Goodies in the post.

I have had some lovely post since coming home from the hospital last week. A big parcel arrived on Friday morning, which although expected was still full of wonderful surprises. Dotty Cookie and I took part in an unofficial "Valentine Swap" along the lines of Lucy's swap. These were the lovely packages inside the parcel... the chocolate wrapping paper looked good enough to eat!

I opened the big packet first... and look what was inside. She is gorgeous and has been named Valentina!

Inside with Valentina was another parcel which had these very pretty stitch markers which I'm already using on another pair of socks. I started knitting another pair while we were in hospital but only managed to knit about 6 rows. However, I've made progress over the weekend and have now got to the point where I need markers!

There were also two lovely pieces of heart themed fabrics...

Red and Pink!

Some pretty ribbons and beads!

And last but not least these rather posh looking chocolates!

Thank you Val - everything was wonderful but especially my beautiful doll!

Another parcel also arrived which again was expected but also contained some unexpected extras. This is the prize I won in Monkee Maker's raffle - a compilation picture of Monkees getting up to all sorts of things which made us all smile!

And also this rather pretty parcel...



Containing these very cute paper clips. I think they are fabulous!

Thank you MM!

Much as I have loved all these wonderful goodies I have to say the nicest surprise came from Moogsmum's daughter Minx who heard we'd had a bit of a sad week and sent me this brilliant picture of a crazy chicken to cheer us up! It certainly did! Thank you Minxy... it's fantastic! (And glad to hear you're feeling better today)

I think this might have to become another embroidered picture!

My young man is making good progress - his blood sugars have been a bit high today but we've been on the phone to the diabetes nurses at Addenbrooke's hospital who have been a fantastic support, dishing out both good advice and reassurance. Tomorrow we have our first clinic appointment and on Wednesday I think he could manage a morning at school! I'm not sure this is his plan but I'm sticking to it!

Happy Mother's Day!

In the UK, today is Mother's Day and this morning I was greeted by a pile of silver wrapped balls, a card and the following letter...

"Dear Mum,

Thank you for bearing us in your womb for nine months, undergoing the agony of childbirth, changing our nappies as well us feeding, clothing and sustaining us for the greater portion of our lives. In return, we present you with Bath Bombs. And a card.

The Boys x"

What comedians!!! But making me laugh has always been their best gift. I also rather like the fact that Ben and Sam are slaving over vegetable peelers and a hot stove right now!

Would also like to say a HUGE thank you for all your wonderful messages of support over the last couple of days. It really has been a great comfort and help. I'm trying to reply to each of you but if I don't manage it please know every single comment and email was very much appreciated. Already we are in a good routine with the blood tests and injections and Jacob is being brilliant and taking it all in his stride... and loving the fact that he gets so much to eat!

Wherever you are, whatever you are doing, whether you are a Mum or not, have a wonderful Mother's Day.

Not a Tummy Bug!

Quick post -
After posting Monday evening I spent the rest of the night sitting up with Jacob while his condition gradually worsened. We ended up in A & E on Tuesday morning while my very poorly boy drifted in and out of consciousness attached to numerous drips. He has been diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. It's been a very long three days and a steep learning curve of blood testing, insulin injections and dietry advice but he has been amazingly brave despite feeling absolutely awful. We have weeks of monitoring and clinics ahead of us and Jacob has a lifetime of managing his condition but at least we are home this evening and hope to resume some form of normality soon.
Now to sleep... zzzzz!


PS My Mum and Dad took the puppy!

Puppies and Mojitos!

More images from Cuba - El Patio cafe, a former Palacio in the Plaza de la Catedral. It also had a beautiful inner courtyard. We spent a lovely morning here watching people in the square, drinking mojitos...

and listening to this band.

This is outside the Capitolio - a building similar to the Capitol in Washington DC but even taller.

Where there was yet another old Buick.

Back at our hotel we had a wonderful evening both listening to and then later dancing to the

Buena Vista Social Club... brilliant!

And Jacob getting into holiday mood with a cocktail!

I take no responsibility for his choice of reading matter (nor for his under age drinking - can't you tell what a responsible mother I am!!!) but am rather concerned that his hair style is starting to resemble Russell Brand's!

I have to say that although I enjoy travelling and seeing new places it is always lovely to come home and this time was no exception. The older boys had looked after everything beautifully - the house was tidy and there was even food in the fridge and a dinner made for us. I also discovered I'd won a prize in Monkee Maker's raffle which was very exciting and best of all I got my first Opus module results... and I've passed! There is no break down of marks at this stage just a pass or fail so now I'm ready to move on to my next module which is "Stitch Methodologies." There is a lot of work to get through but it does look very exciting.

