We made it......

we can all breathe a sigh of relief because youngest has been reunited with her heels and  bobby brown paraphernalia, hair products and a shedload of clothes......is this really university I hear you say?.  A place to suck up all that knowledge, wear baggy jumpers, go bare faced  and drink pints in the student bar....is it heck.

We battled through the snow up the A1 to Sheffield and boy was there a lot of it there, albeit turning to slush in the midday sun....ruined my new suede boots...what a chuff for wearing them.

Unpacked, had a delicious brunch in a great restaurant called relish  and then back in the car for 3 hours. (animal farm dramatised on radio 4 provided the entertainment...excellent.)

Today finished this top and messed about with fabric and machine....perfect Sunday.

On Friday I went to the V & A in London to see the Hollywood costume exhibition.Boy was it packed and that was with timed tickets....I wasn't impressed with the layout of the exhibition....the first room was a bottleneck so it wasn't really possible to read all the blurb about the costumes without feeling you were holding everyone else up...I did witness one very unseemly argument and shove.....whats wrong with people!

The Monroe dress was there ..several Elizabeth I dresses, my favourite being the Bette Davis...as I am a huge fan. Audrey  Hepburn's black number (seeing that made a woman cry!).... Kate Winslets opening striped number from Titanic.... Marlene Dietrich's falling in love outfit and a ton  more.

 the 'curtain dress from gone with the wind....love that bit

 

 and my fave was the waitress outfit from Mildred Pierce....the  Joan Crawford version.

I adore that film.(the Winslett  mini series doesnt  touch it) ....anyhow I cant suggest you go cos it finishes today. Would have been fabulous with a handful of people there though. 

Have a great week everyone.....and hey....no snow yeah!

....and off to Turkey we go

A really strange time here in the small town........both girls have gone to uni, one for her 3rd year the younger for her 1st. Both to brilliant places in the north leaving us, in a very quiet house in the south (albeit cleaner).

As if that wasn't stressful enough, we rushed to get finished sorting my mums place as its being rented out. Herb did most of the hard work painting and cleaning , I did the sorting which was harder than I thought. but its done now(well I'm say done, most of it has been just stowed in my spare room for another day!)

the university quilt was finished. Rubbish snaps I know, as it was 11 pm as we were leaving 7 am the next morning. but I think she really likes it, a little piece of home . lets hope it fares a bit better than this...

.which limped home after eldest treated it with the same respect as everything else in her room....love her!

and so we are treating ourselves to a much needed and deserved holiday......Turkey.....never been but its been highly recommended. Herb wanted to swim.... that's his criteria......mine was too relax....so I have books , iPod with more audible books(Wolf Hall-the easy way) and of course a wee bit of sewing.
First 2 week holiday alone in 24 years....yikes

18 today....and a rare stroke of genius

...on the part of yours truly.


Youngest child's 18th has been fast approaching , no party was required, she was planning a full day out with friends, beach during the day, clubbing at night. All that was required of me was some drinks and nibbles in between.
Then last Thursday all her friends dropped out of the day trip, all good reasons, she was so disappointed but putting on a brave face.......I suggested a family lunch during the day but was hoping to find something better........then a little play on the net and ting the light went on....a day spa....and as luck would have it there is a lovely place 30 minutes away. Even better it was doing a pamper day two for 1, so she and eldest were driven there yesterday early. She was very surprised and looked a bit nervous but at 6pm when she came back she had had a brilliant time. It was a raving success! Meanwhile I had made a cake, food, decorated and mixed cocktails.
Her friends arrived laden with gifts, beautiful flowers and champagne to get ready. Fed and watered off they trotted in those belts they call skirts and 6 inch heels. Herbs face was a treat.

We then settled outside with the remains of the food and cocktails, pina colada for me, sex on the beach for him ha ha and ruminated on where the last 18 years had gone.....a very successful day(until about 3.45 this morning when they tumbled out of the cabs and up the stairs, that was me fully awake and no sleep since-still managed to finish another cushion front)

Eldest came back from uni last week.....with a years worth of clothes that needed to washed, I kid you not....it wasn't that they were all dirty but they smelt of the halls, and it was not pleasant. Before we left we visited the house she will share with 7 others in October. Granted her room is twice the size of halls and lighter but that's it really, not marvellous. Still they are all really thrilled and consider themselves lucky to have found such a great place. Who are we to argue.

However we have had to fork out £900 rent for the summer when of course the house will stand empty.....if anyone has some spare cash, with interest rates so low, you could do worse than buy a house to rent to students in a uni town. The landlord is getting about £30k a year for not a lot of effort. Not bad eh?

University blanket came back in one piece and just needed a good airing.....

redundancy announcements probably this week.....joy of joys x

disappointment.......

Thanks for all good wishes friends but she didn't get in. That's two interviews and two rejections. So we are all really disappointed for youngest and a bit worried. As we've started talking to friends who are going through the same process this year, it seems the economic downturn is having a big effect on university places and that will only get worse next year with the proposed cuts to funding. Last year eldest had no interviews, she just had to get the grades. This year most of youngest's friends are having interviews for all different subjects, and not many offers, one maybe two. Even the really academic straight A kids.

Youngest did set her sights high, so we will see how the next two go, then maybe scout around for any one year foundation art places that are left.

Its hard to see your child so disappointed!

