As you read down this post you will find a long gap. Before you scroll further to read my memory for this Monday I would like you to search into your own. Do you have children? If not, consider a memory from your own past that fits into this scenario...
Think about an occasion - maybe long ago - when your child (or you) was very naughty.....
You don't have to make any admissions here, these thoughts are private, just bring something to mind before you read on.
Here begins the gap.
And here it ends....
In the following narrative the names have been changed to protect the innocent! The story, however, is true.
Several years ago we lived in a small community. Our children were very small, in fact our youngest was barely walking. There were few local playmates, but there was one little boy who lived across the road. We will call him John. He led a very protected and sheltered life, and it was unusual for him to be allowed to play with other children, however, our daughter had obviously passed whatever test was set, and she was often invited over to play by his mother whom we will call Susan.
One morning, after only about half an hour there was a knock on the door. Susan was standing at the door holding our DD's hand, and clutching John firmly to her bosom. I could see that something was wrong, but couldn't imagine what it could be. The story unfolded....
DD had found a pair of scissors and had cut John's hair. She had never done anything like it before, and has not done anything like it since. To be honest, as I looked, I couldn't see anything wrong with the hair, but I was appalled that she had done such a thing. She was suitably chastised, and I presumed that the relationship with the family had been severed for ever. Certainly relationships were cool for the rest of the month. One morning, however, at coffee time the doorbell rang. Susan was standing on the step, John firmly in tow. I invited them in. DD was delighted to see him, and before long they were playing happily together.
On the afternoon of the incident Susan had taken John to a child's birthday party. All the mothers had oohed and aahed over the haircut and requested the name and address of the barber! Family members had also expressed delight at how good his hair looked when they attended a wedding the next day, in fact, although she had never admitted that it had been cut by a four year old, the general concensus was that John had never looked so smart or like a boy. We ended up laughing about the whole incident, and we still chuckle over it to this day.
The moral? Well, all children are naughty, and maybe your child has just done something you would rather forget. However, I'm fairly certain that sometime in the future you too will be able to regard it with a certain amount of amusement, without condoning the action either at the time or now. Memory is a wonderful thing....
Showing posts with label Family. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Family. Show all posts
Monday, September 22, 2008
Monday, September 15, 2008
My Monday Memory
It is the time of year when our garden is full of raspberries. We have several varieties producing both red and yellow fruit. I have to admit that the yellow ones are sharper and less tasty than the red, but they make wonderful jam, and I can use them to make enough to last the entire year. The red ones, though, are best eaten fresh or frozen to make desserts and sometimes we just have so many our freezer is still bursting with them as the new crop nears readiness for picking. Family and friends always know that they can expect a supply and this year again we are inundated with berries.
Yesterday, as I picked another bowlful, I was reminded of a time long ago. It was the days before 24 hour television, when TV's still had a white dot that faded to nothing and the commercial channel in the UK was still in its infancy. We had to find other ways to entertain ourselves. Reading was a passion, the radio evoked visions of characters rather than personalities, Sunday afternoons usually involved a walk after lunch, and so on. Brought up in the south-east of England my memories are mainly of sunny summer days with cold winters, yes, it rained, but those memories have faded into insignificance.
My late Father, was a lovely man. He was unusual in that he could tell us from an early age that he loved us (almost frowned upon in those days) and he loved giving us treats and surprises. These were usually family based, something we could all enjoy. In those days he worked for the BBC. He worked long hours on shift work, leaving home at 6am and not returning until well after midnight, his shift pattern followed a two week cycle which meant that one weekend he would work from Saturday morning until the early hours of Monday morning. However, that also meant that he would be home the next weekend, and that usually meant a treat. Sometimes they were really simple. For example I remember one weekend when my Mother went to the local Church to help with a fundraiser. Unbeknown to her (and to us) my Father packed a picnic and when it was time for the sale to end he bundled my brother and me into the car and we went to collect her. We then drove into the nearby country and had a lovely time. It was the surprise element that made it so exciting. Often he would suddenly announce part way through Saturday that tonight he was doing the cooking. It was very unusual for a man to help in the kitchen, let alone take on a full meal, so this was different too. His meals were always unconventional, using ingredients that went together in an unexpected way.
