A Walk on the Downs

Hi

Sorry I've not been around much recently.  Life sometimes gets in the way of the more fun things, doesn't it.  Matt is continuing to revise hard, which is surprisingly time consuming for me too.

I've still been reading blogs, and leaving comments when I can.  Hopefully normal service will be resumed soon.

The weather hasn't really helped either.  It has been very wet and grey around here, which isn't conducive to taking my camera out, nor making the effort to go very far!

Today, however, a friend convinced me that we should go for a walk at Firle Beacon, which is on the South Downs.  Somewhat invigorating as the weather wasn't perfect, but it was so nice to get away from the office and spend a couple of hours in the fresh air.

As we started our walk there were several people "slope soaring" (at least that's what I think it's called).  It looked a bit precarious for me!

My friend has a new dog - he is nearly 7 months old now.  He was a joy to walk with.  He found everything so exciting and fun.  

You can see Glynde and it's wind turbine in the distance here.

So many buttercups

Looking towards Newhaven and out to sea.  I'm sure on a clear day the view would be even more stunning (or if I'd taken my better camera it might have been clearer)

Karen bought along a flask of tea and some banana and cherry cake.  Not a bad spot to stop and enjoy the scenery.

We could see Mount Caburn where we sat.  Can you see the rings on the hill - I think that is the remains of the Iron Age Fort.

Time to head back to the car.

We made it before the rain!

xx

A trip to Hospital

I woke up one morning last August, and commented that my right foot hurt.  It swelled a little too.  And it still hurts!  Despite tests, theories, x-rays and ultra sound scans, I am yet to receive a firm diagnosis.  However, it moved forward today.  I saw a new consultant and will be having an MRI scan next week.  Hopefully, this means the problem will be identified soon.

The hospital, however, was 2 hours drive away from home.  My appointment was 9.30am, so I decided to stay near the hospital the night before, to avoid rushing and battling with Monday morning rush hour traffic.

The hospital have a "Lodge" within the grounds, which is available to patients and relatives, for a small charge.  Not quite a hotel, but my own little room, TV and space to crochet.  A freshly cooked dinner too - almost luxury!

 My Yarndale mandala was made.

 The start of a new blanket for the spare room. (because I need to start a new project!)

There was a lovely colourful print above the bed.

After my appointment this morning, rather than drive home immediately I spent an hour sitting in the sunshine in the hospital gardens.  Aren't they pretty.  I'm almost looking forward to going back next week!

Night 

x

Aquilegia

I love them.

I know there's an allium too and I'm not sure what the last flower is - but they all looked lovely this morning. 

x

Just popping by

Sorry for the lack of posts.  I promise I am still here - but Matt's exams started today and consequently my free time has been spent with him.  Not doing much, just being around and talking.  Although, it would have to be said, he seems remarkably calm.

It has also been raining so much, I really haven't ventured out with my camera.  But everything is growing at an amazing rate, and is very green.  It will look lovely once the sun comes back out - tomorrow should be better I hear.  Maybe Matt will get to play cricket this week?  Both games last week were rained off.  I think it's important to get some down time too.

In the absence of cricket, he played in a Jazz concert.  Sorry, only a photo on my phone.  Most unlike me not to have taken my "proper" camera.  

I have also managed to find a little time to make some cards. 

And a few "Good Luck" cards were needed too!

Combining my love of crochet and card making!  :)  I made the 4 leaf clovers whilst watching some cricket last weekend.

And finally, joining in with Vanessa at Cocoa Rose Diaries and Gillian at Tales from a Happy House, I'm sure I've read a few others over the last few days too, here are my10 random things:

1.  I love chocolate.  In fact, the egg compartment in my fridge is exclusively for Creme Eggs from Christmas until Easter.

2. I hate ironing.  Some things don't get worn as I can't face ironing them.  School shirts have to be of the non-iron variety.

3.  My yarn obsession is not new.  When re-kindling my love of crochet, I found my old stash of yarn which in some cases must be almost 25 years old!

4.  I like writing in coloured pens.  Especially fountain pens, and have a selection of pink, blue and mauve inks.  Which is great, until I need to complete a form in black.

5.  I would love a dog - but Mark won't budge on the idea.  Matt would love a dog too.  It would have to be said that Smudge, our cat, isn't a big fan of dogs either.

6.  I like "helping" with Maths homework.  Or, it could be said I still enjoy working out simultaneous equations.  I'm not sure this is entirely normal.

