All's well that ends well. A fab day.

What a difference a day makes. Thank goodness we had a second chance because the weather was fantastic today. I was up at 6.30 this morning, getting ready, making the sandwiches, washing the grapes, and making up a bottle of diluted juice. Because our spaces weren't allocated I wanted to get down there early to make sure that we got a good pitch. I wanted to sell from all four sides so an end of line pitch was ideal. 

The four tables fitted in the space perfectly, with room for us to stand, or sit, in the middle. Janet brought her gazebo, which actually wasn't needed to keep the rain off us, because it didn't rain. But it was very useful to keep the sun off us so we weren't burnt to a crisp. There was a slight, but welcome breeze when the clouds came over, so I anchored the gazebo to the ground with ratchet straps, and used a couple of straps to tie one side to the pub sign.  

Squeals of delight were coming from the bouncy castle next to us. It was busy all day, and free to play on. The kids loved it. Boxes of books for people to browse through. Large thick hard back books �1, smaller and thinner ones 50p and 70p, paperbacks 50p.

I had a walk round for ten minutes and took a few snaps. It was so busy it looked like the whole village was out enjoying the sun.

The bouncy slide was popular also.

The ladies from the W I, sitting in the shade of a tree, selling their mouth watering cakes. 

The boat trips were popular again. People were queuing to get kitted out with a life jacket, prior to boarding the boat.

Only one military vehicle was in attendance this year.

The scooter enthusiasts were keen to show off their much loved pride and joy.

A few classic vehicles lined up against the pub wall.

It was great to see so many friends and neighbours. stopping by to say hello. I gave a wave to Joanna who lives in the 1939 house, as she was passing by She was dressed up to the nines in her forties gear. I saw her house was open to the public again. Although we were busy serving customers it didn't seem like work, it was good fun. Sales started dwindling at about 5pm so we decided to pack up, although the party will go on late into the night.

We are very pleased with the takings, I've just had a call from Janet with the good news. Everything we sold was donated, and a lot of it was what I found in the house clearance skip. Well worth the effort to dive in  and remove them, and bring them home to be sorted, washed, cleaned, and polished.

It was a quick home made ready meal of veggie stew in the microwave for me tonight, couldn't be bothered to cook. I don't know how it went in the church today, I was too busy to go and have a look. I am going in the morning to remove my things, before I go to craft club.

Hope you had a nice weekend. Catch you tomorrow. Toodle pip.

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It did rain on our parade.

There's not a lot I can say about today, except, what a washout. The outdoor fete was cancelled at 9am, it started raining, and continued to rain for most of the day. I spent time in church, in attendance to meet and greet visitors there, of which there weren't many. I can't blame people for not venturing out, best place to be was indoors. Even my efforts at making big, 'Church Open' boards out of old paste tables and standing them in prominent positions outside the church gates, was not enough to bring people in. There was hardly any  people about to see them.

We have a second chance tomorrow. Because it is a two day event, the stall holders who couldn't set their stalls out today have been invited to set up down at the bottom pub or the caravan park down the hill tomorrow. There are things going on on the river, boat rides, plus a hog roast, billed as a family day, so there should be a few folks about. We are going to give that a try, but it means loading the car up and going down there. The weather is forecast to be better. In fact the chuffin sun is out now and it's really warm outside, at ten minutes to eight. This weather doesn't make sense at all. I hope it's better where you are and you have a nice Sunday. Toodle pip.

PS. Did you know George Clarke's Amazing Spaces is back. Take a look at it here. The gorgeous William is with him again. I've just watched the first episode, it's on a Thursday night on Chanel 4.

PPS. We re-homed another cat this week. One that has been with us for a while. We have also taken in one that has been abandoned, found hanging around a housing estate, the owners are thought to have moved away. The poor cat is scrawny thin with a dirty coat, and has a poorly eye. Thankfully with some vet treatment it is getting better.
Toodle pip again.

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Getting ready for the village fete

It's been a lovely day here, sunny and warm. The forecast for tomorrow is not so good though, heavy showers are predicted, but looking at the weather map it might be that the east coast will get off lightly. I'm hoping that's what will happen, trying to be optimistic. 

The church is ready for the visitors, I spent the afternoon setting my display up. It's about art and craft using recycled materials. The ladies from the Chat and Craft brought their items to show and set their tables out.  

I was able to hang four of the art pieces on the board, with the fifth one leaning against it on the table.  I thought the rug was worthy of a showing. I tried to include a variety of different materials and techniques. Hopefully to give people ideas and inspiration to have a go themselves. None of the items are for sale, they are for demonstration purposes only. 

