Long time no see

I haven't blogged for a while - no real reason, time seems to be running away with me just lately. Anyway here's a quick update of what's been happening.

We took DS and DD tothe caravan over the half term. They took their girl/boy friends and Ruby came too lol. It was a car full but thankfully with having three bedrooms the caravan was big enough. DD's boyfriend did have to block the way to the lounge at night so he could sleep on the sofa without Ruby dive bombing him in the night hee hee. Here's a few photos:

Me and Ruby, Michael & Amii, Kieran and Philly

Philly and Kieran on the Estuary Walk

Amii and Michael at Aberwstwyth Castle

Ruby having a dig

Me and Nick having a go at Just Dance on the Wii - it was so funny.

Well that's about it - I have no more news apart from I have finished my part of Jaclyn's Round Robin - the next posting is Saturday so I'll soon have another piece to work on.

I have set myself a rotation as I don't seem to be doing much (not just stitching). Hopefully this will help:

Monday - Symmetry stitching (ornaments for my tree at church)

Tuesday - Slimming World and reading the latest book I have on the go

Wednesday - Little House Needleworks (I'm still on the Pears lol)

Thursday - Bible Study

Friday - Round Robin and blog update

Saturday - Round Robin

Sunday - whatever I fancy (and yes I know St George isn't on here but he may be the occassional Sunday)

So that's all from me for now, thanks for popping by.

London and Mardi Gras

What a fabulous day we had yesterday in London! Philippa was dancing at the Royal Albert Hall in Mardi Gras. It was a long day - here's what we got up to :)

4.30 alarm :( up and ready - Philly had a whole days worth packed lunch with just a few treats. The coaches picked us up from Nuneaton Dancecentre with all the girls (and one lad) one one coach and the parents on the second. It was an early start and we did have a breakfast stop but we arrived at the Royal Albert Hall at 9am.

The dance team were spending the whole day there, rehearsing their routines, getting used to the larger stage (it was huge compared to their dance school floor - and round not square) and learning the two finale songs and dances. There were 24 dance schools taking part with most being at least 40 strong - you can image the noise and atmosphere in there all day :)

Nick and I went off round London. We walked through Hyde Park and were lucky enough to pass the Knightsbridge Barracks where the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment (HCMR) are based, and they were just leaving to parade to Buckingham Palace for the Changing of the Guard. The horses were stunning, jet black and so well groomed they shone.

We walked to Hyde Park Corner and over to The Dorchester hotel - it always looks stunning and at the moment has yellow and white window canopies which were matched to yellow and white flowers in the garden - stunning. To add to the sight were two elephants - in fact we saw lots of these around London. They are for sale by auction in aid of the Elephant Charity, so clever and such a great fundraising idea.

Nick and I carried on to the British Museum where we spent a few hours looking at the finds such as Sutton Hoo.We then walked on to Holbrn and had a lovely lunch at Cafe Rouge - I had a huge bowl of mussels, so yummy. They were very good, the food arrived at just the right moment so we had a leisurely lunch, not rushed but not left waiting. To be honest I could have sat there all day :)

More walking - this time to Doggetts Coat and Badge, our favourite pub right on the Thames next to Blackfriars Bridge. We spent a nice hour or so enjoying a bottleof wine - good job too as it was pouring down outside lol.We took the Tube back to the Albert Hall - good job as we'd walked over 5 miles already, and just as we got off the Tube my left ankle went. It's a bit painful but not too bad.

After a wonderful day things could nto get better BUT they did - we had bought tickets in the circle which is the fourth floor up. When we gave the tickets to the theatre man he asked if we were just two, and when I said yes he said would we likeot be upgraded to better seats and gae us tickets for the stalls. We went downstairs not sure what was happening,only to find ourselves right by the dance floor in Row 7. I have no idea why we got the tickets but they were perfect.

The inside was huge but the centre area was smaller than we'dimagined. It is certainly a feat when they do the Remembrance Night there. Anyway the show was the perfect endto a perfect day.Nick Greenshields was the compare and he wasso kind to all the youngsters, telling them his background and being really encouraging. He is even going to try to get a grant sorted for an 18 year old who sang for her dance group - she has a place at a top London college but has no grant so cannot go, he promised to try to find some help for her.

