on growth...and development...

my baby turned 4...how this happened is beyond me...seems like only yesterday she arrived and brightened up our lives like nothing we could ever have expected...on birthdays I feel so lucky to have her and her sister in my life...apart from anything else I feel lucky that we are privileged enough to live in an affluent society...though elements of this affluent capitalist society irritate me beyond belief there is no arguing with the fact that we have plenty to eat, a roof over our heads and wonderful health care should we ever need it...


my baby turning 4 prompted me to think of the kids less fortunate...I don't do this very often as it leads me to a dark place full of wondering what sense or reason there is in this crazy world where bankers earn millions in bonuses and people starve. Instead I have a fairly innocuous amount of money come out of my bank account once a month...about the amount it would cost to buy two pretty mediocre bottles of wine or 5 super skinny vanilla frappucinno deluxes...and I sponsor a little girl in Paraguay through Plan. I've recently given up alcohol and coffee (in a temporary way!) and so have even less need for pretty mediocre bottles of wine or frappucino deluxes...which means I can now extend my sponsorship to cover two little girls ...which feels right given that I have two little girls of my own, like I am putting something back and helping in a tiny way to redress that awful imbalance...

I feel funny telling you about this, I don't think anyone outside my immediate family knows, why should they? it matters only to me really...but as I was browsing Plan's website while sorting things out for my new sponsorship this week I noticed that they actively solicit people with websites to link to them...free viral marketing I suppose you would call it in this free market economy...and so I've put a link at the side of this page...I urge you to visit their site, read a bit about the work they do, and make your own judgement...

am off to Ireland for a while over Easter...see you when I'm back

in the meantime have a very Happy Easter...hope the bunny is good to you!

the owls have landed...and other ramblings...

apologies for long absence, this being 40 lark is very tiring. There were parties (well, one) to arrange, new hairdos to dream up* , vintage frocks to dust off...you know the sort of thing. All that, added to very stressful work schedule and the exhaustion that comes with being a woman of such advanced years rendered me incapable of doing anything other than collapsing into bed with the kids on a nightly basis thus making impossible the night-time art of blogging (or indeed crafting - I am starting to have withdrawal symptoms if I am honest) However here I am, Sunday breakfast time, having already shrieked at the children that Mummy has been wanting to do this for over two weeks and she HAS TO DO IT NOW in such a way that they didn't argue, not even once...

So, to my lovely swap partners whose swap parcels I received weeks ago and never reported on, I say a meek sorry

but look, just look, at the lovelies I got in the post...

first up, from the wonderful vonnie# in Scotland...in MeridianAriel's Owl swap


such beautifully wrapped parcels - almost couldn't bring myself to open them they looked so special...but am glad I managed it because look what was inside...

owl stitch markers, can you believe that?!

an owl bag for my knitting, in the most scrumptious shade of orange

owl mitts (incredible eh?)

AND matching beanie hat

there were also some little nesting wooden shapes for me to decorate which one or other smallfry has managed to away with, for now...and some delicious Jaffa Cakes.

I felt thoroughly spoilt. It was lovely!

Vonnie had told me how much she loved the Owl and the Pussycat story

so I made her some soft toys/cushions to remember the tale by



I also sent some yarn, some chocolate and some lush stuff for her bath so I hope she felt she got a somewhat fair swap . The girls were loathe to let the owl and pussycat go, which is always a good sign I think.

In Imagingermonkey's FQ swap I was teamed up with the lovely Amy. I forgot to photograph what I sent her (things have been hectic, didn't I say?) but you can see them here. Amy, obviously telepathic as well as extremely generous, included some gorgeous owl fabric in her parcel.

Along with other great fabric choices, some rather smashing ribbons and a bar of delicious chocolate.



Hmm, did I mention feeling spoilt?

Thank you to my brilliant (and patient) swap partners.

The feeling of being well looked after continued with the plethora of truly wonderful, thoughtful birthday gifts I received during the week, including more yarn, a cath kidston sewing basket, vouchers for my local yarn store, tea related recipe books, a retro pinny, fabulous vintage lamp and vase, gorgeous jewellery etc etc etc. As if all of this wasn't enough, I was also gifted not one but TWO spa days where I get to go and be pampered and lay about in hot rooms a lot with my very best friends. I have one word to say and it is...Hallelujah!

I highly recommend this turning 40 business. Now if only I could get away with doing it again...

*at work they have accused me of being inspired by Star Trek in the hairdo department...it's very Romulan apparantly, I have no idea whether this is good or bad but the boys seem to have enjoyed themselves tittering... hmmph

# just visited vonnies blog and am GUTTED to discover she is running a time for tea swap and I have missed the closing date. So that's what I get for letting work and celebrations of the inexorable march of time take over my blogging time. Lesson learnt!

Editted to add - can't believe I neglected to say THANK YOU for all your lovely happy birthday comments on the last post. What wonderful blogger friends you are. And thanks also to those who have given my blog awards over the past months. I really appreciate them and will do a post about them soon...I promise...

greetings from beyond the hill...

so, I find myself landed on the other side of a significant birthday. The significant number is divisible by 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 10, 20 and... ahem...40. Cor blimey, how did this come to pass? I ask myself (and anyone else who'll listen)

beautiful japanese teapot and tea bowls from my sister Catherine...crazy birthday brunch by moi

Not being content with going over the hill metaphorically I headed to the Alps to mark the occasion more literally. It was a wonderful idea, would recommend it to anyone. I played in the snow, drank plenty of tea and ruminated on the state of things (as you do when you reach this sort of age).

Will be back (once the shock has worn off properly) to share details of beautiful owlish swaps and some fat quarters that made their way to me from stateside.

Until then...
another gorgeous teapot, birthday gift from my lovely friend Nich (he of teacosy fame - discern a subtle theme?)...can a girl (ooops, sorry, woman of a certain age) ever have too many tea making accoutrements? I sincerely doubt it...

beautiful italian yarn, another lovely birthday gift courtesy of my colleague Mia with whom I have recently set up the (two strong) "work knitting club". I feel some tea cosies coming on, or maybe a bobble hat...

ps new all time favourite tea - Genmaicha - mmmmmm...mmm. Thanks Cath!

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