“Hi, come in, thanks for coming over. I have the heating on, you’ll soon warm up”, is pretty much how I’ll greet you if you did come to visit me. I’d hug you of course.

Abi at Creating Paper Dreams had this idea of an imaginary catch up over a cup of tea (or whatever you like to drink) once a month.

We begin as always with our family news, fortunately ours are both well. Ben & Lotta seem happy in their new place. We met her parents last weekend. They came over from Helsinki to visit her & Ben in their home. It was all very exciting and we had a really lovely evening with them in a restaurant in Bristol.

We have decided on a hot chocolate to drink this afternoon and of course a mince pie or a piece of Stollen? or both?

“My health has not been too dusty since I last saw you but I am on the mend now. I have gum disease inherited from my poor ‘ole mum and seem to be constantly at the dentist. It gets me down, not to mention the pain sometimes, but my dentist is so lovely, kind and gentle. She doesn’t mind my little rituals either. I take my shoes off and bring my beautiful purple mohair cardigan with me and between us we wrap me up in it. I feel like a child, I remember my mother and the horrors she went through and sometimes I cry. It’s the anaesthetic of course. But dentistry has changed so much over the years, my practice is very modern with all the latest equipment and up to date thinking and wonderful care.
Enough! lets talk craft and Christmas!”

I have been making some small christmas tree decorations with narrow ribbon and beads and showed the girls how to make them at our craft evening this week. I saw them on You Tube last year and bookmarked them. If anyone knows where the idea originated I will happily give proper credit for them.

I made a very pretty advent calendar for Ben & Lotta using a 24 hole mini muffin tin.
I bought a new tin so that Lotta could use it after the holiday. The little holes have their favourite sweets in apart from three which have a christmas tree decoration which I made for them. The covers for the holes are punched from old Christmas cards and attached with a little bit of blu tac, the ribbon just makes it easy to pull the disk away.

I am altering a book following Julie Kirks free tutorial, for my December Days Challenge.

I show you some postcards I have just received from Moo.com, I am determined to get them in the post on time this year.
I have written a few out over the weekend.
Something strange happened on Friday evening, I was addressing an envelope to Helena when my Mac alerted me to an e-mail just coming in…from Helena!

I am still sending out my art postcards each week. They seem to be going to family at the moment. I don’t quite know how that happened, I was sure I mixed all the names up.
I have been listening to Christmas music for a couple of weeks now, wearing festive socks and feeling generally organised. Oh! and I just bought these jolly looking gloves!


You may have already seen them, sorry!

Cheri’s soundtrack to your life challenge is of course Christmas music. I still can’t pick a favourite, but when I hear this I know that Christmas is on it’s way.

We only buy gifts for each other these days so no major shopping & wrapping to be done.
I have my brother and his partner to stay over the holiday and of course, much as we joked we would all be going to Ben & Lotta, they are in fact coming here!
We will be seven for Christmas lunch and have decided on a Secret Santa this year.
Oh hark at me, your poor ears! and it’s getting dark, time for you to hit the road.
Thank you for visiting, for listening, for bringing your beautiful art to show me but most of all thank you for your support, especially as I was away so long.
Oh! and I am trying to get the hang of Instagram, promise!

This is the last time Abi will be hosting her wonderful meme. She has done a great job every month and it was a particularly lovely thing to do.

Thank you Abi. x

I have such a smile on my face as I open the door to you. It has been far too long since we caught up together.
“Come in, come in, you’re so welcome and thank you for bringing the sunshine with you!” I say as I greet you with a hug.
“Yes it is hard to believe that it is the end of October. The weather really affects my mood, the sunshine today has given me a a much needed lift. How about you?” we continue to chat about the autumn sun and glorious colours as I close the door and take your jacket.

We are in my sitting room today; I even have the French doors open, “let me know if you’re in a draft?” I ask you, “although I expect Pepsi will let me know if it’s draughty before you do” I laugh.

