Party food

Today was party food day, loads of cake, crisp, sausages

and this Lemon meringue which I made last night

It's all gone now, but thanks to Mary Berry recipe was lovely 

 Just two spots from the garden

This chimney is beautiful

 These are also lovely

both are not newly planted this year, 

 I got this book from our local library, it was a very good read

Modern story line, which kept me wanting to read more. 

Today was my last working day, not that I did much work, I was coaching for most of the morning. We had loads of nibbles, all lovely delicious food which when eaten in the amounts we had, bad for you. Most of the afternoon, I spend wondering around ensuring I said goodbye to everyone. I had an  interesting exit  meeting with 2 bosses, we chatted and laughed, I was told I could come back, I declined.
So no more 6.20am alarm, no motorway morning and evening fun and games, hubby and I at home. I do feel a fraud, I have worked all my life, and it does feel strange not to have to go to work. I'm too young to retire, I still have to wait for my state pension, over four years.
I am planning structure into my days, I would be happy to sit and read for hours in every day, but I want to do things, I also do not want to promise my time yet, I don't want to promise something I might regret. We need to factor in time with Will, we are active grandparents and want to do more, I do believe it will be good for both of us and Will to do things together.  
I am also thinking if I can find the right role, working a couple of short days each week, I know I have just retired, but I still have loads to give, and it may not necessary be paid work. I don't want to work in a charity shop, that is just not my thing.
Going to be a interesting time, and I have an open mind. So who knows what I will be doing in a month, early next year or next summer. It's for me to find my way.

Good things....

.....happen to good people, 

my mum told me this all through out my growing up years, 

I am lucky our family have had loads to celebrate and enjoy over the years, with our perfect grandsons, including our latest Will. All our boys are wonderful, we don't see the older boys so much, through distance and them creating a busy life doing things they enjoy, but having the knowledge they are thriving and happy, catching up with them when we can. 

Life has not always been good, as with all families we have bad times, things we can't control, people do and say unexpected things, I have done things when I look back I do wish I could change. Money has been tight often as our children grew up.

Hubby and I have been looking at our life in many different ways, the biggest being I am still working whilst hubby is retired, we have been reevaluating every part of our lives for many years, building to what we think will be a better life in retirement, because once we get there we will have little or no chance to make many changes. 

When the government changed the pension age for woman to match men's at 65 (now 66), they really hurt many ladies. Our generation as many before us did as we were asked we saved, brought homes, we paid into pensions, most of all we paid taxes, lots of taxes. I can see our world has changed, and I understand as a country we are not as wealthy as before. BUT it still feels so very unfair!

Last week we made a huge discussion, and I informed my employer I intend to retire from work on 28th July 2017, this is two years earlier than planned, 4 years before I get any state pension, but in my mind (as loads will agree) 2 years later than expected. 

I really can't wait for 28th July to come.

Stitching again

I saw this and thought how true

I have stitched on Joyful World, my aim is to finish it and frame it, not sure where I will hang it when finished, only after this is finished can I think of anything new to start.

I am also looking at cotton material, I want to make a patchwork cot quilt of our new baby due in a few weeks, I am thinking I will use a log cabin design.
I have ordered a couple of books to read, so with my wool order I am expecting a couple of nice parcels to arrive.
Today my first day back at work went well, we were busy but not as busy as expected, it was quiet easy to slot back into work. It was also nice as driving to work in the morning, it was not as dark as it has been, makes me think of spring and the new growing season.
This year instead of inflicting my will on hubby, I asked him what he would like to focus on, 1st we agreed to save more, our spending habits are now reaping us spare cash each month. 2nd he wants us to walk more, with the view to being able to cycle in the better weather, so these will be our focus for 2017, but done without slipping away from all we have already achieved.
We also looked at our saving jar, it has just over £90 in, but as we need nothing, the coins all went back in and we will keep adding until the jar is full, which should be summertime and will give us funds for a nice day out.

A letter and a parcel

Two nice items in one day

Letter from our boss, 2.5%pay rise 

back dated to May, in our pay tomorrow

An expected parcel from Dawn

 Dawn makes the most wonderful craft items in her beautiful cabin

 These are for bunting for two of our grandsons

perfectly made for me to finish and string together

 Plus an extra gift for Finn

A book cushion, I asked for Dawn to use the same fabric. 

 Up close

the most perfect words, just need to get a great book.

