We love the beach

'Sewing for Pleasure' at the NEC

Well I have been meaning to write about my day at the NEC on Saturday so here goes.....
We arrived about 12.30 and knowing that the catwalk show was at 1.00, our first mission was to locate the catwalk.  Having found it we realised that seats were being occupied fast so we had better grab ours while we could!  It turned out that winners of the Sew Hip competition had been allocated front row seats so we needn't have worried. 
After a few students and various other groups showcasing their designs we came to the competition winners.  Charlotte's design definitely being the best of the lot, a very deserving winner, although maybe I am biased! 

Very proud of Charlotte, and also quite proud of myself  'cos I have managed to download/upload? an app that enables me to insert photos and videos (with a little help from George)!

So after more photos taken with the winning entries Carolyn and I went our separate ways to explore all the exhibits and see what goodies we could find.  I bought a few bits and pieces but mainly just found lots of inspiration.  What I did find though was the Janome stall and I managed to have a good look at Charlotte's new sewing machine and watch in on a demonstration.  Wow, there is no end to what that sewing machine will do.  I know that you will make very good use of it Charlotte, I am only a teeny bit envious!!!

Spring Stroll

Hey Sis,

It has been a beautiful day here in sunny suffolk. The weather is really starting to change and the first signs of spring are really starting to show. Kate and I decided to go for a stroll up to the Abbey. It was actually a bit chillier that I had thought but the sun was shining so I thought i'd make use of my newly discovered instagram app so that I can show you how beautiful things are looking here.

Wish you were here.xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Bones

Well I have had a great day today, the sun has been shining, it's warm and it's the first day of spring. 
I have been out planting my main-crop onions, and weeding the garlic.  It feels really good to be out in the garden after the long winter.

The other news is that I have been to Ipswich Hospital for a DXA scan, and it turns out my bone density is ok.  My spine is very good and my hip is -1.4, which means there is some bone loss but not enough to be concerned about or to need any treatment.  So....carry on doing what I am doing with maybe a little extra weight bearing exercise thrown in for good measure.

Tomorrow I must get on and make those curtains that I promised Sarah for the end of the week.

Love you all 'in a strawberry'.

Tulips

Thanks to the girls for my lovely cards flowers and basket for Sunday

Current book list.

Good morning everyone! Well, good evening in Charlottes case. I've just woken with extremely fuzzy eyes as I was up until 2am helping Leon with his college project. I was just typing as he read it out to me and, although I'm struggling to keep my eyes open now, it was actually very interesting. He was writing a magazine article about the evolution of the turntables, starting with the invention of the phonograph by Thomas Edison in 1877!

Between that and meeting with other hens to share ideas about dresses and hen dos for CAs wedding, it meant that I couldn't do what I wanted to do, which was basically pick out a new book and curl up with a cup of tea! As I have just finished my last book I thought I'd do a quick book review and let you know what else is on my list...

I have just finished Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini. I bought it in paperback ages ago but never got around to reading it but then Kate read it and recommended it so I picked it up while I was away in New York. It is a lovely YA book about demigods, in the same style as twilight and the other series that I really enjoy (fallen, hush hush etc...). I definitely fell in love with the characters but unfortunately it is the first in a series and the next one doesn't get released until 5th July! Very frustrating although I have just pre-ordered it.

I seem to be waiting for a few books at the moment, including the last books from the fallen, hush hush, and divergent range of books. I must learn not to start until all the books are complete!

I have a huge list on my kindle of books that I am waiting to read but made the mistake of following The Perpetual Page-Turners blog. She does a top 10 every Tuesday! I just can't get 10 books in per week although I would love to! It's a nice blog though so thought I'd share it with you.

I think I am going to read Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire next. The reviews look pretty good and it seems to be a slightly more grown up book. I'll let you know how I get on.....

(P.S. sorry about the lack of pictures, I can't seem to put them on in the correct order and in between text when I use the blogger app)

NYC

So, I'm back! I've had a really good week at my head office in the states but am soooo glad to be home!

I arrived home on Saturday lunchtime after no sleep and a delayed flight home, but came back to find guy doing a bit more work on the bathroom so I was very happy.

Unfortunately I had no time to go shopping in the big apple, but did manage to purchase a couple of items at the airport. I am very pleased with my new sunglasses and mac (although I am quite self conscious of turning into inspector gadget when I wear them at the same time!). Of course, I couldn't go to NYC without buying a couple of t-shirts!

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

I cant agree more Charlotte, this blog plus Skype, etc has made it so much easier.  One of my favourite things is watching the Youtube post of the boys and 'the ant'. 

Anyway, last night, after a quick supper at Sallys, with Richard, Lou and Doreen (and Guy of course), we all went to the cinema at Leiston to see 'The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel'.  What a delightful film, very much in the genre of 21st Century British comedy, starring Judi Dench, Bill Nighy, Celia Imrie, and several other well known British actors.  It is about a group of pensioners who go to stay in an Hotel in Jaipur, which turns out not quite what it initially seems!  The unfolding of all the characters and their past lives makes this a film not to be missed.  Definitely highly recommended.

Today George comes back from the US, so Guy has just disappeared off to do a bit more to her bathroom, and I am off to the greenhouse to make a start on the seed sowing.

Sunshine

Well it still feels like a holiday at the moment and we are making the most of the end of summer/start of autumn. The weather has been wonderful, most days in the 20's but one day it was 35, that was the day I chose to trek by foot down to the town and out to the beach. It was lovely when we left the house at 9am but coming home at midday was ridiculously hard work!

