Staff meeting apologies to be minuted.

I would like to proffer formal apologies for my non-attendance at Saturday's Inaugural Staff Meeting but, factoring in the time difference and all, I have a reasonable excuse - I read the memo too late and was already booked to go into Central London.

Getting off the train at Waterloo I took the Tube to Regent's Park. A mistake on my part but the walk down Great Portland Street onto Portland Place resulted in me ending up in front of my life's soundtrack - Broadcasting House.

At this point I went 'cross-country' crossing Cavendish Square and using a non-Oxford Street entrance went into John Lewis. Squeeeeeeee! The biggest JL in the country and there was no one with me who would whinge, moan or roll their eyes about mooching through its seven floors of consumer heaven.

I spotted the 'Bobbi Brown' counter and meandered over hoping they would give me a whole new look. Nothing. So I looked at the woman behind the Benefit counter meaningfully. She sat me down and proceeded to apply her products. It was only once my chin was being twisted in her firm grip that I took a proper look at her. A Yemeni drag queen with an obvious passion for turquoise eye shadow and Nefertiti eye liner applying a make-up line created by a company in San Francisco. This did not bode well. I made the decision to stay clear of Soho when I was out walking again.

By the time I escaped her potions, lotions and puce talons it was 12:30 and my meeting with my aunt was scheduled for 2pm. Turning left into Oxford Street I headed toward the first mandatory stop in any visit I make to the Big Smoke - Liberty of London then across Regent Street and down Savile Row and onto Old Bond Street for a look through the windows of all the flash jewellers. Heading onto Piccadilly I went past the Ritz and into Park Place to meet my very aged aunt at the Royal Overseas League Club.

Given that she is a few weeks off 81 and had spent the previous four days hitting the highlights of London - two theatre trips, visits to Patisserie Valery, walks around the galleries and just that morning a trip to get her hair done - I declined her offer to walk around Green Park and we sat and had tea in the gardens at the 'Club'.

Having exchanged all our news over a couple of hours I left to head back to Waterloo to get my train. Once back onto Piccadilly there was nothing for it but to head straight to Fortnums where the concierge of the China department tempted me to a weekend in London by telling me about the special Burleigh event happening in-store on Monday. I stayed strong and resisted but it was hard.







A tree grows even in Central London on this corner of Albemarle Street & Piccadilly.


Moving through London is a bit tricksy any day at 5:00 but on a warm(ish) Spring Friday the people were everywhere so rather than squeeze onto public transport I decided to walk across town.

In search of a present for destructoBoy I stared death in the eye and entered Lillywhites. Five floors of sporting goods and equipment. With my prize claimed and good mother staus assured I continued on, crossing Pall Mall and passing the Athenaeum Club I walked down onto The Mall.

(that tiny speck at the end is Buckingham Palace -honest)

I walked through the archway and out onto Trafalgar Square.

Turning the other way I could see Big Ben at the far end of Whitehall.

With an hour and a half until departure I decided to walk up The Strand and cross the Thames up near Fleet Street.

Looking up the river The Palace of Westminster and The London Eye were silhouetted by the Constable-like clouds.

The Royal Festival Hall in the foreground. I wish I had taken a picture of the fabulous 25 foot tall straw fox artwork that is out in front of it at present.

On the other side of Waterloo Bridge is St.Paul's Cathedral, 'The Gherkin' and the beginnings of 'The Shard'.
And then rounding the Imax I was at Waterloo Station with just enough time for a restorative drink before heading off into the sunset on my trusty Great Western steed.

And so I hope the committee will accept my apologies and reasons. I hope to make a staff meeting one day.

(All pics taken with my camera phone and I am NOT responsible for Blogger's stupid layout shenanigans.)

A week later and things are just about back to normal.

This time last Saturday I was making pizza bases and mocktails for the screaming hordes of proto-teenagers inhabiting my house. And CK was out in the rain off to the shops for more mocktails ingredients.

