Tuesday 23 December 2014

And again, it's nearly here!


I am just sitting here with a cuppa, having returned from the last present shopping, phew!  This is after we have already been to town, taken by two of our granddaughters, to see Paddington, and what fun it was.  We decided to go here instead of the Panto, as I had left it very late to get the idea of going, and all that was really left was in Glasgow, and it would have cost £130 + for us to go.  This is on top of a 1 ½ hour journey, which Mr T was not keen on, so Paddington it was, and I am really rather pleased we did.

We are trying to cut down on spending now, as we are both looking for jobs and have not been successful so far.  I just had some good feedback this week, as to why I didn't get the last post I interviewed for.  As, it seems, I have all the relevant qualifications and bags of experience, but don't tell them about it!  I last interviewed for a job I got, back in the year 2000 so am deffo out of practice of selling myself.  So, I have now started to remember the questions I was asked and practice in the car, what I should say!  Surprisingly, I flounder even then, so will keep practicing until I convince myself.  I have another application going in shortly, so wish me luck.

This year has been quite good on the health and weight front.  I am as recovered as I will be from the back surgery I had in September 2013, and my strength is improving with some walking, and the aquafit sessions.  But, Mr T and I have also been doing the Slimming World diet.  Due to my current work commitments (a lot of running about for not much pay) Mr T has more or less been left to organise the cooking, and has been doing a sterling job.  He has lost just over 2 stone, and I have lost 1 stone, ta da!  However, Mr T's aunty showed us photos of when we saw them in May this year, and I reckon we have lost much more than we have measured.  We both love this diet, as you can more or less eat whatever you wish, without using fat, and measuring your 'syns.' This means you don't miss out on anything you like to eat - in my case it is cake, I'm afraid.  It is due to change next week, but the nod is that it is the same, just easier.  (Reading the magazine, I suspect it is reducing your syns from 15 - 20 per day, down to 10, but we'll see.)

Crafting this year has now included patchwork and quilting, and oh boy, is it addictive!  I have had three quilts on the go, and actually completed one of them;


This is the front of my 'Beginners' quilt, and the back looks like this;


The pictures are as brilliant as I would have liked, but the main fabric is calico, and the rest is fabrics I had in my stash, so it didn't cost me anything, except for the lessons.

The other two are one for my daughter that is blocks made up of hexagons, that were given to me, and the sashing (the strips between the blocks) are made up of vintage sheets I have.  The other one is made up of five fabrics of which I bought a metre each.  There are 5" blocks, which are folded and cathedral windows that are called 'secret garden.'  And, then there will be 'four patch' blocks, also measuring 5" in a random pattern. There are no photos of these yet, but watch this space.  And, I am not starting anything else, until these two quilts are finished. Or, I will end up with loads of WIPs to go with the other sewing and knitting projects I have laying around.


This last photo is of an embroidery I made for a friend.  It also sums up how my housekeeping skills have been this year - absent!

HAPPY CHRISTMAS and BEST WISHES for 2015

xxx