Suzy's Blog

Saturday morning lie in and picnics in the park...

Oh the indulgence!...It's 8 am on a Saturday and here I am still in bed. Two
dogs one cat, and me, reclining contentedly, watching breakfast t.v whilst the sunshine, (yes, actual sunshine) makes an appearance through my bedroom window.  Can't languish around for too long though, as I've planned a picnic in the park with my dogs later.  I'm fantasising about wine chilling in the stream, cream cheese and smoked salmon nibbles and two impeccably behaved dogs relaxing in the sunshine. I'll be wearing a floppy hat, sunnies and a nice itsy bitsy frock....How lovely, but, dream on I suspect the reality will be a lot different!..

So Maybe a book or two ......

talking  of sun and flimsies , well not exactly .....but I hosted a fantastic 'french fancies' evening with some of my friends .....fair to say they embraced Can Can and oooo La La to perfection.......here is my contribution....

Also later, if this weather continues, I'm looking forward to the possibility of a glass of wine, (or two!) and a meal outside on my terrace, first of many over the summer I hope. Again, I suspect it'll be a case of dream on!..

After the dreams come the nightmare...I have recently been trying to sort out a banking problem on behalf of my Mum. Following a monumental blunder on their part and much wrangling, they finally agreed to send her flowers by way of apology.  Yesterday she finally took delivery of a bouquet of 'flowers'...What a frightening sight, strange looking thistle type things accompanied by angry looking spikey green foliage, all tied up with purple ribbon.  A bit like something from the film The Day Of The Triffids....No doubt about it, this was definitely not sent with love!!

Finally, on a more pleasant note, I am looking forward to a girls only shopping trip soon, can't wait!....
Bye for now!
Sue x

Suzy's Blog

Pink pyjamas and a bit of a do

I am, courtesy of my mother, the proud owner of a pair of bright pink pyjamas. Now, whilst I realise that this isn't exactly headline news, I'm pretty sure that it has some relevance, (probably by coincidence) to the fact that I have always been lousy at early mornings.  Dragging myself out of bed has always been a huge effort for me, and I've long since accepted that I'm definitely not a 'morning person', so the annual change to B. S. T and the loss of a precious hour in bed, always comes as a bit of a shock, (being greeted by a deluge of snow on the first day of summer didn't help either!)....So, anyway, in case you're wondering what I'm rambling on about,  that is the connection to the pink pyjamas!...Well, sort of!..
A couple of weeks on, though, and with a bit of a change in the weather, I am now well and truly out of hibernation, (and pyjamas), and fully embracing the change in seasons. It's not just me, either,Bonbon, my cossetted persian cat, ( who hasn't left the house since last August) has ventured outside.

Ok, so it was a bit of a brief adventure, but nonetheless, there she was, on the terrace, indulging in a spot of sunbathing before returning to her more usual position, sleeping on her favourite cushion by the sitting room window.
As for me, well I've been fussing about in the garden, planting things and reinstating the garden furniture, in the hope that I shall, before too long, be relaxing in the sunshine with a good book and a nice glass of crisp white.....luuuuurvly!
Summer , remember one of those ....well this Blast From The Past was certainly in the sunshine ...

  ? Sunshine ...well who knows , but maybe this is the last time for a warm collar for a while ...we can hope !

Something else to get excited about came out of the blue last week...An invitation to a very glamorous event in London, very swish! Now I wish I could say more but having been sworn to secrecy, (very James Bond), I can say no more till after the do....What I can say though is that, having checked out my wardrobe and found it sadly lacking in anything other than wellies and woollies, some  serious dress shopping is called for, me thinks!!..Whaaay!!
Happy spring everyone, bye for now
Sue x

Suzy's Blog

Snow, Snow, Snow!!

Having spent the weekend virtually snowed in, and with far too much nonproductive time on my hands, I thought I'd do a bit of an update on my event planning.  Friday was particularly frustrating as I wasn't able to get to C & C and change the window display. Even more frustrating was realising that the local paper had done a bit of a feature on us, and poor Russ, (my business colleague) was suddenly swamped by a stampede of 'women of a certain age' clamouring for drinks and cake.  Just hope the interest continues, (and the weather improves)for our event next Saturday...Details below. Looking forward to a fun day, with music, edibles and some great discounts.

