I can't quite believe exactly how long it has been since I last posted. I almost missed August altogether, which would have been a shame in many ways - but actually I'm quite looking forward to starting a new month. A fresh start. August has been trying, very trying, to say the least.
Starting off with a decision to clear my internet history, logins, cache etc etc - can you see where this is going? Yep, I lost my logins - and I don't use the same info for each log in. Security conscious me. Only I can't remember half of them. I'm still struggling with Flickr and a couple others. I may just give up, admit defeat and have to rejoin under some other info. What a palaver!!
We also found out that we can't yet get funding agreed for our daughter to attend a specialist residential school. The powers that hold the purse strings don't think we've tried everything yet. For those not in the know our daughter suffers with Reactive Attachment Disorder and life is often very hard. School holidays are horrendous - any break from a routine is disastrous to say the least! We're half way through finally getting a Statement of Special Educational Need, only that's all stopped for the holidays... We've not been able to get our Respite Care over the holidays (probably when we needed it most!) as people have been away themselves and the only weekend that was available to us happened to coincide with the anniversary of her moving in 6 years ago, and there was no way we wanted her anywhere else, but with us for that date!
So we're now left in the awful situation that she has now left Primary School, and has a place at the local secondary school - only all of the psychologists, social workers, therapists etc have said this will cause un-told problems for her. Some have suggested that we send her there, and once she's expelled they hope we'll be able to find appropriate schooling. I guess they subscribe to the Let her Fail school of thought. As parents we subscribe to the "avoid causing further heartache school" There is possibly a little light at the end of the tunnel thanks to the Psychiatrist we saw last week, he thinks it's "wholly inappropriate" to set a child up to fail. Me thinks he talks sense!! Of course not knowing where she is going to school is extremely unsettling for her and results in pretty horrendous behaviour for us, and currently with no end in sight.
Sewing isn't even providing a distraction at the moment, my head is fried with all that is going on, so posting and updating are going to be sporadic to say the least... though I do now have my blogger login written down!!! :)
Thursday, 27 August 2009
Monday, 27 July 2009
Ooh!
I've been nominated for a little blog award by the yummy Dorset Cereals. How lovely it that? Perhaps it was the power of Tiggy? Not only that, but they've also got a fab give-away at the moment for some delicious cakes from Honeybuns, a set of Cornishware from TG Green that has my name all over it and a fabulous prize draw for a new campervan.In other delightful news (and yes, it's raining again) I have been fortunate enough to win one of the giveaways that the amazing Wee Birdy had on offer last week. If you've never checked out her blog you are seriously missing a delightful trick.
My prize?
A lovely limited edition print by Gemma Jones celebrating Wee Birdy's 2nd Blogiversary. I'm so so thrilled.
Photo courtesy of Wee Birdy & Gemma JonesThanks Gemma, Wee Birdy and Dorset Cereals for making my week!
Friday, 24 July 2009
I hear raindrops
There I was this morning, enjoying the wonderful summer sun and planning a trip to the seaside tomorrow, checking out routes and beaches, when the sky began to darken. Then there it was - lashings of rain and deep rumbles of thunder.
Hark, don't you? Hark, don't you?
Pit-a-patter raindrops, Pit-a-patter raindrops,
I'm wet through, so are you.
I see blue skies, I see blue skies
Way up high, way up high,
Hurry up sunshine, hurry up sunshine,
We'll soon dry, we'll soon dry.
I stood in the doorway to the garden, watching the birds fly out of the trees - quite clever those birds, listening to the rumbles and the pit-a-patter of raindrops on to the patio. Oh well, at least it's filling up the water butt, and I do think my garden looks lovely in the rain. 
It seems to bring out the warmth in the fence and patio. In fact my long term plan would be to make my back garden into a rain garden. Although I do have to work out how I'm going to orchestrate this, particularly as most rain gardens seem to collate the water from the house and then flow it away through the garden, downhill. My garden goes uphill. I think this is going to take a lot of thinking!
I hear thunder, I hear thunder, 
It seems to bring out the warmth in the fence and patio. In fact my long term plan would be to make my back garden into a rain garden. Although I do have to work out how I'm going to orchestrate this, particularly as most rain gardens seem to collate the water from the house and then flow it away through the garden, downhill. My garden goes uphill. I think this is going to take a lot of thinking!
Hark, don't you? Hark, don't you?
Pit-a-patter raindrops, Pit-a-patter raindrops,
I'm wet through, so are you.
I see blue skies, I see blue skies
Way up high, way up high,
Hurry up sunshine, hurry up sunshine,
We'll soon dry, we'll soon dry.
