Sunday 29 September 2013

An Abberviated Recap of the Past Few Days

It has been busy round here. More so than usual. To give you an idea here is what I have been up to over the past three days.

Thursday I dropped the girls at school and went the most stupid route to Ange's house, adding miles and miles onto my journey, and losing out on valuable Ange time. For future reference, there is a junction 21A if you are northbound on the M1, but you have no access to it if you approach it in the southbound lanes. Let's just say that was the first of my mistakes.

But, eventually I got there. And had a lovely old time. I didn't do an iota of sewing. Ange attempted to do some fabric cutting. Apparently we are not good at multi-tasking when we are talking that much. I only got a photo of her 2.5" squares she was cutting for Hadley's bee blocks as she wouldn't (can you believe it?!) let me take a photo of her pregnant arse self.

I was seriously happy when she outed her pregnancy recently because I have known for just about forever. At the FQ Retreat this summer Ange was sat beside me for the dinner out that I organise. When she ordered a non-alcoholic beverege (out of character shall we say) I flippantly asked, 'What are you, pregnant?' Well, you should have seen her face! Dead giveaway. It was so funny. Our menus went up to hide behind - rudely I might add - as we did the, 'No, really are you?!!' conversation.

For the lack of a photo of her developing bump here are some of her low volume squares.


The second photo is my kitchen. It rarely looks so pristine so I thought I would take a photo just to prove that it could happen. The ocassion for this unwarrented cleansing of the kitchen, and the rest of the house, was me wanting to avoid total humiliation.

Friday afternoon saw the arrival of a German exchange student here. Helen will be returning to this girl's house in Germany in June. We have been so lucky as we are hosting the most fabulously nice girl. Genuinely lovely. (Phew!) That was enough to make me happy, but on top of that she gave me this lovely FQ bundle. Seriously nice fabrics here folks! You can't see much of the clothes pegs on the bottom FQ but I am in love.

Aren't those sewing notions to die for?

Yesterday we headed off to London for the day. First on the list of things to do was shopping on Oxford Street. On a Saturday may I add. Good lord it was busy! The time spent in the massive Primark was enough to turn me off shopping forever, but the girls were happy. That was what it was all about I guess. And I found my happy place again when we went off to Chinatown for lunch.


After lunch was all about sightseeing. We walked from Chinatown through Leicester Square, and then on to Trafalgar Square. We went into the National Gallery and I had one of those moments when we came out, taking in the view and thinking what a truly marvellous city London is.


There were human statues and street performers, and I went through a tonne of loose change, but we did have a good time.


The girls climbed the monument and did some lion taming.


Then we walked down Whitehall taking in the sights, until we got to the Houses of Parliament.


Then it was back on the Tube and time to head home, exhausted. I'm still exhausted with all that has been going on. Sewing time has been severely dented. And in a few moments I am taking the girls to hang out with some horses. I think I will sleep all day tomorrow when they are in school. Can. Not. Wait.

Susan

31 comments:

  1. Oh I hope you are oing to take me o all of those places hen I visit - looks awesome! Enjoy your sleep ;)

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  2. I applaud you for braving Oxford street on a Saturday! ;-)

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  3. Dear God, I did Glasgow yesterday for about 2 hours and was ready to slit my wrists, you get special awards for London on a Saturday!

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  4. What a delightful read! You gave me my early morning chuckle. Loved the photos.

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  5. We did Brighton for a couple of hours yesterday.
    Lovely to go there but so good to come home!
    Am off to London tomorrow, not sure what to do for nice yet.
    Lush xox

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  6. Well done for showing them such a great time!

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  7. Even die hard shoppers avoid Oxford Street on a Saturday let alone Primark, so well done to you!!
    Hope you had a stiff drink once you got home?

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  8. Oxford Street on a Saturday. Brave thing. Not sure I've done that for over 25 years!

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  9. I dropped mine off at Primark and legged it to a cafe today. No way in hell I was going to wander around with them while they dithered!

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  10. It is so wonderful that you are able to go to one of the most exciting places in the world for a Saturday outing, I remain forever envious of that. I do agree that a long day with the feet up is a proper reward too.

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  11. I'm wondering how the GES knew that a few FQs would be gratefully received - were large hints dropped on the school form?? Looks like a fab day although Oxford St. on a Saturday? *shudder*

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  12. I think that will make for lots of mummy brownie points and you deserve a nice glass of something.

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  13. ahhhhhh London!
    Looks fabulous. Enjoy your sleep time tomorrow though :)

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  14. I did a similar ridiculous journey the other day. So annoying! And London on a Saturday - so brave! Hope you catch up on your sleep (and sewing time!) soon x

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  15. Sounds like a fab few days, definitely deserved a completely non busy Monday. That peg fabric looks lovely, what a very clever girl bringing you those :)

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  16. You are an amazing host! she must love you. Brilliant start for an exchange

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  17. A clean and tidy kitchen is cause for celebration. Go you! I’d be mortified to show pictures of my house at the moment because it looks like we’ve had a home invasion from a pack of marauding goats.

    Im sure your exchange student LOVED her look around London. Exciting places . I wish I had you as a tour guide!

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  18. I'm with Leanne, I'd love to be able to venture into London for a day (although there's no way I'd try to hit that many sights all in one go!). Supermom!

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  19. Sound marvelous to me -- though I'd probably pass on the shopping. Not one of my fav pasttimes. Those fabrics are beautiful.

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  20. Wow, you have been busy! Bet all the other GESs are sooooo jealous of yours seeing that she has such a good host 'n all.

    I'm a bit sad that neither of our daughters will experience the joys of foreign exchange as our county council have banned then stating that it would be unsafe to place a child in a situation where they could be abused!

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  21. You are so lucky that London is only a train ride away. I absolutely agree that you should put your feet up ro the day to recover.

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  22. Very, very well done you: shopping in London on a Saturday. There are many many nice exchange pupils/students: we had a lovely girl from Germany for a year and it was GREAT!
    Are your feet up now? I hope you're still in bed now (but I know you're not)

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  23. You failed to mention for future reference that junction 20 does go both ways, but in order to take advantage of this, you must actually exit it, and go round the roundabout!!!! it was lovely to see you, better luck next ime you visit tho. :o). Glad London was ok, but the thought of all of those people shopping around me makes me want to lock myself in a dark room! x

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  24. what a fun couple of days you have had. I hop you got your nap today.

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  25. Oh, that was a fun post! I feel as though I was sitting in your gloriously clean kitchen having a cup of tea with you!

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  26. You have the energy of a 12 year old!! I don't know how you do it! Jxo

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  27. Sounds like a great few days! I really want Chinese now after seeing that photo :D

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  28. Oo I do like aberviations...is it a newly learnt German word....? If so, it must stand for "awesome Host Mum"

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  29. I'm sooooo behind on blog reading.. But it's great reading your news and reading about your travels. :-)

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