Dr Who

A broken hand, Dusting is out and Apple Pie

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Hello everyone, how are you all? Hope you are all well and had a good day today. I had the best day I’ve had this week, but more on that in a minute. Do you like the image above? Well, I happened to be scrolling through a free image site and stumbled across some lovely stone images. As the descendent of a stonemason (true), I really love carved stone. So, to celebrate the art of stonemasonry, today’s blog is dedicated to beautiful things carved in stone.

Right, why was today the best day this week? It’s because I am no longer in pain. And why is that? Because my right hand is not broken (as I thought it might be on Tuesday – aka extreme pain day – or even yesterday – aka very painful day) and is recovering quickly. Here’s what happened – I woke up in the middle of the night on Monday night in extreme pain from the back of my right hand. I had no idea what I had done to it. I had not bashed it or hurt it that day. So, I got up on Tuesday in extreme pain (thank God for painkillers), got the kids to school and spent the day binge watching Grace & Frankie on Netflix (love that show, so funny) and debating whether or not to go to the hospital for an x-ray.

Any of you who have been following this blog for a while will know that I have spent a lot of time up at our local hospital over the last few years what with my husband’s illness and an extremely accident prone daughter (my son, who is 10, has been up there for the Minor Injuries Unit twice; my daughter, who is 13, has been up there about ten times). Anyway, I was reluctant to go, but I eventually relented and went yesterday. One examination and an x-ray later and it’s not broken. Phew. However the nurse did ask how it happened and here’s what’s weird – the only time I hurt it was last week when a tin of beans (or something similar) fell on it from the cupboard. That was extremely painful and the air was blue with expletives. Anyway, it hurt for a while and then the pain went away. Then I went to Pilates on Monday and it felt sore, but only when I put some weight on it. Afterwards, there was no pain…until the middle of the night. I can only think I have ‘reopened’ (for want of a better word) the injury. The nurse thought that might be it too. She said when the can hit my hand I had essentially tenderised my hand.  Ew, the thought of that.

Anyway, it stopped any kind of writing for two days. Today is the first day without any real pain and that has been good.

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The hand injury has also stopped me from doing much else this week apart from watching telly. It’s also taught me how much I use my right hand. I was seriously slowed down and it was driving me nuts, especially as I couldn’t write.

However, thanks to me setting things up…Dusting Down Alcudia is now available on Amazon here in both paperback, ebook and large print. If you haven’t already get your free character book from here.   Right, enough of the sales speak.

Regarding writing, I am still studying how to be an indie publisher, how to promote and market my books, and anything else I find useful. Currently reading Joanna Penn’s How to Make a Living From Your Writing, which will be swiftly followed by her Business for Authors. I can’t tell you how valuable I find Joanna’s books and her website, The Creative Penn. If you are a wannabe writer for both traditionally published or indie published fiction and non fiction, I would really recommend her books and website. I’m not telling you this to earn money, this is my actual opinion.

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I’ve been making apple pie recently. A friend in the village I live in gave me a big bag of apples from their apple tree and I made a huge pot of pie filling. I made two apple pies – one for us and one for my friend (well it’s actually her and her husband) – and I have enough leftover for another. Yum!

I have also been getting into making sour dough. My starter is started. His name is Fred and I have been feeding him all week. Fred lives on the island of my kitchen in a large Kilner jar. He sits there and bubbles and froths and generally looks happy. I am starting to think of him as a living being, which I suppose he is being all wild yeast. I will give him a couple of more days and then I am going to make sour dough bread. Wish me luck.

Due to aforementioned injury, I have been unable to hold books to read so I am still reading Radclyffe Hall’s biography. I am enjoying it, but I am yearning to get on to another book. Sigh. Maybe tonight I’ll got to bed early and get through a couple more chapters. What books are you all reading at the moment? Do any of you have any recommendations? Please message me.

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Okay, I am going to finish up now. It’s 7.38pm GMT and I am about to indulge in a cup of tea and a couple of chocolate digestives. My Dr Who loving son is currently watching older episodes of Dr Who (Christopher Eccleson) – thankfully it’s not that Fred movie again, hate that movie – and I am about to throw him off to watch another Grace & Frankie.

Looking forward to chatting with you again soon. Til next time!

