storm clouds and sunny skies

Just when we were thinking this house hunt was going to be impossible we stumbled across a spacious palace of a flat around the corner and said yes within the hour.

Quick decisions make me nervous, but then again so does everything, and I feel very sure that this is a good decision.

No more sleepless nights worrying if the storm is going to collapse our roof.

No more wiping my ceiling and walls with a tea towel.

And no more mouldy kitchen cupboards.

New year, new house!

Above are some treats I prepared for Rosie's birthday at the weekend.
A birthday card with help from my favourite new book & a teapot cake (see it post-decoration here).

We had an AMAZING time at lucky voice on Monday, followed by an awful couple of days filled with rain and house viewings (and the aforementioned pigeon incident). Blue skies are here now though, and I hope they're here to stay.

hit & run

Yesterday I saw a pigeon get hit by a car.

Things have reached an all time low.

la bibliothèque

I got sent a new library card with my winning design on yesterday. The colours haven't come out that well but it looks quite nice now it's on a proper card.
There are also 7 other winning designs to choose from so pop down to the jubilee library and get yourself one today!

feather stitch

I'm knitting myself some legwarmers.

location location location

It looks like house hunting is going to be trickier than I thought. I think we're going to have to compromise on space/cost/location but I'm not sure which way I'd rather go.

Today I looked at 3 places - one was lovely but had a funny bedroom setup, another had a lovely neighbour but the flat didn't feel as friendly, and one was just AWFUL!

I'm sure we'll have more luck next week.

a cherry on top

I just ate a particularly large bakewell tart and now I feel rather ill.

I think it was worth the discomfort though, just like many things are.

Today I made some christmas cards.

Too early? I don't think so.
Whilst making them I discovered the 's' button on my typewriter is a bit hyperactive.

Which led to a lot of mistakes, and me beginning to think I was spelling christmas wrong altogether.

how very apt

I got a nice surprise in the post today, courtesy of Derek. THANK YOU!
The above page seemed particularly appropriate.

clothes horse

I think I want to do a dressmaking course. Does anyone know of any good ones in Brighton?

out with the old

For some reason I seem to hold onto all kinds of odd items because "I'm sure I'll put them to good use one day".
These old pyjama bottoms are a prime example - nice fabric, but ripped and pretty useless. I'm sure I'll probably never use the fabric for anything else so why are they taking up storage space which I don't really have?

I must change my ways before I end up like Mr. Trebus.

Everything I own is slowly being ruined by the dampness of my flat anyway...which is top of my fix list at the moment. I've even booked in a house viewing for tomorrow - though I'm secretly hoping it is worse than my flat so that I feel better about my situation.

basket case

Sometimes people deposit things in my bicycle basket when I leave it parked in the street.

Most of the time the gifts are crisp packets or empty cans of special brew (what a treat!) but occasionally there is a more interesting item awaiting me...

I think a whole cucumber was the oddest of the bunch, but this picture I found on Monday comes a close second!

Yesterday I discovered it was a gift dropped in by my friend Vicky when she parked up next to me, so it is less of a mystery now. But still a rather nice find.

as good as a rest?

Things need to change, and improvements need to be made.
I've written a list of things I need to sort out, but all attempts to fix things have been thwarted.
Yesterday I posted a letter which may help with one problem (when I say one problem I actually mean MANY problems).
But my hopes are not high!
Today maybe I'll work on something lower down the list...

Or failing that I might just move here:

eyes down

I played bingo last night.
They didn't do the traditional bingo calls though. A disappointment indeed.
Though someone did wolf whistle when number 11 was called out.

whoosh BANG

Hooray for fireworks!
And hooray for Jane Asher.

still here

I also just noticed that I first posted on this blog 3 years ago today.
That's a lot of geeky activity for one person...

pros and cons

good things
• new kittens (unfortunately not mine)
• peppermint tea with honey
• bingo
• planning a window display

bad things
• damp flat
• stomach pains
• leaking boots
• slugs and mould (a by-product of a damp flat)

It's not all that good.
But it's bonfire night tomorrow so that'll be a treat!

more pumpkins

A selection of other pumpkins from our pumpkin carving evening:


Good skills!

venus fly trap

I think I find the costume making to be the best bit:



Credit to Rosie for the pictures.
And credit to me for finally figuring out how to make animated gifs. Expect a lot more in the future...

12 pumpkins and an acorn squash

Happy halloween!
On Friday we hosted a pumpkin carving evening at our flat.
It was a grand old time. I carved a Tom Selleck pumpkin.


I hope you all had a ghostly good time!