Not done much

Have not done much of anything today and don't know why.

Dad's golf tolley came, it was funny I was looking out of the window when the delivery man pulled up outside Cobbydale court, the driver saw me and gave me the thumbs up sign before driving off to turn round. I went to open the gate just before Ken opened his gate, so it was good timing.

Checking the Actifry cook book found that you can heat up spring rolls in it, so will be trying that soon

Offered Laura Mason last night via text to make Laura a sampler when she gets married, she did not know what a sampler is so don't know if I will be doing one and when

your my customer

Offered to wait in for Dad's golf trolley to be delivered if he would collect my embroidery. Whilst washing up he rang to say there had been a problem with the mount, would I ring M J Framers. Julie answered the call and said when she saw the picture she knew it belonged to 'her customer' I said I was happy for her to choose and a mount as she has always come up with good suggestions. She did offer that Manny could deliver it for me but I said I would go and collect it. It was due to be ready by 3.30 but got a message before 11am to say it was ready.

The picture is brilliant and they chose a double mount, it is far better than anything I could have chosen and they did not charge extra for the extra mount so think I came off very well. After seeing it I am more excited about finishing the one I am working on.

Mum seemed much better today and my feet have not been as painful as yesterday, thank God.

Dad checked up and his trolly is not due until tomorrow

Took some photographs of flowers in the garden and realised I had been so busy looking at a large tree that I hadn't noticed the small pear tree in the garden was in blossom

Utterly butterless ears

I woke up saying "utterly butterless ears" really don't think I was fancying 'Utterly Butterly' as I don't like any sort of butter but it made me smile.

My feet have been very bad today and have been fed up of them.

The sewing is looking very good and think the photographs I am taking of it are improving. Get the last one back from the framers in the morning hope it looks good.

liked you better when you were in Norway

My feet have not hurt as much as yesterday, which is a blessing.

Was going to do some washing but Dad beat me to it, which upset me, especially as I was rushing to get dressed to do it and he left it for me to hang out, the worst job in the world. He was also out when it was time to bring it in.

Mum is certainly feeling better as she wanted to take over the cooking and started snapping at me, I did tell her that I liked her better when she was in Norway but we are okay now.

My sewing is looking really good and am very pleased with the way it is looking

cheese pie and missing a book out

What a horrible day it has been with my feet it is 8pm and have already taken 6 pain killers and they are hurting so much. Am sorry to say I snapped at Mum when she joked about getting me to do something for her.

Have not done much sewing but what has been done looks good.

We had Quiche Lorraine for our meal we had it at school only it was called cheese pie have always liked it, shame we dont have it very often.

Finished valley of horses, started to read the first page of the next book only to find out I was missing a book out, it was so nice to find that there are three more books to read in the series, it is like reading about old friends.

Looked out of the kitchen window and notice that the forsythia is coming out but only part way up and thought it made an interesting photograph

looking ahead

Mum is still suffering with her gout and having Dad and I running after her. It is hard to be patient when I am in pain too.

Got lots of sewing done today, the picture really is looking good, the colours are beautiful and think it will be an elegant picture when finished. Part of me want to work hard to get the picture finished another part of me wants to make the kit last as long as possible

Been thinking of my next project, it was all sorted was going to do a picture of the 'Northern Lights' for a Christmas present but Mum seems to have gone off the picture. So it might be the Victorian Sampler next I want to have one with a large boarder full of colour think I have gone off the idea of a verse and would rather have an alphabet.

Time to e-mail Hisako

first attempt/gout

Got an e-mail from Japan this morning, Hisako replied to the e-mail I was going to send before I woke up to send it. She asked me who has cereal for lunch on suggestions for her pack up, the reply could be interesting.

Finding it hard to deal with Mum's gout, am sure she is in lots of pain, but it is only one foot. If I had stayed in bed every time my feet hurt would have been in bed for over 2 years now, the fact she is feeling sick with the tablets is something I have been dealing with am just having to get on with life - moan over with

Went with Uncle Peter to see a steam train, don't know which one it was but Uncle Peter was trying to tell me which settings to use on my camera, I did not understand what he was saying but took some practice shots and apart from taking the first shot too soon so only got a couple of shots with the aid of the crop tool they have come out well, what do you think?