We really have been loving being out doors as much as possible



Sunrise from the back porch






Bubble gun fun



Walking Marvin



Watching wildlife

Miss you all already, thank goodness for modern technology, Skype, FaceTime and smartphones are making this much easier than it would have been a few years ago! And this blog was a fab idea.
Love you all xxx

Pro Breastfeeding Song

Hi again,

I meant to add this at the end of my last post, but I couldn't find it at the time. Check out this pro breastfeeding song. It's by my old mentor's son-in-law.

Thought it was pretty good!

Kate x

Ercol sofa restoration project

Hi all,

So some of you are aware that I have a slight mid century chair addiction (Kieran is somewhat out of the picture on this fact still!).

Anyway I could help but purchase this lovely Ercol sofa/bench/bed thingy that came up on eBay last week. I managed to get it for £56...bargain!  I Guy was also pleased to discover we only had to collect from Stratford St Andrew, even if he wasn't so pleased to be collecting it at 7am Sunday morning!

It was slightly disappointing to discover it was much darker than it appeared from the eBay pics, which means it needs to be stripped, sanded and possibly bleached; however I have an essay to avoid doing, so I started straight away!

Here are the before pics:

These are a few images I have for inspiration:

I think I'm going to just have a base cushion and scatter cushions along the back, as in the first pic. If i'm not able to get the colour of the wood how I would like then my back up plan will be to paint it, although I'm not yet sure what colour i'll go for!

I hope to put up the after pics in a few weeks months.

p.s. Kieran still doesn't know. I'm hoping he won't be reading this post any time soon!

Lastly...we miss you!

Love, Kate x

Signs of Spring

Well my first week has not been quite as planned with an enforced week of sitting with my feet up due to my leg injury.  After having to put off London on Wednesday, at least now I am showing some signs of improvement.  The weather at the beginning of the week matched our mood with two days of constant rain. and now has improved considerably.  The sun has come out, the daffodils are pushing up their green spears and the chickens, ducks and geese are all laying eggs,  Yesterday we got ten chicken eggs, a duck and a goose egg!  I am eager to get out and start in the garden and greenhouse but have to be patient. 
All around the house there are still signs of the boys - toys scattered around the garden, a big open box of dressing up and I keep finding things 'posted' in all sorts of places. 
It is lovely to see the boys enjoying the sea and the warm weather in Oz, and the Port Fairy Folk Festival.  I can't wait until we visit next March. 

Georgie - Saturday 10th March 2012

Seeing as this blog is about updating each other on all of the things that are going on in our lives, I thought I would tell you all about my day. Today I have mostly been doing one of two things: a) packing for my work trip to NYC this week and, b) standing over Guy and offering copious amounts of coffee while he fits my new bathroom.

Having spent the last 8 weeks scrolling the Internet to find bargain bathroom fixtures and furniture, I am so excited that the work has finally began.

Just in case you have forgotten what it looked like before Lottie, I have attached some before and during pictures. Hopefully I can send the after pics in a few weeks time!

The First Few Days

Just settling in, the boys are enjoying the garden, beach and sunshine!

And checking out spiders found in the car!

The Dumesny's big move

Ok, so here goes my first ever blog post...

We’re not expecting too many visitors to the blog, but if you do happen to pop by here’s the story...

This blog has been set up for us (Us being the Coulson’s, Manthorpe’s and Morling’s) to communicate with The Dumesny family following their move to Australia on Sunday 4th March 2012.

I’ll start off with a little background info...

Charlotte Dumesny is daughter/sister number 1 of the Coulson family. She met Adam Dumesny on her travels to Australia on Boxing day 2003 and after spending a year over there Charlotte moved back to the UK, bringing Adam with her, on Boxing day 2004.

They were married here in September 2006 and had two gorgeous boys. Lawson Jay Dumesny (Or Boo) in January 2009 and Wilson Maxwell Dumesny (Or Buddy) in October 2010.

August 2011 on a holiday in back to Port Fairy Australia, Adam’s home town, the Dumesny’s decided to move back to Australia...

...so they leave behind our parents Nicky (Nick-Nee) and Guy (Goy), Sister 2 George and husband Leon (Eon), and myself Kate (sister 3) and husband Kieran (Kiewon).

Home is Leiston, Suffolk. With all of us living pretty close to the ‘rents, so that we can pop round for copious cups of tea most mornings. The parents live in a converted Barn, which is slowly developing into a small holding with Hens, Geese, Ducks etc. They try to lead a pretty self sufficient lifestyle. Guy owns his own building company and Nicky is a homeopath and seamstress. 

Myself and Kieran live 3 minutes away, with George and Leon just down the road from us.

Home now for the Dumesny’s is Port Fairy, Australia. They will be living with Adam’s parents Max and Heather for a while whilst they get settled back over there.

We have mutual interests in health, fashion, craft (Well maybe not George!!!), Gardening (hmmm...again maybe not so mutual) interior decor, and ‘doing up’ things (Guy loves anything with a bit of rust on that he can give a little TLC to!).

Hopefully this post will allow us to keep up to date with what is going on in each others lives, particularly the two little monkeys, Boo and Buddy.

So the plan is to keep each other posted on things we’ve been doing, interesting reads, DIY and restoration projects, Crafty things, Garden make overs, Small holding news etc etc.

I’ll end with a few pics of family life and recent events here in the UK...

The Parents 1975

The Coulson's

Lawson Jay Dumesny

George and Leon's wedding day

Wilson Maxwell meets his big bro

The Dumesny's

Boo and Buddy

 

Me and Kieran on our wedding day

Charlotte and Adam's leaving party

 

Family weekend in Norfolk