{quilt} while you're ahead

100-2015

On Sunday the weather was weird.  Foggy and misty in one place and sunny down the road.  No 3 played rugby in the fog, No 2 in the sun two miles apart.

After lunch I decided to take my parents on a walk up the hills and what we found was incredible!

Above us the sky was a deep clear blue

and on the other side...

... a deep blanket of clouds completely covered the city... it was like being on top of the world.

Totally mesmerising.

 

Blue sky...

... and clouds...

Magic.

 

99-2015

Back home.

It's a whirlwind round here lately... back to school, parents over from Italy, huge party for the 30th anniversary of Mr M's business...

It was a great night.

I wore a sparkly dress and bright blue shoes! (loosely 80s themed, arcade games, 80s music and a Delorian parked outside the venue... you know.. the Back to the Future car... complete with smoke and fake ice... AWESOME!

(note to self "don't keep your new high heels on for 6hrs straight the first time you wear them, you'll regret it, no matter how gorgeous the shoes are")

ok bad picture... but it was cold and I was keen to get inside... (I wonder how would it be to use it for the school run... mmmmmhhhh)

So many friends came, the music was great, the drinks flowed and the boys came too...  it was totally totally fab... and you what also happened? my sister curled my hair!!!

Folks... for the first time in my life I HAD VAGUELY CURLY HAIR!!!

You might not understand... but my hair is STRAIGHT.  I even tried a perm back in the 80s (actually round the time of THE movie) but didn't work... I had a ball of fuzzy hair for months that smelled of acid every time I had a  shower.  Nasty.

Anyway, my wonderful sister (with wonderful naturally curly hair) curled mine and I have the photo to prove it:

Curles people, curles... 

Ok... maybe waves, but still...

Sigh.

(I also have an awesome looking posse of boys - one of them is missing from this photo - if I may say so.  I'm lucky.  Very lucky).

 

92-2015

And just like that the weekend is over.

It was a good one.  The boys did a lot of sport (the ratio of 3 children to 2 adults sometimes complicates things but we managed... just), we saw friends we hadn't seen in a long time and the dog an I managed to squeeze in a lovely walk up a foggy hill.

It really felt like Autumn.

I felt like eating chestnuts, roasted on an open fire, with Nat King Cole playing softly on the radio and I knit my chunky blankets without making any mistakes.

Or watching black and white movies, or old musicals I used to watch with my mum... like Brigadoon... ever seen Brigadoon? Or Seven brides for seven brothers?... sigh...

Instead Lilli and I walked back down the hill and re-entered real life.  A hockey match and math and science revision with No 2 for me.  A long sleep on the back of the sofa for her.

Have a good week.

 

91-2015

Yeay, random Friday is back!!

(as if 'hand-creams' wasn't random enough...)

So today I had a few errands to do and walked into town which made me realise a few things:

- I love the location of our new house. LOVE it.  It makes it ridiculous to drive into the city centre and as a consequence I'm doing a lot of more walking than before.  Bonus because I completely fell off the running wagon.  I mean totally.

- I have one of those fitbit zip thingies (hooked into my bra so I don't lose it...) and aiming to do 10,000 steps a day.  Don't succeed all the time.  (I used to have one of those wrist thingies... but I lend it to No 1 who managed to lose it in Bangkok in the summer... sigh).

And also I'm discovering little lanes and shortcuts I never knew existed

I love nice peeling walls and gates.

- And when you take the time to walk you notice buildings you drove past a million time before and never acknowledged

This one for example is terrifying.  It should be in a Dan Brown's book... in fact I might have to send the photo to him just in case he's having writers' block and needs ideas for his next book.  I mean... was the middle one a window? And where are the statues?  And why there isn't one door but two?  Weird.  I'd love to see inside.  or maybe not.  It is rather scary looking.

- I also discovered a yoga studio stupidly close to the house.  In fact so annoyingly close I don't know how I'll be able to formulate an excuse strong enough not to get off my bottom and do something... it's going to be tough.

- I took my birthday watch to be fixed because it was 'rattling'... well you wouldn't believe it, but it turns out that it wasn't broken at all...

"do you charge your watch, madam?" - the watchman.

me "... ahem... no... it's automatic, right".  Duh....

"well you should always charge it, about twenty turns at least once a month or a few turns every couple of days, or the spring gets loose and rattles" - the watchman, trying to be patient.

"... ahmmm, right...  yes... ok ... sure... I'll do that from now on then... thanks".  I'm shockingly eloquent sometimes.

"... no problem ma'am, just pop in to see us every time you have a problem" - the watchman probably rolling his eyes to the back of its head.  I didn't turn to check.

Sigh.

- On the way I saw a lorry with a naked doll (one of those old fashioned dolls, with plastic hair... and eyes that roll... ) strapped to its front grill.  What was that all about??  I might send this idea to Stephen King.  It's right up his street... possessed doll/giant truck kills hitchhikers and lonely ramblers, the drivers have no control but get the blame... what do you think?

