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The Best Day ...

(The Pea done good ....)

Today was 'Hennessy Gold Cup' day at Newbury. As far as I am concerned, it's my favourite race. I have some very special memories of Hennessy Day and have been priviledged to witness some very special winners - One Man, Suny Bay, Coome Hill and more recently Denman in 2007.

Denman was declared to run again today and carrying top weight of 11st 12lb and conceding upwards of 13lbs to the other horses, it would be a very special win if he pulled it off.

But before I tell you what happened (if you haven't seen the race already) I wanted to share with you part of the 'Rainbow Swap' that Trash organised. It's a twist on the 'Princess and the Pea', the pea having locked the Princess in the cupboard under the stairs I reckon !

(apologies for the gimpy expression ... I wasn't quite ready for the photo)

OK, back to the race. Waiting with freezing baited breath for Denman to come into the paddock. We grabbed an early seat as the course was heaving ... what you can't see is my cup of hot choccy with whipped cream on the top. Boy was it cold today. I had 4 layers on and my big wool coat. I even had long socks on under my trousers.

I'm an old hat when it comes to winter racing but it doesn't take a rocket scientist to know that a strapless dress, bare legs, stiletto shoes and NO coat add up to freezing your tits off and blue lips !
No word of a lie, there were women dressed like this today. I had to chuckle. Even their inch layer of hairspray had frozen rock solid.

But wait, looky here ... male totty waiting on the rails. Ok, so you may have had to shut your eyes, maybe squint a bit, even pretend ? Ha! Ha! Hardened punters me thinks. But, I was taking photo's of the race and NOT the totty ... they were all inside, in the bar, in the warm.


A proper wintery National Hunt day's racing view.


The crowds waiting for the start of the Hennessy. There is always a huge roar at the start, goose bumps galore and a hope that all the horses come home safely no matter where they finish.


Denman leading on the first circuit generated a HUGE huge cheer.

Done ! An awesome race. Other runners tried and failed to break his spirit but Denman, being the bull of a horse that he is, would not give up. The Queens horse, Barber Shop, ran brilliantly for a long way but Denman just galloped him into the ground.
People were screaming, shouting, cheering, applauding and showing their appreciation of such a deserving and brave horse.
I get very emotional watching my racing and admit to having a bit of a watery eye watching the closing furlong and listening to everyone cheering him on.


Looking very chilled out on his way in to the winners enclosure. Perhaps he's thinking of his bucket of water, a nice feed and a warm rug.

The review of race read like this ...
Denman - Tracked leaders, challenged from 11th until led 15th, pushed along from 4 out, ridden when challenged 2 out, stayed on strongly under pressure run-in.

A brave, brave defiant horse. A deserving winner for the 2nd time. Long may he stay well and fit.

It'd be super duper, smashing, luvverly if you could ...

Please vote for my Bootiful Boo ...
Here on the Next Voting page

I love this photo, it's from our Disney trip a couple of weeks ago xx

A blatant plug ...

Take a peep at the very delicious and utterly gorgeous fabricness that 'Sew Very English' creates.

Beautiful, beautiful cosies ...

Tracey is a very clever lady indeedy and I reckon gives Poppy a run for her money.

Well .....

What can I say ?
Thank you all for your support and kind words !!!!!!!
I feel a bit of a plum now but it has been a lesson learnt certainly.
Mwah xxxxxxxxx

Tell me it's all worth it ...

(The smiles didn't last long I'm afraid)

Apparantly I have been a right old mare since the Christmas Fair on Saturday ... so if Mr Boo is ready this " I apologise" ... but in my defense, I have felt pretty rubbish. No excuse tho.
I have been working my warm and fluffy socks off these past few months sewing away and finally the anticipation of Boo's lovely school Christmas Fair arrived.