On the crafting front I was really chuffed this week to sell two things I've made. This (obviously when finished)and this. My friend asked me to make them so she could give them as gifts, but she did pay me. The embroidery I already had so I just framed it,(forgot to take a snap) and the scarf took me about 2 hours and looks really good in the grey.

The blanket continues to grow. Apologies to those who tried the link for the pattern. The site seems to be down. If anyone wants a copy let me know, I will try and get you a copy.( I only have a paper version)






Yesterday I went to a book sale and bought all these lovely books for £4.50. I love old books like this one given as a prize 50 years ago, beautiful pictures of France and this slim cookery on french recipes. The penguin box set of cookery books was a steal £2.00, I love the writing of Elizabeth David and Jane Grigson, and of course Nigel can always be relied on.

the craft books are excellent. Don't you just love these 1970s pictures of crochet loveliness.

she's gone.............

Life has been really hectic here in the small town of late. We have visited two more universities for youngest, one far afield and one a bit nearer and then of course this weekend we took eldest child to York university. Which of course was extremely exciting and more than a little sad. The process for moving in couldn't have been easier. As we parked the car outside the accommodation, a mob of students descended and unpacked the car in a trice (love that word!) and deposited everything in her new home. The bed was made, the tins squirreled away (herb was aghast at how much food i had actually bought) and then we left, really quickly.
Of course that wasn't my idea, I would probably have hung out for the dramatic goodbye, but herb was having none of that (and quite right too) and so eldest disappeared without a back ward glance and left me to have a quick weep. Of course I knew she was crying too.....but after we had a walk round the campus and returned to the car, we spotted her on the grass in a big group all getting to know each other. I have phoned, I couldn't help myself and she is have fun meeting nice people.

Last week we visited Norwich university of art and Newcastle! I have never been to Newcastle before and we all loved it. Great campus, fantastic art department, the space for the students was the best we've seen and the course seemed just perfect, but of course it all comes down to that wretched portfolio, so youngest is busy trying to get that up to scratch.

On the way home I asked the man in the car park how we could get to see the Angel of the North as we had left the A1 too soon to see it. His reply was that why on earth would anyone want to see that rust bucket, it was a terrible eyesore, he could see it from his house and loathed it!

But we loved it. We only saw it close up but its a magnificent structure and when you stand at the feet and look up its imagined movement is more that a little scary.

Norwich was really good too, but it is specifically an art uni and is quite small, but its a great little city so she could do worse than end up there. The building and facilities are excellent and it all felt very exciting and creative.

On the crafting front the bargello is coming along a treat and I had a play with the hook and came up with the beginnings of this little scarf. both I think will become Christmas gifts as 'handmade is the way to go this year I think...............now that we are supporting a student and are poor, well that's what I'm telling herb when he wanted a new golf club, its going to be a cheap Christmas ha ha.

3 days to go..............

before eldest child packs up all the stuff we have bought, pots , pans, plates etc, all the photos she has printed of her pals, the university blanket and the box of tinned soups pasta, shampoo and loo rolls and various other bits and pieces and moves to york for university.............a new chapter begins.

another week another university

So its another week and therefore another university open day. Last week Leeds, not our part of the country but an acceptable few hours driving.....this week Lancaster! How much does this child want to get away from us! A very unacceptable 4 hours in the car each way. But did we complain....not much! but not within hearing of youngest child.

This one she liked. For those who have never visited this university(and why would you have) it is very near the wonderful lake district but in terms of its architecture

it is anything but wonderful. More of a dogs breakfast, a seventies new town look. BUT she liked it. The guy doing the talk for fine art was very interesting and the course seemed far more suited to her. Unlike Leeds which only really seemed interested in extremely modern conceptual art,

Lancaster lets the student follow the art direction that they prefer and fine tune it. Just what she wants.

Youngest was not allowing me to take many photos but i managed a few and it is in a glorious part of the world.

Despite the mishmash of architectural styles some of the accommodation was really tip top , very Scandinavian in design and well thought out. She liked that a lot and it wasn't even the most expensive....a mere £84 per week! A really worthwhile day for youngest...we shall see. Norwich next.

Friday I had a really fun day. Went to a friend who is a wonderful quilter(is that what they call themselves) and she gave another friend and me a tutorial on patchwork and more importantly for me, the correct way to use a sewing machine.I loved it and look what I produced.

Actually I know this is fairly unimpressive but who knows where it may lead on the crafting front. I really enjoyed all the quilting paraphernalia, the measuring and cutting and Jo said I made a pretty good job of my joins. So am all inspired now.

Have a great week folks

results day and a new blanket

a-level results day is looming and we in this little house in the small town are getting a wee bit anxious........not speaking about the day to come but its in all our thoughts. One week tomorrow will decide eldest child's immediate future, university or maybe not. Of course we think she will get the results she needs and following a speedy and expensive trip to ikea will disappear off up north to start her new adventure(and study of course). I have everything crossed but am confident she will get it. She has worked so hard.

Youngest child will later that same day also get her AS results before she flies off to a faraway Greek island to have her first holiday with chums(don't tell me its too soon, i am being the liberal mum on the outside, inside is a different story).

Anyhow hit john Lewis this week for a new project and had all that gorgeous yarn to choose from. Herb was hovering so there wasn't much time but this is what i came away with. I intend it as a little piece of home for eldest child to take to university. all positive thoughts welcome!