About four times a year we would have a trip to the theatre. Our nearest was a repertory theatre in Guildford. This was long before the days of the Yvonne Arnaud, and the evenings we spent there were full of magic and delight. The evening culminated with a meal at the Corona Cafe. Like the repertory theatre the Corona has long gone, but the food was good, and a meal in a restaurant was a real treat. It was to these meals that I found my thoughts turning as I picked the raspberries. My favourite dessert was the Raspberry Meringue Glace. Icecream, raspberries, meringues and cream. It was only available during the summer months, for the raspberries were fresh, and this was long before the days of food being carried by airlines. In fact, I thought about our trip so much that I even made an Etsy treasury in their honour. You will have to be quick if you want to see it, it will expire in a couple of days, but here is the link. Just for fun!
My Father? He died in 1992, and tomorrow would have been his birthday.
Yesterday, as I picked another bowlful, I was reminded of a time long ago. It was the days before 24 hour television, when TV's still had a white dot that faded to nothing and the commercial channel in the UK was still in its infancy. We had to find other ways to entertain ourselves. Reading was a passion, the radio evoked visions of characters rather than personalities, Sunday afternoons usually involved a walk after lunch, and so on. Brought up in the south-east of England my memories are mainly of sunny summer days with cold winters, yes, it rained, but those memories have faded into insignificance.
My late Father, was a lovely man. He was unusual in that he could tell us from an early age that he loved us (almost frowned upon in those days) and he loved giving us treats and surprises. These were usually family based, something we could all enjoy. In those days he worked for the BBC. He worked long hours on shift work, leaving home at 6am and not returning until well after midnight, his shift pattern followed a two week cycle which meant that one weekend he would work from Saturday morning until the early hours of Monday morning. However, that also meant that he would be home the next weekend, and that usually meant a treat. Sometimes they were really simple. For example I remember one weekend when my Mother went to the local Church to help with a fundraiser. Unbeknown to her (and to us) my Father packed a picnic and when it was time for the sale to end he bundled my brother and me into the car and we went to collect her. We then drove into the nearby country and had a lovely time. It was the surprise element that made it so exciting. Often he would suddenly announce part way through Saturday that tonight he was doing the cooking. It was very unusual for a man to help in the kitchen, let alone take on a full meal, so this was different too. His meals were always unconventional, using ingredients that went together in an unexpected way.
About four times a year we would have a trip to the theatre. Our nearest was a repertory theatre in Guildford. This was long before the days of the Yvonne Arnaud, and the evenings we spent there were full of magic and delight. The evening culminated with a meal at the Corona Cafe. Like the repertory theatre the Corona has long gone, but the food was good, and a meal in a restaurant was a real treat. It was to these meals that I found my thoughts turning as I picked the raspberries. My favourite dessert was the Raspberry Meringue Glace. Icecream, raspberries, meringues and cream. It was only available during the summer months, for the raspberries were fresh, and this was long before the days of food being carried by airlines. In fact, I thought about our trip so much that I even made an Etsy treasury in their honour. You will have to be quick if you want to see it, it will expire in a couple of days, but here is the link. Just for fun!
My Father? He died in 1992, and tomorrow would have been his birthday.
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Sunday Summary
This is just a quick look at the past week. It has passed so quickly I can't believe that it is Sunday already.
Firstly we shouldn't have been here ! It was the second of the two weeks we had put to one side for our annual holiday. However, we were so tired that neither of us could face going away, and we had the knowledge that this coming week is the week when our central heating will finally be fixed. So we stayed here! Nothing got done, not even a lot of sleeping. The phone didn't stop ringing and we ended up working as normal :(
Anyway, apart from that it was a good week. Mum has been getting more and more frail, but this week she has seemed a little stronger, and I even managed to visit on one day at the same time as my brother. We had a good reminisce, and that seemed to do her good and stand her in good stead for several days afterwards. I'll be off to visit her again tomorrow, and I wait to see what that visit has in store.
