Pink Green

Camera angst...

I think I am missing my camera more than Andy this week! I have done several things that I wanted to share with you, plus scored some great thrift finds, but no images to share, so it won't mean much to you!  Unfortunately Andy also broke the cable for my laptop so I can't charge it, and consequently I am sat in the basement instead of in front of Family Guy (my latest 'must view') . He is really blotting his copybook at the moment, but he did say he would get a new one asap, so I suppose I will have to forgive him. I will have the camera back in time for my event of the year which is happening this Sunday - the Stroud Open Studios. I go every year with a good friend of mine, mainly to nosey around other people's houses, but also to get inspiration for being crafty. The year before last we went to an amazing house right in the town centre that I just fell in love with. It was in Country Living last year, but actually the pictures didn't do it justice. It was so beautiful I came away filled with longing to move to Stroud! I did some of the Cheltenham ones last year too, but they weren't as Bohemian as the Stroud ones. So, pics next week for you - hopefully.

I have been tagged by Hanne from the lovely Min Verden blog, so I will enthral you all with my answers, which will have to do instead of photos for now.

What was I doing 10 years ago?
I was on my honeymoon. We took the ferry to Cherbourg and drove down through Brittany, stopping at Barfleur, Vannes, Nantes, and La Rochelle (with a few other places along the way), and then had the second week in a gorgeous stone cottage by the river near Il d'Oleron. We went to Cognac and had a tour of the distilleries (and came back with several bottles), visited Il d'Oleron, St Jean d'Angely (which is the weirdest town I have ever been to - they had piped music playing through tannoys in the streets, but not a soul in sight - creepy), and many other towns and villages. We sat out every night playing cribbage and Scrabble, whilst drinking wine and watching the swallows dart in and out of the barn next door. Bliss.

5 Things on my to do list for today.
Well, as it is 9 pm I have done all the things on today's list (yeah, right), so I will list some for tomorrow instead.
1) Help Grace's class cook a 3 course Italian meal for all of the staff as part of Global Awareness Week
2) Build a compost bin with Sophie at the allotment from pallets donated to us by a local garden centre
3) Walk dog(s)
4) Deliver birthday cards to several friends (some of which are slightly late)
5) Drink champagne and eat cake with several friends here tomorrow night as a birthday celebration for one of them

To be honest, only 1, 3 and 5 are definites (although I may combine 3 and 4). I tend to write lists that would take even supermum a week, let alone a day, to complete, and then feel like a failure by the end of the day when I have only done 1 thing on the list. That isn't a complete list, but they are the more interesting bits. Cleaning the bathroom and doing washing doesn't make for an interesting read!!

Favourite Snacks
Anything food related. To narrow it down slightly, i'd have to say any Walker's Sensations crisps, Carrot Cake (with frosting), toasted pumpkin seeds, watermelon, hazlenut yogurt, and obviously any form of chocolate.

What would I do if I were a billionaire?
I'd buy a Georgian farmhouse with a walled vegetable garden, room for a goat or two (I've always wanted goats), a gypsy caravan for me to go and read in in the orchard, and a beach hut in Lyme Regis. Then I'd make sure my family were comfortable and split the rest between Cystic Fibrosis and MS charities. I wouldn't want to be a billionaire. I would like enough money to be comfortable and to help my family, but I am not very materialistic, and the thought of endless shopping does not fill me with joy.

Places I have lived.
Not a long list here. I lived in a small town in Leicestershire for my first 17 years, and then moved to Cheltenham and have been here ever since. I have had 6 different abodes in Cheltenham but only 1 in Leicestershire, and my parents still live in the house we grew up in. Not as exciting as some, but they have all been happy homes.

I can't think of anyone who hasn't done this tag, but if you haven't and want to then please do. If you are still reading and haven't dropped off due to boredom (and lack of pics - not that I am bitter) then I'd like to ask you all to name your favourite book of all time (mine is To The Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf).

Hope you enjoyed the brief glimpse of sunshine today.
Cathy xx

Home Alone...

