Bliss

Hello. It's thanks to my sheddie friends Oliver and Adele, for telling me about this latest article in Good Woodworking magazine, which features both our sheds. I am not in the habit of perusing magazines of any kind, let alone one about woodworking. I might flick through the odd trucking magazine, but only to get a free read before putting it back on the shelf. However, I was in town today and spent £4.50 just to get a copy of this for my scrap book. 

Next to mine was a picture of Oliver and Adele in front of their Shed of dreams. I am so pleased they won their category. They put a lot of work into that, it looks fabulous.

I had a quick whip round Aldi for a few bits and bobs. The main reason for going to town was to get the magazine, have a look at a new exhibition in the Arts Centre, and choose some books from the library. This is what I found.

The cats are all in for the night, Heidi has had her tablet, and I am not going to do my three miles tonight because I am going on an eleven mile walk tomorrow. I have a glass of wine, and I am going to sit in a comfy chair and enjoy the books. My idea of bliss.

Thanks for popping in. Enjoy your weekend. We'll catch up soon.
Toodle pip.

Start the day with a bit of scribbling

Hello. I went to the big library yesterday, more choice, and picked a few books out. This one caught my eye, bright and colourful. Maybe adult art books are too complicated for me and I would be better with this one for children. I will give it a go, when I have got a few moments spare. 

I'm going out now while the weather is dry and a bit sunny, it may deteriorate later on. Enjoy your weekend. we'll catch up later.
Toodle pip

Tarting up Mrs Tiggy-winkle

Hello. Remember these two, they were unwanted, thrown out, destined for the skip. 

Mrs Tiggy-winkle has had a makeover. I was going to paint her in several different colours but I could see that it was going to be a fiddly job, so I opted for an all over transformation with subtle green metalic paint. Much easier to do, and she looks like brand new again, even better than the original finish.  

I went to the mobile library today and came across a book which might be very useful for my next project, ha ha.  Having a coffee break, I'll have a read and see what materials I will need.

Blooming hot today outside, I've trimmed my hair, done a load of washing, now it's tea time.

Thanks for popping in, we'll catch up soon. Toodle pip

Susan Boyle by John McShane. Book review.

Hello. I've actually found time to read a book. It's been in my possession for eight weeks, and is now due back at the library. It will be returned on Tuesday to Stan in the mobile van. He used to be here on a Monday, but has had to change days because parking at the Health Centre was blocking some of the car parking spaces. They thought it better to change to Tuesday afternoon when the Centre is closed. He is still in the village for the whole day, and people can catch him at any of the five locations. 

So what did I think of the book? I have been watching Susan's progress ever since she was discovered on Britain's Got Talent, reading newspaper articles and watching video's on yoootoooob, and was looking forward to reading this book. As I got into it I realized that most of it was a rehash of what I had already read. The author appears to have trawled through numerous newspaper and magazine articles, and bodged together what he calls an Autobiography. It isn't. Most of what I read in the book, I already knew about, so if you are a Susan fan, I wouldn't bother buying it. His writing is very repetitive, the same quotes over and over again. I wanted to shout, 'you've already said that six times'.

I did finish it to the end, although I almost gave up half way through it. The book was published in 2010, so there is nothing beyond that. It left me thinking I needn't have bothered.

For those who don't know the story it might be an interesting read, but unless you have been on planet Mars for the last few years, you will have already picked up most of the story in the press.

It seems I am not alone in my opinion. Reading the reviews on Amazon there are nine positive and six negative reviews. Get it from the library if you want to read it, but I wouldn't bother buying it.

Thanks for popping in. Life gets back to normal, everything in the garden is growing madly and needs keeping under control. I want to get my walled garden picture finished by the middle of June ready for the art exhibition in the Village Hall. I'll pop back here when I can.

Enjoy the rest of your Sunday. Toodle pip.

Monday is always busy at Tightwad Towers

Hello. Aren't you just glad that the shortest day is almost over, tomorrow they start going the other way and we get a little bit more daylight. It was nice and warm in the Village Hall this morning, not quite a full house as some of the ladies are busy with Christmas preparations. 

