Looking Forward, Looking Back!

The last two weeks for me have been like a seesaw! On one hand trying to finish a table runner in time for my friend Margaret's 60th Birthday which is this coming Wednesday 14th May and on the other I was still receiving birthday presents of my own until Friday 9th May. My dear friend Judy and her husband bought me this:

Of all the quilting books out there, this is the one I have wanted for ages but could never seem to be able to find it in any of the shops. Thank You Judy and Wayne, you must have got the last copy in Bendigo.

We had a busy weekend. I finished the table runner and had it packed up with an Afternoon Tea Set by Friday afternoon. A quick phone call to Margaret to make sure she would be home on Saturday and we set off at 8am Saturday arriving in Launching Place just after 10.30am.

Margaret had home made soup simmering away in the kitchen excellent for the cold damp day it was down in the Dandenongs.

Here is the table runner. (I can show you now, as Margaret has had a peek at it and re wrapped it)! It is a Blue Willow Cottage design. Easy to do with very clear instructions.

Last Monday, four of us in our sewing group made this bag.

The original was in shades of yellow and light brown with a daisy on the front. I have used my scraps from some South African fabric called Schwe Schwe. Schwe Schwe has an interesting history as it was first designed in England by De Gama before the Second World War. It is pure cotton and very sturdy rather like calico to the feel. It is quite stiff until washed, then it becomes quite soft. When fabric became metric the old imperial looms were sent to South Africa and set up in a place called King William Town, which is between Cape Town and Port Elizabeth. It was originally blue and white but now is available in red/white, brown/white, and deep yellow/white.

On Thursday last week, I went to Castlemaine for the day. My friend Carol and I caught the train at Bendigo. It is just under half an hour and the cost $1.50 concession (single) and $3.10 ordinary (single). We went to www.habadash.com.au The lady who owns it is Sonia. Sonia made us welcome and has a huge range of all sorts. In fact her card says; Vintage, Antique Buttons, Bits and Bobs! Sonia has packed so much into her little shop. She has the most amazing range of embroidered cloths, some have a crochet edges, cut work and all are very pretty. If you ever get to go to Castlemaine you must pay Sonia a visit. Opening hours are; Thursday to Sunday 11am to 5pm.

Sunday we went to Shepparton to see our daughter, her partner and the darling Jorja. I would have had photographs but 'someone' left his camera there! We had a good day out, bought a bookcase which we have actually had to have made so it won't be ready for four weeks. Can't wait to tidy up and get all the books off the floor!

The Celebrations Continue!

As most of you know, I retired on 4th April. (The day before my 60th birthday). However, my daughter decided that I really needed a party to celebrate the retirement and birthday. She set about arranging a surprise birthday tea with some of my (now) old work friends and some long standing personal friends. She also managed to find out who my sewing group friends are. (Methinks she has been into my computer's address book!)

So on Saturday 26th April, I was instructed to be ready and dressed by 1.30pm. I was then taken by my husband to The Shamrock Hotel. (That's the posh one in Bendigo)

These pictures are what I saw as I entered the room. I was so surprised to see all the friends there. They know how to keep secrets these people.

These beautiful Singapore Orchids are from my work friends.

Pair of African Spoons from my friend Pat who also gave me a kit for this lovely cat cushion a couple of weeks ago. Thank you Pat, they are lovely and I'm pleased with the way my cushion has turned out.The bookmark came from Sandra. (She knows that I read a lot). The door tassel was made by Margaret, one of my work friends who will also be retiring soon. Thanks both of you.

This lovely fabric selection was from Jorja's 'other' Nanna, Ann. That's her 2nd from the right in pink next to 'Poppy' in the blue shirt. Great mix Ann, thank you so much.The Monday Sewing group gave me the tin and fabric below. The tin actually contains 6 reels of thread, a pair of scissors, tape measure, thimble and needles. Thanks girls, I will take it on holiday for those little repairs that always pop up when you least expect.

I had a birthday cake too. They didn't take the chance of lighting 60 candles in case we set the building on fire! Just as well, I had trouble blowing out the ones they did light!

This little person completed my day. Jorja was so good (and very tired by the end of it). She spotted the chocolate cake first off so we couldn't persuade her to eat a sandwich. Still it didn't do her any harm. I was more worried that she would be sick in the car on the way home, (they have an hour and a half drive). She slept all the way so I need not have worried.

