Why does 60 minute makeover make it look so easy and voting.

I painted  this and then mod podged the back with  serviettes.

painted and hung on the wall

I have been busy the last few weeks, painting bits and pieces, the little shelf which I got at the market and the shelf thing which was from AJ's room. I've learnt that I am not the world's best painter, and it's not as easy as the experts make it look. The little shelf is now off the wall as the builders are here to repair the house and all the walls are to be repainted. We are living in chaos at the moment. The bigger shelf thing is in the dining area and contains an assortment of my sewing things it's been re-arranged since this photo, as I have placed the radio down to the next shelf. The men have said it looks good, high praise indeed. Our house is indescribable at the moment, as we will continue to live in the mess as the work is done. They are working between our house and the next door neighbours, so it is going to take weeks, but we are happy to get it done although we have had a huge argument with EQC already, as has everyone we know who has the builders in, bugger, but the weather is wonderful and everyone seems optimistic and positive that things are on the up. We are also in the midst of an election, oh dear we are to vote on whether to stay with MMP or go back to "first past the post, or STV or some other system, it's a mess MMP  (that is) but we can't go back to FPP, I'll be doing some research  before voting, oh how I hate having to work hard before I vote. Ha ha only joking, I appreciate the right to vote, sanctimonious aren't I. Love Aunt Bee.

Bacon fat is delicious in ginger cake. OMG who knew

Not sure I want to make a cake that will keep for months

I found this at the market last week

Oh why am posting this at 11.40pm, well can't go to bed yet, the sky is full of fireworks, and cars are hooting, people screaming, and partying, the AB's won the World Cup, what a game, brave France, beaten by one point, but one point is all you need. Tomorrow is a Public Holiday, no not in advance of winning the cup, its Labour Day, so I shall sleep late and revive slowly.Next World Cup, London 2015, might have to start saving. Good night and God Bless, Aunt Bee.

We love the Ab's

I am off to bed, All Blacks won, I am exhausted, feel like I played the game. The half bottle of Lindauer I consumed probably had something to do with how I feel. At least we will be happy but tired at work tomorrow. If you think we are rugby insane in this country, well we are and for us in Canterbury and specially Christchurch ( although we love Robbie Deans) we need this win, the only city too not have a game because of the earthquake, we really need something good to cheer about. The builders start work on our house tomorrow, Aj starts back at Uni and Tom starts studying for exams. Basil will sleep in the garage during the day while the builders are here and I shall seek comfort and quiet at work..............yes I know there is something wrong with that statement, it's more of a hope really. I feel the need for  chocolate, I must fight this craving with all my might, I think this is going to end badly. Love and hugs Aunt Bee.

If I try and put in captions the post disappears, so a Sunday walk in Town

Sorry blogger is eating my posts

Sorry but Blogger is eating my posts. I shall be back when I find out how to fix it, or go mad trying***************fill in the blanks with any swear word you can think of, because I have. 

The visitor, the dietician and the men hitting each other.

I have been busy the last few weeks, we had a visitor from Aussie, a army friend of Basil's, (1970's vintage) to stay for a week and I was a bit on edge, as I've only meet him 3 times in 29 years and he deigned to speak to me about 6 sentences in all that time. We did a lot of ferrying around, well Basil did the most, but we don't have a spare room so Tom slept on the floor. Not ideal for a boy studying and trying to type up 4 major essay for Uni. He (the visitor) seemed to enjoy his trip and returned home early and I mean in the early hours of Monday morning, Basil was on night shift so I got up at 3.30am to see him off, am I mad or what.

I have not gone on about my DIET (it deserves capitals though), because don't you get sick of those bloggers who start off normal then go on a diet and that's all they talk about, BUT I had a weigh in with the dietician yesterday and  I have lost 13.4 kg since the first week of June. I have a long way to go but I'm determined to do it, she doesn't want to see me again, but I can email her with results every month or so. Now all I have to do is go back to the specialist who told me to lose weight. Mmmmmmmmmm not to keen on this next appointment, as he was, how should I say this, a bit of a pig, that really covers it I think. Anyway the female specialist and her nurse and the dietician said he could do with losing weight himself and that to expect me to get down to 70 kilos was mad, I had to agree, so the dietician and I think 78 or there-abouts, is good. So no more talk of the DIET but I will be happy to show you, me, in June 2012, as that is how long I have given myself to lose the rest of my pounds of butter (that's how I'm thinking of them).

On a happy note we have gone to daylight savings and it is so beautiful at 6.20pm to see my clothes drying on the line, the  birds singing in the trees, and the happy sounds of my sons's beating the hell out of each other with boxing gloves.

O.k. I'll have to go out and stop them or there will be tears before bed time. Love to all Aunt Bee. 

Miss Read books, I'm a happy reader.

Some pretty tulips, I love Spring.

I was pleased to find this Duvet and pillowcases, so summery.

Bought at the market, it matches my "granny purse".

Spring cleaning and throwing out things.

This is the pile of magazines and books I have donated to the Rotary Club to sell in their up coming Bookarama, yes I actually threw out almost half my house, food and craft magzines. It was surprisingly easy, no drama just looked at the covers and made a keep or give decision, Aj said "how can you get rid of them without looking through them", but honestly I could tell by looking at them what was in them, weird but true.

The cushion I made for the couch in the kitchen/diner, the floral fabric was a curtain, the piece of patchwork I made years ago and the tartan fabric I bought off Trade me years ago. The little Indian cushion I picked up at a jumble sale at a local church, even "the men" think the couch looks better. Just spring cleaning was a workout in it's self, the house is full of young and old men here to watch the boxing. Time for a cuppa and a sit down. Love Aunt Bee.  P.S. much celebrating here last night. as Ireland beat Aussie, of course in this house Ireland is our second favourite team after the All Blacks. Little jolt last night at 8pm. the house seemed to jump of it's foundations and them back down again. Just a reminder not to get to complacent.