GASP! A finished thing!

Well, I've actually gone and finished something! No, not the HG jumper, which is slow to grow- and very green. I was yearning to start something new! So I did. 

In Skipton I bought a couple of balls of wool for £1 each. They were brightly coloured and my eye was drawn to them. I had a pattern in mind. A little summery waistcoat for a little girl. I started it on WEDNESDAY and finished it last night. It's unheard of! It's also such a quick straight pattern. 

The wool is Katia monkey. Online it's anything up to £6 a ball! Isn't it sunny! Actually this knit has a lot of sunshine knit into it. The pattern also called for beads which I didn't have. I was going to make teeny Pom Poms instead. However, a mercy dash to my friends yielded some perfect beadery. 

It was completed at about 11.30pm last night! I needed to finish it because it's for the daughter of a friend we are seeing tomorrow. The HG and I are off to the Midlands for the weekend, something I've been looking forward to for ages. Today we are off to Kennilworth castle and then tomorrow the biggie- The Black Country Museum. I have wanted to go there for ages. I've been to Beamish a few times and loved it. I've seen the BCM on telly and it looks great. 

Anyway Ta dahhhhhh

My friend has two girls but I need to check which size to knit the other one. So extra presents will be bought in case one is distraught at not receiving her knitted gift from me! 

I hope they like it! And it's not " Oh how lovely, you really shouldn't have!" said in *that* voice which means no, you REALLY shouldn't have. 

Right, going to get a move on and check I've got everything! 

Oops forgot the photos of Barnard Castle ...

View from the castle. 

More next post X 

Lots of love from 

Rachel *Judith Chalmers* Radiostar xxx 

Monday off!

Hello and Welcome to Monday, day one of my Spring break! 

I much prefer this way of having a long weekend for Easter then two weeks off two weeks later! 

I'm in a jolly mood. Five weeks of not eating bread apart from the odd test slice of my own homemade stuff, made the scales shine favourably this morning. I'm not going to jinx myself by giving out weights, goals, losses, gains, etc etc because a) it's a never ending thing and b) it's so boring! 

Right. The Muse gig was the best gig I have EVER been to. The spectacle blew my mind. I was sweating like a pig in a heatwave by the end of it. I jumped, danced, waved my arms in the air like I just didn't care, clapped when Matt Bellamy instructed me to, made new friends in the audience and put a video on you tube of the start! Muse music is like nothing else. It moves me. They can combine classical music, with heart pounding drum and base. They whipped the crowd into a frenzy. The lights, lasers and drones were just awesome. I'll share a few of the 983 photos I took here! None of them exude the excitement they caused! 

 We had brilliant seats, I could almost touch him!! 

Those coloured orbs had cameras in them! They spookily floated around the arena. 

I love this photo I took of the lead singer floating above the ground mid jump. We had good seats but I much prefer to be in the crowd you can see at the side of the stage. 

This was the very beginning! 

As you can see, we were sat behind where all the magic happens! So close I could twiddle the knobs!! I love how it spells Muse!! 

Unbelievably we managed to spot our niece and her fiancé in the crowd! Though her poor beau fell and badly twisted his ankle in the mosh pit. He'd consumed alcoholic beverages. It's his own fault!! If you find the man in the lime green t shirt, trace your finger across a bit and our niece is wearing a black strappy dress and she's blonde shoulder length hair! We didn't know we'd both be there, though wasn't the first Muse gig we've both attended! I'm her coolest Aunty! 

Here, they flew a MASSIVE drone round the arena. It was like a jumbo jet! 

I tried to get a shot to show you, if you've never been, just how massive the arena is. I think it can fit 20,000 people in it! Every single seat was filled. The support band, Nothing but thieves, were really good too. 

I just loved it. 

Ok enough about that! 

A few people asked what my newest wool buys were for. Mainly little summery baby cardigans. I've decided I'm going to knit as many as I can and then see if people would want to buy them! I am under no illusion that I'll make my millions! But if I can use up some of my stash and make a few pennies, I can then just buy more guilt free!!! 

