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Apologies for my recent lack of posts. I've been very busy indeed selling my childhood toys on eBay, getting the bride box page ready (do have a peek!), walking, allotmenting, cooking, reading and seeing friends.

I began to feel I was doing too much so I'm taking a break from eBay for a while. Sitting in the sunshine reading is so nice and makes me feel all relaxed - I don't want to approach autumn a worn out wreck!

Consequently this weekend I looked at my long job list and decided:

• I would eat up the veg that was in the fridge and if we were out I'd eat something else.
• I'd stop panicking about getting things of eBay and have a summer break
• I'd read in the sunshine if I felt like it - I can clean the house when the weather gets bad
• If it's too hot to go outside, it's too hot to work on my allotment
• There's no need to rush if I'm not due anywhere
• News of guests will be welcomed by expressions of delight over their arrival, not by working out bedding and catering options.
• A week of early nights increase optimism about the day ahead

So dear readers, don't put yourself through the grinder, be thankful you are alive and while the sun shines only do what you must!

It made my blood boil

Things have been hectic of late but generally in a nice sort of way. Who can complain that thy are busy spending time with friends and other activities of a similar nature?

However, I have found myself being infuriated about the recycling bin/collection debate. I get really angry with people complaining about the inconvenience of such systems. Won't global warming and a land fill site on every corner be even more inconvenient? If you fill your bins in a week perhaps it's time to stop buying so much so that your bins aren't over flowing with waste!

I'd best stop there before I get into full rant mode, but before I do I must say how happy I am with the waste service in Uttlesford. I was thrilled to discover the other day that all types of plastic can now be recycled in our bins. I'm happier still to realise that the amount of waste produced each week is diminishing.

The Renaissance soul

I commented to a colleague yesterday that my biggest problem is that I have too many interests. I want to read, walk, cook, grow vegetables, make clothes, make cards, make present bags, run a business, do my own website design, make my own beauty products, enjoy wine, dance, blog, watch DVDs, write, trace my family history, catalogue family photographs, practice Tai Chi and Yoga, manage a website, be involved with my professional association, enjoy the Sunday papers, keep in touch with friends...

I was reminded of a blog entry I read a while a go about a book called The Renaissance Soul. It suggests that having lots of passions and interests is a good thing. Rather than worrying that I have too many interests I should enjoy the variety and how these various passions enrich each other.

I've also thought about ensuring that I can enjoy each of these passions without taking on too much. Hence I have written to the town council asking if my allotment plot can be split. I'm finding my huge plot a challenge to keep up with and think a smaller plot would give me much more satisfaction. Not buying stuff if ?I can possibly help it has also helped here. I waste less time working out what to buy, adding up receipts and just generally browsing.

Isn't life great? Aren't the possibilites in life just endless?

Ironing water

Dear Heart has added ironing water to the list of groceries to purchase that lives on the side of the fridge. Alas, the Co-op do not apepar to stock such stuff. I fear that I may have to venture back into the dragon's den (Tesco) to get it for him.

Can there really be no other easily reachable outlet that has such stuff?

What I've been making

I finally got around to loading the pictures from the camera to my computer.

This is the bag my sister's birthday presents went in. I actually made it for another occasion but some pomegranate juice intervened. It washed out well though. The outer fabric is a napkin which lacked matching companions and I really liked the design woven into the fabric.

This is a dress I made from an old skirt belonging to my Mum. The waist was too tiny to fit me. I removed the broken zip and the waist band, cut into three of the side seams to make arm holes and the V-neck. I then machined sheering elastic around the waist to give it some shape. Very happy with this and it looks great over jeans.

More as soon as I clear the clutter I referred to yesterday.

Visiting my past

My house is currently looking extremely cluttered. This is not my fault. Honestly.

My Grandfather died a few weeks ago. This mean that the contents of his house (which have been in storage for some months) had to be dealt with. Additionally my parent’s are moving house after 35 years. It would appear that they kept all of my childhood toys (the place was groaning with care bears, my little ponies, sweet secrets and more) I also seem to have gotten in on the hoarding thing myself. They uncovered boxes in their loft that I had packed between my first and second year at university.

