It's nice to be back!

Goodness, I'm overwhelmed with the number of kind messages that have been left on my post yesterday. Thank you all so much!

Kathy xxx

Remember me?

It wasn't my intention to stay away from my little blog for quite this long, but then life took over and swept me away.

So .... what's been happening on the Paradise Peninsula then?

Back in June I had broken my camera and a few computer glitches co-incided with the madness of the end of term in a primary school, so I had to take a little break from blogging for a while.

Over the summer we had a lovely holiday in France.....

I'd just started to enjoy working part time, just two and a half days a week ... so I had some time for the nice things in life

.... but then a health 'niggle' in Autumn turned into something much more serious and culminated in me having major surgery on my lung in January. Thankfully, the results have been very positive, and it wasn't the 'sinister thing' we were all dreading. 

So, here I am, seven weeks on, recovering slowly and steadily. I can walk upright again, and you have no idea how much pleasure there is in being able to sit yourself up without help!

I have a fair bit of time on my hands, so I thought I might have a little dip back into 'blog world' maybe.

I'm not going to have anything much to say, because I've been pretty much hibernating during this year so far, so posts will a bit random I think!!!

At least Spring is on it's way! Something to look forward too!!!

I've been tagged!

Recently I was tagged by the lovely Josie-Kitten. 

If you love knitting and all things woolly you must pop over there and take a look. It's an amazing riot of colour and snuggliness!

For the tag she's left us 12 questions .... many of them knitting related. 

Now, it must be said, I don't knit. 

I can knit, but I don't feel the need for it in my life right now. So, some of these questions are going to have some very poor answers .....

1. What is your greatest knitting achievement to date?

When my children were small, I used to knit for them, and I liked putting pictures on their jumpers.... I'm sure there's a special term for that.

2. Is there a knitting skill you'd like to learn?

I can knit to an adequate standard for my needs, but I cannot crochet for the life of me. I can't hold the hook properly, and I can't follow a pattern.

3. Who is your favourite knitting designer? 

Pass

4. What is your favourite easy knit to make as  a gift?

If I had to give a knitted item as a present, I would buy something (shock, horror!!!) However, I did make my mum a tea cosy shaped like a christmas pudding last year, does that count?

5. What is your favourite film?

I love Breakfast at Tiffany's, West Side Story, Dr. Zhivago, Far From the Madding Crowd, The Sound of Music, The Railway Children ... do I have to just pick one? 

O.K. then,  Dr Zhivago for the sheer epic scale and romance of it, and Omar Sharif's deep brown eyes!!!

6. What is your favourite season?

Anything but Winter! 

I'm liking it right now, actually. I love the newness of Spring. I love it when a day surprises you with a warmth that you have forgotten about. I get excited by the first sight of daffodils, and the unfurling of green buds on branches, and don't get me started on lambs!!!! I think it's all about the promise that from now on it can only get better!

7. What is your number one tip for new bloggers?

Be yourself..... and just post when you feel like it, otherwise it can easily become an extra chore. 

Don't worry about followers, just write for yourself .... nice people will find you, and some will go on to be friends.

8. What was the first thing you ever knitted?

Probably a long thing with holes. I remember knitting in Primary school with ball of red stringy stuff .... when I ran out of yarn, I just unravelled it and started again. I don't recall that it ever became anything! I knitted a pot holder for my mum, and used to make clothes for my Sindy doll.

9. What's your favourite comfort meal?

If I'm feeling poorly, I will choose a boiled egg all mashed up with butter, and toast soldiers! It takes me right back to my childhood.

10. Do you prefer circular needles or Dpns? 

Oh, sorry, definitely a pass on this one, I wouldn't know where to begin with either!

11. What posters did you have on your wall as a teenager?

Davy Jones from the Monkees, 

Pete Duel from the TV show "Alias Smith and Jones", 

 Marty Kristian from the New Seekers. 

12. Bath or shower?

Shower on work days .... baths at weekends and holidays! I do love a good long bubble bath!

Now I have to leave 12 questions for you.

Why did you start blogging?

How did you choose your blog name?

What book are you reading right now?

What is your favourite city break?

If you could be somewhere else right now, where would it be?

What is your favourite TV show from your childhood?

What was your favourite lesson at school?

Dog or a cat?

What is your favourite crafty pastime?

What can't you live without?

What's your signature dish?

 Describe yourself in three adjectives.


