Cloud Atlas - film

Must be Orange Wednesday time again!!
Dragged PJ along kicking and screaming to see this one.

It's a very complicated plot - no, it isn't, once you can understand the time settings it's fine.  Wikipedia might be able to help in explaining the storyline better than me.
The same set of actors are in all six stories, or is it seven?
The makeup is excellent and when it came to the end cast list........ I was amazed by some of the characters I had missed - does that make sense?  maybe not.  suffice to say that the actors are not always recognisable in their roles.  Try this link for photos.

The scenery was magnificent and the futuristic scenes breathtaking - almost felt 3D at some points.

Glad I went, PJ enjoyed it as well, will definitely buy it on DVD................. if only to play 'spot the star'!!!

Name changing

I am thinking of changing the name of this Blog.
  
I really don't recall many myths or legends from our family that has not been put to rest.  This Blog seems to be changing into a sort of diary come just comments come look at this sort of Blog and the title doesn't seem to fit anymore.

I have been looking  nosing around  researching the web and name changing happens as the Blogs change, so I am no different to other serious Bloggers.

I thought to cut out the 'myths and legends' bit - just call it Recollections and Memories

Bit bland isn't it?

Just thought I would let you know ........... might change the background as well ............. even the colour ............

Tatting

A long time ago - about five years - I joined Circle of Crafters, I do not remember how I found them but they were a small group and we all quickly became friends.  The site was hacked and was then changed to another company but the basic people remained along with a host of new members, some like me found it rather large now.

Among the original members was a girl who did tatting.




She produced some wonderful work and it was fascinating to see, although she insisted it was very easy.

Her work was similar to this.

Off I went and bought a kit and tried it out................ forgot I was lefthanded and instructions are usually for righthanded people!!!




After some months I gave up struggling and managed to contact a group here in Birmingham,

arranging to meet up with a member in the Main Library.  They were a nice couple and he showed me how to tatt, I tried it

and eventually managed to do a bit so everyone was happy.





When I came home I picked up my work to continue but do you think I could remember how to do it?  No way!  I struggled and struggled and in the end gave up.

I have now found this fantastic site - Tatted Treasures - which I wish had seen then ................

too late now as my shuttle went to the charity shop along with the books and threads.......


but then again ...........

Sewing Machines

Found this little image on the web somewhere today:-

Boy! did it bring back some memories!

Here in England most of these Treadle machines were made by Singer Sewing Company,and my Mother had one just like this one.  It was made from a beautiful wood which she polished and dusted regularly.  She would often spend hours sitting there with her feet going up and down on the treadle.  She kept buttons in the bottom drawer and often took the drawer out and put it on the table so that I could play with the buttons.
Later on she bought a hand sewing machine, just the top and with the same wooden case but with a small handled wheel on the right.  This never had the magic of the treadle but when we moved house in 1957 it was the hand model that came with us.

We often spoke of the poor old treadle and during the 1970s she gave me the hand model and bought a shiny electric machine.  I made most of the girls clothes on this sewing machine as well as curtains, bedlinen etc.

Then my MIL moved out of Birmingham to Ullenhall and offered me a treadle machine, which I did not refuse!  When I got it home, after much moaning from ON, and had a good look at it I found it was in a sad state of repair.  I was not discouraged!
I quickly stripped down as much as I could and cleaned and polished that wood till it shone!  I found a sewing machine repair shop that could supply me with a new belt and bobbins and I was away!  My poor little hand model was relegated to the loft and my 'new' Treadle took pride of place.

When I left that house, I only took the hand model with me.......... my beautiful treadle stood sad and neglected, but I wasn't allowed to take it with me, although it was a gift to me, as ON said he needed it to mend the children's clothes.
I never knew how he would do that as I had the bobbins, the leather strap for the treadle and a couple of the brass drawer handles that had fallen off!!
Years later the Treadle machine was taken along with everything else and was never seen again (another story).

So my little hand model was my lifeline again, making dresses, curtains and covers etc during my life in my flat.
Then it moved with me to my present house and, sadly, is relegated to the loft again.



 I bought a new electric sewing machine about 15 years ago.




It is only the Treadle that stirs up such warm memories ............

Apple Tree and bushes

The Doctor says I'm fine and to slowly start getting back to speed again......... that's a tonic in itself!

So we came home, donned gardening boots and up the garden we went.  We washed and refilled the bird feeders and PJ rearranged them.

While he did that I started pruning the apple tree.  It hasn't been done for a couple of years and, as anyone who knows me, I can't stand having the bushes and trees too tall to reach.  I am short enough so they can't grow taller than me, well maybe a foot but THAT'S IT!  