Today has been up and down, the morning was much the same, then the boss handed out our letters, we knew the pay rise was coming but 2.5% was more than we expected and to be told it's back dated for 6 months and in our salary tomorrow.
We were all called into a meeting our roles are changing, not by much, myself and Mel has changed for the better, I now deal with one of the top customers and all retail stores, and Mel takes all the smaller companies. The work is now balanced better and I am dealing with locations with lovely people. The other two ladies are not at all happy with their changes, but for the moment I am in favour at work.
To come home to the wonderful stitching from Dawn, I put my order in a while ago, I could do the letters for the bunting, but I knew Dawn could do them a whole lot better. Dawn has a second blog, if you don't know her click on either of the links, grab your favorite drink and enjoy getting to know her.
Last night hubby asked me chose my birthday present for next month, and I have a couple pairs of Fiskars scissors coming, it's much nicer to know what is coming and for it to be useful.
I also popped to Marks & Spencer web site, they have a huge sale, Per una range was discounted so three items later, it should have been four, but one sold out before I got to the pay section. I spent £28.47 on three items, a jacket, a cardigan and a jumper, I saved over £100 on the items, just have to pop to town on Saturday to pick them up.

So today was a good day

A beautiful day for a walk

This and last week I have walked in my lunch break. 

Behind our office building, we have a small wooded area, which has a path running through leading to a small housing estate, which give a variety in the middle of the routes.

 Walking to the right a path runs along fields up to a pretty children's play area, where under fives laugh as they play, further on I hear children's laughter, it's lunch time at the primary school, and the children are having fun.

 On the left of the houses as I walk back to the woods is a stream, which leads to a pond behind a hotel, the water is muddy brown, which is a shame. But every where is quiet, peaceful.

Still loads of trees around.

 Over a small wooden bridge and I'm walking back through the woods.

 I can see loads of bluebells. Further through the trees I can see a row of beehives. The birds are singing, bees buzzing from Spring blossom.

Now back to the top, with the office building coming into view.

My walk can be from 20 minutes to 40 minutes, it's so nice to get out of the office and feel as if I am in the country side. Perfect spot for a lunch break. I don't walk alone, Mel and I chat as we walk, we pass the same people most days, not from our office, we nod as we pass each other, it's very pleasant. Today we also missed the hail storms, and stayed dry the whole way round.
I have not started my cross stitch, I'm tired, so I have cut more hexagons, my completed box is full, but I will make loads more, lots of different colours and patterns, I find sewing them to their templates very restful, just what you need after a busy day. I am terrible at sitting and doing nothing.
After work each evening I check my greenhouses, all the plants are growing and looking healthy, today was really cold more like February than end of April. I do wish the weather would warm up and our garden life start, I love to sit outside in the evenings when it is warm.

Oh bloody hell

It's been a full on couple of days, Yesterday was Sam's birthday, he loved his present from us, a skip lorry with two skips, for a little lad who want's to be a builder when he grows up (I know) it was perfect. Later we went to see him and 11 friends run around like 5 year old's should, then on to Asda. Not too bad you say. This being the only photo I got of him, too fast any where else in the play area.

We got home late afternoon needing a rest to our neighbour looking very white faced on our door step, Win next door had a tumble and was on the ground in pain, hubby has loads of first aid experience and was checking she was not too bad. 30 mins later the ambulance arrived and she was taken into A&E, she has fractured her hip, so I spent all last evening with her.

She had her operation today and I will pop back in later, her nephew is not local, so we like to help, and as you may all know we love Win, in 6 weeks she will be 101 years old, she is independent, quick and witty, so it caused us all suffering to see her. 

Today at work just four of out of an eight person team, so pretty stretched, two of the team thought it was a good day to ask silly questions all day, things they should be able to sort for themselves.  but today they needed my input, plus a huge problem with two suppliers who both wanting paying for gas at the same property. So I am tired, no Knack*r*d is a truer definition, roll on bed time. 

We don't get to many days like these, thank goodness, tomorrow my partner in crime is back in the office, so we can have a giggle about everything.

Happy news my mobile phone is fixed, will get it back tomorrow, I have missed all the features on it. 

At Asda I managed to get a couple pair of trousers for work and at £16.00 each a much better price. We also got a few more things for Christmas.

I have been knitting a few more Christmas puddings, I have to make the felt leaves and then sew on the berries. I also want to get out the sewing machine I have a small Christmas cushion to make up. 

Busy all round. 

Wild in the park

A typical English park

with a small band stand, loads of lawns

We are very lucky our council can still afford to look after parks

This year they planted a wild flower meadow along one side

WOW

how wonderful is this

filled with all my favorite wild flowers 

and loads I don't know, the area is huge

The poppies danced in the breeze, 

the cornflowers look like jewels and the daisies are like sun shine

We are so lucky to live central to the village, so close to everything. Hubby and I often walk through this park on evening walks, I would love wild flowers in my garden, but alas I have no space, so thank you to our grounds staff at the council another great job. 