On the way back we passed Mum's cousin Michael and the lady I presume is wife No 3 or 4 He was looking like a rougher version of his dad.

Time to get back to sewing

it is growing

The picture is growing really well, starting to work down to the bottom now before going to work to the top.

Mum's foot has been bad again today, she went to the doctor and has gout. She just sits there and expects Dad and I to run after her. It makes me feel better that I am not giving into the pain in my feet which is getting worse.

dentist

Whilst getting the car out, I saw Sally's Mum who said she had wanted to see me to see how I am as I have had one thing after another!

Mum's foot was hurting today, so they did not go shopping.

I went to Keighley parking in Morrisons car park. I took my last embroidery to be framed it will take a week and will cost £42.00 which is good value for money, looking forward to seeing it. After going there, I went to the dentist only had the usual scrape and polish so that is it for another 6 months.

I am fed up of feeling sick and being in pain

enjoying it

Spent the day stitching the Japanese Garden, it has been so nice using lots of colour and tiny stitches bliss.

Shame I am feeling so sick, even the Indian Brandee did not work today.

Got a text from my dentist this morning to remind me of my appointment tomorrow. I had forgotten so the technology worked

Finished

The sepia toned picture was finished at 8.30 last night it would have been finished earlier but as it is a tradition to watch Hairy Bikers whilst putting the last few stitches in decided to wait and watch them on TV rather than Youtube. Took the picture upto Pam and Brian's they seemed to like it. Showed Brian how to change the sky on some photographs. This is something I have been finding it hard to do before yet it was easy.

Brian pulled my beautiful plait which made me smile, how long have I waited for a plait that was long enough to be pulled

It is good to be back doing something with small stitches and lots of colour and where I can actually say what I am stitching in this case Mount Fuji.

Hairy Bikers

Had a wonderful day today, drove to Skipton to meet Liz and Dawn at Morrisons, we had a drink there, I had a croissant which was delicious. We then had a walk round Focus and Tesco.

Took a walk up to the bridge to look at the statue of Freddy Trueman the photographs I took have come out very well, shame my feet were too painful to go and have a closer look. It is something I want to do soon.

Driving through Kildwick was listening to John Denver who started singing 'Take me home country roads' which I thought was appropriate.

At the moment waiting for the Hairy Bikers as Hairy Bakers to come on so that I can keep the tradition up of finishing a sewing project whilst watching them. Have only got 3 stitches to put in

another first

Had another very painful day feeling sick. Mum and Dad went walking with Aunty Susan and Uncle Peter, enjoyed having the house to myself again.

Got a bit of sewing done and can see the end in sight was surprised how well the horse looked without much work.

Achieved another ambition by being able to wring my hair a simple thing but it gave me pleasure. Looking forward to plaiting my hair again in the morning

settling down

Things have settled down now, and we are getting back into a routine, although Mum should not be sleeping as much as she is.

Had an awful day with my feet hurting, think they are getting worse instead of better.

Was going to spend the evening doing more sewing but Aunty Susand and Uncle Peter came over so spending the evening playing on the computer

settling down

Things are settling down at home now but I miss having the house to my self and the quietness

It has been so warm today, it is strange seeing Mum in a thick jumper and me in a summer skirt and top, which of us is ill.

The sewing for Pam and Brian is growing but am impatient to get back to working with colour given myself two weeks to finish it, which is achievable

volcano and lodging

Picked my parents up at the airport without any trouble, only had about 30 minutes to wait for them, not bad when you consider I left home 5 minutes before they were due to leave Amsterdam!

We had fish and chips in Murgatroyd's car park which was very nice although we were a bit cramped. It was midnight when I got ready to settle down.

They have only been back a day and I feel like a lodger in my own home, I want to scream and shout why are you buying things with tomato in and if you are going to fall asleep go to bed to do it, so I can at least move without fear of waking you, feel all the good of their holiday has gone

All flights into the UK today have been cancelled because of ash from a volcano in Iceland. First thing this morning we were relieved now am regretting it.

