Amongst the mud and rain

I have been out into the garden to witness the chaos that is called my garden/building yard. What a mess I nearly cried boo-hoo at the winter ready empty trees and plants and buidlers scraps left lying everywhere. It looks like a mini hurricane has hit only my garden. But then all is forgotten when I see our extension... here it is so far.

I’d like to take the time to tell you a little story…

… On our return home from work (and after talking to a holiday rep and then popping off to Asda (supermarket) to get remaining ingredients) we finally returned home to bake. On our arrival we discovered the mess that had imploded in what looked like our kitchen. The builders had removed our old roof in order to fit a new one slightly higher than before. Not being able to complete the whole job in one day we were left with timbers and felt covering.

Although they had tried to clean the kitchen but (bless their soles) they are after all only big builder type people and with wires hanging down, it took 2 attempts to clean our kitchen before said cooking could take place.

Look closely at the black tiles, they should be white

Then by candle light we made a start on baking biscuits, toffee and apple, peanut butter, and chocolate crumbles. At one point we were distracted by the meowing of the cat, and thought she was lost underneath the bath calling out to us in the hole in the wall above our heads. And later how me and my lovely assistant jumped into each others arms when the wind blew something of the roof (which, with just a sheet over our heads was very loud) and made us scream.

It's been awhile ... again

Did I moan too much last time, I'll try not to moan too much again today.

Boiler man came again the long and short of it is, the boiler wasn't improved, he couldn't sort it. We've been advised to change the flue, but if it's still not working after that they'd send out the engineer to work his magic. Anyway plumber changed the flue, it needed a change in direction because of the extension and the we came home to a wonderfully warm house. Yes it's working ! and even better than it ever has.

I got up to day 5 so here's the rest of the run down so far:-

Day 7 (Tuesday) more wall

Day 8 (Wednesday) and more wall

Day 9 (Thursday) even more wall

Day 10 (Friday) the scaffolding went up and the fence went down between next door on the agreement that a new one is fitted (it needs a new one to be honest)




Day 11 (Monday) They came and so did the rain so they went, to be fair they did some work but it bucketed it down.


Day 12 (Tuesday) They came back to finish the wall that is now looking very tall. The plasters came back as well and put up a stud wall in our front room. Beautiful we now have a separate hall way (very small hall way but very neat) and only a slightly smaller front room that feels more private and cosy.

HALL

We're squashed into one room - squashed room made smaller

Day 13 (Wednesday) the Craig the Carpenter came and started with our roof rafters. Boy does he work fast, head down and off to work he went.

Day 14 (Thursday) More roof getting ready for the tiles soon I hope. We also had the pictures sent to us showing our choice of kitchen we've got to sit down and think about it, see if we're happy with it, is there anything we want to change.



Oh and here's some wellies

I'm freeeeeezing

Well w-w-w-what ca-n-n-n- I s-s-s-ay it's cold. I'm sitting in my coat wrapped in a duvet waiting for my pigeon to bring some chips.

Why so cold? Our boiler is broken, still. We've paid upfront (no I hear you cry) £185 for Vokera (our boiler maker people) to send out one of their engineers to come round, service it, inspect it, change any required bit and well just fix it. He did, he came round, inspected it changed a few bits still couldn't get it to work and blamed the flue because it's not getting enough oxygen (it's been breathing just fine for the last 5 years). Anyhoo phoned them "Well cal you back" did they - no ! We arrive home on a cool night like tonight with our boiler turned off and a do not use notice on it. Just leave us with no Heating no hot water (luckily we have an electric shower). Don't want to bore you with all the details, but they have to sent out the same guy again (and after speaking to him on the phone understand why he's had trouble fixing-if you know what I mean) so another night with no heating.