...well, not quite - I still have 2 girls and 2 dogs to keep me company. Andy has gone away with work for the week (taking my our camera with him), so the next couple of posts could be short of a few pics. As to the 2 dogs, we have just taken delivery of the lovely Millie - formerly our dog and now the elderly companion of my parents. We got Millie when we first got married as Andy worked away and I was home alone every week. Unfortunately, being a very bonkers Springer Spaniel (and I know the breed are renowned for it, but she really wins top prize in the mental stakes), I couldn't cope with her plus Grace as a baby, with no husband during the week and a tiny house. My parents very kindly stepped in and took her (and used their own form of dog therapy to reign her in a bit), and she now comes back to us for holidays. We all love her very much (especially Bodie, who thinks his Christmases and Birthdays have all come at once), and she just adds to the general chaos that is our house!

Millie was born 10 years and one week ago, the week before we got married. Last Friday was our 10th wedding anniversary, and I can't believe how the time has flown by. We got married in the library here.

My dad gave me away, and my sister was chief bridesmaid, with my best friend's children as extra bridesmaids and an usher.  They were about the same age as my girls are now, and they now babysit for us. Scary. I was going to try to scan a photo in but couldn't get it to work (and my resident techie has buggered off on a jolly work related trip). Andy and I had our wedding night here,

in the Rothley Court Hotel before heading off on a touring holiday through France. It was bliss, and we'd love to recreate it one day (maybe even with the girls!). We don't usually bother with our anniversary, other than to give each other cards, but this year I had a gorgeous bouquet of cream roses (photo on camera in Andy's pocket!), and as Andy's parents were here for the week they took us out for lunch to a little Cotswold pub, which was lovely. Andy is having a day off when he gets back so we can go out somewhere together (alone!) to celebrate. I know it is a cliche, but he really is my soul mate and we are as happy (if not happier) now as when we first got married.

So, moving on from all that romantic mush, does anyone have any good recommendations for beaches to take dogs to? We are going camping several times over the Summer (weather permitting) and this will be our first time with Bodie. Any ideas gratefully received - we don't mind where we go as long as it is somewhere in England or Wales. Scotland a bit far to travel from here with a dog + children + me with my feet on the dashboard, as we always pack more than we need!

Well, hope you all enjoy the last day of the hols. Sorry for the lack of home grown pics - I'll make up for it next time!
Cathy XX

Family a go-go!

We seem to be having a bit of a family-fest in our house at the moment. Last week my gorgeous sister came to stay, on Friday my parents came for the day to pick her up, and then yesterday my in-laws arrived for a week (staying in a holiday cottage - more on that later). They leave on Saturday, which is the same day that Andy goes away for a week, and then my parents are returning for the day on Sunday to drop off their aged Springer Spaniel who is coming for her holidays while they jet off to sunnier climes. My sister may return shortly too - she is homeless at the moment having just bought a house with her boyfriend but the contract on their flat ran out before the moving in date for their house.

My family is the most important thing in my life - starting with my own little group (Andy, Grace, Ruth), and then widening out to my parents, sister, 2 elderly grandmothers, various aunts, uncles and 1 cousin, Andy's family, and friends who are so close that they may as well be family. I wish that my family lived nearer (my parents are 90 miles away in Leicestershire, and my sister lives in Newcastle), but we see each other fairly frequently and talk on the phone (my sis and I also text each other many times a day). Sometimes I feel I'd like to move away from Cheltenham to be nearer them all, but we are tied here forever due to Andy's job. There are worse places to live - Cheltenham is a beautiful town, and the countryside is never very far away. We have wonderful friends here, our allotment, a great school, a lovely house (and hopefully soon another even lovelier one!), we are within walking distance of the town centre, parks, even countryside if you don't mind a steep climb! If my family could move within a 30 mile radius it would be perfect.

So, my week with my sis went quickly. She is 5 years younger than me, and we hated each other as children, but she is the now person who knows me best (after Andy), and is one of the few people who can make me laugh until the tears pour down my cheeks. We had a lovely time pottering around town, going out for breakfast one day, lunch the next, trying out make up and perfume, chilling at home with wine in the garden at 4 in the afternoon, making a party tea for the girls after school one day, watching Family Guy, discussing our innermost secrets, sticking buttons on shoes.

It is real therapy when we get together, and I think we were both in need of fun as we have both had a rather hectic and stressful time recently. I feel refreshed and renewed and raring to go, and hope she does too.

One of the places that we visited was the Cath Kidston shop here in Cheltenham, which has started to sell a few vintage bits and bobs. I was amazed to see the very same Queen Anne tea set that I have listed on my website for sale for more than double the price I have listed it for - the cake plate, sugar bowl and milk jug alone were going for £30. They also had a pretty Royal Vale trio for £30 in the same pattern as one I have on the website for a third the price. I can't believe that people are prepared to pay such over-inflated prices just because it came from the Cath shop.

