What a fantastic weekend..

We had an amazing time in London. We walked for miles and saw and did so many things..I loved it, but boy was it busy..and hot...the weather was fab, all bar arriving at the start of a massive thunder / lightening storm with a torrential downpour..I took hundreds of photo's but here's a whistle stop tour..

We all loved our weekend..I cant believe we packed so much in..now I could do with a holiday !!

Oldbury-on-Severn.

The sun was shining so it was up and out yesterday. Feeling suitably refreshed after my lazy Saturday I was itching for a good walk..The boys didn't want to come so it was just hubs and myself, along with Max of course. After some pondering we decided to Oldbury on Severn, its a lovely little village and is part of the Severn way Walk. I thought I'd take my little camera to remember how it photo's , I always use my camera phone now.

The hills in the distance are the other side of the estuary, and what you can see is Wales !

Shortly after the start of the walk you pass the sailing club,

Yesterday they were racing.

To the right of the picture you can just see the 2 Severn bridges,

and below you can see the new bridge just below the old bridge!

Along the way you could see many blackberries , they will be ready for picking soon..

As you turn to the right after the sailing club, you start to walk along the estuary, towards the power station.

Its a lovely place to walk and is a good hour and a half walk there and back. Max isn't a long distance walking dog, preferring a short sharp manic chase! or a game of catch.. but every now and then I think it does him good to have a long walk.

It was a great walk , and no disrespect to my boys intended, but was lovely to spend some time with hubs.The rest of the day was then spent relaxing and cooking dinner for all us, then settling down to watch another movie.

And now its Monday, back into work mode, but at least its a short week as were off to London on Friday !!!

Saturday.

After a very disturbed Friday night, huge thunder and lightening storms, which kept Max barking all night ! Saturday saw rain and more thunder storms blowing through, I was quite glad as I didn't feel guilty about having to do some housework, loving the weekends is all well and good if you get stuff done in the week, but it had started to build up, which gets me tetchy.. so it was ironing for me..and lovely hubs did some cleaning around the house, then he headed out with the boys to the Regatta down at the harbour-side, Unfortunately I had to finish a report for work, not quite got back into the swing of being able to work from home, but off they headed..in the rain.

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The boys came back early on the bus, rain had stopped play, they were soaked.., hubs wanted to watch the Newfoundland dogs who were putting on a show, they are fabulous dogs..so he stayed a while longer..

By the time hubs came home the rain had stopped and the skies were starting to clear..typical... and he bought me home a little gift..

he knows me so well, the little heart went straight up on my picture wall, and the magazine was saved for this morning, [I sat on the deck with a large cup of tea and drifted away to Cornwall !! sighhhhhh..]

As the skies had started to clear we decided to sit in the garden a while

I'm really pleased how the garden is coming on, I have accepted that we will never have a lovely green lawn, Max loves to run up and down chasing birds..keeps him happy.. but its looking good..

Hubs had bought a bottle home,

and we just sat there for a while chatting and enjoying the evening....bliss......and I even managed to knit a few rows..

This weekend I really wanted to do some knitting, my weekend sweater is coming along nicely, but its a boring knit and is beige, I wanted some colour, a quick rummage through my Yarn drawers and I came up with the ideal yarn, Rainbow colours.....now I know we are currently having a hot spell, but after a quick search around Ravelry, I decided upon a scarf..quick and easy, can be done and then put to wait for winter!

It should end up looking something like this, but a slimmer version.

picture from Huldiina on Ravelry.

The rest of the evening was spent enjoying a homemade chicken curry and settling down with the boys to watch a movie..A fabulous day that got me back in sync, 

This morning the sun is shining and it promises to be a lovely day, just perfect for taking Max out for a long walk..I hope you are all enjoying your weekend too...

Week 1 done.

First week of new old job, done. Had a bit of a wobble on Tuesday, wondered what the heck I had done, got to Friday and realised its the stress of others that gets me stressed.. 1 person particularly likes to voice it, and doesn't realise how it effects other, lesson learnt, don't get involved in others angst's, the bits that effect me will be dealt with if and when I need to. Head down and get on with it.. I also learnt that I have very little confidence and don't deal with conflict well, I take it too personally, the job I am in now means that people will get angsty and take it out on us personally, its not us, its the system they are mad at, we are nurses at the end of the day.

Anyhow, less of that moan, this week I have caught the bus to work everyday, and do you know what? I have loved it.. I haven't missed the car at all and have enjoyed the quiet time. Its also given me time to look around, the city I live in is beautiful, but busy.. Everyone is rushing, and don't start me on the cyclists, now I do appreciate its green and healthy, but do they really have to weave in and out of pedestrians on the path? 2nd moan over..

Best of all? this little or should I say big beauty is just across the road from the office....oh dear..

I am in love, its huge and filled with fabrics..I could spend many a lunch break and much money in here, oops, did I just do that today?

yep....

A rather expensive pattern, but I love the kimono style tops, I plan on making the closed shoulder version for me, and if it turns out OK, will make 2 as Christmas gifts, In theory then its great value..

Then as I had bought a pattern I just happen to let some fabric slip into the basket...

Fun gorgeous chiffon, only £3.99 pr ,meter, got 3, enough for the top and some to practice sewing on ..I have NEVER sewn this fabric before and am scared.. I don't have an over-locker, do I need 1? but I did also happen to buy new cotton and needles for the machine.. heres hoping..

Now I must dash, I have to surf the net to find a blog where someone has made this darn thing..

Phew.....

Wow I forgot how manic my new/old job could be, I certainly feel like I have done a days work...

The day started off well, breakfast with Junior then I took him and his friend to school, lovely. Went straight to the park and ride and hopped on the bus.I resisted the urge to read or play with the phone, just enjoyed being still. The bus was relatively quiet, just a few pick ups along the way,but a peaceful journey.

I made the mistake of staying on the bus instead of getting off with everyone else before the bus did a loop of the centre, that added 20 minutes to my journey, enjoyed it today as was in no hurry, tomorrow I need to be in on time so I need to get off with everyone else and walk the short distance across the centre to work ! may help with the weight loss, extra walking!

Work was spent getting my systems set up and making sure I had all the right access, then spent the remainder of the day booking my appointments, we get a case load ! The day went really fast no clock watching in this job!

And then it was 5pm, time to go home!! off to the bus stop, and a half hour wait for a bus, boy was this a different journey... crammed... tin of sardine style...

Luckily I was one of the first on so managed to get a spot right at the back, was due to be last off... I am so glad I wont be doing this daily, still easier than trying to drive in and out, and much cheaper !The journey took slightly longer but again, just sat there and let my thoughts drift..

I have to say I do feel like I have done a days work, I feel much better being busier, and the day does not drag, it was pretty full on desk duty today though. I cant wait to get out next week, office bound this week for induction ! I did have a moment wondering if I had made the right decision, I do miss the contact and activities of my last job, only time will tell, I just remind myself why I did the change, breakfast with junior was one of the reasons, and he went to school a much happier boy!

And then this evening I actually knitted, yep, knitted, and a real project, a sweater! my knitting mojo had long gone but it seems to have found its way home...

I have had this yarn over a year, its been knitted, frogged, knitted again, but this project feels so right, its more a beige than a grey , and is aptly named.....Lazy weekend sweater......the finished article should look something like this....

Photo from Nikol's ravelry page

This is a fab pattern, its reversible, unfortunately I cant do the garter stitch look, preferring the stocking stitch effect, this is knitted in the round so you can wear it which ever way you want, and no seams !! Its a great easy knit pattern and well recommended, I have made 1 before !

And now its off to bed, I feel a good nights sleep coming on..xx