Day 6 (Monday) Not really sure what happen today, 5 men turned up and the trench around the foundation has been filled. boo hoo

Day 7 (Tuesday) Today the plaster arrived with the builders, too many men in and out of the house, not used to it what with there usually only two gals and a dog. Not sure why but they're doing the ceiling now, in the dinning room which will be connected to the extension. They said they were only going to do the ceiling and we were like "MAAAARK! we want the walls smoothed oh and can we get rid of the fire pleeeease." Well if he'd told us they were coming. We hadn't even cleared away our knick knacks and stuff so before leaving to go to work we had to clear out our room.

The old - Artex ceiling, cheapy small nasty coving.

New, still wet, smooth plaster ceiling, calm nice lovely ohhhhh

Morning Sunrise

Forgot, busy talking about the extension, one early morning getting ready before the builders arrived and after the snow on Tuesday we had this beautiful sunrise.

New beginings

We're having an extension built on the back of our house, so this Monday the builders came along to make a start. Bye Bye went the conservatory-lean-to that was mainly used as storage space, and home to my tomatoes plants as seen here. Bye Bye went the coal shed, were rubbish and recycling hid and next doors mile-a-bleedin-minute (not official name just cursing because it grows and grows).

Outside consevatory from kitchen angle

Inside consevatory from inside dining room angle

Coal shed with Ivy and mile-a-(bleedin)minute

All gone to look like this



Day 1 (the Monday) very tidy nothing inside has been touched except large consumption of biscuits

Day 2 (the Tuesday) the trench was dug for the 1 metre foundations leaving us looking like we were surrounded by a moat and nothing but mud for the dog to bring in and the cat to walk her muddy prints all over the kitchen work surface and white tiles. There were muddy hand prints over the sugar jar, all over the hand towel that was neatly folded up to display only the clean areas. Tuesday also brought the snow and even less biscuits. Not that I'm complaining, we don't usually have biscuits in the house. Every night Jo makes me say my Mantra 'I must not eat the builders biscuits', it's not that bad she's allowed to pinch one when we get home and if I catch her at it she lets me have one too.


Day 3 (Wednesday) was waiting and waiting and a little bit more waiting for the building regulations guy (or lady but me thinks it was a guy) waiting in these minus degrees, snow melting temperature. Waiting until 3.30 for him to go come along and say yes 1 metre is sufficient (or some such thing) no work was done.

Day 4 (Thursday) the concrete went in wheel barrow by wheel barrow.

Day 5 (Friday) We came home to find the the ditch was now beginning to have a use, the foundation bricks went in. It's so much fun, in the morning we were able to step outside in our wellies and examine the mess. Mud lots of it and the cool thing is we can imagine where our extended house is going to be, we can imagine where the door to the kitchen will be (you need a big imagination but you can do it) stepping into the living room, switch on the tv. It's so exciting. It'll so bring the house into the garden as well, the garden has changed shape too (that might have something to do with the destruction of the coal shed, and Ivy and Camellia that was trialling all over it. But to our surprise the builders had rescued the baby Camellia plant like we had requested (that wasn't the surprise the surprise was that they had replanted it). Oh but the other surprise was that the mini digger had smashed up our concrete bottom of the fence post so we had to do a bit of man handling to get it out the way so Mr waggles couldn't escape. And the Rhododendron got squashed and split into 3, but that's not to bad eventually my chickens will go there. I will have chickens ! Must go I'm attempting to make green tomaote chutney "oh for the very first time" As the consevatory was being pulled down I had to murder my tomatoe plant and rescue the hundreds of green and red tomaotes that were still hanging from their vines of life.

Remembrance

Before I spend time sharing our wedding and all the things that have kept us busy there's some sad news I'd like to share.

Sadly after our wedding Jo's dad was taken into hospital, before being moved into a hospice where he spent his final days. A lot of Jo's time was taken up making the most of visiting him and helping out. The "Garden House" hospice was a wonderful place full of very helpful people, many of whom were volunteers.

Sadly he passed away on September 14th with his closest family by his side. His birthday would have been tomorrow the 27th October. We miss you.

