Monday 28 May 2012

A Fabulous Weekend

This weekend Mr T and I have been celebrating our 30th Anniversary, 
only 3 weeks late.
On Saturday we made a slight detour from our journey into Kent to meet our new Great niece,
Imogen who was born on the 13th.
Her Mum lost alot of blood and Uncle was very worried about his only niece
so it was nice to see her looking well
and have a cuddle of the baby of course.

I had crocheted her some little boots,
 as well as having great fun buying  baby clothes,
 when I had finished the boots I thought they were too small so didn't take them.
Isn't it strange how you forget how small new borns are, they would have fitted fine,

She slept most of the time we were there
 but Mum assured me she isn't like that during the night.



The it was on to Surrey for a night in a Hotel near the Thames.
I had lived in this area for a few years but had forgotten 
how pretty the Thames is this far up.






On Sunday we went for a walk along the tow path at
 Richmond-on-Thames, 
went across Richmond Lock and into the town centre for coffee.
It was a walk that really brought back memories from many years
and of course the weather made it even better.


Moored by Richmond Bridge was, what I assume is one of the barges to be used for the Queens Jubilee Procession down the Thames.
Unfortunately this was as close as I could get as we had an appointment to keep.



This was the reason we had put of our celebrations,
England V Barbarians
at Twickenham.
I brought these tickets at the beginning of the year
and have been looking forward to it ever since.



That shocked you didn't it, 
thought I'd got them for Mr T
but when you have stood on the side lines for as many hours as I have
It was a case of "if you can't beat them, join them"
So that's what I did.
Now I'm as big a fan as he is.




It seems strange that, although I lived within a mile of this stadium 
for 8 years
I have never set foot inside.


It was a real family day with alot of kids and families
there and the atmosphere suited this.
What made it even better, we were sat in the shade
so no worry about sunburn.




And to top the day off I was involved in a Mexican wave
that went around the stadium a couple of times,
something I've always thought looked like great fun
and it was.

England won of course but that was immaterial
I just loved the whole weekend.



Now before I go I must show you my monthly make.
I made a door stop for one of the bedrooms
but I've noticed it has moved out with my little one 
who has moved into a flat with a couple of friends.
At least it means she likes it.


Being the end of the month it means I'm not  Miss May
for much longer and so 
there's only have a couple of days left to get your monthly makes 
posted both on your blogs and on to Flickr.
Thank you to Annie for sharing with me
and hope you all have a great week.

Gillx 

Tuesday 22 May 2012

Giveaway winner

After such a busy weekend I nearly forgot to do the draw for my Birthday Giveaway
but this after noon I found a random number generator, entered the numbers and got a winner.
I would show you but my technical abilities aren't that good.

So
 (pause for dramatic effect)
-
-
-


Tracy at Mad about Bags 

is the winner.

so Tracy Please e-mail me your details and I will send you off 
your present ASAP.
I'm off now to get an idea of what to send you.

Enjoy the sunshine everyone.

Gillx


Monday 21 May 2012

Bunting Galore



On my post for last months "Monthly Make" I mentioned that I had made 50 plus metres of 
bunting, well in the end I made nearly 80 metres.
(I found wrapping it around these empty shoeboxes the best way to keep it tidy.)
Anyway this weekend it was time for the wedding it was made for.




It was a really busy weekend as the reception was in the garden 
of  my friend Carol who's niece was the bride and it was all hands on deck 
to get it all ready in time.
So Friday started with me raiding my garden for greenery to 
put into the table flower decorations.



Dozens of different sized jam jars with pretty gold flowers painted on
them were filled with yellow, white and orange flowers for the tables.


Loads of quiches were made for the vegetarians 
as the main food was a Hog roast.
My offering was a family favourite of Leek and Goats cheese (a Delia recipe).
Friends had been roped in to act as waitresses or 
Elves as they were called, my little one included.
They worked like trojans all day handing out
drinks and laying out the food.


It was then time to put up the decorations.
Patio first with some of the bunting


Around the tables being used as a bar goes the smaller version.



Ribbon flowers  tied into the bushes

Then into the Marquee where the cake made by
Carol had pride of place.
Each layer was a different cake mix
one chocolate, one plain sponge and one fruit cake.



More bunting and balloons( there were loads tied 
up outside as well)


All ready for the band ( Carols sons)
and the wishing well for cards



I absolutely loved the wedding car.


But poor Albie wasn't sure what was going on,
all these people and nobody would play frisbee with him.


I have to say it was one of the nicest weddings I have been to for a long time
I think possibly because it was all so personal and of course
it was all worth it just to see how happy this beautiful
young lady was.



Gillxx

Wednesday 16 May 2012

At Last

Blue Sky and Sunshine

Great for walking the dogs on the beach.



Hope it's the same where you are.

Gillx

Monday 14 May 2012

I Did It!!


26.2 miles later and I have the aches, pains and the medal to prove that 
I completed the Moon walk in London this weekend.



My little one, her best friend (my borrowed daughter) and I 
arrived in Hyde Park and joined the 1/2 mile queue to get into the 
"Pink City".






Inside the biggest Pink tent you have ever seen
it was divided into sections depending on what colour 
start you were. We were  Yellow start which was the first to leave thankfully.


This was taken fairly early,
By 10pm it was standing room only inside the tent.




Some of the other ladies from the Rossi's team and
 we managed to stay together for most of the way.


We were a fair way back at the start and
 took 5 minutes to actually get through the start gate.


Counting down.


And off we go. The first 5 miles went very quickly
as we went down the Mall and out towards the City of London


Past St.Pauls


 and The London Eye
before heading up to Battersea Park 
and the back streets of Chelsea.
By this stage it had got really cold and everyone was
very tired , feet burning, shoulders, hips and knees hurting
and totally convinced the organisers had put the mile markers
further than 1 mile apart.


By the time we got back to Buckingham Palace with 3 miles to go
the Sun was up

And this was the most welcome site of the night
except the last .2 of a mile was uphill.


The welcome back was great
 but of course the one photo I forgot to take was the one
of me and my 2 girlies at the end.


Fantastic to have completed it and as a team we have raised over £3,000
so thank you to those of you who sponsored me.

Gillxx

Monday 7 May 2012

Birthday Giveaway.



I have had such a busy week
not only has it been our wedding anniversary and my birthday
but we went to the opening of a local art exhibition 
and a wedding.
which means this post is a few days later than I wanted 
but better late than never. 
 First though let me show you what Mr T got me.





Isn't it beautiful and colour co-ordinates with my kitchen
although my friend thinks it's wasted on me as I don't make many cakes.

I have told her she can borrow it.(lol)

I got loads of other bits including a new Pandora bead from my girls
and a fabulous antique book on lace from my son.


This is another book I received which I love.
 It was inspired 
by a lady called Mary Brookes Picken and 
news letters of the American Women's institute of Domestic Arts and Sciences.

Click here for the Amazon page as it
 does the book far more justice than I ever could.

Anyway I promised a birthday giveaway so you could all help me 
celebrate and because it occurred to me that I past my 2nd blog birthday
some months ago without even noticing.



The prize will be a present for you to open
just as though it's your birthday. 
So you must have a blog
 then, if you are the winner,
 I will go  and have a good look at your blog to see what you like
and hopefully send you an appropriate gift.


So all you have to do is be a follower and leave me a comment below.
Easy.
It is open until  the 18th May.

Good luck and I'll see you soon.

Gillxx