There were 24 danceschools - 12 in each half. Philippa's team danced 10th. There were 1700 dancers altogether and they were all on stage at theh end of Act One and again Act Two. Here are the photos:

We should have been right at the top of this picture, above the lights - yes really that high - and look where we were.

The spotlight fell just on Philippa :) but allthe team were fantastic.

And her teams' finish ....... she finished right in front of us - what a night (God moves in mysterious ways), I love this photo, she is looking straight at us with a huge smile :)

Nuneaton Dancecentre Team - aren't they fabulous :)

This is the Finale - they all danced together, all 1700 of them.

We all had a fabulous day - and arrived home about 1am. We've all had today off which I think was a good idea as Philippa has her exams soon. To everyone who was involved yesterday, the Dance School, the coach company, everyone in London, all the dancers who performed and especially to Philippa "Thank You" I had an amazing time.

Over one in Wales :)

We have been to our caravan for the Bank Holiday weekend. It was surprisingly quiet, not many people around at all. The weather was good but such a cold wind. We have a long horse lead which we use to take Ruby on the beach for a run, you can see how much she enjoys it (sorry about my fashion sense lol)

On Friday I did the MS Society Cake Bake at school for the staff as it was our teacher training day. All last week I baked a few cakes each night. They looked great all laid out but they didn't last long.

Thanks to my brilliant colleagues I raised £80 - thanks everyone it was a fab day :)

Over the weekend I have done some stitching. I have taken part in the GOS Challenge #6. I did not have a varigated red thread so used a dinky dyes pink. I stitched it over one and made a scissor fob. I did not have any stuffing at the caravan so used a bit of rice lol. (sorry Blogger has turned my photo again - one day I'll work out why - I've tried everything both on the camera and the pc lol)

I don't think I've anymore news although I do have the feeling there is something I forgot.... oh yes just another photo of Ruby enjoying the garden sun - well a bone actually.

Thanks for sharing my news - happy blogging and stitching x x

Great Meet Up at Nuneaton

Wow what a fabulous day - 13 of my friends joined me in Nuneaton for another Meet Up. We meet at my school in the library which is a brilliant room for stitching, so light and airy, in fact we had natural light all day, I did not put any of the lights on.

Some of my friends are staying locally in hotels, some are travelling home by train and some are driving. It's a great day and so exciting when everyoine travels over - some from quite a long way. After the Meet Up we went to a local pub and had a three course carvery, for £3.50 (yes honestly) and it's always delicious.

Here we all are busy stitching away :) and we are Kathy, Paula, Lynn, Julie, Maggie, Joyce, Hazel, Tracy, Chris, Tina, Lynn, Vicki and Angie.

This is the exchange bag I put together and Lynn won. We played a "right/left" game to swap bags which was very funny and revealed some right left problems LOL

And this is the chart I won in the exchange from Paula - thanks I love it :)

There were so many gorgeous piece sof work displayed around, this is my display which includes Lynn's RR - she was surprised when she spotted it hee hee

and finally this is the Important bookmark kit I put together for the day. It is now release for sale to raise money for my charities on Aimetu's Stitchery. With the raffle and the kits I sold I have been able to add another £40 to the charity pot - thank you everyone :) 

I have had a fabulous day - I'm so looking forward to the next one in the Autumn - thank you :)

Friends, Decorating and Les Mis :)

This Saturday is the meet up in Nuneaton, it is open to everyone but is mainly friends from Stitch and Stash. If anyone would like to join us you would be very welcome, any questions please email me clare@hearnden98.freeserve.co.uk. Nuneaton is in the Midlands and has a trainlink to Birmingham, Leicester and Coventry (lifts from the station are not a problem). We are also close to the M1, M6 and M69.