I put my five cushions on the window ledge above the Chat and Craft tables, to fill a gap, and to show that I am a member of this group.

I will only have time to pop in the church tomorrow as I will be busy on our cat fundraising stall outside on the village green. I will be able to spend more time in there on Sunday, the church is open for two days. Keeping my fingers crossed for good weather, we have been lucky for the last two years, let's hope the rain does not come down and spoil our weekend.
Toodle pip.

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Bricking it :o))

Go on, ask me what I've been doing today, you're dying to know aren't you. Here is a clue, a pile of bricks need moving from A to B, about three miles apart. I volunteered to be a skivvy, and get stuck into some hard graft. No, I don't shy away from physical work, I get on with it. I was the same on the wagons, handball we called it, shifting a load by picking it up and physically moving it to wherever it was wanted. No truck for this job, me and Helen used our cars. She wants to use these bricks to build a garden wall at her house.  

Here is my workhorse. Can't get the car close to the pile so it was a matter of carrying them. First her car was loaded, then swap places and load mine. We worked as a team. Brush off the excess dust and muck, stack neatly in the car. We did three journeys each. At the other end there was enough room to get both cars into the driveway together so we could both unload at the same time.

All done, six hours less one coffee break and one lunch break.

On the way home I did a quick scoot round Tesco and co op shops. Found a few reduced items. Seeded bread 23p, grapes 55p, nectarines 54p, iceberg lettuce 37p. Won't need to do a big shop this week.

Things planned for tomorrow. A dog walk in the morning, and setting up our craft stall, and my artwork, in the church in the afternoon. A busy weekend ahead. Won't be able to do the Parkrun on Saturday morning, we have to set up our cat stall on the village green. Got loads of stuff to sell, a lot of it is what I got out of the skip, and we are overrun with books, could start a library, ha ha. Got to go, need to sort stuff out for tomorrow. Toodle pip.

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Have you got your bag?

I've got steam coming out of my ears here, should have asked Nellie to write this post. She isn't around so I will get it off my chest while I have a few minutes. It's in the news again, free plastic carrier bags are to be phased out at the checkouts. It's been in the pipeline for years, but we seem to be moving a step forward and there will be a charge of 5p per bag to be introduced next year. Read all about it in the Daily Wail.

While you're at it, read the comments following the article, that's the reason I have steam coming out of my ears. I am all in favour of reducing the amount of bags that are given away willynilly, and all in favour of re using what we already have, but a lot of people just don't get it. The whinging and moaning is pathetic. Here are some of the reasons why folks are angry, and my answers.

Just another ploy to make more money out of people. No. You can buy one bag for life usually around 10p, and when it is broken they will exchange it free of charge for a new one. 

Let's add to the already high cost of living. You don't need to buy plastic bags if you don't want to. Take re usable bags with you every time you go shopping.

These bags come in handy as bin liners, that's recycling isn't it? No, you throw them out in the rubbish, one use in a bin isn't recycling. 

Don't forget to launder your re-usable bag after every use, to kill the nasty organisms they pick up. For goodness sake !&?!@!+! cough splutter. !!! So all the food you buy is unwrapped?

I go to the supermarket after work, does that mean I have to go to work with a bag every time I go out? You can get bags that fold up very small, just put it in your hand bag, they take up very little space. 

Why should we pay to advertise the store? You don't have to. Buy a bag that doesn't have a logo on it, or make your own. 

I wouldn't pay 5p for a bag and will shop elsewhere. Your choice. You don't have to pay 5p every time you shop, just get a stronger bag for a one off payment and you can use it over and over again. 

I can't be bothered to remember to take bags with me when I go shopping. You can pay for them every time you shop then if you have the money to throw away. Your choice.

At this point I had to stop reading, it's doing my head in, ha ha. 

I've been looking for vids on the bag for ;life subject.

Here is one with a bit of humour.

An easy tutorial to make a tote bag. 

I do it slightly different to this. My handles are shorter, but you can make them longer if you want to sling it over your shoulder. I also tuck the ends of the handles into the top seams if the fabric isn't too heavy and bulky. I make a box bottom by stitching across the bottom corners. Have a go at this one if you own a machine and see how you go. 

One I made last week.  

Anyone up for making their first bag, do your bit for the environment, and your purse. If you don't want to pay for your bags every time you go shopping get into the habit now of taking them with you, putting them back into the car every time you empty them so the are always there. If you don't drive, keep a fold up bag in your handbag. You can fold up the 10p plastic bags for life very small, and put them in your pocket. Do your bit for the planet, please get organised, think, 'have I got my bag', every time you step out of the front door. Thank you.
Toodle pip.

