Easter, swaps, thrifting and jobs to be done

Happy Easter Everyone - I know its a little premature but as the children are on holiday it feels like its a good time to start celebrating.

I have started the Easter Tree by cutting some Lilac twigs and hanging my very sparse collection of eggs - though I am planning on making some more tonight whilst watching Project Runway and The Apprentice (I'm not addicted to reality TV really.....)

Yesterday afternoon the post van pulled up - hubby said what have you ordered now - truthfully nothing I said indignantly.


I was so excited when he knocked the door - it was my swap parcel from Lissy .



It was in a large box and all wrapped so beautifully, each packet individually with ribbons and embellishments. Sorry Lissy for not taking photos pre unwrapping but the excitement overtook me.


Here are my beautiful gifts including a book, dusters, choccies, ribbon, pencil, chicks, pegs... there were so many.




And this gorgeous mug - I am going to have a lovely cup of tea in it just after finishing this.

Thanks Lissy - I love my Easter Swap. XXXX


The time is nearly here as the T house descends into cricketing chaos.

Master T has been addicted to cricket since he was 6 so this is our 7th summer.

Last year he started to be selected for some of the adult teams at our club so some weeks we had four or five matches.
Hubby started to play and managed a couple of games at the end of the season before his Ham String went !!

Yesterday Master T wanted to go "to the nets" to practice as its less than 2 weeks before the season starts - luckily there is a lovely town close to the club with 5 charity shops - so Miss T, her friend and I spent a lovely afternoon perusing.


I was thrilled to find this lovely Granny Square crochet blanket - my photo really doesn't do it justice - the colours are wonderful and it is quite heavy so will be really cosy.

I think the green and red make it look so "gypsy" - I have asked Hubby if he will make me my very own gypsy caravan for it to go in........

I checked the price and couldn't believe it was just 50p.



Anyway, must get on - need to make more decorations for Easter Tree, Miss T is coming back from her friends soon and Master T now not feeling well and lying on sofa.

We picked up a pair of these chairs just before Christmas from a local junk shop and I am determined that before the end of the holidays they will be white and have a seat pad - so off to find the flatting paper.

Speak to you all soon and have a great Easter - DON'T go easy on the chocolate - there you have permission to go mad.

Its A Beautiful Day - for washing a toad ????

Its a gorgeous day here although the week has been not so gorgeous. Miss T has had tonsillitis and though she doesn't get it often - when she does its a nasty bout.

She didn't move from the sofa for two days - which is a miracle as she is normally such a busy little bee - it was horrible to see her so poorly.

She was so sick and had a nosebleed at the same time - which made for an interesting dilemma when it came to the big clean up - I didn't know which to tackle first.

Yesterday she was much brighter but still not physically active so it was great to see her venture out in the garden today.

She went to see the rabbits as she had missed them and wanted to give them a love.

After about 15 minutes I was surprised that she hadnt come back in and went to see if she was ok.

We turned the old coal house into a utility room and as I went out the back door I could see that the light was on in there - so I popped my head round the door.

Are you ok??

Yes mom.

What are you doing?

Washing a toad.

Ok - whaaattt? did you say washing a toad?

Yes it was dirty.......

I guess she is feeling much better......

Holiday 2009

I've been away from blogging for a while and really have no excuse other than I dont knw where the days keep disappearing.
Whilst I've been gone lots of things have happened.

I had my **th birthday - lovely day out with pub lunch and auction browse and I bought a Retro Roberts Radio that I've been wanting for about five years with my birthday money.

Mothers day - a gorgeous necklace chosen by Miss T and breakfast in bed from Master T.

A couple of trips into village but no great finds in charity shops, food shopping, cooking, cleaning , lots of ebaying...........................

And we've booked Holiday 2009 - we thought we probably wouldnt get away this year but after hearing lots of tragic stories - we decided to make the most of our time here and not keep putting things off. The children are growing so quickly - I know we probably only have a few more years when they will want to come with us.

We normally go with Canvas - they are like Eurocamp but we find them much cheaper.

We are going to France - the Loire and two sites not far from Paris then travelling up through Belgium to get to Holland. We are having three weeks in total, have upgraded the mobile home to their third option and booked the overnight ferry from Rotterdam with a cabin so we can get some sleep. Wow expensive I hear you mutter..... Now for the good bit. For the four of us, including all upgrades and ferries it is going to cost:








678 pound !!!!