One of the other things I spent last week doing was wiping blood from the walls. Bodie is the happiest dog in the whole world, but unfortunately that means he wags his tail a lot. He split the end whilst doing some very vigorous wagging and then proceeded to splatter blood all over the walls in a 50cm swathe which spread all over the house. The kitchen looked like it had been the scene of a massacre of very short people, and my top tip to you all is to buy wipe-clean wallpaper (fortunately the green wallpaper in my hall is wipe-clean, which is just as well - red and green should never be seen, apparently!). So, several rude words later, this is what he looks like. I did some emergency veterinary nursing and bandaged the end of his tail with some tubular finger bandage and some micropore tape. The collar is to stop him pulling the bandage off. Does he look like a happy dog to you?

How about now?

And now?! We took the collar off once he forgot about his tail (he is a dog of very little brain), and took him to Andy's parents' holiday cottage. They have been coming to the same cottage for the last 13 years, twice a year, and it is like home from home now. It is a converted barn and looks out over the valley to the Malverns (couldn't get a good picture due to the rain and fog, but will try later in the week), with acres of land for walking. There is a pond at the foot of the hill and we decided it was time that Bodie learnt to swim. He is a labrador after all, and loves retrieving his ball, but water seems to worry him slightly. He doesn't like getting his feet wet in puddles so getting him into the pond was a major effort. We will persevere all week, but this wasn't bad for a first effort!

One of the benefits of having a husband who travels through work is that he brings home little gifts to make up for leaving me to sleep in the bed with clean sheets and no snoring, watching my programmes on the tv in peace, reading my book for more than 10 minutes in bed without being asked if I am turning the light out yet... (I do miss him when he's not here,, but the first night is always bliss!). This was this week's offering - a bar of expensive chocolate. It is probably the nicest chocolate I have ever tasted and I don't want it to ever end. Normally I wolf it down in one go, but I am savouring this one! Can't wait for the next trip!!

I hope you are all having a lovely long weekend and half term (if it applies to you). If not, I hope you are having fun whatever you are doing. Thank you all for your lovely comments - I am trying to go around all your blogs to leave reciprocal comments, so bear with me!

Cathy XX

What a week!

Well, actually a fortnight really. Last week I had a school trip to Cattle Country (not many cattle, but a nice day out - if a little stressful due to the over-enthusiasm of my charge), 2 days of interviewing for a new headteacher (which as Chair of Governors required much more from me than I thought), but then last Friday it was chill out time at the Malvern Spring Show. I went with Sophie straight after dropping the girls at school and we had a really self indulgent day browsing through show gardens, plant stalls, shopping opportunities aplenty, and a couple of ciders in the sun at lunchtime. We left at 6pm laden with plants and the biggest basket in the world that Sophie bought but which we both carried around for the last 2 hours to many laughs from bystanders. I was restrained in the plant department but got heaps of new ideas for my potential new garden (if we sell our house), and I did come home with the most amazing scented geraniums - rose, lemon, nutmeg and lemon sherbert. I know the leaves can be used to flavour sugar and other things so I am going to research that and will keep you posted!

This was my favourite show garden - I can just see myself sitting here with a gin and tonic!

I also liked this fairytale one. Again, note the bench. Essential. Purple and blue were obviously the in colours this year - they were everywhere. Chelsea starts tomorrow night so it will be interesting to see if that is the case there too.

This one even had a little steam train in it, but unfortunately my picture of it has someone's arm in it too.

This was in the floral marquee and was a huge trug based on the small one in the foreground. It had every herb under the sun in it and was my favourite display.

I also liked the Auriculas against the black - really striking.

So, onto this week...Monday, Wednesday, Friday and this morning were spent temping in the office where I worked before I had the girls, which is something I have done from time to time over the last 6 years, and is good for some quick and easy cash, and then Tuesday and Thursday were spent interviewing for new teachers in Reception and Year 1. I am getting to be a dab hand at interviewing, what with all this practice! I have also been out every night except last night (allotment, pub, book club, ladies night at school), so I am really looking forward to a quiet couple of days to recover. This may also explain my lack of blogging - I have barely had time to check emails this week, let alone thrill you all with tales and pictures!!