Dawnxxx

 

 

Pretend to be a Time Traveller Day

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It’s the stuff of dreams (or nightmares): how would you like to be able to travel through time? Think of the things you would see and the people you could meet!

Okay so no-one can yet time travel, but that hasn’t stopped the Koala Wallop online community from setting up Pretend to be a Time Traveller Day. Started in 2007, the day was set up and its basic premise is for people to have fun pretending to be a time traveller, either from the past or future. Dress up, meet up with likeminded friends and have fun.

And here’s my favourite time traveller…

 

Where the fat balls go

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Hello there! How’s things? Hope you are all well. Jings it’s been a right blustery week this week. High winds and rain abound. Thankfully we’re not getting it as bad as the Americans did last week…their blizzards looked a bit mental!! Am just back in from picking up the kids and, despite having on my warmest coat, I was frozen to the core waiting for them at the gates. Brrrrrrrr. Have cranked the heating up full bung just to get the warmth into my bones.

I solved a mystery this week. I had been wondering why the fat balls I throw out to the birds – I usually throw out three at a time –  had been gobbled up so quickly…especially as I haven’t seen any small birds in the garden lately (I think the wind is too strong for the poor wee mites). Anyway the mystery was solved this morning when one of the squirrels – possibly the one we call Popeye due to its missing eye – was seen scarpering up the garden with a fat ball in its gob. Then it tried to bury it, found it too large and took it off into the trees, no doubt back to its drey. I did not think squirrels would like fat balls. They weren’t bought for them but for the birds. I think I’ll need to strap the balls to the trees so they are not nicked!! If squirrels weren’t so cute they would not be getting away with this. They are the furry mafia of the garden!

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There’s not much to report this week. The weather has been that bad that we haven’t really been going out except – in my case – to go to work and – in the kids’ case – to go to school. Poor hubby has been finding it too cold, he’s still not back to full fitness and won’t be for some time.

Ah the joys of Netflix! As I write, the boy is watching Dr Who again. Not that I mind. It’s the David Tennant series – I love David Tennant, defo the best Doctor!!

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I decided to end my dry January early so had some wine last night. I thought I would have enjoyed it more than I did. It was very disappointing. It wasn’t as if I’d bought a cheap bottle either. Sigh. So I’m doing a dry February too. I’ve decided I don’t enjoy it that much – or as much as I used to – so what’s the point of doing it. When I was into my dry January, I felt so much better – I had more energy and ate fewer rubbishy things. Last night, I had some wine and then I ate an entire packet of chocolate counters. How to damage my diet in one fail swoop! Sigh. Back on the ole diet again today. Have lost a total of seven pounds so far – half a stone – so am not going to continue to jeopardize my efforts again by drinking alcohol. Or coca cola…was nearly back on that again last night too. Damn you wine!!

Anyway, on that final note, I am away. Am thinking I might just have a wee peek at Pinterest…I love Pinterest. So full of lovely things.

Til next time!

Dawn xxx

Attack of the stinging notebook

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This is not the evil notebook in question, but is here as an illustration.

This is not the evil notebook in question, but is here as an illustration.

I’ve been under attack. For the past week, my hands have become increasingly covered in small cuts and quite frankly they are painful (especially in the shower or when I’m cutting up things like tomatoes). It took me a little while to work out what was happening. After all, like most folk I do suffer the odd cut every now and again. However, I’ve suffered five in the last few days. Yes, I’m being attacked by a notebook I use for work. How do I get around it? Do I just ditch the notebook and start with a new one? No, that goes against my green instincts. Do I muss up the pages and make them less knife like (honestly my fingers have been sliced to bits)? Hmmmm. Am thinking this might be the answer…a beaten up, softened notebook can’t possibly sting!

Anyway, apart from the cut fingers, my life has been trundling along nicely thank you very much. Not much has been happening chez moi, but that’s fine with me. I’m not one of those people who needs excitement or drama to feel alive – I get that from laughing with my kids or reading a good book or having a deep conversation with hubby over a glass of wine. I have been watching a lot of telly lately. I should be writing or exercising or doing something around the house, but I have been caught up in reruns of Castle, Rizzoli & Isles and Father Brown. I can’t help myself. I love murder mysteries. It’s a passion of mine! Have also been reading Terry Pratchett’s Thief of Time. Yet another thumbs up to Mr Pratchett for an excellent book. It’s funny and exciting and inventive. I couldn’t put it down nearer the end.

