I had to get a new laptop so have spent all day sorting out files etc. and getting them copied over.
It will take hours yet - why oh why can't there be an easy way to configure a new one and get everything you want on it!
So no sewing either....
Showing posts with label "This and that". Show all posts
Showing posts with label "This and that". Show all posts
Friday, 26 August 2011
Saturday, 20 August 2011
Fun with Henry VIII
I ended up at Hever Castle in Kent today. All planned late last night with one of my cousins. So I took my Mum and we had a picnic with him, his wife and two kids.
The weather on the whole was glorious, just a few minutes where it clouded over and we thought it was going to rain.
I hadn't been in years and thoroughly enjoyed it. Its a beautiful place.
And later we were joined by Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn (after all this is where she grew up).
And a few of his knights did some jousting. This was on their way into the tilt yard - past the car park....
Then after that we went to the lake - you wouldn't think this was England would you?
The weather on the whole was glorious, just a few minutes where it clouded over and we thought it was going to rain.
I hadn't been in years and thoroughly enjoyed it. Its a beautiful place.
And later we were joined by Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn (after all this is where she grew up).
And a few of his knights did some jousting. This was on their way into the tilt yard - past the car park....
Then after that we went to the lake - you wouldn't think this was England would you?
Tuesday, 9 August 2011
The day after the night before
I don't know what to say.. I know the inner cities are tough places to live. I know there are serious gang and drug issues that young people have to deal with. I know jobs are scarce for them and benefits are being cut and housing isn't always great... but that doesn't justify this shit.
Anything I am seeing on the news and youtube videos (yes they are dumb enough to record themselves looting) is showing a bunch of thugs with no concern for anyone but themselves. With no values or morals or any concept of right and wrong.
They also seem to have no fear of the consequences of their actions.
I grew up in the same inner city. I used to live a few hundred yards from where the bus was burning in Peckham and my first job was on Rye Lane near where one of the buildings was on fire. I had a lot less on a daily basis then these thugs, we didn't even have a landline in the house or a colour telly until I was a teenager. My Mum was a single parent of me and four stepchildren from my Dads first marriage. She lived hand to mouth for years and struggled desparately with my brothers behaviour.
I know that not all parents can control their kids so I don't think we can just blame the parents. Even good parents have difficult kids.
But I also know that you don't have to turn out like that. I didn't and nor have the majority of people living there then and the majority of them living there now.
There are a whole generation now of teenagers who are having their futures stolen as surely as the thugs are looting playstations. It will mean that when those who want them apply for jobs the employers will be looking at them wondering - were you one of them? The chances are they will employ someone else.
I worked in a major supermarket in Peckham and then at 19 got a job at headoffice. For the first six months every time I was introduced to someone new and they asked what store I came from, Peckham created a reaction. It was always in jest, but they never did it to anyone else. This was back in the late 80s, would that opportunity be available to me if I was 19 today? I doubt it.
I don't know what the solution is, or even if there really is one but I know something has to change and I don't think it is all about the money being spent or about being touchy feeling.
At the end of the day, no matter how badly off these people are, they have homes, heating, fresh water, indoor toilets, access to schooling free to the age of 18, free healthcare to the age of 18 and enough benefits to feed themselves. How small a percentage of humans throughout history have had all that? How few alive today have that? Why isn't it enough?
Anything I am seeing on the news and youtube videos (yes they are dumb enough to record themselves looting) is showing a bunch of thugs with no concern for anyone but themselves. With no values or morals or any concept of right and wrong.
They also seem to have no fear of the consequences of their actions.
I grew up in the same inner city. I used to live a few hundred yards from where the bus was burning in Peckham and my first job was on Rye Lane near where one of the buildings was on fire. I had a lot less on a daily basis then these thugs, we didn't even have a landline in the house or a colour telly until I was a teenager. My Mum was a single parent of me and four stepchildren from my Dads first marriage. She lived hand to mouth for years and struggled desparately with my brothers behaviour.
I know that not all parents can control their kids so I don't think we can just blame the parents. Even good parents have difficult kids.