2 minutes to spare

Saw Mum and Dad in Bergen on a web cam which was quite exciting, then they go through on the webcam from the hotel which was very nice.

Watching Great British Menue last night I realised that we did not have any bread, so put that on this morning before going to meet Joan in Skipton. It took me 20 minutes to get from the bridge by the hospital to the Tesco garage, as there was a person laying in the road outside the hospital.

We looked round some charity shops after having a coffee. I got home two minutes before the bread was ready.

My Plait looks tidier than yesterdays and is still making me smile.

It is nearly 2pm and I have yet to pick up a needle and as you can see hardly did any yester will have to go and do some now

decisions made and foot spa

got all the sewing problems sorted yesterday, it should be straigh forward now.

was just getting ready for a bath when Pam text me to say they were on there way up. They brought me a foot spa to try so I am sitting here with my feet being vibrated and a cross stitch kit that they want me to do for them so there will be two pictures on the go for a while.

Had a dream last night that I was looking for Dad I knew he was about because I could hear his computer, then realised it was my computer that I could hear. I am obviously ready for them to come home, hope I have got the right day that it is tomorrow and not today.

In the post this morning came a brochure for Norway, which made me laugh, they could at least let them leave the country before sending it

For the first time in my life I have my hair in a plat, it is so exciting, it is not the neatest of plats but it is mine and I love it

end of holiday feeling

Of course I exceeded my target for yesterday finishing the panel I was working on, so the target for today is to set a distinct area of 20 stitches and see how high up I can get to think most of it will be in half stitch so it should not be too difficult to do.

My memory is very bad so this morning after deciding to cook pea pancakes for lunch I was amazed to find I could remember the book the recipe is in and the page number! Of course when it came to making it found that we have no milk, it really was not worth buying any milk as non of us drink it, so trying it with flat fizzy water, watch this space to see how it works.

On holiday I always get that end of holiday feeling usually after two or three days when I am ready for home, it does not matter how much there is to see or do, I just want to go home. Three days left of my stay cation and I really do not want it to end, it will be really nice to see my parents but at this moment in time, I don't want to take another holiday away but would like them to have many. Really don't feel the need to go out shopping and feel very very content!

broken scissors

Yesterday wa another quiet day have finally sorted out where I went wrong with my cross stitch and it is growing nicely nearly ready to start the sky.

I ventured out to the local co-op to buy some lemonade and was shocked when asking a young lad where it was to be taken straight to it. This was a big improvement as usually they are most un helpful there, so the youth of today can show some of the older employees how things should be done. I no longer feel that I don't want to go back there, and might even go and buy more than two packets of crisps and two bottles of pop.

The weather is warming up nicely I even sat on the bench reading yesterday the first of the year as it is only 10th April think that is doing very well.

Back to it, want to put at least one stitch of sky in today.

up and down

Today I will get the pattern of the cross stitch correct such a simple mistake glad I have finally seen the light.

Yesterday was very up and down, up because I realised that when downloading photographs I don't have to make a new folder download them to that then transfer them, all is needed is to use the same folder name and it puts the new photographs at the end easy! Down because my feet were very painful, first time have taken 8 tablets in a day. Up because Pam and Brian came we had a good chat up because I managed to plat my hair for the first time an ambition achieved, will do it and wear it for the first time on Thursday

Now is the time to finally get this sewing right!

Getting there

How can I call myself an expert stitcher when I am having so many problems with what is really a very basic pattern lots of half stitches with no distinct pattern, that is the problem. There is not a shape you can see to work to like the shape of an elephant, there are no quarter or three quarter stitches, no French knots. The biggest problem has been sorting it out, am getting there but will be very glad to get onto things like bridges. Will continue without jumping to where it will be more fun and where you can see things take shape.

The lack of conversation has now got exhilarating to the point of not wanting to go out and talk. It looks like in my future there will be no going on buses to Keighley just to talk to someone for me.