I have actually managed to create some things too (last week), and I finally got round to something that I have needed for ages. I love sitting up in bed reading, but it has to be bolt upright otherwise I fall asleep, but my shoulders get cold so I made a patchwork mini quilt/shawl to throw around my shoulders. Unfortunately it happened to be just before the hottest day of the year and I haven't had chance to use it yet. Typical. Still, maybe tonight's the night as it is freezing here today.

Before.

After.

I also made a flower brooch and some card decorations out of some fibres I bought at Art in Action near Oxford 2 years ago. It is a show where crafts people demonstrate their art, and is very inspiring. My friends' husband displays his students cabinetry there sometimes and got us tickets (I am hoping there may be some this year as it was fab - hint hint Stacey!). I used soluble plastic and sandwiched the fibres in between before machine sewing round the outline in silver thread. You then soak the plastic away and Bob's your uncle! My camera is playing up and I haven't got a photo of the after, but I am very pleased with it. I am often quite critical about my sewing, but I was really pleased with how this one turned out. I'll try to get a good pic soon.

I have a much less stressful week coming up. My sister is coming to stay on Monday for the week, and is coming on the Reception class school trip on Tuesday to the Farm Park (she must be mad!). We are then spending the rest of the week pottering, shopping, chatting and sorting out my stock. She has a lovely friend who has offered to sell my stock for me. She has had a few very successful parties before and says she loves doing it, so is going to try to sell as much as possible over the next few weeks. I honestly don't think I have the time to devote to it at the moment so this is great. I just need someone to volunteer to run the website now as well (fancy that too, Lucy?!!), and I can run my empire from the allotment kitchen!!

Sorry I haven't been leaving comments on all your posts - I turn away for a week and Bloglines has 350+ entries for me to work through. I try to read them all so it takes a while, but I am slowly catching up. I am with you all in spirit though!!

Hope you are all having a lovely weekend. Where has the sun gone? I may even light the fire tonight! I have 3 logs left and a bit of coal so I feel I should use it up now ready for next season. Whatever you are all up to I hope it is fun.

Cathy XX

Back in the swing of things!

I am back in blogging mode - 2 posts in a week! I finally cleared my bloglines backlog (although when I checked earlier it was back up to 25 already), and it is so nice to be back in contact with you all. Thank you for all your lovely messages welcoming me back - it is a bit nerve-wracking getting back into it as I wondered if you would all shun me for having deserted you for so long!

I had my first afternoon working in Ruth's class (Year 1) today which was fun, although I am still picking clay from underneath my finger nails. I am specifically helping with a little boy who has some fairly challenging behaviour, but I am also supporting the rest of the class. We are off on the class trip to 'Cattle Country' on Tuesday for the day, and I am keeping my fingers crossed for nice weather. It is only voluntary but it is brilliant experience and will help me either get a job or at least get on the NVQ course in September. Ruth seems to forget I'm there, and she is used to me being at school as I helped in her class last year too (I have done Reception class for over 3 years now).

I am waiting for the weather to pick up so I can go and check out my seeds at the allotment. There should be at least a few left after the birds and the mice have their fill - I always sow heaps with them in mind, and I am sure there will be weeds to deal with too. We have had 2 viewings on the house and have another one on Saturday so tomorrow will be spent tidying up - again. It seems to be never-ending. I have to admit I quite like my new stream-lined house, but you could still hardly class it as minimalist!

In a bid to clear the clutter I am putting some of my treasures on my website over the next week or two. I do find it hard to part with them all, but it does mean that I am creating space and cash to do it all again! I spent this morning taking photos of china in the brief moments that the sun shined, and have uploaded some of them. Please pop over to www.pinkgreencreations.com and see if anything takes your fancy. Don't forget that there is always free postage and packing within the UK. I am planning to put some more bits and bobs on, including some fabric (if I can bear to part with it) shortly.

My website has unfortunately but unavoidably taken a backseat over the last few months, but I am hoping to kick start it again and get change a few things too along the way. I have so many ideas in my head, but finding the time to translate them onto fabric and then cyberspace is proving tricky. I will persevere though. I love to sew, but I also love shopping, so I am going to be adding more vintage bits too. I have a friend who runs a jewellery business and I am going to get some sparkly bits from her to add to it too. It is all exciting, and I am fired up with enthusiasm again. Watch this space!!!