The end result is that a large number of boxes and some pieces of furniture have arrived at my house for sorting. It’s been interesting sorting through them. I had several scrapbooks and folders devoted to Bros. Additionally, I also collected information on Jason Donovan, Tommy Page and Twin Peaks. Clearly, My vocation should have been a role in a press cuttings agency.

Having so much extra stuff to deal has made me consider clutter that I was already hoarding. Some of it is stuff that I packed away in January (but somehow no longer want). Much of it consists of items given to me as gifts that I feel morally obliged to hang onto.

Today I took a stash of old earrings into work and was thrilled when people picked out some of my old favourites to keep. It’s so nice to see something that you once loved but no longer use gain a fresh lease of life.

Much is going to a charity shops but I will try some items on ebay. I wonder if there is a market a signed Jason Donovan 12”? Or a Bros Christmas box?

It’s been fun revisiting my past but I’ll be glad when it’s taken care of so that I can get on with the future.

P.S. Anyone interested in a wardrobe or a dressing table?

Fabric stash

A dear friend is getting married in August and for her hen party we are going to a Great Gatsby Party in the gardens of Easton Lodge. It's a 1920s theme night with a jazz band.

I intended to make a simple dress, adorn it with trimming, wear during evening and then remove trimming and have a pretty summer dress to wear.

With this in mind, I headed off to the fabric shop at lunchtime, with the vouchers Dear Heart gave me for Christmas. I had a hard time choosing between all the different fabrics on offer. I kept having to restrain myself from selecting something that I wouldn't be able to wear on a regular basis after. Happily I managed to find some fabric I liked in the quantity I needed in the remnants bin. I also found some pale green spotty fabric which will make a lovely summer dress. And I picked up some fabric dye to dye my rather tired looking once-cream espadrilles.

I left the store thinking about which fabric I would use first when I realised that I have perfectly nice green and gold dress at home that would do for the party. It has a tiered skirt with a very low waist. It will look excellent with a green and gold headband.

Now all I can think about is what other patterns I might use my fabric to make up. I'm rather busy over the next few days and the weekend which is rather frustrating because I just want to get sewing.

Out of sync

I'm feeling a little disconnected.

I've lost the plot on menu planning. Usually I'm full of ideas for delicious lunches. Right now it looks like it will be peanut butter sandwiches for lunch tomorrow.

I was initally thrilled to get my summer clothes out. However, the weather isn't as warm as it could be. Nothing fits. It's all too big (which is better than too small). I don't know what pieces to put together or which shoes to wear.

I should be making use of my time to work on some of my projects. But I don't feel like doing anything.

In short I feel like I've lost the plot and don't feel very inclined to get it back.

Perhaps I need to spend a few days reading quality chick lit and eating chocolates?

The curse of the roller disco

I fully intended to post an entry about celebrating my sister’s 30th birthday the day after. However, we spent the evening at a roller disco. Roller skates and alcohol are a dangerous combination (particularly when you have no natural sense of balance). I came off better than my Brother-in-law (looking forward to signing the plaster cast on his wrist).

My sprained elbow is improving. However, I find myself reaching further than it will allow me at times. Over the last couple of days I’ve replaced a book on a head height shelf, found I couldn’t raise me arm high enough to get the book on, but neither could I bring my arm down. Solution? Use my head to head butt the volume into place.

My behind is also rather bruised and clearly needs to have more fat on it (hello vegan cupcakes).

What else have I been up to?

• I’m up to book 12 of the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich. A big thank you to the lovely friend who made me read them when I wasn’t sure.
• I’ve discovered Facebook.
• I wore the dress I made my Mum’s old skirt. I’ll post a picture here soon.
• I changed my summer clothes over on Saturday, slightly earlier than last year. It was just as well I did as I certainly couldn’t lift a suitcase off a wardrobe at present. Alas when I tried to dress for work this morning I discovered that all linen trousers needed ironing (never a talent of mine even without a sprained elbow). Having located a pair of trousers with a patterned weave (excellent for hiding creases) I then discovered they are enormous around the waist. Clearly I need dessert more often.

