Bye bye September

I can't believe it's the end of September already. Autumn is well and truly on its way. The leaves are turning beautiful shades of orange and gold, and just for a few days the sun has been shining too. Its been quite mild here this week too - very unusual considering the weather we had over summer. 

DD has been travelling quite a bit this week - off on the motorway to Manchester Monday and Tuesday, and then today on the train to Stafford for her first managers meeting. Then back to Manchester tomorrow. I think she's just looking forward to next week when she can go back to working in her local store which takes only 15 minutes to get to! 

I was off work Monday and Tuesday. I went to a funeral on Monday, then took my car to the garage yesterday for a service and MOT, which thankfully it passed. While I was waiting for my car I had time to browse the shops nearby and have a proper look at what they have. Quite a novelty for me as I don't normally enjoy browsing. I bought some clothes and some craft things (no surprises there). 

Talking of crafts (which is quite often with me), I've been busy making jewellery this week for a change, as I said I'd take a few more pieces in to my hairdressers this week. So this is what I came up with yesterday.....

I've made a few pairs of earrings tonight too. And I'm also waiting for some more clay shapes to dry thoroughly so that I can sand and paint them. 

It's all go here you know! 

What a weekend!

What a fabulous weekend we've had. While DD went to see her boyfriend, we had a lovely night away in a country pub near Ashbourne on the edge of the Peak District. 

DD had had a fabulous time training on the Isle of Wight. We picked her up from the airport on Friday night, complete with all her freebies she'd been given during the week. I'm so pleased she enjoyed it and hope she enjoys her new role. 

So, after arriving home Friday night, and unpacking her suitcase, DD repacked and left for Leicester yesterday morning. We'd booked a room at a country pub for us for last night as a last minute getaway for our Wedding Anniversary. Today we have been married 19 years! 

We arrived at the pub too early to check in, so we had some lunch and set off on a walk. The weather was glorious - blue sky and sunshine, and although we started out with our fleeces on, we quickly opted to go down to just t-shirts as it was so warm. 

The scenery was beautiful - a part of the country we don't often visit as we usually head north. 

And although we made it to a village with a pub that was open, we just did a quick geocache find then started heading back and had a snack overlooking Okeover Hall. 

We walked further than we thought we were going to, so we were ready for our evening meal back at the pub! 

And then we had this sight in the morning.........

Chickens everywhere!!! Strange but also lovely to see. 

Then after breakfast we headed off to Thorpe and pretty Dovedale. And once again the sun was shining. We have been so lucky with the weather this weekend.  

We were doing ok with the walk until we reached the 'popular' bit, where there was so many other people, and dogs off their leads, that it was starting to upset Oscar and starting to make things less enjoyable for us. So we turned round and headed back. 

It was very pretty, just too busy for us. So time for a brew back at the van. 

After that we headed home, making it back before DD.  

And look what DH got me for our anniversary .......

Aren't they beautiful? 

Oops!

Oops. I appear to have missed a post over the weekend. This is what happens when you have so many things going on your brain just turns to mush! The weekend? It's all a blur now. 

I spent Saturday trying to finish off some part done crafts - plaques and tags. I managed to finish the plaques .....

I didn't quite finish the tags though as they all needed sanding down which took a bit of time. 

They look much better sanded down, and it's been good fun making them. I also took DD shopping on Saturday after she'd finished work. She was due to have a weeks training for a new job this week and wanted some 'smart casual' clothes. We managed to find a couple of bits to add to her clothes she'd already got. 

Sunday morning I did some more sanding before taking DD to my mums while DH went to see his mum. Then home to help DD pack a small suitcase ready for a flight to Southampton on Monday morning. 

And then Monday morning happened. I'd told work I'd be in a bit later with taking DD to the airport for her flight at 8.55am. The aim was to get to the airport by 8am and give her plenty of time to get through security and for me to get back to work at a reasonable time. However, what we hadn't bargained for was the horrendous traffic on the motorway. What usually takes under an hour took nearly two hours! We got to the airport at 8.30 so not much time to spare. After panicking where to go we found the security desk and DD went through. And then I found out that her suitcase had been rejected as she'd forgotten to put her liquids in a clear plastic bag!! And then I heard them giving out a final call for 3 passengers, including DD. I finally got a quick text from her letting me know she'd got on the plane, thankfully. What a journey though!! And then off to work for me. Followed by a trip back to Manchester at night with DH to go and see Crosby, Stiils and Nash (thanks for the photo DH). 