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So how have you been? I hope well. Have you been caught up in this mad weather too? It’s snowing outside as I write. It’s lovely, but I hate driving in it. It’s barely lying here, but who knows what it’ll be like this time tomorrow if the snow keeps going. I got caught in a heavy snow shower yesterday whilst walking up through Springburn to get to Stobhill Hospital for work. By the time I got to my destination, I was covered from head to foot in snow, a veritable walking snowman/person. And it chilled me to the bone. I haven’t felt that cold in ages. When I got home later that day, I had to sit at the radiator just to get the heat back into my limbs. Thank God for whomever it was who invented central heating…I salute you sir or ma’am!! Hmm…that might be a quite interesting thing to find out: who invented central heating? Note to self: find out who invented central heating.

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Anyway, I am wittering on. The boy is at home today having woken up just before 7am and thrown up in the toilet…twice. He now appears to be perfectly well and is watching Dr Who on Netflix as I write whilst simultaneously playing Minecraft on his tablet. The colour is back in his face, he’s as cheeky as ever and seems back to normal. However, I shall have to keep him off school tomorrow because our school, quite rightly, requests that parents keep sick kids off til at least 48 hours after the sickness stops. Sigh. Bang goes my two days of peace!! Still, I am a self confessed Whovian myself so watching Dr Who isn’t so bad. We’re watching the 11th Doctor save the world from little black cubes. Go Doctor!

Anyway, must dash. Stuff to do. Til next time!

Dawn xx

PS If you want to find out who invented the central heating, click here…lots of great info!

Sonic Screwdriver, Bleak House and Book Week Scotland

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Well, the boy turned seven this week and was Dr Who-tastic! We bought him lots of Dr Who stuff (he’s a major fan) including the Dr’s sonic screwdriver which he has been driving everybody nuts with by pointing at us and turning it on. Never thought I’d say it, but the sonic screwdriver is driving me nuts! He loves it though.

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I made him a chocolate cake for his birthday which he requested and we’ve been enjoying it immensely. It’s a recipe from Jane Brocket’s Cherry Cake and Ginger Beer. It’s one of my fave books, all about the food you find in old children’s books and the recipes. It’s a fab book and a fab recipe. I would recommend both.

Anyway, am afraid I’ve been lagging behind with the Nanowrimo writing. I am just too exhausted or too busy some days to do it. I don’t know how others do it. Instead of feeling like a failure, however, I’ve accepted I am not super woman and will do what I can do. It’s keeping me planning and writing, so that’s something at least.

Am still reading Bleak House by Charles Dickens. Am trying to take my time reading it because I am really bad for speed reading and missing bits. Then I have to go back and re-read the passage. The book is good. Am near the end, there’s been a murder and I am wondering if Esther gets her man. If you like Dickens, you will love this one.

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Oh before I forget, next week is Book Week Scotland 2014. There’s lots going on, just click here to find out about events in your area. If you can’t get along to an event, just dig out your favourite book and get lost in a fantastic story.

Right, on that note, I am away to do some writing. Yes, I said writing. Am away to do it now before I get side-tracked by the television or something else.

Til next time.

Dawn xxxx

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Birthday cake, a Minion and Writing Lots and Lots

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birthday cake

It’s the boy’s birthday next week and already he’s really excited. We’ve got him a whole load of Dr Who things (including a sonic screwdriver!) and his grandparents are coming to ours tomorrow to give him their gifts. For an extra special treat, me, hubby and the girl will also be taking him to see Nativity 3. We have the first two films on DVD and he really loves them. He wants to go to McDonalds afterwards, so we’ll take him there too. I will also bake him his birthday cake this weekend…yum!

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So how have you all been? I’ve been busy today getting on with my Christmas makes. I’ve done the bulk of the two Minion plushies I’m making for my offspring. I’ll show you the finished pair once I’ve completed them. Am doing them whilst the kids are at school, so won’t be getting back to them til next week. It’s really hard keeping something like this a secret as the two of them love to stick their noses into everything. It’s “what’s this mum?” and “can I have that?”. They are well hidden, but every time one of the kids goes near the area the toys are hidden my heart’s in my mouth in case they discover them. Here’s an image of the pattern I’m making…

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Anyway…

I’ve also been busily writing away, although not so much today or yesterday. I’ll do some tonight…the planning’s done…just need to write it up. My word count is currently standing at just under 20,000 words…only 30,000 (minimum) to go!! Hope I can keep it up…it’s not easy.