Thank you for all your kind comments on my last post, it's rare I'm not happy with the garden, I think it's the heat getting to me, I am typical English, crave the sun and as soon as it arrives, I'm too hot.

Not problems in work today, we do not have any other people leaving on our floor, it's always hard when the company is getting rid of people, in our department we are so busy we just get on with the workload. 

I am very tired, I could curl up and go to sleep, I will get an early night, I was woken last night at mid night, youngest daughter at Silverstone race track, well she was at the local A&E, her partner was taken ill, and she called her mummy, scared and feeling lost and alone, they are back in Hampshire but after another visit to our local A&E, all they  want is sleep. Still he has been checked out and other than a small painful injury he is OK. It's been a full on 24 hours. 

One happy task this evening was to look after Sam and Josh whilst mummy and daddy went to Sam's preschool for his last report, in the knowledge it was going to be a good report we popped to our local ice cream parlour and each had a small treat, it's not the one shown here before, their portions are just too big and we waste so much. 

Just stitching

Carrie Rose

Just a few purple flowers down the right side to stitch. 

Then on to the center block, just 26 rows, in this page.

Work was good, typical MOD, loads of reading, security and protecting information. I have signed up for flexi hours, and with one weeks rota where I have to work until 4.30pm, so I am pleased lots of early finishes. Second day, it was boring to read more security notices, which apply to me but is aimed at military personnel, so I was set the task of verifying Council tax bills, there were loads of them, it's that time of year, I won't complain about ours again.
It's great to be finishing at 4pm each evening, I can be home by 4.30, time to enjoy the garden.
We had a quiet Monday night in together, I was home early enough to spend an hour in the garden, everything is doing well, just need the warmer weather for everything to grow.
Tonight it's photography club, I still need to read through my home work again, it is just not sinking in!

Two designs

I said I would finish this section and I have

 Just another 5 to go, 

but 1st I will do the 1st section of this years stitch along

 Just a small start, and no surprise I have chosen my own colours, Angie uses alot of pink, which is just not me, as a child of the 70's it has to be shades of purple. the lower section is a central circular design, and there are  a ring of small circular design, in between these two areas, but as yet I have no decided what colour to use.

 Just showing off the plants around the house, my Amaryllis is beginning to open, this is a pink flower, the second bud is now growing higher, it would be nice to have two flowers.

 This is from Fliss's birthday card from Sam, it's the first time he has done his name (using the dots) all on his own, he was very pleased with himself.  Josh wrote the rest of the words, he is a helpful big brother.

It's been a very cold and wet day, no snow and hopefully we will miss what's to come tonight and tomorrow morning, I like the cold days, you can always wrap up warm, and our offices are always hot. Work is going well, I have a review on Thursday, but I am not expecting any problems, there are loads of role changes going on, but I don't think it will impact on me.
It is great to be stitching again, I don't stitch as often, or for as long, but it does feel good to be creating.
My books have not yet arrived, but I am not expecting them until next week, they have a long way to come. My other order, I have been told I have to wait until the parcel is returned back to them, I have asked what happens if they do not get anything back. I spent £26 and still require the items I ordered, plus I now have another order to place, but it can wait until I resolve this issue.
I will sort out the books from my previous post at the weekend.

A finish and a new design

This bulb is doing very well, the second one I did is almost dead, 

I think maybe the bulb was a dud, 

but more importantly Sam's is growing well. 

 With Fliss back home, we don't have a spare bedroom, so I have little piles of things everywhere, this one in my office is mainly house (tree) decorations.

 Presents are behind the sofa, these for Sam and Josh from their grandad. All chocolates etc are in our bedroom, tucked away so no raids before the big day.

 I have done some stitching

 I was glad to find a fox running to add, this is now stitched, not sure what to do with it, I think it may stay in my making up box for a while. I have been busy this week, I have a parcel ready to post to USA, just one last thing to go inside.

 Last night I purchased this, the design came this morning as a PDF, the designers blog is here there are a few others I like very much. This year my taste are changing. I do like to have a project on the go, this is still small for me, I am thinking of stitching it on pale blue, just to add to the subject.

This week has passed quickly and it's been a mixed week, nothing bad, just plenty of normal life stuff.
Work is good, I am now having training on the switchboard, it's very easy and done on the computer.
In my first job the lady had a huge box with loads of wires.
I enjoy  the reception, it's nice to meet and greet clients.

