Birthdays and handbags...

A few weeks ago I had my birthday. (32 - still can't quite believe it!) I received loads of lovely gifts, a dinky green ipod (thank you Ma and Pa), a fab tea themed pressie (thanks Anna, that's still making me laugh!) a tea set from the lovely Steve, a donation to a cause close to my heart (thanks Sophers!) and this lovely handbag from my lovely colleagues (thank you Cath, Martin, Austin and Stuart!) They had it made at a local boutique, Rose and Anchor


Can you see the lovely little pin on it too!!! I got a little note in it from Gill (who made it) saying it was inspired by the blog - bless her, making it even more special! (apologies for the terrible photo's!)


It was finished off with a trip to the Leaf Tea Shop well worth a visit!


Whilst I'm on the subject of lovely things, I also need to thank the very nice lady that is Papoosue, who gave me an award (Thanks Sue!!!)

Now, I must pass this on to eight more deserving blogs, along with the following text:

"These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbon of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers. Deliver this award to eight more and include this cleverly-written text into the body of their award."

oooh it's impossible to choose, so I say to my blogroll, I give this award to you all, I enjoy what you all do so much!!!

Thanks Sue!!!

I've missed it...

It's official, this blog is now 2 (well on the 16th it was). I'm not entirely sure how I've managed it to be honest with you...
It's Sophers's birthday today too HAPPY BIRTHDAY! - getting old she is! Lets hope I get some good photo's once she's had a few sherbets!

Also feeling a little sad today because I realised my pottery course finishes soon (boo) only nine weeks left, I don't want to stop, I'm going to be more than a little bereft...I wonder if my outhouse is big enough for a kiln....

Big Si's Big Day!

I know its been a week, but I've been a busy sausage! It was Big Si's birthday today and his birthday BBQ yesterday, we had assorted friends and relations here for a little soiree! I wish I'd taken after photos!! but here is a before

Yes that's right - I'd been on bunting duties and Sophers on Flower duty once again! The weather behaved itself and there was even a little sun, it did get a bit cold though...

He got some fab pressies including a fab remote controlled Ferrari from his nieces, nephew's and great niece and nephew's just right for terrorising the poor cats with! He also got a fab Fortnum's hamper and he's looking forward to tucking in!

Here is the Man himself with Bertie about to blow out his cake (well the candles on it anyhow!)

A good time was had by all and there were a few bad heads this morning....

Jenny and I went to the local car boot on Sunday morning before all of the festivities began and we had a great time. I got some fab probably Torquay ware polka dot lovelies, some huge binka like stuff for mum's rag rugs (sorry me no know proper name!), three brand new Kilner jars for jam, some African Fabric for the quilt mum is doing for fundraising for Sopher's next trip and a basket for the aforementioned sophers ... ALL for the princely sum of £7.....What can one do eh???

Oh and lastly a little Sarah's makings update, Sophers being the little songstress that she is, is singing at a wedding next Saturday and she charged me, some would say somewhat unwisely with making her a corsage and matching clutchbag with some of the stash I brought back from the quilt fair. Well... here is some of the stash.....

... and here is the corsage.....

I'm not sure about it yet - she is - but she likes it a bit mad!!! - its about the size of a side plate so it ain't small its all about making a statement - and it most certainly is going to do that!! I hope all are well.... did everyone have a good bank hol weekend????

Happy Birthday you old tart

Dear Bertie,
It has been brought to our attention that you have now been our brother for the last 24 years. I'd like to say in that time, you have driven us mad and made us laugh, tormented us and been tormented by us all in equal measure, just as a siblings should. Have a great day mate, see you later and the first round is on us. Your fabulous sisters Fern and Dawn xxx

Just a little note to all those who aren't Bertie, when he describes Sophers and I to people we have not met, he says we are like Fern Britton (Me) and Dawn French (Sophie).... We choose to take this as a complement, but are never really sure about the likeness (apart from Sophie who is and I'm sorry to tell you this Dawn, but she's funnier than you)

No luck just yet..

I've still not had any luck in persuading Mum, but one of her oldest friends (and i actually mean longest standing here - no offence to anyone!!) Jenny has started a blog of her own as has her daughter Rowena. Jenny makes fab quilts and Rowena has recently become a Mum and will in her way be very brutally honest about everything from what I know of Row! So go and have a visit! Jenny is coming over to visit us in August so I'm expecting some proper hard quilting lessons!