Put my pasta in a pan of boiling water last night with the lid on so it will just need heating up with the fish and mushroom sauce for lunch today

noisy silence.

It took me a day of doing half stitches before started putting in full stitches, have made a couple of mistakes which will mean a bit of juggeling to do but it is only in the trees so is not a disaster, after a day and half of stitching still cannot tell what it is.

I like noise, never drive without a tape on or talking to a passenger, don't sew without listening to something, play music or tv when getting dressed, yet I am thoroughly enjoying days when I don't speak to anyone and want many more of them! It was so nice when Uncle Peter came and I loved chatting to him yesterday but would have been very happy if he just sat there in silence, like doing my talking by using my hands to type. When I am well enough to work again will have to re evaluate my career as I don't want to go back to another job which involves talking all day, any suggestions what I could do?

Was going to have a day in bed today just because I could after 5 mins I was up and getting dressed wanting to be in the conservatory guess I am just not a stay in bed girl

can you tell what it is yet

Yesterday was a strange day, felt like having finished my last project that the new project could be more relaxing and spent time platting the threads onto the cards and as I use another skein platting that.

Because I had been walking round more my feet hurt so back on the pain killers and feeling sick. Just been to Morrisons, so will spend the rest of the day with my feet on a hot waterbottle

2 1/2 days of silence

My two and a half days of silence were broken yesterday lunchtime by the phone ringing and yes it was a wrong number does saying hello and no amount to having a conversation? I think all landlines should be banished and eliminate wrong numbers. With a mobile you get to see the callers name if you know them if not you have a choice to ignore the call, wish I had done that with the land line!

Got a text from Mum yesterday, their luggage had finally caught up with them and they were happy in clean clothes.

Today is Monday which means hair washing but I forgot to wash it, because there was no greece this is a big improvement, used to have to wash it every day so going down to once a week is brilliant.

I spent all yesterday sewing and I mean all yesterday, began to think the last bear would never be finished but you can see it has been finished the next big problem is stitching "Singer" and as most of my gold thread has been either used or gone up the vacuum what thread should it be done in. Gold thread is the worst to work with but more about that when it is finally finished now to finish all the background

48 hours and counting

It has been over 48 hours since I last spoke to anyone, this has been a fantasy of mine and could be my future. It feels really strange and I keep thinking I should be bothered by this the truth is it feels very strange and I have no urge to go to Keighley on the bus to talk to people or to go to shops, not that any are open on Easter Sunday. I think I could cope with my future being like this if the furniture was more comfy.

Celebrating Easter Sunday with Mock Goose for lunch which will be brill.

My sewing target for yesterday was to finish the last cotton reel as you can see that was finished and the last teddy was started. The aim for today is to finish the bear, Monday to finish the background and Tuesday to finish the back stitching. Want to start a new tradition of watching the 'Hairy Bikers' whilst doing the back stitch after I was watching them whilst finishing the picture of Chester.

sewing stay cation

Got to the Airport okay without too much twitching on my part, not only was I sitting in the back of my car but I was at the drivers side, it felt very strange. On the way home called in at Tesco and bought some cooked muscles, a fish pie mixture and a film for my old camera.

Got quite a lot of sewing done, really please with the way the mouse has turned out as you can see from the two photographs.

Heard from Mum to say they got the boat okay but their luggage was still in Amsterdam, hope they get it soon.

It is over 24 hours since I last spoke to any one

It was the day before

In less than 10 hours I will have been driven to Leeds/Bradford being a passenger in anyone's car is a pleasure and I am a very good and happy passenger. The problem is I will be a passenger in my own car, I get very nervous and jumpy. My biggest fear is the drive home, how will I cope? Driving to Skipton makes my feet hurt so much, even with painkillers. Been worrying about it for days. The plan was originally to drive straight to Skipton to by some muscles for a special 3 course meal. Might end up having a chicken Kiev instead.

My stitching is growing well and have started the mouse, not that you will be able to tell. Will take two photographs each day of my sewing to celebrate my sewing staycation and to see how much I can get done in a day.