Monday 27 June 2011

Go on say it....

ABOUT BLOOMIN' TIME you old crow..I hear you shout. Yes, I know, I've been gone an absolute age but you know how it is some days, life comes charging by and sweeps you along at warp speed, (that, and the fact I lost yet another very old kitty which made me a bit sad and I'm not very good at doing anything else when I'm doing sad)
Thanks for the emails asking if I'm dead or alive. I think I'm somewhere inbetween so I'll make this one a big post about nothing in particular as no doubt I'll scoot off again, doing two highly knackering jobs with funny hours dependent on the weather makes you do that sometimes.

::Weird freaky stuff
Now you might think I'm two sandwiches short of a picnic when I tell you this, but this is how it happened so I'll just come right out and tell you.At the height of my feeling down and tearful and thinking that the whole world and it's wife hated me, I had a visitor.
I woke up with a start to find a lady stood by my bed. Just stood there looking at me. Needless to say when you wake up to find someone unexpectedly stood by your bed it freaks you out slightly.I freaked out big time and hid under the covers, waking Pete up with my absolute freaky-outy-ness. Maybe it was a dream, I dont know, but I do know that this strange perfect heart shaped mark appeared on my arm a few days later.
It usually takes a huge whack to bruise me and I haven't bumped into anything heart-shaped or been stung by a horse fly or anything like that. It was just there, not hurting or anything.It stayed for a week and vanished as quickly as it came.(It had faded a bit when we took this photo, believe me, it was a perfect heart!)
Weird and freaky indeed but strangely it did lift my mood, I feel ok again and feel like the world isn't against me, which is why I'm here blogging. Ok that really makes me sound like I'm barking mad, what a way to start a post!!

::The paper knickers saga

A couple of people have asked how George's nose is after his reconstructive surgery. It's very good thankyou and you can't see the join where they stitched it back together with a bit of his ear...very clever stuff.
It was a bit weird seeing him with a slightly different but very nice 'textbook' nose, no-one else could tell the difference from his pre-accident one but I could because I made it in the first place. Being the right wuss that I am, I must admit I shed a secret tear for the old nose.
We wont go too much into the saga of the surgical paper knickers he was asked to wear but eventually after such a blooming hooha and delaying the surgery he was allowed to wear his own boxer shorts. Vanity? My son? Naaaah.


::The Marmite chair
I bought a gold metal and nylon velvet 1950s chair for £6, took it home sprayed it red and am in the process of covering the seat. It spins round. I love it. Basil loves it too especially when it spins but then he's always been a bit odd..he also like to be hoovered with the vacuum nozzle. Did you spot him in the White Stuff catalogue in his spectacles? Fame has gawn to his head and he finally has his wish of posh princess sachet food..(well there's only two kitties left now so I think they are allowed)
Everyone else thinks this chair is vile. A bit like Marmite..which I can't stand and everyone else in this house loves. Urgh.


::The Rainy day lampshade

I spent ages hunting for a cheap large white linen drum shade for the £4 standard lamp base I renovated ages ago, only to end up covering it on a whim one rainy Sunday afternoon with some fabric I'd saved for a deckchair.
Mmmmm, 1950s painterly lushness how I adore thee..

::Things you thought you hated but have now decided you like
I grew up with things like this, 70s bubble glass and G-plan furniture.Funny how you can change your mind about stuff isn't it?

::Square balls.


Remember my round-but-take-forever-to-clip box balls? well they are now slowly becoming a hedge.
There's been a lot of changes in the garden, the extra cold winter we had killed off a lot of plants front and back so I took the opportunity to change a whole border in the front, taking out large shrubs and replacing with my favourite perennials, it's all still a work in progress but then that's how gardens should be, an ongoing thing.

The first year is always the crappiest as everything tends to be the same height.


I'm far better at doing other peoples gardens than I am my own, if I'm redoing a flower bed for someone, I've got a budget, a colour scheme and a soil type but when it comes to my own plot, well that's another thing altogether. I'm a bit like a kid in a sweet shop when I'm at the garden centre and buy the pretty stuff I love with no-where suitable to put it! oops!

