Extra Special Delivery

Sorry for my absence lately, it is due to this little whirligig!

Sebastian Edward

Sebastian decided he wanted to join the party early. 

He had a difficult start, but is a tough little cookie, like his beautiful Mama. 

His Mama & Papa had to deal with more than I and most people in the first few days of their precious baby's life.

But, he is home, looked at in awe and wonderment and filling our hearts with so much love. 

So, this weekend I am away in the Lake District & hope to catch up with my favourite blogs and start to put together some of my own!

Smile everyone - It's Friday - 
Happy weekend!
XX

Sebastian is wearing hat and bootees made by my Sons girlfriend - how cute are they?! X

52 Weeks of Happy (27, 28 & 29/52)

Well, there just is not enough hours in the day at the moment.

I have enjoyed lots of moments over the last few weeks, but so caught up in these moments that I have no photo's - sometimes that can be a good thing yes?

• Visited Richmond Tea Room again with a friend - and had a surprise visit whilst there from my 'L' who happened to be in Manchester for work!! He then decided to stay a couple of nights as Mr.L was away and he had an open return. Happy? Hell yesssss!

• After a particularly stressful day at work, these were waiting on my desk. I'm honoured to have such supportive work colleagues.

• A lovely parcel for moi arrived after a massive wardrobe clear out the week before - I have yet to find time to try them on - when I do I shall share here!

• My family being together for Easter - best feeling in the World. We enjoyed the company of my friend's Son and Daughter too on Good Friday, who I love very much.

• Prior to all of the above Mr.L and I had helped 'A' to move into her first home with her lovely partner 'S' - must get a good photo of him/them!! :-)

• Impromptu night in York with 'C' (best friend EVER! - You know the one!) We ate here again - it's just the bee's - if you ever visit York you must go, but ssshhh please don't tell everyone, Ha.....

• I am from a large family and as such there are lot's of Cousin's. We all decided to meet up in Manchester for a catch up and a boogie here. I was gutted when I had to leave for the last train home but am looking forward to doing this again ;-0

• I enjoyed a cheap as chips carvery with fabulous company over Easter after work - lots of nattering - we looked around when we came up for air to find we were the only one's left - it was heaving when we arrived.......

Now I'm ready to replenish the next couple of weeks - a slower pace is needed!
Thank you for dropping by. Wishing you all a wonderful Bank Holiday weekend.
XX

Memories

Memories are strange things - they happen when you least expect it.

Today I was walking with the pup when I called him 

dod yma - 

"come here" in Welsh. 

Gosh, where did that come from? My Mum taught my Sister & I a little Welsh but the overriding language she taught us was 'Pig Latin'.

Memories of chatting so fast in the kitchen and learning nursery rhymes - seeing my Dad and Brother's look of disgust as they had no idea at all what was being said and whether we were talking about them. Ha!

'The language',  my Mum told us was spoken by the girls to enable private conversation about the boys ;-)

It is something I taught my Daughter as Mr.L and 'L' looked on thoroughly bemused as 'A' and I tried to control our laughter. Unfortunately for us 'L' worked it out and spoke much faster than we ever could.....gggrrr!

A few years ago when I worked in Sexual Health for Young People two young lad's came to see me for condoms. They spoke to each other in Pig Latin about what they wanted, imagine their faces when I answered back in their 'secret language'. They nearly fell over!!

Anyone reading speak 'Pig Latin?'
Memories - strange things!
Have a lovely week!
XX

Wise Words....

For My Daughter

& anyone dropping by!! XX

Declaration's of Love

I love to visit the Pont des Arts bridge in Paris passing over the Seine. 

A must visit, the hundreds of thousands of 'love locks' have to be seen!

Some are simple, with names or initials inscribed, some painstakingly 

hand decorated and beautifully painted.

The padlock is fastened to the bridge, or as you see below lamp posts & the key thrown into the Seine symbolising unbreakable love, aaaahhhh!

From Russia with love! :-)

Wishing unbreakable love to my Daughter 'A' as she buys her first home with her 
lovely boyfriend 'S'........
XX

Christmas Wreath

In this house we don't put anything up for Christmas, apart from a wreath until after

 'A's' birthday on the 6th - and that's plenty of time to get into the spirit!!!!

Now normally I would buy a wreath at the Christmas Market,

 but this year I decided to have a go myself....

I already have a twig heart on the front door and decided to incorporate this into the design

(bad picture - sorry)

I cut some holly from the garden - 3 long stems, wearing leather gardening gloves 

& tied together with twine

 Tied the holly to the back of the heart

 Placed a bow on the front.......& Tada! 

Total cost one pound! What do you think? Yay or nay?

Who else has been making, crafting or baking?

XX

Children's Choices

As your children grow up they have many different choices to make. 

Quite often we influence those choices, often there are battle's, 
sometimes you may simply say "no" or the result may be a compromise.

But, as a parent you almost always support your children even if you are not 
completely au-fait with choices they have made.

You go to all their first's, watch them in their concerts, shows, nativities. 

You stand freezing at the side of the ménage 
worried they are going to be booted off the horse.
Or at the hockey match worried they are going to be hit in the face with a stick.
 You drive everywhere so they can enjoy new experience's. 
You get involved. 

Your children grow up, that juxtaposition between teenager and adult, they need you, they don't need you. The transition is difficult for parent and child. 

They make their own choices, they may hear what you say, they may allow you to give some guidance, they might act on advice, almost always they will do what they want!

So, my beautiful Daughter 'A' started to attend boxing classes, initially for fitness. 
This led to sparring and the realisation that she was good and fast. 

