Two birds with one stone.

Old readers of my blog will know that I help one of my neighbours and her son. Things have definitely improved in their house and lives.
Unfortunately two members of S's family have died this year, pretty much all of the older generation of her family have now died and she's been very depressed and has taken to staying in bed. She was persuaded to get up for a few weeks several months ago but a series of falls seems to have put her back into a depressed mood and she's been in bed again for several weeks.
Yesterday Malc and oldest son Callum went over to put up a new curtain rail at the bottom end of her lounge so I persuaded  her to get up to keep an eye on them.
This morning she rang me to tell me that she had got up again and as Malc and Cal had gone down the tip, one child was at work and another round their Grandmas that only left the two youngest so I popped over to her and tempted her outside into my front garden with the lure of a cup of tea and a piece of banana and walnut cake that I made yesterday.
This lady has not been out of her house in 2 1/2 years except for a hospital visit to have a cateract done months and months ago so I was astounded when she said yes.
After nearly tipping her out of her wheelchair at least twice just getting across the road we settled her in the garden. She spoke to several neighbours that went by and although I'd said to just come over for half an hour she ended up staying for two hours.
This was brilliant for me because I've joined a new project, sixty million trebles. I put up their poster a couple of posts ago but I'll put it up at the end of this post again.
So for two hours I sat and knitted, I know in the morning,  in the sunshine and everything! Absolute heaven.

I have to do four of these panels so I'm nearly halfway through it and then I'll crochet round it.
So if you feel like joining in all the information is on this poster.

They also have a Facebook page, just tap in sixty million trebles, they're on Twitter and Instagram too under the same name.
Go check them out.

Manic Monday

I came home from Mums this morning to a rather large lorry outside our house delivering a pallet of Ikea catalogues that Malc is set to deliver next week. We do live in quite a small road but I've never seen a lorry go backwards and forwards so many times just to get parallel to the kerb!
They eventually managed it and then left the pallet half on the drive and half on the front lawn for some reason!
Malc and Callum were over a neighbours putting up a curtain poll for them so I got on with some ironing.
The boys were building this in the front garden with some of their friends.

I eventually sat down with a cup of tea and some cheese on toast for lunch.
Cal has gone to do one of his customers gardens for an hour and then we're going to get the boys and their friends to form a line from the pallet in the garden up to the loft passing the catalogues along to each other  and try and fit all 1080 Ikea catalogues in it.
Wish me luck!

I'm back!

Thought I would post this, my new project

Any knitters or crocheters out there who would like to join in?
Life continues at a fast pace here.
Eden is off to University of East Anglia in September.  I'm busy buying essentials like towels and saucepans for her at the moment.
Cal has recovered really well from his second operation, we have his three month check next Monday.
The three youngest are outside all the time and enjoying this lovely weather. They are as brown as berries.
I would really love to return to blogging but we'll see how it goes!

All work and no play

Makes Jack a dull boy! That's me, Jack!
Easter was peaceful,  had some nice dog walks. This week has been really busy, helping neighbour, helping Mum, housework, keeping track of young lads going to the park, to their "tree camp" and going down to the backwaters.
I have however managed to knit this

Since this picture was taken I've also knitted the two sleeves and I'm halfway up the front, so hopefully the next picture will be of a completed hoodie.

A Relaxing Day

The first one I've had in ages.
We decided to walk the dogs along a local beach, although living on the Jurassic coast on a Bank Holiday with glorious sunshine meant it was very busy!
Fun was had by all though

I do love where we live.

Another Birthday

Stepdad this time. Ed was 70 on Monday. We were booked to go out for lunch after I'd taken Ed to hospital for a scan and brought him home. Cody was looking after Grandma. Unfortunately we returned to Mums house to Cody throwing up everywhere!
Plans were cancelled and rebooked for today, luckily it must have been something he ate as nobody else has had it ( she hastily touches something wooden! )
Ed blowing out his candles.

I had made him a cake but it wouldn't last until today so we had to make do with a shop bought one.
Soloman sucking a lime, as you do!

Callum being "cool"

Eden was with us but she doesn't like her photo taken unless it's a selfie!
Clark has been out visiting the seaside with a friend all day. He should be home soon, I should think he'll be blue, it's freezing here today.

In the scheme of things

I've just  spent the last hour writing a post about  the last three weeks, of several members of the families ill health, missed appointments, my general increasing busyness and also increasing stress levels.
I read it through before publishing and found I just couldn't click that button. In light of what's happened in Brussels this morning my last three weeks are nothing.
Just general inconvenience.
Last week we aquired another teenager in the house.

 I made the cake , he decorated it,

I sneaked up on him before he got up to open his cards and presents