22nd - 28th October

This week I have been

Dancing - to the Bay City Rollers.

Well these days the only original Roller in the band is lead singer Les McKeown.

I went to see them on S A T U R D A Y night (if you know their songs you'll know why I spelled it that way!) with my sisters, it was part of their birthday gift to me.

I had an amazing time.

To be dancing away to all my favourite songs whilst Les McKeown was on stage singing them was just the best.

I was lucky enough to find this fabulous transfer on E-bay which made just the most perfect t-shirt.

Making - a new necklace. This was an illustration from the front of a vintage sewing pattern. I just love her hairstyle.

Wearing - it was Pumpkin Day on Friday and so there was only one choice of brooch.

Eating - to carry on with the pumpkin theme I made us pumpkin pancakes for breakfast. S wasn't keen but G and I enjoyed ours with yogurt, fruit and a drizzle of maple syrup. Delicious and really filling.

Reading - a Christmas book. Saturday afternoon I was in the mood for something festive. I had a few books on my shelf to choose from and went for this one as it looked like a short read. It certainly was as I finished it on Sunday afternoon. By this time I had been out and bought myself another new Christmas mug, it was only 50p from a charity shop so how could I have resisted?

Watching - The Bishop's Wife. It was Elsa Lanchester's birthday on 28th October which provided us with the perfect opportunity for another viewing of this superb movie.


Celebrating - my sister's birthday on 24th. She knew about two of the items of clothing as she had chosen those herself but everything else was a surprise. As you probably remember we spend £10 and all items must come from a car boot or charity shop.
All of these items come to £9.97 in total.
The mug, Gisela Graham mini heart dish and the cupcake decoration were all £1 each. The coaster, cushion cover and paper decorations were 50p each.

This long length grey and pink cardi which originally came from New Look was £1 and was one of the things C has picked out.

The hand made top on the left was one of my favourite buys for her, it reminded me of a gingerbread house! This was £1.

The plain grey jumper was the second item she had chosen and was 50p.

The red glass dish was 50p.

The snowflake jumper was £1, the book was 10p, the jug was 50p and the white deer brooch was new and 87p.

15th - 21st October

This week I have been

Wearing - a little blue combo of a crown patterned top and a bunting strewn cardigan after the pregnancy of the Duchess of Sussex was announced.

Feeling - a little blue at times too. Wednesday was the birthday of T's brother L who passed away a couple of years ago. When the children were little this would have meant a day trip to London for us all to catch up. Now being older and mobile T drove himself up to Norwich, staying for two nights to see his birth siblings and spend time with them.


Trying - not to succumb to the temptation of snuffling a cake (or two) on Chocolate Cupcake day and so deciding to go down the brooch route instead.

Grateful for - the comments left on my last post which contained messages hoping we were all over our various bugs. Much appreciated.

Watching - The Marvelous Mrs Maisel. G and I have watched 3 episodes of this so far and we are hooked. It's written by the creators of The Gilmore Girls and I loved that long series so it's really no surprise we are enjoying this one.
Rocky adores Graham and ignores me most of the time, but whilst we were watching this TV show last night it seems my lap was the spot he preferred. Look at the size of his feet!

Eating -  steak and chips. Can't remember the last time I ate steak. We are lucky enough to work near some fab bars and restaurants and so a little gathering was organised for after work midweek. What a treat. 

Loving -  this late Autumn sunshine. To make the most of it the 3 of us took ourselves out for a walk on Saturday.
We took the train to Shawford and then walked the 3 miles along the Itchen Navigation trail into Winchester.

Over the years we had done various sections of this trail, which takes you past some beautiful river views, 

and this time we also took in St Catherine's hill. A walk up the hill is on the agenda for another day.

Hoping -  for a little colour in the front garden come the colder months after I potted up this colander and a terracotta planter with winter pansies. 

Classic

Tuesday was Teddy Bear Picnic Day.

Now you know that I don't need much of an excuse for a picnic, especially as we've been having perfect picnic weather.

As there wasn't time on Tuesday to go out somewhere and eat we ate our picnic indoors instead.

The reason we couldn't have a lazy picnic in the park was because we were going to our last therapy appointment.

As a family we have gained so much from these sessions and S in particular has learned a great deal.

It's been a very enriching experience and I'm heartily glad we did it together.

Wednesday 11th 1960 was the date To Kill A Mickingbird was first published.

G has read the book and it's sat on our bookshelves for a couple of years waiting for me to pick it up and read it too.

So yesterday I made a start, when I just couldn't bear watching anymore of the England football semi final.