When approached by the Coaches at the gym about actually fighting she came home and discussed it and needless to say, I was not keen.

 I tried to talk her out of it, persuade her, even bribe her,
but it was something she loved, it made her feel GOOD.

Her first fight was on Saturday, I felt sick with nerves, lots of people gave advice, 
"don't go and watch" "let her papa go" "tell her she cant do it"!!?? 

Most people said they would not go to watch if it was their Daughter.

So Saturday came - what did I do?
 I went along, of course I did! Because that's what a Mama does! 
& I was so proud and frightened all at the same time.
I shouted, I cheered - I surprised myself. 
She had to know that I support her choices in life - & I do!

Sssssshhhhhh, I also know, that those who said they would not go if it was 
their Daughter definitely would!

Just a few images taken on the night.

Last time I was in this room was at a Ladies Event two weeks ago!!
(It's a beautiful place).

Thanks for stopping by :-)

XX

52 Weeks of Happy (1/52)

I have discovered a few new blogs recently which I shall add to my side bar sooooooon!

One in particular, Jen at Little Birdie started this blog hop a year ago....

always late to the party - that's me haha! 

She has just posted her 52/52 'Weeks of Happy'.

I so wish I had seen this, I think it is such a marvellous idea. 

Looking back on your week, being in the moment (albeit with a camera!) 

and capturing the little moments that make you happy or smile.

So I am going to curate my four happy moments and simple pleasures 

to share here each week.

• Reading 'In Style' for £2.00 with the gorgeous Drew Barrymore on the cover, whilst enjoying my favourite drink :-) 
• Putting my sumptuously warm velvet throw on the bed ready for colder nights.
• My Daughter leaping off the couch announcing she felt like baking and producing this lovely moist marble cake - YUM!
• Rob Ryan tape for brightening up plain wrapping paper

What simple pleasures have made you smile this week?

XX

Noticing

Feeling Bleh after going to bed with a headache which was so awful it stopped me sleeping.

Pounding this morning but once Mr.L had got some tablets, I picked up this afternoon.

Comforting Chocolate!

I am not good at sitting still and relaxing so ended up mooching round the house and noticing things that make me smile.

It made me mindful that this is what home is for, rest & relaxation.

Here's some of what I noticed.

Brightly coloured herbs & spices in my lovingly restored cupboard.

I paste invitations in the back...

Snoopy for Olly's doggy treats ;-)

Mr.L & I bought this for our first home - LOVE!

Pound shop Buddah bought for Daddy from the kids - I used to take them to the pound shop at Christmas and they would go in by themselves to buy family presents. 

Such fun to see what they had bought. Memories, *sigh*.

Little birdy from 'C' (aka best friend ever!) brightening up the hallway.

Love the juxtaposition of these books - my Son's old Lemony Snicket books 

and his current reads! (Note to self - buy him number 7)!

Crazy Wall in my Son's room, some of which we did together.

 If I stop to look I see something new every time!

Bedside & VODKA!! Teenagers! Abigail Ahern Letter A

Memories hung with simple twine & pegs in A's room.

This was my bookcase when I was a baby - now in A's room - 

decorated by her when she was 8 - really love this and hope she keeps it :-)

Baby present - still hung! After all these years.

 Fishes from a dear friend swimming in the bathroom!

Cosy bed with the patchwork made over hours and hours by my lovely Mama - 

We are lucky to have a few and I would never part with them.

Makes a Home...

& The World go round!

Wishing all a Happy Weekend!

XX

Pick & Mix

That was the name of the Final Show for Art & Design Students on the course that 'A' will be starting in September.

The awarding body for the course is  UAL (Universities of the Arts London) & last night was great as we got to see the work of so many talented people. 

At last I feel my Daughter is following her heart - she was so at ease in her surroundings, chatting happily with the young designers and artists.

I didn't get as many pictures as I hoped, but hope you like what I chose to feature :-)

 These paper animals were amazing - the young lady who designed them spent weeks - not hours - doing all the cutting and feathering. I don't think the photos do them justice as they were WOW!

Just look closely at the feathers...a.m.a.z.e

  This butterfly installation was everywhere you looked....& so pretty.

 Tattoo Art - now this was something else! The young artist delivered his final piece live!! How talented is he? Who else thinks of  tattoo's as art?

There were three young men with sleeves of tattoos, all different but all equally amazing. I took a number of photographs and wish I could remember whose was whose!!

Recognise anyone?

I love tattoos that are done well, with fine detail, shading, slim outlines and time taken to produce something exquisite and personal, not an elephant that looks like a tracing done with a crayon. 

The young man below is another tattoo artist and I was fascinated and wanted to know why he had taken the decision to have his face tattooed. 

The tattoo is on both sides, like a block beard. He is a walking advertisement for his trade.

He was happy to chat whilst 'A' squirmed saying "Mum! You can't say that!"

Anyway he's a handsome chap who carries it off well ;-)

Paper dresses anyone?

Crazy what you can do with sheet music! 

& this I just loved *sigh*

Blown away...these beautifully decorated women's torso's - I think they are representing pregnancy from the way the hand rests just below the stomach, such delicate work.

 We watched the Fashion Show - I really liked the pieces by the talented designer below, unfortunately I didn't manage to get pictures of the two dresses that completed his capsule. I liked his pieces as they were different but wearable too.

  Fabulous pants :-)

 If I could choose one item for myself it would have to be the torso with the butterflies, it says so much. What would you choose?

 I am so excited for 'A' to experience time in the company of other creative people & hope to share as she goes!

XX