Sewing Fix

Well, it has been a very very long time since I last contributed to my blog.  The world -yes, the whole world is currently being affected by the Corona Virus (Covid-19).  We are all on lockdown except for those who are frontline workers of which I am one seeing as I work for the NHS and also a support worker for a young adult who requires support.   It is scary and overwhelming in that no one is permitted to visit anyone including family - social isolation has been put in place by the government for everyone's safety.  The elderly, children, newborn and people under the high risk category are the ones most affected and their wellbeing and their lives are compromised compared to fitter young to middle aged people.   No coffee houses, takeaways etc are open in order to stop social interaction. so people just don't have the freedom that we take for granted.  We are having to fill our time accordingly but doing other things.  

Today, despite having a very sore back, I needed to try and stretch it and therefore undertook some sewing which was the above result.  I needed a lovely bag to hold my lunch bag and handbag together and ease of carrying from the car to the office.   

Braw steak dinner (365 challenge)

Had my lovely dinner cooked for me tonight....  Delicious

365 challenge

I think it's time I made some time to even take 1 photo per day.  Doesn't matter what but it's at least 1 a day to look back on and reflect at the end of the year.   After all the sadness of losing dad,  I think it's time I do what I love to do,  photography and a bit more crafting.....

Here goes,  although I essentially missed 1st January,  I am submitting 2 photos.  1 of the new moon and a star that can initially be seen from my kitchen and a silhouette of trees against the dust sky -  again can be seen from my kitchen.

Absence

I had in fact,  created a post back in June or July this year via my Samsung S7 Android phone (got rid of the iPhone at last) but something hadn't worked between the communication between the phone and blogger for some reason.

Anyways,  lots have happened since then,  around the end of June when I changed my NHS job from departmental secretary  to PA and TEAM Lead Secretary in another specialty.  Just around that time my dad took ill and resulted in many hospitalisations and eventually passed away in October to cancer after having been given 6-12 month when in actual fact we barely had a month following diagnosis.   Coming to terms with our loss,  dealing with life in general has been difficult to say the least. My birthday,  then Christmas and now New Year are the difficult  firsts without him.  Gone but not forgotten,  Dad.

SPRING PRETTINESS

I couldn't resist taking a photo of the blossom trees in Cannan Lane on my way home - the blossom trees are so pretty at the moment.

Craft shopping heist

A good few items purchased at the crafts show :-D. 

Barns Ness Lighthouse

Mr A and I took ourselves off in the car again and with no real destination in mind, we ended up taking a road "off the beaten track" and ended up near here, Barns Ness Lighthouse.  What a discovery!  We parked the car at the car park not realising if we had chosen the other road, we could have driven directly to here.  It was a good wee walk to get there even over the rock shale on the beach before we crossed over onto the grassy verge from the rock shale, I took this shot of the lighthouse and adjacent buildings.  

My work colleague Anne had given me a couple of boxes of breakfast biscuits as they werent to her taste.  I did offer her something in exchange but Anne wouldn't accept.  Anne is well known to have a drawer full of sweet goodies and chocolate ie her "stash".  I thought a large bar of chocolate would be a good idea as a token and I made up a cardstock bag to present it in.  I made a ribbon slider using cardstock and an old Creative Memories punch to punch the block of 9 small squares.  I applied a premade chipboard embellishment.  I cut and folded [using the Stampin' Up scoring board] the little yellow card which is 3"x 3"and using the same Creative Memories punch again, I set it to punching the 6 corner style squares at opposite corners.  Using a Stampin' Up sentiment stamp and black Stazon ink, I positioned the sentiment to be centred on the card as shown below.  The envelope I cut and made using the envelope punch board from We Are Memory Keepers. 

I presented the gift to Anne on Friday morning by leaving it by her computer workstation and she was delighted to have received the wee card and chocolate gift.

Driving Miss Daisy

Out and about in the car again today and as always, a particular someone likes to be in the front seat........our Daisy the JRT. 

Stood Up

My colleague Janis whom works in another area within the hospital I work at, provides typing support for my department.   We had arranged to meet for lunch one day and I had gotten the time mixed up and stood her up unintentionally.  We rearranged and it was on a day where I had forgotten to let her know I was off work with a dodgy knee! 

We met for lunch today and by way of a small apology, I made this card and matching wrapped bar of chocolate.