Friday Chat Day

 Hello friends

Hope you are all well, I have a photo heavy blog post for you!

My time away at the Kent coast was bliss.

I didn't think I was a coastal person but spending time by the sea

seems to be a real tonic.

We were incredibly lucky with the weather.  

Two days, we were actually sitting outside for lunch,
just in a cardigan - in November!

Returned home and the nippy weather arrived,

definitely chilly on the coach commute this week.

Let me share with you some of my photos.

Deal

My first trip to Deal in many years, gorgeous blue skies awaited us.

They have spent millions on renovating the pier, such a shame the finished result looks very bland.
They chose to tarmac it - a pier should have planks surely?  
Didn't seem right to walk along and not see the sea through the cracks beneath us.

At the end of the pier is a rather swanky cafe with a less appealing queuing area.

The town is lovely with a mix of regular and charming shops.

Spot the cat in this photo - happily sauntering along.

For lunch (avoiding the cafe) we ate a bag of chips whilst looking out to sea - posh eh!

It invoked childhood memories for me, many times

with my family eating chips by the coast.

Those seagulls became very loud when they realised I had some leftover chips. 

Ramsgate

Following day with the weather still being unusually warm we visited

Ramsgate.  An empty beach.

Wetherspoons have bought and renovated the Royal Victoria Pavilion and

oh my, they have done a fabulous job.

My sister remarked that the inside is very much like a cruise ship

and she is so right - such wide open spaces.

We ate outside on the veranda and this was our lunchtime view - stunning.

Dogs are allowed on the beach now so we had entertainment too.

St Margaret's Bay

On our last day we went down to St Margaret's Bay - 'down'
is the word as it is twisty winding road to get there. 
The weather broke that day and it was most definitely cooler, 
it signified the end of our gorgeous little holiday.

To keep us cheerful we went to Pines - a museum cafe near the bay which 

serves huge cakes - that helped I can assure you.

Back home and my sister has already booked to go again next month,

this time taking her dog.

Although I cannot visit for the full trip (work!) I am hoping to drive down 

for a day and stay the night just to recharge the batteries a little.

Crochet:

Whilst away I finished my coastal coloured Harmony Blanket and I love it a lot.
Especially when I chose to take it to the harbour in Ramsgate and
the beach huts in St Margaret's Bay, seeing it against the boats 

made me love it even more.

Despite me planning to list this one in my Folksy shop 

I feel a certain affinity with this blanket and unlikely to let it go.

It is Lucy from Attic 24's design - Harmony Blanket and the pattern

lends itself to so many colourways.

Problem is...I want to make them all!

Home:

Returning from the coast I had somehow forgotten how muddled

the house is.  I am still waiting for the conservatory to be finalised -

it needs to be plastered and the electrician to put in the spotlights.

This means we still have everything piled up in the lounge which

doubles as an obstacle course for us and a climbing activity for the cats!

Normally I would be thinking of Christmas decorations soon but

that is definitely postponed.

It was rather exciting to have the Howdens designer visit 

and I'm awaiting her ideas for the kitchen and conservatory.

I celebrated my birthday last weekend and I had a special treat
from my sister - I'm going to save the details to share with you next week.

I was very spoilt by my friends and family - so lovely.

Telly:

Angela Black - ITV Hub

Angela Black seems to be living her best life.  

However, Angela's picture-perfect life is hiding a terrible truth: 

she is suffering daily abuse from her controlling husband and cannot escape him. 

Late to the party with this one as many of you have probably seen it.

We binged watched all episodes in one day and it did have us

gripped but... anyone else still asking questions at the end?

I definitely felt there was some loose ends.

Have to admire Joanne Froggatt's acting - I have seen her play so many

distressed women - someone please give her a happy role soon! 

Charity Kit:

This month's charity kit was a speedy sell out - thank you.
Michele grabbed two and sent through photos of her designs below
which look very lovely.

Tomorrow I will be in the cabin working on December's kit,

I have left it a little later than I would like - 

I seem to be chasing my tail since my office days have increased,

but this weekend should see most of it organised.

Well that my friends has been my week (or two).

Wishing you a lovely weekend - wrap up warm as apparently

snow is forecast in certain areas.