A little bit more playing on my practice piece of needle felt. The needle bodger thingy has five needles in it,  I think I prefer to use them singly. 

I went to the mobile library today and changed some books. Stan won't be coming next week as it's a Bank Holiday. Don't know why I picked up Fitness Cycling, I have a bike but don't use it much. Still, it looks interesting to read, and it might prompt me to get on my bike. I like Jo Brand, she makes me laugh.

Last week I went to the big library in town and chose these three books.

I took Heidi to see Marian the vet this afternoon. She took a sample of blood and she will test it. Heidi seems perfectly ok at the moment, she has just finished a course of tablets. Maybe this is going to be the pattern in the future. When she is poorly some tablets will help boost her red blood cells.  Marian will tell me more when she looks at the sample under a microscope.

It was Carol Singing and poetry in the church tonight, I thought I would show my support and meet friends. After the singing there was refreshments. I must say, the mulled wine was very nice.
 

Can I ask if any of my readers live in or near Horncastle in Lincolnshire? You  might remember I visited there once and wrote about it. Someone in Surrey has sent me an email, they are thinking of downsizing and moving to the Horncastle area. If anyone can help with local information please let me know, send me an email, then I can pass on your details so the person can email you direct, and you can communicate with each other. I don't have a great knowledge of the place so if you live there you would be in a better position to help.

I've left this late again, naughty me. Time to go for a walk. I'm on target with the miles, 43 so far this month. Another ten days and it should be around 65 if I do a few three milers.

Thanks for popping in. Catch up soon. Toodle pip

Tokyo Hostess by Clare Campbell. Book review

Hello. My reading usually takes place last thing at night when I am settled down in bed. Sometimes when I am well into a book, I will make a mug of coffee in the morning and go back to bed for an hours read before I get up. This latest one took me a week from start to finish, though I have to admit I did skim read a section of it in the middle. 

I remember the Lucie Blackman story in the media in 2000, blimey was it that long ago. She went to Tokyo with a friend to work as a hostess in a seedy part of Tokyo to earn extra money to pay off her car loan. It seemed easy money to sit around and drink with rich business men in a nightclub. One day she went missing, and all efforts to trace her hit a dead end, eventually the clues took the police back to a cave which they had previously searched and found nothing. This time they looked further into the cave and found a dismembered body badly decomposed wrapped in bin bags.

Clare Campbell is a journalist who writes regularly for the Daily Mail, and is a contributing editor for a womens magazine. Although this book is not an autobiography and not even a biography, it is a true story, which drew me to pick it up from the library in the first place.

This book delves into the background of Tokyo club life in far more detail than the newspaper articles. There are first hand accounts from other hostesses, and interviews with Lucie's friends, plus extracts from her personal diaries. Some of the details about the hostess way of life and the customers using their services was a bit repetitive, hence my skim reading in the middle.

I felt it was a typical, albeit rather lengthy and elaborately embroidered newspaper article written by a journalist, rather than from a first hand witness who had gone through the experience and could report exactly how it worked. Saying that, it opened my eyes to a different kind of lifestyle on another continent, giving me a peek into another world. The book satisfies my curiosity as to how differently some people organize their lives, which are a world away from my own life. All part of a rich tapestry.

It's a sunny morning, make the most of it, going out. Catch you soon. Toodle pip.

The Unmarried Mother by Sheila Tofield. Book review

Hello. I've been a lazy beggar this morning, missed most of the Sounds of the Sixties on the radio, to stay in bed and finish this book. I briefly got up to make a coffee and open the back door so the kitties could go out, then it was back into my pit for the last few chapters of The Unmarried Mother, by Sheila Tofield. Another random pic from the mobile library van. 

Sheila grew up in Rotherham, the daughter of an uncaring mother who made her believe she was useless, stupid, and unlovable. Born in February 1931, her unhappy childhood had the effect of destroying her self esteem, the only respite being a nine month stay in hospital under the care of the nursing staff. 

