What he said

"Yes, move north. We've got things sorted - and we have a better lifestyle."

Richard Guest, head of roads and community works at the Highland Council. When asked by the BBC if he had any advice to offer those in London and the Home Counties regarding the snow situation.

Mr Guest, you couldn't be more right and believe you me, we are tryin gto move back home, we really are!

Starting to feel a bit like Christmas...

Woke up to a good few inches of snow this morning, which was lovely. 

Wrapped up warm in winter woollies usually relegated to the bottom draw and listened to the first little bits of Terry Wogan's last show.  Feel oddly sentimental that he is retiring.

Loving the wrapping above.  So pretty.  Wishing that I hadn't already done some of my present wrapping as I think this would be a very good look.

Have work 'Christmas Do' tonight.  Mixed feelings. I really like the people that I work with, and would normally enjoy a spontanious meal out with them, but never enjoy organised enforced fun socials.  Doesn't bode well.

Still we have a suddenly free weekend (due to a diary mix up - the event we thought we were going to was in fact last weekend, when we were away.  Oops.) and I feel the need to bake gingerbread and watch old movies in front of a roaring fire drinking hot chocolate.  Don't have a fire down here, but perhaps we can do the rest.

Also have this carol on my ipod and though it is only 1:32 mins long I keep looping it.

Photo from the lovely Decor8

Woot!

How lucky am I? I've won some little goodies.

Lynn over at the beautiful Tea for Joy celebrated her 600th post yeaterday {golly} and to share the love decided to run a little give away from her gourgours store {which I posted about here}.

Blow me down I'm a runner up!

Thank you so much Lynn!

one year and one day

How can so very much happen in just one year and one day.

In the last 364 days we have fulfilled a life long dream and visited New Zealand, Ian has spent far too much time in the middle east with work.  I have made great friendships which I hope will stand the test of time and distance.  We have finally put our stamp on the small house after hours and hours of decorating.  The garden looks wonderful.  But most importantly, we have done all of this together and we are still very very much  in love and are very very happy.

I'm typing this sat in a very swancky Northern Hotel whilst my other half is off at the (potentially) interview of a life time.  You see we've really come to the end of our teather with life inLondon.  We have been there for three years - just starting our forth and we really have had enough.

I miss seeing the starts at night
He misses the hills
We both miss clean air and trees

So here we are perhaps on the verge of a new life together in the North.  We have spent the weekend driving around the area working out where, if we did move, would we like to live.  I got overly excited at a field of sheep. They don't seem to have many animals in Kent, so this was a wondrous sight.

If we pull this off, we will move up here in early spring, and will be about a hour south of both sets of parents.  A perfect distance we think.  Close enough to yell for help when a pipe bursts, but far enough away that they will call first before popping round.

I don't want to put to much weight on to 'the interview'  if it doesn't pan out, there are other good firms here that he may wish to apply for, but the idea is out there and we both love it.

So here is to the next 364 days and what wonders that may bring.

Scrappy wreath tutorial

I have been making Christmas stockings for all the family, and as a result have gathered a bag of red, white and gingham scraps.

You may have seen the scrappy wreaths all over blog land, and as our front door is oh so very bare I thought I'd give it ago. Super easy to do, grab a cup of tea, pop project runway on the Sky+ and knot away!

You will need:

Scissors;

Wire coat hanger (from the dry cleaners) or garden training wire;

Fabric scraps, measure about 5 inches by 1 inch;

scotch tape.

Bend wire into a loose circle shape.  Wrap the ends of the wire with scotch tape to prevent it catching your fingers,  and then tape  it to the rest of the wire so it doesn't unfurl.

Simply knot the fabric scraps around the wire, building it up as you go around, alternating colours as you like, until it looks something like this:

Ta Da!  You have a cute scrappy wreath!

It is too wet and too dark to hang it on the front door tonight, but first thing tomorrow it will be up there, welcoming all who come to the house.

Secret santa!

My Secret Santa package is off in the post.  One day before the deadline - Phew!  I had fun making up my little package, but may have slightly cheated on the price front.  We weren't meant to spend more than £10 but I made a good few of my little gifts from things I already had in my sewing stash, so they didn't count.  Right?

I hope my recipient of my package have a lovely and relaxing Christmas!

Thank you

Thank you for your lovely comments and sweet emails. They really did cheer me up.

You wouldn't think that a change in commute and routine would have made me feel quiet so down but it has. When I worked in the docklands I hopped on my bike and cycled down the road, up over Blackheath and then down through Greenwich Park, waving every morning at the Royal Observatory and down through the Greenwich Foot Tunnel and up on to the Isle of Dogs. It was a great commute, even when the weather was rotten. When it rained just that bit too hard I could hop into my car and wizz down the road. Ok wizz my be an exaggeration, the Blackwell Tunnel usually put an end to any fanciful whizzing dreams. But still, it was simple, cheap-ish and on the whole fairly stress free.

Now I have to get either a bus or train from my 'village' to Lewisham, then fingers crossed the right train will be at the station which I can hope on to Victoria. If not I get a train to either Cannon Street or Charring Cross and then the tube to Victoria or train to waterloo east and then another bus to Victoria. It really is a case of planes, trains and automobiles.

The whole process takes about an hour and a half where I am squished like a tiny sardine in a tin amongst other stressed out commuters. I really really don't like it. Knowing that I have to face that every morning makes getting out of bed harder and harder.

The one very depressing thing is, when I lived in the North East I used to commute to Durham to work, and drive of just about 45 mins, and a distance of about 35 miles. Now, my one and a half hour struggle is to cover just 7.5 miles. Crazy.

Once I get into town however I do quiet like it. I'm fickle like that.

I have popped up to Carnaby Street to do a spot of Christmas shopping. Snuck into Liberty and wallowed in the wonderfulness that is the new Anthropologie store on Regent Street.

On Friday I'm hoping over to Shoreditch to the East London Design show, to do a Cloth Kit Workshop to make a little tote bag. I don't really think I need to be taught how to do this, but it is completely worth the cost as the fabric we will be using is a Rob Ryan print, and I adore Rob Ryan. All for the princely sum of £10.

I think I am emerging from my wallow. Reality is, the commute will not be getting any better and frankly I just have to man up and jolly well get on with it.