- I spent 2 1/2 hours freezing on a football sideline this afternoon.

Note to self "dig out the heavy coat for tonight hockey session".  And big boots.

- And once again 'lost-item' season is upon us

(but surely if you lose a coat you re-trace your steps???)

- I've just eaten two unnecessary biscuits.

- Happy Weekend everybody!

87-2015

I'm very sad to say that the days of Father Christmas and the tooth fairy are behind us now.  These days I get links to websites before birthdays and the 'for Christmas can I haves' have already began three months ahead of the big day.

Anyway, that's life, onwards and upwards and all that.

The magic has kind of left the building.  Or so I thought.

No 3 had lost a tooth at school yesterday and had asked me to simple hand over the money because he knew that 'Flossie' his tooth fairy was only a figment of the imagination (actually he said 'a lie'... hopefully he won't be too scarred by it), but last night, when I got back from the theatre, I found a note by my bedside table:

Cute (i love the plz), despite the fact that a treasure hunt late at night was not exactly what I was after.

In his room, under the pillow, I then found this:

The tooth was in a gum shield box (the gum shield is now lost and we had to mould another one ahead of this afternoon's game).  The tone is slightly bossy (he was nicer to Flossie).  The fact he wants to keep the tooth is disturbing (I could never be a dentist).

BUT but but... I loved the whole thing... it is a little bit magic, isn't it?

I think it is.

Sigh.

 

86-2015

- random.

- we've had no wifi for over a week.

- zero.

- apparently for our service (and I use the term very loosely) provider 'upgrading' someone means taking them off the grid for about ten days. Of course, silly me.

- the kids survived.  Just.  They look paler and slightly emaciated but they should be ok.  

- if I'd hoped that they would have suddenly filled their time with board games, treasure hunts, walks in the park and meaningful conversation with each other... I'd have been disappointed... but I didn't... although No 2 was caught tidying up his room to military inspection standard because 'there was nothing else to do', so not all was lost.

- I made the first soup of the season: leeks and potatoes, which nobody ate but me and now I don't want to see another leeks and potatoes soup for another 12 months. Seriously.

- I also dropped a huge glass jar of flour from the top shell onto the floor.  No 3 was standing alarming close by and got totally flour bombed. White. Covered. Unrecognisable.  Luckily, once he got over the shock he saw the funny side.

- bless him.

- the focaccia I made after the flour incident (different flour, I didn't scoop it up from the floor and use it! geesh..) was forgotten in the oven and could subsequently be used as building material.  In fact it was so hard  NASA could have used it on the outside of the Space Shuttle because no amount of heat at re-entry point would have destroyed it more than it was. 

- very sad.

- talking of culinary disaster I learnt the hard way that no smell escapes from an AGA oven, therefore were you to incinerate an apple crumble you wouldn't be alerted of the fact until you open the oven and a black cloud and an even blacker crumble appeared in front of your smoked fill eyes.

- the empirical ways are always the most successful.  Unless you're a crumble.

- I'm still 4 players shorts for our first hockey league match.  I'm very worried.

- I've done my back in lifting a bicycle in the garage this morning.  I thought you should know that.  Also I'm genetically incapable of suffering in silence.  I need to share.

- my back hurts.

- I attended a talk at the Cheltenham Literary Festival by Kate Atkinson ('behind the scene at the museum' 'life after life' etc.).  She talked about her latest book 'a god in ruins'.  Amazing.  Incredibly interesting for once and brilliant lady.  Fab mind.  I've been to some other of these talks were it was obvious the author was uncomfortable or bored or simply shamefully just selling his/her books that were almost painful.  I highly recommend her books.

- back still hurts.

- no photos this time.  The camera has been hijacked by no 2 and the cable has vanished.  Probably tidied up too well and will never be seen again.

- Now I'm going downstairs in my studio (the missing floor boards should be fitted tomorrow... I'm not holding my breath) and do some quilting.  Oh yes... the game is back on!

- Take care.  Think about my back.

 

82-2015

... geesh... was that even a weekend?

I lost count of how many times how many trips Mr M and I did driving kids somewhere, picking kids from somewhere, taking other kids somewhere else... we passed like ships in the night.  Oh hi, I remember you, you look really much like my husband...

One exam, two archery competitions, one rugby match, two rugby training sessions.  They did well, me? I need a week to recover till the next weekend!

Also I open this little corner of peace of mine and realised the post I thought I posted last week didn't actually post... so.. whatever, don't know what happened.

It was a little musing about nature and how wonderful September weather can be, blah blah blah.

Lilli the dog and I really enjoy our walks.  

She doesn't like blackberries though... but I do.  They remind me of summer as a kid, in Italy they're at their best in August when it's still hot and the summer holiday reach their 'boring' time...