However I've not made a start yet due to one or two hiccups. First of all Jacob has been (and still is) really poorly with a nasty tummy bug since coming home (NO!... it wasn't the cocktails!) And secondly we've got a little visitor for a couple of weeks as we are puppy sitting while my brother is on holiday... which isn't proving quite as straightforward as I imagined due to some housetraining problems. After the third puddle on the kitchen floor she was banned to the garden this evening! Although I think she just sat by the back door looking sorry for herself and she's still not managed a wee outside! And poor Barley isn't at all sure why he had to go out too!

In fact, I think he's quite worn out by her while she is still full of energy. This could be a long two weeks!

So what I really could do with tonight is another one of these...



MOJITO!

I'm Back!

We arrived home this morning a little tired and weary from an overnight flight but having had the most amazing holiday. Havana was fantastic and unlike any other city I've visited - like stepping back in time. This was our hotel in Havana - The Nacional, which felt like something from a 1930s movie set. Very elegant and glamourous and set right on the waterfront promenade, The Malecon.

Not all the buildings are as well maintained as The Nacional, but even the crumbling old colonial style buildings that line so many of the streets have their own beauty and style.




The city is also full of the most amazing old American cars that pre-date the revolution in 1959. It really is incredible that so many of them are still running (although not very environmental friendly!)

Everywhere we went in the City, we were met with warmth, friendship and contant music and dancing! This band were in the Bodeguita del Medio, a tiny bustling restaurant serving traditional Creole food and fabulous Mojito cocktails - a favourite haunt of Ernest Hemingway. The walls are covered with graffiti and the signatures of many visitors, including people like Hemingway and Nat King Cole.

I'll post more pictures of Havana and the rest of our trip later this week when I finally get around to sorting them all out. I have to say it was a bit of a shock to the system walking the dog this afternoon... not quite the 82 deg F we've been used to over the past couple of weeks... but still good to be home! And luckily I didn't spend my entire holiday lazing in the sun and drinking cocktails but also managed to finish off some cosy socks which have been very welcome today!

These are thicker than I usually make, knitted from Debbie Bliss Cashmerino (very soft!) from a pattern in "Debbie Bliss Home". They were extremely quick to knit and have a simple cable up the sides to stop them being too plain... It's also an excuse to show off the fact that my legs are not their usual pearly white but are a pale shade of beige instead!!! (For me this constitutes a tan)

Now I'm off to catch up with all the blogs I've been missing while I was away. Thank you to everyone who has left comments while I was gone - it's been lovely to see some new visitors too and I will try to catch up with everyone soon. Have a good weekend wherever you are and whatever you may be doing!

Will Miss you!

Another lovely surprise in the post this week as yesterday this beautiful embellished and stitched ATC arrived from Susan Lenz as part of the Cyber Fyber ATC and postcard swap. The photograph isn't great and it is much more intricate and detailed than it appears with a trace of sparkle over the surface.




And this is the card that I've sent in return to Susan - also done on the embellisher with both hand and machine stitch on the surface.

But I digress from the subject of this post...

I'm going to miss you all as I shall be away for a couple of weeks. But I'm also very, very excited because we're off for some winter sun. My passport is already packed in it's lovely new holder from Sarah. (It's about the only thing that is packed!)

I'm especially excited because I've never been on a holiday like this at this time of year before - there have been weeks on windswept beaches in Cornwall in the past but it's not quite the same as cocktails by the pool.. because this is where we are heading...

Stewart, Jacob and myself are heading off for four nights in Havana... guess that's the architechture and museums bit, and then seven nights at a beach resort... for the rum and scuba diving! The two eldest boys are staying home looking after house and dog, which I'm trying not to worry about... but in the words of my mother this morning... "Well, you are insured, dear!" A comforting thought?

So I really ought to get on with the packing as we leave at 5 am on Sunday and I'm working up in Derby tomorrow. I really will miss you all but will be back with photos and tales to tell! Au Revoir!

A Minxy Fairy!

Today I've ignored the housework etc so that I could work on my embroidery of Minx's fairy... and here she is.. an appliqued and free machined fairy ! I was really happy with the way this turned out, even though initially I thought I would like to work in hand stitching (which I still might do!) I like the way that there is something about a machined line of stitches that resembles a pencil line. This will be the front of a bag but I haven't finished it because I didn't have the right fabric to use as a lining - but I've found what I need and it has been ordered!




One of the reasons it works well has to be because the original drawing is so gorgeous! A very talented Miss Minx!

Today's other creative offering was more muffins (look away Lucy!) - sticky toffee flavour, which though I say so myself were pretty muffinlicious!

Finally... totally unrelated to anything else... some daffodils! My Mum brought me some potted daffs last week and they've all bloomed. So here they are... just because they look so cheerful!