Autumn Exchange gifts

The main thing since my last blog is Philly has moved to University - she now lives in Pontypridd in south Wales and is having a wonderful time. The four of us went out for a meal at TGI Fridays the night before she left and Nick and I stayed at a lovely Best Western Hotel the weekend we took her - it made it a good weekend for everyone.

Me and Philly

Philly,Michael & Nick

'Moving In' cake for Philly's Uni

This is the view from her room - she's very lucky as many of the other rooms look onto other flats or a wood. It is very steep - she is on the first floor but is above the flat block in the photo.

Philly's View

This weekend was Needlecraft Haven's Autumn Exchange opening day and I received a beautiful project folder from Mary - it's a french design too which is just perfect. I am using it already :)

My project folder from Mary

The inside

and this is the biscornu I stitched for Barb, I was really pleased with how it stitched up and finished.

Autumn Biscornu

We've just had a weekend at the caravan but it was very windy this morning - quite nice to come home to the calmer weather. Next weekend Nick and are going to see the Hairy Bikers Live - I'm really looking forward to it, and we are going to Cafe Rouge before for dinner, my favourite restaurant.

Finally I have stitched the ornaments for the church tree this Christmas - my tree is called Family Tree and here's my ornaments so far.

 

 

Thank you for sharing in my latest news - hopefully next time the ornaments will be finished.

Birthday and Olympics

All I can say is 'phew' what a weekend.

Friday hubby and I travelled with our friends to Manchester for the weekend. We stayed at The Ramada Hotel in Salford Quays - they upgraded us to the seventh floor thanks to Twitter and being my birthday weekend :0 The hotel rooms and breakfast were really good. Friday night we went to our favourite restaurant Cafe Rouge - the waiter was really nice and the food was superb as always.


Saturday morning we went into Manchester on the tram and our friends showed us around as he used to live there. We also went to the Science and Industry Museum which was brilliant and brought back memories of a school visit when I was younger.

Saturday afternoon we went to the Tesco Wine Fair which was the main reason for us going away. It's a great afternoon of wine tasting - with notebook to add comments. Our friend and I even did a bit of tv work, being filmed promoting a lovely Sauvignon Blanc from Malborough New Zealand LOL

It was a lovely weekend - and Monday was even better. it was my birthday and we went to London to meet Philippa at the end of her 11 days as a Games Maker at the Paralympics in the Aquatic Centre. She had an amazing time with the team from North Warwickshire School Sports Partnership.

We went into Central London with them to watch the Victory parade. We stood by St Paul's but the team were lucky to have been chosen to be in The Mall with 7000 other Games Makers. Here are a few photos from her time at the Paralympics.

The Team at the Aquatic Centre



Making friends :)

Working time

On tv leading out the swimmers

Brownlee Brothers

Chris Hoy

Tom Daley

With the Paralympic Torch

Last photo - in The Mall for the Parade

Best times - she was 'living the dream'

I had some lovey gifts for my birthday - a lovely necklace and earring set from my hubby, my favourite wine from Michael, a Cath Kidston ipad case from Philippa, Cath Kidston scissors from Mum, a stitched oven mitt from Julie, a Les Miserables canvas picture from Adele, threads from Needlecraft Haven Birthday Thread Exchange, and so many other fabulous gifts. Thank you all so much, here's some photos:

All my pressies

Les Miserables canvas

Beautiful gift from Julie

I have had a lovely time but it was all tinged with sadness as I miss Dad terribly. It is easier but being my birthday made it much worse. he would have loved to have seen Philippa on tv and all her photos, but I guess there is always something you miss whenever time happens. I do miss him so very much.

Thanks for ready my news, thank you to all my friends for the wonderful cards and gifts - have a great autumn and happy stitching..

Thank you Dusty

Just before we went away Dusty sent me a surprise parcel just full of things for the stitch club at school. So much fabric and lot of mini ornament kits which the students will love doing - thank you  so much Dusty, you are so kind.

Gifts from Dusty

Dusty also included a gorgeous notebook for me along with some lovely charts - I felt very spoilt.

My gifts from Dusty

Here's my orts jar from August - it's fuller this year than ever which is a lovely feeling. Without the jar of orts I don't think I'd realise just how much I've done.

31st August orts

We are very proud today as Philippa starts her 10 days as a Games Maker volunteer at the Paralympics - she was very excited when they left yesterday. we're glued to the tv to see if we spot her. She did text to say she is looking after the swimmers accreditation whilst they are in the pool - top job :)

Thanks for visiting on this first day of September - wishing you a fab month - it is a good one ;)