Praise

For some it seems that praise is like a loaded gun. Dangerous and or threatening. Youngest has been working on her GCSE choices and we went to talk things over with her teachers. Nothing but praise from them all, she is a high acheiver, well liked. She seemed to think though, that by doing well she is now expected to always do well and that in turn becomes pressure. My heart goes out to her. I wish she could see what we see in her, a gifted, delightful young woman, and that she could be comfortable about that. Her results are the icing on the cake. She is just blessed and it would be lovely if she could embrace that.

Sweet Child of Mine

This is what the Han-solo's band played tonight at the Musician of the Year concert. It was great. She is so happy on the bass, but played her flute in a classical piece with as much enthusiasm. Step son, littlest daughter and I went to watch. The man of the house is in NY.

Today I did not gardern, in fact I did lots of admin and some food shopping with Step son. I also put together some clothes for the charity shops and felt pleased to be rid of some items that have been hanging in the cupboard for ages, unworn. To me at least, it looks as though there is more space in there.

I spoke to my artist sister in Rome about the imminent trip. It is so exciting and I am really looking forward to spending time with her, seeing where she is working, what she is working on and of course, the city itself.

My crochet box is nearing its final adjustments, pics to follow when the camera is charged. Inside it I hope you will see the latest little things I have been working on... Crochet is addictive. I need to keep off sites like flickr and the wonderful blogs that I follow that just glow with colour!

Light in the sky

Driving home tonight via the supermarket I was thinking about how much I love to drive and what a not so good thing that is. The cost of fuel is so high here, there are complaints all the time of a local cartel. Only a few miles down the coast the prices are much, much lower. Not only that, the government plans to increase the fuel duty so we could pay 5p more per litre at the pump in a few months time. It is time to embrace walking to work. Great exercise, free and good for the environment. But it also means schlepping along with changes of shoes, lunch boxes and sometimes gym gear....mmmm.

The other thing I was thinking as I unpacked the shopping was that it was still light. The western sky was yellow, there were birds everywhere, singing, enough light for a last minute forage for some of them. The house felt almost too warm for this spring-like evening.

I am hoping for another sunny day tomorrow, my day off. I want to get my first raised bed into some sort of shape ready for the new season. I will take a photo of it when it is done....

A brand new person....coming soon

We had wonderful news last night that a brand new person is on their way. Still tiny and not due to appear until the late summer. Before you all choke on your tea, wine, or what ever it is you are imbibing, it is NOT me!
Someone very near and dear and their lovely, lovely partner is expecting.
More news when we have more news from them.

Since then though, my head has been FULL of ideas. I really want to make a blanket or a wrap, a la Attic24 style. Something that is their very own to have and keep them warm.

My granny genes are kicking in, and that is not a hint...I am WAY too young to be a granny, and my kids are WAY to young to be anything other than kids!!

End of the working week

Full of cold and feeling grotty. Tonight we celebrated a colleague's birthday in our local...code name Watersp(r)outs! Although I felt too rough to go at first, I managed it and had a great time. I work with some amazing women.
Home and the cold has taken hold. The Six Nations Rugby started tonight and BJ is watching it. I think a hot drink and bed is what I need.

Late night blogging

Queensland is being hit again, this time by winds and rain. They have had enough don't you think?

Back from the snow

Han-solo is back from her snowy trip to Norway. She loved it and has lots of photos to remember it by.
We are now getting ready for BJ to go away, this time to the States. This month is a busy one for travelling.

For Christmas I was given a MAC make-over voucher and tomorrow is transformation day! (Given that the session is about an hour, there will be a limit to what they can do.) But I hope to learn some of the tricks and would love to be able to do more than the lippy + mascara = made up equation. I should take the camera.

Continuing with the crochet and a little seed of an idea is in my head. My hairdresser was here last night and she thinks it should be a box. I like it. That is the challenge. Boxes I have done before and baskets, but this one I would like to line...