Helloooooo......thought I best get one post in before the end of the year!

Its been a while since I posted on my blog.....the truth of the matter is that I have not had a moment spare for months and months. 

Back in August I went away for a 2 day break which was suppose to give me time to think of my future.  I had been so stressed for the whole of the year because I just had too much on my plate, before I could spend any time on leisure which to this point is almost "nil".

I have been running a business for almost ten years and decided that enough is enough, that I would tell all my clients that by the end of January I was retiring....that is going to happen, but......I will still be working for one person!!!!  NO never seemed to appear in my vocabulary.  

So, now we are at the end of 2014.  My family came to visit last night armed with late Christmas presents and I received a lovely hamper of Organic Food. 

  Oh yum...all sorts - two packets of minced pies, two chocs, shortbread, mint saunce, basmatic rice, mayonnaise, digestive biscuits, marmalade, chutney, white wine vinegar, honey, marmalade peppercorns, granulated sugar and some free from food too - gluten free xmas pud, fruit loaf, rich fruit cake, cherry bakewell tarts.

What am I planning for 2015.   

1.  Join a local art group - there is one that is only a couple pounds a day (no tutor), just turn up.
2.  Continue to go to a knitting and natter group - really loving this - not that I can talk and knit, and since I don't do knitting at home, I just have to knit and not talk at the group.
3.  Plan and build my retirement home.  Ha - a dream for years - I have lots of sticky notes dotted around the house of design sketches.  Will I achieve it - probably not, but we can all dream.
4.  Use the buses - see how far I can get in a day.
5.  Visit friends by trains and buses - cars stress me out - and I don't like driving long distances.
6.  More weekends away - just love the feel that I can't do anything because I am not there to sort the problems out.
7.  Clear the garden - accumulated junk, that was to be made into something, but never got round to it.
8.  Ebay - love it - I have cleared loads of stuff - over forty years worth, some have been packed in boxes and never seen for years til I got them out dusted off and offered on Ebay.  Gone gone gone....a great feeling and to be honest I can't remember any of it.
9.  Get painting - all my projects in the garage just waiting....
10. Another trip to Australia to see family......no....to see Australia.  Really want to start from Perth and travel on the train to Sydney.  Then I want to do the East Coast trip.....again. I will call in to see family on the way past. 
11. Make my own bread in a breadmaker.  Need to buy one first.
12.  Grow more produce in garden and bake more.  The trouble is I love my own cooking, which of course is not good for waistline.
13.  Read more books - still have over 800 on the shelves to be read.
14.  And finally post more often on the blog.  It certainly has lapsed this year and lots have been happening too.

So thats me for this year.....Wishing everyone a very Happy New Year.

Flynn's story - soon I will be one year old

Well what an exciting few months.  I am almost one year old and the last time I told you about my life was in February, that is nearly five months ago!  The reason I haven't been on here is that I have been keeping my Mum and Dad on their toes.  Its not easy growing up you know, it takes a lot of energy!

Well now, let me think.  Ah yes, when we spoke before I loved my foot ball. Well I still do - except I am on my second football.  My first one went flat a couple weeks ago.  Mum says kicking the football to me, loses inches on her waistline.  To be honest those kicks are pretty awful.  One minute she kicks it and I run and catch - yes I am clever I can catch the football before it hits the ground.    Then she kicks it the other way, and another time it just goes about six feet from her, or rolls across the ground! Hopeless it is.

See that's me!  Ahhh...only my leg!!! To be honest I hate my photo taken.  Whenever the camera comes out, I attack it, just hate it. 

I haven't really grown up that much since I was last on here, but I have grown wiser.  You see I go to dog training every week, I am only in the Bronze class, and many weeks later I am still in the Bronze class.  I just don't get it!  My Dad says I got there to learn good behaviour, You don't go there to play with my friends!  