Right, that’s me for just now. My hand is aching from all the knitting and sewing and typing I’ve been doing today (bring out the violins!). Til next time.

Dawn xxx

 

Riverhill, Crafting and Back to Writing

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Can’t believe how much the weather has changed since yesterday. It’s so wet I’m considering building an ark!! It was lovely yesterday too…perfect for Bonfire Night. We didn’t go to any displays – our local one is on Friday – but instead went to Riverhill Courtyard in Helensburgh to meet up with friends. George and Raymond (hi guys!) have been travelling around Scotland visiting friends and reacquainting themselves with the Old Country. They live in London now, but both are from here. Anyway, it was great to see them and the meal we had was lovely. I’m just sorry we didn’t have more time with them, but it was an evening meal on a Wednesday and the kids got tired and needed to get to bed. Was great catching up! We were working out how long we had known each other and it’s not a kick in the backside off 20 years! God that makes me feel old!

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Thought I’d show you some of the things I’ve been working on. Above are two baby Yetis and a Purple Jungle Bear (my own pattern – made from fleece and felt to be extra snuggly)  – the Yetis are for my smallest niece and nephew, the purple is for my oldest niece.

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The knitted hat is for my oldest nephew who is into rugby – I thought if he wanted to wear it he could wear for training, but it’s up to him. It’s a WW2 Watchman’s hat pattern which I got from Ravelry. I have something else I’m making for him too as a bit of a laugh.

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The knitted Tardis kindle case is from this pattern and is for my friend’s daughter who is a major Dr Who fan. Am also planning to make my own two. I love making things for other people. Hope they like them.

Anyway, have started writing again as part of Nanowrimo (National Novel Writing Month) and am doing okay. Missed a couple of days, but hopefully I’ll get back on track over the next couple of days. The one good thing I’ll say about it is that it’s getting me writing!.

On that note I have to say adieu for now. Sorry for cutting this short, but have to go. Til next time!

Dawn xxx

Squirrels, Dr Who and Despicable Me

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This little fella was one of three grey squirrels who decided to raid my bird table yesterday. The other two ran off, but this bold one stayed to stare at me. The lure of the seeds and nuts was too strong, I think.

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The first pic was taken with the patio door open, this one is through the glass hence the slight ‘film’ on the lefthandside.

Anyway, how are you all? Hope you are hail and hearty! What’s been happening in your lives? I successfully managed to make two hats for my kids from a pattern from Fleece Fun which is a blog by a lady called Angel Hickman Peterson and has lots of great patterns for fleece. Am going to make the matching mitts for them this weekend. Will do pics next time.

So what’s been happening at Nelson Towers? Hmmm…just the usual. My parents visited last Saturday and of course the kids were there for about five minutes before disappearing off to play. I feel sorry for my parents. It’s nearly an hour’s drive to our house from theirs and they only see the kids for all of five minutes at the beginning and then the end of their visit. Still that’s kids for you. I feel it’s better to let them go and play because they get bored and fidgety and whiny anyway. Plus the biscuit plate would be decimated!

Been trawling the website looking for ideas for Christmas makes for my kids. My boy is a huge Dr Who fan (the girl finds it too scary at times) so I’ve been looking for various things to make (for both of them…no Punch without Judy as they say). I’m going to do this Tardis kindle cosy from American Witch cos they want a tablet each for Christmas. I also want to make them an Adipose each from a pattern by Erika Kent. There’s also a good tutorial from Amanda Tepie here. And I’m going to give these a wee try…felt Dr Who plushies by Michelle Coffee (great name) of Deadly Sweet Plushes…I really love her Star Trek plushies so may make them for myself (I know I am a saddo, but they are fab). Plus on a non Dr Who vibe, I am also planning to make them a Minion each from a pattern by Hannah at We Lived Happily Ever After.  The next thing I need to see is if anyone’s making anything Monster High or Ever After High (the things my girl is into). I am going to be very busy over the coming weeks!!

Am currently working on a small gift for a couple of friends I’m seeing soon. I won’t say what cos they read this blog. Will put up a pic after I’ve given it to them.

Anyway, I must get on. Got tonnes of stuff to do. Til next time!

Dawn x