Winter Olympics Rotation Relay for WIPocalypse 2018 Day One...

For the first day of the Winter Olympics Rotation Relay for WIPocalypse 2018 (a FB group, that you can find here) ....

... I rotated around three projects:

Frosty Hopes by Just Nan - this week's Friday Frolics focus piece -  (I stitched a pine cone and added some blue to the snowflakes in the right hand border) 

'Twas the Night Before Christmas by Prairie Schooler (I stitched Santa's hat and his sleigh)

... and lastly I started the 2018 Temperature SAL (after spending hours playing around with colours, I managed to stitch the first five days of January).

... and right now, I am stitching some more on these pieces (and maybe a couple more) whilst watching Day 2 of the Winter Olympics - the Snowboarders today.

Are you watching, too?

hugs, 

Friday Frolics....

... if you want to see what I am stitching for Friday Frolics this week, 

please click here.

hugs, 

Sevenoaks Stitchers...

Well, I have just had another lovely day with my stitching group, The Sevenoaks Stitchers....

We had some wonderful Show and Tell. This gorgeous quilt was stitched by the lovely Dawn from Sew Much to Quilt.  I just had to take lots and lots of pics of it.  It is called something like "Flying pigs and dancing chooks".

 There was yummy morning tea and no, that is not some patchwork sitting on my plate but a paper serviette!

Look at the tiny hexies that Margaret was working on - so petite!

Four of the ladies (Helen, from Helen's Patchwork Passion, Dawn, Anna and Sue) are doing a QAL of Winter Village...  They managed to piece a couple of blocks whilst we chatted.

Christine (from MacDonald's Patch) was stitching this gorgeous Annie Downs design.

... and I even managed a Happy Dance (but you will have to wait until the Smalls SAL update at the end of the month to see it).

Thanks, Helen for hosting another fun get together.

hugs, 

I have just popped in to tell you....

.... that I had such a lovely day today!

First up, I went to my second Personal Training Session with the lovely Maria.  Yes, I am taking up the gym again (I want to get fitter and healthier) but this time I am really serious - hence starting with Personal Training (I will keep up with my walks and Aqua aerobics, too, of course.)

So far, I am really enjoying the sessions with Maria, who is really encouraging and gives great guidance without yelling at me, and whilst I am not seeing any difference in the waistline yet I certainly feel better mentally!  Doing something really positive for myself.

Next, I had a lovely lunch with some ex-teaching colleagues - some of these ladies I have known since the 1980s!.  We had fun catching up and they were so interested in hearing all about my trip.

Then, I had a quick appointment with my GP, just to get the script for my blood pressure tablets renewed plus have my BP taken.  Guess what?  It was at the lowest it has been for ages - he was really pleased with me!

So, to celebrate, I popped into a gift shop just a few doors down from the doctors office which is having a massive closing down sale (must be the month for it - see this post about my LNS closing down) and bought this stunning jewellery box (I had been searching for just the right one for quite a while now) for a whopping 40% off!

I really need a new one to help organise my jewellery - so this will fit the bill perfectly - and this overseas traveller couldn't resist the  olde worlde map on the lid.

In the background of two of the photos, you can see some mementos from my travels.

The little Arpe (three-wheeled truck common in Sicily) and the salt and pepper shakers (which are almost like figurines) are from Caltagirone in Sicily (renowned for its ceramics).

Whilst the tiles spelling out my name in Gaudi-style and the flamenco dancer are both from Seville.

So, as I was driving home with my new acquisition (and the fixings to make a Waldorf salad on this hot, hot day), I thought to myself...

"What a lovely day I have had and how lucky I am."

Thanks for visiting, 

May all your days be lovely and lucky,

hugs, 

P.S. My Waldorf Salad was delicious and refreshing. Yum! Yum! Yum!

I promise.... (London Part Five)

.... that this is absolutely my last post about London - lol!  

Our last few evenings in London were a whirlwind of fabulous plays, interactive theatre and jazz.....  You have to love the nightlife in London.

Beauty and the Feast at The Vaults near Waterloo Station. 

Some street art...

A view of the London Eye, all lit up.

Waterloo Station....

 The Ferryman at the Gielgud Theatre in the West End....

Gorgeous Turkish light fittings in the restaurant where we had a late supper....

... and Espresso Martinis and Jazz in Soho....

 We had a fabulous time in London - it is such a vast city with so much to offer the traveler - I, for one, can't wait to go back.

But, we had to move on, and my next posts will be fabulous Sicily, where we had the most marvellous Christmas with TraderVic's cousins.

Can't wait to tell you all about it.

 hugs, 

P.S. Previous Europe Trip 2017/8 posts:

"A Happy Reunion in London.... (London Part One)"

A Saturday wanderings in London ....(London Part Two)

Next London Post .... (London Part Three)

A Day trip to Cambridge ... (London Part Four)