Friday

Friday, the end of the week. Just realised we are exactly half way through March. That means spring really should be here soon.  Today it is supposed to be raining.  Right now it just looks grey and cold.  I like Fridays, Simon is home at 4pm and the weekend starts.

I haven't got up yet.  It is 7.30am and I am just drinking my coffee. I thought maybe if I write a few words now I will have a blog. Haven't got much to say though.

Who has heard of Sound Cloud?  I just found it.  I was reading a book review and it said to "click here" to hear an extract on Sound Cloud. It has some good stuff I think but limitations too. I haven't really explored it.  I am currently listening to Smooth Jazz.  It is quite nice.

I am hoping for a sewing day today. I haven't much housework to do. When Simon gets home we are going to Gyll's house with the trailer to load up the car with stuff for the market tomorrow.  Gyll is the owner of the dog rescue. Do you remember that once a month they have a stall on Peterborough market, selling donated goods?  It is tomorrow.  We will get there about 7.30am, Simon will go once we are unloaded but I will be working on the stall until about 2pm.  I actually really enjoy it but I am not looking forward to the cold.

Random bits:

A photo for you........... Evan. He was going to a party and requested smart clothes and gelled up hair! he is 4.  He does look cute though!

If your children call you Mother instead of Mum does it mean you have been especially annoying?  Coralie called me Mother on her Facebook page.

Simon had a pre Ofsted inspection yesterday and was graded "Outstanding"  so he is feeling pleased with  himself.

I went to a Women's Institute (WI)  meeting on Wednesday night.  Max and Gyll were the guest speakers and they asked if I would like to go along. I was very interested as I have considered joining the WI.  They have a group in my village and I had intended to join when we moved here.  I thought it would be a way to make friends.  I am glad now that I didn't join.  I don't think it is really me.  I had this idea that they do lots of fun stuff, like cooking and sewing and crafts.  Well they may well do all of that but not on their meet up evening.

This was a small group, only 12 women and they were all very elderly which wouldn't be a problem for me.  They start by singing Jerusalem, all the way through.  I have to say that they sung it beautifully, but they wouldn't have wanted to hear me joining in!  That was followed by a long tedious period where all kinds of admin was dealt with.  It was really boring.  Can't be doing with that.

Then Gyll and Max spoke about the dog rescue which was interesting. I think I would enjoy most of their guest speakers.  Next month they have someone coming from the VA to talk about the art deco period.  That sounds good.   This WI was in a village quite a long way from here and my own village one may well be different but none the less, I think this has shown me that I am not ready for WI just yet.   Oh and they don't serve coffee only tea, that is no good!

Besides, I don't have enough time as it is and I have made friends amongst the doggie crowd.

I am however ready for my breakfast, so I guess it is time to get up and shower.

Would a knitted pompom make you feel safe?

 I am beginning to think that the world is going totally barmy. I have just been reading a news article entitled "The science behind police attempts to regain communities".  Apparently in Leicester the police have resorted to guerrilla knitting to rid people of their disproportionate fear of crime. They say crime is not as rife as we think andI hanging their knitted decorations in the trees will make people feel safer!  

Think I'm joking?  I kid you not. This is real.

They have attached hundreds of knitted pompoms to trees and lamp posts in Bede Park and Great Central Way, Leicester. They are hoping that this will encourage people to use the two areas of Leicester - but opinion appears split as to whether it will make any difference!!

Apparently Criminologists at De Montfort University say making the area look cosier will make it feel safer, but residents in Leicester appear unconvinced.

I have seen and heard it all now.  I simply cannot believe that attaching a knitted bauble to a tree would make anyone feel safe.  It doesn't do it for me. What are your thoughts?   What do my Merikan friends think?  Hey, I have an idea....... hand in all your guns, hang pompoms in the trees;  you will not need your gun ever again! 

Shouldn't our police force have better things to be doing?  Like fighting crime?   We are constantly hearing about the difficult financial situation and how we are losing police officers because of it. There are not enough officers on the beat and yet East Midlands force seems to think this is the best way to deploy them.  CRAZY!

You can see the full article and more photos here: Leicester police

Show and tell

Here we are again, time for "Show and tell"  Where I let you see all the things that I have been making in the last week. Actually these are from the week before.

Brooches!

Lots of burp cloths.

Burp cloths!!!

I just love this brightly coloured wall hanging. I am so pleased with it.

Some more brooches.

