A walk in the park....

we will start with last weekend, I went to see my mum.

Toffee, not liking being kept on her leash

It was a grey dull day but we decided to take her dog for a walk in the park.

I have played with the photos as they really were a little dull.

Victoria Park was opened to the public in 1900 as part of Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee celebrations.

As the sign above said-
During the Great War many Widnes sons had given their lives in defence of their country and on 28th September 1921 the war memorial was unveiled.

The fountain in the foreground was dedicated in 1903 to the former Prime Minister, William Gladstone. Beyond it can be seen the war memorial which lists 818 men from the town who died in the First World War, the youngest a boy aged only 15. A further 289 names were added after the Second World War. The plinth on which the column stands is 7ft high and the obelisk is 42ft with a sculpted eternal flame at the top.

This milestone was moved here from Bold. The plaque next to it explains about the bomb damage. On the 12th April 1916 five German Naval Zeppelins bombed the area, leaving just minor damage to the road and some buildings and the milestone, thankfully with no casualties.

The park has a beautiful band stand which is still used in the Summer months.

On Thursday evening Hubby and I went to see 'The Artist' and we both really enjoyed it. It helped that we went to our local one screen cinema which suited the picture perfectly.
Uggie deserved an Oscar!

Manchester Town Hall

Then on Friday evening we went to see this.
Ok, so we were in the Grand Tier (value for money seats!) but it was a great production and we loved it, Hubby isn't a big musical fan but he will sit and watch this one on TV so it's the only musical I would get him to see at the theatre.

Then on Saturday, with a lovely blue sky, Hubby and I went to Halifax.

More of those gorgeous buildings

inside the market hall, Halifax

I needed a few things from my favourite haberdashery stall and we had a look at the latest exhibition at the Art Gallery in the Piece Hall.

I had cuddles with Lucy in the sunshine in the afternoon.
We watched a DVD on Saturday night and  while we were sat watching it we saw the largest shooting star fly right down our valley, it was so close we could see the large white glow of the ball and the perfect orange tail. We were so excited! (I know we should get out more!)

Then today I played in my workroom.
I did a little sewing....I can't show you yet as it is part of the giveaway prize for Isisjem.
I had planned to tidy the garden but most of the day we had sleet and rain.
Then at about 4pm the sun came out.

Then it rained again!

Day 25 My day in great detail

Day 25 in 30 days/30 things is-

My day in great detail

Thursday 5th August 2010

4am Woke up by Lucy trying to catch a large moth trapped between the window and curtain.
4.01 am Helped Hubby catch the moth and chuck it out of the window, gave Lucy some cat biscuits and hope she goes back to sleep.
6.30am Woke by Hubby's alarm clock, put my head under the pillow and try and go back to sleep.
7.25 Woke by Hubby trying to get a shrew off the cat, I grab Lucy he grabs the shrew and takes it outside, I try to go back to sleep.
7.30 Say goodbye to Hubby, Lucy curls up at my feet and we drop of to sleep.
8.20 Wake up and go downstairs, feed the birds and Lucy, make my breakfast-Special K and raisins, take it into the lounge to eat it while flicking through the latest Sew-Hip magazine.
8.25 Make a cup of Earl Grey tea and turn lap top on, decide to put the fire on as it's feeling a bit Autumnal this morning.
8.30 Read emails then start to write this post. Save post so far.
8.45 Put the damsons collected yesterday into a large bowl to deal with tomorrow.
8.47 Wash up the dishes.
8.55 Take a tablet for nagging pain I have in my jaw (I didn't have it BEFORE I went to the dentist last week!)
8.56 Feed Lucy (she's a little and often sort of cat!)
9am Have shower, dry hair, decide the top I want to wear is in the ironing, go downstairs and iron it, back up stairs and get dressed.
9.30 Sit down and do a bit more of this post. Read latest Country Homes and Interiors then contemplate life without magazines, decide it's a fate worse than I can imagine and shake the idea out of my mind.
9.50 Go up to the greenhouse to water the veggies and have a potter. Smile a lot because the sun is out.
10.25 Text Shan to let her I will be at hers between 11.30 and noon, she texts me back, possibly adding an extra half hour onto my ETA (I'm very bad at time keeping!)
10.45 Postman arrived with two books I ordered from Amazon (more of those another time)
10.50 Finished this post up to here and closed down ready to leave for Shan's and a good KS day.

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12.20pm Arrived at Shan's House. Had a show and tell session, she has been very, very busy making lots of things to sell next time she goes to Montserrat. Bunting, bags, cushions and lavender hearts I showed her the bunny rabbit I made a couple of weeks ago and my new books. (Shan let me steal her camera for the day-otherwise this would of been a very boring post!)

1pm Drove to Abakhan's in Preston. I managed to find a few pennies to spend on some more yarn for my crochet throw and a bargain bundle of 3 fabrics for 50p!

1.30 Left Preston and drove through the Lancashire countryside to arrive at The Ribchester Arms at 2.30pm

2.30-3.15 Lovely lunch and a good chat.

3.20 Walked around the village

and down to the River Ribble.

3.35 Went through the Ribchester Millennium Sculpture Garden.

3.45 We called in at The Ascot Studios, lots of lovey inspiring artwork.

4pm Popped into The Carmen Rose Tearooms for a cup of coffee and a slice of cake.