I have made tea in my new teapot today; I love the colour and it pours beautifully!

I hardly ever make tea this way but at the end of August I had a very small afternoon tea party for Lotta’s birthday, it was fun especially buying a teapot, which until then I didn’t own!
You ask about the lovely looking cakes already on the tray for us. “No I didn’t make the cakes. As my sister-in-law once told me, I may not know how to bake cakes but I do know where to buy cakes!”

So as we drink our tea we are able to catch up. Our families are all well but the dynamics of mine have changed now that Ben & Lotta have moved into their own flat. My feelings about this would take up the whole visit so I’ll just say that they are happy and settling in. I’ll tell you about it another time, maybe even write a blog post about it.
I confess to hoping this afternoon will inspire me to start blogging again. It is so long that it feels like leaving the phone call or letter so long that you can’t think where or how to begin so you don’t and it gets worse but thank goodness for you today. You have brought me some of your art which I know will inspire me and you tell me about a few blog posts that have caught your imagination.
I make a note of them as a starting place because I can’t hope catch up with eight weeks of unread blog posts…
I pour you more tea and offer you another cake “they are so delicious and so small…go on, just one more”.

And then it’s time for me to tell you what’s happening in my life.
Well, after Ben did his race we were all caught up in the ‘boy’s leaving home’ scenario. Looking for stuff, sorting, washing and packing. Everything began to pile itself behind the settee, (well, it wasn’t me!) which was OK at first and then I noticed that the thing was moving closer to me as more and more stuff was gathering there!

Then it was our Pearl wedding anniversary and Paul had arranged a surprise for me: a much longed for trip to Rome. I was utterly overjoyed. Of course we had the most wonderful time, I was spoilt rotten and have just started on my book of the holiday so I am reliving each day as I put the pages together.

Four days after we returned Ben & Lotta moved out. There was a week ferrying stuff backwards and forwards from here to there and there to here again! Then it was time for our trip to Northern Ireland.
Off we went on a coach trip (a first for us) with the National Trust. We had seven amazing days. Each day we were up early and out, we visited two houses and or gardens every day and returned to the hotel with just enough time to change (or not) for dinner then fall by the bar for an hour before heading up to bed & sleep before the next days adventure.
When we returned home I was completely exhausted and I think that is what is happening to me. I am not used to travelling like this anymore. I feel completely tired and unable to catch up with anything coupled with the fact that Ben has left home, my world feels like it is spinning and I want it to stop so that I can get off.

I really want to get back to blogging. For a few weeks I thought I didn’t want to do it anymore but I miss you. I miss the sharing.
I have taken less than a hundred pictures this month where I would normally take more than four hundred.
On the plus side I have completed an alphabet photo a day through October

and kept up with Capture Your 365 both of which I posted to Flickr.

I finished my September Days book (loosely based on Learn Something New Every Day) and continue to post my postcards. But writing a blog post has completely eluded me.

Anyway today is the 28th and would have been my late mothers 87th birthday.
I have no idea what that that has to do with anything but she is on my mind a lot lately. Maybe I have a need to talk to her.
I also remembered that Abi at Creating Paper Dreams hosts this lovely monthly meme so I am picking up the blogging thread today.

Are your ears sore? I’m so sorry, only you were wondering what had happened to me, be careful what you wish for!
Thanks so much for visiting me, for listening, for laughing with me, for showing me your art, for encouraging me to try Instagram, I’ll let you know how I get on. Yesterday the phone very nearly went out of the window trying to set it up!

Thanks so much Abi for making it possible to have this imaginary cup of tea and a catch up.

Someone told me there are fifty seven days left until Christmas! Eeek! shall we do this again next month? we can start by asking each other… are you ready for Christmas yet?

This lovely idea is the brainchild of Abi at Creating Paper Dreams.
Towards the end of the month a group of bloggers from around the world have a virtual cup of tea or coffee, sometimes lunch, sometimes there’s cake! and imagine what we would talk about.