Next I got into lavender. These are filled with top quality English lavender and smell gorgeous.

Lastly there is another version of my sweet heart bag which was a custom order for a friend.  Just keeping my fingers crossed that she will like it.

All items here are available in my Etsy shop Fabrilushus. 

You can also see me on Facebook

Then there is Twitter: @DalmatianMum

Don't forget Pinterest either.

I think I am going to open a new blog just for Fabrilushus.

Thursday 14th March

Just realised that I haven't been here for 2 weeks. I have read blogs from time to time and I have had good intentions but other stuff has got in the way. I know I have said it before but I really do need double the hours in my day.  I am just so busy.  The sewing and Etsy shop is taking up time and also my volunteer work with the dogs is taking more time too. 

So what is new?  Best news ever is that our little, tiny grandson, Jackson has had his feeding tube removed.  Yay! He is now 8 weeks old and weighs 5lb 1oz so he is doing fantastically.  Remember that he still shouldn't even be here for another 2 weeks. 

That reminds me, big congratulations to my friend Pam and her daughter Stephie.  Stephie has just given Pam another grandson.  Little Adam. 

I have a headache today.  It started yesterday and I can't get rid of it.  Hence, I’m doing some blogging rather than anything else. I have the TV on in the bedroom and am just watching “This Morning" and there is this really weird man, David Icke, who thinks the world is a hologram. Apparently we are all being controlled by members of the Royal family!  Weird or what? 

I actually do think that we are controlled by many forces and organisations but the Royal family?  No. Our governments, the church, yes, Royal family, no.  Speaking of the church reminds me of the election of the new Pope. Now there is a controlling organisation if ever there was one.  The Catholic Church. Oh yes, you better believe it.  Did you see all the faithful waiting to learn the name of the new head?  Sheep. Most have no idea who this guy even is but they will revere him anyway. 

Coralie posted on her Facebook page yesterday, "Dare we hope for a slightly more progressive thinking Pope? One who can lead the Catholic Church into the modern world?"  There is no way that will happen.  They are not interested.  They just want to stick with the old ways. They want to stay in control.  

My response was “Dare we hope for someone who will put an end to the sexual abuse that is so rife throughout the Catholic Church?”  Interestingly, Coralie deleted that.   I find that interesting in itself.   Coralie is someone who would normally welcome debate.  Seemingly my opinions are not appropriate for her page.  Hmmm, makes me really wonder.

So, Pope, Francis the first.  He is a very conservative, 76 year old. Is he going to change anything?  Is he heck?  That is why he was voted in.  They will never dare risk anything else.  He is anti-gays, anti-abortion, and anti-euthanasia need I go on?  Interesting that he is also a Jesuit.  Anyone recall from their history lessons how the Jesuits became so powerful at the end of the 18th century that they were suppressed?  Hmmm, power and control. 

OK, my brain is hurting, and I am waffling and not being coherent. I think you have realised by now that I am not impressed.  

For anyone that doesn't know, I was christened at my parent’s local parish church.  (Common C of E).  After my marriage, in a very misguided attempt to be accepted by the outlaws, I was confirmed in the Roman Catholic Church.  Our children grew up in that faith and at primary age they went to a Catholic school.  I have never believed. Simon has never believed. We were both just trying to fit in with his family. It didn't work. Nothing will ever work there, but that is another story.  

Basically as we got older we realised that there was no point in pretending to be something that we are not.  We have not attended church for years and never will again. (Weddings and funerals excepted). Simon believes very strongly that the church is just an organisation that controls the masses for their own purposes. I mostly don't even bother to think about it. If I am anything, then I am probably a sort of Pagan.  But I prefer not to define myself.  I am me and I believe in balance and good and..........oh  my goodness what a lot more drivel.  This is what happens when I have a headache!

I am being driven crazy buy Alfie.  We were all 3 of us on the bed.  Alfie was in Simon’s place at the top of the bed next to me and Loulou was at the bottom by my feet.  I got up to go to the loo and Alfie followed me.  Of course Loulou then saw her opportunity and moved into the prime position.  Alfie is not pleased.  This happens all the time.  I wish he would just realise that I am only going to be 2 minutes and stay where he is. He then tries to get on my lap which doesn't work with my lap top.  I have moved to the chair and he keeps trying to get up here with me. I might shut them both downstairs for a while. I think I need to close the curtains and lie down quietly.   Stupid headache.

At least I managed a blog.