Take care.

Friday Chat Day

 Hello friends

Happy Friday, how are you?

Firstly big thanks for the speedy sell out of this month's Charity Kit.

Crochet:

Well, the weather wasn't really helping me in taking the final photos of my 

cushions for my pattern writing so I just went for it and took 

some pics in my lounge. I had all sorts of lights going, I don't think 

they came out too bad but you can never truly replicate natural daylight.

The pattern is finished - yippee, happy dance!

And I can now reveal the name.

The Darcy Cushion

It was Hazel's wonderful suggestion of naming it after one of my pets -

so Darcy was my choice. (I don't think Pixel Cushion has the right ring to it!)

I also like the Jane Austen-ish of it.

You can find the pattern here.  If you would like a printed copy

posted out to you, I've set up a tab with a PayPal button here.

I've also placed an image in my side bar for quick access to the pattern.

Very much appreciate your feedback.

The pattern has gone out to the lovely Carole who has offered to

pattern test it so if there are any amendments I will make those immediately.

(Toes and fingers crossed all OK, I've checked, double checked, triple checked).

Home:

Things still continue to be a bit muddled here in the VT, 

(who am I kidding? More than a bit!)

Conservatory roof removal and replacement started on Tuesday, 

cats left home for a day - good job it was mild weather.

My lounge diner is housing all the stuff from the conservatory,

that consists of a fridge, freezer, microwave plus all the other

items that were originally in the conservatory (a lot!) 

It feels like working in a bedsit - I can reach out from my desk

and pop something in the microwave!

Here's a photo of a roofless conservatory, quite a scary moment.

Lots of panels and insulated stuff went in and then the 'tiles' started to be added.

(Oh goodness look at the state of my drainpipe there - that's need a lick of paint!)

Inside after the electrician came to put in wiring for spotlights.

My garden looks like Steptoe's yard.

Plasterboard and plastering to do but I think it already feels a lot 

warmer.  It is noticeably darker but that's fine, it was too glaring in the Summer.

Telly:

I've actually struggled to settle to watch anything this week.

I know there are some fantastic new dramas hitting out screens,

always a sign of Winter, I'm making notes of those.

I did watch a film on Amazon Prime.

Ammonite

Mary Anning, an acclaimed fossil hunter, is forced to care for a 

rich visitor's sick wife, and the two develop an intense bond that 

forces the two women to re-examine their relationship.

Starting Kate Winslet.

It is a very sloooow film.  Also our Kate is a bit saucy!

Saying that, it was interesting and I did learn a tiny bit about fossils.

Other news:

I am going away on Monday for a slightly longer break, back to my 

current favourite place - St Margaret's at Cliffe.

Even though the weather may not be great it is still

lovely scenery, we can wrap up warm and take walks.

I am feeling rather worn out from work and commuting more days.  

My sister and I decided we both needed a longer break away.

That does mean no blog post next week, 

 I am determined to take time away from any screen, 

(apart from a telly one) - I definitely intend to catch up with telly and crochet.

But I will have lots to share with you the following week. 

I will leave you with a photo a startled Pixel who did not appreciate

workmen in his garden ...

and a squirrel baring his bum that couldn't care less!

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend and I'll be back blogging on 

Friday 26 November.

Take care friends.

Charity Kit Day - November 2021

 Hello friends

Happy Charity Kit Day.

Thank you for stopping by and taking a look at this month's kit. 
Each month a donation is made to a different charity and this month it is 
Thin Blue Paw Foundation who is supporting serving and retired 

police dogs across the UK.

To keep track of charities there is a tab at the top of my blog here.  

It details the 2021 chosen charities, clickable links and 

there's general kit info over there too

And here is this month's kit:

A Christmas card that's a little different as that is an acetate panel over

the sentiment.

Included in your kit:

White card blank and envelope

Silver foil card mat

White card mat

Patterned festive paper (design may vary - please see pic below)

Patterned acetate panel (design may vary)

Die cuts – Merry Christmas sentiment, mini poinsettias and leaves

Full instructions

(Items you will need: adhesive, foam pads/tape, pearls/gemstones)    

Patterned festive paper designs.