We had thought about going on a narrowboat holiday for a week in this country but the cheapest we could get one in June was over 800.
These are some picture of the sites we are visiting - would be great if some of you could come too.

Shopping Tip - Oilcloth 6.99 metre

I have just been reading about Silkie Sues bargain oilcloth in a shop in Bristol and told her about our local shop that I'm off to have a look round tomorrow.

I know a lot of you will have heard of Dunelm - they are really common up here in the Midlands but I know they are fairly sporadic in the south.

I went on to their website to check out the price of the oilcloth that I want to buy and found that they have started online shopping !!!

Their oilcloth is amazing - there is a choice of 5 colours in the polka dot and its only 6.99 a metre - bit different to CK.

They also do other amazing fabrics and home accessories so pop over and have a look.

I'm not on commission- honest !

Good Things, Not so good things

Just popped in to catch up with you all. It took me an hour to read through all the blogs I follow so forgive me if I haven't left many comments.

This is my new bag that I had last week. About a month ago we went to our local auction house to have a look at their items for the next sale.

Hubby who loves fishing has been wanting some polarised sunglasses for ages and called me over to look at a box full of sunglasses in which he had found one pair of polarised.

They were the same glasses he had seen for 15 pounds.

We couldn't attend the auction so we well actually he - left a commission bid of a tenner - the lady said we would be notified by the end of the week if we had been successful.


The week came and went and hubby was disappointed not to win. A couple of days ago we had an invoice through the post from the auction house to say we owed them four pounds plus commission & vat - another 88p for said box of sunglasses.

Apparently they had overlooked notifying us - I'm not really surprised - its hardly worth the phone call for that price is it?

We had to dash to get them with hubby in a great state of excitement. He went in and fetched the box and we sat in the car looking through our treasure.

We had his polarised glasses, about ten pairs of Posh Spice glasses which Miss T has distributed amongst her friends, a Disney Cars Bag (brand new in packaging), about ten pairs of Bob The Builder glasses, Bratz and Disney Princess glasses, folding storage containers, two toiletry bags, several joke shop items, dog collar - all still brand new - and then the treasure at the bottom - this lovely Union Jack bag still tagged from Accessorize !!!! Was I a happy girl.

So the moral of the story is just cause it says its a box of sunglasses it doesn't mean there aren't treasures lurking. We are off to browse the auction again tomorrow and I will be the one emptying the contents of boxes onto the floor to see just what is in there !!



I've managed to fit a little bit of crafting in - I made this Union Jack pin cushion with matching needle case and this flower needle case.

I'm not sure which I prefer - they are for an upcoming project that I have on the go.




























That the good things taken care of. The not so good was when hubby went to feed his girls this morning (our 6 chickens) one of the Bantys called Violet was dead in the nesting box.
They are only four so it was a bit of a shock especially as she had shown no signs of ill health.
Hubby managed to bury her before he got upset, Master T had a little weep but Miss T was inconsolable tonight.

Its the first time she has experienced death - luckily we haven't lost any relatives since she has been old enough to understand and this is the first pet death.
She loves animals and used to sit on her swing with the chicken on her lap going back and forth - all the chickens seem to really enjoy it.
I talked to her about the happy life she had as a free range chicken and that at least she died peacefully in her sleep.

I've thought about suggesting she paint a pebble to use as a little marker of the grave - maybe with some flowers or Violet on. She is ten and I remember that it was around this age that I became aware of death and was terrified of going to sleep - I don't want it to turn into the same nightmare for her.

Any thoughts or ideas gratefully received.

To end on a happier note - I am so looking forward to checking out the auction tomorrow - hopefully there might be some good lots - its really only bric a brac - but that's what I love.

Well bric a brac, biscuits, George Clooney, buttons, magazines .................

25 Things I Love

Just read Little Gems post and thought I would join in. When I first found out about my EDS I read Sarah Ban Breathnachs gratitude journal and she suggested making a list of your favourite pastimes so that when you feel a bit down you can look at it and do one of them.

