What a delightful way to end the day

Today was a strange day. With a delightful twist at the end.

It was with dread I went to work but it is now done and I have a weight lifted off me. I can smile, really smile, not just pretend.

When I got home, the postie had left a parcel at my back door and just looky looky what gorgeous goodies had arrived......

I'd entered a give-away generously sponsored by Penelope from L is for Love

for  some 'skinny yarn' she had fallen out of love with.

I was really chuffed when she said that my name had been selected.

So when a parcel arrived today.....

I was quite surprised at the shape of it!

The yarn was there - in the most hearty-love paper bag

But - be still my happy heart - look what else was hiding inside....

I certainly didn't expect all the lovely extras she'd thoughtfully wrapped and added to the yarn.

Cheerful yellow vintage knitting pins

ooh yum yum

And a wrapped parcel within a parcel -

even more intriguing..... 

Oh ho ho! How wonderful!

I am going to have such fun !

Oh oh oh!

And, all the while, some one small and furry was showing interest 

at all the excitement 

A little face kept peaking over the corner of the table

while I was taking photos of the yarn

A  happy smiley face!

Thank you Penelope - as I said in my email - your timing was perfect

thank you thank you thank you!

stash busting stripes

Needing to seriously seriously alleviate my  'down-time-stress-syndrome' as well as giving an 'anti-stress-from-work' relief I needed to knit and I needed to KNIT NOW!

This was a bit of a problem as I didn't actually having anything to knit with other than stash.

So.....I started a stash-busting scarf.

It is nearly double the length now, Youngest has already wrapped it around his neck and made smiley mmmm mmmm noises - ah ha! A chrimbly pressie me thinks :)

Excuse me, off to knit a little more before going off to bed - going to try to pre-empt any work angst!!

The poor piano man

Do you ever get those days when they drag on interminably, when each time you glance at the clock in the vain hope of a soon escape, the hands seems to have hardly moved - if at all.

I feel to have had my nose to the grindstone (as has my collegue) but still we are overwhelmed with the amount work still coming in. People can be incredibly rude and demanding - I try to make allowances for their concerns, their worries, their illness but a please or a thank you would certainly go a long way to ease the day. Don't get me wrong - not everyone comes in demanding or complaining but those that do definitely swamp out the nice folk.

What is that metaphoric saying?.....'don't shoot the messenger' well, I am fed up being shot at. Another version of that phase is 'Don't shoot the piano player - he's doing the best he can!!' - this one I can relate to!

Hey ho - gripe over.

Where have we been?

Here

There

Walking

Working

Crafting

Progress

Loving

Living

Normal transmission will return shortly 

when my life returns to normality. 

Ps watching the Eurovision (surreptitiously on my lap top coz Himself thinks its all a bit too girly!!)

Where has time gone?

Last weekend was a wonderful walk filled couple of days - and I had intended on posting a few pictures and sharing a rather silly tale but suddenly it is nearly next weekend and I've not had time to even go on line and see what you have all been up to!

The culprit of this lack of time? Work...... need I say more?

So, as soon as I can I will post about our walks and our close encounter of the folk music kind.... scary stuff!

A quick hello

It has been an oxymoron of a week - mind bogglingly long yet so-oo busy that it flew by. I am very tired, both in body and mind.

I have managed the odd snatch-moment to craft - with eyes half lidded and fingers feeling stuffed fat I have been knitting - not just my sky-scarf which grows larger daily (why am I surprised at that!) but attempting more 'grown up stuff'.

Yes that is a circular needle - I know, I can't believe it either.

My wool shop is ticking over nicely, more orders posted this weekend  and I've had to order more yarns - such a terrible shame!!

It's nice to be 'back', I will pop over and visit you soon, just after I've knit a row or two of course :)

Flower Therapy❤❤

Having a rubbish week at work this week so felt I needed cheering up.


I went and found my 'best Cornishware' vase....

I 'picked' some late blooming roses......

Aaah that's better

And look - still lovely and fresh and not a dropped petal in sight!

So feeling the L♥VE  that flowers and crochet-therapy can bring.......

I  just had go and 'pick' some more flowers

Not quite there, but definitely feeling less rubbish - just might have to make a few dozen more!❤

 L♥VE

Friday

.....this morning has been a time for.............

crafting...............

thinking........ (thanks Lovely Lady)

calculating and measuring......................

wondering and planning.....................

knuckling down to stringing along yule pressies.............

drinking tea and thinking................

illustrating and..............

.....playing with colours

And you? What's been keeping you busy today?

I've got such big thoughts and ideas frantically whizzing around my head that I am sure they will spill out soon and get lost or confused. Fortunately I have some wonderful friends and family who are there to support my off the wall plans. I will keep you posted and who knows, some of you might get involved! 

But - as ever - work stops play - whatever you get up to this❤weekend❤ - enjoy!

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤ hawthorn xx

Hello - remember me?

No - I haven't run away (although I have seriously considered running off to the coast), nor I haven't given up blogging and no I haven't lost my blogging mojo either.