Back in the early 1990s I worked for the china specialists Wedgwood. I loved selling such beautiful items, although I didn't enjoy constantly dusting the shelf displays.

I can't quite remember what the occasion was but the company gave each member of staff a piece of Jasper jewellery as a thank you gift.

The firm's founder Josiah Wedgwood  was born on 12th July and so today I wore the necklace I had been given.

However there is another occasion on 12th July which is closer to home and much more important, our 21st wedding anniversary.

End of June

A round up of the final week from June.

Nothing sounds like more like the 1980s for me than Wham! so on what would have been George Michael's 55th birthday I made mini Careless Wispa chocolate cheesecakes.

This was followed by Chocolate Pudding Day on 26th. I have a ton of recipes I could have baked but I had no inclination to stand in a hot kitchen so cheated and went for the simple and cooler option in the form of this yogurt. It was very tasty and is something which will now be a regular feature in our shopping basket.

I have used my mini sunglasses brooch in my daily activities on a previous occasion but it is too cute not to have worn for Sunglasses Day.  Due to this I also marked Pineapple Day on 27th by switching my phone case to this new one which is suitably tropical for the day and the weather.

We stay with the accessories for the next two days.
Are You Being Served's John Inman was born on 28th June and his character was often seen sporting a tape machine around his neck, ready to whip off for a bit of inside leg measurement taking!

Camera Day was on Friday 29th. I still remember how excited I was to receive my very first camera as a birthday present. It was a Halina camera with a great big green button on the top to press when taking the photo and when you wanted to take a photo with a flash you had to attach the bulb separately.

G was away at a music festival this weekend and I had ordered this movie to settle down and watch on Saturday night to mark the birthday of Susan Hayward. It didn't arrive in time so maybe we'll end up watching it together at some point soon.

Rest of May and the Start of June

Paper Airplane Day was last weekend, 26th May to be precise.

S was away on a school trip, having a wonderful in Paris, and so it wasn't until midway through this week we set about playing a target practice game with planes G talked us through folding into shape.

Tuesday was Biscuit Day and so there was only one choice of brooch, it had to be my jammie dodger.

Quite a while ago I found the most perfect accessory to wear to mark the anniversary, of when the Great Clock on the Elizabeth Tower first started to work, 31st May 1859. This was originally a pendant on quite a long chunky chain which I wasn't keen on. I asked G to do a little work on it so I could wear it as a brooch instead. Unfortunately I asked too late and so the brooch back I had stuck on the back didn't have long enough to set. Never mind.

I can't believe we are going to be turning over the calendar to June tomorrow!
In the evening I shall be watching Some Like It Hot for many reasons.
1st June is Marilyn Monroe's birthday, the 3rd June is the birthday of her co-star Tony Curtis and later on in the month, on 22nd, it's the birth date of the film's director Billy Wilder. So that's 3 of June's days in one go.

Three Quick Days

I have a couple of other longer posts to do to help me catch up from this past week but first up is the easiest one to share.

Thursday 24th May was Tiara Day and although a bit more crown than tiara in it's design, I popped this brooch onto the collar of my dress.

Friday 25th was Wine Day and so once home from work (and my last run of week 4 had been completed) I sat down with a glass of this, which I didn't really enjoy as much as I thought I would!

Yesterday was Grape Popsicle Day.  Now the weather has been very obliging this weekend, perfect for the consumption of ice lollies and let me tell you a few have been enjoyed but for marking this day I went with a quick and easy craft.
I bought a pack of these shaped book marks online a little while ago. With the aid of a tiny roll of sellotape stuck to the back of each one I added them to a length of pretty pink and white lace.
The dresser now has some summer bunting.

Running....

.....out of time to blog.

..... to catch up with myself.

...... as in proper running, in proper trainers and getting all proper hot and sweaty.

Surprisingly all the above apply to me during this past week.

Of course the running out of time one isn't any real surprise but I should explain more about the proper running.

G and I decided that enough is enough.

We are both overweight and not very fit.

Regular exercise in some form or another needed to be introduced into our lives.

With a little help from Mr Google I found a 12 week plan on the NHS website.

What attracted me to this was the way it's set up.

It's a combination of the Couch to 5K programme and a set of Strength and Flex exercises.

It's a gentle start on week one to get you going and then each week gradually builds towards upping your fitness level.

We are right at the start, just two days left of week 2, but so far so good.

And I love it that we are doing this together.

So there we have it.

Having to make the commitment to finding the half an hour needed each day of either the Couch to 5K or the exercises has meant that blog time (writing and reading and commenting) has had to take a back seat. As has the ironing, shame that.

