Between the showers

on Saturday I went to an indoor car boot sale at one local church hall where I bought a fabulous pair of nearly new boots which should see me quite happily through the winter and then on to another church hall for a bric a brac sale. The only item I bought there was this pyrex type baking dish. I'm thinking maybe a rice pudding for after tea tonight?


Then in the afternoon we visited a church G used to live opposite and I have travelled past a thousand times as it was open as part of this weekend's

The architect for this church was George_Gilbert_Scott who was responsible for, among other things, the Midland Grand Hotel at St Pancras station and the Albert Memorial

but it was the stained glass windows made by Heaton, Butler and Baynes I really wanted to see as the info on the website said they were designed in the Art Nouveau style.

And they did not disappoint.

This is Mercy

with Peace to her left

and Justice to her right.

We were given a tour by the very knowledgable church warden who pointed out this set of 3 windows in the Lady Chapel. Apparently these were made out of stained glass from other broken windows in the church.

Thankfully yesterday wasn't quite as wet, though it was a bit blowy, as first predicted and so we spent a couple of hours walking and cycling on the Common before G treated us all to lunch in the pub. It was just the kind of gentle weekend we needed after the first week of getitng back into routine again.

Back to school

It's been an age since I last blogged.
We have computer problems and it's been so difficult getting long enough to even read just a couple of emails each day that reading any blog posts has been near on impossible so posting anything just hasn't been a option. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the computer plays ball now just long enough for me to complete this before it freezes.

S went back to school on Monday and was very ready to start Year 2 and see all her friends again.
I fact she had such a good week she was nominated by her teacher as Star of the Week for 'such a fantastic start to Year 2'. She was very proud of her sticker and certificate.


Unfortunately I don't have a photo of T on his first day of senior school. Those photos are on my phone and not downloaded as yet.
Tuesday morning was the big day and T was so nervous he couldn't manage any more than a couple of mouthfuls of his Shreddies. It was the same on Wednesday. Thursday he manged to eat a whole bowl full. Friday morning it was 2 bowl fulls and a hot cross bun! I think you can deduce from that that the week went well! I can't tell you what a relief it was. Each day he came home he was full of smiles and chatted about different aspects of his day. I tried not to bombard him with too many questions but we had so many concerns over this major education move it was just so reassuring seeing him so happy.

So with the return to school there was a return to quietness during the day which these two certainly enjoyed stretching out and dozing on S's bed with the sun warming them through.

How do you like this artists impression of me keeping the children topped up with squash during the summer holiday as they frolicked in the garden?!

OK so it's actually an illustration from a vintage children's ABC book I found in a charity shop the other week, but oh to look so flawless and capable!

For me the summer hols seemed to finish a week earlier than it really did. T went to stay in Salisbury and then London for the whole week and S went to stay with my mum for a couple of nights so it was all a bit strange after being so busy.

So before I forget I must blog about the fab things S and I made one afternoon.

We each made a ladybird on which S did a tremendous job of painting on their spots and gluing on their eyes.

Photo is on it's side!

Our next joint effort were these bees. I drew the body shapes, S did everything else.

My favourite were these moustaches stuck to drinking straws. We looked completely ridiculous which of course is the whole point!

I hope to get round and visit everyone's blogs very soon. I may not be able to leave comments but I do hope to catch up with all the news and find up what everyone has been up to, I miss blogland.

What the Papers Say

We found a little piece of history when we were making over that old pine wardrobe recently.
When G took the mirror out he found that a newspaper had been slipped behind it, maybe to help hold it in place, maybe for someone to find in years to come.

We've only had a quick glance through it as yet but it's safely stowed away to be looked at properly another day, but here's a few snippets to share.

As you can see it's the Daily Express from 7th August 1924,


it cost one penny and this particular copy was for Mr Greenwood.

Main news stories are about Lady Astor's portrait being scribbed on

the price of bread increasing

Political wrangles and money issues

and issues with a poor train service.

Any of those sound familiar?