It is definitely the month for birthday's, as it is Bertie BB's tomorrow.... he's going to be 24 bless him I just hope that he isn't to down in the dumps after the result of last nights match..... glossing over that, I must get him the rest of his pressie... looks like a little shopping expedition for me later!

I've been reading the posts over at Tree Fall Design about Manda's New York trip, to say I'm excited for Louie and my 30th birthday adventure in October is vastly understating it, I'm so excited I might just pass out on the floor. Just think all those magazines and fabrics and notions and ITS NEW YORK PEOPLE... the museums, the galleries, the restaurants, central park, the Chrysler building....... the Library with those Lions... do you think they'd let me have a job swap.....?

A certain persons birthday....

Today I have to make sure everyone knows is Angel Jem's birthday. She may have mentioned it once... or twice, just in passing....!! So pop over there and say hi!

I'm having camera issues... actually scrap that the camera is fine, its me I'm having issues with. I'm trying to take a decent picture of a cup and saucer or a teapot for my banner and it just ain't happening. Any tips anyone before I go stark raving bonkers???

This is as good as I have managed so far.....

ahh well - perhaps I'll have to go bannerless (ooh er missus!)

So Mrs Jem Lady - HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!! I hope you get some lovely surprises!!!

Where have I been!!!

Apologies for the long absence - I've been a very busy girl and away from anything resembling a computer!

Well it has been an exciting time. My Mum has now become a retired pensioner lady! (she still doesn't look it!) Her retirement/birthday party went off with a bang. She really enjoyed herself! She has refused to let me post a picture of the lady herself so I'm afraid you will have to put up with other pictures from the evening!

First of all the cake..... now let me explain... my Mum was a very talented and experienced Tissue Viability Nurse and part of her job was to put maggots in wounds to help heal them. It sounds barbaric I know, but they are in her words "natures little surgeons" and are brilliant. A friend of hers from work made the cake, we thought it might put people off but it has all gone!!!!

And a little close up..... (not for the squeamish!)

My gorgeous sister and I spent a long time thinking and making of decorations including 28 bunches of flowers in glasses and inkwells and teacups and jugs with little luggage labels welcoming everyone place on traycloths and napkins and hankies on the tables, as well 20 metres of bunting!

My gorgeous and talented florist of a sister, the oft mentioned Sophers!!!

Her floral handiwork

and a few pictures of the room and assorted decorations!

Oh and finally, part of the deal with Sophers that allowed me to post a picture of her was that I had to post one of myself...so here goes, here I am with my friend Louie, we have been best friends since the age of 4 and we are hoping that it will continue into our dotage! (I'm the strange looking blonde one not the glamorous brunette!)

I hope you have enjoyed my mammoth post! I'll have to start catching up on my blog reading now!!!

First Swap Excitement

I've started the prep for my first swap thanks to the Lovely Angel Jem! I'm still not sure what it will entail properly, however I know which route I'm going to take with my bookmark(s) they shall be experimental (so apologies to the poor person/people that receive them!)

In other news I saw some AMAZING fireworks along the river mersey last night. There were 20,000 set off in three minutes to celebrate the opening of an exhibition at the Tate Liverpool. When I FINALLY remember to have my camera and the cable to download to the PC in the same location I shall post some pics!!!

I'm very much looking forward to the weekend, I'm going to finish the bunting (I hope) and get working on some surprises for my Mum's upcoming birthday and retirement party and drink pots of tea!. I still have no idea what I'm going to get her as a pressie though.... I'm hoping Sophers and Bert will have some bright ideas although I'm open to suggestions!

Have a great weekend everyone!

All ready for the new week!...?

I've had a great weekend, a reasonably drunken birthday night out on Friday led to a relatively hangover free Saturday I'm pleased to report. (It was VERY strange seeing my siblings, friends and colleagues together in the pub...)

We ended up in a seventies bar.... too much drinking led to mad dancing and the liberation of the DJ's afro wig (Debs... and we all thought you were so quiet.....!... It did suit you though!) So I'm not sure that they'll let us in there again!

We also sang for the Taxi Driver on the way home too... I don't think he enjoyed it much, but we did! He'll always remember the day a gang of drunken "ladies" attempted to sing the black hills of dakota in harmony in the back of the taxi rather unsuccessfully me thinks, still it was free entertainment for him.

I'm still in bunting limbo too.... I have sooo much more to make, 5 weeks on Saturday.... I'd better get a move on!