Her first boyfriend dumped her with no explanation, which made her vulnerable to the advances of someone who took advantage of her need to be loved. When she became pregnant by this cad of a boyfriend, he did a runner when she told him of her condition. In those days it was seen as a sin to have a child outside of wedlock and she became a 'fallen woman'. A place was found for her to go away and have the baby, and return as if nothing had happened. Her mother told her she would have to have it adopted, but on baby Pat's arrival, Sheila vowed to keep her no matter how impossible that might be.

The book is an interesting insight into how attitudes have changed throughout the past decades, though there is little difference between family dynamics of then and now, it's just they didn't have Jeremy Kyle then. Disputes were pushed under the carpet rather than being aired in public. I had a pregnancy scare when I was 19, the first time I had a proper boyfriend. Thankfully it was a false alarm and I never took that chance again. S'funny how things turn out, how one error of judgement can have such far reaching repercussions. Throughout my life I have listened to my head rather than my heart, ah yes, I have fallen hook line and sinker at times, there's been more than one instance when my heart was broken, but in the end my head has taken over when common sense kicked in.

I digress, no two lives should ever be compared, the book is a good read. The story drew me in, wanting to know what happened next. Here is a short synopsis, courtesy of the Daily Express.

Must go, things to do. Have a nice weekend
Toodle pip

Torvill and Dean, Our Life on Ice. Book review

Hello. That's another book read, I don't know how I find the time. This is a really interesting book to read, I think everyone has fond memories of that magical moment when the scoreboard hit those nine perfect 6.0's  after that superb performance of the breathtaking Bolero. I was glued to the screen and gave a big cheer when it happened. 

This book is easy to read, it delves into the real story behind their amazing win. Torvill and Dean relive the drama, hard work, and the pressure which came with it, and which drove them on to a long and successful career.

They first danced together in 1975 and were soon winning prizes. The book goes behind the scenes and looks at the way the partnership developed, both professionally and personally. For two people to have worked so closely together for so long the inevitable question often pops up, were they in a relationship. I remember Piers Morgan asking them that in a TV interview a few years back. They didn't give much away in their answer.

While reading the book the differences in their personalities gives an insight into why their partnership worked so well. They are opposites in some ways, but when they come together they compliment each other. I think that says a lot about their personal relationship.The times they were apart they missed each other, and when they each found a partner they wondered if their career would survive. I drew my own conclusions. Although they live apart now, Jayne is married with two children and lives in East Sussex, and Chris lives in Colorado USA with his two children, I am a romantic who likes happy endings and would love to see them happy together in their twilight years.

The book is beautifully written, not by themselves, but by a ghost writer. I felt slightly disappointed at this, though I suppose that's what a lot of people do these days when they have a story to tell but don't have the time to sit down and write it themselves. I must say though that while reading I could almost hear the words come out of their mouths, and it didn't detract from the enjoyment of the book. A book to enjoy, I recommend it.

Not many people know this but I was an ice skater in my late teens early twenties, nothing fancy, but I went on the ice three of four times a week. I worked in the Ice Drome at Blackpool Pleasure beach, saw the shows, met the skaters, I loved it there. I still have my boots, don't want to give them up just yet. Happy times.

The wind is blowing a gale today, it has been snowing on and off, very unpredictable at the moment. Catch you tomorrow. Toodle pip.  

Shopping bags and food - what else is there.

Hello. Someone asked about how to make a shopping bag. There is a post about this somewhere, but I'll do another one. Here I have two pieces of denim, a very large piece was given to me so I need to use it,  17 inches by 21 inches. Two handles 16 inches by 3 inches, and some coloured pieces for decoration. I stitched the squares onto one side first. Ironed the hem around the edges to make it easier, and run the machine round them. 

Then put the two sides, right side facing each other, and machine round three sides, leaving the top open. I did a zigzag stitch as well to stop fraying. 

To box the bottom, pull the two sides away from each other in the corners and flatten. Then machine across. I use the metal plate as a guide as to how far in to go. 

When I get to the end I press the reverse button and go backwards over the top of the stitches, it doesn't matter if you are not accurate.

Turn it the right way round and you have a box bottom.

At the top fold over a double hem and pin it. At this stage you can sew it if you like and take the pins out. I pin the handles on first to make a stronger join. For the handles I fold the two sides in and pin together. If your fabric is very thick you might like to make a hem along one side and fold it over to enclose the other side. 