Alas I'm such a slow knitter, it'll take some time. The HG's jumper update : sleeve 1 done. Back, I'm 1cm away from starting shaping for the armholes! The size is XL and even though it's just plain stocking stick, it is only on 3.75 needles! I think I've 185 stitches on at the minute. ( excuses excuses!! ) 

Had something else to tell you but I've totally forgotten now. Need to get up and dressed because Anthony from DPD is on his way to mine with a parcel! Ooooo exciting! ( it'll be more fishing crap for the HG no doubt! ) 

Right, I'll be back to answer all your lovely comments on my blog later on. 

Lots of love from

Rachel *no school face* Radiostar xxx 

Four NGTs to go!

An NGT by the way, is something a work chum invented years ago. She deemed it a 'Nasty Get Up'. 

Meaning a get up for work is less pleasurable than a weekend or holiday get up!! I've 4 NGTs left ( as I've already got up today ) and then it's half term! Not that I'll lie in and sleep.Always wide awake at 6am! 

Six weeks of school gone! I was supposedly supposed to be eating more healthily and *should* be at least 6lbs lighter. This isn't the case! Ah well, let's start again! Today's menu involves a healthy bran flake breakfast, fruit for break, manky veg soup from the freezer for lunch and a yogurt, more fruit for break and I've all the fresh salady stuff bought at the weekend for a lovely crisp whopping salad with baked potato and gammon. We shall see how I get on today! One day at a time! 

My weekend was full of lots of things I like. 

On Friday night I went out for a meal with work. I was brave. Believe it or not, at my tender age of Eternally 28, I have NEVER ever ever had a Caeser Salad. I've never fancied it. Never made it. Never ordered it. I've never had an anchovy either, despite my Twitter chum Nigel telling me on his telly programmes that they add a depth of flavour to dishes. 

Let's just say, I won't be having an anchovy again, much preferring a shallow flavour to my meals! 

 £10.95 got me a fancy saucer sized plate, delivered to me under a cloche. The cloche was filled with smoke, so that when it was dramatically lifted off by the waitress, my hands and face were instantly scented, for the evening, like my lounge fire when we are burning wet logs. On the plate was lettuce, sliding around in a creamy emulsion. A teeny smoked chicken breast sliced, some (5 tiny ) croutons and two cold soft boiled eggs. I didn't take a photo so you could not see it. I couldn't see any signs of anchovy. 

I wish I'd ordered the chicken, leek and ham pie that I was originally going for, but changed my mind because I make it at home and besides, I was going to be A. Sophisticated. Brave. Girl. 

We had to wait a while for all of us to get served so by the time everyone's meals had arrived, my short term memory loss had fully kicked in. I started eating. It wasn't delicious. I leaned over to my friend and complained that my lettuce was fishy!!! 

She laughed and called me an unprintable name! Gently reminding me about the anchovies!! Ahh they must be in the dressing! Well, it was rank. I'm never ordering that again. Two others had ordered it too. One had asked for no anchovies. The other said, she'd left her anchovies as they were quite big!! I looked at her in horror. The thought of eating slivers of that stinky rotten fish has kept my tummy churning Everytime I think of it! 

I should trust myself and what I know. I don't like fish, never have. It's too fishy! I will eat brown shrimp, prawn, tuna, fish fingers and an odd chip shop fish but that is it! Disgusting stuff should stay in the sea! 

Next time, I'm having pie! 

I started the tapestry! We went to Skipton in the pouring rain on Saturday. It was worth it though, because the HG bought me a tapestry frame that is a roller one. The square frame I'd made from my interlocking frame kit meant that my short stubby arms would struggle greatly! Infact, thinking about it, I'm rather like a T-Rex! Imagine one of those trying to do needlework! 

Next I think, I'll be after a frame to stand on the floor. I'm getting more and more Pride and Predjudice by the day. I'll have to make myself a crinoline frock to wear whilst I stitch! 

Much rugby has been watched and sworn at! The fantastic 6Nations has begun. While it's been on I've sewed

Also, I've cast on 136 stitches and begun the waist of the HG's jumper. I had to get some new wire needles as I didn't have any of the size I needed and no way would I get all the stitches on my straights. It's going to take me ages! 