But I also know that you don't have to turn out like that. I didn't and nor have the majority of people living there then and the majority of them living there now.
There are a whole generation now of teenagers who are having their futures stolen as surely as the thugs are looting playstations. It will mean that when those who want them apply for jobs the employers will be looking at them wondering - were you one of them? The chances are they will employ someone else.
I worked in a major supermarket in Peckham and then at 19 got a job at headoffice. For the first six months every time I was introduced to someone new and they asked what store I came from, Peckham created a reaction. It was always in jest, but they never did it to anyone else. This was back in the late 80s, would that opportunity be available to me if I was 19 today? I doubt it.
I don't know what the solution is, or even if there really is one but I know something has to change and I don't think it is all about the money being spent or about being touchy feeling.
At the end of the day, no matter how badly off these people are, they have homes, heating, fresh water, indoor toilets, access to schooling free to the age of 18, free healthcare to the age of 18 and enough benefits to feed themselves. How small a percentage of humans throughout history have had all that? How few alive today have that? Why isn't it enough?
Monday, 8 August 2011
Fuckwits galore
The fuckwits are destroying london.
I feel so sorry for everyone who has lots homes and businesses these last few days.
There are still a few cars driving up and down the road which I think is brave or stupid as we aren't that far from Lewisham centre, I wouldn't want to risk driving into a crowd of them.
So scary.
I feel so sorry for everyone who has lots homes and businesses these last few days.
There are still a few cars driving up and down the road which I think is brave or stupid as we aren't that far from Lewisham centre, I wouldn't want to risk driving into a crowd of them.
So scary.
Sunday, 7 August 2011
Openness in blogland?
Sorry in advance, but this is going to be a bit of a wordy post.
I've read a lot in recent weeks on various blogs about who you are in blogland and I've been thinking about how I represent myself. Is it really me?
Well the answer is yes, but it is only a part of me. I started blogging as I wanted to connect with like minded quiltaholics and was really looking for someone to say, "Yes, your work is lovely, keep it up". I wanted encouragement and praise and I have to say I got that. Thank you all so very much.
What I wasn't sure about was what sort of relationships I would be able to build. How much of myself I would give, or even if I wanted to do that. Slowly but surely though I "met" some great people who I really enjoy interacting with. I've been inspired to try new techniques that take me out of my comfort zone and seen so many wonderful pieces that I want to try and emulate (i.e. copy).
However, I think the honesty of some bloggers is what makes me go back to them again and again, even if I'm pretty crap at commenting. Some people seem able to express themselves so well, warts and all but be constantly enjoyable to read. I'm not going to name names, I'm sure you have your own ideas but I am really glad I discovered them. The truth be told though is they sometimes make me so jealous! Yes, jealous! I have a problem with being that open, I wish I was but it doesn't come easily.
This is something I want to work on, and so to start, I'll let you into one of my secrets. I sometimes feel really inadequate reading the type of blogs I go to as most craft blogs are also very family orientated. I am single and childless and at 41 there isn't much chance of that changing. I know it just means that my experiences have been different from a lot of you, but it isn't always a rational feeling.
The truth is I would have loved to have kids, but I have massive trust issues. I might bore you all with some of the story one day, but my immediate family is disfunctional in the extreme. I know that when alls said and done I've got loads to be thankful for, but the single life can be extremely isolated and lonely. I'm not looking for sympathy by saying that, just wanted to explain myself.
Another thing to share is that I've hardly told anyone who knows me in the real world about this blog, even though it has been going 18 months now. I can't see that changing anytime soon either.
So, there you go. I've decided to try and be more open so this is my first attempt. It may well be my last but I will see how I get on.
But to finish on a positive note, I did a bit of on-line shopping and had this big pile of fabric delivered yesterday as I really needed some more! There is a lot more yardage in that pile than I want to admit, even to myself...
I've read a lot in recent weeks on various blogs about who you are in blogland and I've been thinking about how I represent myself. Is it really me?
