Monthly Round Up (June '09)

Hello. :-D It's me. Well, obviously it's me, who else would it be?

I think it was definitely the right thing to do to have a little blogging break, it was starting to feel like a chore rather than a pleasure, and I didn't like it feeling like that. I'm still reading blogs ('blurking' - a term coined by the lovely Chris), but not commenting very much. I've used the extra time the break has given me to start turning our rectangle of grass into something more like a 'real' garden. There are plants growing in it now, and am quite pleased with it, but I've got a lot more to do. I'm also doing a lot more photography, and quite active at Flickr - if any of you are over there, please mark me as a contact so I can see what you're uploading.

I'm still not ready to come back to blogging, I don't know what's happened to my desire to blog. I've looked everywhere for it - under cushions, in my pockets, behind the sofa, even in the shed. Nope, not there. I still feel like I have nothing remotely interesting to say, but wanted to record some 'bits' for June, so that when this is (hopefully) turned into a blog book, it'll 'be there' for the kids.

I apologise for the mahoosive size of thise post - it's a whole month's worth of my crubbish, so be warned - I'm rabbiting on and on and on and on!

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What first? Well, No.1's art teacher finally got a look at that Picasso homework. Her comment was as follows:-

Wow [No.1] - outstanding! A truly exceptional artist study. You have taken a great deal of care and attention to detail. Very well done indeed!

There was a similar complimentary remark for the Julian Opie homework, so No.1 is feeling better about Art now. Actually, she's feeling more than better, she's feeling quite proud. She came home with a letter the other week which said she had been recognised as 'gifted and talented' in the subject and was therefore one of only 9 students chosen to attend a special ceramics workshop next month. It's free and it's a great opportunity - I'm very proud of her. I wish I could attend that workshop.

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Also on the subject of No.1, she went on a school residential this month. The kids were split into 3 teams: The Red Team, The Green Team and The Purple Team. The whole trip was extremely competitive with points being won for all sorts of aspects of the experience. One of the things they were encouraged to do was to make their respective tents (they stayed in a tented village - 4 to each tent) look the best. As a member of The Purple Team, we thought some purple-ish bunting would be just the job to liven up the tent of her group. Thus these were rustled up between us:-

Twenty metres of purple bunting, which she said had been put to use decorating the whole of the Purple Team camp area. She had an absolute blast on this trip, and hearing stories about what went on makes me wish I could have gone too. Teachers playing 'I'm A Teacher, Get Me Out Of Here' and doing and eating various horrible things, was just the start of it. Boys and girls weren't allowed to go in each other's tents with the doors closed after one of each gender were apparently found snogging one another behind closed tent flaps. :-O No.1 got to ride horses, abseil down rocks, build bushcraft shelters, make rafts, go dragon boating, etc. etc. She came back filthy and smelly: always a good sign of a successful school trip.

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In other 'making' type news, I have knitted my first baby garment in many a long year. My lovely friend 'L' has a new baby in the family (it's not hers, I hasten to add!) - a little girl. I knitted this for her (that's the baby, not 'L' ... obviously it would look ridiculous on her, and I'm not sure it's her colour):-

Another 'make' was this monkey as a birthday gift for No.2's friend 'N'. 'N' supports Liverpool Football Club thus a monkey in appropriate 'club colours' was made. 'N' came for tea last week - I asked him what the monkey is called. 'Monkey' he replied. So ... here is Monkey Monkey:

'N''s mum tells me he loves that monkey, and that it has pride of place on the bed. I love that these sock monkeys appeal to all ages, genders and persuasions.

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I had a bit of an embarrassing moment this month. I am lucky enough to have a bedroom which is not overlooked by any other properties - there are tall trees in the gardens at the bottom of our own garden, and thus I wander freely au naturelle from the bathroom into my bedroom in the mornings. Imagine my surprise one morning to look out of the window only to see two tree surgeon chappies up one of the trees, with a perfect view of me and my bits. :-O

I hastily covered myself up, pulled down the blind and hoped against hope that they hadn't seen too much. They've cleared some of the trees completely, though thankfully have only lopped the two which are preventing my room being overlooked. That'll teach me to give my birthday suit such a casual airing, won't it?!

