The Wall

A very dear friend of ours,who shall remain nameless, shan't you Levi, recently viewed my blog and he commented on the fact that we had a good time at our retreat. He then followed this up with a tongue in cheek comment about the wall. So just for you my dear friend, here is the wall.

Dave put the last coat of paint on last night. The book shelf and dresser went back into position last night and this morning I finished cleaning and putting the room back together.

The other side of the wall needs painting too but we are still deciding on colours, and saving up to replace the crappy carpet that almost has a life of its' own plus doors to go on. The room looks totally different now and we are really pleased with the finished effect. Dave had done a wonderful job.

The after effect

This is the four of us, Myself, Lyn, Steph and Lynley, Thursday lunch time going over last bits and bobs for the retreat. I rolled up at Lynleys at 9 am and greeted her with, "We're having a retreat, aaaggghhh!" which became a catch cry for a little while, it eased the tension.

Thursday afternoon after lunch saw us settle into the committee bedroom/ apartment.Unloaded the cars of all the goodies that we required for the weekend and then set out to start packing goodie bags, 3 patterns, a survival kit, material, pens, pencils, note books, cards, discount vouchers, and 130 bags to fill.

Thursday night dinner was a relaxed and very large affair at an Italian restaurant, the name of which, at the moment, eludes me. It was a great chance to start catching up with old friends and make new ones before the retreat began in earnest.

Friday morning was another "We're having a retreat, aaaggghhh" warm up, then set up our magic helpers to set up the prize wall (every retreater came away with a prize and some of the luckier ones got two). A quiet lunch back in the room and get dressed for the registration desk. The four of us wore matching flannelette's at rego, with a purple ribbon in our hair. It was a back to basics theme after all and what is more basic than lounging in your PJs having a sewing day, this a lone was enough to set the tone, mood for the rest of the weekend. People generally relaxed, tried to do some hand sewing but mainly talked and laughed. Oh there was a little bit of siggie swapping happening too.

The whole weekend seemed to go by in a blur, prize draws, show and tell, swap challenges, meals (which were very ordinary). I won EQ 6 in one of the prize draws and I get home to show DH who then tells me this computer is not suitable for the program...bugger will have to read the book and be content with that for a while.

Monday was the bus shop hop. Five shops, Patchwork Cottage, Hand Crafters House, Carols, Homespun Workshops and Textile Traders. I spent a "Little" money on a few of these shops but then I did not have an airfare in the cost of the retreat!!!

Tuesday was a side trip with some of the retreat ladies out to Collingully just past Meckering. Another buzz of the CC. Found a pattern that did not call out to me more like bellowed my name. I can not wait to start that. ( My machine has just come back from being serviced.)

The retreat is over, and I have spent the day today, from 9am, sweeping, vacuuming, dusting and washing my floors. DH (gotta love them) has finally finished his new wall in the lounge.....I had gyprock and plaster dust every where...I had white furnishings, white upholstery, white carpet, white benches, kitchen, I think you get the picture.

After the craft fair yesterday, which for some reason just did not do it for me, we, (Lissa and I) got home to the smell of roast beef in the oven and a snowy looking man, who grinned widely and said "I finished the wall" after which he added a sheepish "Sorry about the mess."

I am about to tackle the mountain of clothes which are on the couch ready to be folded and put away, at least they are washed, in need of an iron, but washed. Oh and I still am Mum to the same number of children as when I left to go to the hotel.

I am looking forward to sitting in clean house tomorrow while kids are at school and playing with my purchases over the last few days.

FINAL COUNTDOWN

Well this is it. Tomorrow is the pre retreat dinner, so we are down to counting down in hours. Had a committee meeting last night at Stephs and folded lots of paper lists put together bits for the goody bags, loaded up the cars, my boot is full of boxes and I still yet am to pack my bag and load that in the car. Got home last night well and truely after 1230 and thought oh bed. Noticed DH asleep on the couch ( eminds me of a sack of potatoes!!) So I thought great, bed to my self, full night sleep. Walk into the bedroom, turn on the light and.........

There goes that idea, rearrange the child and get into bed at which point in time the dogs come into the room and the little one jumps up and curls in behind my knees. Oh I am to tired to care. Goodnight.

I have finished work for two weeks, 1 week for the retreat and one to recover. My mind has been so set on the retreat and everything else I am doing, I got to work today, and my nurse manager says to me ,"Why are you here you are on holiday". I normally work Mon to Wed so I automatically thought yes I will work my 3 days then be on holiday, nope I only needed to work two!!! One day my brain will catch up with my body! (A scarey thought indeed)

See you in a week for the update.

Super Mum????

A friend of mine is seeing someone to help her cope with a few aspects of life that can send the strongest of us into a tail spin. Speaking to her today she stated "When I stop......"and I laughed, "Stop". What's that? She had been described as doing to much, the Super Mum (woman) complex.

In the course of the conversation I mentioned something about my second job. A second job I am asked. So I then described my typical week. Work Mon to Wednesday at the Nursing Home. Do fitness at the TKD (Taekwon Do) centre twice in those 3 days plus 2 sessions of TKD. The children of course are doing their lessons around the time I am huffing and puffing doing the cardio session at the centre.

Thursday, another session of fitness at lunch time, it is my day off after all. Oh and if I have not made TKD I will do a make up session. The kids also do a sports class twice a week on the off days from TKD, training for competitions.

Friday is the day to attempt to do some house work and grocery shopping to top up the ever dwindling supplies, if I am lucky I might get a Nanna nap...me tired never!!!!

Saturday is again at TKD, my second job. I am the "Program Director". Sounds flash doesn't it? I am there for 3 hours and at this time the kids train again. Sunday, sleep in? Not a chance, I am up early in the morning as I am currently doing boot camp to get fit!

Somewhere in all that I am part of the retreat committee for Southern Cross Quilters annual retreat, it is here in Perth this year. 1 week to go. So there have been committee meetings all around for that, plus the fortnightly quilting nights. I am also working frantically doing gifts for my secret mortal at the retreat plus a thank you for my angel who has been sending me yummy gifts and chocolate frogs.......gotta exercise if I wanna eat frogs right?

I am now trying to use up the scraps from my siggie quilt from the Bendigo retreat last year. Lots of useless 1.5" - 2.5" scrappy bits. I am thinking of framing them with black, any comments?

I am looking forward to the retreat so I can STOP!!! Ha as if we ever do.

QAYG

I finished yet another project. I made a QAYG (quilt as you go) for a friends daughter for her 16th. Hours of sewing, cutting, hand stitching. I finished it at 3pm, the party was a 6..Yay for me.
The pictures are of the quilt folded in half across the back of the chair, so it is 24 blocks in size.

Get to the party, Miss 16 opens it and says..."is it a blanket?" Cough, splutter and choke. I soon put her straight! I was sorely tempted to take it off her but you don't argue with a big italian familys, who all do Taekwon do and are black belts!!

We are less than two weeks from the retreat. All is organised, had a scare with our committee rooms. Thought that they had not been booked and there were no more rooms available!!! AAggghhhh. STRESSS. No not us, never. Ring the venue, and the rooms had been reserved but with name to be advised..whew let out a collective sigh.

Off to finish my gift for my retreat Angel.