Hello. I think I must be on a one woman crusade, to rescue all useful stuff bound for landfill. I took my old brown crappy cheap and nasty cupboard to the council tip today. Broke it up to fit in the car. What did I do when I was there, had a nosy in a car full to the brim with stuff which didn't look like junk to me. The owners happily passed me a few things before they got tossed in the skip. I could have taken more, but the attendant advised that I should be doing my rescuing outside the gate, not on the premises. The owners just wanted rid of it and didn't want to sort it and give it to me out on the roadside.
This is what I managed to grab before it was dumped. The woman was more helpful than her husband, she loaded some of it in my car. Three big cushions, they look clean but I will wash the covers, and pass them on to the church.
A brand new iron in it's original box, never been used. I will keep hold of it for the time being in case my very old one packs up. If I haven't needed it by June I will sell it at the village fete on our cat rescue stall.
Seven picture frames. I can use some of these for my pictures. I have enough to keep me going for a long time. Best make some more pictures then. The frames I don't use I will pass on to the Age UK charity shop.
A big clock, metal surround, reminds me of a clock in a railway station waiting room. I put a battery in it and it works. Will sell this on the cat stall.
I really must try not to bring so much stuff home. I noticed there are two doors on the skip tonight as I passed it on my walk. I could very easily build another summer house, ha ha. I resisted the temptation to take my car round there and pick them up.
Nice to see some new readers commenting. Thanks for popping in, we'll catch up soon. Enjoy your Sunday. Toodle pip
Hello. I've got some pictures sorted out for you, and to keep a record on my blog about the time my shed won the best Budget Category in the Shed of the Year. I could not show you this one of me and George before because I have my rosette pinned to my bag, and it would give the game away. I did so enjoy hugging him, now I'm not so sure which one is more huggable. George is taller, I like tall men, but I like William's cheeky grin and floppy hair. I bet George would look nice with a beard, he should give it a go.
I've made a little video to thank everyone who voted for my shed.
Next are some photo's I took from the TV screen while Paul backtracked and paused the recorded programme.
Someone asked about the William picture. I was asked to do that by Plum Pictures the film company, they thought it would be good fun. I didn't want to do it because I am not very good at faces, I am more a landscapes, trees and flowers stitcher, but I said I would give it a go. I have added some stitching but it needs a lot more. If it gets finished it won't look like William, because I can't do faces. I am thinking of making it into a 'Wanted', poster, more of a joke that a portrait.
The ones with the blue button at the bottom of the screen are those that Paul took with his phone.
I must say that the Summer House/Beach Hut looks magnificent on a large flat screen. The colours were dazzling.
And this is what I won. A plaque which is now in my kitchen front window for the time being until I can decided where to put it permanently. Note the red lettering, I am customizing it. The dark letters are a bit boring, a touch of paint will brighten it up.
A perfect rosette in pink.
And a mug for my morning coffee.
Ooooh William, I didn't know you cared.
He's gone, I am alone once more. It was nice while it lasted.
That's it, it's all over.
Cheers, thanks to Janet and Paul, my best friends in the village.
When I stood on the stage at the end as George was about to announce the overall winner I knew it wouldn't be me. I built mine in about six weeks, some of them had taken a lot longer, and had a lot more work and detail in them. There were far better sheds than mine. West Wing was a very worthy winner, I loved his eco shed with the secret door. So pleased that Oliver's shed on the allotment won his category. I liked Povero, the artists massive shed with all his artworks. I liked the home made sheds the best, those that had been built from scratch by one person.
What next? Oh, I'll find something else to do. I've got four spare doors out the back and two pieces of poly roofing plastic, might build an extension. I'm pleased that so many people have been inspired by my 'have a go', outlook on life. It's true, you don't need loads of money to have a good life. The only limitations are those you impose on yourself. Have a go, and let's see more ladies in Shed of the Year, next year.
