January Blues

... and yellows and pinks and greens

I crocheted colourful tuna tin covers for my bargain daffodils - 99p each in Morrisons

I had a trip to the cinema with my sister to see The Railway Man 

I bought yet more materials for yet more craft projects

 

I ate a full English breakfast - a great start to the New Year!

I've been really struggling for time to get up to date with my blog. I know this is a bit of a random post but I wanted to record my January moments.

♥ 52 Weeks of Happy (15/52) ♥

Well, what a turnaround.  I've had a much happier week this week, thanks goodness.  Last week was just a little blip!

As I'm now 15 weeks into the '52 weeks of happy' I thought I should link back to Jen at Little Birdie where the idea originated - the idea to record four things per week that have made you happy. I started 15 weeks ago at the beginning of January but you can join in anytime.

the happiest people don't have the best of everything 

- they just make the best of everything

1.  This week we had some brilliant news about our house.  I'm a bit of a pessimist (I wish I wasn't, but I am) and so although I want to tell the world about the good news I almost don't want to mention it just in case in all goes belly-up.  You know when people say 'if it sounds too good to be true then it probably is' well that's kind of how I feel.  I'll whisper it to you then maybe I won't tempt fate (I know I sound like a complete wuss).

Whisper - Our house went up for sale on 6th April and by the 10th we had an offer from a cash buyer.  The next day we received an offer of the full asking price from a lady with nothing to sell and keen to move in as soon as possible.  Oh my goodness me!

And if that wasn't enough to throw me into a flap of nervous energy then listen to this...

Whisper - We went for a second viewing to a house that I so, so want to live in.  I shed a little tear (privately) at the first viewing because it's just so 'me' and I can imagine us living there.  Anyway we had a second viewing (no tears this time because I had my practical head on) and the next day our offer was accepted.  Oh my goodness me!  Deep breaths and count to ten.

After the initial excitement on Saturday I am now feeling anxious.  It's now all in the hands of estate agents, surveyors and solicitors so we're just playing the waiting game.

A quiet moment of contemplation.  Tea and a lemon & poppy seed muffin (helps settle the nerves).

2.  It was my Papa's 79th birthday this week so my sister and I took him out for the day. 

3.  My sis came to stay overnight and we went out to the cinema to see Identity Thief - it was such a laugh.  MissG and her friend were there too (not sitting with us as they're far to cool) and she glanced over just as I was dancing to the closing track - she was so embarrassed!  Sis and I laughed so much.

4.  A colourful cupcake - a treat from my niece, Robyn.

♥ 52 Weeks of Happy (2/52) ♥

I've been feeling pretty positive this week (long may it last) and have had my share of happy moments.  Here are just four of them!

Tea and Toasted Teacakes

You may (or may not) remember that before Christmas I mentioned that we have BIG plans for this year.  

We currently live on the border of Cumbria and Lancashire and we are hoping to move forty miles further up to into Cumbria to the market town of Penrith.  MrG and I have been down here for about 22 years and have lived in this house for the last 15 but have always fancied moving back up towards Carlisle, where we met at art college.   The reason we haven't made the move before now is that the children are settled in school and we don't want to move them before their final exams.  Well, this year they will both be taking their exams, SonG is taking his A'levels and MissG her GCSE's, so it seems an ideal time to put our plans into motion.  On Christmas Eve we took our first step and signed the lease for a property in Penrith and over the Christmas holidays we moved our business up there.  We are hoping to sell our house and buy a new one in Penrith later this year.  We're not sure about the timing though, when do we put our house on the market if we don't want to go until July/August?  

Anyway, back to the photo above.  They say that each cloud has a silver lining.  The cloud is - although we have moved into our office, have paid our rent, paid the insurance and all the other bills we can't actually work there until BT connect us as we need a broadband connection - this is not going to happen until 1st February!  The silver lining is - MrG and I are working from home so there's no commuting and worrying about the icy roads and... we get to have leisurely breakfasts in our cosy kitchen!

Cinema in Carlisle

Many years ago (about 6 I think) I had to organise a seminar in London as part of my job and a perk for me was while I was there I was treated to a theatre show of my choice.  I chose Les Miserables and enjoyed it so much that I have yearned to go back to see it again.  So now that the movie has been released I just had to go check it out for myself.  I was up in Carlisle visiting family this weekend so went to see it with my sister.  Have you seen it?  I thought it was really good but the singing was quite distracting at times and nowhere near as good as the live shows.  I did enjoy it though and will probably go again at the weekend with MissG.

My New Car

Another reason for my trip to Carlisle was to collect my new car.  I'm a happy bunny!

Italian Ice Cream

I took my Dad, sister and niece for a drive to test my new car out on quieter roads before I had to drive home down the M6.  We went up over the border into Scotland to Langholm and visited the most fabulous Italian ice cream shop - a delicious treat even in January!

I like a bargain

While out searching for a birthday present for Emma (my son's girlfriend) I popped into The Works (a discount book store) and spotted this book.

It has some really lovely ideas with beautiful photographs

and inspiration for making Christmas presents

it was a bargain price too.

I found a present for Emma.  The little shop I went into had a fantastic array of gifts.  One of those shops that you'd be happy to take home one of everything!  I spotted so many things that I'd like for myself. I ended up buying two silver bracelets and gave my son the choice of which one to give to Emma and then kept the other for myself.  Emma and I share a birthday so I thought it only fair!

I also popped into a new charity shop and bought myself this purple polka-dot scarf and heart necklace.



I rounded off my day with a visit to the cinema.  I met my sister and Aunt and we went to see Anna Karenina.  I really enjoyed the film and loved the story but would have preferred a different leading lady.  Have you seen it?  What did you think?

the end of january

Well I'm so pleased that it's the last day of January!

I have not made any New Year's Resolutions (I never do really) but I have decided that I'm going to try my hardest to accept as many invitations to go out. I'm quite lazy. Well no, not lazy but I do like to hibernate in the early months of the year and love to return home from work and the school run and get cosy and comfy and not stray too far away from the sofa (a couch potato, I hear you say!) So... tonight I'm off out for a trip to the cinema with the girls from the BBC (Burton-Book-Club). We're going to see The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (with Daniel Craig). The other girls in the Book-Club have read the book and it was one of the rare books that was enjoyed by all. I have been passed the book to read but I'll probably not bother to read it after I've seen the film tonight!

I have a few things lined up for February too. I have lots of craft projects on the go and really need to get some things finished that have been lingering around for months (I'll post some photo's soon). I have accepted yet more invitations by encouraging/pushing myself to get off the sofa and I've even signed up for an Embroidery Workshop!

Here's hoping for a fabulous February! A February full of frosty but delightfully sunny days. A February full of fun and joy...