And as I sit here at 7.26am, in a quiet house, I can hear the faint cries of  next door's baby. I've not heard him as yet, they'd planned a home birth - she was 6 days overdue and I rather think Ollie ( they knew he was a boy )  has actually just been born!! There was silence, then *that* sound of a baby crying who has just been born, and all is quiet again! Well done that new Mama X 

So I can pass in the little hat I made for him later on! Ahhh it's made me all smiley! 

This photo of my ornamental sundial is for Suzanne. It's 14 years old and I can't remember where I got it from, but I wanted something different to sit on my back hearth. 

It's about the size of a largish side plate. 

Miss 21 is now over halfway through her trip. She sent us a postcard. It took days to get here. That's all. Days. 

It's flanked by two of my winter cherished teddies! I went mad for these back in the 90s! Bloody daft dust collectors - but I still get them out from time to time. I've a china cabinet FULL of them! Here are my other four winter ones. 

And that's all I've time for now. The bin men are here, it's my 8 O'Clock  start and I'm not even dressed yet!!! 

Lots of love from 

Rachel *don't wanna go* Radiostar xxx

Royal World Book Day

I've just left a comment on 'Life at No. 38's blog about this. It's Royal because there's the need for me to put a 'King' in front of every word! 

King WBD is a pain in the King bottom. Poor frazzled parents up and down the land having to make King costumes at a monent's notice ( even though it's March every year!! ). That's the dedicated parents mind, the ones who actually bother to read books with their children. 

The reality is most of the children at school come dressed as a Disney Princess or Captain Jack Sparrow. Or whatever costumes Asda are selling. Also, these costumes are flimsy and it's usually freezing on March 2nd. So last year, we really did have a lot of Frozen Elsa's and Ana's! 

 Some parents go the extra mile. I remember one little soul having an epic temper tantrum one year ( he's now long left and I'm hoping the scars have faded and he doesn't do it to his own children ) because other children were staring at him. He had come as a full on, day-glo orange, green shiny suit, attention to detail incredible Oompa Loompa! 

The year after, he came as a bunch of grapes. I kid ye not. I can't even remember the storybook he was from. He had on a purple unitard and attached to him were purple balloons in the classic shape of a bunch of grapes, his face was purple and he wore a green beret with a giant stalk on it. He had an epic temper tantrum because his balloons kept bursting! That poor wee tortured soul! 

As staff, we at school are expected to join in the king fun. I generally don't. I'm that kind of rebellious soul. Plus I think it's important to support those children who don't want to dress up, but mostly for those children who do, but whose parents for whatever reasons can't or don't let them join in! 

Anyway I have knitting news! Sleeve 1 is complete. Only the back, front, other sleeve and neck to do!!! So far it's taken me 

6 hours 38 mins for part 1

7 hours 29mins for part 2

So 14 hours and 7 minutes so far! 

The HG might well be long into retirement age by the time it's finished! It's knit on 3.75 needles !!

Lots of love from 

Rachel *knitting frenzy* Radiostar xxx

Little waistcoat

FINALLY I've finished something! It went to its new owner today! 

As usual I did my 'which button' dilemma. In the end I went with the darker wooden buttons. 

For once I managed to sew them on straight first time. 

A really easy to remember pattern

Ta daaaah! 

Tea was delicious tonight. 

You cannot beat a home made ( mince only one day out of date ) cottage pie with a lid of crunchy crust, soft underneath  golden mashed potato! 

Lots of love from 

Rachel *must crack on with the other 14 knits I've started!* * not even joking* Radiostar xx

Oh Wales X

I'm talking about the Rugby. My beloved Wales gave that game away with penalties. That's my opinion! 

However they also never gave up battling and I believe the Slimy South Africans ( sorry Viv if you still read this blog! ) manipulated every single one of those penalties on purpose. I base my opinion on the smug smile the big blonde one gave his team mate at one of the later penalties as if to say 'it worked'. Sure Wales should have been better disciplined - but I was watching hard and honestly saw no one deliberately give a penalty away. 

The ITV interviews after the match also annoyed me. 