What I do have however,  is serious amounts of double shifts at work followed by serious amounts of being overtired with generous smatterings of lack of energy and excessive amounts of too much else needs doing....!!

I do miss your company, I do miss sharing your daily wafflings as much as I miss waffling with you - but hang in there - I will be back coz and I can't wait!

Speak soon and have yourselves a lovely weekend - in which I will try and catch up with some sleeeeeeep :)

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

YIPEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!

Not only have I written all the online exams but I have passed them all too!! 

WOO HOO!!!  

Feeling giddy now! 

Won't be able to be sensible  now (what do you mean - not sensible normally??!!)

*sigh* 

Phew

D'you know - I've been so busy!

Today I have..........

1. Done a load of washing
2. made a brew
3. hung out said washing
4. visited the chickens and the compost heap
5. started another load of washing even sorting out the whites to soak in some 'Dolly Blue'
6. stoked the fire
7. put the kettle on again
8. filled the wood basket
9. looked at but not yet started washing the breakfast things
10. made some toast
11. ate said toast
12. answered all my email correspondence and even written to a couple of friends that I've not written to for aa-aa-a-ages
13. wondered about another cup of tea
14. looked at the washing machine to see how near to the end of it's cycle
15. hovered near the kettle
16. started this pointless waffling list of things I-am-doing instead of what-I-should-be-doing.............

I still have 2 modules left to do for my on-line exam.........I  have completed four and am heartily fed up with them. I  am doing them because I have to and not because I want to.................

So instead I practice the art of studiously ignoring the ever looming deadline - a personality trait I am gifted with and fully intend on perfecting.

So. I shall leave you with an image in my head, from my life and where I'd rather be............

The islands of Eigg and Rhum from Traigh

I have just found that there is an additional module to do,  now it is three (as in 3, as in one more than the original 2 I thought I had to do ................ aaaaaargh!

Perfecting procrastination

Yesterday, after an exce-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-edingly long and slo-o-o-o-o-o-ow morning at work I had lunch with a dear friend of mine - she is the best tonic I have to hand as she can alternatively make me laugh out loud, inspire me with her creativity or encourage me to try new things.  So, now buoyed up with enthusiasm and a bag full of brightly coloured wool tops to play with, I am having to shelve or rather contain that urge to craft coz I have to do an on-line exam for the NHS ( *yay*).

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A spot of procrastination is in play here - not that you'd notice.........

It must be a subconscious act but I seem to have made a 'nest' for myself - however I can not delay any longer...... got to get on. Wish me luck coz I am so not looking forward to my on-line exam!! 

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15 and nearly halfway through December....... and another seasonal 'How-To'

Today's number 15 has been brought to you by an NHS approved medicated cream, please note that there are other creams also available on the market!

I had to resort to lugging my camera to work yesterday in the hope of finding a couple of numbers to add to my collection for this month's self imposed count down (up?).

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And look what I made this morning!

Talk about quick and easy, 

1. Have yourself some nice twiggy sticks, sharp secateurs, silver spray paint, some sparkly sequins, glue and wire
2. Cut twiggy bits into nice sizes and wire into a roundish sort of round, trim off any extra lengths that spoil the look (optional - stop to find plaster to plug hole in thumb where a small piece of wire stabbed it)
3. Spray silver (optional - avoid spraying foot, right hand and side of jeans) 
4. Wait til dry, then spot glue various sparkly things in a random happy sort of jumbly way
5. Add ribbon, hang up and admire handy work whilst wondering if just tossing the jeans into the washing machine will remove the paint and the blood drips from my thumb.....well worth the effort!!

 

Ta daaa!

Counting - 2....snow snow snow

Counting again - 2nd day in December.

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A tap at the office window makes all three of us look up to see my boys. My two boys with smiling rosy cheeked faces. It's time to go home and they'r here to collect me. I wrap up warmly until I think can not possibly bend to put my wellies on. ......Then have to bend to put my wellies on - oof.

The squeaky crunch of frosty snow crystals intrigue me. Each footstep we make has a musical sound to it. We turn from work and instead of heading home, we set off towards town. I have three things I must do, and the boys, ever keen for adventure and spontaneous escapades are happy to join in.

1. My first on the to-do-list  - is to entertain them, so that one is already happily ticked off as they kick snow, find huge icicles and help me look for the 2nd item on my list
2. Find numbers - for my self imposed 'Counting down' initially towards the 12 days of Christmas and then the count down to the new year. We stop and photograph speed signs and light posts, we look high and low and find enough to keep me happy.  
3. And thirdly - I need to pick up a gift or two.

The village is quiet, hardly any cars despite the road being passable. There definitely more walking happening and less driving which is a good thing. We pass several other bulkily wrapped locals and mutually nod a scarf-muffled greeting. 

Mission accomplished we return accompanied by the squeaky crunch foot steps. The kettle is calling and I am ready for that cup of tea!

Snowy views through our village.

10.9.10...And the winner is...............

..................Ssssssssh a secret! 

You all have to wait until Monday!!

Why I hear you ask..

