WE ARE FINALLY HERE!

Hooray! We moved into our new home last Thursday and after LOTS of hard work it is looking great.
We are in the village where Charles Dickens lived and worked - it is a small village with 2 churches; one public house; a library; school and a few shops. We live opposite the shops and have a view of the newest church from our front windows. I absolutely LOVE it!
I'll try to get some photos later on when things are more settled.

HOW TIME FLIES ...

when you're having fun!
Well - we finally exchanged contracts today on our bungalow sale - why, oh why did it take SO long to reach this stage?
No chain -  cash buyer - yet it still took 8 weeks to get to this stage.
Still - we're very happy and are now hoping to buy our new home within the next few weeks - back in Kent.
Packed 36 boxes - absolutely shattered - have done NO crafting for over 2 months!
Early night tonight - I haven't slept for more than 5 hours for weeks and weeks.

1 Month into bungalow sale

Well - we've had only 2 viewers - the first ones were 'downsizing' but decided they wouldn't be able to get all their furniture into our small bungalow! Doh! Don't they realise they will have to get rid of about half of it if they are buying a smaller place?
The second lady came for a good look around and decided she really wanted gas central heating - DESPITE the brochure stating quite clearly that we had electric storage heaters!
They both said the bungalow is beautiful and well displayed (which we already knew) so I guess we just have to wait for viewers who are more intelligent and able to read!

Our bungalow is up for sale

Well - after much deliberation we have decided to make the move after 14 years on the South coast of England.
We would like to be nearer to our families. So here we go - lots of clearing out to be done - even more internet surfing in the hope of discovering our future home.
My crafting will have to take a back seat temporarily as I endeavour to keep the conservatory tidy for the viewers. I have quite a stock of cards already done for future birthdays and anniversaries so will only have to make the unexpected ones!
Wish us luck!

21st February 1948

Today I was 8 - no celebration because my beloved Granny was unwell. I did receive a new dress though.
When I woke up next morning it was to the sound of my father crying - my dear Granny had died during the night. I was sent to stay with an aunt in London - Billy stayed behind.
When I returned 3 weeks later it was to find that he had been taken in by our maternal grandmother. She had agreed to look after both of us for the princely sum of £2-10s per week - which did not include the purchase of clothing.
Overnight I went from a 2up 2down wooden cottage to an 8 room detached bungalow standing in a large plot. The garden had plum, apple, cherry and damson trees, 4 lawns and a sumptuous 4 seater garden swing - it seemed like heaven to Billy and me.
We had never met this lady before so you can imagine how strange it was to us - my granny had been 72 and had raised 10 children - my new Nanny was 52, with 5 children and my youngest uncle was only 17 - a whole new world opened up before us - but were we happy?  ...


to be continued

I did some patchwork!

I thought I'd have a go at some patchwork - especially as i already had a bag of squares just longing to be sewn together! X

I was pleased with the result XXX

February 1941

I am one year old and find myself the subject of a newspaper advertisement!

'Good Home Wanted - for a brown-eyed little girl - one year old etc. etc.'

Well, at least it wasn't in the Pet section!

My new foster mother was a married lady whose husband was in the army and away fighting in the war.  She was childless and I suppose I was company for her and the money would have come in handy.

I stayed with her until her husband was invalided out the services and decided he didn't want someone else's toddler disrupting  his life - can't say I blame him. I did meet her when I was about 14 and she had gone on to have her own little girl, whom she named Christine.

Back I went into the bosom of my family - grandparents; uncle; father; brother and myself in a 2up, 2down cottage! I was 3 years old.

to be continued ...

Tea bag folded easel card

A little poem

I thought I'd add a little poem I wrote for  National Poetry Day  2007 -

AUTUMN

This is the season where hope lies hidden

Buried beneath dank, dark, dying leaves.

Trees that sparkled in summer's shiny sun

Stand tall: limbs bereft of swaying tresses.

Leaves - turning to red, yellow, copper and brown

Cling to their twigs while gusty winds blow.

Their grip falters, bearing them earthbound to lie forlorn

Till, dried, cracked and broken, they dissolve into shadow.

Flowers - colours once so bright, drop their petals one by one.

Green velvet grass no longer stretches skyward.

Nature dictates the lifespan of her children,

Taking rest from succour, warmth and light.

Autumn - chased relentlessly by Winter,

Hurried, scurried by cold winds and snow

Lays down her burden to seek peaceful solace

Sleeping softly through the dark wintry night.

Now we look forward to Spring

I made a card

December 1940

I am 10 months old and find myself through, I hope, no fault of my own, in a children's home. Watford had suffered bombing for many nights in the London Blitz.  My mother, having lived with my father's quick temper for longer than she desired, decided to move on to juicier pastures. Hence - me in the home and brother Billy parked with a neighbour. My father returned from work to an empty house. After a long search I was duly recovered and returned home to a somewhat depleted family - but for how long? 
to be continued ...

Rick's Cheesy Rock Cakes recipe

Cheesy Rock Cakes


8oz S.R. Flour
4oz Stork Table Margarine
4oz VERY Strong cheese (grated)
2 eggs
1level teaspoon made mustard


Preheat oven to 200degrees
Mix Stork and flour to a fine mix
Add grated cheese and mustard
Beat eggs and add to mixture to form a moist mix (add milk if too dry)
Drop spoonfuls onto greased baking tray OR into 12hole bun tin
Bake in oven for 15-20 minutes
Cool on wire tray and hopefully enjoy!


Makes 12 cakes

And here is another with more detail

In this one I used a stylus once the iron work was completed. You can achieve much more detail this way.

Encaustic art

I really enjoy this type of crafting - lots of mess, but oodles of fun!

Bobbi and me taken last year when I turned 70!
We've both aged a year since then.
Thought you might like to see the blogger!

FEBRUARY 1940

February 21st 1940 - I am born, prematurely, into a world which, five months earlier, had found itself on the threshold of another World War. 
My family, which consisted of mother, father and brother Billy, lived in Watford, London, England.
After my birth the doctor placed me at the foot of my mother's bed and said "Don't be disappointed if you don't keep this one" - I must have overheard because I confounded the doctor - I thrived!
to be continued ...

Well - I'm taking the plunge!

I've been persuaded that 'blogging' is the way to go so, not being one to impede progress, I thought I'd give it a go.
Bear with me during the birth of this blog - there will be many mistakes - but I hope to produce something worth reading. This is Bobbi, our yorkie/bichon frise - he keeps us fit with his 3 daily walks.