ally's space

Saturday was a rugby six nations day, with three matches back to back. I got to sit and catch up on some stitching. The storyline sampler frame for March is Sherlock.  The original chart did not include a bookcase but after seeing peeps add one on Instagram I knew I had to as well. Onto the zodiac sampler, not quite finished yet but getting there.  Sunday was a day to be a family so the six of us headed to the local bowling alley. Two games of bowling which was great fun and I thrashed them all :-)  followed by lunch out at the Hong Kong noodle bar. Yum yum. Followed by an afternoon of watching films and chilling. So how was your weekend?

Sunday saw us up early and head off to London super comic con.  I have never been to a comicon before and had no idea what to expect. We had early entry tickets so got to head in 90mins earlier than the crowd.  There were stalls and cosplayers in awesome costumes. We met author and artistsof comic  books including the guy who draws the story boards for doctor who. I had no idea who a lot of the characters were and I was told by a guy dressed as te punisher that I need to get my Geek on lol. The kids are planning what costumes to make for mcn comicon in October.  Oh help me lol

As a Christmas present for the girls I bought them and me a ticket to see The Script @ O2.  We headed out in the afternoon after listening them excitedly get ready since 10am.  I have promised the girls dinner at Wasabi.  Now I love this place, Chaz has been with me before but it was chlo's first time and boy is she a picky eater. Anyway all was cool, we grabbed dinner without too much fuss and then headed to our seats. Now the O2 is a large venue and usually I always opt to stand but as chaz is only 11 we had to sit and the tickets were in the heavens. The sound quality is bad up there as you get an echo, but the girls loved it, especially as first up supporting was a young guy called Colton Avery. He stop with his guitar and sung, he had a really cool voice but reminded me of an American ed sherran.  Then next up was tinnie temper, I have seen him before and so wanted to get up and dance but the seats as so high when I stood I  wobble. So no dancing but you ca...

On Thursday I was working in London again but this time on a training day near Liverpool St. On the agenda it gave an hour for lunch, whoo hoo. Well I was searching for tickets for the recently opened sky garden at the top of 20 fenchurch St and noted that although there were no tickets for the weekends there were tickets for lunchtime on the training day. So a quick call to my colleague and these were booked. Well the week before the weather was forcast cloudy, I said have faith in the many texts I received with weather updates. On the morning it was clear blue skies, so I crossed my fingers and hoped.  Lunchtime arrived and we hot footed it the 10mins walk to fenchurch st. And was greeted to airport style security before heading into the lift that goes straight to the top, oh my ears did pop. Anyway you step out of the lift and head into the sky garden, it's awesome and big enough not to feel crowded. There are two restaurants and a bar, we wandered around climbing the steps up h...

Now my guys are almost 16,15 and twins nearly 12. Up until a few years ago I always arranged an Easter egg hunt. You would find me at 6am running around the garden hiding plastic eggs which contained all sorts of yummy chocolate. I figured that it would be considered lame now as pretty much everything I suggest is considered lame. Cinema, bowling, painting, you get the idea even coming in London with me, I just get a look and a no thanks. So last Friday we headed out for a meal as a family to use some vouchers up we had.  Funny food is not lame though lol. Anyway the discussion got round to Easter and they asked why I don't do an egg hunt anymore.  It appears that an egg hunt is similar to a Christmas stocking, they are not too old for it. So this got me thinking, I feel they should have to work for their chocolate (insert evil mummy laugh) what they don't know is I'm going to put a clue in the eggs for the location of the next egg. They maybe a few treats along the way but...

Carrying on from my last post I thought I would share a few pictures from my working day in good old London Town. Occasionally I have to attend meetings in London which I don't mind too much as I love London but after paying a fortune for a ticket then standing all the  way feeling like a sheep In a pen, I like to actually stop grab coffee and let the people all rush by. Yesterday I was in marylebone which is North west London, meaning a train, a tube then a ten min walk. The train ride was usual as in packed hot train with no seats left lol I arrived in London and received a text from a colleague, she was arriving in Kings cross a few tube stops from me and absolutely hates the underground system so I offered to meet her. This also gave me a different opportunity, I love kings cross. From the outside its an Art Deco type of building quite plain... I love the big sweeping arches. Anyway kings cross is overshadowed by St pancreas literally opposite.... Completely different styles de...

I love the modern architecture found at Kings cross station. London is an amazing mix of old an new. Head over to Abi's blog creatingpaperdreams and join in with your one photo and twenty words.

Yay happy 1st of March, spring is on its way!!!!

Last Saturday we headed back to shoreditch in East London to pick up our new bike. We went via brick lane and I found a few more pics of art. Well actually we found loads but it was just so cold. Anyway here are some pretty pics... I can't wait until it's warmer and hope to book the street art walk. 

I got home today to an envelope from Canada. Inside was my final card for Sian's postcard swap. This one is from Ginger. I have loved receiving all the cards and so hope that another swap is arranged hint hint sian. So here are all my cards together... Such a variety and I can't thank the senders enough for bringing a small piece of happiness to my door.

