Tuesday 19 November 2013

Long time with no blogging...

It has been a whole month since I last blogged. This has partly been because we have been busy in the Willowbeck household but mainly because I have been ill.

In my last blog post I said that I was going away to three different places, one after another. Well I went to Southport and met up with my Mum...

...travelled back to Cumbria with my Mum and met up with my hubby and younger son. I then spent the next three days in bed with a viral infection and developed a horrible productive cough that is still lingering a month later. I got off my sick bed on the fourth day and then we drove down to Manchester where we dropped off Younger Son with Elder Son. We then flew over to Northern Ireland for my husband's 30 year university reunion with the medics of of 1983. 
A rather nice place to stay!
It was a great weekend and my hubby enjoyed seeing all his classmates. I was utterly bemused as I didn't know them 30 years ago and couldn't match up past photos with the people there. I think that the women had changed hair colour and the men had largely lost their hair!!!

Since our return home, I have spent the days napping beside the fire and feeling pretty washed out. This hasn't helped with getting the sewing done so I have very little to show you. For me, the highlight of the Northern Ireland visit was catching up with Sarah and Judith. We spend a lovely afternoon being 'Ladies Who Lunch' followed by a good chinwag. It was so great to see them and despite the miles between us they are very special friends. The photo below is testament to the gale that was blowing that day. 

I wanted to give my friends a little present so before I went, I made these little zipper purses.

I was given one from Nickki and I use it a lot when I don't want to lug around my normal overlarge purse.
My zipper purse from Nikki
Despite feeling ill, our family have had some nice times this past month. Younger Son has been awarded an Arkwright Scholarship so we had a grand day out in London at the Awards Ceremony. We were very proud parents and enjoyed the whole event. We stayed over in London so my men could go to the Gadget Show the following day. 
Younger Son also had his 17th birthday last weekend. He had a bonfire party with lots of warming food, sparklers and fireworks. It was deemed a success by all who attended. 

It felt sad at the end of the evening as it will be the last birthday party that we will host for our boys. We have always had birthday parties at home, despite it being hard work and often frantic. We wanted to give our boys memories of fun times in our home rather than going out to a fast food place or buying in an experience. 

Over the years we have had 12 boys sleeping over when they were 6-9yrs old (they were not enjoyable for us but the boys had a great time). I have done a dinner party for 23 teens for Elder Son's 16th. We have had treasure hunts, traditional parties…. now they are at an end and it feels sad to close that chapter of our lives. It is times like these that the passing years can be tinged with sadness.

This week is the week that I make all my November bee blocks as I am panicking about not making them in time. First up are Catherine's in the hipBees. Catherine has chosen a beautiful block and Catherine is cleverly using the charm squares from a charm swap. My only concern is that two of strips of fabric are an 1/8" too short. I have most of one block marked up for chain sewing and the promise of a flake with my coffee!


Wish me luck… I will report back later this week.


Di x



18 comments:

  1. good luck with your block xx The memories made will never be forgotten xx Hope you soon feel much better x

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  2. I'm glad that you manage to enjoy your trip, sorry to hear you were poorly. Sounds like the last birthday party will just be adding to the pile of lovely memories :D

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  3. I'm just glad you are starting to feel better, and slightly jealous of your ladies who lunch jaunt.

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  4. You have had some nice travels. I am glad you are feeling better. Remember, those kids will often come home for birthdays when they are big, I doubt it is the last birthday party by a long shot.

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  5. So glad you are feeling more yourself again! Xx

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  6. Glad you are feeling up to blogging again - take it easy, and keep those happy memories in mind xxx

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  7. Glad you are feeling a little better. Hope C's blocks go well. Jxo

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  8. Not a problem with my block . Brilliant news for younger sons scholarship: he got amazing results!

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  9. I hope you start to feel better soon! I would enjoy the few years of respite before they start having kids and getting married, then you'll be on grandma duty! I spend more time with my parents and my husband's parents now than anyone else - seriously! I love your coin purses too - you are lovely! Enjoy that Flake xx

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  10. I'm glad your pic has reminded me this morning of our lovely indulgent lunch and afternoon together. Why don't you just live down the road?! I hope that old cough gets the complete heave-ho and you get back into full swing. Congrats to younger son on his amazing scholarship opportunity! Enjoy the flake and eek those seams by about 1/16" each and you should be ok. Glad you are back sharing your news with us.

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  11. PS - that wee purse is ever so handy! Thank you!

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  12. Those purses are so cute, I might need one too! Glad you're feeling a bit better- see you Saturday?

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  13. oh glad to see you back and sorry you were unwell, lots has been going on ! love your purses - yes sadness tinges everything as their childhood flys past :( hope you enjoyed your flake! x

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  14. Hope you're feeling fully back to health soon :o)

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  15. Hope you're back to your normal self soon. I'm sure there will be more birthdays....they have a habit of keep turning up! Good luck with the blocks, I had my ripper out several times!

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  16. Sorry to hear you've been unwell but glad you're now on the mend! I'm beginning to experience firsthand the bittersweet nature of children growing up... I can't believe how much baby G changes from day to day!

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  17. Sorry to hear you've been under the weather, but it was lovely to read your post about all the things you have been getting upto!

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