4.30 Left Ribchester and drove towards Stoneyhurst college (JRR Tolkien was a frequent visitor here). We just had a nose from the drive but the gardens are open to the public.

5.30 Arrived back at Shan's house to swap ideas and information. Watched Neighbours. I downloaded the photos onto my laptop.
7pm Left Shan's.

8.10pm Arrived home, turned on computer, fed Lucy, text Shan to let her know I arrived home safely.
9pm Started to write this post while watching the Victorian Pharmacy.

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At 10pm I will turn off the TV and lock the front door. Feed Lucy and turn off the lights. I will read my book in bed till about 10.30 and then switch off the light after a very busy day.

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The Time Gods are against me!

SO, SO Sorry. I have neglected my blog and also I have not read many of yours. The Time Gods are against me!

It's that time of year again I am afraid.

1. Reports for 140 children to be written (I do the Art and DT sections of every child in school).

2. The sun is out and I want and need to be in the garden.

3.School trips.

4. Extension plans and builders to meet.

5. House and garden need a tidy up as the Valuer is coming tomorrow!

6. I have had a nasty infection but glad to say I am back to normal-well as normal as I ever was!

7. The date of a minor operation I need has been brought forward so this put me in a Panic!!!!

Good things are-

1.Good article here about Etsy to read.

2. I am trying to get sorted before the operation so am in the middle of two tiny swaps. I plan to post mine off this week and will photograph them before they go off.

3. Holiday part 4

Wednesday 2nd June

Up the Burway and the Long Mynd.
It is excellent walking country around Shropshire.

Then on to Attingham Farm. We saw the cows being milked, a naughty Peacock chasing the hens and some very cute lambs.

We went for a walk around the grounds of Attingham and along the river towards the Walled Garden.

The National Trust are just starting to restore it.


The pigs were very funny, lots of snuffling and grunting and showing off.

and the hens were pecking in the orchard.

It is a beautiful place and I look forward to seeing it's progress.

I must go now and get on with the house and garden clean up!!!!

I thank you

I thank you for all the lovely comments on my last post. I started this blog in February, to share my everyday life and I aim to keep it light hearted and interesting and not try to share any bad stuff. Times ahead are going to be tough for someone very close to us and I have to say, thinking I have friends I can turn to helps. Either friends like Shan who I have known for what seems like a life time or friends I have never set eyes on in blogworld, you are all so lovely.

Thank you.

Now I need to pass on some crafty information-

If you can crochet or knit a flower or leaf and do you fancy making and sending some to a gallery where they will be included in a hanging installation then read on.

Artyarn are inviting you to do just that so send your flowers or leaves to-

Touchstones Rochdale

The Esplanade

Rochdale

OL16 1AQ

any colour, texture, pattern you like. Along with your name and it will be included. It has to be there by 27th May 2009.

visit this link for more details or this blog-

http://www.artyarn-knittednature.blogspot.com/

What a difference a day makes.

Yesterday was so grey, dull and wet (although it did not spoil our Good Friday) today, well the sun is shining and I really do feel springy!

I was up at 7.30am baking ready for the big Easter Egg Hunt tomorrow. Lemon cake, chocolate fairy cakes, vanilla fairy cakes and flap jacks. We will have hot cross buns and plenty of tea, coffee or wine! I am really looking forward to it. I will be up early to hide the Easter egg cards which the children hunt for and I swap for eggs-simple! Well it worked last year and it was pouring with rain. I will take lots of photos and post about it tomorrow night.

So this coming weeks events are-

Tomorrow friends coming. Easter Celebrations.

Monday Hubby and I are off to Oulten Park (to watch the motor racing) I usually take my book but may have an hour or two practising my crochet.

Tuesday out somewhere nice, don't know where yet.

Wednesday bit of shopping then to see Widowers Houses by Bernard Shaw at the Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester.

Thursday it's my birthday! And I am off to Preston to spend the day with Shan my Kindred Spirit. She has lots of nice things planned-No Pressure Shan!!!

Friday relax because Saturday I am going home to my mum on Saturday evening. Let me explain. Four of Hubby's old school friends are coming over, they are going to watch Leeds V Huddersfield Rugby Match then back here for a curry and a few beers locally-so you see why I am going to stay at my mum's, I do not want to be here when they all wake up with bad heads on Sunday!

I am off to get all glammed up now as Hubby is taking me out for a Tapas for an early birthday meal. But thought I would leave you with this. It was a postcard my mum sent from Scarborough last week.

What holiday?

Well I seem to have spent the last three days cleaning and tidying the house, vacuuming, dusting, scrubbing, washing, ironing- What happened to my holiday! I have done none of the 'me' things I promised myself. No crochet, knitting, sewing or felting.

There is a reason for the big Spring clean, well two actually.

1. It needed it.

2. Friends coming over on Easter Sunday for cake and Easter egg hunt.

It was nice to get some washing on the line I admit. The clouds were rolling across the sky but I dodged the showers.

I had to show you these daffodils I bought for £1 a bunch at Tesco. They are so creamy and frothy.

And in the garden I found ferns unfolding and

ariculas flowering.

Hubby is off work Thursday to Tuesday and I still have to bake cakes, make flap jacks, decorate an Easter tree, think about the egg hunt etc. etc. etc.

Never mind that's the fun bit, my reward for the Spring clean!