Buns and a Boogie event
Saturday 30th March 10am to 5pm
Coffee and Collectables
Titchfield Terrace
Off High Street
Hucknall
Nottinghamshire

Oh well back to shovelling snow away...Happy spring!!
Sue x

Suzy's Blog

 Of Mice and Men (or should that be women?)

 For those of you who have been following my missives you will know that I have been preoccupied of late with a very small mouse which managed to find it's way into my bathroom and set up home amongst the cotton wool balls.  Well, just as I feared, numerous attempts to tempt it out have failed miserably.  I've tried cheese in a box, (not the right cheese, obviously), a chocolate trail, mice adore chocolate apparently, (but not this one), and, my last and most spectacular failure was an attempt to physically catch it, (doomed!)....More on this saga no doubt, over the coming weeks.
 Well the garden is once again covered in a blanket of snow, (a bit miffed really as I actually did some work in the garden recently) what a great start to Spring, (no wonder the mouse prefers to live in my bathroom)...no chance of a glass of wine on my terrace with the sun on my face just yet!  This winter just goes on and on..
 On a happier and more positive note I am pleased to report that the coffee and collectables shop that I'm involved with is doing well.  We have a launch event planned for the 30th of March, music and atmosphere aplenty, so fine weather, pleasssssse!, would be so nice to do some 'dancing on the pavement'!.
 In the meantime though I've some 'ghost busting' to deal with at home. I guess a resident spirit is a prerequisite in a very old house,

 and so far I think I've been very tolerant of mine.  Missing keys, phones etc, cold spots and strange goings on, I can cope with all those, but now he/she is affecting my animals. Poor Olive is terrified and refusing to come out of the downstairs loo, and Bonbon is acting strangely  as well, so something has to be done...Oh dear, why does the film The exorcist keep springing to mind?....Noooooo! 
 Talking of old things, I've come across a few nice pieces recently which I couldn't resist buying.  I especially like the 1920's scent bottle I found in a junk shop complete with a tiny drop of perfume at the bottom. I'd love to know more about the person who used it, I like to think of her as  young and beautiful, wearing it for a date with a handsome beau....or maybe for an illicit tryst, (oooooh very naughty!) my imagination is definitely running away with me now. Might she even have been the wife of a successful landowner with a high social standing? the possibilities are endless!.. There could actually be a novel here, or even a movie. Yes  I know I'm getting carried away a bit, but indulge me a little. A Florence setting, lots of opera in the background, and Johnny Depp as the hero, I can see it all now....Book, Movie, Soundtrack!.Cannes here I come!!
 Anyway, back down to earth and before I start choosing a ball gown and rehersing an awards ceremony acceptance speech, I'd better get into my other role as domestic goddess.  Some serious baking is called for in order to produce sufficient cakes for the aforementioned launch party, now where's my pinny?....Soooo rock n roll!!

Talking of ball gowns which I was  well gowns at least .....Here is a Blast From The Past taken in beautiful Sierra Leone

 That's about all for now.....Happy Easter everyone, I wish you all lots of lovely choccy eggs...and Sunny days sat outside just like this .....

 Sue x

Suzy' s Blog

My Friends and other animals

Talking of animals,which I wasn't , but which seem to occupy most of my time , so I always seem to be talking about them or to them ... (No mention of horse meat I promise!) I seem to have an extra pet, or should that be an uninvited house guest, in the form of a mouse.  Now I know for a lot of people, this would be a terrifying prospect. My Mum, for instance, would have run for the hills by now, but I am made of sterner stuff. After all, I have my weapon of mass destruction. Ok she looks harmless enough now, sleeping on her cushion, but Bonbon, my persian cat is a force to be reckoned with especially where intruders are concerned, (I am slightly concerned as to how the mouse got past the cat in the first place, but, I'll not judge!!).....Well as they appear to be now friends hmmm... I thought A little cartoon of the new friendship might be appropriate 

Now that February is well underway, (I've already had my birthday and Valentines day has been and gone) I was rather surprised to get a Christmas card yesterday. Early or late?, I'm not quite sure, but it seems a shame not to display it, so It now has pride of place on the fireplace in all its festive glory.(maybe I should reinstate the tree and have my own early yuletide)....Funny thing is , the same thing happened last year, same card from the same person.  Need to have a word, I think...