To finish off I pushed the ends inside and hand stitched them together with a matching thread. One row of machine stitching close to the edge to hold the two sides together.

Because the fabric is very thick I attached the handles to the outside of the bag. If you use thinner fabric you could fold the ends inside and under the top hem so they are hidden. I don't think it matters for a shopping bag. When attaching the handles I measure four inches in from the sides. You can adjust the length to suit yourself. Please excuse the discolouration on this photo, the denim is dark blue, and not dirty.

A very strong shopping bag which will last ages. You can make them bigger or smaller, whatever size suits you. Make a paper pattern first by copying a bag you already have, one of those 10p plastic bags for life are ideal. 

And here we have a few words from Aussie Cheryl with her picture.
Hello Ilona,

We went to Newcastle yesterday and took some photos with my new bag for you at the beach because it was such a beautiful day.

Newcastle is my hometown and in the background is Nobby's Head.This is an iconic landmark in the city, as it was a guide into the harbour used by the sailing ships of long ago .

There weren't many people there because there had been shark sightings and someone had been bitten so the beach was closed for swimmers !

I hope these photos are ok.

Thanks very much for sending this Cheryl, it looks lovely and warm where you are. I will add it to the page above. If anyone else has one of my bags and could send a picture that would be great. Email address on the side bar.

What were my simple meals for today then? I bought this pate from Waitrose yesterday, reduced from £2.40 to 45p. Who would pay £2 chuffin 40 for this, must be bonkers.

I used half the pack on a bed of spinach and chopped spring onions, and mushrooms. I must say, I wasn't impressed, no taste at all. Can't be that difficult to make your own for a fraction of the price. The spinach was nice, ha ha.

Dinner was more spinach and spring onions, cooked in a little oil with a shake of spices and two eggs scrambled in it. Served with iceberg lettuce and Leerdammer cheese. Bloomin lovely. Thank you all for your simple non faff meal suggestions, it's surprising what goes together if you give it a try.

Guess who I saw today. I went to the library to borrow some ordnance survey maps, was a bit miffed because they hadn't got all those I needed. On the new books display in the middle of the room was our Jack. Doesn't she look grand on the front cover of her new book. I was tempted to borrow it, but I left it there for someone who has more need of it than me. Good on yer girl!

That's it for now. I had to leave this when I was half way through it, I've been to Tesco for the Yellow Sticker dash. Good haul tonight, lots to choose from, plenty for everyone. Catch you tomorrow. Have a nice Sunday.
Toodle pip.

Mondays mutterings

Hello, my second visit of the day, did you like the doggy story, I've a pile of wet tissues here. 

On my way  to the chat and craft this morning I passed numerous plastic boxes full of  tins and glass awaiting the recycling collections, all left on the kerbside. I'm such a nosey sod I peer in to see what people have been eating and drinking. There was one box full of coca cola cans, full to overflowing . Either 25 people have two cans each, or one person has a serious addiction. Many of the sturdy plastic boxes look in a disgusting state, with sticky gunge splattered all over them because people can't be bothered to swill their empty containers out before they toss them in. Yuk, revolting. I pride myself in my clean box as I put it out on the front. Jars and tins are washed and separated to make the job easier for the operatives who travel in the back of the truck and have to sort them into the correct bins while the vehicle is moving. They must stink to high heaven when they get home from a shift, splashed by the gubbins which inevitably finds it's way onto their clothes. Well done to our bin men, they do a grand job.

Passing through the churchyard on my way to the village hall I came across an enormous dog turd next to the footpath. Yes even in our lovely village we have morons who think it's ok to watch their dog crap where ever it wants to, then walk away and leave it. I wanted to draw attention to this pile of poo so I picked up a few sticks that had blown down off the trees, and stuck them in the ground in a circle around it. I don't suppose it will make a blind bit of difference to the person who left it there, if they happen to be passing that point and see it, but it makes me feel better. I think I'm going to make some little flags and mark out all the piles of poop I see, and hope that those responsible will think again. Probably wont, I don't think there is much chance of that happening, unless pigs learn how to fly. 