Well coz we are going away for the weekend - to Anglesey - Woo hoo!

Off to stay with a friend  

And I am So-o-o looking forward to it

Especially after a day like I have had today -pheweeeeee! 

08.09.10 - snap shots of my day - be prepared.

Let me set up the scene....... I am doing my usual evening stint on a typically busy Friday evening just prior to the summer holidays.

The bell rings.
I leave my prescription printing to see who has rung for attention.

Evening 

I say to a 'stigged' up man (wearing a full face motorbike helmet with the glass down)

  The helmet says......

mufflwopsshlllsffppm

err - sorry I didn't hear you I reply

I stand there smiling....waiting....

He finally reaches up and flips up the visor and I can see a middle aged man's squashed face

I've coom to sort me wiiife' he says in the local accent

I stand there smiling....still.....

So does he.....not smiling though,  just standing

My smile feels a little tight but I still manage to maintain a certain cheerful note in my voice when I say

  I need to know her name so I know what to collect for her...

Oh, it's Jones **

Now, not knowing if he means it's Joan's or for Jones I ask again 

Sorry what name is it for? 

Fer me wiiife,  Valerie Jones** he grumbles

I won't be a moment I say as I duck back into the dispensary to collect Mrs Jones's** medicines.

I search the shelf for the J's hmmm, I can't see it there, so I check the K's and the I's in case it's been miss-filed - nothing.


I think quickly - may be it is not for the drugs but just for the prescription paper, so I change my search to the file where the paperwork is kept - still nothing. I frown.

Mr Jones, when did she put in her request because I can't find her meds

I see that two more patients have arrived and are now standing in the queue, they seem to know each other and are chatting away together.

Me name's not Jones, it's Mr Young** Mr Mortorbike-head tells me

I blink, slightly confused, oh, so am I looking for a Mrs Young?


He looks confused now, 

noooo-oo he drawls slowly for I am obviously rather stupid

I smile - not a real one, coz I am getting totally confused here, and duck back into the dispensary for a sneaky check under Young and having failed there, doubled my efforts for both Young and Jones on all of the shelves.

I can feel my face getting red as I return to try a different approach, as the usual one of working on a name has failed, I ask for her address

she maint-ave changed 'er name yet or...

he says thoughtfully rubbing his wrinkled check through his visor, I notice with increasing agitation that the queue of two are now a queue of four and they are all staring with arms folded and increasinglyannoyed faces.

........she maint be usin' er other name

I smile a slightly desperate but hopefully encouraging smile and enquire which name it might be under

Mr Motorbike-head-aka-Mr-Young-possibly-married-to-but-not-really-sure-Mrs-Jones** has a very quizzical look on his grizzled face. A fifth person has arrived at the queue and in the dispensary I can hear the phone ringing...and ringing....and ringing.

Can I have her address please and then I will see what she needs and hopefully I can sort it out for you


I can hear a note of desperation in my voice and hope the increasing crowd missed it.

Mr Motorbike-head-aka-Mr-Young** divulges his address but as I leave I hear his parting shot....

but we've moved so the address baint be that eiver

I quickly tap into the computer the possibly incorrect address  with the desperation of a condemned dispenser and find to my utter relief that it is correct - but notice that Mrs-Jones/Young/motorbike head has another surname - that of Valarie Edwards**  huh??!!?

I go to the dispensing shelves and find that she is not under E either, a quick look in the paperwork file confirms the same. Then a lightbulb moment occurs.

Mr Young - your... erm... wife, doesn't she dispense at the local chemist in town?

Yes

That is why I don't have anything here for her, 

her paperwork has already been sent up to the chemist

Oh, 

blank look on his face

We don't dispense to Mrs err, to Valarie, 

her medicines are probably ready and waiting for her up at the chemist

I try to maintain a calm note in my voice, as he flaps down the visor and leaves with out another word.

For a brief moment - the briefest of moments I mentally shake my head and breathe a sigh of relief when the next patient steps up and says..........

I know it's Friday dear, but I am going away early tomorrow on holiday for eight weeks and I need all my repeats, twice over, tonight.......................


I feel the need to lie down in a dark corner and gently weep.............................

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** All names have been changed to protect the identities of all involved......but heavens knows why, this gentleman seemed to have done a good enough job in the first place!

13.07.10 - world domination....

...No, wrong spelling, it should be 'work domination' as in work-has-taken-over, and my life (as I would like it to be) has evaporated...... So as an antidote to all the

script printing, 

medication collating,

medication dispensing, 

telephone ringing, 

desk bell ringing,

computer ordering and data in-putting, 

patient queries and ordering,

panic induced last minute holiday requesting,

stock counting,

medicine synchronising,

drug shelves re-stocking,

reps dealing,

carehome liaisoning ,

pharmacy contacting,

Nurses ordering,

bandages packing,

drug company delivering,

Doctor's advising,

tea drinking,

emergency chocolate eating

 and general working.....

I made these -

Instant gratification ............. aah that feels better. 

(Almost time to go back to work - all these double shifts are seriously interfering with my crafting time!)