Domestics
There is something special about Mondays and Fridays to me. They seem to be the days I feel most domestic. Monday is all about tidying up after the weekend, and putting the house right and dearly hoping it'll last until Friday - meaning that I can sew and work in the days in between. By Friday I'm also realising that I can't ignore the ironing pile, or the fact the pantry is running low. So Friday involves cups of tea, menu planning, shopping, cooking and more housework.
At this point it would be fair to point out that as a Virgo I have a thing for lists and so it should come as no surprise that I even have a list for housework. No seriously. I am that sad. In between looking after a family, working, running a small business and just life in general, I find it very comforting that I have a list reminding me that the oven needs cleaning, or the washer filter needs to be cleaned out. Doesn't always mean I do it! School holidays leave me swinging between wanting to be the mum that'll drop all to be spontaneous and seize the moment and wanting to try to keep some sort of routine going. Currently I've got the children ensconced in front of the television - not something we do terribly often, whilst I spend an hour or two whizzing round the house trying to put it in some sort of order, whilst mentally planning next week's menus, and thinking up new fabric combination's for more bunting.
At this point it would be fair to point out that as a Virgo I have a thing for lists and so it should come as no surprise that I even have a list for housework. No seriously. I am that sad. In between looking after a family, working, running a small business and just life in general, I find it very comforting that I have a list reminding me that the oven needs cleaning, or the washer filter needs to be cleaned out. Doesn't always mean I do it! School holidays leave me swinging between wanting to be the mum that'll drop all to be spontaneous and seize the moment and wanting to try to keep some sort of routine going. Currently I've got the children ensconced in front of the television - not something we do terribly often, whilst I spend an hour or two whizzing round the house trying to put it in some sort of order, whilst mentally planning next week's menus, and thinking up new fabric combination's for more bunting.
Thursday, 23 July 2009
Tiggy
Oh dear. Having lost our beloved Talisker earlier this year, we've now lost another cat. This time it was Tiggy.
Tiggy was an ace character. We inherited him from my Uncle who passed away in September 2005, about the time that I was recovering from major surgery and feeling very emotional. Tiggy was going to be put down because no-one wanted him. In a flurry of tears I announced, quite huffily, that I would have him and there was no way he was to be put down because his owner had passed away. So unable to drive, my mum and sister were made to collect him from the vets where he was on Death Row and bring him home to me.Poor thing didn't know what had hit him. He'd left a quiet home in Blackpool (no really, the home was quiet!) where he'd led a royal life, then only cat child of my wonderful great aunt and uncle. He'd dined on the best cooked foods - often from Marks and Spencers (my aunt who'd passed away previously did not cook) and even had his own armchair. He suffered the indignity of a long drive down from Cheadle, where he was at the vets, to Northamptonshire to arrive in the middle of our chaotic home. With two other cats, a large dog, two children and definitely no M&S food. Not what you'd call quiet. He cried for a day or two, and I stayed with him, and within no time at all we were best buddies. How can you not love a cat who has a passion for cake?!
As the dog became more cat like, Tiggy became more dog like. He'd run if you called him. He'd harass you for food and would follow me around wherever I went. If I came upstairs to work, he'd sulkily walk off to his bed to await my return and when I finally returned he'd open one eye and look reproachfully at me.
Tiggy was with us for almost 4 years and last Wednesday he sadly left us. We knew he'd been unwell for a while. He was losing weight, he was old, but he went into kidney failure and so we had to make a sorrowful trip to the vets. I had him on my lap, in his cage, and he got himself so I could stroke him all the way there. I stayed with him, stroking him, thanking him for all the lovely times we'd had right up until the end.
Rest in peace Tiggy - you deserve it. Thank you for all the fun we had.
Tiggy was an ace character. We inherited him from my Uncle who passed away in September 2005, about the time that I was recovering from major surgery and feeling very emotional. Tiggy was going to be put down because no-one wanted him. In a flurry of tears I announced, quite huffily, that I would have him and there was no way he was to be put down because his owner had passed away. So unable to drive, my mum and sister were made to collect him from the vets where he was on Death Row and bring him home to me.Poor thing didn't know what had hit him. He'd left a quiet home in Blackpool (no really, the home was quiet!) where he'd led a royal life, then only cat child of my wonderful great aunt and uncle. He'd dined on the best cooked foods - often from Marks and Spencers (my aunt who'd passed away previously did not cook) and even had his own armchair. He suffered the indignity of a long drive down from Cheadle, where he was at the vets, to Northamptonshire to arrive in the middle of our chaotic home. With two other cats, a large dog, two children and definitely no M&S food. Not what you'd call quiet. He cried for a day or two, and I stayed with him, and within no time at all we were best buddies. How can you not love a cat who has a passion for cake?!