A few advertisements include these pills for those who can not go

those seeking a satisfying smoke

cocoa drinkers with an eye on the pennies

ladies fashion

and a soothing bath brand still going today.

This advert is one of our favourites.

We'd be happy to snap up this bargain if it was still as cheap. I wonder what today's market value is?

3 years

Feel no guilt in laughter, he knows how much you care
Feel no sorrow in a smile that he's not here to share
You can not grieve forever, he would not want you to
He'd hope that you carry on, the way you always do
So talk about the good times and the ways you showed you cared
The days you spent together, all the happiness you shared
Let memories surround you.

A word someone may say
Will suddenly recapture a time, an hour, a day
That brings him back as clearly as though he were still here
And fills you with the feelings that he is always near
For if you keep these memories, you will never be apart
And he will live forever, locked safe within your heart.

My dad will always be in my heart.
Miss you every day, love you forever.

Holiday Catch up

I have a fair bit of catching up to do. I've hardly been near the computer, except for a quick peek at emails each day and haven't had time for any dedicated blog reading so am way behind with everyone's news.


Before I do start wittering on I would like to say a MASSIVE thank you for all the lovely comments that were left on my last post about our wardrobe make over. As I'm sure you gathered I am thrilled with the end result and it was wonderful to receive so many messages saying that others liked what we had done too.


Along with the general busy-ness of the school hols I have been somewhat distracted as our sweet Melvin went missing from Saturday night to Monday morning. He has never done anything like this in the 18 months we've had him and due to his very timid nature we did fear the worst. We were over the moon when he came home on Monday, but then he did the very same thing again and wasn't seen from early Wed evening until very late last night. We're now thinking he's found himself a second home to visit when the fancy takes him.






So now to catch up with the school hols we have to go back to Sunday 14th and into the town centre for the family Sky Ride.

We didn't take part in the first one last year but everyone was raring to go for participation in this year's.

Lots of roads were closed off and so thousands of cyclists had a traffic free route through the city centre. G said the best bit for him was being able to cycle through the fruit terminal at the docks, somewhere you don't normally get to go.

An extra surprise to our day was being spotted by Clare whilst we were sat lounging around listening to the live music in the park, meeting her husband and having a quick chat before they cycled off.

Monday was very quiet for me as the children had both been invited round to friend's so whilst they were away I did a bit a couple of very small decorating jobs I really wanted to get sorted.

Tuesday we went to the cinema and saw Cars 2. They both loved it but I think I preferred the first one.

Wednesday we were back into town but for slightly less adventurous time task of school shoe buying and optician appointments.

Then in the afternoon we hopped on the train to Fareham to meet G from work. Since he moved office the children have been very keen to see his new place of work so after a quick scout around and introduction to his new colleagues we went to a local pub for something to eat.

The place we chose was a converted church and it was so beautiful inside. The picture below doesn't really show the interior decoration very well, but it was busy and I didn't want to use the flash on my camera and draw attention to myself!

You can see the pattern much more clearly in this photo. T and S picked this spot for us to sit in in the middle of the room. A huge curved, high backed booth which could have easily seated another few people

and right above us was this chandelier.

Thursday poured and poured with rain but we still ventured out as I needed to buy T's school jumper from a specialist uniform shop which tied in incely with a visit to friend's we had arranged a couple of weeks ago.

Friday afternoon was our turn to have a full house as T and S both had a friend over although as you can expect their chosen activities were very different!

We had a fairly lazy on Saturday (I even had time to bake some banana cakes and make use of my new cake stand)

as on Sunday we had arranged to go out with friends down to Bournemouth for the Air Show. I have to say I was in two minds about going after the dreadful accident involving the Red Arrows pilot.

But go we did and I have to say the skill of the pilots gave us a show which was nothing short of spectacular. And the girls who do the wing walking on the Breitling bi planes were utterly amazing.

I don't have any photos of the planes just two lions which are part of a Pride in Bournemouth art initiative.