A few weeks ago there was an Obedience Competition.  My Dad says I wasn't ready to enter, but my Mum put my name down for five things.  She knew I would not be able to do them all, as I am too fidgety.  I almost got full marks for the 30 second stay, but hey someone sneezed and I had to see who it was so I got up - at 28 seconds...I lost marks, of course.  

Several of my mates were doing the three minute stay where all the owners had to leave the room.  It was amazing, I could not take my eyes of them, still as still could be watching and waiting.  I was sitting at the side of the hall with my Mum and Dad, and I kept looking at them and asking what are they doing that for?

Well it was a good night and I did win a purple rosette and a bag of biccies.  I was told by the judge I wasn't last.

I do have some rough edges to rub off with regards to my training.  I will keep pulling on the lead and I don't pay attention all the time.  I am the worse in my class for that, and I still don't learn.  

Right, that's enough for today - here is some more pictures of me.....aren't I just sooooo good looking???

This was a lawn!  Its now a football pitch!

I am too exhausted now - must go to sleep.  It is only 9.30 p.m. but I am always up at the crack of dawn - I got a lot to do tomorrow, haven't I Dad?.....Oh he is already asleep. Night night then....
 

Slugs......

...awful creatures.  Came out of my patio door yesterday and there was this huge slug sunbathing near the lock.  By the time I got out my camera he had moved across the glass.  

Urgh!  I noticed all over the back wall of the house, all the way to the roof were these slimy trails.  Not nice. 

Here is another shot of him from inside the house.

So? You want to know where I have been......

my last post was the 24th February 2014.  Goodness me that is four months ago!!  Well I haven't been sitting idle, far from it.  Its just that one day I tried to get onto the blogger account and I couldn't, and I tried several times and gave up.  And the months flew by and tonight I thought I would try again, and I managed to log in....so here I am again.

  I won't remember what I have done, so I will start again with the latest news.

I had a really super sewing machine I bought over 40 years ago, and although it hadn't been used much, I never thought it would break.  It was a Viking Husqvana, Model 6440.  My mother said to me when we first got married, you need a sewing machine.  She was a wonderful seamstress and the gift has been passed to my two sisters, but it never came my way.  So my father suggested I go to dressmaking classes.  I remember it well, I had bought enough fabric to make a dress with long sleeves.  In the 1970s sleeves were all sorts of shapes, gathered into cuffs. Me?  Well I cut out two left sleeves and I was so upset.  My teacher was amazing person, she had so much patience, and said to me give it to her and she will see what can be done.  I did complete the dress, but the sleeves were nothing like the pattern, thanks to my teacher she re-designed them.  I did go onto making my own clothes - I still have lots in boxes in garage (used for oily rags now), and I continued to make my daughter dresses when she was very young - not out of new fabric because I could not afford it, but out of adult clothes I unpicked.  Then at some point in time the machine went away until about ten years ago, it came out for another airing - mainly patching my OH work clothes and mending pockets.....until a couple weeks ago it literally went up in smoke.

Unrepairable I had been told, so sad - I bought another one.  It was delivered yesterday - A Brother Anniversary.

One like this!  Has all the stitches I need - and is light as a feather (my old one I couldn't ever lift up on the table it was so heavy.  I haven't made anything yet, only had time to count all the bits and pieces that come with the machine.

I have to admit I am looking forward to trying out some sewing.  Perhaps I will just throw out all the mending and make something nice.  First I got to make time in my life to do it.

I have one solution.  A young lad is looking for work.  He is saving up for his ski trip.  I can't wait to meet him, as I have a long list of jobs he can do for me - well he can do my house cleaning and a bit of gardening and I can use that time to get to work on some sewing. So fingers crossed I won't scare him away with what I have in store.

Reading?  Yep I have done some of that this last few months.   I have read:

Fault Line by Robert Goddard
Secret Smile by Nicci French .
Driving Lessons by Ed McBain
Ralph's Party by Lisa Jewell
Case Histories by Kate Atkinson
Body Count by P.D. Martin 
The Kinsella Sisters by Kate Thompson
Pyramid by Tom Martin
Life, Death and Vanilla Slices by Jenny Eclair
The Small Hand by Susan Hill

I really can't write reviews - hopeless at it, so I have decided not to.  But running through this list I will say that Fault Line wasn't one of the best by Robert Goddard. And I have read better ones by Susan Hill.   All the rest were good. 

