Bluebell Walk at Beacon Wood Country Park

Here are some bluebells pictures, taken at Beacon Wood Country Park, Bean, Kent, taken on 22 April 2012. I love bluebells, it just looks so lovely, and once the bluebells are out, you know spring is in full swing.

Here is my friend Claire (also a keen photographer), being ambushed by our dogs Fefe and Bonnie

Cross stitch update

So this is what I have been doing (ahem, cross stitch-wise) in the last 2 weeks.

Firstly, here is the new starter, UB Design (a German Designer), an autumn picture with rose hips.

It is a bit tricky to stitch on the linen, and I have to say I really do prefer Aida. however, on a picture like this (is is going to be a wall hanging), with lots of fabric showing, you really need finer fabric. But it does stitch up surprisingly quickly. Not too many colours. Only problem - I don't really like to stitch pictures which are 'out of season' so to speak. Being spring in the UK at the moment, don't really fancy autumn-like stuff. But I don't think it will take me too long to finish.

And here is an update on the wedding picture.

Honestly, I did a lot of work on it, but nothing shows :( Still, I guess about 1/4 done now.

River Thames near Dartford

Here are some pictures from a walk down to the Thames last weekend. (near Dartford / Kent/ UK)

Dartford Bridge

It took us about 1 hour to get her clean. The mud literally sticks!! and the mud on her back is when one large Boxer dog tried to jump her - she didn't take well to it and soon showed him!

finally back at it

Yep, I have found my needle again, after about 1 year away... nothing specific happened ', just life I suppose. I have made some changes recently - don't go to the gym any more (too expensive, found it so stressful having to go there after work etc) I feel so much more relaxed now that I can spend time with the things I love doing rather than force myself to do things I don't enjoy.

Here is my work from the last two weeks:
New starter: Mirabilia 'Autumn Queen'

I did count my way up to the top of the design, so that the head will emerge first. It's nice putting a face on her first I suppose and than add the body.

And from last week's rotation: Egyptian King

Doesn't look like much of progess on it, but I did actually work quite a lot on it over the Easter Weekend. It's quite a limited range of colours, and reasonable block of colours, so it is acutally fun to do. 

Uni or what

It's decision time for Dan - where does he want to go? We went to see City University a few weeks ago, looking at the


Engineering Department. We have sort of coached him into the direction of 'Aeronautica Engineering' and listening to the lecturers etc, yes, he thinks this is what he wants to do. (and specialise in Space technology). I've did quite a lot of research (Isn't Google wonderful!), and it looks like Aeronautical Engineers won't have problems finding jobs, as not many people chose to study this difficult subject, and good qualified personnel is hard to find. So, Nafees and me think this might be a good career for him.

Now the next decision.... currently, he hasn't got good enough 'A' Level grades to try for the best Uni's. Yes, with the grades he's got (C's) he can get into the not so good Uni's - the one's which are further down the ranking. But who is to say that Uni Ranking is the only important thing!! But then I know that it does count when applying for jobs where you got your degree from - unfortunately employers are biased. Yesterday, we went to see Southampton University, which is one of the top ones, and they require 'straight A's'. Not a chance at the moment. He is actually contemplating to repeat this year, and he seems to think this will give him A's.

The other thing is... there is us trying to visit all those Uni Open Days. Gosh, that is exhausting in itself. 2 hours drive to Southampton yesterday, and 3 hours back (due to M25 traffic), petrol money. The other Uni's which are potentials are much further away i.e. Wales, Liverpool, Sheffield. I guess I'm going to be busy in the next few weeks, as we have to fill in the application for Uni from September onwards, and deadline January. So, watch this space.

Stephen King ' The Dark Tower - The Drawing of the Three'

The second book in the 'Dark Tower' Series by Stephen King.

King fans are, it appears to be, clearly devided when it comes to the 'Dark Tower' series. They either love them (best of all the King's books), or hate them (Really can't get into them). I sort of joined the latter group, and had trouble getting into the first part. it is just a lot more fantasy than your usual King 'Small Town America' horror. So, I guess, if you are not into fantasy, you might not enjoy it as much as, lets say 'It'. Saying that, the supernatural plays a part in almost all of King's work, so it is certainly worth giving the 'Dark Tower' series a go, and certainly a must if you are a big King fan like me.

'The Drawing of the Three' continues with the story of Roland, the Last Gunslinger, introduced in the first of the series. He continues his journey across the 'Mid-World',  this fantasy world created by King, in his quest to reach the 'Dark Tower'. Here, he finds three doors which will lead him into modern day New York, and he will meet 3 people who will play an important part in his continous journey - the defiant Eddie Dean, the courageous, volatile Odetta Holmes and serial killer Jack Mort.It is this link to modern days which made this book much more interesting for me, und King's ability to draw with words is just, as always, outstanding - here weaving fantasy worlds with modern day gritty realism.

(parts taken from blurp).

Joy Fielding 'Whispers and Lies'

The nurse Terry Painter lives a quiet life in a small town in Florida. Since the death of her mother, she leads a quite life, so she decides to rent a garden flat in her house. The lively Alison moves in, and soon Terry and Alison become firm friends. However, slowly but surely, Terry starts to suspect that Alison is not  all she seems to be, and gets worried when she comes acress Alison's diary. A cat a'nd mouse game starts between the two, and Terry thinks she is slowly losing her mind. What are the reasons for Alison wanted to get close to Terry?

I enjoyed this book, and read it in the German translation. Apart from the silly translation of the book title 'Schlaf nicht, wenn es dunkel ist' which literally translates to 'Dont sleep when it's dark' (??), the book translation was good, and made it a page turner for me. The story was nicely put together, the plot moved along at a good pace, and was believable as was the ending. I will definitely put more of Joy Fielding in my To Be Read pile.