It was a week of rain for many parts of the country, but we have escaped very lightly. Yes, we had rain, but we also had sun and managed to dry some washing on the line on more than one day. Other areas have had a dreadful time, though, and my heart went out to my 85 year old uncle who made a pilgrimage back to the north-east to meet up with old colleagues and visit relations, probably for the last time. He travelled to the part of the country that seemed to be almost totally underwater, and although he is now safely home, he was unable to see some of the sights he wanted to visit. It is a shame as his sight is almost gone, and he will probably be unable to make the trip again.
We had fun and games with our plumbing. Although we had no problems with the rain we woke one morning to find the kitchen floor under water. Fortunately a plumber arrived poste haste and the leak was fixed. It was a very strange washer in a pipe joint. Dealt with he departed and we began the mopping up. The next day he was back. The same thing had happened overnight and we had to start again. Not funny. I suppose it serves us right for living in a Victorian property. Who knows what the heating engineers will find this week, but I'm not even going to think about that until it happens.
I spent a delightful morning with my little grandson while his mother had an appointment. He is now nearly walking, and his vocabulary is growing so we can have 'conversations'. He has also discovered the word 'No', and shakes his head furiously, laughing all the time, when asked to do something. It was a really fun morning, and I look forward to the next time.
Our 'holiday time' came to an end on Saturday when we made our first visit of the autumn to Urchfont Manor. It was a busy weekend with students of Yoga, Trees and prospective Head Teachers all mingling with C&G Diploma students with Sian Martin. We felt as though we had never been away ...... I was able to show them some vegetarian silk and explain how to manipulate it. Watch out for it soon on Etsy: http://www.sassalynne.etsy.com/
Firstly we shouldn't have been here ! It was the second of the two weeks we had put to one side for our annual holiday. However, we were so tired that neither of us could face going away, and we had the knowledge that this coming week is the week when our central heating will finally be fixed. So we stayed here! Nothing got done, not even a lot of sleeping. The phone didn't stop ringing and we ended up working as normal :(
Anyway, apart from that it was a good week. Mum has been getting more and more frail, but this week she has seemed a little stronger, and I even managed to visit on one day at the same time as my brother. We had a good reminisce, and that seemed to do her good and stand her in good stead for several days afterwards. I'll be off to visit her again tomorrow, and I wait to see what that visit has in store.
It was a week of rain for many parts of the country, but we have escaped very lightly. Yes, we had rain, but we also had sun and managed to dry some washing on the line on more than one day. Other areas have had a dreadful time, though, and my heart went out to my 85 year old uncle who made a pilgrimage back to the north-east to meet up with old colleagues and visit relations, probably for the last time. He travelled to the part of the country that seemed to be almost totally underwater, and although he is now safely home, he was unable to see some of the sights he wanted to visit. It is a shame as his sight is almost gone, and he will probably be unable to make the trip again.
We had fun and games with our plumbing. Although we had no problems with the rain we woke one morning to find the kitchen floor under water. Fortunately a plumber arrived poste haste and the leak was fixed. It was a very strange washer in a pipe joint. Dealt with he departed and we began the mopping up. The next day he was back. The same thing had happened overnight and we had to start again. Not funny. I suppose it serves us right for living in a Victorian property. Who knows what the heating engineers will find this week, but I'm not even going to think about that until it happens.
I spent a delightful morning with my little grandson while his mother had an appointment. He is now nearly walking, and his vocabulary is growing so we can have 'conversations'. He has also discovered the word 'No', and shakes his head furiously, laughing all the time, when asked to do something. It was a really fun morning, and I look forward to the next time.