Sometimes when you feel low it is so difficult to think about what you could do. So here I go :

1. Browsing charity shops
2. Making fairy cakes and letting Miss T go wild with the decorations
3. Dark nights and getting changed into PJs straight after tea
4. Hubbys lovely cups of tea - with a biscuit usually ginger
5. Any sandwich made by my mum - they always taste better than mine
6. Watching a brilliant film
7. Buying a new magazine
8. Playing Mah Jong on the PC
9. Blogging
10. Receiving a parcel or packet
11. Watching cricket (I know I'm a strange girl)
12. Quiz Nights
13. Emmerdale - I dont watch any other soap but love Emmerdale
14. Freshly washed hair
15. Smell of fabric softener from clothes airing
16. Libraries
17. Sewing bits and bobs, buttons, ribbons etc
18. Books, books, books - historical fiction, crafts, interiors
19. Browsing ebay and getting a bargain
20. Cola bottles or Haribo
21. Old embroidered tablecloths
22. Spring flowers but not purple ones
23. The childrens laughs and sense of humours - they crack me up
24. Cuddles or snuggles as we call them
25. France

The list has just made me realise that there is so much I love 0 i think I could have carried on and on.

Just off to have my cup of tea (with gingernuts of course), browse ebay and then sort out my sewing basket. What a great day !!!

Blogging Parcels and Presents, Fishing and Cooking

I know its a bit of a bizarre title but I tend to save things up and then want to tell you everything.

When the postman knocked this morning instead of just pushing the bills through I started to get excited.

My first parcel I opened was from the lovely Sara from All About Eden. Remember when I asked if anyone had a dorcas pin tin that they would be willing to swap ?? Sara got in touch and kindly found one for me - I am so thrilled, it has gone straight into my CK sewing box before anyone else nabs it.

I also ordered two of her wonderful inspiration packs and boy are they inspirational. They are lovely - beautiful fabrics, with crochet trims, ric rac, buttons - oooooh I'm itching to get started. Thanks Sara - she also popped me a couple of naughty treats in.


My next parcel was from Lisa at Knitty, Vintage & Rosy - she is all the way in Canada and sent me this lovely swap parcel. We organised our own little swap and these are my beautiful goodies. Canadian Home & Country magazine which I am saving for this afternoon when I have changed all the beds. A beautiful embroidered hanky and gorgeous embroidered pillowcase.

I have been a lucky girl today. Blogging and my blogger friends are amazing, I feel very blessed.

The weekend was as busy as I expected so today and yesterday we have been working hard.

As some of you know we home school our 12 yr old and will be home schooling our daughter when she leaves yr 6 in July.

Today Master T has been working on algebra - he is amazing

which is just as well as Maths was probably one of my worst subjects. We still have to figure out number sequences - finding the nth term !!

He asked if he might make some lunch, so off he trotted into the kitchen and this is what he made.

I know it is just a plate of scrambled eggs and toast, but he had done it without any help - he watched me do it the other day - and carried it in so proudly.

I'm hoping that home educating is helping him grow not just academically and its moments like this that help to reassure me.

The boys in the house love fishing and they went off on a fishing trip on Friday.

Hubby had bought some vintage floats off ebay (i do encourage this as it makes my purchases easier to justify !) and was anxious to test them out.

I received a text whilst out with my friend to tell me about the "amazing" bream that hubby had just caught.

Master T normally catches the most fish so Hubby was especially pleased.

When they picked me up they were anxious to get home to load the photos on to the PC so that we could all have a better look at their triumphs off the day.

Master T seemed especially excited about me looking at his amazing catch of the day.

I waited for the photos to load trying to guess what I would be seeing - they did once catch a huge pike that was a national newspapers fish of the week - winning them an expensive fishing reel.

The anticipation was building, the comnputer churned, the photos loaded. I clicked to view the slideshow.............

At this point they fell about laughing - apparently this cheeky little fish decided to take on a worm that was actually bigger than him.

Considering my son is 12 you can see how big this plucky little guy was.

I think he's kind of cute.

Bowls for ?????

I can't believe its been over a week since my last blog entry. I think with the children being off last week the time flew by.

We didn't really do much apart from Friday when we had a trip to Yorkshire including Haworth (because I love the Brontes).

This week so far has been catching up with jobs and watching and today is the first day that I've been out.

It was a quick trip into the local village where I found these lovely bowls in Help The Aged. I paid 3 pounds for the 6 but I dont really know what to use them for.
They are metal but it doesn't look like stainless so I'm not sure about putting anything edible in them but I couldn't leave them behind because of the beautiful colours. I think they remind me of narrowboat decoration.

So, any suggestions of what to use them for will be gratefully received.

I'm off to Trentham Gardens with my friend tomorrow for a girlie day. There are lovely little shops in chalets and the Garden centre has a fabulous section for the home and a brilliant restaurant.