Well the answer is yes, but it is only a part of me. I started blogging as I wanted to connect with like minded quiltaholics and was really looking for someone to say, "Yes, your work is lovely, keep it up". I wanted encouragement and praise and I have to say I got that. Thank you all so very much.
What I wasn't sure about was what sort of relationships I would be able to build. How much of myself I would give, or even if I wanted to do that. Slowly but surely though I "met" some great people who I really enjoy interacting with. I've been inspired to try new techniques that take me out of my comfort zone and seen so many wonderful pieces that I want to try and emulate (i.e. copy).
However, I think the honesty of some bloggers is what makes me go back to them again and again, even if I'm pretty crap at commenting. Some people seem able to express themselves so well, warts and all but be constantly enjoyable to read. I'm not going to name names, I'm sure you have your own ideas but I am really glad I discovered them. The truth be told though is they sometimes make me so jealous! Yes, jealous! I have a problem with being that open, I wish I was but it doesn't come easily.
This is something I want to work on, and so to start, I'll let you into one of my secrets. I sometimes feel really inadequate reading the type of blogs I go to as most craft blogs are also very family orientated. I am single and childless and at 41 there isn't much chance of that changing. I know it just means that my experiences have been different from a lot of you, but it isn't always a rational feeling.
The truth is I would have loved to have kids, but I have massive trust issues. I might bore you all with some of the story one day, but my immediate family is disfunctional in the extreme. I know that when alls said and done I've got loads to be thankful for, but the single life can be extremely isolated and lonely. I'm not looking for sympathy by saying that, just wanted to explain myself.
Another thing to share is that I've hardly told anyone who knows me in the real world about this blog, even though it has been going 18 months now. I can't see that changing anytime soon either.
So, there you go. I've decided to try and be more open so this is my first attempt. It may well be my last but I will see how I get on.
But to finish on a positive note, I did a bit of on-line shopping and had this big pile of fabric delivered yesterday as I really needed some more! There is a lot more yardage in that pile than I want to admit, even to myself...
Sunday, 31 July 2011
High Tea, Harry and Vodka
The title pretty much sums up the last week.
Early in the week a few of us went out after work for high tea in a lovely Cotswolds village. http://www.peartreepurton.co.uk/ gave us lots and lots of sandwiches, cakes, scones and clotted cream as well as plenty of pots of tea. If you are going to work when there is nothing to do, this is a good way to enjoy it.
The next evening, I went to see the last Harry Potter film. I really enjoyed it, but there are always little bits that irritate me with book adaptations, they either add new scenes or cut the little bits that I really enjoy. I suppose you can't please everyone!
The next night was all about vodka, and probably the least said about that the better! I was perfectly behaved but I ended up getting called back out of my room after 2am to find my boss who was lost in the car park! I had only been in the room about 10 minutes so wasn't too bothered.
I even got some sewing done on the mystery QAL. I'm about 4 weeks behind, but there you go. I finish this week and can get the machine humming again!
Early in the week a few of us went out after work for high tea in a lovely Cotswolds village. http://www.peartreepurton.co.uk/ gave us lots and lots of sandwiches, cakes, scones and clotted cream as well as plenty of pots of tea. If you are going to work when there is nothing to do, this is a good way to enjoy it.
The next evening, I went to see the last Harry Potter film. I really enjoyed it, but there are always little bits that irritate me with book adaptations, they either add new scenes or cut the little bits that I really enjoy. I suppose you can't please everyone!
The next night was all about vodka, and probably the least said about that the better! I was perfectly behaved but I ended up getting called back out of my room after 2am to find my boss who was lost in the car park! I had only been in the room about 10 minutes so wasn't too bothered.
I even got some sewing done on the mystery QAL. I'm about 4 weeks behind, but there you go. I finish this week and can get the machine humming again!
Friday, 22 July 2011
Self care, self indulgence, self harm?
I spent a lot of time thinking about the difference between these three this week prompted by a great post by Lane over at http://quiltfool.blogspot.com/2011/07/self-indulgence-vs-self-care.html.