The SSA captain, despite opportunities, never once said what a hard time they'd had winning and they were extremely ungracious I thought. Normally the losing team is highly praised. Not from the SSAs. 

Then when interviewing Warren Gatland, the frankly stupid interviewer asked him 

'So what was it that meant SA won in the end?'

Gatland looked bemused!! 

I declared to my living room that I'd have answered 

'The try they scored at 71 minutes.'

I am quite glad for my blood pressure and my family's ears that we don't have to endure the mega stress of a Semi final but my heart is breaking for Sam Warburton and his team. They did not deserve to go out to a sneaky try from the Springboks! I still love them! 

But now I'm shouting for Scotland and Ireland!! 

Before all this stress, 

The HG and I went out yesterday morning up int Lakes. We set off early so I could have my eyebrows ripped off my face by the lovely smiling Carla at 9. Fortunately my fringe covered the redness so no one noticed! First stop was Lakeland in Windermere. The Autumnal countryside was looking gorgeous in the weak sunshine ( no photos because I'd left my phone at home! ) 

I went in specifically to look at a Spiralizer. The in thing is to make spaghetti out of vegetables and you should know by now what a gadget hoarder my other half is! We spent ages in there! I found him chatting to a lady also looking at the Spiralizer!! After listening to him, she, like he, is going to buy the new spiralizing attachment you can get for Beryl! She thanked him for his knowledge! I bought lots of lovely things. 

Some cake cases int sale

Some cake decorating bits n bobs int sale

Some portable mini dehumidifiers int sale

A new peg bucket int sale

A pasta book int sale

A soft cheese book int sale 

And just before you think you are sensing  a theme I also bought some more snowflake biscuit cutters to add to my collection and some Christmas themed linzertorte biscuits cutters at, gasp, full price! 

Our next stop was the Stott Bobbin Mill on t'other side of t'Lake. It's the ONLY working bobbin mill left in the world. It's exactly as it was left in 1971, ( when I was born, making that erm...28 years ago now ) when it was closed as a commercial business.  It had opened in the late 1800s and it was only unchanged by the additions of steam turbines and electricity. All the original machinery was still

There but just adapted to be used by the modener technology. English Heritage took it on and that's how we were able to see it yesterday. We were the only two visitors there so we had a personal tour of the mill, the two young guides were excellent. The noise in the factory was IMMENSE when all the machinery was running! We saw the processes from tree to bobbin. It was a seven year apprenticeship to become a master turner. And we learnt that a few phrases we know these days come from the Bobbin mill industry. Which, by the way, was a very niche thing to the Lake District. 

"Knocking off" ( for the day as we say it ) came from the switch on one of the lathes. It would literally knock the belt off the shaft thus stopping all the machinery. 

"Happy hour" comes from the finishing room. Smaller bobbins would go into giant barrels 1000 at a time with lumps of beeswax and be turned for hours to get them polished and smooth. The larger three piece bobbins had to be coating in < something and methylated spirits> which was highly intoxicating. So this job was only done at the end hour of the day so the rest of the mill workers were not affected by the fumes. Happy hour! 

We then had warm steak and ale pies for lunch from Award Winning Butchers Higginsons of Grange! We ate them sat in the car! Classy! 

Today I need to catch up with my washing and cleaning and maybe I'll do some more knitting stuff! 

I was doing some finishing off during the rugby! Didn't get very far! 

Five more days till half term, it's been a long one! 

Lots of love from 

Rachel *procrastinating will happen today* Radiostar xx 

PS. Did anyone see me on Graham Norton last night?!!!!!! 

Aunty Olive's

Aunty Olive belongs to the HG's side. Sadly no longer with us now. She lived in Yorkshire and this recipe for her ginger biscuits never fails. 

I've given it to a few people who love it just as much. I'm not sure where the recipe originally came from. But we call them Aunty Olive's. 

I can't get to the original right now but here is a photo of it taken by one of my friends, who I sent a photocopy to. I love the old fashioned hand writing that generation had. 

A word mind, substituting the marg for butter doesn't work! The results are nowhere near as good! 

I always use stork! 