We had a lovely evening on Thursday, Fliss, Su and I, we did some shopping for Christmas, we had a 20% off in M&S, followed by coffee and chat.
Hubby loves his lens, he has played with it to ensure it is the correct one he wants, it was expensive, so it has to be right, now it's waiting to be wrapped and put under the tree, I will get him a couple of small surprise presents.
As for my present, still not an idea, both daughters and I went through loads of suggestions, nothing!
We are hoping to make a start tomorrow, but neither of us is in the right mood, might wait a week and see how it goes.
Tonight Sam is on a sleep over, which will be fun, Josh wants to stay with daddy, but he may change his mind, tomorrow a friend is popping in, so another busy weekend.
Monday evening we are all going to Su and David's new house, they get their keys, not to work, justy to walk around and make plans, very exciting for them.

Family

This is coming along well, no stitching tonight, I am out soon for coffee with Su

Plus of course the gossip to go with the coffee

From last weekend, our own Fireman Sam

and his big brother Josh

 It has been a very busy week so far, work is going so very well, already they are giving better task to do, and enhancing my role, I am enjoying working at both offices. Today we had training on money laundering, the law is very interesting, at my level I only need to be aware of it, loads of things to think about. Tomorrow I will be in court all day, taking notes, after I can decide if it is something I might like to do again. I have been in a court doing jury service, so it will be again interesting to see the court experience from another angle.

I have been in a reflective mood this week, we have had oldest daughter Fliss with us for three weeks, and we have settled into a family routine again, we do not see as much as we would like of Fliss, each day after work she pops into see both Josh and Sam (hubby would not leave the home, and forced Fliss into leaving) we are still really close to both boys.
One of the main changes we have made is with our food, Fliss has to eat Gluten free foods, at first we thought this would be expensive and awkward, but in fact  as we check our foods we are finding more which can be used for all of us. Bread is the main difference, Fliss has her own, Kev has a small loaf for him, and I don't bother. We all love rice, rice noodles and jacket potatoes, we do have separate pasta's,  we stopped using pre-made sauces, so no change there, I have got some gluten free flour and we are starting to bake, most of the time we make gluten free for all of us, and not noticing much difference. For me I am feeling much better, I have problem eating refined white flour, so pastries and pies have been off the menu for ages.

I have done some more to my book, but still have a few more post to add, and then editing, it does not matter how many times I check, I can always find a small mistake after the book is printed. I will start 2014 in January after we have replaced this computer.

We have a busy weekend coming up, Sam will be 4 on Saturday, and Logan is staying with us and going to the birthday party. Sunday we will travel back to Somerset, take Logan home and then visit my brothers Martin and Mel, Mel has been unwell and is staying at Martin's house.

Finishes and stash

We have our dinning room table back, I did some sewing yesterday, I still have loads to do, and have made plans for some patchwork, only very simple. 

 I made two more small Christmas cushions, I have had the Christmas cross stitch in my box forever. The Christmas fabric I purchased many years ago, without any plans, just three different designs, they are a good quality cotton.

 I have decided to give Leanna the top (1st made) cushion, I have made mine just a bit simpler, I do need to add a few words above the tree, red cushion is also for me to keep. I will stuff and finish them later today.

 This design has finally arrived, it was purchased in my last order in early August and was out of stock, I am itching to stitch it, but will keep Winter Watergarden in the frame.

 I purchase the chart for this, e cosa bella natura I fell in love the moment I saw it, I have not stitched a long narrow piece before, can't wait for it's arrival. I found it at Crafty Kitten. This was purchased before I decided to join Sue's September drive, see below.

 Just one shot from Friday, we make a neat team plus a few from the district, it was fun to see them all again and very sad to say goodbye. Ann and I will have lunch together this week, to catch up with gossip.

I follow loads of blogs, ladies (and guys) who have the same loves as myself, and in the past few years I have been sorting clutter and unnecessary things from our lives. Sue at Our New Life in the Country  is a master at this, and in September she is having a Low spend/No spend and I am joining in.
I plan to use the hoard of food in our big freezer in the garage, we have enough clothes, not to need to purchase any more (we have been good for ages, and passing all the sales to wear what we already own)
The only hiccup I have to allow is hubbies 65th BBQ next weekend, but already I have found items in the freezer to use, and will stick to the low spend as much as I can.
It will be very interesting to see  what changes we make, but it should be just more of what we have been trying to do, and a very good time to stop purchasing chocolate and snacks, which will help with the pounds I have put back on.