As the dog became more cat like, Tiggy became more dog like. He'd run if you called him. He'd harass you for food and would follow me around wherever I went. If I came upstairs to work, he'd sulkily walk off to his bed to await my return and when I finally returned he'd open one eye and look reproachfully at me.
Tiggy was with us for almost 4 years and last Wednesday he sadly left us. We knew he'd been unwell for a while. He was losing weight, he was old, but he went into kidney failure and so we had to make a sorrowful trip to the vets. I had him on my lap, in his cage, and he got himself so I could stroke him all the way there. I stayed with him, stroking him, thanking him for all the lovely times we'd had right up until the end.
Rest in peace Tiggy - you deserve it. Thank you for all the fun we had.
Friday, 17 July 2009
In the Kitchen
I love my kitchen, I love the feel of the natural wood. I love that the work top is scarred from years of use, and most of all I love this shelf.
The fact that it sits above the tea shelf is not merely coincidence. Tea and cookery books go together so well. Particularly if the cookery book is filled with yummy cakes and recipes for sweet treats.
I have my trusty old faithful: The complete guide to Cookery, where I'd be without this tome is anyones guess. It's absolutely perfect for when I have a whim. Like the time I brought back squid - and then had to work out what to do with it, or the time my husband brought back a brace of pheasants a work collegue had given him. It covers everything from cooking and carving right through to preserving. The fact that it is over 12 years old does not seem to matter one bit - that's if you can unstick the pages of course!
Then I have a flurry of Delia books, the 'How To Cook...' series given to me by my Grandmother, and her complete series given to me by my Dad when I hit 30 - and my cooking had matured!
I've got the staple Jamies in there too, from his first two Naked Chef books to his latest Ministry book - which I love for it's simple photography and it acts as a great stepping stone from childrens cookery books to proper recipes for my children.
In fact I have to say in general I've found cookbooks for children to be a bit of a disaster, either too simplistic, or too fancy, or plainly full of things that either I wouldn't want my children to eat, or that they wouldn't want to eat either! The only one we possess (because it's full of nice photographs, simple instructions and a decent mix of foods) is Kids in the Kitchen. Sadly it isn't an easy one to get hold of now, probably because it is full of lots of yummy food!!
And of course, my kitchen would not be complete without my trust Nigella books. I don't care whether you love her or hate her, and I'll confess to some squirming on the sofa when she pops out of bed in the middle of the night, full face of makeup on, hair perfect and wearing a red silky dressing gown... but you can not fault the woman's recipes. Everytime, and I mean everytime I try out a new recipe from her it works. End of. You can not ask for anything more from a cookery book. I first bought her 'How to Eat' book, and devoured it as you would a novel. At bedtime! No photos, nothing to compare your hard earned slog of an attempt to a photo taken by a fantastically superb food photographer. No reason to feel a failure either!
Of course I then purchased Feast - which, if I'm honest, I'm not so enamoured with, however that didn't disuade me from Domestic Goddess, thank heavens as this book is wonderful, and nothing can compare to the smell of some cakey goodness coming from the heart of the home. Naturally I had to purchase Express too - and I love it in the same way that I hate Delia's How to cheat. Quick food shouldn't be about tinned this and that, but about quality food, prepared quickly and simply and I know Nigella got some stick for some of the recipes - like the one that takes something like 12 hours to cook... but I get it, it's a simple recipe that takes no time to prepare, just time to cook and seriously - when it's cooking in the oven you aren't really held ransom to it are you!
There is just one more title I want to add to the collection - and that's the book by the Hummingbird Bakery. Have you seen those cakes!!! I think that is going to form the basis of some serious cake envy and any book that raises cake as a wonderous foodstuff gets my vote!
Yum x
The fact that it sits above the tea shelf is not merely coincidence. Tea and cookery books go together so well. Particularly if the cookery book is filled with yummy cakes and recipes for sweet treats.
I have my trusty old faithful: The complete guide to Cookery, where I'd be without this tome is anyones guess. It's absolutely perfect for when I have a whim. Like the time I brought back squid - and then had to work out what to do with it, or the time my husband brought back a brace of pheasants a work collegue had given him. It covers everything from cooking and carving right through to preserving. The fact that it is over 12 years old does not seem to matter one bit - that's if you can unstick the pages of course!
Then I have a flurry of Delia books, the 'How To Cook...' series given to me by my Grandmother, and her complete series given to me by my Dad when I hit 30 - and my cooking had matured!
I've got the staple Jamies in there too, from his first two Naked Chef books to his latest Ministry book - which I love for it's simple photography and it acts as a great stepping stone from childrens cookery books to proper recipes for my children.
