The simple things

Last week, on my way back from a site visit to Cornwall I spotted that the new servic station was open on the M5, (In my job we spend a lot of time on motorways, these things matter)

Yesterday wasn't a marvellous day; I'd been on site in Birmingham, lovely bunch of people,  but being in a portakabin when there's torrential rain doesn't make for easy conversations. I then got completely drenched running to the car, and the rain made motorway driving hazardous.

Decided to stop once I got away from the car park otherwise known as M42 Southbound. 

Found flowers in the loos

And had a cuppa out of a proper tea pot, not a cardboard container.

Arriving in Newbury, my room had a sofa, so much more relaxing to sit than a standard desk type chair.

And I've just discovered that the light switches match!

Happy dance!

100 Happy Days week 1

The end of week 1 and so far the photos have been pretty random, and, for the most part, taken with my phone, so not the best in terms of quality.

Here they all are, and the reason why they're part of #100happydays

Day1 - not the light switches, I decided against it

Here is my freebie pen, and my new ballpoint from www.cultpens.co.uk, which is just the most marvellous site for people, who, like me, love stationery. They also have an amazing selection of inks, which come in teeny bottles which is great for testing colours.

Day2

A Sunday afternoon, and trying to distract myself from the last day of the Premier League season, I started to make cards again.  Absolutely no concentration, and my crafting mojo has gone missing lately, but these were a few quick makes from bits and bobs I already had.

Day3

What can I say?  Working from home in the morning, before driving to Cornwall, gives me the chance to use my Elvis mouse mat.  This was a present from Graceland, and I wouldn't part with it.  Every time I use it, it makes me smile.

Day 4

Wandering out of my hotel on Tuesday night, I spotted these just growing randomly on the grass verge. I've no idea what they are, they're probably weeds, but they're pretty. I don't know whether its a conscious thing, but I did notice that there seem to be lots of 'wildflowers' growing by the side of the road.

Day5

My hotel for the week was a 'bog-standard' Premier Inn. I quite like them, at least you know what you're getting. But woke up on Wednesday morning to the most amazing view.  This isn't taken from my window, as I couldn't open it wide enough, but from just outside the main door of the hotel.

I'm a city girl at heart, but sometimes the views just take your breath away.

Day6

I've been driving to Cornwall a fair bit and as I've been driving along the M5 have noticed a new service station being built on the Northbound carriageway.  A few weeks ago, it looked nowhere near complete, despite the sign outside stating they were recruiting staff.  Heading South on Monday, I noticed a few lorries parked up, so decided to check it out on my way back North.

Really impressed with it. Its a bit like Tebay Services on the M6, not part of a big chain, and has a farm shop.

Day7

end of week 1

I often wear a scarf, especially for work. Mainly because I wear boring colours (grey/black/navy) as its easier to pack; scarves can brighten up an outfit.  But I find they get in the way when driving, so take the scarf off and chuck it on the back seat.  Its rare for anybody else to be in my car, and even rarer for anyone to be in the back seat, so it does tend to accumulate 'stuff'.  I did a bit of a tidy when I got home on Friday, and this is the result.  There are 5 scarves, the big green one was Mum's, the green autumnal one that's hiding I've had for years and years, and the same for the purple one.  The orange butterfly scarf was bought on a trip to London with some friends - was it only last year - and the grey butterfly scarf was a birthday present from the lovely Jan.

Stationery porn again

I love pretty stationery, but even more, I love nice pens. These are my 'everyday' fountain pens; well, the one on the left is always in my handbag, the other one needs a bit of persuasion to work.



I've commented previously about my beautiful notebook that I can't bring myself to use. Its made of handmade paper, and this week, I'm heading back to Liskeard in Cornwall, so maybe I'll find another one to leave on a shelf and admire!


A few years ago, I had a lovely ballpoint pen, and I've no idea when I lost it, I just realised one day that it was gone.  I've looked and suspect that it was discontinued when I bought it; but this week I found something similar at Cult Pens

So I ordered it, together with some other items (ahem!)

and it came with a freebie!

So happy!

100 Happy Days

Lots of people are taking part in the 100 Happy Days Challenge, and I've loved looking at the photos, even those who gave up after a while (you know who you are!)

But I never thought of doing it myself...

Until Wednesday, when this happened 

Now, I know, it's just a photo of a light switch,but it absolutely made my day!

Why, you may ask?

I stay in hotels a fair bit for work,and some are lovely, some are OK, and others are your standard Premier Inn, nothing special, but you know what you're getting.  But one thing they all have in common is that the light switches wind me up!