Our 'holiday time' came to an end on Saturday when we made our first visit of the autumn to Urchfont Manor. It was a busy weekend with students of Yoga, Trees and prospective Head Teachers all mingling with C&G Diploma students with Sian Martin. We felt as though we had never been away ...... I was able to show them some vegetarian silk and explain how to manipulate it. Watch out for it soon on Etsy: http://www.sassalynne.etsy.com/
Friday, June 27, 2008
June Take it Further
June has been an eventful month. I won't go into too many details, but it has involved quite a lot of traveiling and meeting lots of people. Yesterday was my mother's birthday and we had a small family gathering to celebrate. Tomorrow we are having a larger party, so there has also been planning and preparations for that. She is now 90, not bad as she was only given a short time to live some years ago.
During this time I have been giving the June Take it Further Challenge some thought. The theme this month was 'stories that are and stories that are possible'. Not sure which way to take I suddenly realised that I could run it into a swap that I joined on Etsy.
I have a large 'stash' of dyed fabrics, but I am always adding to this as I dye on a regular basis. Although intended for selling, I often dip into these for projects. A couple of the 'new' fabrics went perfectly with some of the older ones, and suddenly they were transformed into a bag for ..... (I'll reveal the name when it is received and also the story of why I chose these particular fabrics).
The finished bag, and below a couple of closeups.
It's a practical bag - maybe it will take a trip to the shops and carry home new additions to someone's stash every now and then.....
During this time I have been giving the June Take it Further Challenge some thought. The theme this month was 'stories that are and stories that are possible'. Not sure which way to take I suddenly realised that I could run it into a swap that I joined on Etsy.
I have a large 'stash' of dyed fabrics, but I am always adding to this as I dye on a regular basis. Although intended for selling, I often dip into these for projects. A couple of the 'new' fabrics went perfectly with some of the older ones, and suddenly they were transformed into a bag for ..... (I'll reveal the name when it is received and also the story of why I chose these particular fabrics).
The finished bag, and below a couple of closeups.
It's a practical bag - maybe it will take a trip to the shops and carry home new additions to someone's stash every now and then.....
Tuesday, June 03, 2008
May, Take it Further
What a chapter of accidents! I have had to write this post in fits and starts. Many interruptions caused me to save and return to add more. The problem arose when I had more than one copy open in several windows (I still don't know how this happened). The result was that instead of publishing the final copy I saved the first! All the time and effort (well, almost all) was wasted and I have had to start again. Hopefully I can remember what I wrote, at least in gist.
I know it's June now, but I had actually completed the challenge by the end of May. As I thought, it was a holiday project, and here are my thoughts and results.
I gave the question a lot of thought because it goes much deeper for me than it would at first appear. My name is Welsh, but as soon as I open my mouth you will think I am English. It was a quirk of 'fate' that caused me to be born and brought up in England, but in spite of living here all my life I still regard myself as Welsh. I experienced Hiraeth long before I knew there was a name for it, and travelling over the border always makes me feel as though I am returning home.
In my working life I wear many figurative hats. I am a dyer, stitcher, artist, enabler (I feel that that is different to just a teacher). I work in textiles. My other hats include wife, mother, daughter, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend. At different times and if different places my 'title' needs to be different. With regard to my working life I consider myself to be a Dyer first and foremost. If asked 'what do you do' I always say 'I dye'. Of course, that could be for the impact, as it often raises a shocked glance as the 'y' isn't apparent in speech! I then go on to say that I'm an Artist who works in fabric and thread. I used to say that I worked in textiles. However, that seems to conjure up pictures of sheets and tea towels to the uninitiated, and I most definitely DON'T work in those!
Thinking along all these lines made me want to create something that harked back to my roots. Here is the result
This was made during our holiday. Fortunately I had an embellisher with me, and each layer was made using a different technique. There is also some hand-dyed fine viscose felt there, and some of the layers were made using an embellisher roll. It was good to make something from start to finish while still in the area. From first sketch to finished piece took about 3 days, but I certainly wasn't working all the time. It made me realise just how much I love creating, and how rarely I am able to fully indulge these days. However, dyeing is creative too, and I do LOVE mixing colour. Don't forget that you can see some to the colours I create on the website and also on Etsy.