I think I’m in something of an energy slump so I’m going to go with the flow for the next week or so and assume that high levels of energy will return as my bruises fade…

I walked the walk

Well, today I’m finally recovered enough to actually post about the Moonwalk. It’s interesting to note how much space is devoted to preparing for a marathon while what to do after tends to get skipped.

I made it round in less than 7 hours. I can’t recall if I feel better than I did last year or not. The weather was better; just fresh rather than cold and wet.

My sister was a total star. Not only did she make it round in less than 6 hours, but she had spent all day Saturday at college!

I’d also like to award a star to her lovely husband who allowed himself to be woken up at 4 a.m. in order to come and pick up at 6 a.m. Thank you, Mr T.

Also a big thank you to Dear Heart, who has been looking after me all week. I’m quite keen to get back in the kitchen.

I don’t think I’ll be walking again. Trying for a faster time every year doesn’t really interest me. However, I intend to keep walking every weekend and I think I might volunteer to be crew next year.

My Mother’s Wedding Dress

I’ve just finished reading My mother’s Wedding Dress by Justine Picardi. It wasn’t quite what I expected. I’d read a magazine article had written about the book. It featured lots of pictures of clothes she had worn in the past and her reminiscing about how she felt when wearing them, why she bought them and how she felt about them now. I expected the book to be more of the same.

Instead the book was both angry and bewildered in tone. Picardi was clearly affected deeply by her sister’s death (and who wouldn’t be) and this theme of loss is one that runs throughout the book. She also seems to be rather obsessed with feathers.

However I intend to use what I expected the book to be about as inspiration for future blog entries. It made me think about clothes in books I read as a child. My favourite Enid Blyton story was The Enchanted Cloak (from Tales after Tea). I had a purple crocheted cloak (where is it now?) that I called by the name and used in endless games.

I remember the Fossil sisters in Ballet Shoes (Noel Stratfield) needing dresses for auditions. I remember Pagan, in Lace, taking her dead father’s clothes from the attic and finding a use for them and Maxim’s wonderful French style. I think Lace was the book that made me wear black and white for years because it claimed it was the best way to stand out I newspaper photographs (for maximum impact, wear stripes!). This was clearly before newspapers all had colour photographs. In fact, I’m sure I would of embraced a catalogue that came with my copy of Easy Living this month. All the clothes in it were black or white. I doubt I would have actually bought anything but I would have kept it next to my bed as a style bible.

A golf themed gift

I though I'd share the present bag I made for Dear Heart's Dad's birthday with you.

He's a keen golfer so I made this bage with a picture of a golf ball bouncing towards the hole. It held a 'Jobs to do before Golf' notepad.

Monthly updates

Have not been abandoned - I'm just trying not to be so hard on myself while training for the Moonwalk (sponsor me at www.bmycharity.com/v2/babeinabra).

Additionally I appear to have hit a couple of snags with meeting some of the other targets. See, I need a pan of some kind to put my t-shirts in in order to dye them. I've been unable to locate one so far and can't see any point in buying a new pan just to dye things in. My parent's are moving house so I've out them in the alert for any suitable receptacles that they may be binning.

The 'not buying' is becoming much more of a habit. I've been buying more food from the market and shopping for small quantities of food when we actually need it rather than doing a huge shop once a week at Tesco. I still count my blessings everyday.

Come the start of June my moonwalk obligations will be out of the way and I intend to revise my targets and post the new list here.

Leafy greens

I went to the Vitality Show at the end of March. I was delighted to find a stand selling laptop lunch boxes. I resisted the urge to purchase one (Dear Heart would faint if I added any more containers to my fantastic plastic drawer). However, I did buy the Vegan Lunchbox book. It is every bit as good as expected and I’ve made a number of the recipes, most notably Veggie Wellington. I didn’t think it was available anywhere in the UK so this was really good to find it.

I’ve been really working on the eating seasonally thing and have also been to trying to buy from outlets other than supermarkets. I love the covered market near where I work. Recently I’ve been purchasing Spinach, Watercress (so divine in a sandwich for breakfast) and Kale. Buying what is in season is giving new value to my cookbook collection as I try to find the best to way to cook vegetables that I’ve never really tried before. I think my tastes are changing as well.