The kits are packed in recyclable paper bags and sent in a 'do not bend' 

envelope so they arrive in pristine condition. 

To make up the kits you just need a basic craft kit, all pieces are pre-cut.

The kit cost this month is £4.75.

that's the total payment - inclusive of postage and packing.

Payment is via the PayPal link below.

If you wish to purchase but would prefer not to use PayPal, please email me:

hope-chances@live.co.uk

I'm happy to help with alternative payment arrangements.

It is possible to purchase multiple kits,

there's an option with PayPal for that too.

If you would like to support the kits but do not need one right now,

there is a 'Ko-fi' button', at the top of the blog, it's not really for coffee...

all donations enable me to purchase card blanks, envelopes, the paper bags,

sticky labels etc used each month.

It is truly a great help each month with Ko-fi donations,

so lots of thanks to those who donate.

Take care friends, as always - huge thanks for your support

and have a wonderful Sunday.

 

Friday Chat Day

Hello friends

How are you?

Brhh it has turned a bit chilly hasn't it?

I awoke to frost a couple of days this week.

I am getting up at silly o'clock due to the commute

but once I'm up I like it (not the commute, just being up early).

It's that initial reluctance to throw off the warm duvet.

I am returning to blog normal this week, 

even got my subject headings back...

Crochet:

Pattern progress - well it is all but finished.

Here's a peek.  

It does run into quite a few pages.  

I decided it was nice to have lots of photos and perhaps

over explain than under.  Personally, I've often given up with patterns 

that do not give me lots of info, but I may have gone a little over the top with mine.

More is more - right?

Anyway...I just need to get some final photos of the finished

cushions - yes they are done, all 5 of them.

And typically the weather hasn't been conducive to taking photos

of predominantly white cushions - I had visions of setting 

them out in my sister's garden but everything is so soggy.

I did take a little Halloween pic of them piled before

having their cushion pads placed inside.

As for the pattern name - I took the suggestion from one of 

you, my lovely blog followers so stay tuned.

Next project is a WIP, I am returning to joining 

lots of squares for a large coastal themed Harmony blanket. 

Home:

Boiler is in, it wasn't without incident.

A pipe was not capped off so had a fair bit of water come through

the lounge ceiling.  It has dried out fairly well, poor plumber was very worried.

Have to say super impressed with

the efficiency of a new boiler, as you all said - having the luxury of 

instant hot water is just wonderful.

We are still a little muddled indoors and that is going to

get worse before it gets better as the conservatory

roof people are arriving on Monday to start.

(I'm sure they have names but hence forth they will be known as

'conservatory roof people').

This weekend moving all the stuff back into the lounge

and trying to make the garden and rear alleyway accessible.

Not a lot of fun but necessary.

Garden:

If I look hard enough there are still some nice things happening in the

tiny garden.  Winter Beauty Clematis is forming buds.

And the last vibrant red leaves of this climber - which I now think 

 is Virginia Creeper, (again, thanks to your knowledge).

Telly:

I think I may have mentioned that I subscribed to Acorn TV.

I managed to get it half price for the year so I have been

sampling some of their telly wares.

Dead Still

The strange adventures of Blennerhasset and Molloy, 

1880's Dublin's most famed memorial photographers.

I didn't even know memorial photography was a thing,

rather macabre taking photos of someone after they die and 

posing them with the family!

But apparently they did and this drama takes it one step further

with a bit of crime thrown in. 

It's different, a bit disturbing and occasionally funny.

(I haven't really sold you on this one have I?)

Charity Kit:

It is this Sunday and going live on the blog at 7am.

I have gone festive as it is creeping up on us rather quickly.

Here's a sneak peek.

Other stuff:

 

At work I am heavily involved in delivering talks and events on 

the role of  PA and this week I had to dig into my photo box to 

put together a presentation on how the role has changed,

equipment etc.  Oh my it was interesting.  

Here is a photo from the early 1980's of my office in my first job - 

NatWest Tower (back then the tallest building in London),

I was based on level 36 - a whole office to myself.

I remember thinking that typewriter was state of the art and indeed it was,

so much better than a manual typewriter.

And that was my week.

As always, big thanks for stopping by and wishing you all

a wonderful weekend, keep warm!