Thank you everyone, I had a great day and really enjoyed myself.

Quilting Retreat

Friday 11th April, myself and six friends went to a beach house in St. Leonard's (half an hour out of Geelong) For a weekend of quilting and fun.

Two of us from Bendigo, one from Shepparton, one from Cohuna, one from Castlemaine and two from Launching Place. I was the only person who knew everyone.

As you can see, we settled in quickly with sewing machines at the ready.

One of the girls had done her homework and found a few nice patchwork shops around the area. Saturday morning we headed out to, 'A Little Different' in Pakington St. Geelong. It is actually in a side street but the address is Pakington St. A few doors down I found 'African Fusion'. Lovely little shop selling African and other Third World wares. I bought a CD. 'Music from the Coffee Lands'. It has that Latin American beat which is very easy to listen to.

Also found 'The Blanket Box' another patchwork shop along the Bellarine Highway. Nipped into Spotlight to buy some chenille pipe cleaners, and stayed a bit longer than we thought we would as they had some fabric we couldn't live without all reduced to $5 a metre.

One of the ladies, my friend Margaret, (who I have known since I was 14 at school in England) from Launching Place, presented me with this lovely quilt for my birthday. I was gobsmacked to say the least. Thank you Margaret, I love it to bits.

Birthday Quilt

We started a quilt for a young lady I know who has been diagnosed with Breast Cancer. We all donated two fat quarters and this is the result. The top is finished. I will organise for the batting and backing this weekend.

We had a nice little project to sew for ourselves too.

Cup and Saucer Pincushion

This was fun to make. Next time I will remember to include the extra quarter inch for seams! Well, you can't do everything right all the time can you. LOL

I also started a bag, (which I will finish this week and show you next post). along with a small Golly wall hanging which just needs eyes and lips!

On the way home on Monday we passed through Daylesford and decided to stop for lunch and a browse around. Found 'Pearl's Palace' which is an Aladdin's Cave of goodies. Japanese fabrics, Knitting wool and all sorts of yummy odds and ends to delight you.

Thank you to all the ladies who came to our Quilting Weekend. I enjoyed it very much and Thank You all for your friendship and willingness to muck in and help. I hope very much we will be able to do it again sometime.

Life's interuptions and interludes!

First off today I have altered my blogging comments so that I will get to read them before they are printed. I have done this because I have had three 'suspect' comments left over the last couple of weeks. Yesterday's comment was left on 'African Nights, Australian Days' from a couple of months back. If anyone is interested to see the sort of content these mindless idiots write, please have a look. I also get endless amounts of 'Spam' on my emails for which I have a filter.
Now for something completely different!
Sarah, from http/everythingstopsfor tea.blogspot/ has tagged me to reveal things in Fours.
Thanks Sarah, it should be fun as I haven't written anything down, so what you read is just out of my head at this minute.
Here goes!

Four jobs I have had.

Junior typist in a Shipping Office.
Student Nurse
Travel Agency Clerk
Medical Records Clerk

Four favourite Movies.

Jazz Singer, with Neil Diamond (My all time favourite)
Three Coins in a Fountain, Doris Day. (The first grown-up movie I can remember going to see)
Jumanji, Robin Williams
All the Harry Potter Movies. (Sorry Mary, but I do love them!)

Four places I have lived.

Orrell Park, Liverpool, England
Garston/Allerton, Liverpool, England
Gosport, England
Bendigo, Australia

People I want to 'Bitch Slap' right into the middle of next week!

Paris Hilton
Britney Spears
Some people I used to work with. because they are too stupid to listen and learn, insist on doing the job their way and constantly getting it wrong.
Drivers who overtake you, only to get in front then slow down to a speed at least 10 klms under the limit. This always happens to me at the end of the over taking lane and the road narrows at this point so you have no chance of ever getting past them.

People who email regularly

Margaret, aka Magsy from Launching Place.
Irene, my Sister-in-Law from South Africa.
Joy, a good friend from Perth, Western Australia.
Claire, a travelling buddy I met in New Zealand, who lives in Adelaide, South Australia

Fictional TV Shows.

Neighbours
Home and Away
Desperate Housewives
Life on Mars

Non-Fictional TV Shows.