In fact I have to say in general I've found cookbooks for children to be a bit of a disaster, either too simplistic, or too fancy, or plainly full of things that either I wouldn't want my children to eat, or that they wouldn't want to eat either! The only one we possess (because it's full of nice photographs, simple instructions and a decent mix of foods) is Kids in the Kitchen. Sadly it isn't an easy one to get hold of now, probably because it is full of lots of yummy food!!
And of course, my kitchen would not be complete without my trust Nigella books. I don't care whether you love her or hate her, and I'll confess to some squirming on the sofa when she pops out of bed in the middle of the night, full face of makeup on, hair perfect and wearing a red silky dressing gown... but you can not fault the woman's recipes. Everytime, and I mean everytime I try out a new recipe from her it works. End of. You can not ask for anything more from a cookery book. I first bought her 'How to Eat' book, and devoured it as you would a novel. At bedtime! No photos, nothing to compare your hard earned slog of an attempt to a photo taken by a fantastically superb food photographer. No reason to feel a failure either!
Of course I then purchased Feast - which, if I'm honest, I'm not so enamoured with, however that didn't disuade me from Domestic Goddess, thank heavens as this book is wonderful, and nothing can compare to the smell of some cakey goodness coming from the heart of the home. Naturally I had to purchase Express too - and I love it in the same way that I hate Delia's How to cheat. Quick food shouldn't be about tinned this and that, but about quality food, prepared quickly and simply and I know Nigella got some stick for some of the recipes - like the one that takes something like 12 hours to cook... but I get it, it's a simple recipe that takes no time to prepare, just time to cook and seriously - when it's cooking in the oven you aren't really held ransom to it are you!
There is just one more title I want to add to the collection - and that's the book by the Hummingbird Bakery. Have you seen those cakes!!! I think that is going to form the basis of some serious cake envy and any book that raises cake as a wonderous foodstuff gets my vote!
Yum x
Wednesday, 15 July 2009
78 Derngate
Yesterday was our wedding anniversary and it's a day we always spend with each other. No work, no interruptions, just us. Together.
After a spot of light refreshments, we wandered off arm in arm to 78 Derngate, remodeled in 1916 by Charles Rennie Mackintosh for Mr & Mrs Bassett-Lowke.
The fireplace in the front room/entrance hall
The wood, glass and acrylic panel adding light to the stairs going both up to the bedrooms and down to the kitchen. The acrylic panels were used so that one side could be yellow and yet white on the otherside.
The full height door - so the 'Tree of Life' design could continue round the room.
The family room is not quite so Mackintosh in style - he was limited by the constraints of the owner, it would have had a wonderful view from the big clear window down to the river, before new houses were put up.
The garden originally stopped at the end of the jasmine too - and it smelt glorious.
Mackintosh was able to put some of his softer curved designs into the newel post
The white reflector was essential, all the walls and woodwork are black.
The main bedroom - with 'en suite' in the corner. Its a lovely soft dove grey with soft pink Mackintosh roses all the way round the border and steps out on to a beautiful covered veranda.
The ultra modern guest bedroom, with ceiling canopy created by attaching fabric to the ceiling and down the otherside towards the windows
The original door lamp above the door - I'm on the lookout now for some quality glass paint to replicate this in my own front lamp.
I had a lovely day, it was a wonderful experience and the perfect way to celebrate 11 years of marriage. If you get the chance to visit I heartily recommend it.
After a spot of light refreshments, we wandered off arm in arm to 78 Derngate, remodeled in 1916 by Charles Rennie Mackintosh for Mr & Mrs Bassett-Lowke. 
The fireplace in the front room/entrance hall
The wood, glass and acrylic panel adding light to the stairs going both up to the bedrooms and down to the kitchen. The acrylic panels were used so that one side could be yellow and yet white on the otherside.
The full height door - so the 'Tree of Life' design could continue round the room.
The family room is not quite so Mackintosh in style - he was limited by the constraints of the owner, it would have had a wonderful view from the big clear window down to the river, before new houses were put up.
The garden originally stopped at the end of the jasmine too - and it smelt glorious.
Mackintosh was able to put some of his softer curved designs into the newel post
The white reflector was essential, all the walls and woodwork are black.
The main bedroom - with 'en suite' in the corner. Its a lovely soft dove grey with soft pink Mackintosh roses all the way round the border and steps out on to a beautiful covered veranda.
The ultra modern guest bedroom, with ceiling canopy created by attaching fabric to the ceiling and down the otherside towards the windows
The original door lamp above the door - I'm on the lookout now for some quality glass paint to replicate this in my own front lamp.
I had a lovely day, it was a wonderful experience and the perfect way to celebrate 11 years of marriage. If you get the chance to visit I heartily recommend it.
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