You don't remember me - do you?

Good afternoon

Long time no see - entirely my fault, life got busy and I stopped blogging. Also my old desktop PC died and its taken a while to save to get a new shiny laptop and learn how to work it - even now I am unsure if this blogging lark will even work and if it does whether I can get back into the swing of it.

Lets see if I have learnt how to save photos and also if I can get them on here!

The easiest way to catch up is a photo mosaic from each month I have been missing.

So November - a smallest giant treat an afternoon of archery, Remembrance Parade, my other half took up Molly dancing my initial role to make a Molly style raggy for a Christmas display, a birthday cake for S and a treat night out - a Bellowhead gig.

December - so much stuff I got roped into Molly dancing, big son came home from Uni for a month, little son played his last brass engagement, we went to the panto (twice - 2 different ones) and we celebrated Christmas in style.

January - more dancing both Molly and Border, little son turned 17 and he gained a title!

Feb - we visited big son at Uni for his 19th birthday, there was Valentines day and Shrove Tuesday to celebrate.

March - more dancing, my birthday, mothers day, little nephews birthday, the eclipse and we bought a little caravan (more on that another time).

April - we danced for St George, celebrated Easter, had a very sunny day out at Southwold and spring began to appear in the garden.

May - more dancing and little stumble!, visiting big son again, decorating my dining room, garden sorting time and my first ever trip crabbing.

Ok so that's the past 7 months in brief - I will be back with proper posts soon and I want to catch up with bloggy friends and their lives.

Sorry its been so long

xxx Vintage Vicki xxx

Suffolk Sunshine

Good morning

Another sunny morning here in Suffolk - weather seems to have got it right at the moment - sunny days and rainy nights :) We've been spending lots of time outside - we've rather mastered the art of cooking over fire and Big Son seems to have assumed the role of chief flipper of burgers and bbq food.

We had a day out en-masse last week, - me, S, Little Son, Big Son and his girlfriend. We headed over to Thorpeness first and hired boats on the Meare;

 Just a gorgeous day - sunny and breezy and despite the empty looking Meare in this photo it was in fact rather busy.

 We were in 2 boats - we left Big Son and his girlfriend in one and we headed off in another. They took a while to get the rowing mastered but eventually they were getting around rather well.

 There were many swans about and racing across the Meare to be fed. They are surprisingly tricky to photograph - turning their heads at the last moment - eventually I managed a picture!!

After a lunch of chips and ice-cream on the beach at Aldeburgh, we dropped the teenagers back home and S & I headed up the coast to Southwold. As big kids we spent time playing on the arcades and continuing our Air Hockey battles - I always seem to loose whatever dirty tricks I try!!

 Still one of my favourite views - Southwold seafront taken from the end of the Pier.

Lastly for today - a mosaic for July - very hard to limit it to just 6 pictures - its been a lovely and busy month;

Both boys proms, more dancing and plenty of festival fun.

August is shaping up to be busy too - we've a holiday with some Daleks, more festivals, a carnival and of course 2 lots of results days!

See you soon

xxx Vicki xxx

Wasn't he cute ;)

Good evening

Actually he still is - just that the jeans and converse are much, much bigger these days!!

Oh yes today - big son turned 17 - the photo above was taken when he was a few months old - we've decided he was probably plotting something - probably knowing him his next meal!!

After a birthday breakfast and a pressie and card opening session, we headed out as a family for a roast dinner and then onto Southwold. The wind was rather strong so the walk was much shorter than hoped but we made it to the Pier and spent time having fun.

 Air hockey - we played in various combinations - the boys gaming skills showed through and they were far better than us adults.

 Of course if you play on the Pier then you have to play the Penny Falls - he made his money last for ages.

Home then for cake;

The usual chocolate cake - a family favourite - decorated with a Brains from Thunderbirds in honour of Big Sons dressing up day in December and some special candles. These look like normal ones but are impossible to blow out!! 

My daft boy in his new sunglasses - obviously what you need indoors on a dull February day!! Oh how much smoke those candles produced - am glad I just bought one pack of 10 rather than the 17 we really needed!!

Of course he's hungry again - so the grill has just gone on with cheese on toast to cook!

See you soon

xxx Vicki xxx

The Last Post

Good evening

Almost a rush to get the last post for 2012 sorted - a small matter of playing with my new camera and getting the photos off it and sorted and turned into a mosaic!

Oh yes a new camera - Father Christmas was very kind and noted my wish list - more on that another day.

As its the end of the month it must be time for a mosaic - not possible in the normal 9 pics - here's a bigger one for December;

 

Lots of candles, Christmas food, decorations, a bit of snow and a Little Son's festive jumper - what a month!

Even though I've got this new toy, I've not taken too many photos - still getting to grips with things and trying to read the online manual (I hate this - give me a little booklet one every time!). Here's mosaic of the past few days;

Christmas Lunch, a long walk along the river & seawalls at Aldeburgh, another walk at Southwold, MrVV & I braving the elements, mad surfers in the sea and some serious waves - we almost got a soaking!!