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No.2 has played in a couple more football tournaments this month. The first, staged by the arch-enemies who are coached by his team's ex-assistant coach (are you keeping up with me? If not this post explains all). The two teams were drawn against each other and this time a 0-0 draw saw both leave the pitch with dignity intact. Neither team won the tournament, but No.2 came back with this medal:-

The second tournament was held a bit further afield, but will be memorable for the fact that he scored another goal, and the boys got to see, touch and have their photo taken with the SPL Championship Trophy. Quite what this trophy was doing in Oxfordshire, I'm not quite sure, but there you are. Here's his medal from that day:

This month he was also picked to represent his school at the Area Athletics. I don't know where he gets the energy from, really I don't. I get tired just watching him! His school's team came third overall - a fabulous effort.

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June was the month I found myself a teeny bit, moderately, ok ... rather addicted to a game called Farm Town on Facebook. I have never really been one for games, but this one is cool. Your little farmer (who you can, of course, personalise to look like you) starts out with a modest square of land, and 6 squares of ploughed field on that land. You then have to, by sowing, harvesting and selling crops, develop your farm. There is a market where you go to get work and hire other farmers. There is a 'realtor' office where you buy more land, and as you go up the levels you unlock more 'things' to buy for your farm - different animals, trees, flowers, seeds, and material things.

Yes, that's my farm and I worked hard to get it like that. It's been a bit of escapist nonsense, and I've 'met' some friendly farmer folk from all over the world.

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I guess I shouldn't let this month pass without mentioning the recent deaths of two 'icons' of my youth. Firstly, Farrah Fawcett Majors lost her battle against cancer. Anyone who was around in the 1970's cannot have missed the numerous pictures of a tanned, gorgeously blonde Ms Fawcett Majors. One of the stars of 'Charlie's Angels' she was the pin up of legions of teenage boys across the planet. I might have had a passing flirtation with those 'flicky' side bits in my hair, but never embraced it fully. By all accounts she was a good person - my thoughts are with her friends and family.

And then, of course, there is Michael Jackson. A true musical giant. His music was never my 'thing' - I don't possess a single album of his - but I could appreciate what a consummate performer and gifted songwriter he was. My personal opinion of him as a man was that he appeared a bit 'poorly' in many ways - possibly as a result of his childhood (I read that his father spent years referring to him as 'Big Nose'. If it's true, it explains a lot). But so often extremely talented people are slightly 'eccentric'. I feel desperately sorry for his three young children - who are now left with a surely massive void in their lives?

He only ever seemed 'comfortable' when performing. I hope he's now at peace.

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This was the month my brother took one look at my car and said "Jeez, it's filthy!" He's the sort who keeps his cars clean and looking nice, and thinks everyone else should too. Whereas I'm the sort who thinks 'God, this car's disgusting' but then just gets in and drives it. Anyway, he called me the day after his comment, and said he'd booked her in for a professional valet! Woohoo, result! I've never, ever had a car cleaned properly by someone else before. Miss Maisy (that's our car's name) looked absolutely beautiful.

What's more, the man that did it was such a nice guy. We had a lovely chat about life, the universe and how he plans to retire to an existence of travelling the canals of this country in a narrowboat. A couple of days later, a bird had the temerity to use Miss Maisy as a latrine. I was horrified. I came indoors and got a damp bit of kitchen roll and immediately wiped it off.

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I don't expect people to read or comment on this - I realise I'm being a bad blogger at the moment as regards taking part in the blogging community as a whole. But for anyone who passes by, I'll leave you with a picture I took this month of a chrysanthemum bloom. I bought the plant for Mum because it was Dad's birthday, and I knew she'd be thinking about him a lot (as was I). Anyway, I'm pleased with the photo:-

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Monthly Round Up (May '09)

Another month has whizzed by at a rate of knots, so of course I have 'stuff' about which to ramble. WARNING: Mahoosive post coming up - sit down, get yourself a cup of tea and a slice of cake. Right ... here we go:

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This month I have a housework tip for you: there's a first from me, eh? I'm sure you've all imagined what a houseproud, clean and tidy person I am? What I discovered was a way to make your kitchen floor really shine. Firstly, you have to buy a nice new bottle of Lemon Cif Cream Cleaner, and put it in the cupboard under your sink. Easy enough so far, right? Here's the hard bit though - you then have to open the cupboard awkwardly, in such a way that said Cif falls onto the floor, so the top comes off, sending the contents flying across the floor (and up some cupboard doors. Don't worry about this - it gives your cupboards a nice shine too).

