IT'S GETTING COLDER

This time of year is only good if you don't have to go outside! I hate the cold weather, I wish I lived somewhere warmer. I spent a couple of months this year in Australia, unfortunately it was winter whilst we were there but even then it wasn't as cold as it is in the UK in winter. We had a good time whilst we were there, this time we flew via Hong Kong and it was a wonderful experience to see the city even if only from the windows of the plane as we flew in to land. Hong Kong Airport is amazing it is enormous. My husband didn't come with us this time so it was just me and my 11 year old daughter and I was a little apprehensive flying without him. But we managed to do it.

With being away and other things that have been going on I have had little spare time to give to my Etsy shop so sadly it has been neglected this year, something I hope to rectify in the new year.

I have been crocheting though, although not for the last week due to a nasty burn on my hand, which I stupidly did whilst cooking Sunday lunch last week and didn't use an oven glove when putting yorkshire puddings into a very hot oven!

A couple of months ago I decorated Amy's bedroom, she wanted rid of the pink walls and fairies. So it now has yellow walls, purple curtains and a purple, pink and yellow 'Me to You Bear' duvet cover. I decided to crochet her a matching purple, pink and yellow afghan after seeing quite a few of them at my aunt's in Australia.

I have decided to become a Registered Childminder so I am going through that process at the moment. I have just had my pre-registration visit from OFSTED and I am now waiting for my Registration Certificate so that I can start childminding. I am hoping to start taking children in the New Year.

IT'S ALREADY MARCH

It never ceases to amaze me how quickly a year can pass by. It doesn't seem 2 minutes since Christmas and we are already almost a quarter of the way through another year. I think this is probably an unfortunate side effect of getting older along with all the aches and pains I seem to be suffering with, although that might have something to do with the unfortunate incident involving me, the dog and a pavement! Anyway it is nice to be getting winter out of the way, hopefully we wont get anymore snow now. The weather seems to be getting slightly milder, the spring flowers are starting to appear and the sun is shining.

My DH has just got me a new phone, it is a Galaxy Samsung S. It is amazing what you get on a phone now, they are more like mini computers, I can even update my blog from it. I was going to have an Iphone but the cheaper deal we got with this one was too tempting.

I have been busy crocheting an afghan, it is pink green and white. I love the colour combination and it would make a lovely baby blanket.

NEW YEAR THOUGHTS AND A VALENTINE SALE

Sorry it's a bit late but Happy New Year everyone. I hope you all had a lovely Chritmas with your family and friends. Christmas here was quite busy, my eldest daughter and her family spent Christmas Day with us so it was a noisy, exciting time with the children. Amy, my youngest, got the Ipod Touch she wanted so much so she was very happy. Unfortunately my eldest son didn't put in an appearance this year. I was sad when he didn't bother to answer the phone to me when I called him before Christmas to invite him over.

I am hoping this year brings us some good news with the exchange rates and house selling. I would still love to make the move to Australia.

Prices are going up so quickly here I might have to start looking for a job. I quit my job nearly 2 years ago because I was finding it more and more difficult to balance my work and home life. Also I thought I was going to be moving to Australia within 12 months, unfortunately that didn't happen.

I have at last got round to starting the SALE in my Etsy shop. I have been thinking about it for a couple of weeks. I have also started jotting down ideas for new items to make and some new designs. I want to start writing simple knitting patterns to sell, I am excited about this. I have wanted to do it for ages but like alot of things have never got round to it.

Items from my shop have been featured in several treasuries on Etsy recently so I need to do a feature on them too.