oh dear oh dear

I just do not know why MY page crashes when I try to add photo's  its driving me nuts

Look what I found in My "DRAWERS"

These cute Shabby Chic  " Pot Holders"
next blog my attempt  read on

Bud Lightyear comes to Penang

well What a laugh my husband and I had  when our grandson Mitchel said he was ready to come out with us  ,
 and little scooby  was left behind

from snow in London To Rain in Penang Malaysia

Sorry everyone , have not blogged as the Internet connection is very slow , and it has taken too long ,


Well finally we had the permission from Ben’s surgeon that he could fly and make this wonderful holiday to out Favourite Island, at the last moment we upgraded our seats to Business Class as Ben had been so poorly, mind you he nearly had a relapse when he found out “ HOW MUCH”!!

Oh well you cannot take it with you can you.

The flight was fabulous actually we just both slept all the way no champagne all the extra goodies nothing at all and did not watch any films, just slept extremely comfortable indeed.

When we arrived in Penang we were greeted by the driver from the Eastern & Oriental ( E & O ) Hotel and taken to meet with Michael & Beatrice Saxon and her family Mike is the Manager there although he has just been promoted so this will be his last Christmas here , we had a couple of Wines chatted a while then we retrieved our Luggage which we have stored there every year which has grown to a bloody great big trunk and what with the luggage we brought with us this time OMG so much
on the 1st dec  they had the most wonderful  tree lighting  celebrations  with about 200 people  all food and drink complimentary   Lovely jubbly   .. see pic 1.

For the first time ever we where driven to our rented penthouse apartment (recommended by great friends of ours) it is in the Tanjong Bungah area which is right in the middle between George Town where the E & O Hotel is and Batu Ferringhi Beach

This is a wonderful Place we are on the 17th Floor, it actually has 6 bedrooms including the maids room, 2 single balconies and 1 very large balcony which runs all along the main sitting rooms

4 bathrooms and the living area are extremely large also laundry room ( wet room ) and an excellent fully stock kitchen . We were delighted with the kitchen as it was stocked with all the normal dry good so we have not had to go and buy things like washing up liquids and Persil sugar etc etc jus our fresh food. Also it has a rather nicely stock Bar .

This complex is gated with great security it also has a Gym 2 swimming pools library stocked with all the latest novels ands magazine and also DVDs and videos and also cds.

What is also great is that we know people that live in our Block so they have been very welcoming

I have taken photos but they look dark

We have been here for 2 weeks and a bit and I must say I am so disappoint ed in the weather we have only sat around the pool twice and that was for about 1 hour each time, Yes I understand it has been the worse weather in the UK for 100 years ,,one day I stayed inside and put my costume on just for the sake of it , it is hot here though in the 80s.
moan moan moan I Know I Know.
 but sorry guys that does not lift my spirits ,

We have visited the Straits Quay this is a brand new complex ( E & O properties) and it was like being in the USA , amazing I cannot begin to tell you, it almost feel that you are not in Penang at all it is almost a small Town with many small terrace houses then they get bigger and bigger with pools and gardens plus there are going to be 2/3 Tower block with studio . 2/3/4/5 beds apartments all finished to the highest standard we have looked at the show place a few times it is so tempting to by one. As we do spend 4/5 months here every year.

In centre of this complex there is a dome this Is a covered area of huge proportions at the present time it has the biggest Christmas tree which is about the height of a house with a counter levered balcony  all around then also there was a 3 piece orchestra playing music of all types carols classic and even manged to get the on lookers singing it was amazing , also around this area inside and out there are fabulous trendy restaurants Italian and Chinese plus many more just in the throws of opening it is exciting to be here well this new place is just coming alive



.  2 days ago our youngest daughter arrived with her 2 boys she is staying at the Lone Pine  the E & O  sister Hotel at the Beach  this Hotel has just had a huge renovation it is fan bloody tastic   a true Boutique Hotel  and I shall be staying  there perhaps next vist   I shall switch between the 2 ,
  and  Yes we were around the pool in glorious sunshine  until around 3 then the heavens opened .
 Today we are not sure what we are planning except  that it is our last full day at this apartment and I ave a big Chicken in the freezer so and cooking the family  a Roast Chicken dinner