Most of you who know me will know that I am an avid reader and often have two or three books on the go at any one time , I'm also often heard to say " never judge a book by the cover " Well with that in mind here is something found in a bookstore recently ...

I guess, bearing in mind that spring is just around the corner, I should seriously consider coming out of hibernation.  I have spent almost every evening cocooned in my cottage, log fire blazing layer upon layer of clothing on (no onesies though, I draw the line at that!) with a good book ( Maybe the one above , although my Mum is reading it at the moment , I did explain it's not about me )  and the animals curled at my feet, well, on the sofas, to be more precise...But, not for much longer!....I shall soon be up and at 'em!...Gardening, spring cleaning, tidying, toiling away long into the evening, full of energy and enthusiasm, Oh Yes!!...In the meantime, however as the temperature drops again and the swirling fog is like something out of Sherlock Holmes movie, I think I'll definitely be staying by the fire for the time being....Maybe a onesie isn't such a bad idea after all, pink spotted one or a tiger look    I think!..

For now I think log fires and a G and T is the best bet ...

I'll finish with a nod to my more frugal side, (it doesn't show itself very often I have to admit) I've been very tempted to cheer up these long winter days with a spot of retail therapy, but as I've been on a strict shopping diet since Christmas, I have to constantly remind myself of an inspiring phrase by Calvin Coolidge, U.S President 1923 to 1929...He advised, 'There is no dignity quite so impressive, and no independence quite so important as living within your means'......Hmmm! Something I definitely have trouble with!...

Bye for now x

Suzy's Blog

February

Well, happy February everyone, a much maligned time of the year, but, as it's my birthday month, and we have Valentines day also, I've learned to love it...
I am, as I type enjoying my favourite activity, (or should that be inactivity!) of the week....Sunday papers and breakfast in bed. Even the dogs are chilled out and snoozing at the bottom of the bed, they know that there'll be no walks till 11 at the earliest..then its all

..bless!

 Now, back to the papers and before I can actually read any of them, I have to do the usual cull of the supplements. financial pages, far too worrying, consigned to the cat litter tray, health bit, too scary to read, straight in the bin, travel, not planning a holiday so that's gone, driving, well that has to be the most boring of all but makes good fire kindling, and so on...Which leaves me with, well, not a lot really, but it'll still take a couple of enjoyable few hours to get through what's left.  Anyway, something interesting that caught my eye today was in the property section. It seems that the place to have these days is one that has a connection to a famous person or event, then it can be adorned with an English Heritage plaque.  Having once lived in such a house I was quite miffed that I missed such a prestigious opportunity.  However, all is not lost, it appears that, having researched my current property and discovered that nothing of interest ever took place in my cottage,

 I can still have such a plaque, it would say something like..'.On this day in 1700 absolutely nothing happened here'....Sounds perfect to me!.

Well ....I generally throw in a blast from the past ....but today maybe a more recent one ...

Well rather than a Blast From The Past....maybe a pic outside my new venture with a friend ...a fab cafe and antiques and collectables shop ....so lots of blasts from the past I guess....

Oh well, enough of all this, best get walking, come on you two let's get going...


Happy Sunday everyone.
X

Suzy's Blog

Delia and other domestic ideas

I woke today to another snowy day and decided the only cure for it was breakfast in bed with the morning papers, followed by a long walk with the dogs..Have to say the former was considerably more enjoyable than the latter.  Attempting to walk two strong excitable dogs on ice and snow resulted in more manouvers than a contestant on Dancing on Ice.
On the plus side, though, spending more time than usual confined indoors has brought out my inner domestic goddess, (never thought I'd hear myself say that!)...I now have a (almost) gleaming house, and a kitchen full of my attempts at baking...Scones, pastries, cakes, you name it, I've made it!...Have to admit to a disaster with a panna cotta though, the finished item bore more than a passing resemblance to a breast implant, too much gelatin I think! (maybe I can patent it)!?

You get the idea......well sort of......

I did manage to get out of snow boots and that eskimo look for a moment .....although not for long brrrrr

Well , if I can get the car out today I'm doing a spot of antique hunting ( a favourite pastime) ,,,

And talking of Blasts from the Past .....and bringing back memories of glorious sunshine ( if you can remember such days) ...

Time to go, think I can smell something burning!...
Sue x