So the apple tree (just in front of the straw) is now a short fat tree with green socks on.  lol
I know it is a funny shape but there are three kinds of apple on that trunk, Cox's Orange Pippin, Golden Delicious and Blenheim Orange.  Thankfully PJ only likes the Golden Delicious which I am not keen on so all the apples get eaten!

I also managed to prune a few bushes down the side, PJ moving into the greenhouse and clearing that out.  



It is now having a Sulphur Bomb soaking so that all the bugs and fungus dies.  Last year's tomato crop was real bad, we know everybody else also had a bad crop, but we want to try and make sure that this year is better.  The greenhouse is filled with the foul smelling smoke, but it can only be good........... can't it?






I have found a piece of knitting I started many years ago, it is beginning to worry me that I can't remember who for, but as the wool, needles and pattern are altogether in the bag .............. where the finished pram quilt is I do not know!!  ho! ho!  

Time for a barbie methinks .... PJ's little face lit up when I happened to mention that ....... just hope it doesn't rain, not that that will stop him!!!

Snow and Doctors doctoring.

The snow came back, rather thickly laid around but now it is raining and so the snow leaves us again, as silently as it came.  What was white is now black and ............. yuk!

I have tried to get back to see the Doctor for my results but was told that I would have to phone on the 25th as all appointments were taken until then.
I know it has only been a week since my ECG but the nurse did tell me it only took a couple of days for the results to come through.  I wrote a letter to the Dr explaining that I hadn't forgotten to make an appointment, it was just that I couldn't get one until the 25th.  That was on Friday.
On Monday his secretary rang and I explained what had happened and she said the the Dr had marked my results OK, so we decided that I didn't really need to see him after all.
She rang back on Monday afternoon, but  I had left my phone in the craftroom so didn't hear it ring.
She rang again on Tuesday afternoon, I am not worried, everything's ok.  There must be a change of plan so I will ring her on Wednesday.
I rang her today and lo! that darling man DOES want to see me, he wants to do some more tests.
Now I am worried.
I think I have a Doctor who cares.
I shall go on Friday morning - yes! I know that it isn't the 25th but the Doctor's Secretary found an appointment in his diary for me ........ haven't I always said that PA's are wonderful!!!!
BTW
I have learnt today that robins are very territorial creatures.  Our little bird has been chasing the bluetits away from both the apple tree food and the hanging food.  Maybe that's why it has a red breast!!!

MIA but possibly not anymore

Sorry I haven't been posting.  I have had a new aquisition (N's laptop is back with me) that didn't really work properly, well it worked and was adequate but ................. it couldn't access the internet.  Not good for those who know me!!!

I have been busy though, trying to make it access the web .......... taking it into repair shop who found nothing wrong with it!  Trying to access the internet and now, it will access the internet but..... only if I switch the router off then on again!!  Don't ask me - man made - so hopefully I can now surf away to my hearts content, once I have transferred all my pictures etc. to my external - anybody got a spare external hard drive to give me?  he! he!

I have managed to finish one more square and started another - trying to keep ahead.........Nah! not really, got fed up of knitting my Aran cardigan.  

The story is this:- when I was first married to PJ I knitted him this gorgeous Aran jumper, which turned out a tadge too big (fits him now!) but he didn't say anything and added it to his jumper box  - we were only married a couple of years.  I always wanted to knit myself one so about three years ago, N bought me the wool and needles for my Christmas or birthday pressie.  Must of been Christmas................ as I remember starting it and wanting to finish it for the next winter.  So I decided to do a zip-up cardigan (no need to knit those interminably long thin bands for the button and buttonholes, clever thinking eh!!)
I finished the Back two weeks ago, can I just say the pattern instructions must be wrong cos it's not the same as the picture.......
So I started the Left Front, while I was watching Time Team searching for the sites of Henry Tudor's castles (King Henry VIII) did you know he had 55 castles in his lifetime?  I continued knitting - and following the pattern - while I watched 'The Last Samurai' a film I really enjoy - and, to be frank, I unpicked and knitted that many times I gave up, put it away and painted a few digis for my cards.
Those finished I then started another square.
And ..................
Here's another thing I have learnt - medical science has not stood still while I have been away.
I went for my ECG last Monday, once the wires were attached, press a few buttons and 30 seconds later  - all done.  I queried whether all the information would be there but the Nurse assured me it was.  
Last time I had this test (20 odd years ago) it took a couple of hours.  Mind you, I was in A&E (ER to our friends in the USA) and they did have a life threatening case come into the next cubicle.  Nothing was wrong with me but I always say that prayer was needed for that patient and I had nothing to do but pray for them.  So I did.  Two hours but they survived.
I think I'll go and make a few cards..............