Please excuse me while I have a proud mummy moment

I won't be offended if you don't want to read this entry but I just wanted to share.
Ellie has been going to creative writing class every couple of weeks after school . It's run by the headmistress and she allows them to let their imaginations run riot and they can sit, lie, stand where ever they want and feel comfortable - it's totally informal.
Well Ellie came back with a poem she'd written and after reading it I suspiciously questioned where her ideas had come from and whether she'd copied pieces or ideas from things she'd heard or read. Sh assured me she hadn't and was most put out that I'd think that. Here it is.

My Magic Box by Ellinor


I will put in my box

the shimmer of a sparkling star on a simmering night
the bark from the mouth of a black Jasper Labrador
the top of my Ted touching the television

I will put in my box

a snowflake with a falling heart
a hat of the finest tatan from Loch Lomond
a swirling star from an eternal space

I will put in my box

four orange wishes spoken in Welsh
the last cough of an old father
and the first winkof a black fly

I will put in my box

A violet moon and a multicoloured sun
A mummy on a broomstick
And a witch on a simmering pyramid

My box is made from the finest velvet
With sugar on the lid and books in the corners
Its hinges are the colour of the sun

I shall read in my box
on the top of a million hearts beating together
then find a diamond
the colour of the moon

Age: 9
Feb 2009

Dancing a happy dance

I've finished my model stitch piece for Jo of polstitches http://www.polstitchesdesigns.co.uk/designsforcrossstitch.htm It'll go in the post on Monday . I've asked her to take a picture for me as my camera is still defunct.
The week has been very busy - interviews ,meetings project work and filing so have managed to keep out of the poisoned dwarfs way on the whole . Got to work Wednesday to find pd already there as he'd been called out at 4am because the alarm went off , triggered by the fax machine apparently , so he went home then - lovely relaxed peaceful day.
I've almost finished my swap piece for the retreat, I'm getting a lift from Lin so train to hers on the Sunday morning which is good. She's lending me her machine for the quilt class as well.My train tickets arrived this morning.
Jamie has apparently got a new girlfriend - one of the young girl's in Tesco's in the village told us - ah the joy's of village life !!!!
Elie's back at school Monday so is prepping her work ready.

Must think positive thoughts

Last week was a very bad week which culminated in a slanging match with FF on Friday . I almost just put my coat on and walked out - I didn't but it was close . He suffers from 'small man syndrome' big time and there's no easy way of getting over it . My problem is I cry when I'm angry so defeating any good argument I have . His problem is he's a snidey little creep and that isn't going to change.
On the good side I managed to almost finish my model stitching - little bit of back stitch left so may get it into the post this week.I've also almost finished the stitching on my swap piece for the March retreat and will just need to finish it off - not quite decided how though.
The snow has gone and the weather is milder - I'm actually wearing a skirt !!!!!! This was remarked upon with surprise at work yesterday (It's often more practical to wear trousers as I have to crawl under desks checking connections on the computers) It's weird wearing tights but I'm getting used to it .We had two big important meetings yesterday - the company is on the up which is good news in this recession. We're actually interviewing two new staff today !
Can't wait for the retreat next month but dread coming back as FF always takes things or moves things around on my desk.
I've started keeping a timesheet to prove exactly what I do in a day - childish I know but I think it needs to be done.He was very smarmy yesterday and trying to be 'best friends' as if nothing had happened - I hate that . I just got on with my work and kept my head down.

OOOOooohhhhh I want it !!!!

But more than that I want the time to stitch it . What am I talking about ?
This http://tinyurl.com/amupys - I'm thinking of this in different colours for the different seasons. Probably either Caron wildflowers or some other subtle variegatd silks .

Sssshhhhhh ! listen to the snow

Well Sundays here again and it's been a snowy week here. I was off on sick leave in an attempt to get my immune system back to near normal . I've still got (or maybe it's 'got again' - who knows?) a bad cough and yucky nose but it's back to work tomorrow anyway. Ellie was home from school either early or in the latter part of the week off completely because of the snow. I've spent a lot of time snuggled in bed either reading or stitching - my bedroom is the whole of the back of the house and has a big window which gives excellent stitching light. Almost finished the model stitch piece - on the back stitching at the moment.Dave's gone to hockey at Fairford - they reckon it's clear enough.
We're forecast more snow tomorrow night . Tried to get a Tesco delivery from last Wednesday on with no success at all so gave up.
We've had no post since Thursday. Jamies been staying at his friends house .
Not looking forward to the journey to work tomorrow .
Actually feel a bit 'stir crazy' at the moment but not going out as chest is still a bit sore with coughing.
Need to sort my stash for next month's retreat - I'm doing the jellyroll quilt class so need quilting bitties as well as my needlework stuff . I'm not down for any other classes as I just want to relax and stitch I'll probably work on my Mary Busby sampler and takea few small's with me as well.