I've been totally nose to the grindstone over the last few months. Head down from morning til evening trying to organise a new team with a lot of very inexperience people. It was frustrating, irritating, rage making on occasion, challenging, stimulating, satisfying and confidence building. However, it has all been pointless, as a couple of weeks ago the head honchos took the decision to put the project on hold so we came to a screeching halt. It was the right decision as what had been delivered from the developers was a big pile of poo. Totally crap and to try and go live with it would have been a disaster.
What it means though is a lot of the people on my team who thought they had contracts until Christmas are being let go. I'm finishing as well, but I only took the contract until August so am only going a couple of weeks early. So for the last couple of weeks its been really weird. They are insisting we go in to work the 4 weeks notice period even though no one apart from me has anything to do. People are also quite bitter as this is happening due to the failure of other teams.
But what its meant is finally this week I've had some time to think about stuff other than work. All my good intentions at the beginning of the year went down the drain with hotel living. I stopped my little bit of exercise and have been eating and drinking far too much. I probably weigh more now than I did at the start of the year. I haven't dared try the scales yet.
So back to the title, the way I live is harmful and I make that choice for some reason. Its not good to be fat and in your 40s and so unfit. Other people can do this sort of work and look after themselves better, I just make excuses to myself that its the hotel living and I need to work out why. I'll been off for most of August and September, I have another contract for October, but that one is much easier and commutable. I've got no reason except my own attitute not to make a big difference over the next few months.
On the positive side as this has turned into such a glum post, I had a lovely room in the hotel this week with a patio. As I wasn't exactly busy, I got plenty of time to enjoy it. And sitting out there, with my ipod and hand sewing was very very pleasant. Sometimes, its the little moments that make it all worthwhile.
I've been totally nose to the grindstone over the last few months. Head down from morning til evening trying to organise a new team with a lot of very inexperience people. It was frustrating, irritating, rage making on occasion, challenging, stimulating, satisfying and confidence building. However, it has all been pointless, as a couple of weeks ago the head honchos took the decision to put the project on hold so we came to a screeching halt. It was the right decision as what had been delivered from the developers was a big pile of poo. Totally crap and to try and go live with it would have been a disaster.
What it means though is a lot of the people on my team who thought they had contracts until Christmas are being let go. I'm finishing as well, but I only took the contract until August so am only going a couple of weeks early. So for the last couple of weeks its been really weird. They are insisting we go in to work the 4 weeks notice period even though no one apart from me has anything to do. People are also quite bitter as this is happening due to the failure of other teams.
But what its meant is finally this week I've had some time to think about stuff other than work. All my good intentions at the beginning of the year went down the drain with hotel living. I stopped my little bit of exercise and have been eating and drinking far too much. I probably weigh more now than I did at the start of the year. I haven't dared try the scales yet.
So back to the title, the way I live is harmful and I make that choice for some reason. Its not good to be fat and in your 40s and so unfit. Other people can do this sort of work and look after themselves better, I just make excuses to myself that its the hotel living and I need to work out why. I'll been off for most of August and September, I have another contract for October, but that one is much easier and commutable. I've got no reason except my own attitute not to make a big difference over the next few months.
On the positive side as this has turned into such a glum post, I had a lovely room in the hotel this week with a patio. As I wasn't exactly busy, I got plenty of time to enjoy it. And sitting out there, with my ipod and hand sewing was very very pleasant. Sometimes, its the little moments that make it all worthwhile.
Monday, 18 July 2011
It's been how long!!!
I'm still alive, if anybody is still reading.
Thankfully I only have a few more weeks to go and the work has eased off considerably so although I am still in the hotel all week I can get a bit of my life back.
I even did some work at the weekend on my paper piecing blocks for Beckys QAL that finished months ago!
No pics though, I'm not that organised yet!
Soon though, soon.......
Thankfully I only have a few more weeks to go and the work has eased off considerably so although I am still in the hotel all week I can get a bit of my life back.
I even did some work at the weekend on my paper piecing blocks for Beckys QAL that finished months ago!
No pics though, I'm not that organised yet!
Soon though, soon.......
