Reasons To Be Cheerful

Right I'm in a defiant trend bucking type of mood. Knickers to the maelstrom in the media and as for that lot who cheekily refer to themselves as politicians....frankly I've seen better behaved tantruming toddlers! Instead I'm concentrating on the small things that have made my day because, despite everything that's going on, there's still plenty for me to be grateful for and happy about.

Without any great thought three immediately spring to mind.

For starters there was the homemade popcorn seasoned with salt and smoked paprika or the fascinating free Futurelearn course about archaeology I'm currently studying. This is probably my favourite though. The bell rang first thing this morning and I opened the door to be greeted by these.

A bunch of flowers from a client as a thankyou for looking after her children for a short while for her earlier this week. Not necessary but very kind of her nonetheless.

Anyway for now it remains definitely a case of "Keep Calm and Carry On".

Arilx 

Acid Humour

A little acerbic wit to lighten the mood after another challenging week for us all!

Arilx

Rebel With A Cause.

The Egg Marketing Board was set up by the government in 1956 to stabilise and prop up the market. Every egg was graded to a national standard and stamped with the lion mark. However, not everybody took kindly to being told what to do......

This is an egg vending machine which allowed farmers to sell their produce directly from their farms. Wholly mechanical it could hold up to 100 boxes of eggs and not needing electricity, allowed it to be utilised in the remotest of areas. The eggs were neither sized nor stamped. Eventually the machines were used for selling other farm produce and as for the Egg Marketing Board? It ceased to exist in 1971.

Arilx

Homemade.

See the word "homemade" and maybe you think of something food or craft related. In this day and age most people buy what they need and if it breaks probably buy a replacement. This version of homemade and what people are capable of takes it to a whole new level.

Personally I know my own limitations and building a tractor is definitely way beyond them. I instead will continue to make my bags from old net curtains which are for me to use at the supermarket so that I can continue to reduce my use of plastic.

Arilx

The Present

I found this very moving. Hope you enjoy it.

Arilx

Turbulent Times

I voted but I did not/have not discussed my decision with others. Whichever way you chose you were entitled to do so.... we all like to think we're right but nobody broke the law if they voted differently to you. The result is in and I think personally it would be far better if we concentrated on building bridges rather than barriers so that we can move forwards supporting one another and standing against the racist haters as we move forwards into new and unchartered waters. For now though I think I might drop below the parapet once again until the dust has settled.

Arilx

Lucky Sew and Sew!

Several months ago I received a text from chum E asking me to get her a cantilevered sewing box from a charity shop should I ever spot one on my rummages. Now I had no idea even what one of them was but dear old Google soon put me right.

Time passed but eventually I spotted a likely contender when I was dashing in and out. Noting the price I simply sent her a message to say I'd found one and where it was if she still wanted it. Within half an hour I'd had a reply to say she'd got it. No mean feat considering she lives outside the town on the far side...her daughters were a little bemused as she simply stopped what she was doing, leapt in the car and zoomed off without a word of explanation. Good deed done.

The photo however, is not of hers it's of mine...won this week on freecycle. I had bid on a couple of sewing boxes over the years but never been lucky. Strangely though I remained quite convinced that eventually this would change....I am delighted to say my hunch has proved to be right and it's now sitting proudly in my front room full of sewing notions.

Arilx