I went on a lovely walk around Prestbury with a friend, the weather was glorious and we put he world to right whilst Lilli tried to ignore the sheep and ran like a mad dog.

Needless to say there weren't any ghosts around at 10.00 in the morning...

Now I can't wait for the leaves to fall.

65-2015 { oh what a night }

First of all let me tell you... what a night we had... I mean, seriously... so please indulge me.  I want to write it down to remember it all.

The story goes like this: last Friday night Mr M and I were invited to a charity evening.

Great.  We don't go out much so that was exciting, right?  An evening out with friends.... 

Then the details started trickling through and Mr M had to get himself a white tux jacket... smile... slightly Penguinish and waiter-like... but he looks good in anything so that was easy.  Yes, exactly, it's easy for boys, right?  I had to find 'a gown'... a 'long gown'!... Ah the anguish... the stress... I must have tried millions... too shiny, too long, too boring... too coral... too black... to itchy... to stiff... to young... too old... too expensive...

In the end I found two and let the men in my life choose, and they went for this...  (I wouldn't normally do a fashion show... but it isn't everyday that I go out in something like Cinderella...

How girlie and sparkly is that???? 

Sigh...

So anyway, we get picked up by our friends and taken to The McLaren Technology Centre (designed by Sir Norman Foster), which is the most amazing building and looks like it should be a set for the next James Bond movie (no, Daniel Craig wasn't there.  Shame)

We drink champagne and whisky cocktails and we're surrounded by beautiful dresses and lots of men dressed as Penguins.  There's an improvisational poet (mad), a lovely choir, and lots of Formula One cars...

And then there's incredible food (caviar... chilled by pipettes of liquid nitrogen because obviously ice is soooo last year... ) and then the entertainment begins.  The London Philharmonic Orchestra accompanies the starter... and Rory Bremner presents..

And Rowan Atkinson sings

Then one of the horses from 'War Horse' appears

 And then there's this surreal drum duel between Nick Mason (drummer of Pink Floyd) and Roger Taylor (drummer of Queen)... no photos.. sorry...

And then Mike and the Mechanics and Ella Henderson and Jose Feliciano...

Here we are (looking extremely tired because it's 2.30 am and normally we've been in bed 4 hours).

 

I have to say that a huge, huge, amount of money was raised for three charities: Tommy's, Starlight and The Honeypot children's charity

We got back the sun was already shining in the sky... and the boys were impressed to learn that we pulled an allnighter.  (Score)

 

You might be reassured to learn that Saturday lunch was at MacDonald.  Back to earth, guys.

 

Sigh.

 

63-2015

And just like that I'm 45.

Seriously now... 45?

I remember when my dad turned 40... I was 14 and thought he was ancient.  He wasn't.  He still isn't.  He also seemed so responsible and strong and 'sorted'.  Yes, I thought that people at 40 or 45 had it all figured it out.  Geesh.... how wrong.  My 45 feels nothing like that!

Do my kids think I know everything and I'm responsible and 'sorted'?  I'm not sure I want to hear their answer... just in case....

This morning however I got spoiled with lovely cards and gorgeous gifts and I feel so grateful and proud and full of love with this family of mine and then had a lovely lunch with good friends.

... and last night Mr M and I boogied (we can say that because we're old) to the music of the incomparable Sir Elton John.

Good weekend.  Good times.  

 

61-2015

First of June.

WHAT??

Ok,  let's pretend I don't turn 45 in a week's time, that my hair is not turning gray and running doesn't seem to be uphill all the time....

Let's just talk about the lovely weekend I spent in London with Mr M... right?

So... I love train journeys, especially when you don't have to change train.  Changing trains can be a right Royal pain.  But direct ones?  FAB.

I love nice hotels. Yeah, ok who doesn't... but when you walk into a room and it's all clean and smells nice and  there's a big bed with a fake bear on it and wood panelling and pretentious magazines... FAB.  Again.

I love walking around art galleries it's ... yes you guessed it... FAB.  If the art is great it's a bonus... but the people... ah yes people watching...

I love Ronnie Scott's. It is an extremely cool place.  (And they serve the best steaks, just saying).  (And Martinis... I tried the Soho Martini (basil and mind, very refreshing), a Classic dry Martini (with olives, not sure if it was shaken or stirred, it was gooooood) and a French Martini for dessert (what? why not? it was fruity and sweet.  The main act was brilliant, more soul than jazz.  I think (by then... you know... the Martini thang? ahem..). FAB. And I don't even like jazz.

I love eggs Florentine for breakfast.  Which I needed because when we got back to the hotel I might have tried another Dry Martini for comparison purposes (the olives were too big) and maybe, just maybe... somebody who was well past their going home time bought us a Tequila slammer.

Yeah...

It seems like a fab idea at the time...