Sunday, 30 January 2011
Your wish is my command
I was asked for a few more pics of my innocent crush top so here they are below. You will see when you look closely at the fabric that some of it isn't the nicest - at least I think that but all together it came out good. The first pic shows the patches before I got the sashing out, you can see how they lack definition and needed something.
On a more practical note, I was very happy with myself yesterday, I fixed my washing machine! Hooray. Well it wasn't major, I use dryer sheets when I tumble dry and one had got sucked in and stuck in the filter. This happened about a year ago and I got a man out. Well I watched what he had done and was able to do it myself this time. I was all congratulating myself until this morning. My machine is fitted into my very teeny tiny kitchen and I had pulled down the plinth under the side the machine is on. I had left it down overnight to make sure the floorboards were dry where some of the water spilled. All good.
Then I tried to put the plinth back up and could I f***ing do it? No! So now it looks a total mess half hanging off under all the units. This is why I need a man to have the strength to clip it back onto the legs. They have to be useful for something! Now it will be like it for months until someone useful comes round. That sounds like I'm a bit of a hermit, honestly I'm not. I just tend to be the one running round to other houses or meet friends somewhere central. I very rarely have visitors as I don't really know anyone who lives close.
On a brighter note, as its near enough the end of the month I will fess up about my new healthy eating and exercise regime. Well over the month I've done about 15 hours on the WII Fit and do feel some improvements with my stamina. Thats more hours exercise than I've probably done in about 10 years! I haven't lost much weight, 5 pounds, but its a step in the right direction and I'll be happy if I can sustain that rate every month.
On a more practical note, I was very happy with myself yesterday, I fixed my washing machine! Hooray. Well it wasn't major, I use dryer sheets when I tumble dry and one had got sucked in and stuck in the filter. This happened about a year ago and I got a man out. Well I watched what he had done and was able to do it myself this time. I was all congratulating myself until this morning. My machine is fitted into my very teeny tiny kitchen and I had pulled down the plinth under the side the machine is on. I had left it down overnight to make sure the floorboards were dry where some of the water spilled. All good.
Then I tried to put the plinth back up and could I f***ing do it? No! So now it looks a total mess half hanging off under all the units. This is why I need a man to have the strength to clip it back onto the legs. They have to be useful for something! Now it will be like it for months until someone useful comes round. That sounds like I'm a bit of a hermit, honestly I'm not. I just tend to be the one running round to other houses or meet friends somewhere central. I very rarely have visitors as I don't really know anyone who lives close.
On a brighter note, as its near enough the end of the month I will fess up about my new healthy eating and exercise regime. Well over the month I've done about 15 hours on the WII Fit and do feel some improvements with my stamina. Thats more hours exercise than I've probably done in about 10 years! I haven't lost much weight, 5 pounds, but its a step in the right direction and I'll be happy if I can sustain that rate every month.
Friday, 17 December 2010
Christmas Spirit
BAH HUMBUG.........
.....wait for it........
The only Christmas Spirit I'm feeling at the moment is in a vodka bottle! (Unopened I may add in case you are worried I have a problem!)
.....wait for it........
The only Christmas Spirit I'm feeling at the moment is in a vodka bottle! (Unopened I may add in case you are worried I have a problem!)
Tuesday, 30 November 2010
Snow days
On a day like this...
the only thing to do is stay in and enjoy these...
and these!
 |
| Even though Blogger is turning this pic upside down again. |
Campy magic!
Went to see the new Harry Potter film on saturday and loved it, even though it was scary. They kept truer to the book than I expected, very few points where I thought, thats wrong. It was a lovely surprise.
I managed to get some bits of sewing done as well, nothing quite finished yet so I won't show but at least I felt I did something.
Yesterday in celebration(!) of getting another year older I went for the full on camp experience and went to see Priscilla the musical up the west end. Alf from Home and Away is in it! How funny is that? Bless him.
And then this morning, we have snow. Proper snow on the ground, in London, in November! Doesn't look good for the rest of the winter. And my builder is supposed to come today ... to do some work on the outside of the house! Fat chance of that I'm thinking!
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