Incase the photos are not clear 

6oz SR Flour

4oz marg

3oz sugar ( I use caster ) ( but soft brown works too )

1tblspn golden syrup

1 tspn ground ginger

1/2tspn bicarbonate of soda

Mix flour, ginger n bicarb

Melt butter,sugar,syrup

Combine the two

Roll walnut sized pieces into balls

Flatten slightly on a lined tray

Leave space as they do spread 

Bake

Cool

EAT! 

Good for dunking! 

Makes loads!! 

They come out like this 

I finally have a mini ta daaah! 

A new pattern to make a Cornish pastyesque bootee! 

They are destined for my bosses' new baby granddaughter! Not perfect but still cute! 

I'm just off to reply to all my lovely commenters now X cheerio 

Love from 

Rachel *ready for half term* Radiostar xxx

Thursday 4th June

Already!
This year is going so fast. The Uni returner - I'm going to have to think of a new nickname for her will turn 21 on the 17th and I will be ahem 28 ( + 16 ) on the 25th! Well the HG was very pleased with himself as he ordered my birthday present in good time. I have NO idea what it is but I do know I can't look at emails till after then! So the offspring were told to look out for and hide said parcel....
He came home from work before me on Monday and discovered a big box ( ooooo A BIG BOX??!!!! ) ie my birthday present RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE LIVING ROOM FLOOR!

Aside: we have a living room, some folk have lounges, my Aunty had a parlour! What do you have?
In my living room we have a settee, do you have a couch, sofa, suite?? Aside over.

So, the HG shouted at the daughter along the lines of  'What did I ask you to do? What if your mum had come home? Etc etc
When she could get a word in she explained that she'd lugged a heavy box upstairs that had been delivered and hidden it in her room.

Had this not been sorted out I would be unwrapping a lovely  big box of stinky ground bait for fishing!!!!

The birthday present had my name on it!! Amazon is in my name!!! The fishing bait stuff is in the HG's name!
But what could this BIG BOX contain??? Only 21 more days to find out!!

Poor Uni one!

  I thought I'd asked for a Fitbit for my birthday but since neither of us can recollect this, the HG deducted I'd said it in my head, not out loud! He deduces this a lot! My shockingly appalling memory can never let me confirm or deny these allegations!


The Teen has just set off to do an A Level. They are only an hour and a half long these days. Sometimes less. In *my* day we had to sit for THREE hours. I'll be glad when he's finished them. I've been uber lenient re his chores etc during this exam period, as I was with his Sister - something she's forgotten as she was loudly complaining yesterday that he does NOTHING! I commented that she wasn't doing much more!! She's trying. Very trying! Hehehehe.

She's trying very hard to readjust to not being at Uni. She's so sad it's over. She's trying to put too much stuff into a too small room and the boyfriend is in the NorthEast but as her job is here she had to come home to earn!

But things are settling down nicely and work is so unstressful compared to previous years, I'm not even in full count down to Summer mode.
This morning I'm working with a colleague with a small group of children. We are planting lavender bushes so imagine how calm we'll all be! We are also painting the outdoor picnic benches! FUN! I'm
wearing really old clothes for work today! Not that I've ANY new clothes I wear for work!


So the little cable edged cardigan was gifted to its new owner yesterday. The recipient is the Mum of one of our Night Owls. She's having a girl. English isn't her first language but we can just about communicate successfully! 

I gave her the parcel. She asked could she open it. I said yes. She did and she started crying and bear hugged me. She's a very large 8 months pregnant and towers above me! She told me it made her happy because it reminded of her Grandma knitting things. She told me I mustn't spend my money on her. I then said I'd made it for her because I like knitting. She said ' You made this for me? ' She cried even more and I was swept up into a huge warm hug! She said they have no family here and she was really touched! I was having to do lots of blinking back tears! Her excuse is she's very pregnant! I'm just a big soft emotional wreck so it doesn't take much to set me off! But her reaction completely and utterly gave me the best feeling ever. The wool cost me nothing. The time cost me nothing. Her gratitude was priceless! So guess whose getting the little sparkly knit? Yes,she is! My online baby knit empire will have to wait a little longer! She can't have the lacy one, purely because the human cannot stretch its pregnancy to two years!!

