Category: Daily life

Many years ago my mother bought me a pleating machine for smocking on the proviso that if she ever needed anything pleated I would have to do them for her. A year ago she gave me three items to be pleated – she said there was no hurry. Do you think I could find that pleating machine in the myriad of boxes and junk that is our attic (it is not something I use on a regular basis)? We’ve looked many times over the last 12 months, but this weekend, determined, Steve and I were not going to rest until we found it. Today success and I now have three Christmas balls pleated for her ready for stitching. I also have a much, much more tidy attic along with a firm belief that the last thing written on the box lid is not always what’s inside!!

The tulips in our garden were particularly good this year. Then a visit to the Royal Horticultural Society’s Wisley Gardens provided even more photo opportunities for taking flower pictures. Oh and a couple of photos of a duck who was investigating my ice cream during a quick break. Isn’t nature wonderful?

 

Colour and activity is slowly coming back to the UK as Spring begins its steady passage towards Summer.  These pictures were taken in the Cotswolds and in Freeland, Oxfordshire – perfection in the petals and the new lambs.

Steve and I went into London yesterday to see the Christmas lights and windows along Oxford Street, Regent Street and Trafalgar Square. I took a few pictures on my iPhone and thought you might enjoy seeing some of the displays especially those of you who don’t live quite so close to London. The Santa displays are in the Selfridges’ windows; the foxes and other animals are John Lewis (love the foxes taking a picture with a selfie stick). My profile picture shows us in Trafalgar Square in front of the Christmas tree that is annually sent from Norway as thanks to the UK for services rendered in WWII.

There is always beauty even in a city garden!

Yesterday, Steve and I went for a lovely walk from Shiplake Locks to Shiplake College with dog and camera in tow. Couldn’t resist sharing a few photos of early September along the Thames.

 

 

 

My daughter, Claire, and I have this competition going right now to see who can take the best photos of bees or bugs up close. Don’t ask me why, but I guess we both have fancy cameras and want to see who can use the technology best.

So Claire…after visits to Hampton Court Palace gardens and Mount Stewart gardens here’s my latest offering. Do you concede?

I have to hem a dress for Laura Patricia because she is a bridesmaid at Amy Stephen’s wedding in two weeks. The dress has an outer layer and an inner later plus six floofy hanging bits that all need to go up about 10 cm. Might be easier to ask Laura to grow a couple inches over the next ten days or so!

Today was the ultimate test of my patience. It took me 1 hour and 40 minutes to drive five miles to work this morning due to road works and a broken down bus. After work I decided I needed to drive to Camberley to go to the big Marks & Spencers for some things – M3 between Junction 3 & 4A had a 45 minutes delay. I was going to Junction 4A so turned around and went home, but M25 was chockablock so it took another hour to go the same five miles! Got a cup of tea, decided to look at Facebook, so computer starts important updates and took one hour to complete. Three hours and 40 minutes spent waiting today and for people who know me that is an accomplishment in itself!!

It has been a comedy of errors with online shopping this Christmas – theirs and mine. Two presents never being sent and one being sent to the wrong address. Ah well, smile! I have all the blessings I need and what are more material possessions going to add to that? Still I wish my Mum’s parcel would get here as she always sends us the best stocking fillers. Merry Christmas everyone!