Oh the difference in a week. I am at home in front of a fire enjoying the sight of tired dogs recovering from a walk in the rain. My jeans are in the drier also recovering from a walk in the rain. CK is once again out getting drinks but rather than the supermarket, tonight he is in the pub with his bastard brother. It has taken said bastard brother nearly 12 months to come and face me and he arrived full of stories about what a state my old man dog was in last January. No apology you understand.

I suppose I shouldn't hold my breath.

As the Queen has two birthdays so Princess C-W decided to have TWO sessions of opening presents last Sunday. Firstly there was the gifties from her fellow non-sleepers to open before breakfast. A treasure trove of delicious goodies that she is TOO mean to share fully. Among the deliciousness a pair of softie mice magnets that are too sweet to be left alone.

Once the house was all ours again Pr. C-W decided it was time to open family gifties. This shirt is from her brother.

And then she opened her gift from us. I think she was a little pleased.

It is a purple i-pod nano engraved with her initials across the back.

And finally we round off with a little crafting action from this week past. With the addition of some Amy Butler decorator weight fabric the repurposed Fortnum & Mason teatowel is now an apron.

A little re-adjustment is required around the armhole-y bits to stop the boobwings going on but I am quite chuffed with the finished product.

Trouble is being as it IS my F&M apron I can't really wear it much in case it gets dirty ;-)

Went to London to visit the Queen but apparently she doesn't see 'derros'

Have I mentioned there has been a 'Rainbow Swap' going on? Some groovey chick I know came up with a plan and loads of luvverly international girlies agreed to take part.

I was delighted when my swap partner turned out to be the truly luvverly and fabulous Charlie P up in The Pigeon Loft . Very thrilled it receive this parcel of rainbowy loveliness last week.

Turns out Young Miss P.L. is incredibly talented as well as clever and beautiful as not only was the button notepaper and matching brooch designed and created by her but so too the fabric!

There was a rainbow explosion of ribbon from a sweet little noodle box chosen by her own fair hand

but I think even a whizzkid such as she would not lay claim to handcrafting the Skittles!

Being a parent of such grace and virtue I even held 0ff scoffing them down until Pr.C-W and d/Boy were home from school to share.

Once the excitement of Rainbow Swapping had died down a bit (three sleeps!) it was time to head up to town to the Big Smoke. Maria Juanita Conchita Gonzales delivered me faithfully to the train station and sat quietly waiting my return.

As I arrived hours before everyone else I let my heart fly free and found myself on Piccadilly at Fortnum and Mason's.

Combination of bucketing rain and d/Boy's school backpack adorning my dog-walking coat gave me a decidedly bag-lady air but they are far too mannered at my beloved F&M to comment (that and there is no doorman).

I swooned from department to department, floor to floor. I delighted in the lighting, the layout, the colours and the products. I even delighted in the prices, knowing full well that some of what they sold was even worth the money.

Already uber-burdened I bought just a few trifles with which to tease my soul.

Single estate chocolate (which the nice man at Loop appreciated on Saturday), some funky marshmallows we taste-tested for pudding last night (lemon was our favourite, violet not so much) and an F&M tea towel which already has a repurpose mission attached to it.

Eventually my past caught up with me and Moog and Locket tracked me down. We mooched up and down Marylebone High Street, enjoying the big city lights. Some of us enjoyed a little more than just the lights!

Then it was off to the plush hotel where it turns out the font of all knowledge isn't actually experience and practice but Messrs Google and Youtube.

It all got too much and Lesley threw herself backwards in sheer frustration.

Never one to miss an opportunity Locket claimed the pillow for herself and just kept on going!

After a great night's sleep for some we packed up our bags, hailed a cab and visited Loop, Liberty and Covent Garden before I gave in and claimed my train seat home.

With a delighted air I spotted Maria Juanita Conchita Gonzales sitting under the street light where I had left her 36 hours earlier. Bags dumped on the passenger seat , into the driver's side and a quick flick of key. Nothing. Absolutely nothing.

