Out and about...

This week we've had a lovely week off of work and have been blessed with decent weather.

After a day of rest on Sunday, we caught a bus to Cissbury Ring

It was bliss, being in the heart of the countryside, so peaceful

Just surrounded by the sounds of nature

with views of the rolling fields in one direction, and across the town to the sea in the other

We weren't just there to take in the beautiful surroundings, but we knew there were plenty of Geocaches to find

It was a fabulous place for finds, and we bumped up our total by finding 11

The next day was another rest day, but we did take a trip to the cinema to see Miss Peregrine's home for peculiar children

Midweek and we were on the bus to Brighton. I really wanted to go once I'd heard there were a trail of snow dogs

It seems we're always hunting for something whilst we're out!

It was great searching the lanes and seafront for these amazing doggies, all looking so different as they've been transformed by different artists

The following day we spent more time at home, but with lovely weather we did take some beach strolls, but can definitely feel that its Autumn now as the temperature has sure dropped

I took a trip to the hairdressers for a much needed colour. I've gone back to red to cover those 'natural highlights'

At the weekend we had a visit for hubby's sister and had a lovely day around town, stopping for afternoon tea and fun on the pier

Although we've been out and about a lot, on our rest days with our feet up in front of the tv, I've been beavering away on the mandala

I've managed to complete 3 rounds which I'm very pleased about

To give you an update I'm currently on round 94 out of 111

Despite a change of routine I've still kept on track with my eating

So a great week, relaxing and fun, but tomorrow it's back to reality and work :-/

Life's full of food!

It seems I have been quite slack in writing posts recently, which is down to general life getting in the way, and I need to reassess my time management. Since starting slimming world (which is going well, I hasten to add) any spare time windows have been spent on either meal planning or food prep.

I haven't neglected crafting completely, as I'm still working away on my Mandala, but with the size it is now, working each round is quite time consuming, especially if its a complicated round.

I'm still enjoying working on it, but it does get very tedious from about halfway round!!

Having looked back over my September pictures (where did that month go!?) I need to squeeze a bit more time in for my baskets, I'm not sure how or when! Maybe if I can get a bit more super organised with the food, maybe I can squeeze a few more minutes!

Seeing as we've been extremely lucky with the nice weather in the uk, we've made the most of it and been for some lovely beach walks

Last night we went out to the theatre and saw a production of 9 to 5, put on by a local amateur group, this being said it was a great show. I had no idea what to expect but it was most enjoyable 

This was a great start to what is now a week off work for us. We haven't got too much planned but we are hoping to do a trip to Brighton and possibly get to the cinema!

Ta ra for now...

A spot of Geo...

Just popping in to say "hello", but I have to admit that I haven't managed to achieve any crafting whatsoever! None! Zilch! Zero! I have missed it as it is my main relaxant.

Sunday we were off work and after some housework we went into town to try to do some Geocaching. We were half successful finding 2 out of the 4.

The week seemed very hectic at work, so I didn't get much time in the evenings.

Ive finally decided to join slimming world, its much needed. I'm finding it tricky so far of thinking of things to eat, but hopefully i'll get into the swing of it!

On our midweek day off we met up with my Mum, and had a lovely day out at Bognor.

The sun was shining, we had a lovely relaxing day catching up

And managed to find 3 more Geo's too!!

Fingers crossed that I can manage to juggle my week of fitting in meal planning, cooking, food shopping, work and get some much loved crafting in!!

Until next week x

Brighton and Baskets

So this weeks beach walk took place further down the coast in Brighton. We got off the bus at the Hove borderline and headed down to the waters edge.

We had a great, relaxing hour walking along beach combing. We had a massive haul, finding so many pieces.

We took a break for refreshment at a seaside café and had a delicious homemade macaroni cheese

We continued along the seafront but couldn't continue treasure hunting as the tide had come in

We looked into various shops and galleries along the front, until we reached the pier, and had our usual fun on our favourite games

We stopped off for a quick drink before heading to the Theatre Royal, where hubby had booked us a treat to go and see Footloose, which is one of my favourite films

It was a great production, and we both thoroughly enjoyed our day and evening out.

After making my mandala mistake last week, I'll admit I haven't yet picked it up again.

I have however, completed my scrap yarn piece

As it had turned into a bowl, I decided to finish it off with a picot edging

I have also started a new scrap yarn basket

I started with the plain circular base

And made a start on building up the sides, using up the small balls of scrap yarns, and working two colours together at a time 

I'll admit that I haven't quite finished sewing in the ends of the yarn basket/bowl. Although, with the mad mix of colours it means that you are able work over some of the ends.

By the time I have finished this basket I do hope to have finished the ends of all the scrap collection to be able to show them off together!

Mandala mistakes and Basket beginnings...

It's been a hot muggy week here in the UK. Not that i'm complaining about actually having some summer weather, but I am thankful to now be living by the sea. It's enabled us to pop out across to the beach when ever we needed a spot of cooler air

This included an evening stroll at dusk, although it was the lure of getting a magnum that did get us off the sofa!

We had our usual beach walk when we had the day off together. It was a beautiful day, but with a lovely sea breeze it was comfortable to walk in

As we'd been out for a while we ended up stopping at a garage and getting ourselves a late lunch. We sat on the beach to eat it, you really can't beat that view!

Hubby had a great haul that day, and some good size pieces too

A range of colours. White, green, olive and pale blue

I was having a 'blind' day, but at least I managed to find a large pale blue piece

I had a work meeting to go to in Stratford. It turned out nothing like I could have imagined as we spent 2 hours around the Olympic park 'team building'. It was so much fun as we worked in teams, had clues to find and had to show photographic evidence. It meant I was able to visit somewhere ordinarily I wouldn't normally have gone to.

The mandala has been continued and been growing, with thankfully some quicker easier rounds. But I've hit another mistake!

I'm so frustrated! I'm not quick at crochet, and I have limited time, so to have to undo a whole round which I need to do is a little bit heartbreaking!

The problem is I didn't know I had gone wrong until I was at the end of this round! I'm supposed to have 31 of these lilac stitches in each section, but somehow the last section has 33!!

So I've chucked it aside for the moment, until I can bear to undo and redo, and made a start on a new basket. As you may recall last time I intended to do another (but slightly different) scrap yarn basket. Its not quite gone to plan, I have said before they do work up organically, and take their own shape. Well this one certainly has. For some reason the base on this one didn't come out flat like all the others.

Its like a ceramic bowl with a base, so if it wishes to be a bowl, then a bowl it may be!!

Scrap yarn basket...

On this weeks beach walk, despite thinking it was perfect treasure conditions, strong wind and waves and the tide far out, there wasn't much to be found.

Of course we still enjoyed our walk in spite of this

We walked as far as the pier

And decided to stop at the lovely café at the end of the pier for tea cake

And went on to the amusements to play the 2p machines

Craft wise I have been continuing round the mandala. Its extending out again, but thankfully not too complicated

I have also managed to finish my scrap yarn basket

Ive just got a few more ends to tidy up!

I love how its turned out and the fact that however many you made none of them would look the same! I intend to make another, but with some variation...