As soon as we arrived at the beach and S had eaten her lunch she was in the water, followed shortly afterwards by T. They spent practically the whole afternoon in there playing and swimming which I think was probably the reason why S didn't wake up until 10.45 on Monday morning! With nothing planned I was quite happy for her to sleep in and catch up on her rest.

We did go down to the park in the afternoon where a game of T and S pretending to be babies got out of hand and I ended up soaked from the contents of T's water bottle but for once it was a hot afternoon and I didn't mind too much.

The weather threatened to ruin our plans for Tuesday but thankfully it didn't. Clare had invited us over to see her and although we didn't get to go blackberry picking or full the full walk she had planned for us in the New Forest we did manage to squeeze in cake eating, lots of chatting, a sit inside their fabulous camper van, a tour round her beautiful garden and I got to see her totally gorgeous patchwork quilt in all it's splendour. It really is an absolute stunner and she is extremely talented.

We did manage to squeeze in a little wander down a lane before it was time for the train, although we cut it a bit fine with our timing and had to run a fair way back in order to not to miss it. Goodness me how unfit I am! It took me the journey back to Southampton to recover!

Thank you Clare for a really lovely afternoon and for our jar of homemade raspberry jelly.

Seeing S's smile I really should mention that there has been siginifcant tooth loss this summer hols. 3 teeth have fallen out and so the tooth fairy has been finding this summer quite an expensive one!

Speaking of teeth another reason I haven't been on the computer much these past few days is a headache and jaw ache which progressed to an infection and swollen gum and toothache for which I now have anti biotics. Ugh, not nice.

Nearly there and if you're still here well done, but as this blog is (hopefully) a diary for the children to look back on one day, I want to make sure I get down as much about our time during these holidays as possible.

Wednesday was a trip to Netley Abbey with a friend and her 3 children. We have been going there together during the hols for a few years now and the children always play together so well and enjoy each other's company, it's a delight to see.

Yesterday G was off and he took them all off to the cinema to see the new Spy Kids movie. This one they all thoroughly enjoyed which is more than I can say for The Incredibles which we all watched last night, it didn't really keep anyone's attention throughout, I don't think that's going to become a family favourite.

One more week to go and then it's back to school, what will this week bring?

Another Furniture Ta-Dah

A couple of weeks back I shared the photos of our newly painted and dressed up dresser. I'm now sharing photos of another new piece of furniture to our dining room.
A wardrobe.

Yes a wardrobe, in our dining room.
Except I'm using it as a larder type arrangement.
Our kitchen is tiny and we only have a few wall units and even fewer base units.
So to increase our storage space which will also hopefully mean less shopping trips we hit upon this as a solution.

I found the wardrobe locally in a secondhamd furniture warehouse which was closing down. The measurements are perfect for it fitting snuggly into our second alcove and it was reduced to £65.00 which seemed like a reasonable enough price to me.

So here it is au natruel with it's mirror


and this is how it looks painted in a shade called Ruby Fountain along with a gingham covered corkboard.
I know some may well prefer it in it's original plain pine state, but I love the way it's turned out just as much as I love the dresser makeover.

G shelved out the interior (although he left the old hanging rail in place) and I covered the shelves in our old oilcloth polka dot tablecloth so they will be easier to keep clean with a wipe over every now and then.

Did I mention that I just love it?!!!!

Cake Stand

Amongst the fabulous present I received for my birthday last month were 3 cake stands.
One from G, one from my friend T and another from my friend G.

The other two I haven't photographed as yet, but this is the one I wanted to share as I thought some who call by here would find it inspiring. I actually meant to blog about it much sooner, but heigh ho that's the summer hols for you, I'm even more disorgainsed than ever!

So anyway here's the cake stand.

My friend G said she saw a photo of one somewhere, decided she wanted to have a go and thought it would make a good gift.
Two ordinary plates, one dinner size, one dessert sized with a glass vase glued between them for the stand.
Simple.
What was that noise? Is it the sound of Diane's glue gun being plugged in?