After the crafty club I walked round to the mobile library which is parked next to the medical centre. Stan the man was on today. With all the council cut backs we are down to one van and one man, which is usually Stan unless he has a day off or is on holiday. At least they haven't cut down on our visits, we still get the van twice a day every Monday. 

Stan is a friendly sort, in fact he is a very nice man and if he wasn't already snapped up I might be interested. We always have a natter and a laugh. He talks to me while I am choosing my books. The non fiction section is not very big so I go along the rows reading titles out to him, and he tells me if it is new or not. There are always lots of cookery books, so we had a discussion about food. He said he doesn't eat out very much because of the small portions you get, he likes his plate full. I tend to agree with that. We have a very posh award winning restaurant not too far away and the portion sizes are minuscule. You've probably seen something similar, stack up a few bits of food in the centre like a balancing game, and leave a trail of drizzled red blood sauce swirling around the rest of the plate. I reckon that if the food is of the high calorie stodgy fattening type then that's all you should be eating anyway, but if it is the go straight through you in half an hour  vegetarian type, than you can eat as much of that as you like. Pile it high, that's what I say. Stan seems to be eating the right food anyway, he looks quite fit. 

Right, onto the pics. Four more small bowls I've made, for the crafty stall at our Christmas Fair. They are  covered in shimmery organza.  

 If anyone is making these, it is easier to get neat corners if you use felt for the backing.

This is a bigger one. The backing is a piece of red cotton sheet which needs a double hem.  

Going round and round in ever decreasing squares sometimes make the fabric pucker a little, it's important to try and keep it flat while sewing.

Hey, look at me, I've got an early Christmas prezzie. New fingerless gloves hand knitted by lovely reader Shabana. Thank you so much, they are perfect. I am mighty chuffed.

That's enough of my ramblings for one day. I am seeing some comments from new readers, or maybe you have been reading for a while but haven't commented very often. I try and remember names. Thank you to those who told me the name of the exotic fruit, I knew you would know the answer. Tonights dinner was the rest (5) of those chick pea patties, with steamed potatoes, brussels sprouts, and parsnips.
Toodle pip

Jeremy Kyle, I'm only being honest. Book review.

Hiya, yes I do find time to read occasionally, not very often though. I've never been what you might call an avid reader, I can take them or leave them. As  a child I read The Famous Five, and The Secret Seven, after that I moved onto magazines. Jackie was my favourite. I remember a relative buying me Nicholas Nickleby, for Christmas once, I never did read it. 

Today I own hardly any books, I have given them all away. Except a few travel books, and I think I might have a cookbook somewhere. I think it's really strange that some people have hundreds of books all neatly lined up on bookshelves. I wonder if they ever read them more than once. These days the library is where I keep my books. If I want to keep them for longer than the allotted time I just renew them. 

My choice of reading is autobiographies, and non fiction.  I can't get into fiction, I can't bring myself to read stories that are made up. Strange really when I prefer modern and contemporary art, which is mostly the figment of someone's imagination. The mobile library has a very small non fiction section, so sometimes I am struggling to find something to read. I often take the same book out several times if it is a particularly interesting book. 

The Jeremy Kyle show on the tele may not be everyone's cup of tea, it definitely isn't mine. I have caught bits of  it on occasions, usually when I have been at someone's house and they have had it on. The whole thing makes me cringe. I probably think the same as everyone else, how can people go on there and tell the whole wide world what is wrong with their dysfunctional family. Shouting and swearing are the norm, as is throwing the odd punch now and then, though this behaviour is quickly defused. Fancy having big and burly security guards on duty in case it gets out of hand. Shocking really. 

Anyway, curiosity got the better of me when I spotted this book, I wondered whether it would give an insight as to what goes on behind the scenes. It does, Jeremy Kyle writes exactly how he speaks, direct and to the point. He has a bit of a colourful past himself, and draws on his own experiences to dish out advice. He is an agony uncle with balls, and tells it like it is. No pussyfooting around, he gives it to his guests straight and shoots from the hip. This style may not be to everyone's liking, but for me, I like a bit of common sense, and he has got plenty. 