I must send a great big thank you to Driftwood for her amazing rhubarb cake recipe - I may never make another sort again. It was delicious (eaten before I could get the camera out!), and was a fab way of using up some of the mass of rhubarb that we have at the allotment. Sophie and I both pick heaps every time we go, but we can't keep on top of it all! I used to love dipping a stalk of rhubarb into an egg cup of sugar when I was a child, but my girls aren't keen. They eat most things spicy or strong tasting, but they aren't keen on sour. Andy and I are doing our best to plough through it all and I am going to give some away to friends (not on the blog though - it doesn't travel well!).

I haven't forgotten about my pay it forward pledge, and I will endeavour to get something out soon. Next week may not be the week, but hopefully it will be in the not too distant future! Now I'm not in paid employment at school I am back as Chair of Governors (I couldn't do both at the same time), and I am involved in interviews next Weds and Thurs, and then on Friday Sophie and I are going to the Malvern Spring Gardening Show. I went once with Andy and the girls and it was fab, so I am really excited about going again (this time without children so I can really explore the floral marquee without being covered in ice cream, as I was last time!). So, what with the school trip on Tuesday, next week is a write-off!

Hope you are all sunny, cheerful, and looking forward to the long weekend (for those of you in the UK), and the normal weekend (for the rest of you!).

Cathy XX

What a difference a day makes...

...well, 92 actually. It is 92 days since my last post, which I am heartily ashamed of. Thank you to all those lovely people who emailed me in the meantime and asked when I would return. So much has happened since the 27th January (my last post) that I don't know where to begin.

(Random lilac photo - the whole house smells of it)

I ended up working for the whole of last term in the Reception class, which I loved so much. I was really sad to leave, but am still going in on Tuesdays to help out, and as from this week will be volunteering in Year 1 (Ruth's class) for 2 afternoons a week too.

So, that's work out of the way. What else can I tell you about? Well, firstly (and most excitingly) we have our house on the market and we are hopefully moving. We have been in this house for 7 years and I love it wholeheartedly, but we have outgrown it - especially since Bodie arrived. The garden is tiny, but we have found somewhere we all love, within a 5 minute walk from here, with masses of outdoor space (I am checking out chicken coups already!), and more room inside to boot. It is the perfect house for us, is a private sale as it is owned by friends, and will hopefully be our home until the girls move out. We just need to sell ours now! So, I have frantically been decluttering (our playhouse now houses 2 boxes of china amongst other things!), and we had the bathroom and kitchen decorated and retiled. I have tried to go for the paler pieces to make everything seem bright and cheerful (as you can see from the before and after pics!). The walls are a much paler green too. So, if you know of anyone who wants to buy a pretty Victorian terrace within 5 minutes walk of Cheltenham town centre, please send them my way!

Before

After

I haven't really had time or energy to be creative, although I did make this candelabra based on one in the Spring edition of Marie Claire Idees, and 2 little bunnies for the girls for Easter. They always get masses of chocolate (which I end up stealing when they are in bed) and so these were instead of an egg from us. I also bought them a bird each from the RSPB which chirps the song of each bird - in this case a Bullfinch and a Chaffinch. Needless to say they much preferred those to the handmade bunnies. Note to self - next time only give handmade!

Spring has finally sprung and that means hard work at the allotment. Sophie and I have been there heaps over the last few weeks digging and sowing, and it is looking really good (although mainly bare earth at the mo - still waiting for seeds to germinate!). We are eating huge amounts of purple sprouting broccoli and rhubarb, and the asparagus is just beginning to come through. We went to a car boot sale last week and found the most perfect 1950s kitchen cupboard, which we both immediately fell in love with. After a battle fitting it into the car (with the 2 kitchen chairs that Sophie bought and the biggest picture in the world that I bought, and all the traders laughing their heads off at us) we took it to the allotment, only to find it wouldn't go through the shed door. We ended up sawing the bottom plinth off, and it now graces our 'social shed' (as opposed to the 'tool shed' at the other end of the allotment), and houses our stove and other kitchen essentials. This is my beautiful friend Sophie putting it to the test.

The jumping up and down shrieking when we managed to get it set up brought bemused smiles from the flat-cap brigade (who think we are bonkers anyway), but it was worth it. As Sophie said, all we need now are a couple of sunbeds and we'll be set. Not sure Andy and Greg (Sophie's hubby) will let us spend so much time there if they think we are sunbathing rather than working!