Going Places

This suits my mood today !
A poem by Dr. Seuss, titled “Oh, the Places You’ll Go…”

Oh, the Places You’ll Go!
Congratulations!Today is your day.
You’re off to Great Places!
You’re off and away!
You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes
You can steer yourselfany direction you choose.
You’re on your own.
And you know what you know.
And YOU are the guy who’ll decide where to go.
You’ll look up and down streets.
Look ‘em over with care.
About some you will say, “I don’t choose to go there.”
With your head full of brains and your shoes full of feet,you’re too smart to go down any not-so-good street.
And you may not find anyyou’ll want to go down.
In that case, of course,you’ll head straight out of town.
It’s opener there in the wide open air.
Out there things can happen and frequently do to people as brainy and footsy as you.
And when things start to happen,don’t worry.
Don’t stew.
Just go right along.
You’ll start happening too.
OH!THE PLACES YOU’LL GO!
You’ll be on your way up!
You’ll be seeing great sights!
You’ll join the high fliers who soar to high heights.
You won’t lag behind, because you’ll have the speed.
You’ll pass the whole gang and you’ll soon take the lead.
Wherever you fly, you’ll be the best of the best.
Wherever you go, you will top all the rest.
Except when you don’t
Because, sometimes, you won’t.
I’m sorry to say so but, sadly, it’s true and hang-ups can happen to you.
You can get all hung up in a prickle-ly perch.
And your gang will fly on.
You’ll be left in a Lurch.
You’ll come down from the Lurch with an unpleasant bump.
And the chances are, then,that you’ll be in a Slump.
And when you’re in a Slump,you’re not in for much fun.
Un-slumping yourself is not easily done.
You will come to a place where the streets are not marked.
Some windows are lighted.
But mostly they’re darked.
A place you could sprain both your elbow and chin!
Do you dare to stay out?
Do you dare to go in?
How much can you lose?
How much can you win?
And IF you go in, should you turn left or right…or right-and-three-quarters?
Or, maybe, not quite?
Or go around back and sneak in from behind?
Simple it’s not, I’m afraid you will find, for a mind-maker-upper to make up his mind.
You can get so confused that you’ll start to race down long wiggled roads at a break-necking pace and grind on for miles across weirdish wild space,headed, I fear, toward a most useless place.
The Waiting Place……for people just waiting.
Waiting for a train to go or a bus to come, or a plane to go or the mail to come, or the rain to go or the phone to ring, or the snow to snow or waiting around for a Yes or a No or waiting for their hair to grow.
Everyone is just waiting.Waiting for the fish to bite or waiting for wind to fly a kite or waiting around for Friday night or waiting, perhaps, for their Uncle Jake or a pot to boil, or a Better Break or a sting of pearls, or a pair of pants or a wig with curls, or Another Chance.
Everyone is just waiting.
NO!That’s not for you!
Somehow you’ll escape all that waiting and staying.
You’ll find the bright places where Boom Bands are playing.
With banner flip-flapping,once more you’ll ride high!
Ready for anything under the sky.
Ready because you’re that kind of a guy!
Oh, the places you’ll go!
There is fun to be done!
There are points to be scored.
There are games to be won.
And the magical things you can do with that ball will make you the winning-est winner of all.
Fame!
You’ll be famous as famous can be,with the whole wide world watching you win on TV.
Except when they don’t.
Because, sometimes, they won’t.
I’m afraid that some times you’ll play lonely games too.
Games you can’t win’cause you’ll play against you.
All Alone!
Whether you like it or not, Alone will be something you’ll be quite a lot.
And when you’re alone, there’s a very good chance you’ll meet things that scare you right out of your pants.
There are some, down the road between hither and yon,that can scare you so much you won’t want to go on.
But on you will go though the weather be foul
On you will go though your enemies prowl
On you will go though the Hakken-Kraks howl
Onward up many a frightening creek,though your arms may get sore and your sneakers may leak.
On and on you will hike and I know you’ll hike far and face up to your problems whatever they are.
You’ll get mixed up, of course,as you already know.
You’ll get mixed up with many strange birds as you go.
So be sure when you step.
Step with care and great tact and remember that Life’s a Great Balancing Act.
Just never forget to be dexterous and deft.
And never mix up your right foot with your left.
And will you succeed?
Yes! You will, indeed!(98 and 3/4 percent guaranteed.)
KID, YOU’LL MOVE MOUNTAINS!
So…be your name Buxbaum or Bixby or Brayor Mordecai Ali Van Allen O’Shea,you’re off to Great Places!
Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting.
So…get on your way!
Dr. Seuss