A project for baby

My little nephew was born on 5 June. He's tiny and adorable and luckily I had just finished his bespoke changing table - made from a cheap(ish) chain store bought table (second hand on ebay) and turned into something a bit unique. I had a definite image in my head before I started and the end result was pretty close so I'm happy with it.

I just have to hope that he will be!

One second hand table bought for under £20 from ebay.

The first of five coats!!! of Farrow and Ball All White estate eggshell paint.

Five coats later - painting a little zebra motif on the back.

Yes, he's supposed to look all scribbly!

Add a couple of baskets to hold nappies and creams etc, keeping with the black and white stripe theme and hey presto, a one of a kind changing table for the newest addition to the family.

OK, so it isn't a work of art but I think it's kind of sweet and a personal way to welcome Leo to his new nursery.

For Vicki

For a manager, friend and special person.

A thousand wishes that, whevever you are, you are at peace, Vicki.

Weird to Wonderful

We finally got some sun this weekend and I took great delight in watching a few of the things I planted last year come out in their full glory. Mother Nature is an amazing lady.

From weird.....

To wonderful....

Weird.....

to wonderful.....

you get the picture I'm sure....

Daily Walk

As part of my get fitter campaign - left over from last year's 'to do' list and made more urgent by a diagnosis of pre-diabetes - I've been getting off my evening bus two stops early. This gives me a two kilometre walk along a busy main road to get to my house. Luckily, although the road is unpleasant, the town in which I live is surrounded by beautiful countryside so I usually manage to see a few pretty things as lorries roar past me at 70mph! Last week I took some photos to mark my way, and to distract me because exercise will never be my favourite thing.

This was before I turned on the camera's night setting - although it was still really light.






Night setting on....

This is not a great photo - he was actually some distance from me - but this little guy followed me for several minutes singing his heart out. Clearly wanted an audience but was a little camera shy - more of a radio star I think.



The path moves away from the road at this point and this lovely long arch appears as you get nearer the town.

Lamposts - the first sign of 'civilisation'.

Into the town.

Looking down the road towards home twenty minutes after getting off the bus.


I should have taken some photos of the not so nice bits because it really looks like a charming country walk from these shots. But then again, who wants to see the not so nice bits?!

So, big check in the exercise colomn as well as the healthy eating colomn at present. I haven't turned into an endorphine addicted size 6 overnight but I'm sure it's just a matter of time!!!!

Mood Indigo

The view out of my window at work.

You ain't been blue; no, no, no.
You ain't been blue,
Till you've had that mood indigo.
That feelin' goes stealin' down to my shoes
While I sit and sigh, "Go 'long blues".

Music by the fabulous Duke Ellington and Albany Bigard
Lyrics by Irving Mills

Favourite versions by Nina Simone and Ella Fitzgerald

Some days you just shouldn't get out of bed.

Accentuate the positive

There are days when I truly hate my job. On days like today I have to look around and remember that I work with fabulous people and in a place where this.....



....delightful chaos and colour is spread all over the office in every nook and cranny.



- and sometimes even in little hammocks. If you can't smile in this environment there's no hope for you.

Following through

Looking back at my blog posts I notice that I often say I'm going to do something and then don't follow through - or at least don't post that I have followed through. Most often the former unfortunately.

A while back I posted some pictures of a new, unfinished, oak coffee table that I was going to finish off myself. Well, I did in fact finish it some time ago. The pictures are below. The grain came up beautifully with coats of clear wax. I'm very pleased with the end product.

I haven't yet finished the table for my father - in my defense it is quite hard to sand when you have whooping cough!

This week I also took affirmative action by signing up for a website design course and a Tai Chi class - two checks in the plus column against fitness and career goals.

So, feeling very pleased with myself as we head towards March. Where on earth does the time go?