Feeling hot, hot, hot, hot

No not me.
Although I am feeling quite pleased with myself.
I've just completed a Christmas present for a friend of ours.
Yes I know it's only September, but I had an idea when I saw this shower gel a couple of weeks ago and just had to get it done.
A friend of G's loves spicy food and he loves cooking (yes I do know he can't eat the shower gel!)

and I knew you could buy this, so it started a theme going

and now along with those items he has a tub of Cheese and Chilli Pringles, Harissa paste, a bottle of Hot Pepper sauce, a grinder with chilli and garlic, a Moroccan tagine paste, a Cajun spice rub and a grow your own Mexican food kit all presented in a planter which he can use for his seedlings once they start sprouting. I hope he likes it. I certainly enjoyed putting it all together.

Year 6

T's turn today.
Not quite as buoyant in mood about the return of school as his sister was yesterday.
Big year ahead with senior school looming.

Must make sure the doorway gets a lick of paint soon, how tatty does it look?!

Year 1

8.30am.
New shoes.
New lunchbag.
S had all the essentials covered and was raring to go and get stuck into the adventures that Year 1 at school will bring.

Titanic

As Southampton was the city the Titanic set sail from on her maiden voyage and as most of the workers on board were from the city we have quite a lot of memorials and important buildings connected to this tragic piece of history.
Today in town was a short ceremony to mark the unveiling of the restored memorial to the engineers who died as they selflessly continued to work at their posts as the ship was sinking. This memorial was originally unveiled to a crowd of thousands who had gathered for the event in 1914. It's obviously taken a bit of a weatherbeating in that time, by clicking here you can see how it was looking until recently.
There was only a very small crowd today (and there were TV cameras too) even so I wasn't able to get a clear shot, but here is a taster of how it looks now,with just a smidge of a huge Union Jack flag which was used to shield it until the grand unveiling, but which kept billowing up in the stiff breeze!

If you ever visit the City I would recommend doing one of the Titanic walks by the local guides. I did one earlier in the year with my sister. In fact if you visit I might be able to rememebr enough to take you on one myself, followed with tea and cake of course!

Saturday afternoon walk

This afternoon we went and explored an area near where we live. A couple of hours out in the fresh air helps work up an appetite for tea.

No injury, just a squashed blackberry!

warmer clothes

It's been such a treat to have the sun back again this week. But first thing in the morning and in the evening there has been a bit of an autumnal nip in the air.
To coincide with this reminder of the seasonal change a couple of days ago I receieved the latest edition of the Joe Brown catalogue in the post.
I do enjoy a browse through this catalogue, lots of lovely clothes in styles and colours I really like, but being the skinflint I am I don't like paying their prices.
If money were no object I would definitely be purchasing this cute hat and gloves set


This fabulous coat

and this entire outfit.

I'll just to have to keep my eyes peeled in the charity shops in case others buy them and get bored!

crafting lovelies

I fell in love with this necklace made by happylovesrosie when it first appeared in her shop. When she had a sale a few weeks back this happily co-incided with my mum giving me some money for my birthday.



I don't think I've shown this before. I made it one evening from felt and an old pillowcase. I had a couple of compliments about it when I wore it on a jacket to my book club.

Last, but my no means least, is a lovely poinsettia bracelet modelled here by S, a gift from Diane, along with 2 candy canes, sent to be used as decorations on my stockings. Thanks again Diane.