March 27th 2014

We are at the Old Town Quarry for our catch up today.
It is a lovely bright day; the sun is warm on my back.
I have been here for a few minutes so that I could look out for you.

“Hi, glad you found it! Yes it is pretty, especially on a bright day. Shall we have lunch first? They do a beautiful brie and cranberry panini, or the stilton and mushroom one is gorgeous.

Like all good friends we decide on one of each!

I’ll order, have a look around if you like. There is a new art exhibition around the walls, I’ll join you when I’m done at the counter”.

After lunch we go outside and walk, with our cameras of course. At this time of year when the trees are without leaf you can see the glorious colours of the quarry walls.
“How on earth do those trees stay put?”

“The blacksmith is working, I can hear his machines. We wont be able to go in unfortunately but we can peer through the gate like school children do…”

We make our way down into the bowl of the quarry. It has been grassed over and there are a couple of benches we can sit on and listen to the birds.
“Do you hear that song? It’s the Great Tit. Well, I say song, someone once described it to me as the Lesser Spotted Bicycle Pump! Ah! you hear it now!”

We sit on the bench in the sunshine and talk about the last few weeks since we saw each other.
We talk about our families, children and pets for a while. I mention although my dog has been poorly, and I have been concerned, I think she has turned the corner this morning. I make you laugh with tales from the family party I went to this month. I caught up with two brothers that weekend and another brother called in to see me this morning so I am pretty much up to speed with them.
We talk about our blogs, and the fact that there never seems to be enough time to do all the lovely things we would like.
We have a shared hope that spring is gradually reaching out to us. And we both agree how grateful we are to have made this commitment to catch up once a month.

You have brought me some of your artwork, and something for me to put on my shelf! Thank you!

I have brought some things to show you. “I have been bitten by the Great British Sewing Bee bug. I have made a Scottie dog pin cushion,

I am on track with my own challenge. Inspired by some postcard swaps I want to send two postcards out every week this year. They will be my own photographs that I have had printed or some original piece of art that I have stitched or painted. It is week thirteen and I have posted 29 cards Oooh! I just realised I am ahead!”
If you know anyone who would like to receive one let me have their address and I’ll add it to my list.

“I must just tell you about my latest iPhone app. It’s called Waterlogue and is so much fun. It turns your photos into beautiful watercolours. It cost £1.99 and one of the few that I have bought that I think is worth every penny”.

All too soon it is time to say goodbye.
I have had such a lovely time with you, I would hug you and say “stay well, talk on the blog and see you in April?”

…and a catch up.
This month as the weather forecast was so good I imagine we met at Cosmeston Lake

“Thanks so much for coming” I say as we hug, saying together “Where has the last month gone?”
“What a lovely day, the first of three forecast before the rain returns.
Shall we walk? Oh good, you have your camera. The birds here are all so tame because they are constantly being fed! Mostly on bread! I don’t know how they get off the ground. It’s not good for them but the upside is this”…

Shall we sit on the bench for a while and watch them as we talk?

We chatter about our blogs, postcards and Gelli printing, all at once, hopping between thoughts and projects. I know I said I would bring Washi tape for my mouth but….
“I have taken a Gelli print class by Carla Sonheim and am about to start another one, late, as I have had visitors and then a couple of days away.

“I have signed up for the Great Big Stitched Postcard Swap again. I hope I get a reliable swap partner this time!
Kat Slomas postcard swap is much more reliable! I sent off my cards a couple of weeks ago.”
You tell me that you have signed up for the same swaps. “Wouldn’t it be fun to get a card from someone we knew?”

You ask me what I do with my Gelli prints.
“Mostly I make them into postcards. I have challenged myself to post three cards every week this year. So far, I am on track. Sometimes I will use one of my photographs that I have had printed and sometimes one of my Gelli prints.”