Pictured here with a pint of his favourite "old speckled hen"

Mike Kirkby 27/10/47 - 14/09/08

It's me

Yes it's me, I have sooooo much to write about and bore anyone who wants to read. Unfortunelty it's not right now I'll be back asap I promise, for now you can look at my pretty notice, made by my fair hands. The only thing (proper thing) I've drawn with illustrator, I never have enough time, so it has been used to death, but I love it.

I'll love and leave you with this qoute:-

"You may be the best at what you do, but it's variety that keeps you fresh"

Jim Davies -Design Week

Our Hen girls Go Ape

I thought it was going to be the beginning of the end... we're talking our Hen night.

What a mad rush on Thursday lunch (we're talking last week, it's taken me this long to recuperate - is that a word). The girlie's from work were out of the office bang on 1.00pm TOGETHER (I was not worried at all).

Jo and I managed to find our outfits, hot pant shorts army style, not being brave enough to wear them alone we teamed them up with some leggings, thank the lord there back in fashion, it's like being 12 years old again.

Here's the group of girlies - army style

We all met up at Cannock Forest for a picnic and a good laugh at how we'd dressed and a group photo before facing our doom swinging in the trees. It was fun, it was tiring, it was high. What was meant to take 2 hours took us 4. But we all achieved it and got our certificates and stickers to prove it.

Me and my mum.

The hotel was really nice, we quickly got changed and went downstairs to met up again all with wind/sun burnt rose cheeked. We had a huge meal great value for money and got sleepy and tipsy on wine.

To wake us up My Little big sister had prepared a lovely t-shirt that everyone had signed with a mad picture of both of us each right smack bang in the middle. Lots of fluffy flashing ears. Off we went to Oceana in Wolves. Hmmmm is all I can say not quite as great as Brum's. I'd also like to point out that after many protests of going back to her room to sleep or even maybe going to the spa for a swim. I watched from a distance my mum sneak into one of the taxi's, I'm glad she came it was nice to have her there, she always reminds me that you're only as young as you feel (well in mind not body hey mum) However this might have been the reason why?

My mum, me and big little sister

After lots of drinks, cheese (music), and fun we called it a night and tried with various degrees of success to get a taxi back to the hotel. Jo and I were the only ones on the wrong side of the hotel and hardly got any sleep thanks to the wedding crowd that were staying there (talk about common) climbing and running over the roof, shouting and swearing. In my drunken state I had visions of them climbing into my room and being attacked, we tried phoning receptions open 24hrs for help to no get no answer. Only in the morning did I realise that we were actually a floor higher so they wouldn't have been able to reach us. So with 2hrs sleep I went off to get my full English breakfast (bacon, sausage, egg, beans, tomato, fried bread) washed down with lashings of tea and juice. Boy did I feel all better afterwards !


Those of us remaining, left our rooms and went for a spa to enjoy the Jacuzzi, steam and sauna room and the pool. I was in heaven.

All that's left is to say a very BIG Thank you to all my lovely ladies

Excited !

I'm so excited this came through the post today. I set my mind on ordering one of her books and this was the one that arrived. I keep gazing through it's sun shining pages thinking what shall I make what shall I make...

... Most of which I think I'll be trying out (and if I'm clever enough) adapting for my 'ittle caravan.

Well I won't be making anything at the moment as anything that is being made is for my wedding. There's favours, table plan, table labels, order of service, cakes x 2, hair accessories. Anything else shoes to buy. All will be revealed (I hope after the 9th August).
With all that going on I have my hen night this weekend. We've tried to organise it so that it's fairly sedate, only thing is there are other plans too and with friends keeping secrets my nerves are setting in.

With all that in mind I'm of to buy some army style trousers. I'm talking RAMBO style, as we set off to swing in the trees.

Eventfull weekend

This is us, on our journey down south to Stevenage, we're off to see family and meet the chickens. I won't go into details because it was a very stressful time and by expressing my feelings to how the weekend went will upset a few people.