Now you have to try to mop up the spilt gunge. You'll have to rinse out the cloth/mop/sponge about 2,527 times to get rid of the bloody stupid sodding messy gloopy residue of the Cif but never mind, I'm sure you have at least a couple of hours to spare, and what more satisfying way to spend it than cleaning the kitchen floor?

Please remember to drop by and thank me when your floor is shining up at you. Like mine, it might stay that way for at least 20 minutes before your children/a.n. other comes in and tramps dirty footprints all over it again, and like me you won't mind a bit.

Sarcasm? What sarcasm?

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I need to update you all on the issue of No.1's artwork. Remember her fabulous Picasso? I asked the teacher about it at Parent's Evening, and it turns out the teacher didn't actually see the work - hence no marks or comments. She'd been taken ill, so handed the books back out without marking. She was very nice, and said she totally appreciated that the kids did need encouragement and feedback. Since then, No.1 has completed another 'portrait' project - this time on the artist Julian Opie. We are familiar with his work, because she did a project about him at Primary School too. This time, the students were asked to 'do an Opie' of their own rather than copy one of his. They were to use a photograph as their starting point. On the left is one of Opie's originals, on the right is No.1's portrait:

Cool, isn't it? She did it in PhotoShop ... she's much better with that program than I am. Learning how to use it much more proficiently is on my 'to do' list.

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Do any of you recall my less than impressive attempts at learning to crochet? The jar jacket (a la Lucy at Attic 24) I showed you in this post was decidedly mediocre, but I was determined to do better. Thus a new honey jar jacket was made for the pens and pencils in the kitchen. Then another honey jar jacket for the bathroom (it has toothbrushes in now). Then I eyed a nearly empty biscotti tin, and, after the contents were finished, made a jacket for that. It's now a plant pot. Feeling a little more confident, I then tackled a passata bottle jacket - get me with my decreasing crochet stitches! Here they all are:

I think I've got that out of my system now. Phew.

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I have not had a happy motoring month this May (other than one tiny happening). They say trials come in threes, and I've had three unpleasant experiences in the last 4 weeks so I hope that's it now - over and done with.

The first incident happened when I pulled out of a junction to turn left, when a flashy black Merc was approaching. I didn't know it was approaching, since the road curves round a bend, and when I pulled out, he wasn't in sight. It wasn't dangerous or anything, but he was travelling very fast, and he obviously didn't like that I'd pulled out. So he started flashing his headlights at me and driving on my bumper for a few hundred yards. Ar$e! Sorry for the language, but it really scared my kids and was totally unnecessary. When I turned into where we were going and he followed me, I braced myself for a full on bit of road rage, but nope. He just went and parked elsewhere - how tempted was I to go and express myself in a full and frank manner.

The second incident was more serious. No.1 and I were in the car, going to pick up No.2 from an after school club. I was driving through town, not speeding; there were some teenagers at the side of the road, and one of them thought he'd be really smart by running across the road between traffic. Stupid, stupid, boy. I had to do the first emergency stop of my driving history - haven't done one since my driving test way back when. I swerved slightly and managed to skid to a halt, missing him by a couple of inches. I was shaking with shock. I couldn't drive on. No.1 burst into tears. The boy's friend, on the other side of the road was plainly horrified by the whole thing.

I'm afraid my first thought wasn't for him - it was for the fact that HIS actions might have seriously hurt MY child. If there had been a car behind us, it might easily have slammed into the back of my car. I honked on my horn at the rapidly retreating boy (who was running away at speed). He turned and raised his hand. 'Did he just give me the finger?' I asked No.1. But no ... he'd just 'waved' perhaps to acknowledge his idiocy or to apologise in some small way? I don't know, but the whole experience really shook me up and made me a little nervous when driving.

Two days later, and the third incident happened, actually ON a roundabout, when a metallic grey VW Golf came out of nowhere at huge speed, cutting me up and then having the temerity to honk its horn at me. I'm kind of feeling like someone is trying to tell me something. I feel quite timid driving now, and I was never the most confident driver in the first place.

The one tiny motoring type thing that made me smile was when I stopped at a crossing in town a couple of weeks ago. As lots of people crossed the road, I couldn't help but notice one particular young man: He stood out from the crowd. He was sort of 'glossy' and the fact that he was wearing a vest top and tight jeans meant that the world and his wife (and me) could see he was .... what's the current vernacular? 'Buff'? 'Fit'? 'Gorgeous'? Put it this way - you could see the six-pack through the vest. The next day a friend told me that The Chippendales are staying here to train for an upcoming tour or event, and using a local gym as their base. Makes sense now!