I'm sure I'll get the balance right at some point.

Before I get myself changed for tonight's exertions here is a round up from the past week.

Do you remember the scene in Grease when Rizzo throws a pink milkshake over Kenickie and says 'to you from me Pinky Lee'. Click here to remind yourself if you don't.

Pinky Lee refers to a comic who had his own show in the 1950s and his birthday date is 2nd May. As I love Grease so much I had to go with this film reference and so I wore a pink milkshake brooch.

Thursday 3rd was Garden Meditation Day. I haven't a photo to show me sat quietly enjoying being outside in the garden but I do have a photo of our new fence.
One of our neighbours had a huge pile of planks of wood and decking that he no longer wanted. G asked him if he could take it off his hands. Of course came the answer and so during the past couple of weeks G and our neighbour's daughter K have used it to construct 3 new fences between our gardens.
They are a bit cobbled together and have a certain rustic charm to them but they are perfectly adequate and they are very proud with their handy work with wood which would have otherwise been scrapped.

May 4th is, of course, Star Wars day.
Behold three slightly wonky looking Wookies.
You may remember that this Chewbacca headband was G's table present last Christmas. I knew it would come in handy at some point!

The wonderful Richard E Grant celebrated his birthday on 5th May. I know, without a shadow of doubt, G would have chosen to watch Withnail and I but as he was at work I went with watching Twelfth Night which also tied in with Shakespeare's birthday the week before.

On Sunday we were up bright and early to go to the first car boot of the year. It's a little later than normal but the wet weather meant that the field has been too muddy.
As it turned out the field was still too muddy.
To get to the car boot you need to travel down a long twisty road and as we approached it we saw a ridiculously long queue of traffic. 
Temporary traffic lights we thought, but with the help of Facebook G was able to ascertain that people were getting stuck in the mud and needed to be towed off site by a tractor. Later on in the day we saw someone we knew who told us they had sat in the traffic queue for an hour before they arrived at the booty. 
Once we found out the conditions I turned the car round and we went for a walk in the woods instead.

Sunday was Beverage Day and many varieties of drink were consumed to keep up our liquid levels on such a hot day. Tea, coffee and squash mainly as although I had planned on opening the home made sangria we were given at Easter to have with our evening meal I forgot. I blame the heat.

On Monday I woke up with a hideous headache, so it was just as well I hadn't opened the sangria as it could have been even worse.
Monday was Cosmopolitan Day but I couldn't contemplate alcohol so G made us a delicious strawberry and banana smoothie to enjoy instead.
I spent most of the day in the garden, first off planting up some geraniums and then just lounging around. I had a million things I could have done but decided my time would be best spent doing nothing.

For VE Day on Tuesday I turned to my Marguerite Patten Victory cookbook and baked eggless chocolate buns which we enjoyed with custard.

In other news S is still continuing with her therapy sessions and although they are hard work they are making a difference.
Excitement levels are growing on a daily basis as S's trip to Paris edges nearer.
G and I have booked a night away in Somerset whilst she'll be away having fun.
T is still job hunting, he has had a couple of interviews but no success as yet.
Last weekend marked the fourth anniversary of when he lost his beloved brother L, always such an incredibly difficult time.
Malcolm cat was chased by the dog of one of our neighbours.
They never put them on leads when they take them out of the house to load them in the car to take them for a walk, one of them spotted Malcolm and that was that, he went off after him and the owner couldn't get control of him. Luckily Malcolm was quicker and more nimble but I was fuming at their lack of responsibility.
Melvin cat has been unwell and had to spend a couple of days in the vets. Fingers crossed he is now well again. One afternoon he decided that the way to lay was with his paws between a watermelon and the wicker fruit basket. He stayed like this for ages and then rolled over so his head was resting against the melon like it was a pillow.

That's all for now, I'm off to get my trainers on.

Ben, Bikes....

....but first up it's Eddie.

Eddie Cochran was a singer I heard plenty of in my childhood as my dad was a fan of his songs.

I bet there are a few of us who can sing along to C'mon Everybody and Summertime Blues.

Very sadly at the young age of 21 Eddie was killed in a car accident whilst on tour here in the UK on 17th April.

His style of guitar playing has been much admired by many musicians and so on Tuesday I borrowed this pin from G and wore it on my denim jacket.

