Party time

Dearest Virginia,

Well at long last dear I have a grand daughter. Anna Michelle is recovering; anyone would think she was the first woman in history to have given birth the way she's carrying on. Heaven only knows how she would have gone on in my day. The nearest thing we came to a drug was a Beachams Powder and a strong cup of tea. She has a few stitches but given the very clear design faults I think she got off very lightly despite giving birth. The only thing that seems to impress her is she's gone up three bra size's which the boys at the pub will really like, I am sure they will but if I know men the sight of a small human hanging off them will somewhat kill the ardour.
Regards proud Gran Gran Fanny xx



Dear Fanny,

Congratulations to you and Anna Michelle and baby ?? What is she calling the infant dear, none of those ridiculous footballers’ names I hope like Chardonnay or Pinot Grigio and I pray that she’s not going down the line of film and pop stars, Apple, Blanket or Satchel? If it was a boy and knowing Anna’s way of spending the day it should be either William Hill or Budweiser.

Such a shame you missed my party, how typical of Anna Michelle to ruin your leisure time. Well it went with a swing dear and you missed a treat. There were an enormous amount of Hitlers which is a bit worrying, I half expected Max Moseley to arrive. I wanted us to have fun and relive the days when Britain was great and pulled together. I, of course, went as Vera Lynn, my renditions of We’ll meet again and The White Cliffs of Dover went down a treat. How I wish we had the same sprit as then. There’s that Cameron saying he's going to mount a challenge against the European Courts when he couldn’t mount a pavement without a map or his nanny. It’s shocking,

Anyway dear, I don’t coo over babies as you know but I will send it a suitable gift and see it just before it goes to University. What am I saying, this is Anna’s off spring.

Tootles V xxx

PS Don’t call yourself Gran Gran dear, so demeaning, and so aging,

Escape

My dear Fanny, I managed to break into the office last night (ve are forbidden ze use of laptops und any uzer aid as it interferes viz our bodies) I wish there was someone here I wanted to interfere viz my body! Anyway I used the PC and have booked my flight. I shall be home at the weekend. I am planning my little soiree for the following Friday so you Percy and Mathew start planning your costumes. And then, the week after we will be off to Thailand yippee. As to clothing dear. Well currently its 29°C in Bangkok which is about 84 degrees in Fahrenheit. So I think you would be wise packing lots of cool cotton items. Clothing is cheap in Thailand so you could always plan on updating your wardrobe, designer label copies are everywhere, particularly the night markets, so I am told. What you must avoid is wearing your lisle stockings dear, I know they hide your varicose veins but they are so unattractive – probably more than the veins. In a few days you will have a lovely tan. So shorts, t shirts, cotton skirts and a nice frock or two. Pack plenty of beach wear including a hat and also comfy sandals and walking shoes. Don’t forget it’s a long flight and whilst I don’t expect to see you in tracksuit bottoms and a hoodie you must be prepared to be comfortable, after all dear you do bloat a lot whilst travelling. Do you remember the time we flew to Jersey? And don’t forget to pack some rainwear dear, I believe that storms are imminent. I thought we could stay for a few days in Bangkok to see the sights, don’t want to miss the Royal Grand Palace and the floating market not to mention the various temples. By the way I believe there is a dress code dear so pack a cardi and jacket. I am so looking forward to throwing a party for my homecoming. Mrs F King Echo will, I am sure, devise a menu of gorgeous eats that will include all the food groups I have been missing at the clinic, proteins, fats, carbs and alcohol, in every bloody dish if I get my way. I have already thought up my costume. Be prepared to be stunned. Do write soon dear, but don’t forget I shall be leaving on Saturday, a new glowing, slimmer sexy Virginia. Much love, V Xxxxx I have found half a Mars Bar – strictly a banned substance - in a pocket in one of my suitcases they missed when they searched me. I intend to savour it.

Dean ;)

Complete sampler

My finished sampler this has been a lot of work but I've enjoyed every hour that has been put into it

I have been ask to do a piece of work for someone who has sadly lost her grandson so that will be my next project when she decides what she would like I feel very privileged to be asked to work on something that means so much to someone

Back to normal

Morning all well service is back to normal now with the holiday over and back to work for me today give it a week and it will be like I've never been away

The sampler is getting the attention it needs now to get completed finished another band on it yesterday evening which means I'm well on track to getting finished despite not doing as much as I would have liked while been away here is a photo of what I completed yesterday



Have a great day Dean;-) xxx

Returned

Well so so sorry for not been about of late but due to my holiday I have not been able to do my blog

I have however been continuing my blackwork piece and it's coming on nicely


Dean ;)

Steady progress

Good morning everyone

Well I'm making steady progress and getting a couple of hours done each day as you can see my Aida is ready for a wash lol I've had it on the frame to long which tends to leave marks on the cloth but I've had little choice about this.

Off on the hunt for book shops today we have been told by some of the locals their are some in the new town area so we are off to explore and see what we can lay our hands on you never know what you may find.


Have a great day Dean;-)xxxx

On the hunt!!!!

