MORE SELF INDUCED PAIN

Back ache to be precise and my workman has sore hands from mixing cement all morning.

We started the flagging and I laid every one so far.

Not bad for today. We ran out of sand so have just tortured my little car again by carrying 4 bags of sand in the back.

Good job it's an old car now and not a new one.

Finished for today. Let's hope the sun shines tomorrow so we can crack on.

A DAY OF INCREDIBLE FUN

My SD Paula and I took off early yesterday morning and headed south to the NEC. What an adventure we had. 

Nattering all the way the journey seemed only to be about half an hour long but with the dreaded M6 roadworks took about 3 hours. 

We parked up. Paid the atrocious £10 and made our way to halls 11 & 12. It was packed! 

We just about managed to hussle our way round each show before finding a little hide away to stop for a sit down, butty and drink. Then off again.

I have never seen so much gorgeous material and even found The Cotton Patch who had Tims Eclectic Elements fabric by the meter. I got to touch each design!!!

Gradually the crowds diminished and we could get into the stalls. Both of us spent up and this is my stash hoard of the day.

Some will be fun to use now, some ongoing and the patchwork bag is fun for later.

We had a wonderful day laughing for most of it. Roll on Tatton Park flower show now when we get to have another fun day out.

Thank you for it all Paula XX 

THE GARDENING CONTINUES

Another week has flown by many of the days have stayed dry allowing more garden work.

Hubby - my workman! - and I dug out the raised brick planter in the far corner. I saved as much soil as I dare then had to take the rest to the tip as it was riddled with ivy roots. The bricks had to go too so all that meant another 8 trips to the tip. 

 Hubby then had to isolate the electrics which served the pond pump and we plan to use the wiring for a security light which we bought yesterday.

The infill - all 3 tonnes, has settled really well so we ordered a further half tonne to take it all to the level ready for paving.

So the next challenge was to create the bin area which we've achieved with a new fence panel, base and some of the old gazebo wood. Still a bit to do on this but rain is expected today so no painting. 

Coming along nicely and so far so good.

The next step is to pave the area. We've decided to crazy pave as we have a lot of flags and have been offered more by a neighbour. Once that's done I can order railway sleepers to make raised borders and start making it all look pretty.

12 TAGS OF 2014 - MARCH

I have been so very busy this month with the massive garden project and my trip down to Poole, Dorset to see the new Sunseeker 155 yacht that it has taken me until now to complete this month's tag. Once again Tim has come up with great ideas for techniques and the distress marker spritzer is just amazing to use. I adore this set of stamps and it was quickly added to my want/need list as soon as I saw it. A lovely set that can be used over and over for all sorts of occasions. This is my take on the tag together with the second generation.

My tiny attacher ran out of staples and I have searched every inch of my craft room looking for the refills but to no avail. In the end I had to resort to using a full size stapler! I had fun which is all that matters.

BYE BYE POOLE

After checking out of the hotel we drove to the quay side and parked up in the car park opposite Sunseeker.

This is the car we hired and this is the car park.

I'm showing this because when I win the lottery I want to buy this piece if land and build a house so I can always watch Sunseeker building their magic.

So Eddie Jordans boat is almost finished. 

The lads were working hard all over it today finalising the last tasks.

Being a bit overcast meant we could make out the ice blue hull which looks really good. Lots of the small roof and LED lights were on so some details were visible to us which we couldn't make out in bright sunshine.

The first photo in this post is one of the hull of another yacht in production just to show how it all begins and ends up like this 

Sadly we had to leave as the journey home takes around 6 hours. I took as many last looks at this wonderful boat as I could through the 'silly' tears in my eyes and said my final good wishes to her.

Enjoy your boat EJ and please let me on board to have a look round.