Someone had left the lights on and my little hot tamale was completely drained of her usual bouncy energy. I rang CK to come get me. The phone died before I finished dialling. Taxi was waiting on the rank but a look in my wallet revealed about £2.53 in change. Our little station has NO phonebox. The nearest ATM is a hike.

There was a collection of young people waiting by the station (locked) door so ignoring the half-empty bottles of alcohol they held and explaining my predicament I asked if I could borrow a phone. As one tall blonde lad passed his mobile over, the statesque blonde girl beside him asked "Are you Australian?" in a very Strine accent.

"yes." I replied as I dialled.

"We are too." she finished. Another girl then asked where I was from in Australia. As I said 'Victoria' the phone was whipped from my hand. Holding out my hand I said 'Ah,you will be form New South Wales then..'

As CK answered I remember thinking 'God was I ever that young and stupid?' Sadly the answer was a resounding YES!!

So our story ends with the exhausted princess being driven home by a faithful coachman in his comfortable hansom cab all the way up the hill where her knight in shining armour waited with a ten pound note in his hand to claim his beautiful bride.

THE END

'Didn't we have a luvverly time the day we went out shopping?'

I picked up WonderWoman(not!), waved hello to the farty pony and off we went to a nearby town with a secret shopping street of loveliness. Wonderwoman(not!) even had a list!

Our first stop was here. Oh Millie Moon, how I love thee!

After much hemming and hawing I bought myself these to go into the 'Fortnums Quilt' (one day... one day...)

And I was thrilled to receive these as a gift for showing my fellow shopper two whole new places to make her credit card squeal.

Guess where they are going to end up?!!?!?!

I bought d/Boy a present.

Theoretically it is for the back of his cushion but as he has yet to finish his part of the stitchery....


Just a few doors up we found this gorgeous wool shop. Loving that window. I didn't want to but I was made to buy this sock yarn because apparently the colours are 'me'! We shall see if I get more than one sock out of it.

And as just a wee teaser let me show you the VERY exciting thing that was waiting in my postbox yesterday.

Remember to keep checking back to get the full story.

recent purchases

I seem to have had a few little fabric accidents recently ;-)

#1. bought this at a local little fabric shop just because it made me smile.

#2. CK sent me out to the BIG fabric shop on Saturday last week. I don't know why, I didn't ask. I just ran there very quickly. ;-) My goal was to find a match up for #3. I cannot express how difficult it was. Princess C-W was helping, a member of staff was helping, there was even a random stranger helping at one point! Much to the horror of the staff member I bought these fabrics. I actually like them mixed up with #3.

#3. Sock Monkey charm squares - loving the concept but so far the execution leaves me a little cold. The colours are so unlike anything outside of the 1970s but I am persevering. I think I am leaning toward a disappearing nine patch with these and #2.

#4. These are a selection of (mostly Amy Butler) fat quarters destined to become part of the fabled Fortnums quilt.

updates on several things

Important Update One:


Thank you all so much for your kind thoughts for my friends' baby. Spoke with his dad this afternoon and he is doing well(baby I mean, not so sure about dad - he sounded a bit shakey still!).

While he is still in the incubator, the oxygen tube under his nose (I know it has a tech name but I can't remember it) is only on low and everyone is doing okay. And under the circumstances 'okay' is just fine!

He came in at 4lb10oz which, although he arrived a week earlier, is 8-9oz more than his sister was. Hoping to go see them soon.




Important Update Two:


Kitty's quilt is in the post and winging its way N.E.ward. I am really chuffed with it b/c (disregarding a few false starts)this is the first quilting project I have undertaken since secondary school. Let me just say I wasn't Mrs Robinson's favourite student (she had a great punishment for the girls who just wouldn't do what they ought in class - running up and down the two flights of stairs leading to the sewing room for two minutes [or more depending how not good the girl had been] - not that it was ever me, of course!!).

I love the colours & the content so Kitty, if you decide it isn't your kind of thing, send it back!!! The fabric may have been lifted from my Fortnums' quilt stash - I shouldn't like to say



Important Update Three:


With Kitty's quilt done and dusted I have turned my mind towards Lucy's (yes I am verrrrrrrrrrry late with all these things but I hope the gods will smile kindly on me). I have a background fabric and an absolutely flipping fantastic concept for it which both Pr.C-W and Babyman approve of most heartily.