It was a really good concert considering I'm a bit too young to remember them first time round .....

But what a long day yesterday. 

So DD is currently away from home, training on the Isle of Wight, and DH is also away on his usual two nights away for work. So just me for a couple of nights - me and my animals - 4 cats and a dog. 

And my crafts .......

Post holiday blues

It's been none stop since we got home on Saturday evening. No time to sit and dream about the holiday or think about where to go next! 

Sunday morning I had to go to the Cattery to pick up the cats. Then we were off to Manchester airport to collect DD and her boyfriend from their holiday.

Monday was spent trying to catch up with the washing and food shopping. But I also managed to get some crafting done in the afternoon. Time to play with clay! I found some air drying clay - no need to bake like Fimo, and no need for a kiln. So I thought I'd give it a go. I really enjoyed using it. So this was my first effort on Monday......

.....along with getting on with some hanging plaques.....

Then yesterday I was back at the day job - back to the routine of early starts and days answering the phone. No crafting when I got home. I did, however, make some tomato chilli chutney with a lot of our homegrown tomatoes which were lurking in the fridge ....

This is now nicely stored in 6 jars! 

And today I've been to work, got home, made soup, done some washing and some ironing, and then disappeared in my little craft room again for an hour....

Roll on the weekend!

Homeward Bound

While DH drives it gives me chance to say that we have had an amazing week in the Scottish Highlands. Far better than either of us was expecting. We've had glorious weather and discovered new walks with amazing views. 

We left Durness on Tuesday morning intending to head south to just outside Lochinver to wild camp overnight. It started off quite cloudy but the sun started coming through as we headed south. 

We decided to stop just before the Kylesku bridge as we'd found a couple of possible walking routes. What a find! A quiet parking area, and an amazing walk! 

We had some fabulous views back to the bridge, views that we've never had before. 

It was quite a tough climb for me, being so high up, and it got to a point where I knew I couldn't carry on or I think I would have frozen and got myself stuck. But it was far enough to see such an incredible landscape. 

And the icing on the cake was seeing these on the hills in the distance.....

While we were walking we were also deciding where we were going to stay overnight. The weather was mild enough to wild camp, and the car park we'd started from was so quiet, that we decided to stay where we were for the night. 

And our morning view? Not bad! 

Then on to Drumbeg, and the shop to pick up supplies, with amazing views on the way.....

We headed for Stoer Lighthouse this time. Although we've done most of this road before, we never been to the lighthouse. But we had a quick stop at a fabulous beach on the way at Clashnessie so that Oscar could have a bit of a run. 

Then on to the lighthouse and another walk. 

We could see for miles, and could see all the mountains almost in a line! 

Breathtaking! 

And then on to a little spot we've used before to wild camp, by a stream which leads to a small loch. 

Another night with no phone signal for us. And neither of us was prepared for what we saw that night - the Northern Lights!!!!!! It may only have been a glimpse, and not a full show, but it was amazing to watch!!! They were incredible! Neither of us have seen them before so it was a real bonus on top of what had already been a fabulous day. 

And what better way to start the next day but with a quick walk up the small hill before breakfast! 

Then off to Lochinver to get some pies before heading back to Ullapool in time for yet another walk. A tradition we do every year while in Ullapool is to climb the hill. 

The views are incredible, and it's a good place to eat a pie when you get to the top! 

Instead of doing our normal route down we headed for Loch Achall as the weather was so nice. 

So what is normally about a 3 mile walk turned into about 7 1/2 miles......

Then yesterday we managed to fit in two walks - first near Stac Pollaidh.....

Then off to do the walk to Dun Canna ....

Once again, an amazing walk with glorious sunshine. 

And then back to Ullapool for our last night before heading home today. 

What an amazing week! 

Can't wait to go back......