Yesterday went to Jolies in Walken Stevenage  , this is where we Knit and Chat  have fab latte  and yummy cake  Plus of course knit or crochet   and looked around the best little aladdins cave  around

 what a great time we all have  and laugh so much it hurts 
thanks to Linda and Danni

and heres my Friend Jennifer Haley
" Snow Queen"
she is a wonderful friend
and drives me to Jolies
every Tuesday
Thanks Jen

last christmas

last christmas

as I am  NOT around this chrismas  it will be really sad that I shall not be putting up a tree at home  so I am adding last years to cheer me up if I get down  when I am sunning myself on the beach

Finished a christmas present



Delighted that I finished this yesterday , this was forced apon  me as Crochet class was cancellled so HAD to do it  ,,,, so unlike me to leave this UFO for so long. I am giving it to my Brother Darrell and my Dear Sister in Law Patsy this Saturday , as we are away in Malaysia for Christmas , HOPEFULLY if my Dear Hubby gets the go ahead to fly .

"willow"  quilt  front,,, Oy Max  clear off  you cheeky Monkey

"Willow"  the Back using up the scraps

and using the rest of the scraps for Prarie points

no blog

sorry about no blogging   hubby in hospital after complications of a hernia operation , thankfully came home last night 9pm, never seen bruising like it  OUCH!

But in case you are wondering what I have been up to    well I went to JOLIES  best knitting shop in UK   and learnt  to crochet   Knitting is not one of my best talents by any means  so thought I'd try crochet  well the first square took me 11 hours   but did not give in and I now have managed to make  12 squares  and it is going to be a small blanket for my cute little rescue dog Lil  I shall take it back to Jolies this Tuesday  and learn the edgings and putting together.  I WOULD LIKE TO MENTION  THIS WILL NOT BE REPLACING QUILTING................NEVER

My Amazing Halloween

remember my miss spelt pumpkin

well My daughters dog ate it. OMG  thanks fully  my darling  made me another

 My Daughter Jessica  this is her  first attempt  at Make Up, I thinks it amazing  it bloody well scared me  thats for sure

 Paul  Jessicas Husband

 My son Jamie as Burke and Hare

 My HOuse

Josie & Jessie

always check the spelling !!!!!!

Totally forced my Darling Hubby to carve a Pumpkin for us this year as he does so well and an excellent job
he was  occcupied for about 2hours,  but should have checked his spellings
he is gutted    Bless .........................

the twins sleep over

My lovely Josie and Jessie slept over on Friday Night , and as usual we had the jumping on the bed , pillow fights and the normal  bedtime  Larks, I said in the morning  I hope you are going to make the bed , never for one moment thinking they would , I was amazed when I looked in later to see the bed perfectly made,  a 1st class job  and there  was Peter and Jemima  laying on the pillows, all together now arhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh .

what a great quilting week and a bit

firstly  I have finished the top of the shaded turns and twists quilt   by Janet Goddard  and I am delighted with it, Carol at "Just between friends" thought it looked like a Willow Pattern so I have called it " WILLOW"
 so hopefully I shall get it totally finished   by then end of the week.

Then Yesterday Yippee I was at Just Between Friends again this time being taught the " Lone Star" by Fiona Shepherd ,

the photos are not doing this great quilt  any justice at all, , it is a great Quilt  and Fiona  a very excellent teacher  thanks Fiona.

I got home after the class with the idea of getting the top finished  as I managed 1 quarter in the class then my machine went on the blink, and my luck was in , as when I tried my sewing machine  again it was fine, so perhaps a car journey did the trick.  I was just getting going on the next pieces, when my daughter Jemma her husband and 2 boys  called  by , and did I fancy a kebab  at the wood oven  and so off we went  it was cheap and yummy, and local,. on the way home some how I ended up having  Mitchel ( 3) for a sleep over . so forget the sewing for that night, However I managed to get up early and it was finished by 11 and Mitchel slept in until 9.30  so all was happy in our house,  as Ben my excellent husband  did breakfast of eggy soldiers  for M , and bless him he has just cooked us a steak dinner . , I am so lucky

great news

Today I heard lovely news  that a friend of my is expecting a baby , will not say  who it is yet. so happy days.
I am almost finished making the top of the twists and turns quilt, I made 2 blocks up wrong and needed to unpick them DAM.
I also got a call  from Carol; at Just between Friends Quilt shop that some one had  dropped out of the " Lone Star"  Quilt Class tomorrow and would I like it  YES PLEASE  I said , so another whole quilting day to look forward too. cannot wait.
We got to rush teaching a quilt class myself this morning 

