Woodbridge in the drizzle

I've been for a walk in Woodbridge again and this time I remembered to charge the camera battery, and to put it in the camera, and to put the camera in my pocket. I worked in Woodbridge in the late 1980s and again in the late 1990s. I used to go walk about at lunchtime, sometimes along the river, which is mostly where I have been today, sometimes round the residential roads looking at front gardens. There are some nice houses in Woodbridge, and some grotty ones, but I guess that's what most places are like. There's a market there on a Thursday, and some good independent shops too so it is worth a visit.
Today was not the best for taking photos as it was drizzling and a bit cold but I wrapped up warmly and walked fairly quickly. Once I got away from the busy part of the river walk it got quite grey and spooky and there was a curlew calling and it was very therapeutic
By the way, if anyone can tell me how to put photos side by side rather than one under the other I would really like to know!

Crochet Jacket

I made this long jacket by sewing granny squares together (in various shades of purple plus some black) and then extending the sleeves and collar with the same groups of three trebles just straight but with a decrease at the shoulder seams to shape the collar. Looks a lot better on than it does on the hangar - honest!

Back again

I've been a bit down but now I am up again! I think it is partly because at last it has sunk in that, for the moment at least, I have all the time in the world to do the things I want to get done. Sorry, some of you will no doubt think I am being smug and insufferable, well, sorry but it's a situation that isn't going to last forever so I shall revel in it. I went out to the shops today, with my knapsack on my back and trusty walking pole in hand. The snow had fallen quite thickly which actually makes it safer because the wellies grip on the soft stuff. I don't have any waterproof boots with softer rubber soles. I do have some little grippy things that you can strap round the shoe but I haven't tried them yet. On the way I took some photos and the sun came out for a while and I took my time and it was great. Got some supplies and hubby's newspaper and hopefully will do it again tomorrow.
I have also been doing a bit of sorting out and discover that I seem to own rather more pairs of socks than is reasonable for one human being!

's no joke

It snowed. Did you notice? I am glad I didn't have to go out in the car in it. I did walk to the Heath to get a paper, but the papers hadn't srrived, nor any sign they would. For any of my Canadian readers I should explain that in this country we all grind to a halt when we get a few inches of snow because we are not used to it any more. Frankly I am of the cautious frame of mind and prefer not to risk it. Lots of people seem to have no fear and fare perfectly well, apart from the ones who don't. Anyway, took some photos of which here are a few

Free as a ...as a...as a free thing

Well, today was my last day at work until I find another job, but I'm not going to be looking for a few months. I managed to get away from the office at about 3:30 so literally drove off into the burgeoning sunset on the way home. It was a lovely sky, all pale blues and pinks and greys - the photo above isn't it but it's quite like it. I took that photo before we moved. I had Radio 3 on and there was some lovely music playing and I really did feel a weight lifting. There wasn't a lot of traffic on the road and all in all it was a very pleasant journey. I do feel incredibly lucky to be in this situation and I hope I make good use of the time it will give me. So tired now though but tomorrow I shall try and catch up with paperwork at home that has been neglected and hope my toothache doesn't get any worse before my appointment on Thursday. Then a bit of me time, a bit of card making (actually better get on with that) and some crocheting (if I don't get on with that it will be spring and my cardi will be too warm)and some housework (yes, better get on with that) and I have foolishly promised OH I will give him a few games of chess (if I can't find a good excuse to get out of it) - Oh dear, better get a job so I can have a rest!
Look out for lots of blog posts in the next few weeks!

Almost there

I know I should go and start clearing the garden but my chocolate cosmos is still flowering so I'll leave it a bit longer, when I have more time - which is about to be the case!
I have found it a bit difficult to blog these last few weeks as I handed in my notice but couldn't say anything about it for reasons I won't bore you with. Consequently I have been working extra hours to catch up a lot of stuff and write a "manual" for my successor plus mum hasn't been well so I have had extra shopping and cooking to do. Then I fell over in the garage and had almighty backache. BUT, as this blog is always positive, I am delighted to say that a successor has been found and as soon as her ruptured achilles tendon has improved I will be FREE, FREE I TELL YOU, FREE.
For a while anyway. The plan is to take a 6 month break, catch up with housework, do a bit of painting (artistic not house) reading, helping mum and OH with whatever they need help with and getting my little ailments under control. And blogging of course. A nostalgiafest probably so you will need to be a certain age to get some of it. Like laundry marks and little doors marked "off licence" and the milk being delivered twi8ce a day.
Watch this space

More photos (or I Like Trees)

This should really follow on from the previous post.

wooooo hoooooo

That's my attempt to make a noise like a ghost, didn't really work did it. Anyway, we went to Sutton Hoo again this afternoon and I took 63 photos and had a jolly good walk. OH borrowed the buggy for the bit of the walk that it can manage and then after tea and cake he went in the exhibition hall and I went for a walk down a couple of the less beaten tracks. This photo kind of sums up one aspect of the place but I got some lovely tree pictures too which I will share in due course. The trees are not really turning that well this year but some have a bit and maybe in a week or so they will look better. Hubby reckons it will be too cold for him to go soon. I had a top up practice in his car too, just getting my brain round driving the automatic from time to time means I don't worry about the possibility of having to drive it in an emergency. It's a lot bigger than my car too. So all in all it's been a great weekend

SomComDiff Challenge

I've called this SomComDiff because I have discovered that SCD stands for some other inferior entertainment on television ! Why watch a lot of people who can't dance when you could be crafting! Anyway, this weeks challenge was another Moo card with the subject "metal" I've posted two as I wasn't sure if photos really counted so one is a photo of the huge copy of the Sutton Hoo helmet that hangs over the entrance to the exhibition hall and the other is a "GoldenWeb" made using one of my Fiskars texture plates of which I am inordinately fond.
Don't forget to join me again tomorrow for Sunday Stealing

Dawdling

Went for a long walk today along the cycle track that goes all the way to Tesco's (and back again)This follows an old farm track for part of the way and so there are some really nice bits of hedgerow that look very old and a few huge trees, plus all sorts of wildflowers and birds. We saw a sparrow hawk being mobbed and a lot of blackbirds and some cheeky cockney sparrers (I suppose they are Suffolk Sparrows here)and we dawdled. Frankly the world would be a better place for a bit more dawdling.

Secret Garden Part 2

Here are some more photos of the lovely garden at the place where I work. Please respect my copyright in them. When I get permission I will post a few that show some of the paintings that are hanging in this open air gallery but if you come to the shop and buy a newspaper you can go and sit there yourself

Secret Garden Part one

I'm working some extra hours this week so I can take a break next week. So for once I took a proper lunch break and ate my sandwiches in the garden of the place where I work. It's a very old building with a very old garden. The bosses mum has been doing it up and then someone suggested that the art gallery could overflow there in the summer. I don't know why I haven't been out there for a while but it blew me away. If I ever feel like packing in this job the garden and access to it might just change my mind. I am going to tantalise you with just one photo for now but there will be more and they are worth it i promise. There was a baby blackbird there but having surveyed me with that serious look that baby birds have, and not moved as I walked round it, it got camera shy so I'll try again tomorrow. You see, there are silver linings everywhere if you take the trouble to look.