Saturday Miss T has asked if I will take her and her best friend shopping on the bus and Master T has his first indoor cricket match of the season on Saturday night. Its against the team who knocked them out of the tournament last year so fingers crossed.

Will try and post on Sunday - it should be quieter - that is apart from cooking the dinner, washing, ironing, dusting, hoovering etc etc etc

Thrifting Bargains And Leaving Home

I have had these a few days since I last went thrifting in the village. I had taken my CK blue Ottoman rose Tesco shopper and was amazed to find this lovely crochet throw in exactly the same colours.

I have a new mission now when thrifting - I can only buy colour co-ordinating articles !! (yeah right)

I picked up these books as well and I had still only spent 4 pounds.


I'm hoping to get chance to pop in again tomorrow as Wednesday is bric a brac market and last week there was a lovely blue and white jug that I have kicked myself all week about not buying.

For some reason I feel a bit flat today and a bit of a mooch might be all thats needed to lighten the spirits.

I sometimes get "the flats" for no obvious reason - maybe its my age.



We had a big event yesterday - if you know about Colin - our baby dove that Master T rescued, you will remember that he seemed to picking up his strength daily and had started to practice flying.

Over the weekend his practice flying became - nesting on my dresser then dive bombing at my head whilst I try to work on the computer !! My husband made him a mini aviary by putting a cover over the top of the kids trampoline and enclosure - so he could practice his flying and get used to outdoors. We did this for a couple of hours each day - bringing him back inside for his meals and safety at night.
Yesterday we did the same and Colin took the opportunity to fly off to pastures new. I hope this means he is well and strong and that we did a good job. I've worried since that hes remembering to eat and staying safe - I suppose this is what it will be like when the kids leave home.
Hubby says he will still build the dovecote in case Colin wants to return for a holiday.

Thanks again for all your good wishes for Colin - I'm sure all the positive thoughts helped him to recover.

Valentines Day

Happy Valentines Day Everyone

I've managed to find time to get to the computer as Hubby has taken Master T to his cricket training.

He bought me this beautiful Victorian Pin / Trinket Tin - its so lovely.

Thats Cupid in the middle and the one cherub is passing a ring to the other. Around the sides are alternate dragonflies and roses.



Dragonflies, or damselflies, were connected to Freya the Norse goddess of love, fertility and warfare.
The paired bodies of mating dragonflies form the shape of a heart, perhaps being the source for that modern symbol of love.

It still has the old fabric in the lid of the box. I have wondered if it is a betrothal box and would have held a ring?

If anyone knows anything about these I would love to be enlightened.

I'm going to curl up in front of the telly now and eat my lovely chocolates that I had in my Valentines swop.

Colin is still doing ok - well really well - he is practising his flying quite a lot and is getting bigger hourly !!

Help please !! Ebay Bargains and \Baby Dove Update

I am starting with a plea to all my bloggy friends and viewers. Does anyone know of one of these tins or where I could get one? My mom and nan used to have one with their pins in when I was little and I am desperate to have one for in my sewing box.
I know it may seem a bit strange but I love things that remind me of people and cant believe that they threw theirs away. If anyone does have one I am willing to send my Cath Kidston pin tin as a swap. I am not too bothered about it being perfect - just not badly damaged. Here's hoping someone can help.....

Here is another couple of my eBay purchases. There is more but I cant find what file I put the photos in so will have to take them again.

I love this little workbox tin - anemones are some of favourite flowers and I have a bit of a tin habit so I just couldn't let it go to someone Else's house - could I ?






I love that it still had some of the old sewing items in it - I always like to imagine who used it and what for ? What did they make?


I know there is not a lot inside but it still feeds my heart to look through and fell that I have saved them.

I also bought another old box with sewing things in - the box was awful and on its last legs but the sewing stuff in it looked great.

Unfortunately when the seller sent it he had
taken a lot out despite advertising it with contents and showing numerous photos - so I was not a happy bunny - he is the worst seller I have come across in five years and it doesn't look like I am going to get him to send the missing items.

I also bought these old silks , still in their boxes. I don't know if I will ever be able to use them - I just like looking at them.

COLIN UPDATE: Colin is still doing well - we have started his supplement for his rubbery beak and it seems much better. He is starting to show an interest in pecking at some seeds - so hopefully we will be able to wean him soon and he is practising little flights regularly. Thanks so much for all your good wishes and kind thoughts for Colin - I am convinced that the energy created has helped him recover so far.

