This is my family, they are 15, 12, 8 and 4. Three girls, 1 boy. All totally amazing and incredibly different in character. They are my happiness, craziness, sanity, frustration and fun all wrapped up in a bundle of kind, caring, happy, lively loveliness. Being a single parent is hard. Rewarding yes, but hard. I didn’t choose to do this on my own. Circumstances changed, I changed, life happened. I think I do a pretty good job though (they do see their dad’s, a lot, and have a great relationship with them). Most of the time being on my own doesn’t bother me – we’ve lived as a single parent family for over 3 years now. It’s different now that I’m properly on my own though. There’s no one to ring and moan, no one to give me hug on those rough days when I’m having to be the mean mum, no one to text and share those seemingly insignificant tiny triumphs with. And that’s lonely. I’m slowly filling those gaps though – with work, crafts, home making, friends, and I plan to do more. It’s not all doom and gloom, with these bundles of craziness around me – how could it be? So – this afternoon we took a trip to Beaulieu village. We had a short walk along the river and popped into the new Mettricks for a drink. I’d heard that Mettricks serve the best coffee in Southampton so it was time to try them out. I knew we were on to something good when my youngest asked for a babycino and was told that...
I’ve been sewing, it’s been over a month since I made anything. The last thing I made was on the 15th September – a garter for the bride. Yesterday I cut out a mustard wool cape using a 1970’search pattern. I adjusted the pattern slightly, taking out about a quarter of the fabric for a sleeker, more modern look. The raw edges are bound with a floral bias binding and I added a hood lining in the same fabric for some more colour. The clasp is one I found in a tub of vintage buttons that I was bought earlier this year. What do you think? If you’d like one then send me an email, or a message here/Facebook/Twitter. ~~~~~ This afternoon I went to one of my favourite places, Lyndhurst – a small village in the New Forest. Lots of high quality gift shops, pubs, restaurants and coffee shops. I bought the silver birch candle holder above from Burrow and Hide, and found the New Forest Aromatics in The Forage – a popular coffee shop and deli specialising in seasonal local produce, delicious teas and freshly roasted coffees. I stayed for lunch because it all looked very inviting… I’d already had more coffee than Lorelei Gilmore’s weekly allowance so looked through their extensive TeaPigs menu. Although not on the menu, I asked if a chai latte was possible. No problem was the reply and a very yummy, freshly brewed, steamed and liberally cinnamonned 🙂 chai latte arrived. The menu is vast! So much to choose from and this is only one page. In the end I went...
Nothing prepares you for losing someone you love. No amount of time or forward planning can make it easier. It hits you like a blunt instrument at the back of the neck, like sharp stabbing to your stomach, it’s as though your legs have been removed and replaced with immovable slabs on concrete. Life continues to happen yet you look on as though you are a voyeur, not a participant. The sun still rises every morning just as it always has but it feels different now. More intense somehow. My boyfriend had lung cancer and died unexpectedly a few weeks ago. He’d been feeling better and was planning to play his cajon at Music in the City (a free music festival in Southampton). He’d been out for lunch, been driving his little red car with the roof down and had even had a beer in the sunshine. He rang me at that afternoon, he sounded so well, we were looking forward to a weekend together. That weekend didn’t happen the way we’d planned. Since then my life has been very different. I’ve been concentrating on creating a new normal for myself and my children. I’ve got a part time job for the first time in 5 years and I’m throwing my mixed up, crazy headed, distracted self into creating a happy, hygge home for my family. As for me, well, I’ve spent too much money, am eating too much and am not really facing up to what happened which is why I’m writing this. I hope this, along with the sewing I started today, will be a step towards...
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