the computer is in intensive care

Our computer is close to expiring....... We have an external hard drive which last weekend i was going to load all my photographs, music and other documents on to just in case there was ever a problem with the main computer..... too late. Bruce is hoping to do something to retrive all my docs etc but not until next week........................when he is on leave. We were supposed to be having a staycation and do things like visit Stonehenge, Chedder Gorge and other tourist attractions as we should be moving next year (only 10 1/2 months left here now) and these things should be done.
So at the moment we are using the laptop. The decision we have almost made is do we now make the change to an Apple Mac or stay as we are, I opt for the Apple, but, there is more than me to consider, Jake will be coming home from school at half term holidays with prep-can that be done on an apple and taken back to school.... can I still use picasa and lots of other things are going through our heads.
Meanwhile, I begin the marathon of name tape sewing in preparation for Jake going back to school,
the summer holidays go by so quickly....................................... I think that will be the sum total of my craft at the moment, the boy has changed his mind about colours for his quilt (again!!) So he has until tomorrow to make up his mind then I choose. I thought pink, purple with lime green ;-))))))

The last few days......

We had a super weekend with the out-laws, our meal at Loch Fyne in Bath was amazing, the food as ever was superb.
Laycock was beautiful in the sunshine and when i have downloaded them will put up photographs, mother in law was impressed....... there are some amazing shops there and i bought a 'thing' (husbands description) for fruit (piccies later) then home for a BBQ.
Monday, Bruce away at 5.15 AM!! for a few days, and Later on that day Jake and I loaded the car for our jolly with J,E and D. we arrived at the site got tents up, started the BBQ and the boys had a good time just running around with lots of space, not long after we had finished tea the heavens opened and it didn't stop raining until we packed up yesterday morning (wednesday). the 2 'big'boys read their books but E wanted to play games, which was ok but after the 3rd game of Star Wars trivial pursuit !!!!! we decided to go to Wells, not so good in the rain! will try again when the weather is better.

so today we have to stock up the cake tins with muffins blueberry and double choc chip, banana cake and cinnamon and rasin bread...........

Been busy

So not much on the craft front yet, but, we have been fruit picking (raspberries and a few goosberries) and have made jam and enough goosberry puree to make fools tonight. We have also made beetroot chutney for the store cupboard.

Do you like my hat? It took an evening to knit including the flower,(though i don't know if I'll put the flower on the hat) it was made from 1 ball of Sirdar Denim Ultra. Knitting is the one thing my mum can cope with (not too much mess)

The out-laws arrive tonight for the weekend, and told us to book a table at our favorite restraunt and they would take us out, soooooo I have booked a table at Loch Fyne in Bath, as a rule we don't eat out often, so it will be a real treat. We will also (at mother out-law's request) be going to the River Cottage Canteen in Bath and to Laycock Village.

Weather permitting Jake and I will be camping in Frome with our friends J,D,and the squeezable E.

On the plus side we have lived here 13 months which means we only have 11 months left here :-)). Don't get me wrong, I love the area to holiday or to visit friends but, it has been an incredibly lonely year, Bruce has been away a lot, and when you don't go to the school gates you don't meet anyone, and the journey to get Jake from school is hard work, worth it but hard work, .

The pictures have a mind of their own AAARRRGGGHHH!!!

Father and Son at the Piece Hall

These 2 pics are on the dog walk, and they look good even in the rain

The view from our bedroom window!!

The view from the bathroom!!!

Well here we are again, we had a good week in Yorkshire, we didn't get to do all we wanted the weather was so so but heyho! there will be other times.

The Piece Hall, Halifax

This was one of the views

We did however go to the Imperial War Museum in Manchester, if you haven't been then do try to go, we had a fantastic time we were there for about 5 hours and could have stayed longer. Another day we went into Halifax on the bus, our friends thought we were mad but it was nice for neither of us to drive. Whilst there we went to the Piece Hall, it was an enjoyable day out with a super lunch. It was a treat to wander round just enjoying the views. I bought a piece of velvet for my bag the colour is nocturnal purple from a shop called Feel Fabrics, they have the most amazing range of colours!! Though if you do go set yourself a limit and stick to it!!

We also had an afternoon in Hebden Bridge, the shops are great, (we used to live there a long time ago) Innovation is a treasure trove of goodies and of course no visit is complete without a visit to Joules China.

The week passed quicker than we wanted and were sad to leave, but we know we are welcome anytime day or night, (we do have our own key!) and for that we are grateful.

Back home we had a day to ourselves before Bruce went back to work and Atilla the Mum arrived, I have never quite lived up to my mum's expectations, and never will, so have given up cleaning like a mad woman before she arrives because her face is the same either way!!

The epic journey is done

The journey to get Jake from school is done!! I roasted in the car for 21/2 hours before stopping at Donnington Services to meet my friend and cool down, we had our lunch then back to our cars to continue the journey to York, the car (parked in the shade) was boiling and the temp on the dashboard read 36!! It was too hot and even with the air con it was still hot. So back on the motorway and more 40 mph zones!
A lovely evening with some of J's friends and next morning up to school to load up the car with all of Jake's bags, then a prep school parents picnic and in good british tradition the heavens opened, never seen so many people move so quickly. Speech Day followed with Jake getting a certificate for outstanding educational achievement (very proud mother couldn't get camera out of bag in time to take photograph).
So this week has been spent washing and ironing, baking (it's like trying to holding back the tide!!) and getting back together as a family.
Craft wise i WILL be making my bag, a quilt for Jake, knitting socks for J and taking photographs whilst in Yorkshire ( be there for a weeks holiday) hoping to schedule in a visit to the Rowan Wool Mill, Harlow Carr and Brimham Rocks for a picnic amongst other things. Back in a week .........

Not been sewing Jake's quilt but i have been doing this....

It is all hand sewn and made from Kaffe Fassett fabrics sent to me by my sister. All i have left to do now is back and quilt it, oh and find the fabric to back it!

What of Jake's quilt, well....., the fabrics are still in a bag waiting to be cut and sewn together, this i will do over the holidays and IT WILL be ready for him to take back to school in September!! This week is a time of getting things ready for the trip up to school and Jake coming home with all his 'stuff' then finding homes for everything, not easy when storage is not sufficient for the two of us and the dog!! On Thursday i begin the journey up north, the first part is to York to stay with a friend who is also collecting her son (who boards in York) from school on Friday, out for a nice

meal Thursday evening then Friday morning after an hours drive traffic permitting i should get to school in time to load up the car before a picnic followed by assembly, a trip to the uniform shop, bid a fond farewell to the houseparents (who were like parents to us as well!!) and matron and begin the long journey home. If we leave school at round 4.30pm we should get home by 11pm. The plus point is that we have 9 weeks together :-)). During that time we are going to begin learning Latin!! Jake will polish his knitting skills and learn to bake and cook simple meals all of this at his request i might add. Also i want to make a new bag to use over the summer............

Wandering round doing nothing

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Well here we are into a new year, and how far am i with Jake's quilt...... not very. I had all the fabrics sorted, only they were all over his bedroom floor and they had to be put away before he came home from school for his Christmas break and have not seen the light of day since. I must get myself into gear because once i do it will be done in no time, so at the moment i am wandering round the house doing very little.

Though i have started running again... and it is VERY hard work. I need to be motivated i need to motivate myself, hard when it's dull and drizzling outside.