So again this is a pre work post and I need to get organised!! Have a great day folks.

Love from
Rachel *warm n fuzzy feelings face* Radiostar xxx

Stash? What stash!!

Well after reading a few posts lately about stash busting I though I'd get all my stash in one place! 

Ummmm I think I'm covered, wool wise, for the next 100 years or so!! 

My bed is a superkingsize bed! The wool covered it! I've had it squirrelled away here n there. Most of it is inherited wool. The wool I've bought lately is from a fabulous shop up in Newcastle and it's for a pattern that I need to get my head round before starting as it's written differently and uses a chart for the cable pattern. Has anyone knit a Katia pattern before? 

There were just four little pieces of work I'd started once upon a time! 

And I've also a rather extensive needles n mularky collection! 

However, it is now all tidied away in vacuum bags and I will not buy any more until it's all been used! 

So in an attempt to use it up. I'm starting THREE new baby cardigans! Three different yarns, three different patterns. Here they are at 24 rows each.

I've gone wrong on here somewhere - it's a lacy matinée coat knit in 4ply. I will try again! I need to re check the pattern as I keep ending up with the wrong amount of stitches. It's very complicated! Well it is for me! Some of you would be able to do it in your sleep!! 

This wool was one of those bargain bucket knit a scarf bundles. I thought it'd make a sweet little baby cardigan. I've checked- the little sequins are securely attached- I tried but couldn't pull one off; plus its first size so they tend to not be pulling at their clothes! 

This is some inherited boucle in a lovely sea blue. I thought it'd be a cute little baby jacket to go over jeans! 

Hopefully the next time I post there'll be more to show you. 

Well half term has zoomed by and today I've been making use of the fridge pickings! 

I've made a really tasty chicken pie concoction. 

You will need

Roast chicken - leftovers - carcass picked clean

An almost past it leek

2 carrots

3 questionable spring onions 

Leftover gravy

Chicken stock cube n boiling water

Butter/milk/flour

Seasoning

Potatoes 

Here's how I did it. 

First soften the chopped leek, spring onion and carrot in a splash of oil. I sprinkled on some chicken seasoning. Then let it go cold. 

Then make a roux using the all in one method - start with cold butter, milk and flour - all same weight in a pan and heat and stir not stopping once. Perfect white sauce every time. I made mine purposefully thick. I then let it down with some chicken stock. The rest of the stock went in the pan boiling the potatoes. 

Once the sauce was cooked through I added the leftover chicken gravy and stirred to combine then let it go cold. 

Once everything is cold mix in the cooked chicken and veg and add some frozen peas. Try not to eat too much at this stage. 

It doesn't look particularly yum but it is! 

Then drain n mash yer spuds and top yer pie! 

It'll go into a hot oven later till the topping is all golden and crunchy! I've some cabbage to serve on the side! 

Here is is fresh out of the oven! Very filling and frugal. Plus it went down a storm with the teen and his sister. 

Also made was a carrot & sultana cake 

That's popping candy! Checked my sprinkles rack and the colours match perfectly! 

I wish that everyone has had an awesome week and that all is well in your world. 

Till next time 

Love from 

Rachel *banned from wool shops* Radiostar xxx 

Who'da thunk it?

Thunk what? I hear you say... 

Tweets about my Birdie Pegs got Lakeland tweeting me about asking their buyers to look into getting some more!!! How vair exciting!! Top notch customer service there! 

@LakelandUK: @rachelradiostar Thanks for the suggestion Rachel, we'll pass on your request to bring back the Birdie Pegs to our buyers.

Squeeeeee! 

So you'll all be pleased to know that a new washing line is in place! 

Today is an excellent drying day. Two loads out n dried! Here you can see my towels pegged at the edge up in the stratosphere I talked about last post! That's nextdoor's shed on my wall - my side is painted blue! ( of course! ) 

Because of the angle you can't see that my pole is blue!! 

Cardigan is done! 

From this...

To this...

