Robin Hood

When we went to Scotland we were very fortunate to meet up with a wonderful bunch of people, two ladies in front of us and four people on the opposite side of the coach.

We all had a good laugh, mostly with them as they were a comedy act in themselves, God bless them!

During the journey home it emerged that one of the ladies in front of us was in an amateur production group - www.stagsmtc.co.uk - and would be putting on a performance at Solihull Library theatre.

We booked tickets for the opening night in the hope that it would be when the other guys also came.

As it was a Monday we just had to go to Yo Sushi! for tea but it was not very appetising, not many people were in so there wasn't much selection but ........... we now know that we have to order when it is a bit empty and the staff will make the dish fresh for us.  Nuff said!!

The other guys did not come that night but what a brilliant show.  

Everyone was soooo good, and that nasty Sheriff of Nottingham................. well!  I booed and hissed to my hearts content!  He was brilliant.

We met up with an old friend - she is 70 although she don't look a day past 57!!!  it was good to have a chat about all the earlier shows she had been in and what she would be doing in future.  PJ may even go to one of the auditions and find out if he could be of help ........... so long as it doesn't clash with his trains of course!!

Instant response - almost - well, as close as can be!

Yesterday was road cleaning day - gutters actually.  Now we have two drains outside our house and the gutter cleaning is not always done well or even done!!  
Remember the flood?

I watched the Cleaning Truck travel by, cleaning on the other side of the road and away up the hill.  
Not long afterwards I heard him coming back and went to the window.  This was more out of curiosity than anything as I was busy sorting out my craft room - yes! still sorting........... tidying is how I like to refer to it now!
Down towards the junction he came, slowly along the gutter towards the houses and then ........ and then ........... he put his foot down and sped up the hill and away!!
I was flabbergasted!
Last week he did the same thing and I presumed he was out of driving hours or whatever.  
TWO WEEKS IN A ROW! 
Never!
I grabbed my camera, went outside and recorded what we were left with.  The road looked a mess.  Leaves from all the rain and traffic were strewn about, it was disgusting.




These are my drains .......... can you see them?


I won't bore you with the details, suffice it to say that I was soooo angry!  very, very angry!!!  

When I lose my temper, which is very rare nowadays, I am not a nice person,
That is fact.
So I found the Council website and wrote them a complaint letter.  
I was polite........... just.  In fact, I wrote the letter three times so that it WAS polite .......... just! Pressed the send button and waited for the response.  
An automated reply came back to say that my complaint would be dealt with by 4th December - one weeks time (when the gutter was due to be cleaned anyhow!)

Today we have had two, yes! two trucks outside.  One truck had four men who have cleared up all the leaves in the gutter, on the grass verge and on the pavement.  Excellent!
The second truck was a pavement cleaner and he cleaned the gutter as well!  
I shall write and let the Council know what a good job has been done ............. our side of the road is as good as the other one now.

BTW - did I tell you that I reminded them, in no uncertain terms, that we pay the same Council Tax as the other side of the road!!!!!

What a busy day!!!

I have sorted out my craftroom and intend to tidy it up a bit a lot.  As we were going down to Watford area I contacted Leigh (.Charity Crafter) and we managed to meet up at McDs - where else did you expect?? 


I had given her advance notice that she should look for the 'man in the hat' and as soon as we walked in we were greeted with a wonderful smile and a wave!  We chatted away and all got on together like a house on fire, mostly us girls chatting and the men loading from one car to another!! I meant to take a photo of 'the stash' but forgot  - suffice to say there were a number of boxes, crates and a basket!!  It filled our boot and spilled over into the seats in his car!

We then travelled on to meet up with PJ's friend and have Pizza Hut Buffet for a late lunch - delicious!
M was starring in another show so we arrived at the Theatre a little early but I don't mind as we had a cup of coffee (without cake :-( ) and watched as people arrived. 
The Company was celebrating 40 years and the programmed consisted of songs from all their productions.  M sang 'little cottontail' and had a puppet rabbit on the bench with him - what an opening!!
The whole company came on stage to close the show with 'Can you hear the people sing' from Les Mis - couldn't have chosen a better song!!!

We stayed for after show drinks and then came home.  It was a frosty night so the car heater had a good workout!!! Was marvellous to travel with some warmth!!  We came home the back roads, amazing views of the stars although in places the mist came off the fields and across the road - VERY magical............ I loved it all!  We left home about 09.00hrs and arrived back 01.30hrs - a long, busy, enjoyable, beautiful day.

To Do List

I haven't started making my Christmas cards yet, I have downloaded lots of sample piccies but  .................  I have managed to buy a few pressies but thank goodness my family are understanding and we don't go BIG  time with them.  I want to set up lots of posts so that I can have them lined up in the background and if my ............. lovely, sweet PC stops playing up one thing could be crossed off my list!!!
I have finished another cross stitched square but I fear these will stop now as I am going to knit some beanies for the guys who clean Princess Elizabeth Steam Engine as a thank you for Christmas.
Here is my latest square which I will not be posting until the end of December although I really do want to try and get some names for English Breast Cancer fighters which will be easier on my pocket!!.

