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My Sunday Snapshot – Happier Days

May 10, 2020 by Anne Sweet 7 Comments

After being stuck at home so long I really wished we didn’t live in a huge city. Today I’ve gone back in time to happier days. Back in June 2013 we were on holiday in Center Parcs. The girls were supposed to be at school but we had been given permission to take them on holiday during school time. All it took was a letter!

happier times the girls and their bikes — *The girls and their bikes*

Happier Times 2013

I had been chosen to be a Center Parcs blogger, which meant a day trip to Center Parcs where I was treated like a V.I.P with a group of bloggers. Then a holiday at a park of my choice. We chose Whinfell Forest which was amazing.

We had so much included in our holiday, like bikes, a spa day and a free meal at the restaurant (with free drinks too!) It was certainly happier times.

Star had an accident on her bike the very first day where she fell off and then refused to get on it again. So she pushed it around for a few days before deciding to give up on it.

Graham's bike in the woods with a baby on the back — *Graham and the Little Man*

Graham’s bike had a seat on the back for The Little Man, he was only two years old so he didn’t have a bike of his own.

We didn’t have the best weather, some days were sunnier than others. But Center parcs have so many trees it’s very rare to actually get wet in the rain.

*The Little Man toddling in the woodland*

Country Side

We really loved our time in the countryside and I would give anything to be there right now. Don’t worry, I’d be quite happy to isolate in the lodge we stayed in. I have a little video of it, it was gorgeous. And just behind it, loads of trees and wonderful places to walk among nature.

I have always lived in the city. I think living somewhere else would feel quite alien. But I love holidays that take you away from the normal. I’ve always said I’d love to live near the sea side, but then would I be so excited about seeing the sea if I could see it from my window every day? (I think I would, I love the sea.)

How about living in the middle of nature and having special guests for breakfast on your patio?

I think, suddenly having everything on your doorstep…shops, hospitals, restaurants etc. is not so convenient when everything is closed or you can’t go because of the risks of catching a virus.

At this moment I’m dreaming of happier times where we were surrounded with trees and nature.

My Sunday Snapshot – Mandala

January 12, 2020 by Anne Sweet 7 Comments

Just before Christmas we went to the local village for the Christmas lights turn on. One of the things I noticed before it got too dark were these gorgeous crocheted mandala hanging from a tree. I thought they looked so lovely hanging in the twilight.

I’m currently working on a big crochet project which I will share with you later, but I’m certainly going to consider making my own mandala like this in the future. Maybe one of the smaller ones.

Mandala

There are many meanings and traditions surrounding mandalas. They are traditionally circle shaped with intricate patterns inside.

They are often associated with meditation or the performance of sacred rites. Mandalas can be fashioned in cloth, stone, paper, bronze or thread. There are few rules in designing a mandala, but the circle is most important.

There are many benefits from creating mandalas;

(taken from 100mandalas.com)

Relaxes the body and mind
Cultivates the feeling of happiness, inner peace, and general well-being
Eases stress, anxiety, worry, overwhelm, fear, and depression
Activates creativity and improves focus
Enhances self-esteem and self-acceptance
Fosters a sense of connectedness with one’s self and others
Improves sleep
It’s fun!

I’m looking forward to creating my own mandala. I have coloured them in colouring books before and felt it really satisfying. Now, I really want to have a go with some crochet. I can’t wait to get some hoops and get started.

Have you ever made a mandala, or do you remember seeing one that felt special to you?

My Sunday Snapshot – Wheelchair

January 5, 2020 by Anne Sweet 5 Comments

My new wheelchair

last year my power chair broke but I managed to get it fixed. I was going to get myself a new one but we ended up having a lovely holiday in Cornwall instead. The wheelchair was still working so no worries.

Then just before Christmas I went out to do a little shopping with my husband and eldest daughter and it just wouldn’t work. My husband spent about 20 minutes in Hobby Craft on the floor trying to fix it. We got it working eventually but it was a bit unreliable after that. It would cut out while out and about which is never good.

So, My eldest son decided he would help me buy a new wheelchair just after Christmas. I’ve done a lot of wheelchair research and it’s so hard to get something that really fits your individual needs. Then I came across this site which sells these fold up wheelchairs a lot cheaper than I’ve seen anywhere else. So I took the plunge and bought one.

I’m loving it so far I’m just keeping my fingers tightly crossed that it delivers.

So, it might not be the most exciting photo this week, but it’s a very exciting new purchase for me.

A post with my old wheelchair.

My Sunday Photo – Baking

October 6, 2019 by Anne Sweet 13 Comments

My Boo has always loved baking. She loves cookery programs and is always willing to help in the kitchen. But most of all she loves making cakes and cooking. Today’s photo is blast from the past.

Photo of Boo baking, with a large bowl of cake mix and shes licking the spoon — *Who doesn’t love licking the spoon?*

I think this photo captures Boo perfectly.

Baking with Bee Berrie

We were talking the other day about the last time we went to London with the kids. I’ve been since I’ve been in a wheelchair (And hated it) but the kid’s have not been for years now. The last time I went on my own with Boo for cookery class with Bee Berrie when I was a Happy Eggs Ambassador in 2015.

We woke up at 5am to get the train to London in time for the class that started at 9am. I had woken with a migraine hangover but I knew I had to do this for Boo. We drove to the station and caught a train to London, where we then caught tubes to the place we needed to go.

Boo spent the whole morning baking cookies and cakes and we had such fun. When it was over we had about four giant boxes to carry back to Birmingham.

After leaving the class, laden down with boxes, we managed to take a wrong turn and got horribly lost. I put all the boxes down outside a shop and tried to find a map to see where we had to go. The shop owner came out and asked if he could help. He gave me a big bag for my boxes which made things easier. (It’s not wonder I got lost the boxes were so big I couldn’t see where I was going!) Then he gave me instructions on how to get to the right tube station.

Baking Cookies

Yesterday Boo said she wanted to bake, she hasn’t done so for a while. So I went in the kitchen to watch while she got all the ingredients she needed, weighed them and baked chocolate chip cookies all by herself. I’m so glad that she’s not lost her love of baking. I may ask her to make a cake today 🙂

Here’s the cookies she baked yesterday.

a plate of chocolate chip cookies that Boo Baked by herself. — *Chocolate chip cookies*

My Sunday Photo – Silly Boy

September 29, 2019 by Anne Sweet 12 Comments

The Little Man is such a Silly Boy

silly boy, with a big green balloon on his head.

know the photo quality is rubbish but I couldn’t resist sharing as he made me giggle so much.

I’d just woken up, five minutes before the alarm. It happens a lot, I don’t know if it’s my body clock or whether my body just can’t stand the pain of lying down any more.

I wake up stiff and in pain and it takes me a few minutes to actually get into a sitting position. I have bars I can grab to help me do this. Often, The Little Man will already be awake and helping me by pulling my stiff legs but this morning I was struggling alone. Once sitting I grab my medication..again, this is normally given to me by The Little Man, it seemed strange he’d not come in, I did wonder why. Then the alarm to wake me started up and I switched it off quickly.

I pulled myself to my feet and made my way across the landing. The girls room is first so I opened the door and announced it was time to get up. Then I reached The Little Man’s door and this is how he greeted me. The silly boy just wanted to make my day begin with a smile.

The Little Man has the same body clock as me and is always awake early. Star is the same, although she’ll lie in bed reading until I call her some mornings. Other mornings she’ll get up because she needs the toilet or she’s hungry. Boo is the only one I have difficulty waking. She’s like her Dad.