I've been sorting pictures for one of those review of the year posts - just trying to narrow it down to my favourite and the best bits!

I suppose all it leaves me to do is to wish you all a very Happy New Year - however you are celebrating tonight, enjoy. I plan to see the new year in with MrVV and a bottle of something bubbly.

Here's to 2013 - I've been adding dates to my new diary and there's some good stuff to look forward to - might just have booked tickets today to go and see our favourite band again very soon! Plus there's MrVV's first festive camping experience to happen in August - can't wait for that!!

See you soon

xxx Vicki xxx

A weekend with Eeyore & Friends

Good morning

A quick nip into blogland whilst waiting for yet another load of weekend washing to finish!

Yep, we've been away again in Bertie - this time really not that far from home. Just 12 miles up the road to the village of Wenhaston and a lovely little campsite I found online. 

When we arrived the first thing we heard was these lovelies in their field next to the camping one;

I have a soft spot for donkeys - so it was lovely to have them nearby. Rather funny that the 2 pugs in one of the tents on site though they could take them on and kept barking when the donkeys wandered past their camp - the donkeys failed to even acknowledge them - so laid back.

We were so lucky with the weather one downpour overnight and another we managed to miss as we were just a few miles away on a day out in Southwold. I know we often visit there but this time we went in tourist mode - time for a lovely lunch from the deli and sitting eating it on the prom in front of a couple of unoccupied beach huts;

There were loads of people in the sea - I think the boys wished they'd brought their swimming things with them - how was I to know the forecast was going to be so wrong!

I could happily watch the kite surfers for hours.

Of course a trip to the seaside would be complete without ice creams;

We also spent time playing in the arcades and having silly photos taken. There were also gallopers - little son & I went on and we left big son with the camera - this was the only picture he managed to get of sort of both of us!!

A lovely weekend and a campsite we shall be going back to again I'm sure.

This week sees manic washing, tidying, cleaning and packing as the plan - big son is away for 9 days from Saturday - camping as a Young Leader at a big scout camp in Derbyshire and we're planning another trip away in Bertie to Yorkshire- just 3 of us this time.

Oh and of course there are more Olympics to be watched as well - well done TeamGB for all the medals so far - 3rd place in the medal table - amazing.

See you soon

xxx Vicki xxx

Just everyday stuff

Good evening

Another weekend has gone by, month begun and busy family week has started.

Thank goodness for a relatively quiet weekend. A family Saturday gardening session - the rain and occasional bursts of sunshine has meant the weeds were winning again - a few hours later and a few nettle stings and we were winning. A huge trailer load of weeds, cuttings and grass headed to the recycling centre.

More domestic stuff Sunday morning and then in the afternoon  MrVV & I headed out to one of our favourite places;

The usual drill - park one end of town, walk along the beach and prom to the Pier for ice-cream and a quick play on the amusements and then back through the narrrow back streets and town to the car. A lovely walk - slightly blustery but time for us to have a good natter.

Today has been very domestic - it seems once again the house was suffering with the burglar chic look coupled with a fine layer of dust everywhere. Time to get on the pinny and scrub/polish till it all looked a bit better. Fortunately its been windy but dry here today - so time to make the washing machine work overtime - one of my favourite domestic things is seeing a line full of washing in drying outside.

Whilst out in the garden I noticed that finally there are signs of life on some of my plants;

 Slightly blurry but the 2nd batch of strawberries are flowering - hoping these one don't get pinched by the mice - seem the netting prevents birds getting them but not mice :(

 I was late planting tomatoes this year - coupled with the weather then its hardly surprising they are only just flowering. 

This little area by the shed is one of my favourites - lots growing in my collection of old enamel pails & pots. Hoping one day all this will be upcycled enamelware.

Lots of good things to look forward to this week - BigSon has his Prom tomorrow night (photos next time), the Olympic Torch relay passes by on Thursday (going to Aldeburgh to watch that) and on Saturday LittleSon has his Grade 4 Euphonium exam.

Right off now - the hall appears to be suffering from an ant invasion - time for chemical warfare to commence!!

xxx Vicki xxx

PS - Yet again - no spell check - sorry

Long to reign over us

Good morning :)

Wow what a busy weekend and its not over yet!!

We've had sunshine & showers, spitfires and fireworks and plenty of Pimms.

Also loads of fun - here's just a snapshot of my Jubilee weekend;

It started on Saturday in Southwold with their Street Fair;

Vintage Buskers singing wartime songs

Morris Dancers & their band

A Pipe & Drum band playing in the town too.

Sunday night MrVV & I headed to Aldeburgh for Proms by the Sea;

The weather wasn't too kind - a easterly wind straight off the North Sea and later on rain but we had such fun. There was an orchestra and whilst they played the Dambusters, we were treated to a flypast and display by a Spitfire and her female pilot;

(not my photo - I watched rather than tried to get pictures - photo c/o google)

At the end of the evening there were fireworks to accompany Pomp & Circumstance;

A wonderful if slightly damp evening :)

Monday - another day, another brass event. This time it was the turn of our little town to celebrate. A parade followed by a Picnic in the Park;

That band again ;)

The parade was of children dressed as Kings & Queens - a friend of mine entered her two littlest and they won 1st & 2nd prize;

It was a great afternoon and wonderful turn out - lots of people having a great time.