You have brought me some of your work to look at. It is always so lovely to see it in my hands, the colours are so much more vibrant irl.

We continue our conversation as we walk along one side of the lake, stopping to take pictures or laugh at the antics of the waterfowl.

“A week or so ago my blog friend Prairie Jill posted a week’s memes on one subject (Tulips) I thought that was so clever. I think have enough pictures from today for four memes; I am feeling quite productive!”

We link arms on the way to the café laughing and enjoying our shared hobby and the joy blogging brings us.

This lovely idea is Abi’s, find her and other tea posts at Creating Paper Dreams

…and a catch up.

This lovely meme was started by Abi at Creating Paper Dreams. Around this time of the month we imagine a conversation over a cup of tea (and sometimes cake). I imagine we have met in town, old friends, catching up with each other.

I’m sitting on the wall opposite the café day dreaming, waiting for you, when all of a sudden there you are, smiling broadly.
“Happy New Year! I know it’s the end of the month but it’s the first time I’ve seen you. How are you? You look so well.
I was watching for you, hoping you weren’t blown away it is so blustery today but at least it’s not raining.”
We walk to the café arms linked easily falling in to step as we cross the road.
“I’ll get the drinks; you find us somewhere nice to sit, by the window perhaps?
I’m having the largest hot chocolate they have, yes and with cream, I need it.”

It’s been far too long since I had a natter with someone about blogging and all things crafty. We slip into easy conversation about our families, Christmas and New Year and where on earth has January gone?
You have brought me some of your latest makes; they are so much more beautiful in my hands than they are on screen.

“This is quite a nice café; overlooking the beach where I took my ZIZO picture of the dog. Helena’s new meme has really captured the imagination hasn’t it? I love it. Poor Helena’s ears, they must be constantly burning “Oh, wait a minute, go back, I’ve seen a ZIZO for Helena” or, in answer to “what on earth are you looking at?” “A picture for Helena! She’ll love this one”

I have brought some crafty things to show you. You were kind enough to ask me to bring something for you to see.

I tell you about the Gelli Printing class I started this week; it’s with Carla Sonheim. There seems to be a bit more structure to the printing than I have seen before. It’s only day two of five today but it’s messy and fun.
And about the postcards of my photographs I received in the post this morning. They look so lovely. The printing quality is wonderful even if the web site drove me nuts!
We discover that we are both joining Kat Sloma’s Liberate Your Art again this year. And I plan to send a card through the post every week this year. “If I have your address, you are on my list!”

I tell you that I have starting contributing to a new meme: Six Word Fridays, which I am enjoying. Adrienne who hosts it gives out a prompt each week. I like to find a picture and add just one sentence to it.

I am joining in with an eight-week course called Frugal Still Life Photography by Cheryl McCain. I struggled the first week but since I have set up a table top backdrop and reflector, I am getting along much better. I am also fortunate to be able to leave the table full of my stuff for days on end!

We talk about January, the beginning of the year and how so many people we know (mostly women) suffer with a depression, a lack of serotonin and the feeling of ‘What’s it all about’
In the past I have really struggled with the ‘January Blues’. This year I decided to alter my mindset and not think about January as a time in the year, the beginning of an uphill climb or the bottom of something too deep to climb out of as I used to. I am thrilled to tell you that I have been fine and can’t believe that it is February at the weekend. I am extra pleased with myself, as I have been quite poorly over the last couple of weeks and on top of that my hand, although improving is still very painful. (I have a new mouse mat, which has a gelli wrist support. I do think it’s helping.)
So this year I didn’t let myself go down. I covered up the word January on my desktop calendar and started two classes, both of which are indoor pursuits so I can watch the rain happily fall out of the sky and smile, I have something lovely to do right here.

You can tell I missed talking to you, I’ve not stopped to draw breath!
Can we do this again?
Next month?
I’ll bring some Washi tape for my mouth!

What would you tell me if we were able to have coffee together?