Top Gear
Mythbusters
Foreign Correspondent
The Michael Palin adventures

Places I have visited.

Singapore
Spain
South Africa
New Zealand

Favourite foods

Roast Pork with all the trimmings.(stuffing, applesauce, roast potatoes and heaps of carrot and swede)
Prawn curry with boiled rice
Anything Sweet and Sour with Fried Rice
Tiramisu (not the commercial brands) It has to be home-made to an authentic Italian recipe which was given to me by Irene in South Africa.

Where I want to be right now.

Liverpool. Because it is Spring there and it's just been snowing!
Sitting by the pool in Sister-in-Laws back garden in South Africa.
Iceland, in one of the thermal pools
In the kitchen making breakfast!

Things I'm looking forward to this year.

Jorja's 2nd birthday in June.
Holiday to UK in August
Holiday to South Africa in September
Johannesburg Quilt Festival (also in September)

That's it. Well, it was a lot of fun remembering and looking forward to.
I'm off to food shop today for a weekend sewing retreat down at the beach. There will be photos next week.

Be good while I'm gone.

New Beginnings...............

.........................Or, The First Day of the Rest of My Life!

It's finally happened! That 'fork in the road' I mentioned a few posts ago has finally arrived.

I retired on Friday! So far the road has been smooth, but I've been a bit on edge. I expect this feeling will subside as time goes by.

The office threw me a lunch party. They ordered lunch from a local pub which does excellent take-away food and bought me a lovely Lemon Sour Cake. It was delicious!

Also received a voucher for $100 to be redeemed at a local jewellers. I might wait until they have their sale to buy, but in the meantime I will go and have a look at what they have.

Retirement Cake

As some of you know, Saturday was my birthday. I am now officially an old lady, having reached the U.K. pension age ! Yes I know, I live in Australia but I can claim my U.K. pension, which isn't much but, 'Every little helps' (as the old lady said, when she peed in the sea!) My mothers favourite quote. I had a birthday cake at work as well, which was made for me by one of the girls who makes the most amazing cakes. I don't know where she gets the time, she lives on a farm 40 minutes outside Bendigo, has three children under seven and works full-time. Linda you are fantastic! Thank you for making my 'Fruit & Nut Surprise' Sorry, no pictures of it, all eaten before I could get the camera out.

I was out for morning tea with two friends who spoilt me rotten. Thank you Pat and Carol. I returned home just after midday to find my Son, Daughter and Partner plus the darling Jorja here to greet me and take me out for lunch. Poor Husband had to work all weekend so couldn't help me celebrate.

A Selection of my presents

Not a perfect photo but you can see that I was rather spoilt. My darling Jorja gave me a copy of her favourite book. "Guess How Much I Love You". Kevin bought me two tone gold earrings. He doesn't usually buy anything like this without me being there but took a chance this time and chose perfectly. They are really lovely and "Just me".

Jorja with her Mummy

Happy Easter Everyone.

Easter in Bendigo is a great time for young and old. We have lots of activities all over the city. The Antique and Collectibles Fair is always a great success and I usually go along and spend hours looking at all the stuff from a bygone era. I like to daydream about where certain items might have come from. Who used them and who decided to sell them. I like to collect Beer Steins, only have five up to now. Genuine ones are quite rare here. When I say genuine, I suppose that I really mean, Made in Germany (or thereabouts).

The first one I bought was in 1969. It cost 11/- in old money. That's 55p in UK and about $1.20 Australian. To buy now, you are looking at, A$30+

The Wood Turners always have demonstrations and interesting items for sale. Over the years we have bought some nice pieces from them too. Mostly to give away as presents. One of the men is known to me as I work with his wife. He made a clock from local timber some years ago for us to take to my Brother-in-Law in South Africa. My Brother-in-Law was born in Australia and is also a timber worker in his spare time. The clock was the perfect gift.

The fun fair comes to Bendigo with all the rides and sideshows imaginable and when my children were teenagers they spent all their pocket money on these, only to end up being sick at the end of the day with the mix of hot dogs, candy floss and hair raising rides.

Every two years there is a quilt show put on by a local group. The work from these ladies is excellent and always a joy to see. We have some very talented ladies, they raise money with a quilt raffle and make quilts to give away to sick children in hospital. They are always busy making something whether it be for themselves or to give away.

Easter Monday there is a street parade. It starts around 12 o'clock winding it's way through the centre of town.