::Chickypoos

It wasn't only our 21 year old cat Winnie, that died, I also lost several of my old ladies this year including lovely old Big Bessy so there are 3 new lovely young chickypoos joining the flock; Florence the Barred Orpington and a Black, feathery legged Cochin/Orpington hybrid who looks like she's got 70s disco flares on and a jacket of the most amazing beetle-black colours, she's called Fanny (after Pete's Granny incase you're wondering who was neither black nor had a pair of 70s disco flares but there you go) and a Lavender Orpington called Beryl. The Barred one is HUGE and still only a baby. They came from a fabulous farm near us that takes chickens in for boarding, they sell beautiful,friendly, healthy birds in immaculate pens (often occupied by an oblivious Bacon the Jack Russel too) a farmhouse looking like it's straight out of Country Living and to die for Shepherds huts, made on the premises to order. Needless to say, I rather like going the 5 minutes down the road for a chicky-fix. (there's a link HERE if you'd like a peek)

::London

Pete HATES London. Only because he has to drive a 44 ton lorry through the hoards of traffic cutting him up at every opportunity and giving him more verbal abuse there than anywhere else he goes to in Great Britain. It makes him grumpy and it makes him sweat alot as there are hundreds of low bridges and narrow streets down there that his Sat Nav always seems to miss and if you come to one of those it means a lot of slow manoeuvrings, hooting, being sworn at and hassle all round.
I on the other hand have rather fond memories of our capital city.We used to live on the London /Essex border so trips to see that huge blue whale in the British museum and the Changing of the Guards were commonplace. I had my 5th birthday at London zoo when Chi-Chi the panda came over from china and it causes a heap of excitement, (poor old Chi-Chi is a stuffed exhibit in the aforementioned museum these days) then there was my 10th birthday at Madame Tussuads and feeding the pigeons in Trafalgar square.My first proper visit to London with Pete was to go to Johnsons on the Kings road for a pair of much hankered after biker boots, a visit to Flip for some 50s American bowling shirts and a milkshake at Eds Easy Diner.
Although I haven't been there for years, I do rather like London.

Don't think my other half will be too impressed with this though when he gets home...
I, on the other hand, love it. A kitschy 1950s London souvenir tablecloth.

::Swimsuits
I am trying to find a swimsuit with a retro look. Not an easy feat when you are shaped like a baking potato...this is the lush list so far:
Laura Ashley

For Luna

Cath Kidston
Ideally I would like to be able to just appear in the water without having to do 'The walk of shame' to the pool, but if you're going to look like a walrus, you may as well look like a walrus with style...

::Mollie Makes

Oooh this is the most fantastic magazine ever in the world, like, EVER. I've canceled my Country Living subscription and subscribed to this one instead.For the first time in months I've actually wanted to make stuff and this is what has inspired me.AND, you get to see in some of our favourite bloggers' gorgeous houses so it's not only making things. Go get it, you really do need it in your life.


So there you go, see..told you, nothing exciting, just some stuff to waffle on about but I thought I'd better show my face sooner rather than later.

Cheerio for now x

33 comments:

  1. Glad you're back; lovely post. You made up for lost time, lol!

    Sue
    xo

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  2. Lovely post and lovely to see you back.
    Jo xx

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  3. It may be waffly(?) but it's all interesting stuff. I LOVE your lampshade! I too love London, but wouldn't if I had to drive through it all the time.
    I'm on the verge of painting my garden shed and love the colour of yours on your sidebar - what brand/colour is it please?

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  4. hello topchelseagirl! It's painted in heritage garden shades called 'willow' and 'country cream' by Cuprinol which goes on like a dream and is well worth the extra money!
    x

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  5. I've been perusing their paintchart today and was torn between Willow & Wild Thyme. Thanks!

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  6. Ooh, lovely chatty catchy-up post. Am reading it on my phone though so unashamedly admit that I shall have to re-read on my laptop so I can have a proper poke through your piccies.

    Mollie Makes is just fab isn't it?!

    Hx

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  7. Great to hear from you - I was thinking about you today as I wandered through Barnard's Green. My mum used to have a lady who stood by her bed occasionally - I never saw her - but she didn't seem to mean any harm. Strange about the bruise.

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  8. Hello again! I love your waffling, it's so interesting.So sorry to hear about your pets, but good news about your sons nose!
    Love the chair it's fabulous as is the lampshade, you have such good taste!
    I bought Mollie Makes too and I love it although I havent made anything yet!
    So lovely to have you back! I'll go now or I'll look like a stalker!
    Rachel x

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  9. Welcome back! Loved hearing about your spiritual episode!

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  10. Hello and what a lovely blog I found you via another blog vintage vicki just a click away. Its so good what you can find just clicking. You might like to know that Boots do a lovely red spot swim suit that is so retro (I bought one and it does fit very well).
    If you are ever clicking... please feel free to click through to me were you will be sure of a warm welcome and virtual cup of tea.
    Take care, keep safe, be happy.
    Beverley xx

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  11. So good to see you and catch up with your news. I have missed you. Donna x

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  12. Lovely to read your bits and bobs Sairer. How odd about the old lady turning up and then your heart mark. All a good sign though, even though it'd freak anyone out. I had heavy breathing in my bed when I was 16 (and before you ask I did think I was alone when I got in). The breathing just got louder and I screamed my head off. I wouldn't go back in my room for a year after that.

    Good for your boy about the paper pants too. Someone needs to make a stand.

    Just loved your catch up post and hearing your news. By the way am I friends with your dog on facebook?

