IS SUMMER REALLY OVER?

Hi everyone

I pride myself on being an optimist: the glass is always half full, good times are on the way, my first million is just two craft fairs away, this month my Premium Bonds will be picked for the £1,000,000 prize - you know the sort of thing.  But this summer has really dented my outlook on life - every day or let's say week, I had hoped for better weather and sadly nearly every week I have been disappointed.  Is it me or has it really been a very disappointing summer?  Out of the sun yesterday in the garden, the wind was very chilly - very autumnal.  The optimist in me is still hoping for an Indian Summer, and wishing that the early mornings and nights are a little warmer than the last couple of days.

Work this week has taken a bit of a back seat.  With Richard on hols we had planned his second week to be one of mostly leisure.  We 'did' lots of leisure but various other things got in the way too.

The crafty bits of life

I hope you had a chance to read my guest blog post on Friday?  Evelyn Taylor has written an article about in-house marketing for the small business - something of interest to all of us crafters who tend to a small business.

It has been a hectic week and I don't have anything to post for Handmade Monday this week, which is really worrying for me as my November events are rushing towards me.  Very frightening really.  I did, however. finalise the Orders of Service with my bride and groom - I was getting a little worried as their wedding is only three weeks away.  They have very kindly invited me to their church service, which I am really looking forward to.

However, my web site has gone live, but due to numerous hiccups and problems with Vistaprint, there just isn't a lot to show for my labours.  Despite reporting to them over a week ago that the text keeps left-aligning (after I have centred and saved it) and the font reverts frequently (again after saving it) to Times New Roman they still have not resolved this.  In fact, I am getting fed up with their emails telling me they have!  Followed by the it was the IT department who told us it was resolved.  In addition to these irritations, I selected the 'wider column ' display only for it to change the background colour - time, after time, after time.  I telephoned Vistaprint yesterday and was advised that this is an IT problem (really, as if I didn't know!) but guess what, I can't speak to someone in that department.  So my website has gremlins, isn't really how I like it, but it was a case of publish or give up, and I didn't dare give up.  It is really just the bones of the site, but more will be added as I make things.  So despite feeling battered and bruised, I would appreciate comments on it - please remember though it is very much a work in progress:

http://www.christmas-pie-crafts.co.uk

Although this is not strictly a craft-related item, I know that many of you either follow, read the guest posts, or visit the blog of the Mad Dog Woman of Shackleford.  Sadly, Lesley's dog Themba passed away yesterday; he had been diagnosed about three months ago with a heart condition.  Lesley has written a brief post about this and I do recommend you read it, but make sure you have your hankies ready.

The other bits of life

We nipped off to the Isle of Wight on Thursday - a lovely island that has a very relaxed atmosphere.  Lots of beautiful beaches and the weather was great.  We spent most of our time in Yarmouth and Cowes and recommend dining at Salty's in Yarmouth if you are ever in that area.  We first found Salty's back in the early 90s and I am pleased to say that the quality of food hasn't changed at all.  In fact, we spent Richard's 50th birthday there and they kindly arranged a cake for him - it was a lovely day.

We have often thought of moving to the Isle of Wight, but feel leaving behind friends and family would be hard.  I know it isn't far, but not so easy to ring up someone and say, do you fancy coming round for a meal is it?

We had hoped to go for a couple of days, but our plans changed following a call from the Cats Protection asking if I would consider fostering 2 kittens.  As you can imagine, I said no - as if!.  They are two little black kittens - a boy and a girl - aged about 8 weeks.  They are a little poorly - not that you can tell, and needed to be kept apart form the rest of their litter.  They are gorgeous and better entertainment that the television.  A friend gave me a basket for them to sleep in, but it was a little too big, so I got a shoe box, put their blanket inside and they were very happy.  In fact, one slept inside the box and the other on top - here is a pic of them in that position, but awake.

Prior to this I had been feeding two other kittens in pen's in a fosterer's garden - she was on holiday and as she lives very near to me it was easy to do the twice-daily trip.

A friend and I went to the RSPCA Chobham Open Day today - it was raining just before we left, but luckily not during the event.  I always try to go as I have adopted cats from them and like to give my support.  One of the nicest bits was meeting up with some of the Woking Cats Protection staff who I have not met before.  I bought some cat nip toys for the kittens and for Jazz and Daisy - they go potty for catnip.

We, or rather Richard, put a new fireplace and fire in the dining room - that was one of his leisure things!  You can imagine he didn't quite see it the way I did.  We sold his car on Ebay yesterday, so temporarily we are a one-car family,.  Yes, I know lots of people live that way, but where we live and what we do means one car is not an option and the moment.  Poor and often non-existent transport and work and social things mean we really do need two cars - I can see some arguments over the next week or so when we both need to use 'my' car.

Richard has the Sunday grumpies because his holiday is over and I know just how he feels - I finished being a wage slave for someone else one year ago and I don't regret it at all.  I haven't done everything I planned to do this year, but hey, there is always tomorrow.

Have a great week everyone, don't forget to check out my Friday Guest Blog post - last week's and this week's.  I will be back on Wednesday with my mid-week shorty post.

Jill