Reflection and 'Moving' forward...

It's been awhile, and now we've entered into a New Year, I need to get back into the blogging rhythm despite whatever madness is going on around
I don't need to think at the start of this year, like I usually do, about how to move forward, what changes I want to make, or what I want to achieve, because it's happening now, we are in the midst of it now!

We've talked for awhile about wanting to live by the sea, but talking and making it a reality are usually two different things. Before we knew it an opportunity arose at work and it was actually happening.
So this last month has been non-stop craziness, with the silly season, the busiest time at work and any spare moment at home was spent cleaning, tidying and decorating, a mammoth task at not the easiest time of year!

So we know we will be in a new area, with new places to explore, in a new house (which we must keep clean and tidy, a fresh start!) and hoping to get out and about more to be more active. It's very scary but all exciting too.
The main problem for us to sort is finding somewhere new to live. At the slowest time of year for properties and at a time when there's so many Bank Holidays its made it very difficult, but on Monday we will be taking the trip south to do a full day of viewings and fingers crossed there will be something suitable for us. It'll be a fast and furious and stressful month ahead, but I know for sure in the months going forward it'll be well worth it!

Christmas was a quiet affair for us, just cozied up indoors in front of the tv. We didn't even bother to unpack the decorations but Mum gave us a little decoration for us to light up

We had a lovely roast dinner

We had lots of lovely presents, though it was weird not having a tree to put them under!

We opened them slowly but surely throughout the day

Mum always gives us a fun lucky dip bag to open, and this year it was full of food goodies!

I hadn't picked up a hook in about a month, and it was hard, as that is my relaxant and creative outlet. At Christmas, having some rest days, I grabbed my hook and a ball of multi toned yarn, with no plan or idea or pattern and went ahead and made a flower. I wasn't sure about the way it was looking with the sporadic colour changes, but I went with it and made more flowers, joining them together as I went.

It worked up quickly, and it felt so good to be making again, and the more flowers I added, the more I liked the way it looked

I went out last week with the girlies from work for my leaving meal. We went to Carluccio's as it was one of the new restaurants in town that I hadn't been to. We had a great evening with delicious food.

New Year was yet another quiet affair, just the two of us snuggled up, with a little drinkie to see in the midnight chimes...

So we will see how the next few weeks unfold on our venture towards the coast, and I will do my best to keep you posted along the way.....

Santa came twice...

So santa came to visit us again this week, aren't we lucky, spoilt twice!

Mum came to visit us on Monday. We had a nice cuppa on her arrival, and had a natter and catch up. Then our attention turned to the pressies, it seemed weird not putting them under a tree!

Everyone was very pleased with their gifts, even the ones deemed a risk were a big hit! We stopped part way through for lunch and a glass of wine.

For dinner in the evening we had one of those bagged meals, the ones where you chuck the meat and veg and in the bag and pop it in the oven, great when you have guests as it can be left and then hey presto!
Before she left we had a look through some of her photos of various trips shes been on.
All in all it was a lovely relaxing day!

We treated ourselves to a couple of items for the home. Firstly a laundry basket, not very exciting I know, but we've been using a make-shift one, which is technically a magazine rack! Plus we got a food mixer, something we've wanted for awhile, and hoping this will encourage us to do more baking in the future!

I've not managed to do much to my 2014 blanket but I've sewn bits here and there. ..

I have though kept up with this years though, still managing to create a little colourful flower each day..

With each flower I add, i'm loving it a little bit more!!

A visual little Christmas

This is actually my first post for December, it gets too busy towards the crazy season working in retail and something has to give.

So for a quick summary.

I did make a couple of presents (another reason why I couldn't log my progress on here) 

Firstly a hot water bottle cover for my Dad, made from different shades of stylecraft acrylic, surrounded by a lovely grey Noro.

I didn't have a pattern to follow, and there would be things I would do differently if I were to do another, but i'm still pleased with the results...