    Lisa X

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  13. Lovely to have you back you mad lady you! I love Marmite and I also love your chair and pretty lampshade. Your old lady story...seriously spooky! :0)

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  14. I loved this post! Your description of the "walk of shame" made me laugh out loud and thiny of myself, also a baking potato!

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  15. Oh, no! I see that I'm even worse at Blogging than you - I've missed a few posts, I have! and....what to blog about BUT I still does love it, I do! It's just pleasant to hear from you, though. Thank you for taking the time to drop a line!

    Those swimsuits are beyond adorable and I'm in the walrus boat with you - sigh! Why do I love ice cream so much?! Hearing other people be real with their pretty houses is so encouraging, too! I must confess - I'm embarrassed to blog about my garden cuz - it's just a first year garden. The delphinium are coming along nicely, though. And, well.... here! Have a rambling comment.

    Very best wishes get sent out to you!

    From your fan!

    Katy Noelle

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  16. Hooray your back. and what a post, well worth the wait. Love the cossies. With polka dots you just cant go wrong, and the lampshade is devine. Fab story about the lady, not too sure how I would react but fascinating all the same, must lookout for that mag,
    louise x

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  17. So pleased to have you back, you have been missed. Sorry to hear about all your bad news, 2011 has been a rubbish year so far, but here is looking up to the future. I am having a giveaway on my blog, you never know your luck could just change, feel free to enter xxx

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  18. I believe spirit-y things happen all the time. My mother says the people who are sensitive enough to "see" and accept these things are lucky. Especially if it leaves you with a comforted feeling. I agree.
    You've got to love a hen with 70's disco flares!
    Some day if I get coordinated enough to obtain a passport, I'm flying over and whisking you away to a weekend in London. Perhaps we'll get a hotel with a pool so you can sport your new suit.

    Isn't Monday the 4th yours & Pete's anniversary? If so, have a great time. I have the day off since it is the holiday in which we celebrate our independence from Britain..... sorry!

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  19. such a lovely catch up post, I love your chair and lampshade and your garden :) everything really x x x x

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  20. I don't mind waiting at all when you have such brilliant inspiring posts.

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  21. well i must say you have come back in style and you think that you have nothing to talk about. I have really enjoyed reading you post. I too lost a beloved cat, he got knocked down a acouple of weeks ago and like wise i havent been able to write any more posts or do any crafty things since, lost my mojo if you know what i mean.
    Anyway good to see you back and its nice to see the new additions to the family x take care helen x

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  22. I love all of this post! And i love to zoom in on your photos and look at all of your wonderful and cheery things!
    Aqeela xx

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  23. Hi,
    With your lamp, did you use a roll of self adhesive paper to attach fabric to shade? We've been trying to source but cannot find anywhere - can you help???!!! Thanks
    Anita
    Bath Bomb Creations

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  24. Hi
    Just to say thanks for the email about making the cover for the lampshade. very helpful!

    Anita
    Bath Bomb Creations

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  25. Loved reading this post, will have to have a little ramble through your earlier posts........lovely blog.

    lily x

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  26. Crikey! Have missed you! Glad to see you back and really enjoy your posts. Wishing you lots of good luck now you've had a 'visitor' - I must be potty too because I had a similar thing happens to me some years ago. Best wishes, Jules x

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  27. I treated myself and got a pair of bathers like the second pic but more burgundy from Modcloth last year. I LOVE them. The walk of shame doesn't feel like one when I'm wearing these.
    Also love your floor lamp and bus stop sign.

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  28. Beautiful...yo tendría que haber nacido en los años 50...te felicito, y te sigo desde Argentina

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  29. Hi, we were doing some research for vintage decorative products for our UK shepherds huts and came across your wonderful blog. You've given us some great ideas - we'll be checking back regularly!!

    Tanya,
    The Old Post Office Farm
    Traditional Shepherd's Huts

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  30. Hi, I just stumbled on the link for your blog while over at HenHouse and will be checking back reguarly for sure, you have such a lovely style and vintage flair. I am so in love with Mollie Makes and you just reminded me that I need to go to sainburys tomorrow just to buy it, So thank you!

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  31. So cool, amazingly awesome- I posted this on my face book page. Wish I could see the entire exhibit! Thank you for these

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  32. Just having great fun reading through your blog, your photos of the house and garden are just lovely...great taste you have! But it was this post that made me smile the most ...FLIP it was such a great store, this bought back so many memories. I remember searching for American baseball shirts there with an old boyfriend who was a Mod....I LOVED looking round that place! Can you remember where abouts it was? near Covent Garden??

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Thankyou,thankyou,thankyou for being so lovely as to leave a message!..I try to reply to your messages on here,so check back if you dont hear from me..but please dont be offended if I dont get time to respond, each one is totally appreciated. They make my day. x

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