As you can see - the sun really shone at some points.

Today - there's another brass engagement, a concert for MrVV & I but first I ought to go and get sorted and visit another special 86 year old - my Grandma.

What a great weekend its been - I loved the river pageant and the concert last night - even if some of the singers couldn't quite hit the high notes anymore!!

See you soon - I must remember to draw the names out of the hat for my giveaway later!!

xxx Vicki xxx

Hints of Madness

Good evening

Wow half term went quickly didn't it - we'd just got the hang of lie-ins and no uniform and then 'beep beep beep' the alarm was going off this morning and it was back to packups and early starts. Nevermind, the positives - just 6 weeks till the next holiday! That's just 60 more white shirts and then no more white shirts! The boys school wear polos in the summer term and then as from September, big son will be in own clothes and little son wearing the new school uniform they are bringing in :)

Right - madness.

We went to Southwold yesterday as a family. When we were walking along the Prom, I spotted 4 little black shapes bobbing about in the sea - oh seals thought I - wrong - surfers;

Brrrrr - am sure even with wet suits the North Sea is cold in February - also we don't get the waves here for surfing - mad people!!

More madness today. The sun was shining so I decided to hang the washing on the line. I must remember (1) clean white sheets are tempting to sniff - however they don't mix with red lipstick! and (2) check what washing you are sniffing - I thought it was an armful of my t-shirts, not MrVV's pants!!

One final piece of madness - agreeing to play air hockey against the boys when we were in the arcades yesterday - damn MrVV and his camera phone and uploading unflattering pics of me to Facebook!

I'll leave you with one final picture - Boy Son v Little Son;

The final score board - Big Son (3 wins), MrVV (2 wins), Little Son (1 win) and me - of course I lost all my games.

Right see you later in the week - I've my Monthly Makes for Feb to share with you, hopefully some hint of spring photos and I might even get the Photo Scavenger Hunt pictures finished too (struggling here this month).

xxx Vicki xxx

Belated Happy New Year

Good afternoon

A belated Happy New Year to you all. I meant to post yesterday but (1) ran out of time and (2) hadn't taken any photos!! Plus I got up late, got times wrong and we were in a rush to go from a lunchtime drinks party to a New Years Day family buffet tea!

Anyhow - am here now - better late than never ;). Can't believe its January - we've been out for a family walk today to Southwold and it was so warm and sunny;

I'm getting so much better at this walking lark - stamina is much improved - we just need to work on my speed now - so much of the time, this was my view;

Menfolk strolling off ahead and then stopping and waiting for me to catch them up!

Can I ask you all a question? Did anyone else get the Cath Kidston crochet tin set? I've started to make mine up and I've run out of yarn before I've finished. I've not enough to do the last 3 rounds of the back of the cushion. I could match with yarn I have here but I wondered if its a design fault in general? I was very frugal with the ends and wastage as I've made each square up.

I've also completed my first make of 2012 - I'll share that later in the month when I take part in the Monthly Make posts for 2012 (links in my sidebar).

Don't forget my PIF - again, link in the sidebar.

See you soon.

xxx Vicki xxx

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Photo Scavenger Hunt - July

Good evening

Well here's something that never happened during my school days - I'm handing my homework in early! Due to impending hols, here's my efforts for this months scavenger hunt;

 Celebration - a pile of certificates and reports that the boys received at the end of term. Certificates celebrating achievements and reports that are both worth celebrating :)

Fields - normally holding sheep but for one month a year, this field is part of the Latitude Festival site - even on a very wet Saturday afternoon there are still plenty of hardy festival goers about waiting for the next act on stage.

 Flag - one of many around the main stage at the festival.

Flip flops - mine - abandoned in the garden on a sunny afternoon.

Something that makes me happy (not a person or animal) - these pebbles represent the seaside. I've lived near the coast since the age of 8 and I couldn't imagine living anywhere else. I love the sea breezes we get when the weather is warm, walking along the beach on a blustery winters day and that special salty seaside smell.

Ice cream - a MrWhippy 99 - my favourite - eaten on the Prom at Southwold on a hot sunny day - bliss

A kite - not an easy one to capture on film. Taken at Aldeburgh on a less sunny day last weekend.

 Red, white & blue - one of my dresses (made by a friend). This was commented on when I posted about Latitude. Its not actually patchwork but fabric printed to look like it.  

 A seashell - Maggi Hamblings Scallop - on the beach between Aldeburgh & Thorpeness. It was a busy day and it took a while to get a shot without children in the way - can you see them hiding??

 A star - on my right wrist - a birthday pressie from my sisters a few years ago and No it didn't hurt.

 Strawberries - taken right at the beginning of the month at the PYO farm.

Stripes - MrVV's t-shirts hanging on the clothes horse awaiting ironing!!

Thank you Kathy for keeping my eyes open for another month. 

See you again later in the week.

xxx Vicki xxx