Very pleased with my crop of strawberries this year - these were the first few. 

 I am going to try and post here a bit more regularly.  I must now read up on all the blog posts I have missed the past few months.
 
  

Flynn's Story - Lots of energy

 

Hello everybody..... Here I am again. 

Last week I had an accident, blood everywhere.  Dad thought I cut my mouth, but in fact I had caught my paw on something sharp, probably one of the rocks in amongst the trees.  As luck would have it, I was off to the vet anyway to have a micro chip.  The vet says I took the pad right off one of my toes on my left paw and that it was going to take weeks for it to heal.  She told my Dad that I had to wear a boot when I go out for walks or go to the garden and not to be let off the lead. I was not to lick it either, if I did I would have to wear one of those great big collars. 

So the next day, I didn't go for a walk, I went in the car instead......I was happy. And I would not wear a sock or anything on my paw when I went out to the garden for a call of nature. I thought of a better idea, I would just hop on three legs.  Thats what I did. 

After about four days, I could put my paw down on the ground, but if I wanted a bit of sympathy, I knew just what to do - I would lift my paw off the ground and run around on three legs.  But my Mum and Dad were having nothing to do with that, as they said I was just wanting more attention......so I didn't do it anymore.

Now I am back to normal, just seven days later, it has healed.  No collar, no boots, no walks. I didn't mind as I had lots of other things to do.

Yesterday was busy, I helped Dad in the garden.  He was up the ladder repointing the brickwork of the house.  All this rain we have had has caused some of the filling to drop out.  I sat at the bottom and watched him.  When he got down off the ladder, he would kick my football to me.  Goodness I was exhausted, I could not keep awake and by 5 p.m. I had fallen asleep for the night.

Oh no - heres Mum with her camera, always wanting to take a picture of me.  I will just wriggle round....umph try taking one now!!

I just love the garden.  I don't care if it is raining, I just want to play.  I get a good rub down with a towel before going indoors.  I spend hours in the garden.  I also play games in the house.  I have lots of toys and chew bones - so I am never bored.  Of course my favourite toy is the balls. 

The cats are in a room of their own, because I just won't let them sleep.  They have their food there and very comfortable. They can go outside by the other door.   I learnt to open their door today, by jumping up and with my paw bring down the handle and at the same time push my way in.  That cat food is very tasty.  Dad says he will fix that!  Mmmmm wonder what he is going to do. 

Thats it for now......see you next time.

Flynn's Story - more mischief...

Look at me!! I have grown.  I have now got longer legs.  My Dad used to measure me with the metal tape measure - you know those ones you buy from the DIY.  Well I hate it!  Everytime its taken down off the shelf I attack it, and I really go mad.  Not sure why, but Mum does try and make me sniff it and get used to it as both my Mum and Dad need that tape measure to do up the house!   They have been forced to use a wooden rule. 

Now why am I being called a pick pocket.  Well the reason why is because I pretend I am walking side by side with my Dad, but when he isn't looking I put my nose in his pocket and pinch his hankie, then run off with it and hide it.  LOL Mum gets told off because Dad thinks I take them from the ironing basket, and if she did the ironing more often, there would be none to take - then when he puts his hand in his pocket no hankerchief!!!  Ha Ha

 

 Now watch this.  Thats me down near the bottom of Mum's fleece top.

 

 

See what I got.  The elastic bit from around the waist.

 



 "Leave it alone" Mum says.  Not likely - this is fun.  Pull it a bit tighter ....

And ping!!!.....Ouch.....just grab it again and pull.....
 

and ping!!  Fun isn't it.  I think so, but Mum doesn't she says it hurts.....