I have seen this word wanderlust popping up all over Instagram and blogs. What is it? Then kaisercraft posted this on Instagram... Omg finally something to describe how I feel. So that means I'm not alone as others must feel this too.  Until now the only way I could describe it was I feel like I've had my wings clipped. I mean I know life changes, where as I used to just book a flight/hotel and head off now I have a mortgage/husband kids I can't. I mean the hubby doesn't even have a passport so no chance of escaping quickly. So I have been yearning to travel, there are still so many things to see anddo out there. It no ones fault just life and responsibility have got me for now, but only for now. 5yrs and the youngest pair will be almost 17 so we can escape for breaks. I mean my ex husband used to have the children one week every three months so I would escape now it's a Friday night home by 2-3pm on sat. No time to head into london let alone further. So for now I w...

Valentine's Day in our house was strange this year, it was on a Saturday and we had no children.  We made bacon sarnies and ate them in bed whilst exchanging presents. The hubby had stalked well and bought me a pandora charm of two hearts interlocked.  Anyway we grabbed the chance to escape for the day.  Hubby is looking at buying a new motorbike and MCN put on an annual bike show in London excel. By why chose v day??? A lot of guys owing big time to their ladies for this.  But being a super wife we headed off to have a look around bikes. You see I love bikes and hope to gain my own licence once I can actually have some annual leave from work that's not taken up by children. Hey I can wait. Anyway it was heaving with guys a few being followed around by unhappy wives. Me I kept wandering off I mean they had the Valentino Rossi bike collection to look at. Anyway once finished we headed further into london, we headed to brick lane so I could check out a new Pop up cafe ...

Happy Valentine's Day!!! I received two more cards from  Sians postcard swap today. So I have received 5 out of 6 so far. Today's cards... This was from Sandra...definitely I always thinks rules are meant to be broken lol I also received a card all the way from Katie in NZ  I am so loving receiving cards from all over the place.  I would love to visit NZ one day.

I got home from work feeling blurgh! It's grey and cold outside and I've had a rubbish day. Collected the children and walke in to see this on the mat... It took me a moment to realise it was a postcard. This one if from sian, I love it. I used to read roald Dahl books as a child and again to my children. I never imagined you could buy postcards of his books. Well it replace a frown with a smile.  Isn't it amazing what happy mail can do :-) 

thanks Abi for running this meme. I love to hop around and see everyone's pics. I have not read this before, as soon as it arrived the girl swiped it to read before I could. Head over to creating paper dreams link is on the right hand side and join in.

In previous posts I explained that I could not decide between two monthly stitch alongs and ended up buying both.  I am really enjoying both of them, they are so very different.  But what I am enjoying the most is that each monthly part only takes a few evenings to stitch up. So there is a huge chance I will actually keep up. The zodiac sampler is up to date with February's piece on Aquarius.... And I started the second frame for the storybook sampler, this month it is the book The Secret Garden.  I have never read this book so ordered it and as soon as it arrived charli nabbed it and is currently reading it lol. Anyway so far.... So what crafty projects are you upto? Next on my list is to get my project life book upto date.

I happened to be working in Southend on Sea and a colleague mentioned going to check out a new tea room that had opened just off the high street.  Now being a huge lover of tea and cake of course I said yes. At one end of the high street down a side street lies Madhatters.  Outside you are greeted by a framed menu and a glimpse of the cakes on offer through the windows. The tea room is nice and bright, pretty tables and chairs/sofas. The paintings on the walls are from alice in wonderland, Madhatters tea party.  We were quickly seated and handed huge menus. I chose my tea from the vast choices, taking in the various choices of hot choc too. I headed off to have a look at the cakes.  All the cakes are freshly baked and change daily. I ordered and sat chatting with friends. Our tea arrived.... I loved the mix of modern spotty tea pots with traditional cup and saucer.  I felt like I was having tea at my Nan's. Then my cake arrived, I had chosen the Oreo baked chees...

I was so happy to find this on my doormat today...a glint of happiness amongst a letter of sadness.  I received the vet bill from trying to save our beloved hound Lucy. Unfortunately we let her go to rainbow bridge last week and she has left a hole in our lives.  So I was so please that this card was laying there.... A gorgeous pic of debs' hound, so very cute. And the realisation that she lives in the next town lol. I love receiving the cards I mean when do we ever get happy mail these days.

As I posted previously sian organised a Valentine's postcard swap.  Well I received my first of the six today.  I not sure if it's just a coincedance but I have a passion for architecture and in particular bridges. I have hundreds of photos of different bridges ancient to modern they fascinate me.  So when this arrived  It's monnow bridge in Monmouth isn't it gorgeous. So it's my first card placed on my fridge in 2015.  Thank you ann/ Ladkyis  I can't wait for the others to arrive now. 

Can you believe that it's February already!!!!   So what will this month bring??? Today brought a wonderful family Sunday dinner and scrumptious apple cake for pudding. Yum now it's time to settle down to watching Breaking Bad on Netflix.