I was very hopeful of a good day but after about an hour the writing was on the wall. Have I got it so very wrong ? I didn't sell one Fairy Godmother and yet they've been selling steadily online.
I packed up my table, with a little tear in my eye. I covered the table plus a bit more but compared to my neighbour who sold £500 worth of glassware, I felt a complete Noddy !

I can't tell you how disappointed, let down, even stupid, I felt. Daft eh ? I know it happens and you just cannot tell how fairs will pan out but the fair was heaving with people who just wandered past smiling at my work and muttering a few 'ooh, how sweet' or 'Lovely' ...


My lovely Godmothers just didn't do it for the punters on Saturday. Oh well ....
Anyhow, I can't dwell on the disappointment but I have questioned whether all the hard work, time and effort is actually worth it. Would life be easier to buy in stock and sell it on ? Shall I try my hand at something completely different ? Shall I just go and work in the farm shop ?
OK, enough ...


But hey, looky here. This was just part of Santa's Grotto at the school. It was truly amazing, magical and so christmassy. I think it has to be the best Grotto I have ever seen, so old fashioned and traditional. The children were led in one by one for a chat with Father Christmas before receiving their pressies.

When Boo was having her chat, father Christmas asked her if she'd put a carrot out for the reindeers this year, to which she promptly replied
"YES, WE WILL. BUT LAST YEAR THEY POOED IN OUR PORCH !"

I made bread and marmite turds and scattered them at the front door with some flour and glitter. Quite effective I thought !


Another view of the Grotto. The photo's don't do it justice, shame.


I am not sure if this is pre or post 'The Reindeer pooed in the porch' discussion'.

So, I have one more Christmas fair in 2 weeks time and will then decide what I shall do. The difficulty is the time it takes to make handmade things, everyone seems to want something for nothing.

I had a customer looking at something really quite lovely I'd made which I'd greatly reduced because it was the last one and I didn't want to make any more. Seriously, I was practically giving it away but she ummed and arred over paying a fiver for it. I felt like saying to her, "Hello, that took me x amount of time to make, please don't insult me".
Hmm ... Am I being a bit precious here ?

Lots of prettiness and a few old bags ...

(Hmm ... collective name for a bunch of Fairy Godmothers ?)

Prettiness being what I have made ... The old bags? Well, that'll be what can be found under my eyes. I was up til the early hours stitching key fobs last night and it's just catching up with me ... Yawn, Yawn.
One late night and I am knackered, how pathetic is that ? Still, seeing all the lovely fabrics I bought down in Cowslip transformed into Fairy Godmothers and pwetty key fobs makes it all worthwhile.

I've been stressing lately over lack of time and not having made enough stock for the upcoming Christmas fairs I have committed to. Boo is on the 2nd week of half term so that has seriously hindered productivity ... having said that, I'm not prepared to compromise my time with Boo, we've had a great time.


I think the doors are my favourite of the keyfob designs. I'm making some funky car ones too for the fair. Any other suggestions for a simple design would be gratefully received.


And, for the boys .... some little comfort Gnomes. I am not sure how well these will be received so I am not going to make too many. Having a little girl I am not sure whether a little boy would appreciate one ? Anyone with a boy munchkin have an opinion ?


At last, my lovely Welly cushion commission is finally finished. The backing of the cushion is the same Laura Ashley Bibi fabric as on the wellies. The recipient has been a very lovely customer indeed and i so hope she likes the finished cushion.

Lastly some pocket money hair grips for the Christmas Fair. I'm making a batch of these colourful grips, little girls can't resist colourful girly things can they ? Some have daisies on them and some have sparkly sequins. Next on the list are some flower hair grips ...

I was riding again yesterday so I'm feeling a bit stiff and achey. I am sooooo loving getting back in the saddle and was chuffed to be told yesterday that I have drastically improved since we started back riding a month or so ago. No mean feat after 20 years out of the saddle.

I rode Albert yesterday, he's a grumpy git but I get on well with him. I think he has to be the bounciest horse I have ever ridden !