I am mean to the cat.  She just wants to be in the same room as me and I pounce on her.  I don't know why because I really love her.  I guess I am trying to have a game, but she just wants the company.  She is nearly ten years, so I guess she is too old to play.

There are moments when all this daily activity gets tiring and and when a man needs a rest, he just got to rest.....

I would forget if I didn't...and a new teapot for one.

I was saying today to my OH that I get up before 6 a.m. in the morning and fall into bed around 12 Midnight, and yet I cannot think what I have done all day.  I am running, well walking fast as my day is mapped out that everything has to be done at a certain time in order for me to fit everything in.....and still the list of jobs gets longer. 

 

Every evening before I go to bed, I write in a note book (these are all the old ones over the last 12 months), The day and date and number 1 to whatever number of things I think I have to do the following day.  OK not everything gets done, I just have too many, but I either not mention it again for a few days or add it on again for the following day.

When I get time - usually when I start a new book, I go through every page (mind it is written on both sides - I don't waste paper!) and re-write the jobs that haven't been done in the new book, and then throw the old book away.  Now you can see I just have not had time to do this little pile yet.

Today I am so exhausted.  I decided to give myself "time out".  I wanted to go on a charity shop crawl.  Well there are pub crawls so why not a charity shop one.  

I have rugged up warm - its cold outside - and catch the bus.  My first stop is only about 2 miles away, where I get off and I know there are two charity shops here.  (Well there was three but I didn't realise it until I caught the bus home).  I try the first one - no idea what I am looking for.....and no it isn't books!!!    I don't even want clothes, but I looked anyway.  And I definitely do not want bric a brac (I have been decluttering for five years at least!).  So what am I in here for?  Well first my stress level decreases rapidly, so something is doing good.  And then I saw it!!!.....

 A teapot for one!!!  I only found out the last few weeks that you can buy loose green tea.  I went off ordinary tea years ago, and do like green tea but I hate the tea bags.  So finding out you can buy loose tea really made my day. 

I am not so sure if I will use the cup and saucer as I am a mug person.  But I fell in love with this and only £2.75. 

 I even found a space in the cupboard for it.  Now I need to shop for a tea strainer, in the meantime I use the large mesh strainer.

By the time I called into the other charity shop and there did not buy a thing, I decided I had enough. I didn't even bother to go into town to visit the rest of the charity shops.  I had only been away from home for 1.5 hours.

So after cleaning the kitchen thoroughly, been on the computer to read up some information, I decided to bake some cakes.  Today it is choc chip ones and cherry and coconut ones.  If only I could keep my hands off them before they cooled. 

I have surprised myself, they are delicious, even though there is very little butter (I don't use margarine now) and I used water to moisten the mixture rather than milk.  I know they won't last long.  They are just too nice.

Tomorrow is another busy day, preparing lunch for family - not sure who is coming, it could be one, two or three.  I am sure someone will tell me before its lunch time.

I must get on and do something now.....can't be on the the computer too long can we?

Flynn's story - Up to so much mischief.....

and I am loving every minute of it!!!  The only time I am good is when I am playing football.

 

 

I will be six months soon.....I have learnt lots of things.  LOL one thing my Mum has taught me is how to beg for a cuddle and I have got that off to a tee.  I pretend I am going to take her shoe and she says "you won't get any cuddles if you take my shoe"!!!

Well what do I do - ha I drop the shoe on the floor, sit promptly down, point my chin to the ceiling and stick my tongue out just a little bit, so when my Mum bends to cuddle me, I kiss the tip of her ear.  She doesn't like her face licked, hates it she says.....so I don't.......

I don't chew shoes now, I just take Mums and hide it somewhere.  She gets annoyed when she can't find it.  I would rather her slippers, but she now puts them right out of my reach.  Oh I didn't tell you, she has a new pair now, brand new got them for Xmas.  I had made such a mess of those nice silver ones, that they had to go in the bin!