Ben Hecht had a long and varied career using his creative writing talents.
Born in New York in 1894 he also passed away there on 18th April 1964 aged 70.
He wrote the play The Front Page which was adapted somewhat into the very fine romantic comedy His Girl Friday starring Cary Grant and Rosalind Russell which G and watched together.
If you haven't seen this movie be warned you need to make sure you listen well as the dialogue is delivered at 100 miles an hour. 

Now today and Bicycle Day.
Although a bicycle does play a small part in it the origins for this day are related to something else quite different!
Not wanting to partake I decided it would be much more sensible to go along the bike route.
Call me boring if you will, I'd much rather that than the alternative.

In The Pink

When I was planning my schedule of April days I decided I would give myself a little time off over the Easter weekend.

Thursday was another easy brooch day to mark the date in 1886 when John Pemberton brewed the first batch of the drink which would become known the world over as Coca Cola.

Having taken Friday off it was then onto some heavy construction work on Saturday.
Pink wafer biscuits and icing sugar were pressed into action to help us build our own version of the Eiffel Tower. This was to celebrate the date when after more than 2 years of building work Paris' famous landmark was complete.

Easter Sunday I took myself off for a walk over the bridge to St Mary's church.
As I mentioned a post or two ago I have been researching my family tree.
I decided to start with my dad's family and the earliest relatives I can find are George and Sarah both of whom were born in the late 1790's. 
They had a son George, who in turn had a son named Henry.
Henry had a son name Albert and his son William was my grandad.
I found out that Sarah was buried on 01/04/1838 and so I decided to go and leave some flowers for her. The church which stands today is not the one she would have known as that one fell into disrepair.
It would seem so many of my relatives lived and worked in this area of the city and so by leaving the flowers I wasn't only remembering Sarah but all those whose lives I am slowly uncovering.

If you read yesterday's post about the chocolate mousse then you'll know that we had my family over on Monday for food and games.
With G's help I was able to recreate the Pinterest plastic umbrella and pom pom idea as a little April showers display above the buffet lunch I had set out.
I was really pleased with the way it turned out.

A Busy Week....

..... can only mean one thing.
It's back to the wardrobe for quick and easy assistance.

Yesterday was Independence Day in Bangladesh.

The colours on their flag are dark green and red.

I chose to wear the cherry scarf which my lovely friend Jo from Through the Keyhole gave me in our 12 days of Christmas swap.

The stalks are dark green and the red cherries echo the red circle on the flag.

Today is the birthday of Sylvia Anderson who along with her husband gave us Thunderbirds.

I wanted to go the Lady Penelope route but just couldn't come up with anything suitable.

The Thunderbirds would say  F A B to each other as short hand for 'message received and understood' so in the end I went with wearing my Fab lolly brooch.

Mario, Mothers and More

A busy few days means it's another 'round up to bring us up to date' post.

Saturday was Mario day.

There have been occasions in the past when I have attempted to play Mario kart but each and every time I have been very bad at it.

The children used to find my ineptitude hilarious.

 I never minded because it was good seeing them laughing together.

I had a distant memory of toadstools featuring in the game somewhere so I went with wearing this brooch.

As we all know Sunday was Mother's Day. 
I received a lovely bunch of flowers, some chocolate

and the next two installments of the wonderful Maisie Dobbs detective series.
My sister T had invited us all round to her for lunch time cream teas.
She hadn't planned on S teaching us some dance moves in her kitchen, that just happened and proved to be very entertaining for those of us taking part and those sat watching.

Due to the rain on Monday when it was Plant a Flower day I cheated and decided to change the name slightly and instead go for 'buy a flowery planter day'. It was either popping a pretty container into my shopping basket or going out in the unrelenting rain, so for a fair weather gardener there really was no contest.

Last Friday we had Barbie day and Tuesday was Ken day. 
As with Barbie Ken's first outfit was beach related. 
He wore red shorts and a red and white striped shirt.
With this in mind I went for a red skirt and teamed it with a blue and white stripy jumper. My beach hut brooch completed the theme.

So all that brings us slap bang up to date with today and Potato Chip day. 
Oh. My. Word.
This is my kind of day.
I know they are so not good for you but I do love them.
I wanted us to try something we haven't had before so I went with a bag of these fairly new Max Strong Hot Chicken Wings. I chose these because G and S like a spicy crisp. I could only tolerate one small crisp so they demolished the rest of the packet between them.
The Chip Shop Curry Sauce flavour were only purchased after leaving work today when I had to stop in the local Co-op for cat food. 
The fact it's potato chip day and these were advertised as chips meant I had to pick up a packet. 
We (well mostly they!) munched on the crisps as we sat at the table, each of us working on our own little craft project in readiness for Friday.
Hope to see you then.