I find it hard to believe that I’ve never eaten Kale before. I tried out Emira’s speedy gourmet Kale and Tofu delight (picture below), from Dolce Vegan and was so impressed. I had to resist not eating the whole pan at once instead of packing it up for lunch. Dear Heart said it looked so good I had to take a picture (although he doesn't seem keen on eating it).

I really want to try Jennifer’s recipe for Asian Spinach but, keep getting distracted by the delights of mixing spinach with green lentils. I've also made watercress pesto (so easy, so quick and so delicious).

I’m looking forward to the first tomatoes of the season but quite frankly am very happy with spinach, kale and watercress for the time being.

Post yoga

Just in case anyone is wondering , I survived and am now feeling pleasantly stretched and sleepy. After wandering into the plant room by accident I found the 'sports hall'. It was very warm which means I won't need a jumper and two pairs of socks next week.

I was able to keep up. Some of the moves I knew (but some by a different name). Some I knew bits of and some I had done but had no idea they had a proper name. It's different to my old class but changes are good and must be embraced (even when we don't want to). The next few months look like they will be full of change but they will be interesting!

Yoga

I've been without a yoga class to attend for the last month or so. Happily there is lunchtime class that takes place an extremely short distance from my desk so at lunchtime I'm off to give it a try.

I'm excited by the prospect of doing yoga again. My attempts to practise at home (even aiming for just one exercise a day) have tailed off.

However, as I found myself putting together the kit I needed for today it began to dawn on me that this will probably be slightly different to my experiences of yoga so far. It won't be in a church hall where the temperature plummets in the winter (even with the heating on). I think there are proper changing rooms. It seems unlikely that the tutor will be a wonderfully eccentric art tutor who throws in exercises from other traditions if he thinks they will be valuable.

However it will be lovely to stretch my body again. Walk training has been keeping me fit but possibly not flexible.

Serendipity

I think I recently experienced serendipity. I was visiting Bury St Edmunds. One my last visit there I attempted to find the town centre without following directions. IT was interesting but I think I walked a long way out of my way. On this occasion I decided to follow the directions the first of which was to cross the road at the railway bridge. Alas the traffic was very heavy, but in the distance I could see a crossing point! Grumbling slightly I headed towards it and was rewarded when I had to pass the site of St Saviours Hospital as a result.

The remaining ruins were amazing. I also liked that the site had been planted with rosemary (for remembrance?). Have a look here and you can find out more and see some pictures http://www.stedmundsbury.gov.uk/sebc/visit/St-Saviours-Hospital.cfm

It really made my morning to discover such a fascinating site on my way to somewhere else. This is definitely one of the benefits of public transport. You get to see things that you miss if you are in a car going straight from A to B.

I was even more thrilled when I got to the town centre to find the ruins of Bury Abbey. I spent a big chunk of childhood holidays wandering around ruined castles and loving every minute. Hence this was right up my street! This site has some marvellous pictures of the bits of ruins that are still standing. http://www.suffolkchurches.co.uk/buryabbey.html

I liked it so much I went back at lunch time for a further wander!

In a similar vein was recently asked for directions to The Flitch Way as past of it runs near where I live. Well despite living here for 5 years I’ve never gotten around to exploring it. Having given directions I felt I simply had to check they were correct. Dear Heart and I got the bikes out on Sunday and had a look. It was simply amazing. So close to the town, but so quiet and hidden away. It was like discovering a secret valley. I think that once the Moonwalk is out of the way I’ll be visiting this a lot more.

Mother's Day

I was a creative little bunny for mother's day this year. My original plan to cook dinner from my Mum at my house was out. My Grandmother was visiting near where my parent's live and was going to drop by.

Following a chat with my sister and my Dad we moved the cooking to my parent's kitchen with input from sister, Dad, me and Dear Heart.

I made this card for my mum making use of some magazines I was about to throw out. I just love the 'Mum' spelt in jeans on the back.

