I did it.

This Saturday was when I had to complete my sporting challenge of completing the Great East Swim. For those who have joined me recently (Welcome by the way) My surfer son set me a challenge of swimming a mile in open water with him and his sister, little one. They are both RNLI beach lifeguards. Unfortunately Surfer Son is quite poorly at the moment and couldn't do it, but after weeks of training my time had come.

The weather wasn't good with heavy showers and gusty winds on the drive to Ipswich and I was getting very nervous.
When we got there however the sun was shining and there were people everywhere.



My transport was certainly turning some heads.



As were my fellow travellers/ competitors. My little one is in the middle.



My first glimpse of the water and it looked very cold but actually it wasn,t. The photo's aren't wonderful. Put it down to nerves. we had to swim out around the big yellow buoys and back.




Just as we were about to start the black clouds started gathering again and as I approach the 1/4 mile buoy the wind really whipped up the water and the rain was so heavy that I couldn't see the next buoy but at least it made the water even warmer. Once the rain stopped it was just a case of keeping in a straight line and not drifting off, which of course we were all doing. It was certainly different from swimming in a pool.



I finished in 45minutes and 18seconds and raised nearly £200 for the RNLI which I am chuffed with, but if you think your going to see a picture of me in wetsuit, swimming hat and googles, forget it. I do have some self respect left, all be it not much.

I wanted a go on this when we finished but apparently I am too old, can you imagine that.



Tomorrow I'll tell you about the family party in Kent on Sunday. I had a busy weekend.

TTFN
Gillx
P.S
I understand that a lady lost her life at the swim on Saturday and my sympathy and thoughts are with her family.

mums pillow

Well I said I would use some of the fabric I bought last week for a pillow for my Mum, well here it is. I love this pretty green.



Then I remembered we are going to Kent this weekend to see the in laws so I made another one for Mother in law. The pattern is from sew 4 U and the idea came from Elle Thornton In her fathers day blog post.



I made this basket at a course on basket weaving a while back and use it as a work basket when I go away, but things kept going through the holes.



so I decided to use another piece to line it.





I'm quite pleased with the results and at least things won't fall out.

Tomorrow is my sponsored mile Swim ao I'll tell you about it after the weekend. Have a good one.
Gillxx

Surprises

I love surprises don't you? as long as they are good ones of course. Well I've had 2 this week.
The first one was when my friend LB came for coffee and brought me this from Gisela Graham .
, as she thought I might like it. She thought right.



Then when I got back from walking the dogs this little package was waiting for me. I had won a giveaway from Muddle Puddle Crafts faccebook page but wasn't expecting it so soon.





A new keyring for my car keys and I love the colours.Thank you Jo.
If you haven't read her blog pop along, her stuff is great.


A good start to my day. hope you have a good one too.

Gillxxxx

My weeks efforts.

A real mixed bag today so I hope you can stay with me as it doesn't flow so well.
Anyway I met up with my friend Mrs G during the week for a coffee and a chat in Holt, which is becoming a regular thing for us. We then go to a lovely little shop called Pied Piper which have a fantastic selection of fabrics so of course I had to have a few bits.



Then I was reading Ma and Me's blog and found out that Five valley designs.com were closing and having a sale. I couldn't pass up an opportunity like that, so here are my purchases from there. One piece at least is going to be made into a neck support for my Mum I think.





While I was waiting at the airport in Brisbane(sorry for the namedropping), I brought a copy of Australian Homespun magazine to read on the way home. It was great as I got 2 mags for the price of one and had geat fun reading them on the way home. It was a good job I hadn't found any of the shops in the adverts while I was still in Oz It would have cost me a fortune in excess baggage. Any way I finally got around to making something from it this week as I have had so much else going on, so this is flopsy and I think she is really sweet.



I have also managed to do a bit more felting this week and have had a go at adding some embroidery. I quite pleased with my new place mat.



I not a very enthusiastic cook but I do make my own Marmalade and this week was the latest batch, complete with pretty tops so they look nice on the pantry shelf.



For weeks now I have been telling Mr T that the phone was playing up, except of course it didn't when he was about, did it, which meant it must have been me. Well this week it packed up and we had no phone, and did I say I told you so, of course I did. Anyway My little one said that she had a phone she had used at Uni and we could use that instead of buying a new one. Gosh it's amazing how quick a man will get his wallet out when he has to talk into a pair of Bratz purple plastic lips.



Gillxx

Wildflower Time

I thought I'd just show you some of the wildflowers I saw on my walk with the dogs this morning. Unfortunately the picture of the honeysuckle was out of focus.I'm no David Bailey,( Oh dear,does that show my age).

Loads of Red Campion in the hedgerow.





The pretty Dog Rose in both white and pink.



My personal favourite,the Common Poppy. This part of Norfolk is called Poppyland as we get so many.



These actually come from my garden but I still class them as Wildflowers. Don't just love that vivid blue.



Gillxxxx

Strawberry Swap

Well it's arrived, my first swap but what a big box. At least I remembered my camera before I started ripping it open.



Lots of parcels, there's more than I got for my birthday.



One of the first I opened was a strawberry pin cushion which is so timely as I've lost mine. Honestly how do you lose a large 3inch square fabric cube full of pins,but that is what I've done. So this one is great.



China,I love china. Shirl has been so generous, I hope she likes what I have sent her. I think I might have a fight on my hand with Little One over the pot and the mug. Her comment was "How does someone I have never met know my taste so well?"
I have tried to explain it's not for her.



The Fabric is lovely.



Thank you Shirl,You really have been so generous and I love it all.

Slow Down

Well what a week. I have spent the whole week asking time to slow down so I can catch up. It has been a while since I have had all 3 children staying with me for longer than a day. Eldest daughter, who lives in Devon had come home with her boyfriend,then surfer boy son came in asking if he could move home for a couple of weeks and as little one moved back in after Uni that is all 3. If you add boyfriend I now have a house full and I'm in seventh heaven until I realise how much I had slowed down since they had moved out. My priorites have changed, I don't need to do so much shopping, washing,cleaning or cooking anymore. I have my own work room to do my crafting which used to be my son's bedroom and of course he now has it back, all be it with a blow up mattress on the floor. I have found an empty fridge everytime I went to it and of course they have reverted to teenagers,dropping bags and shoes in the kitchen.
It has been fantastic, but I'm exhausted.

Having said all that I have a few photo's for you.



some lovely blossom while walking the dogs.



Another great find in my favourite charity shop. I have always wanted a set of glass sundae dishes and I love these.

I did manage to make a very quick skirt for eldest daughter to wear for work.


It is ideal for the classroom and she is very pleased with it.


I have also sent off my first swap and now have to go and finish my Boudoir swap,so I'll speak to again soon.