Thanks for popping in, we'll catch up soon. Have a nice weekend. Toodle pip
Hello. Hugh Fearnley Whotzisname is on the warpath again with another programme on his War on Waste. (Available on iplayer for 29 days). He certainly knows how to fight battles with big corporations which don't want to listen . He goes on the warpath with a megaphone, on the top deck of a double decker bus in London, yelling at the customers who dare to cross the threshold of one of the big coffee shop chains, spreading the message that the cup they are lovingly nursing is not recyclable.
I don't get this walking around with a cardboard cup of coffee. Don't people get a drink at home before they leave? Don't they get one at work, it's easy to put the kettle on. Don't they get a lunch break where they can sit down for ten minutes in a cafe? Don't they know that there is such a thing as a flask to carry a hot drink in their bag? Are people so addicted to coffee that they must have one close by in case they suddenly keel over with exhaustion?
Millions and billions, and trillions of coffee cups are binned every day. The plastic coating on the inside means they cannot be recycled. There is only one place in the UK which has the facilities to do this, and none of the big coffee chains send their waste cups there. New ones cannot be manufactured using recycled cardboard, they have to be made from brand new trees. Such a shocking state of affairs.
If you do have a used coffee cup you could always do what I did with this coca cola cup I found on the street in the gutter. Turn it into something pretty. I did this for an exhibition at the Arts Centre a few years back, I still have it.
I watched the shed programme last night on catchup at 9.30pm, my very brief appearances lasted nano seconds, blink and you missed me.
Right, got to get off this computer and go to town. Run out of Ultima cat food again. Think I'll take the trolley and load it up. Thanks for popping in, we'll catch up soon. Toodle pip.
Hello. Look what I've got in the back of my car, four solid wooden doors with all the glazing intact. There is a man doing a house up on the route I walk, he previously gave me some bricks. I don't see him that often because he has always gone by the time I get there, but yesterday I went earlier and he was filling a skip with mostly rubble. I stopped to chat, and have a nosy at what he was throwing away. Well I couldn't let these doors get chucked, could I? There is nothing wrong with them, and surely I could find a use for them. Me being an expert builder with doors, ha ha.
So, they are stored at the back of the garage, covered over with plastic sheeting, until I can think of a project for them. Hhhhmmmm, I have two plastic roof panels spare, maybe I could add a veranda to the summer house, that's a thought.
He also gave me these tall slim metal shelving units. I like these, they could be placed side by side or used singly. They can go outside or inside. I will think of a use for them, or give them away.
I just had to rescue Mr frog and Mrs Hedgehog before they went in the skip. A scrub up and a coat of paint and they'll have a new lease of life, in my garden.
It's been a good day for freebies. I think I'll ease off collecting for the time being, I've got enough projects to keep me going. I am scoffing a plate of steamed veg as I type. I have to get ready to go out shortly, I'm doing a WI talk tonight, got to entertain the ladies. I'll say cheerio for now and we'll catch up soon. Toodle pip
Hello. It's a bit blustery today, but as yet, no rain. I have just eaten this happy meal, so I am very happy now. The face is a cheese and onion bake, two in a packet for £1 from Tesco. I didn't bake it, I grilled it. Fridge almost empty again so I'll nip to town this afternoon for a top up shop.
I thought I would get my three miles done early today in case the weather turns nasty. Half way round something stopped me dead in my tracks, a skip was being loaded outside a house, the occupants are moving on. Had to have a nosy. Two chrome bar stools snaffled, and a wooden picture frame. The stools will be cleaned up, seats re covered, and I will find a good home for them. I will remove the picture, it is a bit grubby, sand the frame and paint it for my own use. Quite a good find I thought, I like skip diving. I was reluctant to dig any deeper into the rubbish because there was a strong stink of dog poo, yuk, it was 'orrible.