I love these days - we all bring finished items to look at; wip's to work on (if we stop chatting long enough); and swaps and sells.This year we are going to do the bookmark I designed as an afternoon SAL. Somepeople do stay for the weekend and after the meetup we go out for a pub meal. I am really looking forward to seeing all my stitching friends again:)

The decorating is finally finished - phew.It was a huge job, much more than I had thought. I did struggle with it, I don't think I have the strength I had before. The painting in the hall,stairs and landing was not hard but there was so much of it. The emptying of the lounge was a huge task. We have four bookcase size units that we had to empty, remove the shelves and glass doors, move into the conservatory, replace the shelves, books and ornaments and the doors. It took ages.

The new carpet does look good, we're really pleased with it - just waiting for the new sofas now. The old lounge carpet looks great on the stairs and it saved quite a bit of money reusing it. My house looks clean and tidy again - I think the ripped mucky stair carpet made everything lookdrab and because I had given up with it I was a bit light with the rest of the cleaning lol. (Ruby wanted to be in both photos, she ran to the stairs when I went to take it lol)

I was amazed to see my stitching in the top 5 in the GOS Challenge 5#. I had stitched this really quickly and the finish was not as good as I had hoped. The stitching in the challenge was amazing, well done everyone.

My own stitching is very hit and  miss - I am finding I am too tired at night and drop asleep mid-stitch sometimes. I used to stitch first thing in the morning but it's not so easy now we have Ruby and I am finding my eye sight is taking a while before it's ok enough to stitch early. I am very very lucky with my MS - I still have a full time job, I am active in my life and I feel ok (not great but ok). However I am noticing how much weaker my body is becoming. The decorating was a bit of an eye opener for me, and everything seems to take me longer. I am also finding that when I've been busy I am affected by the confusion side of MS and some nights after tea I just sit and stare at the tv but I'm not really taking it in.The hardest thing is MS is an inside problem. No-one can see how I feel, how fatigued I am (it's different to being tired), how I  struggle to find the words to make my speech work (quite a challenge some days when teaching - the kids just think Miss pauses a lot to make a point lol), how I look at something a few seconds before it registers. I seem to be affected by the emotional side of the condition more than visable physical problems - so outwardly I look like I am ok and am managing really well lol ---- good job I'm not a seahorse with my insides outside - I'm thinking it would look very messy :)

So carrying the emotional theme .....Les Misreables ..... I was blown away. I love thismusical, I amconvinced I was French in a previous life and all the characters in this touch me in various ways. The music is so stirring, the emotion of the characters, the actual story (Victor Hugo was certainly a great writer) and the fact that people are performing live right in front of me.

We met some of my colleagues at the station and travelled to Birmingham where we met the others (20 of us in total) for a drink before going to the matinee performance. I had put together a theatre pack for everyone - tissues, chocolate and a  lolly.Some people had not seem Les Mis before and asked if it was a weepy hee hee well it is for me, two notes in and tears are rolling. I used 12 tissues in all and I think most of us had a few watery moments (or goosebumps as the chaps wouldn't possible cry now would they, wink, wink). All the performers were brilliant, Gareth Gates was amazing.

Afterwards we went to the Big Wok for a chinese buffet. There was so much food, not good for my Slimming World - which I am going back to tonight although I know I have put quite a few pounds back on. We were all tired but smiling on the train back, and we were very good and did not sing lol

Finally this is my TUSAL jar - I have no idea when it's supposed to be shown as I have not kept up with any of my other blogs - something I must do soon. My jar is growing so I must be doing some stitching lol.

That's about all my news for now, thanks for visiting, I hope everyone is enjoying the sunny weather we are having.

To everyone coming on Saturday - see you soon, I'm so looking forward to it :)

Competition - New Design - Holiday News

Well I have loads toblog about tonight - but first here's a reminder aboutmy competition:

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As you know I don't stitch every night as I am so tired. I have done no stitching, or any other craft, on 27days so far this year so my question is ...

How many non-crafting days will I have by December 31st 2010?

Just add your guess to a reply to this post. All votes must be in by October 31st.

Reveal day will be January 1st 2011 and I will put together a little parcel of goodies for the winner.