Goodbye to My doll Making Years

 half lady dolls
poured from moulds using liquid porcelain slip.

 all painted by hand

 then fired in a my kiln

and made into a little sewing caddy

this photo is of my friend Emma with one of the Modern dolls I made

 My doll teaching/ making days are soon to be over after 15 years   time for new things

Clearing out the wardrobes

Well a day off from sewing today , so I did some clothes. Shopping for the forthcoming holiday and after dinner decided to clear out 4 wardrobes and 5 wicker baskets , managed to throw out 2 sacks of clothes I have not worn for ages .
Bet the regret it when they go down the Charity shop

Another Class another Quilt

Saturday  when Max had just left with his Dad I was just about to sit and rest with a good coffee and a newspaper, when I needed to phone my fave Quilt Shop , and HORROR of HORROR  was told I was meant to be in a Quilt Class  which I'd booked weeks ago,
 Well I have never rushed so much in my life  grabbed  a sewing machine and the very basics  rulers  cottons and I was 1  1/2 hour late  so no talking for me . The Tutor today was Janet Goddard I have been top a few classes of hers and I am always very happy , " All the Blues" was hers also  which is shown somewhere on this blog.

this was is called shaded twists and turns, It is a lot of cutting , but decided to make 1 block and then cut out the rest . I have had to chose these fabric ( from my fave shop Just Between Friends in Buckhurst Hill) as these are the colors my sister in Law Patsy and my brother Darrell's  bedroom is,  I am making this for them as a Christmas Present I am not always so generous  but Darrell is with me so what goes around and all that .
I managed to do  all the cutting on Sunday Morning,  and I have sewn 6 blocks together today only 14  more to go .

todays events and the "PINK CUPCAKE QUILT "

very tired today  as its 3 nights with Max sleeping over  and although he is a great sleeper I worry all night long as to if he is OK , silly Me
tonight I was having a dinner party but that was cancelled  so I made  Meat and Potaoe Pies for Jessica and her family (of 5) 1 pie for my best friends and neighbour and her husband , and another for my other neighbour Molly  as she is on her own , then made 2 for us  for the freezer , I had diet chilli for dinner and I feel so cheated  after making all those yummy pies.
also had to take my grandaughter Jessie (8) to have a tooth out   as she had an abcess poor thing when I got her home I gave her the PINK CUPCAKE  quilt  which was for her birthday on 15th November , but what the heck  I shall get something else, anyway she wrapped herself in it on the sofa  and went fast asleep  I wished I'd taken a photos now .
 its 9 o/c pm and I am so ready for bed  but it is just too early

Tomorrow

 shall be walking the dog and our grand son Max  around this Lake which is Higham Park and is 2 m ins from our home
lets hope it does not rain

where has the last 4 weeks gone

met up at the Roding quilt group tonight  I cannot believe that 4 weeks has gone past  so quickly,  no serious sewing for me for the next 4 days as I have Max  whilst his Mum is on a course and dad is working , so he is staying with us, he is a cute little lad ,  he is not walking yet so he will be filling my every waking hour, , this Friday I am having a dinner party for 6 plus have Max and also I have the wonderful task of taking my granddaughter Jessie to have a tooth out she  is 8 , and my daughter Jessica ( her MUM) is to scared  to take her , I am not looking forward to it either so  it busy busy busy .

AND Finally last last CUP CAKE phew !!!!

AND FINALLY the last Cup Cake Quilt I shall be making for a VERY VERY  Long Time Hopefully

Autumn has arrived   , my 3 granddaughters  and I have been out picking conkers  and we all cannot play for toffees, and all have bruised wrists and thumbs where we have missed our shot.
mind you looks quite nice on the Autumn  Door Wreath which  I brought the other day .
I am looking after Max who is  1 year 2 months , my twin granddaughters  Josie & Jessie almost  8 and Olivia  almost  12 year. Josie & Max had a sleep over last night and  Max and Olivia are staying over tonight.
 Tomorrow I have my 2 brothers and family coming for a a Leg of lamb dinner, and in the evening I need to rush  as I am going to see  " An Audience  with Kevin Spacey " this was a surprise and I only found out yesterday .