I know it's June now, but I had actually completed the challenge by the end of May. As I thought, it was a holiday project, and here are my thoughts and results.
I gave the question a lot of thought because it goes much deeper for me than it would at first appear. My name is Welsh, but as soon as I open my mouth you will think I am English. It was a quirk of 'fate' that caused me to be born and brought up in England, but in spite of living here all my life I still regard myself as Welsh. I experienced Hiraeth long before I knew there was a name for it, and travelling over the border always makes me feel as though I am returning home.
In my working life I wear many figurative hats. I am a dyer, stitcher, artist, enabler (I feel that that is different to just a teacher). I work in textiles. My other hats include wife, mother, daughter, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend. At different times and if different places my 'title' needs to be different. With regard to my working life I consider myself to be a Dyer first and foremost. If asked 'what do you do' I always say 'I dye'. Of course, that could be for the impact, as it often raises a shocked glance as the 'y' isn't apparent in speech! I then go on to say that I'm an Artist who works in fabric and thread. I used to say that I worked in textiles. However, that seems to conjure up pictures of sheets and tea towels to the uninitiated, and I most definitely DON'T work in those!
Thinking along all these lines made me want to create something that harked back to my roots. Here is the result
This was made during our holiday. Fortunately I had an embellisher with me, and each layer was made using a different technique. There is also some hand-dyed fine viscose felt there, and some of the layers were made using an embellisher roll. It was good to make something from start to finish while still in the area. From first sketch to finished piece took about 3 days, but I certainly wasn't working all the time. It made me realise just how much I love creating, and how rarely I am able to fully indulge these days. However, dyeing is creative too, and I do LOVE mixing colour. Don't forget that you can see some to the colours I create on the website and also on Etsy.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Catch 'em early!
Now I'm not in the least bit biased! I promise, I'm not saying this because I'm a devoted Grandma! I'm not saying it because I'm soon to be spending a whole four days with him!.
However:
Isn't this just the cutest picture?
And to think I'm showing you this on the day I learn I will have to lose a tooth.
Oh well!
However:
Isn't this just the cutest picture?
And to think I'm showing you this on the day I learn I will have to lose a tooth.
Oh well!
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
I just have to keep running
So much to do, so little time. Does anyone else feel it too? There is still so much I want to create, but no real time to do it.
There are a few more threads to upload to Etsy, but so far I've just done one today.
The colours in the sunlight are truly stunning, and this picture really doesn't do it justice.
The quilties went into the post, and I have to say that it was a steep learning curve. Although it probably sounds simple to you I found the concept quite difficult. I couldn't be as free as I wanted to be. It was the restricted time that was the problem, and next time 'I'll do better'
Had a lovely day shopping for birthdays yesterday. Daughter and grand-daughter both had birthdays within the last week, so we had a 'girls' day out. Shopped 'til we dropped, then collapsed for the evening. Lots to do in preparation for teaching in Cornwall this weekend. I know a couple of you are coming, I'm looking forward to meeting you. The workshops are at the Roseland Mews Studios, link in the sidebar if you are interested, and a workshop in Grayshott tomorrow.
There are a few more threads to upload to Etsy, but so far I've just done one today.
The colours in the sunlight are truly stunning, and this picture really doesn't do it justice.
The quilties went into the post, and I have to say that it was a steep learning curve. Although it probably sounds simple to you I found the concept quite difficult. I couldn't be as free as I wanted to be. It was the restricted time that was the problem, and next time 'I'll do better'
Had a lovely day shopping for birthdays yesterday. Daughter and grand-daughter both had birthdays within the last week, so we had a 'girls' day out. Shopped 'til we dropped, then collapsed for the evening. Lots to do in preparation for teaching in Cornwall this weekend. I know a couple of you are coming, I'm looking forward to meeting you. The workshops are at the Roseland Mews Studios, link in the sidebar if you are interested, and a workshop in Grayshott tomorrow.
Saturday, April 05, 2008
A bit of bragging - but not about me
We had some lovely news the other day, so I thought I'd share it with you.