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I did one of those silly quizzes at Facebook the other day. The quiz was entitled 'What Breed Of Dog Are You?' Which breed, Dear Reader, would you say I was? I asked some friends. One said I was a Spaniel. Another said I was a Red Setter. The third said I was a fluffy sheepdog. A fourth also gave a vote for the Setter.

What do you think Facebook said?

They said I was a blinkin' Welsh Corgi :-O

Do NOT make a comment about my moderately long body with a deep chest.

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No.2 has played in another football tournament during the second half of this month ... resulting in this little trophy:

Please excuse whizzy whirly bits - done to distort the name of the club hosting the tournament. This tournament was special because it was the first time in a competitive game that he scored a goal! He plays at left back, from which position very few goal scoring opportunities come ... but that day one did. Yay!

The very same day saw the Presentation Evening at his Football Club. It's just a social evening during which team photos are taken, and the coaches give the kids a trophy each to acknowledge their season-long input and commitment. This year's trophy from his coach (he has his hand over the name of his club and his own name, engraved on the bottom):

The little shelf on which he keeps his medals and trophies is becoming a bit crowded, but I couldn't be happier for him. He so loves his sport - well done No.2!

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Now my bloggy friends, I'm going to love and leave you for a little while. I'm taking a break from blogging - I'm not sure I can explain precisely why. I guess I'm feeling rather introspective at the moment and me contemplating my navel is in no way whatsoever conducive to providing posts which uplift and/or interest other people. In fact it's incredibly tedious: I feel like I have nothing remotely interesting to say, so I'm going to step away from the computer and try to get some sewing, gardening, etc. done. Reading back, I see I went AWOL at this time last year too - when the kids and I lost our home. I don't have a big 'reason' like last time; maybe it's just a cyclical thing and June is a naturally 'quiet' month for me?

Thank you all for the wonderfully kind and supportive comments on my last couple of posts, they were lovely and made me cry. So many of my bloggy pals have, it seems, been through the experience of miscarriage about which I wrote last time (Roland, thank you for showing us that it affects men too). I was really touched that some of you felt able to tell me about your own experiences. It just goes to show how relatively commonplace the phenomenon of miscarriage truly is - why on earth won't society talk about it? Anyway ... thank you, all of you - xxx.

I will be back when my bloggy batteries have been recharged, whenever that might be.

I'll leave you with a picture I took at a friend's house recently. Her golden retriever has had pups, and they are so beautiful. I took lots of pictures, but I think this one is my favourite:

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Take care :-) xx

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Remembering Someone Who Never Was

October 15th every year is, apparently, Pregnancy & Infant Loss Remembrance Day across the world. I didn't know that until I googled the matter. I anticipated that there would be some sort of date to mark this phenomenon as it's an extremely common but very traumatic event in the lives of millions of people - especially women - all over the planet.

Miscarriage is defined as "the spontaneous loss of a pregnancy before 24 weeks" (a standard pregnancy lasting 40 weeks), and current statistics reveal that almost 1 in 4 pregnancies ends in miscarriage. That's quite a high proportion isn't it? Even though it is relatively common, it's actually rare for anyone to know precisely why it happens. Medical bods have suggested the reasons could be genetic, or hormonal, as a result of an infection, or because of immunological failings. But when a woman (and/or her partner) asks 'why?' usually no-one can give them a definitive answer.

Recently HWNLR said something to No.1 about me and the past which led her to come and question me about it. In explaining the background to the issue concerned, I felt it was necessary to tell her (and No.2 as well, since he was earwigging the whole thing) about the sibling she (or they) might have had, but doesn't (or don't).

I am someone who has always had very regular cycles, so when one went AWOL back in 1992 I was puzzled. I felt very tired - I thought maybe I had a virus; but it wasn't a virus - it was a baby. It wasn't a planned pregnancy, though within days of finding out, I discovered a previously unrecognised (and therefore surprising) desire to be a mother. I had a chat with my then-GP about my anxieties that I wouldn't be a very good mother because of the illness I had then (and have (less severely) even now). I still miss that doctor - she died, only middle-aged, from cancer. She was everything a doctor should be, and I have plenty for which to thank her regarding the 20+ years during which we had regular consultations. She told me that the very fact that I'd thought about and expressed a worry about my qualities as a mother, already made me a better mother than thousands of other women, who gave it no thought whatsoever. Over the years, I have often thought about that conversation.

