Well then .........

...a quick update before we go to the caravan for our last long weekend of the summer. DH has just gone to work; DD and I are loading the roofbox and car later then going to MIL's as she and her partner are coming too. So today's plans are:

Leave home 10am (if DD gets up in time), call at Heart of the Shires to pick up my new Moshulu clogs - I have wanted a pair of these for ages, get to MIL's for 11 so I can have a rest from driving and a coffee. DH works about 20 minutes away so after loading all their stuff we will pick him up from work and it's go go go LOL
DH works south of Birmingham so we will go a more scenic route to Wales but that does mean we'll miss the motorway traffic especially as it's a Bank Holiday weekend.

I am looking forward to a restful weekend as this week has been quite hectic. Sunday I had my arm checked and although nothing major was broken the doc did think I had damaged (maybe fractured) a small bone in my hand/wrist (where your thumb joint is). I now have a splint to wear which has a metal bar in to stop me bending my wrist forward. It makes jobs a little difficult and I'm not really looking forward to the driving today. My arm still aches and it's nearly three weeks. I am going to try not to use it much at the caravan especially as there will be more people around to do the jobs.

Tuesday I had a lovely day in Leicester with DD, we had fun clothes shopping and then enjoyed lunch at Bella Italia. Thursday she got her GCSE results, although in Year 10 she had taken English (Language and Literature), Statistics and Religious Studies a year early. Her results were B, A, B and A* - we're so proud, well done Philippa.

DS is not in our good books, after the terrible happenings at the vets he has lost the plot and although he did finish the college course has no inclination to go back to studies BUT also has no job. He is treating life as one long holiday. I was very cross when we got back from our last two weeks at the caravan as all my potted plants have died because he didn't remember to water them - and he goes out in the garden for his cigarettes. Anyway Wednesday night we went to my dad's and left DS and his girlfriend here. They were leaving later and locking up. When we got back at 9pm we couldn't get in.

We popped back to dad's to get his spare key incase it was that but his didn't work either. We had the patio door key but because the key was in the house side we could only unlock the second door but it only opened an few inches cos in effect the doors were still locked together. We ended up calling out a locksmith who did manage to open the patio doors and DS had locked the front door with a key still in the inside. Apparently if both keys are vertical you can do this but once locked the inner key is horizontal and will not turn back.

It cost us £90 and we did not get in until 10.15, we also lost Ruby in the process with all the doors being open and her being nervous of this stranger banging at the doors, he was dressed in black with a miners torch on his head so must have looked weird. DD and I chased down the street and DD had the fab thought of shouting to Ruby that we were going home and running the opposite direction. Ruby was brilliant and turned and ran back - phew. We were so cross with DS - just no thought going on.

On a slightly brighter note yesterday he had his first driving lesson, he had put it off a while and was quite nervous but it seemed to go ok and he has another one next week. He is not a confident lad and the vet thing has made it worse but he could be more aware of things around him.

So you see my few days home have been mega hectic - in fact I am getting quite fed up of it all. I am a busy person but that should be my trips out, stitching, reading, cooking - not sorting stuff out all the time. With DH, DS, DD, Ruby and my dad I seem to have to look after 5 people, just need looking after myself sometimes.

Blimey that was another long blog and what a lot of moaning, sorry but it does help. Stitching wise I have done nothing all week, neither have I done any reading. Maybe I will get the chance at the weekend. Oh well off to get my new clogs :)

Have a fabulous Bank Holiday for those in the UK, and to my friends abroad - just enjoy :)

Holiday News

We're back from fortnight at the caravan. The weather was mixed with one of the best days being the day we left - typical.

The first few days Michael was with us; we did not go out much over the fortnight as Ruby required quite a lot of attention. Monday I did an hour helping out at the church coffee morning, then the others came and we went to the market. There was nothing new there but it was good practice for Ruby to be around so many people. Michael came back to Nuneaton on Wednesday, he came by train on his own for the first time. He was a little nervous but met his girlfriend at Birmingham New Street so they spent some time in the city before coming home.