He had a happy upbringing in a loving supportive family, and admits to being a recovering gambling addict. His daily struggles with OCD still affect him, and he has been twice married, he has four children.

In this book he takes a hard look at the social problems blighting modern Britain, and looks for solutions to repair what is damaged. He maps out an agenda for change, insisting that personal responsibility and a strong government is the key to the way forward.

His show is on the tv every weekday morning, and contrary to popular belief people are not cajoled into appearing on it, they are queuing to get in. Everyone appearing who wants to sort their lives out are offered support through relationship counselling, addiction counselling and detox. Sometimes the investment of months of work follow an appearance on the show for some of the guests.

Jeremy Kyle, although he has a direct and confrontational approach towards his guests, comes across as someone who genuinely cares in this book. Yes, he is a showman, but he has some good old fashioned down to earth common sense solutions to today's problems. I would suggest that some of the out of touch politicians who live in their ivory towers should read it. Jeremy Kyle for President I say. I enjoyed the book.
Toodle pip.

The sweet smell of fresh air in the countryside

Hello, to my bloggerettes. Thank you all very much for the comments on yesterdays post, you are so kind. I agree that the picture should be exhibited somewhere, though that is easier said than done. I checked out the Ropewalk website, an arts centre near the Humber Bridge, and their application criteria is quite complex. Also there is a two year waiting list. I imagine most reputable galleries will have a similar selection process. Open exhibitions allow one off's to apply, but these usually only happen once a year. I'll have to make more pieces, then approach galleries with a collection of my work. I'm off to see Uncle tomorrow, to ask his opinion on framing it. An excuse for a day out.

So what did I do today? I fancied a walk but it looked like it might rain, and I couldn't find anywhere I wanted to go on the maps. I decided to walk the 5.25 miles into town, have a look round the 20 21 Arts Centre, read the magazines and newspapers in the library, and choose some books, and if I felt like it, walk back. I found six books which were a bit bulky to put in the rucksack so I got the bus back home. 

Most of the walk is quite pleasant, until you get to the industrial estates, then the built up areas on the outskirts of the town. This footpath was diverted about a year ago, it used to go diagonally across the field, now it goes in a straight line from the road to the edge of a wood. The field used to be left rough, now it has a crop, it's used to grow turf, as most of the fields around here are. The landowner is Mr Sheffield, the Prime Ministers father in law, he is not seen very often in these parts. 

The path now goes through the wood, whereas before it went around the edge.

Here is the diversion marked on a poster nailed to a fence.

This is what they use to water the turf when it hasn't rained.

There are underground water pipes all along this track, the machines come along, connect up, and then they are towed to the middle of the field.

I heard the buzz of a tractor and the wonderful smell of cut grass. That's one hell of a lawn he has got to mow there.

The tractor has got extra wide smooth tyres so it treads lightly and doesn't churn it up.

That field is done, so the driver folds up his cutting arms, and goes across the track in front of me into the next field. I love watching anything to do with machinery. I would love to have a play with that. 

There's acres of turf all around here, a smooth as a babies bottom, and very lush.

Hay a bit further on, and I passed a field of spuds as well. The bales are waiting to be collected, and the spuds are waiting to be dug up.

Getting towards town now, passing the industrial estate. The pond is looking like a nature reserve now. It's very popular with dog walkers.

Now I'm in town. This rough patch used to be a multistory car park, till they flattened it. Now there are a lot of wild flowers on it. Much more pleasant to look at. Every town should have a wild flower meadow.

Here are the books I picked up from the library. Going to settle down on the sofa and have a look through them in a bit. Ooooh, exciting, a great way to spend a Saturday night.

My dinner tonight was potatoes, courgettes, and runner beans from the garden. Mangetout peas and egg noodles from Tesco with a yellow sticker. The bits of shredded carrot you see was part of a mixed salad which I ate most of yesterday. I put them in the steamer with the rest of the veg to soften them up a bit. Very nice it was too, I scoffed the lot  :o)

That's about it folks. Heidi cat is still out so I'll go and find her, then I'll get my nose in those books. Have a nice Sunday.
Toodle pip