It's such a joy to work with silver. Here's my little bauble charm which I'll finish tomorrow... It started life as a 0.8mm sheet of silver... Tad da!
Flipping heck...! I knew today was a day to stay in bed! So many unusual things have happened. Things that never happen and make today an extraordinary day. Hard hats on... Nerves on alert... it's Friday 30th January.
I think we all experience days when things don't go quite to plan. One incident, and we just ignore it. Two incidents and we begin to notice. Any more than two and it becomes a hard hat day
I started the day feeling lazy having woken up rather late. I'd kept the eiderdown on my bed which is like sleeping under a brick. I think it stops me from waking up, which has to be a good thing. I decided to cook the rhubarb that I bought this week. I trimmed, chopped and poached my plump, cherry red sticks of new season rhubarb until they were just soft. I added a little honey and a pile of plump cranberries, returned it to the heat to warm through then spooned into thick yoghurt. That was a nice surprise!
Work has been extremely demanding all week. I've even begun to count the emails I've sent, which isn't a good sign. I had my xmas tree recycling incident, which was a new experience. Then I filled my car with diesel and the cut off didn't work. I only realised when I noticed a puddle on the ground under my tyre and a pool of diesel running down the side of my car. I know it's cheaper than it was but hey, it's still not what I'd use to wash my car!
This evening I've booked into my hotel and I know the walls of most hotels are paper thin. That's why I choose ones with large chunky keys and thick walls! I've already been treated to the tv on one side and a phone alarm going off continuously on the other. It's a lovely place to stay so I hope it doesn't spoil my stay.
I've just finished dinner and a large table of lads from the private school down the road, celebrating a birthday, asked for the fire to be lit. The room gradually filled with smoke, to the point that they had to open the windows and I've come to sit in the coffee room. It's all good humoured here and not a problem but it does bring my total of incidents to +4.
Here's a quote from my horoscope for today...
" Problems provide purpose. We all know what we are supposed to be doing if we have a difficulty to resolve or an obstacle to get round. As long as we feel reasonably capable of rising to that challenge, we can take some pleasure in playing the role of a troubleshooter. "
Keep the challenges coming - there are still 4 hours to go!
Today, the bin men, who are clearly the refuse police, decided not to take my bits of xmas tree that I'd put out by my bin. They took everything else but deemed it not worthy to ride in their wagon - muppets!
It was the right day - tick! It was even green bin week - tick! But doh, I put the cut branches in black bin bags - bad girl! They could clearly see the pine needle clad branches trying to fight their way out of the bags. And the nobbly trunk wrapped up in plastic. What's a girl to do, I asked myself?
I decided it was time I found the local tip! I'm quite proud of myself because I've managed to avoid the experience the whole time I've lived here, a fact of which I'm constantly amazed. But today was going to be the day I gave in and used my lovely car as a skip!
I needed to find a recycling place that would take two big bags of branches and the 6 foot long trunk! I did my google homework and merrily drove to the local recycling centre only to find the postcode must have been wrong... How annoying! So I drove back into Nailsworth to have lunch and rethink my strategy. The nice girl in Hobbs explained that I hadn't driven far enough along the road so back I went until I found the tip and have safely deposited my tree down the Shute. The only signs of it now are the few pine needles left in the boot of my car which will no doubt hand about until next Xmas! Aw well, it was lovely while it lasted!
2014 was such a great year for so many reasons. There were goals, challenges, easy rides and hostile takeovers and all were managed with my usual aplomb! If I didn't enjoy them, I didn't let on. If I loved them, then everyone knew about it! Loving my life is my goal and although it's not always easy, I try my best. That's all I ask of myself..
Here are just a few of the many amazing highlights of 2014…
January brought new light to my home. I bought a Lee Broom bulb and I know it's not to everyone's taste but it fits mine perfectly. I love the crystal, the shape, the design.. and after just one year, I still love it as much as the very first time I saw it.
Too many to mention, I love attending live performances and this year I managed to cram in Swan Lake, Gary Barlow, Elvis tribute, Cirque De Soleil, Paul Hollywood, Malvern Quilt show, Strictly with the Stars, Athletics, Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Hucklow scrapping, and discovered Stourhead gardens.
I spent glorious days away with Mom on the edge of Dartmoor at Middle Hole farm, Cheltenham races, Ginger weekends filled with fun and fab food! Everyone needs a friend like Ginger to bring out the crazy in them ;)
I did try new stuff and went flying in a propellor glider with Gordon, saw Roberta Flack at Chelts Jazz festival, enrolled on a silversmith course and learnt how to play with silver to make beautiful rings.. oh, me, oh my..
I went with Mom to Wimbledon, arranged a family trip to Hampton Court Palace Flower Show, secret Sunday, dinner at Liz's, Wet. Wet, Wet at the races, NEC Quilt show, Cowslip studios...
I got some pampering at Malvern Spa, was waited on hand and foot by the wonderful Rachael and Greg on my visit to Hungary, had a most wonderful evening with Ginger at Giffords Circus, more pampering at Hoar Cross Hall, tapped my feet to Riverdance with Mom and had a brilliant time at Jeremy's birthday bash!
October is always one of my favourite months and this year was no exception. I saw Judy Dench, Alan Titchmarsh, wine lunches and had some wonderful adventures at the Lit Festival with the highlight being the poetry reading with Lewis and McCrory - awesome!
The big hitters for 2014 were Lady Gaga (who I've secretly wanted to see for ages! she didn't disappoint), saw the adorable Michael Buble, enjoyed more Hucklow, more Malvern and hid myself away at the amazingly, rejuvenating Dormy House Spa. I laughed at Fascinating Aida with Diane and Lisa, I had an intriguing evening with Gordon in Stow and enjoyed another wonderful Ginger weekend in County Durham.
December saw another fab holiday, this time at Otterton, with food from Darts Farm and walks along the beach at Budleigh Salterton. I went to the Good Food show, had a close encounter with the girl with the kitten and delighted in becoming an instant grandma x2! If nothing else happened in 2014 and I lay like a dormant lion for the remainder of the year, the little fact of my status being elevated to 'grandma' has to be the best thing that's happened to me in a long, long time!
Of course, there has to be a few disappointments, sad happenings and things that don't go to plan which in 2014 included a minor happening - the worst work xmas party EVER! And some much larger, more difficult occasions where I said goodbye to Uncle Vernon and in September, our little Wilf, who managed to touch so many people's lives at the tender age of just 3 years. He influenced us in ways we never imagined. He smiled through every minute of his short life and I have nothing but awe for his family. We all celebrated his amazing life and I am confident, his smile will be kept alive for many years to come.
And finally in December, with 25 wonderful advent gifts from Ginger to keep me smiling, I changed all my Xmas plans to look after my amazing Mother. It was tiring, it was tough, it was tinsel-less but I wouldn't change a thing. I have driven too many miles, drunk too much prosecco, spent far too much money on my chiropractor but it's all been worth it (so worth it!) and on the plus side, I am a few pounds lighter and looking forward to some hazy, lazy time in February when I can relax again.. that will be nice x
Posted with Blogsy