We have a fourteen year old grand-daughter. She has shown a lot of interest in my dabbles over the years, and has been stitching since she was 3. One of her options for GCSE is textiles, and her mother has just had a letter to say that she has been placed on the register of talented and gifted children. She has already produced a lovely portfolio. We are having a day together during the next two weeks to play around with some new techniques for her. I'l let you know how it goes.
We have a fourteen year old grand-daughter. She has shown a lot of interest in my dabbles over the years, and has been stitching since she was 3. One of her options for GCSE is textiles, and her mother has just had a letter to say that she has been placed on the register of talented and gifted children. She has already produced a lovely portfolio. We are having a day together during the next two weeks to play around with some new techniques for her. I'l let you know how it goes.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
This and That and Moo Too
I have spent the day restocking trays and shelves. A large order of machine embroidery threads arrived and needed sorting. We only ordered them yesterday so delivery was very prompt. The next couple of hours were spent cutting water-soluble fabrics followed by folding and packing. Hope we've got enough! I've also twisted some threads for the wholesale orders and watched some more of them 'stewing' in the pot and then hanging to dry. I also visited my mother and went to the doctors for a check up, so it has been a full day.
Oh, Moo! Yes, my new Moo cards arrived too. This lot are slightly different, there are a few of them here.
Oh, Moo! Yes, my new Moo cards arrived too. This lot are slightly different, there are a few of them here.
Thursday, February 07, 2008
Take It Further:: February
True to her word Sharon posted the February challenge earlier this month. I have been thinking about it, even whilst finishing that of January
My family memories of the past are extremely good. This has been a real blessing recently as I have been able to reminisce with my mother about all sorts of things. My earliest memory is being taken for a ride in my pushchair while staying with my grandparents in Brecon, S Wales. As my brother wasn't yet born (I wouldn't have been in the pushchair if he had)and my mother wasn't even pregnant with him yet (her pregnancy meant she could no longer travel) I must have been younger than two.
I certainly don't want to commemorate that, however. I have been thinking a lot about babies, though, prompted I'm sure by recent visits from our newest grandchild. I have had two pregnancies and both my children were born in the Louise Margaret Maternity Hospital in Aldershot. Although this was a military hospital (it was closed a while ago) it was also open to civilians, and that's how I came to be there! Shortly before my daughter was born an IRA bomb was detonated close by. This meant that there was much security in place, and some roads in Aldershot were closed (and have never been reopened). This is not something I would like to dwell upon or commemorate either. My son, however, was born 4 years later in much more relaxed circumstances, and in the middle of a heatwave. To tie it all together I've decided that that's what I'll consider for my Take it Further Challenge for February. The heatwave!
Is anyone visiting Textiles in Focus next week? We'll be there so come and say 'Hi'.
My family memories of the past are extremely good. This has been a real blessing recently as I have been able to reminisce with my mother about all sorts of things. My earliest memory is being taken for a ride in my pushchair while staying with my grandparents in Brecon, S Wales. As my brother wasn't yet born (I wouldn't have been in the pushchair if he had)and my mother wasn't even pregnant with him yet (her pregnancy meant she could no longer travel) I must have been younger than two.
I certainly don't want to commemorate that, however. I have been thinking a lot about babies, though, prompted I'm sure by recent visits from our newest grandchild. I have had two pregnancies and both my children were born in the Louise Margaret Maternity Hospital in Aldershot. Although this was a military hospital (it was closed a while ago) it was also open to civilians, and that's how I came to be there! Shortly before my daughter was born an IRA bomb was detonated close by. This meant that there was much security in place, and some roads in Aldershot were closed (and have never been reopened). This is not something I would like to dwell upon or commemorate either. My son, however, was born 4 years later in much more relaxed circumstances, and in the middle of a heatwave. To tie it all together I've decided that that's what I'll consider for my Take it Further Challenge for February. The heatwave!
Is anyone visiting Textiles in Focus next week? We'll be there so come and say 'Hi'.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)