WHERE DID THE WEEK GO?

Hi all, hope you are all bumping along nicely! I can't believe its a full week since I was last logged on, I must have lost a few days somewhere. Where to begin?

Firstly, an apology to you all for having a right old moan in my last blog. I was just right out of sorts for no particular reason and so had a rant about everything and anything. In the grand scheme of things I know that I am luckier than lots of people in this world but it still doesn't stop me wanting to scream sometimes. Last week, my scream was more of a manic clearing of clutter and anything else that got in my way. I emptied four cupboards, two baskets and completely cleared a mountain of ironing all in the one day. Goodness knows what went in the bin/to charity, its all a bit of a blur. Hubby stayed well out of the way!

My creative spurt, definitely calmed things and got my positive thoughts back on track. For once, I crossed off all but two things on my list , which was amazing and very satisfying. One of the good things about my clear out was finding all the lovely art stuff I had bought but never got around to using. I came across a cream material panel with a cut out celtic design which I bought in Ikea about a year ago because I liked it but didn't really have a use for it (when has that ever mattered?). Its supposed to be a room divider that you hang on special metal rails that you attach to the ceiling but living in a small cottage I was never going to do that. As my walls are a sort of clotted cream colour, I painted a duck egg blue horizontal panel above my sofa and attached the hanging over it so that the colour shines through the cutwork design. I finished of the edges with some lovely wool in blue and green hues. The wool is chunky and flat, almost like felted ribbon (another thing I found at the bottom of my knitting basket) and I am delighted with the overall result. We did have to laugh though because despite having been so precise with the spirit level to get the panel straight, if you see it reflected in the mirror opposite it looks decidedly lopsided. The panel is fine, its my house thats wonky.

Early hours of Saturday morning had me beating hubby around the head to wake him up. To cut a very long story short, there was a mouse in our bedroom. I have an extreme phobia of the creatures (traumatic incident in childhood) and my reaction was probably as extreme as its ever been ( shaking, heart pounding, uncontrollable crying (my best friends have never seen me cry!) and this time vomitting and upset stomach as well. When the worst passed (hubby caught it in under 15 mins) I was left with a pounding sore head which lasted until Monday. There have only been 5 incidents in the last 22 years but as I don't seem to be getting over it, I have booked an appointment to see my doctor because I really need to get help.

Saturday night had the house full of friends for Hubby's celebration party (passing his qualifying exams). They weren't to know we had been up all night! Actually, the cooking and baking during the day helped me focus rather than worry and it turned into quite a good bash. As the hostess, I was brought lovely deep pink roses and also a big bunch of lilac stock intermingled with tiny baby pink roses. My lovely sister brought hand made soap (another of my favourite things) and my other friend supplied a chocolate cake in the guise of a champagne bottle.

Work still isn't great but the money and hours gives me the freedom to do other things and be there for my kids, so I'm settling at the minute (I will move on at some point, honest!).

Have unearthed lots of different peg rails and coat hooks which I am putting up today (were the things left over from last weeks list). I'm excited about this because I have lovely things (bags, fabric hearts, lavender etc) to hang from them.

Hubby is away on a bricklaying course today and tomorrow, with a view to recycling the bricks from my wash house (being demolished for the extension) to make raised beds for his spuds and any other veg we might venture to grow at a later date.

Well, my scented candle is lit and the kettle is just boiled, so I'm going to have some tea (possibly with a chocolate biscuit) and catch up with you all.

Take care, have a lovely day/afternoon/evening - Jacqui x