7.  I run my life according to lists.  If it's not on a list, chances are it will be forgotten.

8.  I wish my sister lived closer.  All the time we lived at home together, it wasn't a harmonious relationship.  But now we've grown up and she moved away, it would be lovely to be able to just meet up each week for a cuppa and a natter.  Phone calls just aren't the same.

9.  I am looking forward to going to Spain for most of July, and meeting up with friends for plenty of sunshine, laughs, seafood and wine.

10.  I drive a very old Peugeot.  If I win the lottery, the first thing I will treat myself to will be a new Nissan Juke.

Hopefully see you soon - but I'm not guaranteeing anything for the next few weeks.  I promise I am doing lots of reading though.

Enjoy your evening.

x

I almost forgot to say - hello to my new followers.  Good to see you.  :)

Update

Hi there

I hope everyone is enjoying the Bank Holiday (if you are in the UK).  It's a lovely warm day here in Sussex, so Mark and Matt have gone to play golf, with my dad and Marks dad.  I'll be joining them later for supper.  But, I now have a couple of hours to potter in the garden, and do some crochet in the sun.

I'm sorry I've not been around much recently.  Work has been quite busy, and we've had a few social things in the diary, but mainly it is the final countdown to Matt's GCSEs.  8 days until the first one, and 47 days until it's all over.  I think I've got that right.  

I can't remember if I mentioned, but Matt's school have set up a "Culture of Learning" to try and encourage learning, and to get away from being fixated on grades.  The idea is that children should learn to be proud of learning, and put in place ways to do their best, and keep growing, and the grades will follow. (There is more to it than that - but that's the gist)   I have been working with a group of parents and one of the most motivated teachers you could find, to try and put a "toolkit" together to help other parents, and encourage the same ethos in the home environment.  Not easy as we all have different ideas, and no doubt what works with one child is different to another.  It has been a great experience, and if nothing else, I've really enjoyed talking and discussing education and learning with other like-minded parents and teachers.  We are putting together our final thoughts, before the end of term, and I thought I should ask Matt what he thought the best thing I do to help him.  After all our ideas, discussions, reading etc, his answer - "Your time, Mum.  When I come home from school, you always ask me what my day has been like (I rarely get anything more than "ok"!)  And whilst I'm doing my homework you are always around to support me. And you always check everything is ok again before I go to bed."  It's easy to forget that teenagers still need their parents time, maybe even more so than babies.

Anyway, catching up with what has been happening around here:

A bit of crochet.  Along with many other people, I've been tempted to make a mandala.  I saw one on Attic 24 blog, and wanted to make it.  And very pretty it is too.  But what to do with it?  If I put it on the table, the prettiest part gets covered up.  My step mum suggested making it into a cushion.  I hope to finish it tonight.

A succumbed and made another pot holder!  

I don't think I shared a picture of the finished shrug?  I like it so much I've bought more yarn to make it in blue.  (Mark did mention yesterday when we were at a Spring Fayre and I was looking at the alpacas and wondered if I could learn to spin too, that I had enough yarn to last a lifetime.  Thankfully, in a marquee full of women spinning and making things, there wasn't anyone to agree with him!)

When I've finished this post, I am going to make myself a strawberry key ring fob.

I bought this dancing flower when I was visiting my sister last month.  It makes me smile - bobbing away in the sunshine.  £3 well spent!

And finally, a garden update.  Spring seems to have been replaced by early Summer.

By my greenhouse

By the hedge near the lane

The lane.  The cow parsley was looking lovely until Friday - when it was trimmed!  But at least we can see when driving now.

A couple of bluebells left.  They are nearly over.

 Frothy fennel making an appearance

The last of the trees are coming in to leaf

Still loving the cow parsley (I won't when it spreads even further into my lawn!)

But I love the cowslips in the grass. Thankfully Matt remembered to mow round them yesterday.

I look out at this rose from the kitchen window.  I love it.

Last bit of apple blossom

 The irises are early this year - and are all the same colour.  I can't work out what has happened to the red and yellow ones?

And ending with more cow parley

Are you still with me?  It's a long post for me!

Finally, I would like to thank you for your kind words - it really is lovely to hear from you.  And also kind actions in the "crafty" world.  I know that the internet gets lots of bad press for isolating people, but it does also bring people together, albeit virtually, who we may not have had the opportunity to talk to, if it weren't for blogs. 

Right, I'm off to enjoy the sun with a cup of tea and my hook.

Sara x