 Did I mention that this lady enjoys Baking .............. 

My next one is all about Faith ............... stitched in Autumnal colours

Let me tell you a story........

Once upon a time there was a freezer merrily freezing away, sitting in the same position, being emptied and refilled and feeling very useful.
One day the freezer stopped working and although the man tried his hardest to fix it, it was relegated to the Scrapman's truck.
So the man and his wife went off to Comet to buy a new one and while they were at the shop they decided to buy a new fridge as well.  They walked all round the display, opening doors and looking inside all the drawers.  Eventually they found THE ONES and went off to find a salesman. The salesman was very polite, made sure which ones they wanted and fetched his paperwork.  While the paperwork was being filled in, the wife had another look at THE ONES and found a small sign on the freezer which she did not understand so she asked the salesman what it meant - 'the freezer cannot be placed anywhere that the temperature will fall below -5C'
After much discussion it was decided that the freezer had to be kept in the house.  This meant that they were not THE ONES.  
The man and his wife left the shop, with the wife moaning and feeling very upset.

A few weeks later Comet went into administration so the couple thought that they would go back, see if THE ONES were still there and if so buy it but not say anything about storage.  So off they went and inside the store, much to their delight they found that THE ONES were still on display and ................ with a 10% discount!!
They quickly fetched a salesman and explained that they wanted to buy THE ONES.  He fetched the papers and when the wife (again!) asked when delivery would be ................................ she was told that they could not deliver because the administration firm had sacked all the transport department.  When asked how they could have THE ONES they were told they would have to transport them in their own transport - one car!!!!
The man and his wife left the shop, with the wife moaning and feeling very upset.

However there was another shop on the retail park, which they weren't very keen on using but needs be ..............
After walking round, and talking to a very nice young man - Jordan - they found another THE ONES.  They asked about transport - two weeks.  ok
So they paid for the freezer and the fridge and these white goods were delivered.  After letting them 'stand' the freezer was moved to its working position.

Now this is said in love - only a man could have arranged the packing!!!


After removing the cardboard and sheets of polystyrene the freezer emerged snowy white and shining in its paintwork.  Beautiful!  Elegant! (can you call a freezer that? It looked as though it was standing elegantly!)

So ......  this blue tape is across BOTH edges and, not remembering which side is the opening side, the couple began to remove the blue tape.

The only problem with it is that if you don't remove it in one go ............. it leaves tiny threads which have to be picked off with a great degree of dexterity - something neither the man or his wife had a liberal helping of!!

Now the couple needed to plug in the flex and set it up.  

ahaa!!!

Directions are needed.
A search of all the packaging now ensued ............ but
No instructions!


In love!

Only a man could pack the instructions INSIDE the freezer AND at the bottom!!!!

The man and his wife were soooo pleased to find this little booklet and managed to fit the freezer and switch on.  It hummed gently to itself.  

Lots of applause please!


So now to fit the fridge - no problem!
The fridge was encased in a box - just what was needed for the wife's excess stash that is going to Leigh -  http://www.charitycrafter.blogspot.com/ - the polystyrene removed and the fridge in place.  The instruction book!! duly removed, the fridge wiped out with Bi-carbonate of Soda diluted in water and there it stood................. not quite so elegantly!.......... but very happily humming to itself.

What a day the couple had ................. so the wife made a 'hotch potch' and they both sat down and hummed happily!!!


Hotch Potch is made of  meat, veg, cereals to thicken it, spices etc. put in a pot and cooked.   Looks like a thick stew and can never be repeated, as the whole point is not to weigh, just to add to the pot and cook it quick.  

Steam Trains Rule!

PJ is in Crewe as we speak and I will be there tomorrow.  We will then continue to Carlisle.  After four or so hours we will return to Tyseley.

Sounds idyllic ....................... not!!

PJ has travelled on 6201 (Princess Elizabeth) and this steam engine will then pull the carriages to Carlisle and back, but he is on the support coach and at every stop will be watering, oiling and checking the engine generally with the rest of his cronies.  Isn't he the lucky one!!!

I am travelling in the 'plebs' coaches with the Prickly Green crew while N is stewarding on another coach. 
 In the Premier Dining Coach will be our friends from Oban, they managed to get the last two tickets .............................. I shall take sandwiches and a carton of juice!!!

And

I get to start my day at 05.00hrs   ................................................... I shall be collected at 05.30hrs.

nuff said!

Working in the background

Another day of rain .........

I am having lots of some trouble now with Blogger - my blog host.  The default font is some weird one so every time I post I have to change the font, also my pictures will still not line up or stay put.  As a record of my times, and due to the fact I like things to be organised, I am having a trying time.  May I also add that I don't think my PC helps!!! lol

 I could do with a new PC (or laptop), maybe that would help - should I join the Lottery?