Good morning everyone

I managed to get some of my blackwork done yesterday during siesta time sat out on the balcony it was lovely

Not managed to find any good book stores yet that stock any kind of embroidery books but will be having a good look over the next few days in the hope I can pick something a little bit different up in fact I've not seen any kind of shop that sells anything like that at all well maybe if I win the lotto that could be a business venture for me lol

Have a great day all

Dean;-)xxxx

Spain

Good morning everyone

Well myself Chris and the blackwork all arrived in Spain


This is the view from our apartment if this doesn't inspire me there really is no hope lol it's early morning so not a great deal happening yet I will be able to start my blackwork this afternoon when siesta kicks in lol as everything closes down here in the old town between two and five

Didn't get time yesterday at all as we were meet or very dear friends that are lucky enough to live here hope you all have a great day

Dean :-) xxxx

Packing

Morning everyone

Busy day ahead today got my suit case to pack when I get home from work this evening and sort out my hand luggage have checked the government website and I'm allowed to pack my needles in my hand luggage along with the blackwork the embroidery frame and my scissors will go in my suitcase.

We have a very early start car coming for us at 3.30am as we fly at 7.15am my dad arrived yesterday to take care of my babies the 2 cats Georgia and sox and my little man George my lhasa apso dog and my 2 rats Molly and biscuit or going to stay with my friend Christine as dad is scared of them lol don't know why they are the most gentle loving little creatures.

So my next blog and pictures will be from Spain and hopefully in the sunshine can't wait to escape the British weather for a while have a great day

Dean;-)xxx

Needles

Morning everyone

Received my gold plated needles I ordered yesterday from soandsew 2 lots of size 26 and one lot of size 28 ready to take away with me


Like I've said before I couldn't be without them now for my sewing love using them really do make a difference but other than the Internet difficult to bet hold of here the nine needles cost me just under £10.00 which is not bad value really that covered posting to

Have a great Day

Dean;-)xx

Morning everyone

Managed to get a little more done last night but stuck to the hour I had allowed myself lol tonight on the other hand may be more difficult as I have the house to myself and that's when as a rule I really tend to knuckle down with my embroidery

I'm sure it will see me over my holiday but I'm just playing it safe lol I'm sat here looking at it now as I like to do a little each morning before I go to work think I will have to give in and do half an hour.
Dean;-)

Last minute bits

Morning everyone things are all go here at the moment with the holiday been just around the corner now only 4 more days and we will be heading off to Spain for 10 days so last minute things to do.

It was difficult last night not to do any of my blackwork but I don't want to get to far ahead with it so it will see me over the holiday and I don't really want to be starting anything new while I'm over there as it would mean taking a library of books with me lol and I don't travel light as it is may do a little work on it tonight though


Dean ;) xx

Continuing

Good morning everyone

Well with work on the main pattern complete I am able to start on the three lines underneath that before starting on some more intricate patterns that will make up the sampler.

I didn't realise the sampler was quite as large as it is lol but it's keeping me busy and I will have time to work on it when I'm away I'm not sure if to put it in my suitcase or in my hand luggage for the trip I'm thinking it will be saver in my hand luggage having seen how baggage handlers work first hand lol.

But as you can see from the photo it's now starting to take shape nicely well have a great day everyone.

Dean;-)xxx

I have managed to complete this part of the sampler before my holiday so I can now begin work on the next section.

I'm very pleased with the way this has turned out it looks stunning which is why I enjoy my blackwork so much the effects never seem to amaze me.

Going to get on with some more today as this is a large piece and there is is plenty of work to be done on it before it's complete

Blackwork bungle

Hi everyone well I have been spoilt again Lynn has sent me a blackwork bungle full of goodies which is fantastic so much stuff in here that I would never have thought of doing thank you Lynn your a star !!!!

Nearly at the end

Looks like I will at last be able to get this piece of the sampler done as planned for the weekend it's seemed never-ending lol and then I've got until Thursday evening to work on the new pieces until I have to pack the sampler in my suitcase for it's journey to Spain.

Of course my friends think I'm mad taking it on holiday but the idea of getting away is to relax and my embroidery helps me do that so where I go that goes to lol and where better to do blackwork than in Spain it will make the piece more authentic lol that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it!!!

Dean;-)xxxxxx

Well as things are going I'm hoping to be moving on to another piece of the sampler by the weekend I will post pictures now once it's all completed and of course some from Spain only 8 days before we go now.

Very excited about been able to look round and hopefully lay my hands on some new books or even better a piece of antique blackwork which would be a dream come true lol.

I have my next project lined up I'm going to do some cross stitch from the all our yesterday's book I brought to be displayed at the day centre where I work so it will have a good home once it's completed

Dean:-)xxxx

On track

Well I managed a good few solid hours sewing yesterday evening without any interruptions so I'm back on track for been able to finish this part of the sampler to be honest I didn't expect it to take as long as it has.

It really is going to be a lovely piece when it's finished I'm getting some good feedback and I'm very pleased with it so far have had a couple of people ask if I will do the same one for them once this one is completed

But I'm reluctant to do the same piece again right away while anyone that reads my blog knows I truly love my Blackwork I think I would be a little bored if I was to replicate the same pattern again as with any piece given the amount if time we spend working on it and if my hearts not in what I'm working on there seems little point in doing it.

Dean:-)xxx

Monday

Good morning

Well as you can see I didn't manage to achieve my goal of getting the main pattern of my sampler finished.

On reflection it was a pretty unrealistic task lol despite the number of hours I spent over the weekend working on it but I'm slowly getting there.

Had a very lazy day yesterday just working on it as I once again had the house to myself most of the day, just me the pets and the sewing lol I should now I have got to over half way manage to have this part finished within the next couple of days doing a few hours each evening after work well that's the plan lol

Have a wonderful day whatever you are up to!!

Dean;-)xxx