I didn't tell anyone other than my parents and a friend about the pregnancy (HWNLR knew, obviously). In hindsight, that wasn't a good move, but we live and learn. I would advise anyone who finds themselves pregnant to tell any of their friends and family whose support they would like or need, should anything go wrong. Because I'd kept quiet about it, I felt I couldn't ask anyone for support after the event. Anyway, to cut a long story short, that pregnancy did not proceed successfully. At 10 weeks, I began to bleed, and I instinctively knew that this was the end of my baby. My doctor sent me to hospital for a scan. To the Maternity Hospital, where I sat amongst pregnant women of all sizes to await scanning. A 'normal' scan over my abdomen, and an internal scan (which is not a terribly pleasant experience). There was, of course, no heartbeat.

I wonder if you think me odd for asking the hospital for a picture of the scan to keep? I have that picture tucked away in a very safe place - I can't tell you how precious it is to me. I guess it's the only thing I have outside my head to confirm he was once there?

I was advised I should have a D&C (a dilation and curettage) to 'evacuate' my uterus. Apparently, an embryo which has 'died' can take up to 10 weeks (or more) to be 'lost' naturally and is therefore a risk of infection. I was sent to another hospital for the D&C, and eventually went home just before midnight.

End of pregnancy. End of baby. End of dreaming about being a mother in a few months' time.

Hormones all over the place. Mind and emotions similarly chaotic.

It affected me more severely than I could ever have anticipated. I saw pregnant women and babies everywhere. Every time I switched on the tv, there seemed to be something relating to pregnancy or babies. Ditto the radio. Magazines were full of it. Of course, that content had almost certainly always been there, but it hadn't meant so much to me before. I was very, very miserable. I desperately wanted another pregnancy - another attempt at becoming a mother, but that pregnancy had been unplanned and HWNLR didn't, at that time, want to be a father.

It took me a long time to come to terms with the experience, much longer than I had anticipated. I have a friend whose son is 2 weeks younger than my baby would have been should he have survived. But I didn't tell the friend at the time, and I still haven't. How does one say 'by the way ...'? Every time I see her son, I think of the one I didn't have.

I saw them both last week. Her son is fabulous ... tall and skinny, charming and self-conscious, funny and chatty. He's in the middle of taking his GCSEs, and was telling me about what he hopes to do with his life.

This week, had he (my 'lost' child) been here, he'd have been celebrating his 16th birthday. I wonder how he'd have looked? How would his voice sound? What would he have liked? What would he have disliked? If the statistics are correct, for every 3 children in the world, one didn't make it, which means there must be so many others like me, wondering about the children they didn't have.

Talking to the kids about it was actually OK. I didn't cry (not until later, when I was on my own, anyway). They asked lots of relevant questions, but the final word was left to No.2. Realising how old his sibling would have been, he announced "If he was alive, he'd be old enough to be on the X Factor!"

Naturally, we'd have voted for him ... lots and lots and lots.

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I've Been Tagged!

No, no, it's not one of those ones which means you have to be home by 7pm every evening, and check in regularly with a Probation Officer; I was tagged by Joanne at Reasons to be Cheerful 1,2,3 with this meme. It is simply a list of questions but is too 'big' to slip into one of my round up posts ... here we go then:

What is your current obsession?

I have been obsessing over monkeys made from socks for quite some time. And I'm not tired of them yet. My sock stash is, quite frankly, embarrassingly enormous. Or should that be enormously embarrassing?

Which item of clothing do you wear often?

I'm a jeans girl through and through I'm afraid.

What's for dinner?

Roast chicken with a variety of veg. Oh and yorkshire puddings too since No.1 feels any roast meat is improved with the addition of yorkshires. Actually, I can now only 'do' roast chicken when she's here, as she has announced she is a vegetarian ... except for chicken and fish. So in reality she just won't eat red meat anymore. I can't say I'm surprised, she's always loved animals (she has, in the past, had pet snails, a pet earwig (called Mavis), and a pet woodlouse). Once, when I was looking through her hair for evidence of nits - yes, I know it's horrible, but you have to check them regularly when they go to school with other, possibly nit-ridden children. Where was I? Oh yes - I was looking through her hair and she actually said: "If you find one, you won't hurt it, will you?" Tsk. However, one glimpse of a spider will have her running and squealing in the most ridiculous fashion.

What are you listening to?

Sorry to be pedantic, but shouldn't that be 'To what are you listening?'

