What Day Is It Today?

It's Wednesday, but with the Christmas holidays it's easy to lose track of the days.  I hope that wherever you are you had a good Christmas.

Our Christmas Day was going to be spent at David's brother's in Surrey, Boxing Day at home with children and grandchildren, then a couple of days in Cornwall to see Christmas lights at Mousehole harbour, all planned out, except apart from Boxing Day it didn't happen. And the visit to David's brother happened on Sunday instead. My Mum had been ill for a while with what was a cold, possibly flu and she put us off visiting in case we got it the Sunday before Christmas and on Christmas Eve.  But by Christmas Day morning I heard the answering machine bleep with a message from my sister that Mum had been taken to A&E at Bournemouth Hospital with breathing difficulties.

Since then Mum Is still in hospital having had a set back with her recovery, but is still a bit weak and it may take a while to regain her strength.  My sister, Wen, is staying with my Dad (who is in his 90's) who has some difficulties of his own as he is getting more frail.  I have to admit she is more capable than me in looking after them, she will just get on with it, whereas I would wonder if I am doing the right thing and just feel helpless. 

So not much sewing to show today as there's not been much time for it and my room has been taken up with Christmas stuff, presents before and boxes and containers for decorations and wrapping paper after.  I decided I would make some notebook covers but just made the one, right before the holidays so may save (in not too safe a place) for next Christmas or maybe birthdays during the year.

Outside

And pocket inside the flap. The notebook is a spiral bound A5 size from Wilkinsons.

Remember the postcard I made last month?

This was for a swap and was sent beginning of December to Joe.  I received this lovely red work postcard from Bobbie.

Lovely, isn't it.

Last but not least.....

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Wishing you all the best for 2016

Happy Christmas 2015

This is my last post before Christmas. Things have been busy this month with work, Christmas shopping and other bits and bobs there's not much sewing to show.

I thought that I would you some Christmas trees

Our tree at home, decorated by David and granddaughter Isobel.

(didn't edit this pic) Christmas tree at St James Church in Poole.

One (of 3) Christmas tree at work

Second Christmas tree at work

And finally a Christmas wish

I hope you have a lovely time! With best wishes from

Sue

Christmas Stockings

Now that birthdays and our anniversary are over David and I can get down to the serious business of Christmas.  It's unfortunate that family celebrations also take place as Christmas approaches and having to cram everything at once.  But the present shopping is mostly done, just the food shopping to do and we sat down this afternoon to write the cards so things are pretty calm. 

I've not done much sewing as last weekend our granddaughters came to stay so my room as cleared so the sofa bed could be used.  During the week though I started making Christmas stockings ....for work!!

Where I work my colleagues are mad about Christmas and started a Christmas countdown since 1st September and there have been mince pie tastings every Friday morning since October.  The M&S star topped ones have been the most popular so far.  They've also decorated the office and this large inflatable snowman has been sitting next to my desk.

(That's my filing tray and phone at the front of the picture)

There is a pillar in the office which has been turned into a chimney and boxes have been collected to make a fireplace.  The stockings are to go on the fireplace.

Here's the pattern that I made from an A4 piece of paper. Using the stitch and flip method I sewed strips of Christmas fabric for the front of the stockings with Happy Christmas fabric on the back (though I haven't taken a photo of the backs). Here's the first one

And I completed the second one today

I quite enjoyed making them, even though it was something I wasn't keen on making. It also used up some Christmas fabric too.

Also had Advent stockings that (ahem) didn't make Advent.  I've hand sewn the tops and added ribbon tags, but I've now got to get some more ribbon.

I hope your Christmas arrangements are going well.

The Big Six-0

It was my birthday on Saturday and I turned 60 years old. In fact it was a birthday fortnight as David is 2 weeks older than me. We had a short break last week by going away on a mini cruise, which was to go to Amsterdam and Zeebrugge from Southampton on the P&O ship Arcadia.

We left on the Saturday (21st) and reached Amsterdam on the Sunday afternoon.  At lunchtime we reached the pair of locks to enter the North Sea Canal from the sea.  We were in the bar above the bridge of the ship

Doesn't look big enough, does it, but there was just a few metres either side of the ship and it was bought into the lock at almost walking pace by a tug, the yellow-y coloured mast that you can see in the lower window.

The canal itself is vast  and it took another 2 hours to reach its berth in Amsterdam city centre. Our balcony cabin faced the canal and it was amazing to see the large barges sailing up and down the canal.

We stayed for the Sunday and Monday and in the evening went for an evening canal cruise. That was pretty amazing seeing the city at night and the next day walked our feet off until our return to ship in the evening.

We were hoping to visit Ghent, while docked in Zeebrugge, but unfortunately due to the terrorist threat in Belgium which closed down the public transport systems, we were unable to dock there and the ship was unable to stay any longer in Amsterdam so a day was spent at sea before returning to Southampton on Wednesday.  In spite of not doing all we wanted to do it was a nice break away.

There were further celebrations with a meal out with children and grandchildren on David's birthday and with my parents, my sister and her family on mine and a lovely time was had by all

It was a lovely time to remember.