6th April

Well it has been a long long time since I updated this and during that time we have cleared out the house in Stafford and spent some wonderful family/ friend time whilst doing it. So that is one chapter closed. I didn't take photos of the house empty because for reasons known to those closest to me, I hated that house from the moment I went in through the front door until the final moment we closed the front door on Friday 28th March and drove away without a backward glance.
There are a lot of people I will miss in Stafford and surrounding areas, too many to name. I miss my family being close enough to visit whenever I want, friends taking me out for curry or snuggling up beneath a blanket with to watch movies. But I know they are still there and Stafford is only a motorway or two away.

Goodbye Furniture, have a good trip

We couldn't have managed any of the packing etc without all the help we had. Boxes galore from Tim and Andy and Gary; hefting and hauling from Gary and Andy and Dani; packing and picking with Katy and Andy and Dani. Dani told me off for not throwing more away and I must admit I am unsure why we have paid to keep boxes and boxes of rubbish in storage, but there you go, it seemed a good idea at the time. Janis spent days clearing out the loft and finding treasures galore. Bless him he was covered in dust almost all the time. 

On the last day, furniture gone, just the last bits to fit into the car, Katy and Tanay came over to help. Tanay found somewhere comfy to cuddle , which was quite an achievement as all the furniture had gone and the only things to sit on where a pouffe and a garden chair with a throw over it that had been my throne since all the furniture left. 

 Hard to see I know but there is a Tanay in there somewhere

Charlie got very worried, wandering from empty room to empty room

We took time out between packing to catch up with the family. Lily remembered me as it had only been a week since our last Sunday morning cuddle. I think she needs to work on her photo pose - perhaps she is already understanding the "keep the chin high" but think the wide open mouth needs review.

Chin Up

Not sure about the open mouth though

When she isn't posing for the camera she is so cute, but as she has the knack of knowing exactly when and where the camera is pointing it isn't easy to catch her unaware.

Reading herself a story in her play tent. 

The journey down to Cornwall was alright, although there seemed a lot of traffic. Gary and Dani were travelling down as well, but we had no idea where they were, which is why it was such a surprise to stop at the services only for them to walk through the doors some minutes later. So we had a burger lunch together in a crowded cafe.

We got home about half five, dashed about making beds and sorting rooms and were in the pub for seven, celebrating the end of the Blakiston Street house and the years ahead. 

Dinner at the Trengilly Wartha Inn

We had a great weekend. Gary and Dani bought Eddie down with them and we made sure he had lots of walks. He is a different dog with Gary around, much better behaved.

On Saturday we dropped mothers paintings of at Trelowarren for the exhibition (we are off there this lunch time for the opening) and then took the dogs to Poldhu Cove for a walk. It was cold and grey but for a while there was no rain. Of course Ed was straight into the water. Mum made the wise decision to look after the car from the inside. 

A frozen Dani who didn't come dressed for a Cornish wind

The dogs had a wonderful time

Charlie and Poppy chasing after a very wet Eddie up the beach

We left the dogs at home and went into Falmouth for Fish and Chips at the wonderful Harbour Lights cafe and then a wander around Trego Mills which is a delight of a shop with hidden corners of everything you could ever want.

We saw this ship from the restaurant window. Its called Discovery and is a laboratory ship

 When we got back Eddie looked very sorry for himself and his tail looked as though he had broken it in three places. Dani checked online and it turned out to be caused by him swimming in freezing cold water. Its a wonder it hasn't happened before now. It took until Monday to sort itself out but slowly it improved. Poor silly dog.

Sunday was Mothers day. I had cards and pressies and a wonderful lunch at the Norway Inn in Perranaworthal with Gary and Dani and Mum and Janis. 

The week since then has been spent getting back into the rhythm of our lives. On Tuesday Janis and I went into Helston and sorted all the money so that we can get what little interest there is on savings nowadays.

Wednesday evening Mum and I went to the Tolmen Centre for dinner and to watch the film Philomena. We got there really early and put our coats on the comfy sofa right at the front. No hard chairs for us. It is a great film and I laughed and cried and felt all the indignation as needed. Hard to believe what people did in the name of religion. Hard and Sad.

On Friday I took Mum to Manaccan for her art group and stopped in Gweek on the way back to take photos of the creek which actually had some water in it. So often it is just mud and the boats look so sad stranded and lopsided. 

By the way Jackie, nearly forgot to say, we finished that dratted jigsaw and there were pieces missing. We were so thrilled with ourselves we did another one to celebrate. Much easier. 

Next weeks blog will be about card making which i have started up again.