Wednesday 21 March 2018

Since Last Time...

  • Three friends and I co-hosted a charity supper for over forty people on St. Patrick's Day . A lovely village event where we provided a three course supper for a nominal amount to cover costs and then people gave donations. We were raising money for CALM - a small charity that specifical works with young men to help prevent suicide, which happens to be the biggest killer of men under 45. It's a cause that feels close to home at the moment so I was delighted that we raised over £500. I made paper flowers to decorate the tables!

  • I dressed up for the event... it would have been rude not to really! Anyone who knows me also knows I don't need much excuse to dress up... I've done it a previous incarnations of these charity suppers... There was the Scandi supper and the recent 1960s event too!
  • I made several loaves of soda bread which we served with soup. There was a beef and Guinness stew which was served with colcannon and then we finished off with chocolate Guinness cake. I think I may have over catered... we're still eating the cake!
  • There has been more dress making. I volunteered to make waistcoats for the groom and his six groomsmen (two of whom are actually women) for son no. 2's wedding. I have finished one... just six more to go! It's okay I have until July!
  • I made cakes for my machine embroidery class as it was the last class this term. Of course there were several left over which means we are now eating left over cupcakes as well as Guinness cake.
  • Today I've been trying on dresses for the forthcoming weddings (all three of them) but I was horrified by my pale and lumpy reflection in the changing room mirrors and thought that I looked awful in everything I tried on. Please don't mention all the cake I've eaten this week, I need you to be kind to me. It probably didn't help that I couldn't be bothered to take my Doc Marten style boots off and had my trousers round my ankles. Add to that mental picture if you will as the first dress I put on made my now very scruffy hair (having missed my hair cut due to the snow two weeks ago) go static and stick to my head and stick up in equal measures. I probably could have done with putting on some make up and shaving my legs too... but minor details. Needless to say I have come home without a dress although Jacob did remind me I have a very fetching "sheep" onesie that would cover me up.
  • This afternoon I have been packing my bags for a couple of days away, teaching the ladies of Maidstone how to make little textured landscapes on Friday and Saturday. I might have also been drinking tea and eating cake in an attempt to cheer myself up after the abortive dress purchasing mission this morning. Like that's going to help!

Whatever your plans are for this weekend... I hope it's a good one!

13 comments:

  1. Well you celebrated St Patricks Day much better than I did...so glad you used the opportunity to raise money for a good cause though!
    I always think its better shopping for clothes when you don't actually need them, as soon as your need something then it becomes impossible!! A sheep onesie sounds good. ;)

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  2. Sounds as if you might have been over doing it again, just a bit. Hate shopping for clothes. Nothing fits any more.

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  3. Your event looked fabulous and for such a good cause. I watched the Zoe Ball programme last night and cried from start to finish. I lost a nephew 15 years ago at just 26 who left behind a son and daughter who were so little at the time. Mental health is a cruel condition. I had a similar situation with a dress a few years ago for an evening event. I hate clothes shopping at the best of times and can remember coming out of the changing room boot socks still on my feet and hair a mess to ask the assistance what they thought. I'm sure you'll get sorted before July until then just eat more cake.

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    1. You are the second person to have mentioned the Zoe Ball program... so sad to have lost your nephew and so young too. I can't stand shopping for clothes so I'm going to have to psych myself up for it!

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  4. Congratulations your successful charity event for such a worthy cause. I am envious of your culinary skills not to mention the tailoring ones.
    Have a great weekend in Maidstone - lucky ladies.
    Hope you find the right dress, and don't take Jacob's advice! I have a wonderful mental picture of you in that changing room!

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  5. It's hard to imagine how you fit all this into your days you've been so busy! The waistcoat looks very beautifully made, what a special addition they'll make to the wedding.x

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  6. I can just imagine the traumatic dress buying experience - it happens to all of us. I think the mirrors in the shops are designed to make us feel miserable. Congratulations on your successful fundraising, a very good cause and far too neglected by most. Have a lovely weekend. xx

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  7. Sounds like you've been awfully busy Gina -- and with good, fun stuff! I love that your son will have some female groomsmen -- how fun!

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  8. You do throw yourself into things with gay abandon, don't you?!

    Please ignore what Jacob said...

    As another shopping averse person, I recommend that you shop online and have things delivered to your home where you can dress up in comfort.

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  9. What a great fundraising event and a very good cause. Hoping you get those waistcoats finished!

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    1. So do I... the plan is to finish them before the end of May

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  10. Gina, I’m exhausted just reading about your life!! I don’t know how you fit everything in.
    Kath

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  11. Oh, well done on the fundraising. That's an impressive amount to raise for the charity. The right dress will pop up, I'm sure, though you may have to weather a few more changing rooms.

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