I'll explain. You know how you have a bank of switches, and some lights can be turned on in two different places? So, for example, in my house, I can switch the landing light on at the bottom of the stairs, or the top. BUT, and here's the important thing, if all the switches are 'OFF' then all the lights must be OFF too.

In hotels, this rarely happens. There's usually a bank of switches by the door, more by the bed, and often switches elsewhere in the room, and no matter how I try, I can't get them to work in tandem. No doubt there's a clever reason, but I don't know what it is.

And finally, on Wednesday, checking out of the hotel, it happened! The switches all matched. You've no idea how happy that made me. No really, you haven't. I danced round the room, and had to take a couple more photos.  

They're boring photos to anyone else, but absolutely made my day! 

And after all it's what it's all about. What makes ME happy.

Yesterday - School Reunion

Yesterday I had 3 daytime events I could have attended. Quite unusual anyway, Saturday normally consists of shopping and housework.

The events were very different:- Quilting Show in Uttoxeter with Liverpool Sewing Club; Singing workshop with Soso club (Singing our Socks off), or St Edmund's College Reunion Lunch.

I made the wrong choice. I went to the school reunion.
Let me set the scene..

Halewood St Nicolas' Primary School

The picture above is my junior school, first and second year juniors in the building on the left (all taught in one classroom) and third and fourth year juniors in the building on the right.  Having been to such a small school, and passing what was then called the 11+ I was able to go to Grammar School.

I don't know how the decision was made to send me to St Edmund's College, but in September 1970 along with 4 of my schoolmates, off I went.

This is a more recent photo, but the building was basically the same.

Being in a place that had its own set of rules, that everybody else seemed to know. My friends from junior school were soon off chatting to others and knew the life history of everybody in our class (1A) by lunchtime, and most of the other class (1B) by the end of the day.  I was made of shyer stuff.
I've always thought that while I can't say I enjoyed my years there, I didn't have anything specific to dislike and did receive an education that was second to none.  But I was glad to leave.

So on to the Reunion.  It's been held in the Cathedral for the last 20 odd years, but I've only been once before.
For me, the rot set in early on in the day. When we (my sister and I) arrived  there were signs directing us to the rooms reserved for us.  We had to put our name labels on, and then headed into the dining room.  Everybody there seemed to know each other, were chatting away, and it wasn't apparent what the system was, were did you sit; everybody was reserving seats for their friends.  My much chattier sister was soon chatting away; I'd had enough. I don't like not knowing what's expected of me, and I was ready to go home at that point, and only the thought of cake kept me there.

Eventually we worked out that there was another dining room further down the corridor, where the tables were set ready for us.   "Bring on the cake" I thought.  It seemed to take ages for the room to fill up, lots of people had arranged to meet up, and there were tables full of chatty middle aged (and older) ladies. Some ex teachers too, many of whom seemed ancient over 40 years ago!

But somehow, I never felt comfortable, there was nobody there from my year, or the year above me. Everyone talked with affection of the Headmistress, but she wasn't the head when I was there, she was Deputy Head, and I never had any dealings with her. My memories were different.

Listening to people talk yesterday made we wonder if I slept through my five years at the school. They had such affection for the place.

After the lunch there was Evensong in the Cathedral. We gave that a miss! And despite my sister  having made tentative arrangements to meet up with people after the event, we headed home.

In the early hours of the morning, it came to me what the problem was.

The whole event had reminded me of my first day at St Ed's.

I felt like an outsider and I just didn't want to be noticed; I wanted to fit into this strange new world with its own hierarchy and rules. And that probably typified my 5 years; I wasn't good at sports, or music; I ended up in the choir (by virtue of being taught recorder in Primary School) but hated it, and learned how to avoid being picked for anything.

Maybe I shouldn't have gone, but as it was the last formal reunion, my sister and I thought we'd make the effort.  But it was like being on an alien planet and highlighted what I've known for ages, I'm not very good in large groups.

Log cabin block

A bit of history
The log cabin patchwork style is generally associated with America, in particular the early pioneers. There are anecdotal stories of them being used during the Civil War as signals.
There are however British examples pre-dating the existence of America, and, apparently Ancient Egyptian examples too.
Traditionally, they are hand sewn, and are light on one side, dark on the other, and the 'central' square is either red or yellow.
The central square represents 'the hearth'

This is ACTUALLY square, but the only decent surface I had in the hotel was the spare bed, which wasn't completely flat!

Bargains from the market

Quick update on my market trip.

One of the advantages of occasionally working from home, is that you get to go shopping midweek. 

One of the disadvantages is, you're supposed to be working!  So I nipped to the market and picked up some fruit. Mainly to prevent snacking.

All of this for £3!

Oh yes, and some lemons and spuds too!