Nick spent quite a few days boxing in the bottom of the caravan. He had to dig out some holes for the supports but unfortunately Ruby decided to help too, she got it a little wrong though as she was pushing the soil back in, oops. The finishing wood came last Monday and it took Nick three days to get it up. Philippa helped with painting, it all looks very good. Lots of our fellow caravaners have been looking and commenting, we just have a few bits to finish off.

I spent most of my free time (there wasn't much) stitching my JA Mail Art which is now finished and can be posted on Monday. I took my JA Christmas SAL pieces but did not get a chance to do any of them. I also took some books but didn't open one. But I did spent Sunday evening making some cards for church. I forgot to take my inners and my finishing envelopes so I've had to bring the cards home to finish. We're back on Friday so I can take them to church next weekend.

I saved my orts from hols - it looks like I've done loads of stitching but I did not save any smallish threads so some pieces are quite long.

I've added them to my jar - it is growing surprisingly quickly.

We did have a trip out to Denbigh, St. Asaph, Rhuddlan and Rhyl. I used to holiday (on scout camp) in this area when I was younger. It was a fair way but we had a good day out if a little windy.

We have been walking so much this holiday - which is a good thing as I have not been very good on my diet. I forgot my book and scales and gave up guessing. I know I have eaten too many extras; not looking forward to Tuesday weigh in but will have to go.

On one of our regular walks we have to go along side a drainage ditch. There is a lovely family of swans there and the other day we were amazed to see them on the side all asleep, they did look cute.

Every summer for over 25 years the Cambrian Steam has run along the coast. It's a fantastic sight and runs past our caravan park in the morning and back down at night. The kids all stand at the crossing to see it. British Rail are changing the track to fit in with some European rule and the trains have to have new computer technology. Unfotunately the old steam doesn't so next Friday will be it's last run. It is such a shame but we have read in the local paper that they are working on the problem and it may run again sometime in the future.
I am having a little trouble with my left arm, in fact it is uncomfortable to type this. The first Sunday we went to a small beach and let Ruby have a run (her first so we were nervous). She flew off and we chased after her. The beach was actually clay with sand on top and was like a skating pond. Philippa managed to stay upright, Michael went round the edge, Nick stayed on the rocks but I went skidding along and BUMP on my behind - it was funny cos I was still holding the dog biscuit high, calling Ruby. My trousers were covered in sludge and I had to hitch my way off the slippy patch cos I couldn't stand up LOL. Anyway all week my left arm has felt very heavy, and for a few days my wrist hurt but I thought it was just a strain or jar. Two weeks on it is still painful from my elbow to my wrist - it is a heavy ache and feels like it's the bone. Michael had a look tonight and when he touch an area just above my wrist it was very tender. He thinks I have a green stick fracture and suggested I go the docs on Monday. I must admit I did not think it would ache this long after doing it - I'll see how it goes but am thinking I should get it checked. There is no obvious sign of damage and my use isn't restricted; it just hurts.

This final picture is Philippa and Ruby in the back of the car waiting to set off. Nick had tried to take one but Philippa hid her head, but I sneaked this from inside the caravan through the door on full zoom. I think its a fab picture of them both.

Sorry my blog is a long one, thanks for popping by, I will be catching up over the next few days with everyone's news.

News Update

Well I have no stitching news as I am busy doing the Mail Art Exchange and I can't share until it's been received. I am working hard on it as I want to use my overlocker and we go away on Saturday so I'm hoping I have enough done to stitch some of it together before we go and finish off in Wales.

Ruby is doing really well. She no longer wears a Dap collar and is learning to behave much more. She still chews my houseplants and pinches the effect coals off the fire but she is getting better. Over the weekend we took here on a lovely walk along the canal and round the Battle of Bosworth field. We even let her off the lead on the tow path and she did come back ... phew. Tonight we have taken her over the local playing field and let her off again, just for a short while. She was excellent and did come back, especially when mum had some chews.

Today I stripped half the conservatory wallpaper. It's been over 10 years since it was done and we fancy a change, nothing drastic but it's looking grubby and faded so needs a freshen up. Over the next few days I am hoping to finish stripping and then washing it all down with sugar soap. Next job will be sanding back the walls and woodwork but I don't think I'll do that until we get back from Wales.

Well that's all from me... back to Mail Arting ;)