Whilst typing this post, I am listening to 'Mr Love Pants' by Ian Dury & The Blockheads.

Say something to the one that tagged you.

Thank you! I like something that makes me think a bit. Not too much mind you ... just a bit! x

Favorite vacation spot?

Because of the illness from which I've suffered for a good part of my life, I haven't vacationed much at all. It's one of the things about which I feel quite ... I don't know what the right word is, but it's not 'comfortable'. Anyway, I intend, if at all possible, to put that right in the future.

What I'm reading right now?

Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China by Jung Chang. Yes, I know I'm several years behind most people, who read this in the 1990s when it was first published. I found this copy in a charity shop, and remembering the recommendations of friends, felt it well worth the 50 pence they were asking.

I knew very little about the recent history of China (or the ancient history for that matter) and am quite shocked at the brutality described in the book. But it is fascinating to read about the rise of Communism and how it became such a powerful regime, as well as details of the 'rules' it imposed on the people of China.

I vaguely remember news stories of 'Chairman Mao' when I was growing up, and more clearly remember stories about Deng Xiaoping, but of course I hadn't understood the way Chinese Communism had affected the everyday lives of the Chinese people. I have been incredulous, reading at Mao's hypocrisy in summarily punishing (and in some cases executing) anyone with Kuomintang associations, when he himself once held a position of office in the Kuomintang. (The Kuomintang were the political party in power in China before the Communist uprising of 1949). He imposed some quite bizarre 'campaigns' on the country during the course of his 'reign'. Husbands and wives were not allowed to be together except on Saturdays. Mothers were not allowed to look after their own children, as they were expected to give their all to 'the Cause' and go out to work for the Communist machine. At one point he decreed that every blade of grass across China should be pulled up, though I'm not sure I understand why.

At the time of writing this post, I'm only up to the mid 1960s, and Mao's 'Cultural Revolution', but I heartily recommend this book to anyone who hasn't read it. It is an extraordinary, fascinating account of China through the lives of three women (grandmother, mother and daughter).

Four words to describe myself

• Deficient or Inadequate (I couldn't decide which one was more apt)
• Naive
• Creative
• Curious

And one more because I can't leave it out

• Hopeful

Guilty pleasure

Having a lie in on the mornings after the kids have stayed the night at their dad's. Especially if it involves wandering down to the kitchen, then taking breakfast back to bed.

What do you think you will feel about your life when all is said and done?

I think that very much depends on what happens between now and the end. Thus far there are too many things about which I don't feel happy (especially regarding myself and my dearth of achievements, experiences, accomplishments, etc). Ideally, I'd like the (perceived) imbalance to be addressed (even if only a little) before 'all is said and done'. Maybe I will ... maybe I won't ... who knows?

What do you look forward to?

(Or 'To what do you look forward'?) ... Happiness.

Who or what makes you laugh until you’re weak?

Various lovely, funny people in my life. And Billy Connolly.

Best thing you ate or drank lately?

After that tummy bug had gone, and I could enjoy Milky Bar again ... that was brilliant!

Flower of the moment?

I have some white freesias in a vase - they're beautiful. Thank you Lisa - x. (They were going over a teeny bit when this photo was taken - sorry, should have taken it earlier).

Favourite ever film?

Well that depends on my mood, but 'One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest' would be up there. So would the Disney version of 'The Jungle Book'. 'The Shawshank Redemption' is excellent, as is 'The Last Emporer', but on another day I might prefer something musical like 'Chicago'. I can never pass up the chance to watch 'Groundhog Day' either ... hmmm, sorry, can't pick just one!

Care to share some wisdom?

I have various bits of wisdom, in the form of quotes, peppering my sidebar. More get added as I find them. I could quote any one of those here, but instead I'll use a new one:

"If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving is not for you.' - Anonymous

I think you'll agree that that is a particularly sage piece of advice?

I won't tag anyone in particular with this meme, but if you are a blogger who fancies having a go ... then feel free, help yourselves; I look forward to reading it on your blog(s).

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We have had the draw for the bloggy giveaway for all the fabric mentioned in this post. The lovely No.1 (who is off school feeling very poorly sick) did the honours for me, insisting that she draw the name from an actual hat. Tsk:

Apologies for not getting round to my usual blog haunts - I've been on nursing duties!

As you can see, the winner is the fabulous Mrs Twigs from Twiggypeasticks. The fabric will be on its way to her very soon. Well done Twiggy!

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