So a brief run down of some other things that have happened in the last 92 days...
    Holiday in Northumberland with my Mum and Dad, sister and her boyfriend in Feb
    Holiday in Cornwall at Andy's parent's house over Spring holiday
    Grace was in the inter-school Wildlife quiz and got heaps of questions right, despite being the youngest there by miles
    We discovered the joys of orienteering last weekend with Greg (a seasoned orienteerer), and even Bodie enjoyed himself, despite copious amounts of mud
    Grace has started piano lessons
    I have summoned up the courage to drive again (having not driven since I passed my test 8 years ago)
    My sis and her boyf are buying their first house
    Ruth has decided to be 'grown up' and not have tantrums (we'll see!)
    Bodie has escaped over the wall and upset the neighbours, who thought he was going to kill their toddler (who was inside with the door shut). You don't hear of many vicious labradors, but he may have licked it to death.

So, now I am back on track with the house, jobs, washing, allotment and school I will endeavour to update this blog a little more frequently. I hope you can all forgive me for deserting you. I have been checking in on your exploits (although I have got 1600 or so entries on Bloglines still unread at the mo), and will be a much better blogging friend in the future!

Happy Monday
Cathy X

PS If anyone has any rhubarb recipes I'd be very grateful. I am going to make chutney today, but we are sick of crumble and compote!

Spring is in the air!

I know it is only January and we are likely to get blizzards and frosty mornings for at least another 2 months, but this weekend has been filled with the promise of things to come. The sun has shone and the birds are singing. Bulbs are popping up and my lawn is filled with crocuses (I didn't take a picture as it is also filled with holes where Bodie had a go at digging them up!). I did take a picture of these though. I love the smell when they open up, and it always reminds me of my Grandma.

I am sat here by the fire with a glass of wine (having completed the biggest pile of ironing I've ever seen), while the girls are diligently tidying their bedrooms and Andy is in the kitchen cooking Pheasant with Chorizo and Butter Beans from yesterday's Guardian. Bliss. Actually the girls are arguing over who is most responsible for the mess, and if they spent as much time tidying as they have bickering the whole house would be immaculate, but that's just a small point! Other than that it is bliss!

I am still loving my new job, and will be really sad when the woman I am covering for comes back. I lost 3lbs in the first week, and could do with her staying off until I have lost 2 stone, but that may take a while! I am really feeling a sense of achievement and purpose at the end of every day and I am surprising myself at how organised I am. I am not usually very organised and life tends to be a bit chaotic and haphazard, but I do generally like that way of living. I am enjoying the structure now though and knowing what is happening when. The house is a bit of a pickle and I am missing popping into town for coffee with friends or time in my sewing room, but it is a small price to pay and I am having to go to the pub in the evening with friends instead! Shame!

I went too a car boot this morning with my friend Sophie (who wasn't put off by our last visit, which was her first ever). It was quite disappointing today though as there were almost too many sellers and we lost the will to live about half way round. Some of the things I liked were hugely expensive too - including a small tin of buttons and sewing bits and bobs for £10 I bought one twice the size filled with masses of stuff for £2 a few weeks ago, so I left it there. I did get a few treasures, but not my usual stash, but we had fun nevertheless.

I know I am excited about Spring, but this tablecloth was too good to pass up, especially at 20p!

One for Grace - our very own naturalist (or naturist as she said she wanted to be when she grows up! I think she meant naturalist).

A lovely box full of crochet hooks and some lace,

You can't tell from my awful picture, but this dish is a really pretty shade of green, and I love the shape of it. I also picked up some linens and a cut glass candlestick. So, not a total disaster.

I came home from work on Friday to find a parcel from Cath Kidston on my doorstep containing a toadstool pincushion. I was rather surprised, as I hadn't ordered it, but it turns out it was part of my Christmas present from my Aunt, which was delayed in the post. It goes with my lovely knitting bag which arrived before Christmas, and is now keeping my current project safe (an iPod cover in the green wool you can see popping out of the top). It is taking a while as I am too tired in the evenings and am not quite at the stage where I can do it whilst watching TV! I will get there in the end though!