I'm really pleased how it turned out considering it was a DK pattern but I used a really chunky wool - origins unknown - just some of my stash! It was supposed to be my first knit of many I planned to make n sell on the bay of E and the Tree of Gum! However, there's a Mum who comes to Night Owls who is expecting a little girl and I like her so she's getting this knit foisted upon her! 

I've got my next knit planned, a very lacy matinee coat for a girl. Just need to go find some wool from the stash upstairs!! 

The Uni one has just text me to say she's just set off home. Her lovely young man has squished most of her belongings into his little mini and is bringing her home. It really does not seem three minutes let alone three years since my dining room table disappeared under piles and piles of stuff, collected ready for her to go to Newcastle.  Lord knows where we are going to put it all!! Especially as her brother has since declared that he's really after an apprenticeship in the world of finance rather than going to the Uni place he already unconditionally holds! Meaning he will have no need of some of the stuff she's bringing back! 

He's lucky really because he has his place already, no matter what! He really does not want to get himself into debt and was really really wobbly at the thought of going away. This suits my apron strings down to the ground! 

Actually, I'm not bothered what he does ( within reason ) as long as he's happy.

But it would seem that for the time being my little house will be bursting at the seams with everyone who belongs in it!  

I know it really won't be forever so I intend to bask in mumdom for as long as I can! She really is a treasure too as I'll come home from work to see all the jobs done and a meal prepared. 

I realise I paint quite the idyllic picture here! Reality is she's one stroppy mare when tired and she's having to come home n obey the rules somewhat since living her life free and independently!! It's going to be a rough week of transition for all concerned! Much biting of tongue ( mine ) will be occurring! I need a calm house so the boy can revise ( or so I can hear him on his x box n then go nag at him to revise!! ) 

I have a hashtag I use on Twitter for moments such as these and I reckon I'll be trotting it out a lot! 

#Bloodykids!! 

I wish I could turn back the time to days like this 

( on a day out oop int Lakes ) 

So what I want to know is how did you cope when your children grew up?? How will you cope?? 

Lots of love from 

Rachel *Mother of the Year NOT* Radiostar xxx

Tales on a Thursday and THE END.

Hello lovely bloggy chums.

I'd like to say thanks again for commenting. I'm getting into the habit of replying and I hope you do get a chance to see them. 

I had planned on telling you about my mobile phone insurance angst. But I didn't want to heap upon you yet another ranty post. 

I will rant though ABOUT MY WASHING LINE THAT SNAPPED JUST AS I PEGGED OUT MY LAST TOWEL *shakes fist* 

It had a steel core. It had already snapped once. Nothing lasts these days. The HG had already fixed it once; this decreased it's natural sag significantly, making me leap up to lasso it down with a towel so I could reach it off my tippy toes! The laundry workout! And bend and stretch! 

Anyway I thought I'd update you on the peonies and the cardigan. 

Survived the winds and rain so far...

( Yes that is a blue pot and yes that is my blue clothes pole! ) 

...this was the red one from my last post... Here it is today...

And here's one I prepared earlier .. This one seems to have bloomed from nowhere! 

Sorry it's like it was too red for my poor phone camera! 

This is just needing it's cuffs and button band. I have a recipient in mind for this. Maybe by the next post it'll be done! 

And here is THE END part of my title. 

And finally, it's a Sad Day at Eternally 28. 

Today my boy formally finished his schooling. Sixth Form should at least last five years I think! 

End of an era. 

End of ironing infernal school shirts. 

End of saying 'watch the roads' everyday at about 8:05am. 

End of maternal fretting if the weather was atrocious. 

End of having to have my shower before or after him in the morning. 

End of packed lunches. HOO BLOODY RAY to that one! 

End of Parents' evenings. 

End of the daily 'How was school? ..... Umm Ok ' fascinating conversation betwixt us. 

End of handing money over to school. End of childhood officially. 

End of an era. 

( Well until the morrow- he's an exam! ) 

How it's zoomed by so fast I don't know. 

I'll just be lamenting over there in the corner. 

What's new with you? 

Lots of love from 

Rachel *Jersey Royals for tea for the first time this year* Radiostar xxx