I also made a mini one for a colleague. I made it in a different way, as this was all one piece, in a multi-toned yarn, with a soft ribbon for a finishing touch.

Hubby celebrated his birthday and we were able to visit his sister and see her perform in her groups pantomime

and after a trip round the shops we stopped off for a lovely Indian meal

Christmas for us was a quiet, relaxed affair. 

Now my focus has turned back to my mood blanket 

I've completed the last two squares

The penultimate is a memory square, for my Mother-in-law, who died last year on Christmas Eve, 

and the last one has a traditionally Christmas feel

I'm looking forward to seeing how it all comes together, and fingers crossed I can get it near to completion by the end of the year...

 ** happy new year **

Party time and cosy cowl...

Last Sunday I didn't get the chance to write my blog post, because I was being a dirty stop out. I actually got to go to a Christmas party!!
Hubby's work had a big fancy do. So I had a quick dash home from work, and a quick superman change into my gladrags before catching the coach.

The marquee looked amazing with the ceiling decked with twinkly lights...
There was a house band playing, and tables all layed out for dinner.

We had a four course meal, whilst being entertained by dancers and acrobats.

Later there was much dancing to the DJ and bumper cars too...

On the crafting front its been very slow going as all my time gets swallowed up with work, as working in retail i don't get to enjoy the season.
So sadly I still haven't finished my mini stocking garland, but i'm determined I will finish before the big day.

But I have got a ta dah.....

I did manage to finish my Cowl which is All for ME

I love the multi colours, so its a lovely flash colour to cosy up into on any chilly mornings...

Christmas build up...

The Christmas momentum has already started at work, with Saturday being really busy, and we've not even hit December yet!
I have to admit Christmas is my least favourite time of year, which I know makes me sound very baa humbug, but its only because of having worked in retail for so long. I miss out on so many of the fun things, i'd love to bake goodies, and decorate the flat festively and take the time to make personal gifts. But unfortunately the season to me means major stress, very long hours and being so tired... And now stores are forced to open on boxing day too, i'm not in a fit state to enjoy the day...
This week I got the opportunity for a trip to London for a merchandising meeting.

This included a trip around the top stores to look at their windows and in-store displays, how they had tackled Christmas and to see if there were any trends.
This was a very enjoyable trip and a great insight. We started in Harrods,

and their luxurious rooms and ostentatious goods, which included a quarter of a million pound table.

Their windows were spectacular, with a locomotive steam engine in the first window, and all following ones were set up like the carriages for travelling away for the season.

Their Xmas store was a little disappointing, as in it didn't have the same luxurious feel. It was bright  and festive though.

After a stop off at the V&A museum store we just had to check out Selfridges especially the infamous window displays.

They had big over-sized objects, surrounded by miniatures, which was very effective.

Inside, their displays were very bright and fresh and clean looking.

Then it was off round Bond Street to the top end stores.

A common thread used by large departments and small individual stores was the use of technology  and using projected images, which were very effective.

Lastly we went to Fortnum & Masons. I don't think i've been there before and I was impressed and enthralled.

It felt very homely all through, and festive in a sophisticated way.

And when I entered the Christmas store it made, even me, feel the magic of the season. I oohed and aaahed my way round. It made you feel quite emotional.

The details, the colour co-ordination, the soft music, the beautiful wrapping.

All areas of the store looked inviting, they even managed to make vegetable displays look beautiful.

All in all, a very enjoyable work day....

Back at home, in between the working hours, I've continued with the mini stockings. Just a couple more I think, before then adding the little hooks and transferring them into a garland.

Also, I have started another project. This, for a change, is just for me...

I had purchased this yarn back at the Knitting and Stitch show, I couldn't resist the beautiful multi-colours.

Now that the days are getting chilly, and I certainly feel the icy winds when standing around at bus stops, I felt a cowl was definitely required.

Nothing fancy was needed, as I didn't want to detract from the colour.

So I just used double crochet and chain stitches.

I'm loving how this is looking already, so I can't wait to finish...