* in both Maths and pure maths and B's in French and computing so Birmingham here he comes!

Then my beautiful Granddaughter Rachel got a B in English GCSE, which she took early as she is only 14 .... well done Rachel.

What else? .... well I entered a stitched beaded card into the local Horticultural and Craft Show and won First Prize (a very minor achievement compared to my Grandchildren but I was well chuffed), here's a photo of the card.

AND ... my two crafting friends Sue I and Sue M have something VERY exciting in the pipeline I'll tell you more about that later so watch this space as they say!

Did you watch the wedding?

Hi everyone. Did you watch the Royal Wedding? Didn't Kate look fantastic? As did her Sister.

We went round to my friend Sue's for the day, she had invited us round to watch the wedding and afterwards have a BBQ. We had a brilliant day, it started at around 10.30am with bacon rolls and a cup of tea, quickly followed by nibbles and Bucks Fizz, then came the deep fried coated mushrooms, onion rings and garlic flavoured chips washed down with Pimms (we were watching honest!!). When the wedding was over we toasted the happy couple with a glass of champagne (or two) then it was out into the garden to watch the men doing their bit on the BBQ. We had lots of laughs and banter and thoroughly enjoyed he day.

The theme of the day was Red-White & Blue so to enter into the spirit of the day I made a "Royal Invitation", buttonholes for myself and Rob (fancy Kate copying me by having Lily of the Valley in her bouquet!), I made myself a fascinator and Rob wanted a set of "medals" and a red beret. I forgot to photograph the beret but here is everything else...