I need to finish off my walk now, as I made a diversion back to the house to get my car and pick up the chairs. I need to go and do a bit of shopping in town, then have a bath, and tonight I need to be at Radio Humberside studios in Hull for 9pm. No, I'm not on the radio, they are going to link me up with a TV station in Australia for an interview on their morning programme, Sunrise. They originally asked if I could do it at 11.30pm so it would match up live with them, they are 12 hours ahead. I said no, too late, so they are recording it an hour or so before it is due to go out.
Right better crack on, things to do. Thanks for popping in, have a good weekend.. Toodle pip
Hello. I was up early this morning, so I think I might be going to bed early tonight. I'll try and stay awake while I do this. I've had this chair a very long time, I can't remember where I got it from, I have another one the same. As I already had a tin of red paint open, to paint the vase, I thought what else can I paint. I know, this chair is in the Summer House, I think it needs a makeover. Yesterday it was warm enough to work on it outside on the garden table, so I gave it one coat.
Today it was windy and cold so I finished it off on the dining room table. I have re covered the seat with a piece of fabric I got at the Scrapstore. The splodges of red paint on it are in the pattern, so it matches the chair. I'm really pleased with the result, it looks fab in the flesh. I think I might do the other chair in a different colour.
The bin men came today, and my garden waste bin didn't get emptied. They stick a label on it to say why.
This is where the machine on the back of the lorry grabs it to lift it up. I first noticed a while back that the lip had started to break up and rang the council to let them know. They said it will be alright, ring up when the bin falls into the lorry and we'll deliver a new one. Well it has happened now so I shall expect a new one in a few days. I hope they take the old one away with the rubbish, and don't expect me to transfer it into the new bin.
I took the car to the garage today for a service, and went a walk around the town while they were doing it. I wanted some garlic powder from the Asian shop so I took a walk up to the top of the High Street. There is a Scope charity shop on the way, and I was surprised to see big posters in the window, 'Everything £1', worth a look. I found a jacket and a fleecy top, the jacket was £4 and the top was £3. Two items for £2, a bargain.
The jacket looks very smart and fits perfectly, I'm amazed I can get into a size 10. The fleece is bigger and will be worn in the house over layers.
I'm not walking tonight, it's blowing and cold, and I'm tired, so I'm off to bed. I will announce the winner of the bag in the morning after 10am when the competition closes.
Thanks for popping in. We'll catch up soon. Toodle pip
Hello. It's been a great day, I've got a lot done. I like to start the day off with sewing, the light coming in through the back window into the living room is ideal for doing close work. Even though I wear varifocals I still prefer to take my specs off and get up close when I am doing tiny stitching. I had a frame earmarked for the picture but it wasn't quite right, then I looked through the others I have and found this one. It is exactly the right size but the colour is wrong, too brown.
No worries, just paint it white. After three coats of vinyl silk emulsion it is ready.
Remember this, the collapsed pallet decking which became a graveyard for other pieces of timber and anything that didn't have a place elsewhere. I showed you the picture after I cleared it all out and took it down the tip. I leveled the ground off with some of the spare compost I had.
And now it looks like this. I re potted a few plants into bigger pots, this is all I am going to put here, I like the tidy and uncluttered look. I have scattered grass seed all around it so hopefully the lawn will cover the compost when it starts growing. Big improvement, eh!
I ended up with more bricks than I needed for the beds, but not to worry, I found a use for them. A bit of home made block paving between the bed and the summerhouse.
And these bricks fit nicely into this space between the summerhouse and the garage.
The cats like to sit on the edges of the beds, thankfully they aren't getting in them to dig. When the seeds start coming up I will take away the plastic trellis. The ground around them is a bit bare but I've scattered grass seed over it. All we have to do now is wait for things to grow.
Today I ate the second portion of the deeelishus stew, here it is. More left for tomorrow. I don't mind eating the same thing three days running, and I love the idea of cooking in one pan, just chuck it all in. Less faff and less washing up.
Thanks for popping in. We'll catch up soon. Toodle pip