I remember reading about an experiment where heart patients were prayed for and their recovery was much quicker that those that weren't so maybe the blog has helped my little baby dove.

Can you pray for my husband to like ironing ????

Prezzies, swaps and Baby Dove

I am having a really great week - yes I've got bills to pay, washing to do, beds to change etc etc but I am being distracted from the horrible by the loveliness of Blogland

My Valentine swap has arrived from the lovely Joanne at Little Patch Of Heaven. I was a little concerned when I first was given my swap partner by the wonderful Mrs Thrifty as Joanne used to be called Tatty Mum.

I did wonder what I would be getting through the post !! But she couldn't be called anything better now as this parcel really was my "Little Patch Of
Heaven"

I have taken photos of all my items but cant work out how to get more than 5 on !!

I had these amazing bag with a beautiful heart - it is so wonderfully made - all fully lined.

The heart hanger is gorgeous and the little heart pegs made me jump up and down like I'd had too much coca cola.


This great wall hanging - I've just got to decide
where it will be shown off to its best advantage.

There were another two packets as well. A gorgeous tissue holder and heart keyring and some lovely chocolate hearts (which I've hidden) and some love heart sweeties.

Joanne if you're reading this - thank you so much from the bottom of my heart - this really is the best Valentines ever.



I also found out last week that I had won Michelle
from Cowboys and Custard giveaway for the funniest story.

I wont bore you with the details but you can go to Michelle's blog and read it in her comments - basically it was about my very first roast dinner that I cooked as a newly wed.

I could probably win a funny story competition for most of my cooking efforts !

Michelle has sent me some beautiful things - if only I had known 18 years ago as I sat sobbing on the kitchen step that what had just happened
would mean that I would receive a lovely present in the future perhaps I wouldn't have been so disheartened.

The toadstool pins are great and are now pushed into my computer desk wall (will have to show you some time) - the mirror (with the strawberry print) is in my handbag, the heart keyring attached to my keys, the love tag hanging by my computer and the ribbon squirreled away for the future. I have yet to decide on the lucky recipient of the card.
Thank - you Michelle so much.

I will try and get round to my eBay bargains tomorrow - I think they have all nearly arrived now.

For all of you who have sent Colin your best wishes - if you don't know about Colin our baby dove - I blogged about him here

He is doing really well - he is hopping about the dining room and starting to try and lift himself into the air.

He is feeding really well - still through the syringe but we are trying to get him to take some seed.

His beak is very rubbery and we have learnt that this can be calcium deficiency - apparently common in winter babies so he is now having added calcium.

My main concern now is that he will struggle when released but I was reading a blog yesterday about someone who had hand reared a dove - last year he nested in their arbour and has had a family of his own - I really hope that this happens for Colin.

Hubby is going to build him a dovecote so if anyone has experience of this or knows of any plans we would be really grateful.

Tea Towels, Sewing Box and Crochet

Just wanted to show you my new tea towels from our local discount shop. They were only 1.99 for three and I thought they looked a little CK ish.


Two of them are towelling but the trellis one is a lovely heavy weave - I suppose its a glass towel.

I'm just not sure if I can bring myself to use them as they are so lovely.



The crochet leaflets and books are some of my ebay purchases - I think it
was 99p for all the leaflets and 79p for the book. I've had a good look through but I think they are a little out of my league at the moment.

I must still plod on with my granny squares - I can do them now whilst watching tv with only the odd mistake. Did I say "watching tv" - I think I meant listening to the tv !!!











This sewing box was on my Christmas list from Boots - it is from the range that Country Living do for them but I decided to get my Cath Kidston one instead.

I saw this on ebay but the picture and description wasn't very good so I ended up only paying 4.50 - Miss T is having it as her sewing box and we are going to make some things together.


I love the little kit that comes inside it.

For those of you who read my blog yesterday about Colin our baby Collared Dove - he made it through the night and seems much stronger today.

He is feeding well and has come out of his box and his hopping round the dining room floor.

He doesn't have his tail feathers yet so cant fly - they look like sticks with a small feather stuck on the end - so I guess we will be looking after him a while longer.
We did prepare the kids for the worst last night as they often die within 24 hours and we didn't want it to come as a shock to them.

I know lots of people believe you should not take them in but I would rather him have a peaceful warm safe death than be mauled by a cat.

At the moment its looking like we might have a happy ending so fingers crossed.