Important Update Four:


I have been bitten most heartily by the Japanese fabric monster and may yet find myself offering Good-ness both my children if she will just let me have another fat quarter. Or I may have to move in myself b/c CK will most definitely be asking where I intend to live when he sees how the fabric stash grows!!


Sadly no more updates as I have to go and finish the homework that is due on Thursday. D'y' think I should have started it before now?!?!?

Oh dear! I may have found a new addiction.

Let me start by showing my version of WMK's cake

Cleverly I made it after the childer were in bed b/c that way it would be safe and ready for lunch the following day. HA! CK and I didn't even wait for it to get cold but burned our fingers on straight from the oven strawberries. I love this cake. I love the taste, simplicity and versatility of this cake. I LOVE that I finally have found a recipe for Strawberry Cake after searching the innernets last Summer.

Thank you a gazillionty times WMK.

In the last few months I have realised that perhaps (just this once) CK is right.

I have an addiction.


My addiction revolves around anything which requires the purchasing of many colours of items to be used in alleviating the symptoms.


For years he has put up with the paints, brushes, blanks and assorted paraphernalia that go with painting as a hobby. In fact quantities reached such levels that one Summer he and Babyman built me La Villa de Lamaca to house all the assorted bits of A.C. (ref: above to dictionary). Literally I now cannot get in the door! (this is the bit where I hang my head in shame and don't show you any pictures b/c it really is true.)



Then I rediscovered cross-stitching. I collected magazines and aida cloth and bobbins to hold the five hundred different colours of cotton floss. But I stopped b/c after a half dozen stitches I fall asleep every single time.






A few visits back Sylv taught Princess Curly-Wurly to knit. I couldn't help myself and she wasn't showing interest in the knitted monkey kit friends had given her for Christmas slowly and steadily I re-introduced myself to the world of knitting. And a whole new avenue of colour application appeared before me. Not just yarn but needles, stitch markers, magazines and patterns.

This is the bag I have been knitting with the fab yarn sent to me by my gorgeous hot cocoa swapper. I just need to add the webbing around the top (I tried once and the thread was very unpleasant to work with - it can go into the 'soon' pile. )

This was sooo much fun and soooo easy to make I have bought more cotton to with which to make presents.

This in turn lead to the delightful craft-filled corner of the blogosphere I now inhabit. Here I am not only among those who appreciate and understand these colour addictions but enable me to explore them further. At first it was just with a camera but then textiles began to call to me.



And what fabric! At first it was just excitement b/c Lucy Locket had arranged a quilt swap (please read on to be amazed by the skill and cleverness of my talented swappee - the delightful Miss Kitty Wrinkle!) but then I finally got my Paypal account working.



How cute are these?!



I may have mentioned I have a love for here and after an afternoon of decadence there and reading this on the way home I decided to make a quilt. A Fortnum & Mason's quilt. So then I bought these.




And these.



*Sigh* I could just look at all these for hours. But now I have them I shall have to do something with them I suppose.


But here is the really big news. My favourite ever mini-quilt swapper got all organised and ahead of herself (b/c you know, we weren't going to swap anything until Christmas!) and this piece of fabric gorgeousness found its way to my house today. (CK grabbed it from the postman b/c my evil black dog has a reputation!!). Miss Kitty has made Trash Towers on top of the Hill!



I love this so much I slept with it this afternoon. Seriously! Well, it was on the couch when I fell asleep and do you know? I'm sure it gave me some triffic dreams b/c the colours could not be more perfect and Princess C-Dub was soooo excited to see the flowers - she is all about the poppies that girl!


Thank you a hundred thousand million times Kitty and as I said in my email I will be crawling off to hide from the quilt police b/c I am now to embarrassed to send mine off.






Oh, and CK got up first the next day so the childer had cake for breakfast!