I seem to be having a bit of a rush on Cath Kidston stuff at the moment. Aside from the knitting bag I also received this enormous travel bag from my parents, which I am looking forward to using when we go on holiday to Northumberland in 3 weeks time. My sister gave me some toiletries also for Christmas, and I treated myself to this writing set as I love writing letters, despite the advent of email, and nice writing paper is hard to come by.

My lovely friend Sophie went to the Cath Kidston outlet at Bicester a week or so ago, and brought these delights back for me too, so I have been well and truly spoilt. I feel guilty about liking CK stuff as I do think it is overpriced, and I do generally prefer things that are genuinely old, but I just can't help it. She does do things that are out of the ordinary, and the colours are bright and cheerful. Now we have a shop here in Cheltenham it is much more visible though, and she does seem to be taking over the world! I do like my gardening gloves, and they look good hanging by the back door ready for action!

Well, again I must apologise for not checking out your blogs. I know Jess at Lobster and Swan tagged me and I am trying (and failing) to think of 7 things that you don't know about me, but I will save that for another time. I have got over 500 entries to check out on Bloglines, and I feel bad for not replying to all your lovely comments, but blogging is one of the things to fall by the wayside at the moment. I promise that when this job ends (maybe at half term) I will leave long, thought-provoking messages on each and every one of your blogs! I also haven't forgotten about the pay it forward, but again it has been put on the back burner for a while. Sorry. Please forgive me and stick with me - as some bloke said in some film "I'll be back"!

Wishing you all a happy week...

Cathy XX

Tired but happy!

Just thought I'd say a quick hello. I haven't had time or energy for photos and anything creative, but I wanted to thank you all for your kind messages. I am having a ball at school and will be very sad when it comes to an end (it is probably only for this half term). The girls are really enjoying going to school early and helping sharpen the pencils, and keep being sent to my classroom by their teachers to show me work they've done. They are so enthusiastic and helpful, especially Grace who is dressed by 7.45 every morning and gives us a running commentary of how many minutes we have left until we need to leave the house. I am popping home for 15 minutes at lunchtime to feed Bodie and let him out, so it is just as well I only live a few minutes from the school.

The children in the class are all lovely (it is hard to find an unlovely 4 or 5 year old), and I feel I have made a good start to the job. No one has been sick, although several have fallen over, and I have even coped single handedly with 2 wet play lunchtimes. I am coming home every day feeling tired but happy, and I am even managing to keep the girls fed and clothed. I was in bed and asleep by 9.30 on Friday though!

Hope you are all having a good week. Sorry I haven't made it to your blogs this weekend to catch up on you all, but will try to fit it in one night this week.

Cathy XX

Busy Busy...

Good evening everyone. I hope you have all had a lovely restful weekend after all of the excesses of the last few weeks. I am in a mild panic about starting work properly tomorrow, so I thought I'd blog to take my mind off it! I shadowed the reception class TA on Friday and she is very organised and in control, but I think I will have to put my own (badly organised and not at all in control) stamp on the job for the next few weeks. I have been volunteering in the class for 1 day a week for the last 3 years so it isn't a total learning curve, but it will be a shock to the system. The most important thing is that I have established where the sick bags are and the nearest path to the sink just in case any of the little darlings come down with this terrible D&V bug that is shutting down the country.

I have actually had quite a productive weekend for once. Andy and Bodie went to help out with our friend Greg's night orienteering competition in the Forest of Dean, and was away all day, and the girls spent hours playing upstairs with their new toys - only popping down occasionally for refreshments, which meant that I could take down the Christmas tree and have a good clean through. I love putting the decorations up, but as soon as New Year is over I can't wait to get them down again. The house looked so tidy, and once the girls were in bed I sat in front of the fire just looking at how calm and relaxing it was. Just as well really. They've all been at home today so it is trashed again now, but it was nice while it lasted.

Sophie and I went to a car boot sale this morning, and it was Sophie's first ever visit to one. I think she will be back, although we have very different tastes and she was fairly tickled by some of my purchases...particularly this one.

I have been after a rug for our sitting room for ages, but they all seem too heavy, or the wrong colour, or too oriental in style. This one however was perfect. The duck egg blue matches the sofa and the red and green match the chair and curtains. The fact that it was £4 also helped me make up my mind! The fact that it is a little grubby and threadbare only adds to the charm in my opinion. Andy let out a huge sigh when I came home, but knows better than to get involved! As you can see, at least Bodie has taken to it. I also got a powder blue enamel saucepan (which I forgot to take a photo of) and a huge cream enamel bin with 'Dog' on the front which is perfect for Bodie's dog food (once it has been cleaned!).