Be back tomorrow with some more ebay bargains - I did go a bit mad !!

Cast Iron Fireplace and A New Addition

We battled through some snow storms yesterday to go and pick up our "ebay" fireplace. I did wonder at one point if we should abandon the idea as the weather seemed to be getting worse.

We carried on as we were not too far away and put our new bedroom fireplace in the car to take home - I think the fireplace would be quite pleased as it was living in a cold shed !!

I'm really pleased with it and it already looks at home propped up against the bedroom wall. It will need some flatting and painting - but I'm already planning the garland for Christmas to make the bedroom look festive.


I think we are more or less ready to start the bedroom renovation now - it is the last room to do and still has the "old ladys" carpet and curtains.

Hubby has some adjustments to the wall and chimney breast to make - we have an original built in cupboard in there but it is so narrow that its not really that practical, so by bringing the wall out we will be able to use it as a wardrobe - saving on space and money as we have yet to buy one. At our old house we had built in and have been using the one that was left in the house when we moved in.



Now meet the new addition to the family - Colin the Collared Dove !
Master T and his friend were playing out this morning when they found Colin sheltering under a bush - he is a juvenile as his tail feathers havent grown in and he was not moving and very shocked.

They bought him home and we have warmed him up with his very own marathon style foil blanket, in a box of paper shreddings sat just underneath the radiator.
We have been feeding him mushed bread and egg through a syringe every couple of hours and he will now stand on our fingers and spread his wings. He really smacked his mouth (or is that beak) at his last meal and seems to be coming back to life hourly.

I'm not really sure where this will leave us or Colin so if anyone has any experience about how to help him - it would be gratefully received.

I did search the internet where someone had asked how to help a baby pigeon but the reply was - Start making the pastry !!!!

So at the last count we now have 2 cats, 2 rabbits, 2 kids, 6 chickens and a baby dove. The kids are always bringing back waifs and strays - last year we had a bird, a mouse and even a dog.

Will post about ebay bargains tomorrow between Colins feeds !!

Charity Shop and Giveaway Win - Yippee

Wednesday turned out to be lovely - we went to school to watch Miss T's class assembly - that will be her last one as she leaves primary school in July and then starts her Home Ed with her big brother.

Hubby dashed off into work as soon as we returned home and left Master T and myself trying to figure out "reciprocal numbers"...........


At lunch time we normally call it a day with the hard learning and decided to get the bus into our local village.


We have three charity shops in one small street, which is fabulous - but as you all know sometimes they're good and sometimes they're not. Yesterday was a GOOD day.

Master T was quick to spot Crocheting For Dummies - I did wonder whether to be offended or touched - his smirk said it all !!!

Also from that shop, I had a great handicrafts book, a lovely red and white tin and a double size vintage candy striped sheet. The next shop was not that good but Master T found a World War 2 book to read. Finally in the last shop I found this Moms Organiser - I had it on my Amazon Wishlist on the run up to Christmas but deleted it in the interests of my budget - 9.99 couldn't be justified when I could use a freebie out of one of my many magazines. I was thrilled to see it still in its cellophane with all the stickers - I'm going to have so much fun.



We returned home and on opening the door there was a lovely parcel waiting. I was so excited I don't think I even took my coat off before tearing open the packaging.

I didn't realise it was my giveaway prize - I thought it was one of my ebay purchases so I apologise for there not being a photo of its lovely pink wrapping paper.


It was my THIRD place prize giveaway from Silkie Sue - I can only imagine that FIRST prize must have been a cottage in the country.

Silkie Sue had been so generous - a lovely CK bag, two delicate handkerchiefs,a CK soap, a beautiful blue and white jug painting and it was wrapped with beautiful pink paper and blue gingham ribbon.
I was soooooo excited I think Master T thought I was having a fit of madness. I'm sorry that my photo of the painting is pants - I really must get on a photography course soon.



The painting has taken pride of place on my shelving in the kitchen - in homage to my blue and white collection (you may have to click on photo to see better and hubby took this one so maybe it is the camera that's pants !!!)

Thanks so much Silkie you made my day.

The shelves were 3 pounds from a local recycle centre 4 years ago and the handles 50p for two from Ikea at about the same time.

Will be back tomorrow after fetching fireplace as ebay bargains have started to arrive - luckily hubby taking it quite well at the moment - I think he's on his best behaviour because he wants some new fishing gear !! Better make the most of it might pop over to ebay now............