I am getting too big for my sleep cage, I can't stretch out any more and if I stand up I hit the top which means in the morning when I get up I have to stretch and stretch.  I am getting another one, a bit bigger. Going to the pet shop tomorrow.  Mum wants me to sleep on the pet sofa instead of the cage at night, I have tried but I don't like it.  I lovely my cosy cage.

Mum hasn't taken any photos of me recently.  Her camera broke - each time she puts a new  battery into it, it says "battery empty".  So she went out and bought another one today.  But....until she reads the instruction leaflet on how to use it, there won't be any more pictures. 

So thats it for me tonight,  I am off to have my sleep now and see you all another time. 

Its the thought that counts.....

I had an unexpected call today.  Unfortunately I was out......

I never expect anything if I do someone a favour......mind this was a huge favour....this was not someone I knew then either.........and this was done last May.  Yes thats right eight months ago!!! 

This is what I received -

 

Don't they look yummy and so well presented too.  You might notice that some are missing.  Thats because I have started on them already.

If I had been younger this box would have only lasted five minutes.  Now that I am older I have to watch how much sugar I consume. 

Best hide them away, because there is not just me in this house.....shhhhh....won't say where just in case. 

Receiving those was a surprise....May be not entirely - you see sometimes I know whats going to happen (or my conscious does) - just little things, nothing major - not like knowing lottery numbers or who is going to win the races, not anything like that. 

Yesterday I was sorting through some paperwork, and a piece of paper fell on the floor.  When I picked it up it was this guy (who bought the chocolates) telephone number.  I looked at it and thought that I never heard from him since May, do I really want his number, no I don't, so I threw it in the bin.  But I promptly took it out again and put it in my desk drawer. 

Now what did that mean?  Here he is on my doorstep - eight months later with a box of chocolates for me!

Its the thought that counts.....does it matter how long it takes to think.

Flynn's Story - I have grown!

Mum hasn't written about me for such a long time, since October actually.  She went away for a month and left me with Dad, so she has no idea what I got up to then.  But, boy was I pleased to see her when she came home one month later.  I could not stop jumping all over her and trying to sit on Mum's lap.  The problem was I had grown and I now kept slipping off.

 Here I am again when I arrived on 3rd October.

And here I on 12th October

 

 And the 17th October

 And the 21st October

 And the 25th December.....look I am now a young dog

 And here I am again - oh you should have seen what I did with Mum's slipper.  I just loved the colour, it was glimmery silver with lots of fluff and bobbles.  I knew I was doing wrong because Mum kept raising that rolled up newspaper and that means I just gone too far.

 

I just love the garden - when I am not investigating behind bushes and sheds I play lots of football.  I have two footballs - One gets kicked to me and I crouch down to catch it on my chest and then I wait for the other ball to be kicked and I push one aside so that I can catch the other.  And then I rush off down the garden with one ball in my mouth and wait for the second ball to be kicked towards me again.  So much fun......

Here I am again.  I did not know my photo was being taken, as Mum was taking it from inside the house.  She says she had to do about 50 shots before she got me in it.  Because I was rushing about so fast, one shot just had my tail in it, some didn't have me in it at all!

My Dad is losing weight!  I am not surprised cause my day is full (Dad gives me three walks a day - not short ones - we walk for miles) and then a couple hours football in the garden - its a big garden!  Not forgetting me playing indoors.  I have another ball for that and I just love pushing the ball through doors and around corners. I have also a massive chew bone to chew when I want to.  And I also go for long rides in the car!

I might rest during the day but I don't sleep just in case I miss out on something.  But at 6 pm I am ready for bed, so my Dad (or Mum) tuck me up in my sleep cage and I would sleep all night til breakfast, but my Dad wakes me at 2 p.m. to go outside for the toilet.  When I have been I do not make a fuss, I hop straight into the cage and fall asleep in no time at all til morning.

Dad and Mum don't need an alarm clock - I make sure they are up and ready to get my breakfast at 6.30 a.m.  I don't bark or whine, I just tap on the cage with my paw. 

Well thats it for today....I got lots more to tell you - but I have to pose for more photos first. See you soon...