Anyway on our way down the sky was lovely and blue even though we were told it would shower, but as you can see the clouds were fluffy too.

Here are the chickens, I was so impressed with them that I can't wait until I'm allowed some - all I can say is watch this space cos I will have some - I will.

Aunt M get them from a company called omlet that provide you with everything including the chickens. Their chicken igloos are very good too, very functional and designed with ease of use (cleaning) in mind. She's called them Darcy and Dawn. Darcy is prim and proper very lady-like, whereas Dawn is well a bit more relaxed. Unfortunately I can't remember which ones which.

Too finish off the weekend Mr Waggles demonstrates how we were all feeling - FRAZZLED ! Pooped, just dog'on tired

Unfortunately I have to go now, I'm of to the hospital to get my feet checked. I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis around 3 years ago. At first it was a relief to actually have something wrong with me instead of the whole thing being in my head, then there was trying out different medication, discovering you were allergic to one, and gradually increasing the dose of another one to keep it at bay. Now it's getting to me, only being 30yrs old and waking up every morning feeling stiff and heavy, having certain joints swollen, continual blood test, visits to the Dr and hospital. The worst of it all is just feeling sooooo tired. Oh well must go !

Lots of cherries

Here's a photo of some Cherry cakes I made quickly on Thursday, just my old fashioned simple reciepe that reminds me of being a kid with water icing (glaze icing) and half a cherry on top. Work munched them down in one go.

It wasn't my onons I burnt but my vegtable burgers, shhh don't tell Jo or she won't eat them they're not that badly burnt. I wish I had the strength to be a vegertarian, but I haven't not with having to be strong about everything else, but I will very much try to moderate my meat content. Especially when vegtable burgers are so yummy!

Mr Waggels

I must be quick before my onions fry. The sun is starting it's slow descend into the bedtime slumber, the birds are having there evening meal. Here's a photo of Alfie Sniffing his way round the garden. I've discovered Picasa which looks like great fun when I've figured it out but for now excuse the wonky layouts.

Have you tried pressing the next blog button to see where it takes you, I have discovered some weird, and some wonderful blogs out there. Go on give it a try, you'll find the button at the very top.

Oh my onions !

*** I've fallen in love with old crochet pieces, lace or embroider tablecloths and dressing table tops pieces ***

If anyone anywhere knows how I can find old pieces that I can save no matter how bad or good there condition is, please let me know.

I have a good home for them to go to !

Just a quicky

It's lunch time ... the sun is still not shining over here in Wolves, but I'd like to pop out of the office and get some fresh (city) air. As I typed yesterday, I've been loking at some interesting blogs and websites that I've saved to inspire me. So I've added a few to blog list.

Claire Nicolson I found a long time ago and her website has grown, she makes her own texiles using today's digital printing and vintage fabrics.Find her here


Paper girl Productions I found through Etsy, I love a strange felt sewn creatures, but she has lots of things to see here.

Middle of nowhere is a blog I found through work, I was looking for an illustrator for a book I was working on and saved her website. Unfortunetly we never used her work becasue it was the wrong style to what we needed, but ever since I have been following her blog. PLease check out her lovley felted animals, designed and felted by her. Find her here

Poorly poorly

It's been a while and I've been busy, we took the caravan out on it's first trip away this year, we travelled to Welshpool and how lovely it was. True British weather didn't let us down we soaked up the one day of wonderful sun we got drenched in a full day of heavy rain and we were battered gently by the winds. We just loved it though we found a nature reserve with not a single person around...we picniced on local organic foods... we shopped in some lovely independent shops (a rare thing in this country, there should definitely be more of them) we ate cake... and more cake... we relaxed ... we argued over putting the awning up. We had nearly finished when one of our poles had got stuck one inside the other, at a last resort we drove off not talking to each other to find a garage, and a man (or woman) who could help us. We did, it was fixed and in no time at all we had the awning back up again, in time to sit and enjoy a lovely cup of tea in the afternoon sun. Here are some views of things we saw on a visit to Mongomery.