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I am going to try to have a panel at the side of my blog showing everyone's entries. Just need some time to sit and play with it. Please let all your friends know - the more entries the merrier, thanks :)

My Happy Dance is very very special - whilst at the caravan I designed my first cross stitch bookmark. It's a saying that is very close to my heart. I willbe offering this as a SAL at the Nuneaton Meet Up on 24th April.

I've called it "Importance" and stitched it on 16ct Aida band using DMC 469, 602, 676 and 936.

I have nearly finished charting it up and will be offering it for sale as a chart or as a kit - released Sunday 25th April. All profits will go to my charities fund at Aimetu's Stitchery I have just given St Cadfan's Church another £25 so many thanks to everyone who has bought my charts and cards :)

Just before we went away I entered the GOS Challenge #5. I had decided Ineeded a recipe scrapbook and had a lovely hard backed book but did not like the centre piece (it just said "All about me"). I stitched the challenge design using;

 Fabric = 28 count Permin(Wichelt) Linen in Prairie Grain

Floss =DMC Rayon in 33608, 30211and 30932

 

I spent a lovely afternoon at the caravan cutting up my cooking magazines and sticking my recipes in :) I have covered it in sticky back plastic to prevent it getting messy in the kitchen.

We had a lovely time in Wales - the weather was a little damp the first few days but soon turned to glorious sunshine. Monday was the huge street market that happens every year so church was open for tea and coffee.I did 2 hours clearing away and drying up and made a chocolate cake too. We do have a good time, lots of nattering and it's good to catch upon Welsh life. I've popped my name down for the next Bank Holiday Monday too.

We did sometravelling around - my favourite trip was to Barmouth. We park at Morfa Mawddach and walk ove rthe Barmouth Bridge - it's about a mile but the views are stunning. This is me and Ruby onthe way back.

We even managed to see the dolphins in the bay on Saturday.Unfortunately I did not get any photos of them but plenty of us watching - hee hee

They are doing a lot of work on the sea defences. It's quite nice to walk down the promenade everyday to watch them. They do make a lot of noise though, a bit like huge dinosaurs and because they work by the tide they were working through the night, bit weird hearing lots of moaning and groaning all night ;)

I made quite few goodies for the caravan - and consequencely have put on a few pounds. I'm back on track now so will soon be losing the extra. I've blogged about the food in my Fantastic Food

I think that's all for now - I'm sure I missed something but it's getting late so I will close and blog another time. Thanks for popping by to read my news :)

HD and a competition

I have just finished Lynn's RR - Stitch and Stash Round Robin. Her theme is butterlies and I chose to do the lilac one - it was lovely to work on.

and this is it so far - it's off to America next for Dusty to stitch on :)

I bought a new book and have made some fab bread - you can read about it in my Food blog. I won't be making it too often as it's not good for my Slimming World - and I have not been very good lately :(

I spent today sugar soaping the hall, stairs and landing ready to paint tomorrow. It took ages as there are 8 doors, all the surroundings, skirting and bannister spindles. I managed to get the panelling on the landing done but not down the stairs so that will be my first job tomorrow. Ruby is going to the kennels for a few days so I can get it painted, the main problem with her here is leaving the bedroom doors open as she likes to sneak under the beds and pinch things - especially DD's cuddly toys.

I have my large knitting needles so might do the tension square tonight on my new cardigan - it's a free pattern from Prima. The wool is not the one to use so I'm not sure if it will work or not.

The spring flowers are just poking through in the garden, another couple of weeks and it should be full of flowers. The rest of the garden (and we don't have much)  is still mud but once the other plants come through ti soon fills up.

And now for my competition 

 As you know I don't stitch every night as I am so tired. I have done no stitching, or any other craft,  on 27days so far this year so my question is ...

How many non-crafting days will I have by December 31st 2010?

Just add your guess to a reply to this post. All votes must be in by October 31st.

Reveal day will be January 1st 2011 and I will put together a little parcel of goodies for the winner.

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Good luck and happy stitching everyone :)