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My froggy family

Good evening. I did the usual craft club meet this morning. I hadn't got round to preparing something to work on, it was a last minute decision. I still have some fleece offcuts left, so I quickly pieced together another cat mat with just two colours, black and purple, then cut a piece of old curtain lining to sew them onto. We were making preparations for the display in the church at the weekend, our exhibits have to be delivered on Friday afternoon so they can set it up. I shall be there to help, as I have to take my art pieces for another display. 

My friend sent me an email with this photo, she took it last week, that's Bella the Labradoodle sat on my knee. She is gorgeous, endless energy, and gets so excited when she has a visitor. She loves cuddles, and playing, and treats. 

Here is another bag photo to add to our collection. I forgot I had given one to Carol. Here she is posing with it. She is standing in the garden of a stately home, but I've forgotten which one, she did say. It will come to me in a minute. I am pleased she is finding a use for the bag. 

Someone asked about my new strimmer, I bought an electric one. I already had an extension cable for the mower, and I didn't want to mess about with petrol. I've been tidying the garden tonight, it's nice to be able to work a bit later in the evening. I have no idea how many frogs I have. I don't have a pond but they do in the neighbours garden at the back of mine, so I suppose the frogs come from there. I spotted five tonight. This one is in the runner bean bed.

This one is in the long grass in the middle of the lawn. I keep a section of it long so the cats can lie in it in the sun. I sometimes have to rescue a frog from there and re locate it if a cat finds one. Mayze was looking at this one. 

Two more in the broad bean bed.

There was one in the potato bed but it hopped off before I could get a picture. It was getting dark by that time. Fascinating what goes on in the garden in the evening.
Toodle pip

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Cheap as cheese

It's a glorious day in North Lincolnshire, I woke at 6am and rolled over for another hour's kip. After coffee and bran flakes with a banana, I went off to the car boot sale at the football ground. Not looking for anything in particular, just to see if I could snaffle a bargain. And I did. You know I have a boot fetish, in fact I was just thinking the other night, at the party, that I was probably the only female wearing boots. No I didn't have great big hob nail boots on, I had a pair of black, dainty, soft bootees on. They fit like a pair of gloves and are so comfy. 

Anyway, what did I buy at the car boot sale? I found a smashing pair of boots for just �5. Look, don't you think they are the bees knees, ha ha. Hardly worn, size 6, fitted me so well that I kept them on and brought my old tatty pair home in a bag. The old ones are not finished with yet, they have been relegated to gardening boots. 

Heidi getting in on the act. This brings my boot count up to eight, plus a pair of boot style trainers. Boots for all occasions, I love them. all bought from car boot sales or charity shops, except for those I walk long distances in. They have to be as perfect fit as I can get, if they are to stay on my feet for 12 + hours a day.

I spotted these judo belts on the Rabbit Rescue pitch, 50p for both. They will be useful for something, maybe handles for bags.

I have had it in mind to get a strimmer for ages, to make tidying the edges of the garden a bit easier. I get a bit fed up of getting down on my hands and knees with a pair of shears, or pulling weeds up with my hands. The whole job takes ages. The bank balance is healthy so I think I can afford to buy a gadget to make my life a bit easier. I went across the road to B & Q while I was in that vicinity. My friend Polly works on the checkouts there, at the weekends. I studied the range of strimmers on offer, nothing too technical, nothing too cheap, a mid range would suit me. There was an older male assistant wearing the standard orange apron, to help me out. I love the way they employ oldies on the shop floor on a part time basis. B & Q  recognise that a person is not past it just because they have hit retirement age. In fact they often prove to be more helpful, simply because they have the skills required and the knowledge they need for the products they are selling. Anyway, got my Bosch strimmer, so weeds beware, you're gonna get slashed. Must be careful though, I have froggies in the garden.

Here is my light lunch today. Salad - carrot, pickled onions, two kinds of tomatoes, cucumber, and a few salad leaves from the box. Need to let them recover for a few days before I pick again. Three kinds of cheese and three crackers, with dollops of tartar sauce. It's all gone, scoffed the lot. Well not all the cheese, that has gone back in the fridge.  

I took some pictures yesterday of these gorgeous flowers, I have seen them dotted about in various gardens. Aren't they wonderful. 

Right, lunch eaten, I'm off out into the sunshine, to play with my new toy. Weeds beware. I hope your Sunday is full of sunshine and fun. Toodle pip.

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