HELLO MUM AND DAD!!!

(they've just entered the 21st century and the virtual world!!)

This is ...A bit of a catch up!!

Now I sat down with loads to say, but two hours of surfing later, and it's still all a jumble of nonsense in my head with no real discernable shape or form. So no change there then.
The summer has almost gone, in a flurry of camping and giggles. In a week they'll all be back at school in new shiny shoes and slightly too big polo shirts ("Room for growth/shrinking in the tumble dryer" I'll say), the house will be so quiet. Normal service will be resumed. No more sharing the computer or the chocolate -Yippee!!
I've managed to miss a few of the 'This is ...' topics over the summer, so I'm going to shove 'em all in one post.
Are you sitting comfortably? Good, this could go on a bit!


First up: This is my... trade secret.
Now I should cover something to do with pattern cutting or sewing, but no it relates to camping! Because I'm obviously such an expert after three trips.....
Top Tip No.1: Take an umbrella, it WILL rain.
Top Tip No.2: When you pack away your tent, DON'T pack your handbag INSIDE the tent. Proves to be inconvenient. Especially if that's where you keep your front door keys. Oh how we laughed and laughed.....

Next up: This is...a Work in Progress ( or Operation Tea Cosy)

1. Wait to the last available day to begin Tea Cosy ( the day before it's needed is my preference, even though I had a special request last March for one after this one appeared at my house...) and then trash house (even more) to find every loved scrap of print, trim and fabric....

2. Drive self potty (ha!ha! geddit?!!) picking and arranging said fabrics. Ask Kids for input for Aunty Helens Tea Cosy. Ignore kids, what do they know anyway..
3. STOP! Hang out washing and feed people.
4. Make very professional pattern out of wadding ;) Realize taking picture of white wadding against white wall is never going to have a happy ending, DOH!

5. Chop and stitch merrily away creating a front and back.
6. STOP! Go get in washing because it's bloody raining again..

7. Try to take 'arty' creative shots of WiP. Give up and just take bad photos.

8. Go to work and leave kitchen looking like a health and safety accident....

9. Come back 4 hours later and embroider bits and pieces of text (Tea...a drink with Jam and Bread.....) , applique some spoons while talking to recipient on phone and tumble drying wet clothes. Forget to take any more photos.
10. Stitch front and back together, add wadding and lining.

11. Ta Da! Finished!
12. Go and dye hair, after all it's only 10 o'clock...Remember to wrap present!

Well just time to say This is...How I Like to Spend my Weekend.

Helen (the-cat-hater), moi and Rachel (Iris)

The tea cosy was made for Helen-the-cat-haters 40th birthday, and to celebrate she organized a girls weekend in Brighton! Now this doesn't happen every weekend, but we shopped, ate, found lovely tea shops, visited the Pavillion, shopped a bit more, went on The Pier, paddled in the sea and went to a very glamorous club with banquette seating (bonkette seating my Mum called them innocently once, wondering why I looked horrified..) and a live Salsa band! We salsa-d till 2am!! 'Twas the most fabulous time, great to make new friends (hello ladies!) and great just to be with two friends that I've known for more than 20 years, you see we three were at college together, and I have a suspicion in 40 years time if you're on Brighton Seafront you might spot some 80 year-old-babes laughing their heads off. We'll be the ones with the handcrafted Zimmer frames....

Quick hello...

Hi! I'm back and inbetween camping trips...and with a (stripey) tan!! Dorset was lovely and warm enough to paddle in the sea, kinda wet at night and cloudy during the day, which it has to be said is far better than we expected. My Mum and Dad came to visit and stayed in the tent on Tuesday night, by Wednesday afternoon the girls decided they would go back with them! WIMPS!! Mind, that was after we drove for about an hour so we could see The Cerne Abbas Giant, I don't think they were that impressed. (Let me just say that I thought he could do with a bikini wax...) So Mr.M and myself stayed on, deciding we'd pack up the tent a day early on Thursday instead of Friday, only to get up to sunshine! Bloody typical! So we were forced, I tell you, forced to sit and read books for several hours in peace and quiet, in the sunshine!

Off again to Wales in the tent on Sunday for a couple of days, that is if the car's suspension can take the weight of shoes and eyeliner that a teenager needs on a camping trip!!

I've been neglecting you my lovely blogette friends! A whole week sans enfant can do that to a girl ;) ( Thanks Mum and Dad-in-Law!!)

And now I'd like to issue a severe weather warning for the Dorset coast. Oh yes, we're off in the tent! So I offer apologies to the south west of England, say goodbye to the sun - I've packed my fleece and flip flops, we're on our way!!

See you all in a couple of weeks!