New Decade

I am in denial no more... it has hit... as of 7.30 this morning 30 years ago today I decided to show my face (my mother tells me... after 30+ hours of agony... I'm not sure if she has decided it was worth it yet ;-)!!! I'm now officially, well in my terms anyhow, an adult. I'm hoping that this does not mean I'll start wearing beige and become obsessed with Cliff... still its a new era of possibilities, I'm lucky to be here and be healthy and here's to the next thirty!

I've had a wonderful break. Mbira camp was AMAZING! I met lots of lovely people and revisited some others I've met before. I learned so much it was untrue and I've come back with three new songs to irritate my neighbours with! (not to mention the gourd shakers I'm planning on getting to practice hosho!!! - I think I'm the neighbour from hell... I'll be featured on one of those programmes I'm sure!.... the phantom shaker player from old Liverpool town!) I'm hoping that I'll be able to post some piccies when I get some e-mailed to me from the people with cameras. Thanks again to the lovely Eve and James who picked me up and dropped me off and put up with me in the car for a total of 14 hours (you will get your rewards in a better place lads!)

I suppose I'd better get on with it then, lots to catch up on, nearly 150 e-mails to do something with, birthday or no birthday!

TTFN

Sarah

I just can't get it out of my head...

This morning I have woken up with a song in my brain that will not go... not the usual kind you hear on the radio and it sticks. Its the humming kind that you know you know, but can't recognise and even when you sing it to someone else they can't tell you what it is either.

Thank you for the kind comments about my upcoming silliness. I do realise that I am being daft, however it still seems strange to me that I'm nearly 30, I have a (reasonably) responsible job and a mortgage, and I still feel 16 even though my mother keeps telling me and I quote "use more cream on your mush kid, you don't want those wrinkles to get worse!!!" Nice that isn't it. ( I don't have any wrinkles - they is laughter lines!!!) Genetically I'm lucky, my mother who is nearly 60 (retiring in 8 weeks and 3 days she tells me this morning) looks ten years younger than that and has nary a crows trotter on her face. I'm hoping that I'll take after her.


So lady Jem, I shall take on more adventures, make sure I slap on the Nivea (thanks mum) and make sure I have some juicy gossip from the night out I will be having to celebrate!

Another day.... another dollar

Isn't it a lovely new week. Don't weekends seem to accelerate the older you get!!!

Well just three work get ups for me this week, then I'm off on Mbira leave! I'm even more excited today than I was when I first posted about it! Then I'm off to Carnforth to visit family, after that, then the big time hits......The big 30....

All activities in the next few weeks will be to distract me from the date that I'm convinced will be the clock signalling my speedy decline into senility. I don't know why I'm being so daft about it. People keep telling me 30 is the new 21, well you know what, 21 seems like a much nicer number to me! Although, as most people will probably tell you, I'd like to be 21 again and I know what I know now! Still as far as I'm concerned it is an excuse to break out the whisky and have a little commiseration!

That Friday Feelin'

I've not been so glad it is the weekend for a LONG time. This week seems to have been never- ending. What with the Fridge part of the Fridge freezer now having given up the ghost (I've only had the thing 4 years....) ARGHHHHHHH and the strategic gubbins that I've had to concoct for work and will be quizzed about next Tuesday in the way PhD students are when they have their Viva, I'm more than ready for a large glass of something alcoholic this evening. I have the latest Issues of Fiberarts and Country Living and I'm going to have a little chill out (probably some Chinese... or... oooh a curry) and have an early night... all ready for what will be the mentalness of the weekend and much bunting and invitation construction for mum's impending retirement party (only 9 weeks to go... not that she's counting!) And probably a visit to St Helens to drop off presents for my little cousin Helena who is going to be 2 very soon!

I hope that anyone out there reading this has a marvelous weekend too!

S

Perfect present

Today I have felt the joy that is discovering the perfect birthday present. My sister, bless her little cotton socks is known to be lovely, but somewhat fickle. With her birthday being in January, she can often be out of ideas of what she wants (I never have this problem, but I'll go into that at some other time...) after telling us all she wanted the cash, because she's off to Africa this year and is "saving" she decided she'd like something to open too....
I can't really say what this present is - in the hopes that she's going to read this, because she'll know but I'm so pleased that I managed it, with a few days to go! Its such a nice feeling, I more excited by it than she is, because I KNOW she'll love it! Happy Birthday for Sunday baby blister!