There are several requests lately on my Quilts for Breast Cancer group so I have sorted my designs and materials and now I have one square per month to stitch.

I have these squares finished for Jill C, she enjoys sports and follows two football teams - State Universities - so these two are ready to post at the end of the month.

I don't know which I enjoy more -  the research for the design, or the making up of the 'kit', or the actual stitching!!!

I downloaded a simple cross stitch program from one of my groups and when I used it to translate the pictures above, I was well satified with the cross stitch pattern.  It took some time to find a photo of the Gators helmet facing to the left, I had already stitched the Hawks one so that limited me.  
I have stitched the two as there were not enough stitchers (we need nine squares for each quilt) and I enjoyed the challenge.

I am already stitching December's square but that doesn't mean I am staying on top of things ... oh! no!  I don't have any Christmas cards made yet, most of the components yes but actual cards .........nope.

I still want to find a bit more information about my maternal Grandfather - need to write to my cousin in Scotland to see if he has any stories and contact his regiment.

I also want to make up some Christmas packages of card making materials from the stash to send out.

Shall I go on?

And it is raining ............ maybe I will go make some cards!!!!

Checking in...........

I am in discussions with folks as to whether this blog now becomes a diary as my actual life is very busy at present .............. did you notice???  lol

BUT.....

I managed to find a coach to take us down to the Carnival at Weston  
 - www.bridgwatercarnival.org.uk - and had a fantastic night.  I want to share this night with you, but for now, I will mention some wonderful people we met and laughed with .......... thank you, if you find this blog, please leave me a comment so we can get in touch again.





these braids were flashing lights
 and I loved them 









The glasses were given to me and later on the coach, when there was quite a lot of moaning going on about the microphone ............... I wore these and said it is affecting my eyes....................... there was much laughter ...................

Thank you for coming from Belfast because you folks are definitely a glorious memory!

BullRing Shopping Centre part one

I have been thinking about this City where I live and how it has changed.  My mother's family lived here way back and I was thinking about how it must have been for Grandma to be growing up, then my Mother, me, my children and my Grandchildren. ................... how it has changed!!!

Bullring through the years postcard

A bit like this ................ same place - different years!!!

Take this one .............. this is how the central shopping area must have been when my Grandma was growing up. 

1890

Cobbled streets, long dresses, and a statue of Nelson.
This was the first statue in the world to be made to honour his deeds. This view looks up the hill, from St Martins Church, towards the main High Street and was taken about 1890.

1960

This is the same view but taken about 1960.  This is the Bullring my children knew.  The outdoor market and, just up by the bus (Cream and Navy coloured double decker), was a small roundabout (sort of Carousel for little ones) with a seating area - we needed that as there was a fish & chip shop nearby.................. so we sat and ate our chips and then the children rode on the roundabout - a small treat for being good while the shopping was completed.    I don't remember all this change, most of the city had been bombed during the war years so as I grew up new builds were going on all the time.  I can remember different stories about it but this is were I shopped with my children.

2011

Ha! Ha!  here is the same view as seen by my grandchildren!!!!

Now we all shop here, a big, beautiful, clean, shopping area with the market pushed down the hill.

Now although I don't have photos when I was growing up, what I do have is this -

1950

This is an overview of the Bullring, looking towards St Martins Church, as I grew up, Nelson's statue is there ......still in its original place.  The Buses all came into the Bullring from the south side of the city and terminated at the church, so everyone had to get off there which meant on market days it could be quite chaotic!!   I don't remember much about the actual buildings, as I have said before the Market Hall was just a bombed building - lots of them when I grew up.  It wasn't until the 1960's that Birmingham seemed to get its act together and knock it all down and rebuild and remodel the town centre.  There was lots of complaints, moaning (something we Brits are good at!!) but still it was built. 

Saturday in the SUN

The sun has got his hat on - hip hip hip hooray!!!!

I have been outside all day today, potting up seedlings, bringing a few more plants inside and clearing, clearing, cleaning all round the yard patio ready to leave it for the winter.  This is the second day that I have been outside ......... I managed last Friday to clear the front garden, pruning, weeding and clearing all the leaves .......... not that you'd know as some more leaves have just blown their way in and parked up in the corner!!!

So much has happened since I was last here.  I went to Scotland again (fabulous time!) and then came back with a virus which had me in my bed for a week or so.  I DID manage to drag myself down to the Drs who told me the usual thing - I can't do anything for you - to which I broke down and came home back to bed.  I really did think, as I felt so ill, that the Dr would say - oh! you have so and so, take these tablets and you will feel better.
He didn't.
I cried
I crawled into bed and gradually got over it!!

I have felt well for two days now so maybe I AM better!!!.
Must be .......... I'm back blogging!!

During this time off I have managed to collect emails and found out that Webshots, where I store my photos, has changed hands and is no longer free.  I have managed to collect my photos and I will now record them on a new blog.  It will be boring as it will be just my cards but I need to keep this record as it always amazes me as how creative I can actually be!!!

I hope to tell you about Scotland soon so  until then remember .................