New arrival

We now have a family of 5. Denver a nine week old Scottie arrived home with us today.

I can't believe it!

I can't believe it - that after 3 years and one month this project is finally over. It will be a while before I start anything so large again I think. Looking forward now to doing some small Christmas projects.
Had a lovely weekend with Jonathan visiting from Devon. Went to see the new Bond film last night. Was never a big fan, but Daniel Craig may have converted me.
Going to the theatre on Thursday and reading group on Friday, so a busy week for me. We're reading Michael J Fox autobiography Lucky Man. Very moving and thought provoking.

A curious incident...

Last Friday we had the second meeting of The Crossing Reading Group. We talked about 'The Cuirous Incident of the Dog in the Night time' by Mark Haddon. The central character is a boy with Aspberger's Syndrome and the book helps the reader to see the world through Christopher's eyes. His life is both simple and incredibly complicated, and he struggles to find his own way of dealing with it all.

Half term musings

Have been making considerable progress on the Angel Proclamation over the half term. Am busy backstitching the final angel, then I only have the lettering and motifs at the bottom.
Have had my nearest and dearest visiting from Devon, here we are having a lovely family tea! Visited Lincoln Cathedral this morning and off for the finest Worksop fayre, an Indian, this evening.

Long term project

I started this stitching project almost three years ago, around the same time I got my first teaching post. The picture is Mirabilia's Angel Proclamation. Due to pressures of time I have only just started the fifth and final angel. I managed to get quite a bit done over the summer but am back at school now. I'd love to think that the project was completed by Christmas, especially as I am one of those sad stitchers who can only deal with one project at a time, but we'll see. Although I am stitching the final angel there is still quite a lot of beading and backstitching to be done. It'll be worth it in the end I hope.
Sorry about the photo - 9pm is not the best time to take quality pics.

Hooray,Hooray It's a holi, holi-day

In the words of Boney M there was 'lots of fun for everyone, holi, holi-day'.

We were very fortunate this year to have enjoyed three breaks over the summer holidays this year. The last few months had been very tiring having got through the completion of 'The Crossing' and it's opening and so we have very much enjoyed the break.
First up, after dd's had spent a week with grandparents was a week spent in Wales. This really was a treat as we didn't even have to pay! Our friend MK was 40 and wanted to spend it with her friends and so spent her hard earned cash on hiring a luxury...and I mean luxury house in Wales complete with indoor swimming pool. A wonderful time of catching up with old friends and making new ones, a little eatin, a little drinkin', a little chillin'.
Next upa week in Kefalonia. We enjoyed our holiday there so much last year that we decided to go for exactly the same thing again including the hotel. Another wonderful holiday, the island is truly beautiful with just the right amount of attention paid to tourists without letting tourism dominate. Our trips from Argostoli to Lixouri on the ferry were highlights, nothing rushed just happening in GMT (greek maybe time!).
Within 13 hours of getting home from Greece we were on the road to Cheltenham for our trip to Greenbelt, a Christian arts and music festival. No baths or flushing toilets for 5 days (aaagh!) but, a chance to feel like a grungy student again and be challenged by people's faith. Highlights were...Daniel Bedingfield, Norman Kember and worship on Sunday morning. There is nothing quite like sharing communion sitting on the grass with a few thousand other Christians. Some Christians may feel that Greenbelt wears its Christian ethos rather too covertly but it has struck me this year that although there are no altar calls there are inspiring Christians who challenge others to put themselves on the line for their faith. Norman Kember was 74 when he was held hostage for 119 days in Iraq. To have a Christian faith can only have any meaning if it has a direct impact on your life and how you live it. When you see something is wrong as a Christian you should be compelled to do something about it. Cos, in the words of John Mellencamp, 'You gotta stand for something, or you're gonna fall for anything'.

The Farm Richard Benson

Just finished reading The Farm by Richard Benson. A quick and sometimes disjointed read but nonetheless it stirred deep memories of my early married life. My dearly beloved was farming in Devon, and it was in the early 1990's when we married, that his Dad could see the writing on the wall and sold up. Richard Benson talks about his struggle to reconcile his rural upbringing and his career as a penpusher and this too echoed our own sense of confusion about leading (and enjoying) the townie lifestyle we now have and our loyalty to our roots.

One small step

One small step for woman.....one giant leap into the unknown for a devon maid.