I made couple of present bags this week. One with a present for my grandmother in it (bath bombs) and one for Dear Heart's sisters birthday. I find that I'm really busy as the moment. Particularly as a result of all the time I'm spending on Moonwalk training. I think I might have to reconsider the targets I am setting myself while I'm spending time on training. I also need to sort out in my head all the books I've read about not spending, how evil supermarkets are, how cheap proper food can be and quality of life. I'm sure they all tie together but I'm getting bit tangled up in all the principles at present. Anyway, here are the bags. Enjoy the cute green signature hearts on the backs (reminds me of the care bears!).

I'm off to try and wind up my ever growing job list, eat more carbs (lots of walking means I now have to wear a belt with my jeans to get them to stay up to a decent point!) and get my head together!

P.S. I cannot believe that 2 weeks have passed since my last entry. I will try harder to blog at least once a week, particularly during busy (and therefore interesting) times.

Pride comes before...

...your boot falls apart!

Let me start at the beginning. I headed off to a meeting this morning feeling rather smug. I've taken to wearing leggings (so much warmer and so, so much more comfortable than tights) and long in the winter. Alas the leggings were a little worn (i.e. ripped to the knee) after 2 winters but a few minutes with the sewing machine sorted them out. Any lining my boots might have had had also worn away but I made some lovely inner soles to stop my getting sore and keep them warm.

As I'd arrived early for my meeting and congratulating myself on my thriftiness I went to a coffee shop to enjoy a large cup of Earl Grey. As I sipped I read a little more of Not buying it. the time came when I finished my tea and exited the coffee shop. However as I did so I lost my balance. Righting myself and hoping that I didn't look too stupid I then realised there was something odd going on with my boot. The sole was hanging off.

Admittedly I noticed the sole was a little loose in places the other day, but I thought it would last me until the end of the winter. It became clear almost immediately that I was going to have to take some action. Should I buy some blue tack to hold it in place? Would chewing gum work? I shuffled into New Look who, of course, aren't stocking boots at this time of year. I tried all the charity shops in the area. They either had no long boots, the boots were leather, too small or had skyscraper heels. I then decided the answer was to buy pair of tights to replace the leggings and some colourful flat shoes.

Unfortunately I bought the tights before I realised that all the shoes available were too boring to spend money on, over priced, open toed or way too high to walk in. I was also cutting it rather fine for my networking meeting.

Working on the belief that people don't tend to notice flaws unless you point them out I tied sole to the top of the boot and went to the meeting. Once there I stayed seated (with my bag practically on top of my boot) for as much of the time as possible and left at the earliest opportunity. I couldn't concentrate anyway and spent part of the time making a list of all the shoes and boots that are currently sitting in my porch waiting to be worn. They'll be seeing a lot more action over the next few weeks and I will be buying new, good quality boots next autumn.

Time for a rest

I'm training for the Playtex Moonwalk once again. I did 8 miles on Sunday and got totally drenched. I only realised how wet I had gotten when the clothes were still wet yesterday. I took advantage of the better, although windy weather yesterday to enjoy a number of hours working on my allotment. The planting season will be here soon. I'm still finding potatoes from last year's crop as I dig the ground over. These are very welcome as the pantry at present only contains those too small to bother peeling.

I also did lots of cooking (and therefore washing up). I redyed my hair for the first time since I had it cut short (dyeing with Kool aid doesn't really count). I'm used to having a large porous surface (i.e. lots of hair) to soak up the dye so yesterday it was going everywhere. I looked like I something form a disaster movie. Hence the bathroom then needed lots of cleaning.

Anyway as a result of all that physical exertion I began to ache all over yesterday evening. Therefore I'm planning on a nice quiet evening with a book on the sofa. I've just finished World War Z : an oral history of the Zombie War by Max Brooks. It's an amazing book, but one that does tend to stay on your mind (paranoid? me?).

Tonight therefore I will be reading Not buying it: my year without shopping by Judith Levine. I imagine that this will have no mention of zombies. I'm hoping it may provide further inspiration for my frugal quest. Additionally I've heard very mixed reviews. I read an extract in one of the weekend papers last year and I must of enjoyed what I read because I wrote down the title to check on the library catalogue.

I'll report back later this week (hopefully) on if Not buying it was worth the wait.