A very kind lady gave me this magazine as she didn't have any change and I only had a £5 note. I love the picture on the front, and I am looking forward to reading it later.

I also topped up my growing collection of vintage treasures for my website. Andy spent a happy afternoon playing with the pop up light tent, and took some great photos for me, and I have just created a new Vintage category on my website and uploaded some of the bits and bobs. There are some tins, and some glass and china items. I have heaps more to do, and this is just a start, but please tell me what you think (and feel free to order too!). I just wanted to get a few new things on there as I am going to struggle to do much else new for the next few weeks. My website link is in the sidebar on the left. Alternatively, click here. Don't forget that all UK orders get free P&P.

Damn, I have just realised I have missed Sense and Sensibility. I can always catch it on replay, but I like the thought of snuggling up on a Sunday night with a period drama and a cuppa under the blanket. I did enjoy it last week, but I have a real soft spot for the Emma Thompson film version (despite having her in it) - not least because my Aunt sang the soundtrack. Did any of you watch Oliver Twist? I was so disappointed that it was on every night - there was no chance I could catch every episode over Christmas.  Sunday night is the rightful place for period drama!

Well, I'd better go and get clothes ready for tomorrow and plan the week's meals. Wish me luck for tomorrow (well actually, wish it for my 2 poor, soon to be neglected children, and the 29 children in Reception!). Thank you all for your Happy New Year messages and words of encouragement - you are a lovely bunch!

Cathy XX

Happy New Year!

I hope you all had a lovely festive season. I can't believe after all that planning and anticipation that it is all finished. I did enjoy the planning, preparation and cooking, and spent a happy hour or two decorating my cake on Christmas Eve.

We had such a lovely time. Christmas was spent here with Andy's parents, and then the day after they left we went to stay with my parents near Loughborough. My sister was there for part of it, but then left on New Years Eve for a romantic evening with her boyfriend (oh to be at that stage of a relationship!), and my Aunt, Uncle and cousin were over from Australia. We spent New Years Eve with them, my Grandma and some family friends and had a really great evening. Every year I promise that I am not going to start crying as Jools Holland counts down to midnight, but every year I fail and sob like a baby! My mum does it too - I'm a chip of the old block.

On New Years Day we went for a lovely but very muddy walk with my parents and some friends, and then went to the most amazing pub for lunch. We came home yesterday evening, so today is going to be spent finding homes for all our new toys, and ironing! The girls went back to school today, and for the first time ever I had to wake Grace up. She is a really early riser normally but today she was buried under her duvet snoring at 8.00!

So, what are your New Year's Resolutions? I have loads (and most of them are the same as last year!), but a choice few are:
    To lose weight
    To drive (I passed my test 8 years ago and haven't driven since)
    To sort out the bits of the house that bug me
    To make full use of my allotment
    To stay on top of the washing at all times!
There are many more, but the ones above are the ones I wanted to publish so that I have even more of an incentive to crack on with them!

I may not be blogging much for the next few weeks as I have got myself a job. As from tomorrow I will be working full time as a teaching assistant in the Reception class I currently help out in while the usual assistant has an operation. It could be for 6-8 weeks, and I can't wait. I have been thinking for a while about becoming a TA as I can't quite face the thought of doing a PGCE and becoming a teacher just yet. I am slightly worried that the girls may not get fed or clothed, and I have no idea how I will cope with full time - it is 8 years since I worked more than 2 days a week. Therefore blogging, crafting and my website will be taking a back seat for a few weeks. I will be back in proper operation after half term, all being well.

I had some lovely gifts, and will try to take photos to show you at the weekend. The girls had the Playmobil Victorian Mansion for Christmas - it used to belong to my best friend's children who are now well in their teens, but every bit looks brand new. Even the hundreds of flowers in the window boxes are all still there. Grace and Ruth have spent hours with it already, and I had great fun setting it all up on Christmas Eve. I just need to find somewhere to put it as it is in the middle of our dining table at the mo, and makes eating a bit of a struggle!

I'll leave you with a picture of my sister and my children with their other new toys!

I'll be checking up on you all soon, but please don't be offended if it isn't as often. I'll be back to normal soon!

Cathy X