Still Here, But Only Just

Well, "W" Day is almost upon me ( Wales Day that is) I am surrounded by an alien landscape of boxes and cases. Even after all the carloads of stuff that I have taken out of the cottage I have an embarrassing heap mountain of possessions.

I will be able to sew for a year without buying anything at all, including thread.

I will only be buying fresh ingredients for cooking, my dry goods and herbs and spices will keep me going for ages. Thanks to AF and some really good RTC offers in various shops I have enough tins, jars and bottles to last for ages as well, that is after I took 2 shopping bags full to Francesca.

It is raining at the moment but should blow out later, even if it does not there is only a few steps from door to removal lorry so things will not get very wet. I only have a few cardboard boxes, containing Christmas decs, and I can always pop them into black bags.
Most things are in a small mountain of heavy duty plastic storage boxes. I decided that at £20 for 4 huge boxes they were an investment, I can envisage them in my craft room, neatly stacked, full of segregated supplies. They are large enough to hold a full sized quilt kit including batting, and with space for all the remaining fabric  that will become cushions etc.
My evergrowing Yarn stash will also be rehoused in them, and with room for future supplies. The cushion that I have just started has 17 different yarn colours so far with several more to come, that needs a container to keep it under control, and I plan on making a blanket in the same pattern.

The current edition of Simply Crochet Magazine, love at first glance.

My version,Oops Mrs Frank is still on the sidelines. I needed something straightforward and bigger to keep me sane after Friday.
I picked it up in Lynn Friday afternoon while doing my, now unnecessary, top up shop. Yet more stuff to pack.

I will be plugging the slow cooker in as soon as possible once we land, I have a pack of diced venison and another of veg hash, that will feed me for 2 days along with couscous or pasta. Every thing that is left in the freezer will go into cool boxes with ice packs, they will be cooked and frozen as "ready meals" within the 2 days and then I can get a shop in.

Back to crafting, several of you told me to chill and do some crochet. I woke early on Saturday, made tea and returned to bed with my new magazine, yarn and hook.

This little thing had caught my eye, Jeannie is decorating and said that she wanted some more pink and green in her bedroom. 

I thought that this would look good mounted on a soft green cotton and turned into a cushion. Then a couple of Mandalas for the wall should do the job.

I will be making her another quilt for Christmas this year, that will also be pinks and greens, I have all the fabric and batting to make this in my stash mountain.

This year will see home made gifts just like last year, I have so much fun matching materials and ideas to the recipients. I will have more people to make for now, I will be seeing so much more of Cerys,s family and I know that her Mum would love a quilt, then there are the sisters....... happy times ahead.

Reasons to be grateful.

1. Packing almost completed.

2. The rain has stopped and the sky is brighter.

3. Ben is snuggled up as close as he can be, snoring gently.

4. In just over 24 hours I will be There.

5. I have worked through the list of "people to contact" rearranging the move and all were so helpful and understanding, especially the people at Eon and Sky.

I have to amend the last statement, I have decided to move broadband and phone to Sky now that my really good contract with BT has finished. They were most annoying when told of the new arrangements, instead of just taking the "I no longer wish you to be my provider" statement this annoying person interrupted 3 times to argue and try to persuade a change of mind. each time she was told to please cancel the account and in the end voices were raised and she was put in her place.

I am taking no prisoners after last Friday, I gather from most of the people that I spoke with that last minute cancellations are the norm with house sales. 

Any way, enough chatter, I may have a small delay on broadband connection so if I am not here it will be out of my control. add to that the mountain that has to unpacked, the supply of food that has to be cooked, portioned and frozen, the new walks for Ben to discover and a period of absence is inevitable.

           TTFN                                               Pam

Up to my ears in it.

Packing that is, the cottage looks like the packing department of an on line store. We are in imminent danger of death by parcel tape and it may be soggy cardboard boxes for dinner! Only kidding, its faggots, mash and peas.
I usually love all the hustle and bustle of packing up and moving, but this is not my move. I did not realise just how much stuff Francesca had, and neither did she.
I have a track in my bedroom from the door to the window and back round the bed. I have to lean over cases and boxes to get to the wardrobe. 
Her room is as bad if not worse and I have at least 5 more boxes to be filled. It all has to be done and dusted by bedtime tomorrow as we are leaving at 6 on the dot with both cars filled to the brim.
I may make a second trip on Sunday, if I can stand it, or it will have to wait until she comes back for Christmas.
I am so glad that the freezer is full of Ding Dinners as there will not be much cooking done for a week.
My plans for next week are as follows:-
A, Empty Francesca's room, clean and decorate, lay a new carpet and hang new curtains.

B, Re instate this as my sewing room. ( there will still be room for visits)

C, Blitz my room, disposing of everything that I no longer need or want.

D, Decorate my room, hang new curtains, ( I will sleep in Fran's room while this happens)

E, Starting with the bathroom rinse and repeat till the whole cottage has had a "do over"

F, Put it on the market and hopefully get a quick sale.

Reasons to be grateful.

1. A gloriously sunny day.

2. 2 loads of washing blowing on the whirlygig.

3. 12 more blocks completed in my new quilt.

4. Well stocked cupboards  so I do not have to shop for ages.

5. A bottle of very very good Shiraz, just in case.

I will probably not blog any more until Sunday, not enough hours in the day, plus I have to find out how to add a link to another blog so I can do the Sunshine Award post, Thank Goodness for Google.

             TTFN                                 Pam

Wish me luck as you wave me goodbye. Driving into London and out! YUK YUK YUKKITY JUK.