In Bendigo we have the largest Imperial Dragon outside of China. He is called Sun Loong and he only makes an appearance once a year on Easter Monday. Then only if it is not raining! Sun Loong brings up the rear of the street parade, for most people he is the highlight of the parade. A spectacular sight with fire crackers popping all around him.

To-morrow night there will be fireworks over the lake. While this looks nice with the reflection on the water, I have to wonder if they are doing the right thing by the wild life who live on and around the lake.

One event I never miss, is the second hand book sale conducted by the YMCA. Every year they collect unwanted books, magazines, records, tapes and CD's from all over. You can always be sure of a bargain. The paperbacks start at 50c each. (Mills and Boon are even cheaper! I think I saw them 10 for $1. Not my cup of tea but you wouldn't be without a book at that price.) I bought 10 paperbacks and Kevin managed to pick up two almost new Wilbur Smith Hardbacks for $2 each. He reads the paperback version and keeps the hardbacks in his bookcase.

Here are the ten that I bought. Some I will take on holiday and if they don't fit into my case on the way home I will leave them for someone else to enjoy. There are two Liverpool authors amongst this collection. Lyn Andrews is a particular favourite of mine. She writes about real streets in 'my' city, so I am reading her books and picturing myself in the street or district in which it is set. I am looking forward to reading Alexander Cordell, (1914 - 1997) Land of Hearts Desire. He's a writer from way back and is probably most famous for Song of the Earth, and Rape of the Fair Country.

New Friends and Old..................

....................and the best Scone Recipe ever!

Over the last couple of months I have made a new friend. Pat is from South Africa and has come to live in Bendigo with her husband and two teenage children. She is a quilter who does the most amazing work you have ever seen. Pat also belonged to the same quilt group that my Sister-in-Law belongs to in S.A. We swapped recipe books a couple of weeks ago and one scone recipe in it I particularly liked the look of. (I must make that one, I said to myself). Well yesterday I got the opportunity as a very old friend came back into my life.

Margaret was my bridesmaid almost 34 years ago. We met at work in 1971 and remained friends for many years. Then suddenly about 6 years ago I stopped getting Christmas cards and mine to her was returned to me around May the following year, with 'Not known at this address'. Each time I went back to England I enquired about Margaret but no one had seen her.

About three weeks ago (On the Sunday) I received photos of my old school from another friend's brother. The school is to be demolished soon and the photos were to say the least, most depressing. This prompted me to have a look on The Friends Re-United site and have a look to see who was registered. I found Margaret's brother listed, so I wrote to him. It turns out that his is now also living in Australia and also in Victoria. The following day (Monday) I had an email from him asking for my phone number as he said that he had some news which would put a smile on my face. Tuesday, I got the phone call to say that Margaret is arriving in Melbourne the following Monday! Well I was gobsmacked to say the least.

When Margaret arrived she rang me and we had a great time yapping away to each other, laughing crying etc., She told me that they were hiring a campervan and travelling around Victoria for the next two weeks. Friday night she phone's to say they are in Echuca and will be into Bendigo in the morning, so yesterday we met again after eleven years! (and I got a chance to make the scones)!

So here we are old friends re-united! We spent a lovely day together. Looking at photos of our children and grandchildren. Wow! what a difference eleven years makes.

Now for the scone recipe:

RICH BUTTERMILK SCONES

350g S.R Flour

1 tablespoon Baking Powder (I know it's a lot)

pinch of salt

1 tablespoon of sugar

2 medium eggs

150 mls cream

150 mls buttermilk

Preheat oven 220 degrees C. and grease a large baking tray.

Place flour, BP, Salt and Sugar into a large mixing bowl. Stir until all the ingredients are evenly mixed. Make a well in the centre.

Beat together the eggs, cream and buttermilk. Pour into centre of flour mix. Mix with a fork until the dough holds together. Turn onto a well floured board and knead very lightly with well floured hands for no more than 1 minute. Lightly press dough down to about an inch high. cut out scones as close together as possible, re-knead the scraps of dough and cut another scone or two. Place well apart on the baking tray and put into oven for about 10 - 15 minutes.

Makes 15-20 scones depending on size. (I made 18)

Serve with lots of cream and your favourite jam!

(Sorry no photo's we ate them all!) LOL