Moooooo

On Tuesday it was back to work, so so quiet on the roads with it being half term and no school run traffic. Our 45 minute drive to work was reduced to a leisurely 20mins.

Jo went down to Somerset on Wednesday to spend some time with her family, so I was left to defend for myself, already feeling tired, by Friday I think the change of routine had a bad effect on my Arthritis (and with the humid weather) I'd worn myself out and had to have the day off work.

I did venture to Wales yesterday to try my wedding dress on it's lovely, and my mum found a hidden gem in amongst her boxes of family heirlooms. A beautiful string of pearls that were her nans. When I tried them on they were exactly what I had been looking for, but I had realised that unless I spent a small fortune I wasn't going to get them, and here was my mum handing me some that were full of our family history to wear on my wedding. I have to admit I did get a little teary eyed.

Aren't they just lovely

My journey back to Birmingham was hmmmm ... interesting. At Wrexham General I boarded the train and sat in 1st class (it had been declassified due to the lack of carriages) but it wasn't your brand new shining new 1st class, oh no (I so wish I had my camera with me) it wasn't I'm not talking really old like victorian lined with wood, knowing me it was probably just 1990's, but it had plush big arm chair style seats in a deep red and blue a small table lamp on my table and dark pleated curtain at the window. I felt like royalty. I waved goodbye to the lush green countryside. I waved goodbye to the calfs in the field the 100's of lambs jumping in the sun, the many rabbits grazing at the edges of the fields, I watched as the landscape changed from fields to hills to mountains and back to fields, I gazed up at the blue skies and the rolling fluffy clouds. I felt so content as I read my book in peace and gazed out of the window from time to time to see the odd villages being added to the green fields, and see those turn to bigger villages and small towns to bigger towns and then the cities. More people boarded the train the further towards Birmingham the train moved along. Then Wellington and to Telford, at this point on the journey the masses piled on to the train, most pushing, grunting and moaning, soon my contentment was slowly taken away, the grey of the city clouded over me like the rain clouds stole the blue sky. I had to change at Wolverhampton to finish my journey to Birmingham, gone were the polite smiles, gone were the manners as everyone pushed off the train, and then pushed back on as the race began to find a seat for themselves and their luggage.

All is well though, my evening brightened up when my pigeon turned up in her shiny bright clean car (she'd spent most of the day cleaning, washing and hoovering her car in return for it's safe carriage to Somerset and back). Time for a curry, and Somerset cider and to finish it all off I got a little present, I hung it up on the nearest thing I could find. My smile is back in full swing.

It's baby bunting, delightful triangles in spots, flowes and stripes

This can't be right as I sit here typing, I'm sweating buckets (sorry not very lady like) I've stripped down to hardly anything (sorry too much information) I know I'm typing fast but even my feet are feeling this strangeness, I say this because it's not hot here (it's rarely hot in good olde England. In fact I sat with mum and Dad in there garden soaking up the sun, and we were discussing why we sat there for so long and why we risked getting burnt rather than cover up (although we were sitting under a parasol umberlla and Dad had a hat to protect his pale skin ontop of his head) and we came to the conclusion that we don't know when or how much of this gold we're going to get each year, so if there is any gold light shining from the skies we feel the need to lap it up, we stop everything we strip nearly bare and let the rays of sun tickle us, cover us, play with us and cook us. Oh sun how we worship you. Oh and my pigeon returned from the shops with some roses, so I rescued some hydrangea's from the garden to fill up my new Laura Ashley jug.

I'll end it here today and try and return tomorrow, I need to show you some delighful blogs and websites I've found, but I need to find sometihng to cool me down.

Monkey Monkey Monkey

Is it a pair of pants/knickers?

NO !

Is it a hat?

NO !

So what is it?

It's a brand new white fluffy jumper, coutersey of Seans maker Sue (my mum)