I'm supposed to tag twelve bloggers, but I'm just going to leave this open for anyone who would like to join in. You're all very welcome!

Fancy that!!!!

I was on a course this afternoon, when I heard someone say 'Are you Kathy?'

Another teacher had recognised me from my blog photo!!!!

Fancy that!!!

Then, suddenly, I knew who she was too .... she had read my blog last year and commented on a few of my posts, and we had e-mailed each other for a while.

We found we had so many similarities in our lives, it was uncanny..... both primary school teachers in Merseyside, both our daughters had been to Durham Uni at the same time and had mutual friends (but didn't actually know each other) .... and so it went on.

It was so lovely to meet her in real life, and today we found we had more things in common too ... we're co-ordinators for the same subject in school, and her husband went to school with someone I know!

We're hoping to meet up again on the next course in April!

Isn't blogging an amazing thing!

I've been tagged!

I've been tagged by WoodbankCrafts - we're both taking part in the birthday swap that's going on this year. There was a set of questions to answer so here goes:
What did you want to be when you were growing up?

I always wanted to be a teacher. I don't think I ever considered anything else. I went straight from school, to college and back to school again.  I've been a primary schoolteacher now for 33 years.

Now I want to be a retired teacher!

What do you like most about where you live?

The peace and quiet. We have the River Dee at the bottom of our road, and the Wirral Way at the top. No-one drives through unless they live there. It is silent day and night, (in a good way!)

What would three things would you rescue from your house?

After my family and dog it would have to be my scrapbook albums, my boxes of photographs and my laptop .... all full of precious memories. Everything else could be replaced.

What is your favourite book?

I've done a post on this in the past .... To Kill a Mockingbird.

What is your favourite room in your house?

It has to be my kitchen. We had it fitted last year and I just I love a good baking session in there.

What is your favourite joke?

I never remember the endings so they never work!

What would you like to change about your house?

I'd like to pick it up and move it to the Lake District..... 
oh and my teeny, tiny craft room needs to be ten times bigger.

Do you believe in love at first sight?

Of course I do! It worked for us!


I'm not going to tag anyone in particular, but if you can't think of something to blog about you could try it!

A Lovely Day Out!

Today I met up with Diane from Heartshaped 

and Lyn from Everyday Life 

in a rain soaked Manchester.

Isn't Blogland a wonderful place ... 

somewhere where the three of us from different counties could find each other, discover that we've got so much in common, arrange to meet up and become friends. I felt like I had known Diane and Lyn for ages!

First of all, we had afternoon tea at the The Radisson 

Let's have a closer look at those cakes .....

... but, do you know we talked so much, that we didn't get round to eating any of them! 

Imagine ... I don't think I've ever left a cake on a plate like that before!

But, not to worry, our waitress offered to box them up so we could take them away with us. We took her up on the offer!!!!

Later, we popped into the Stitchcraft Show at Manchester Central.

It was so good to be at a craft show with two ladies who love crafts as much as I do ... 

and we ooohed and aaahed in much the same places as we looked at the displays.

After vowing that I really don't need any more stash ....

... I did give in to a few purchases.... but, it's OK, it's not all mine!

Worryingly for me, I splashed out on a beautiful Tilda book full of the prettiest summer ideas. 

Look closely ... we each bought the same book!

The challenge has been set ... who will be the first to make something from the book?

Well, it won't be me ... I know mine will sit happily on the shelf next to my unused Tilda Christmas book ... and I will look at it from time to time and sigh!

I had such a lovely day, I really hope the three of us can meet up again one day!

Thank you!

This award has been going around Blogland  recently and I'd like to say a big thank you to Bad Penny and Jo for passing it on to me.
I'm always surprised that there are real people out there who take time to read my ramblings!

Now I have to tell you seven things about myself ... I don't really know what I haven't told you so far ... I seem to have poured my heart out in the past year .... but I've had  a little think,  so here goes:

I always listen to music while I'm blogging ... I will be tuned in to Radcliffe and Maconi on Radio 2, or my own selection of tunes on i-tunes, or Spotify.  I always listen to music in the car too. Mr. B prefers silence!!!!

I hate, hate, hate snakes ... I can't even look at a photograph of one, and if one comes on TV I have to close my eyes.

Linked to the above ... a snake once crawled up my leg when I was sunbathing in France .... admittedly it was only small but I nearly died of shock and couldn't sleep for days because I kept reliving the horror every time I closed my eyes!

I hate winter ... I hate dark, dreary, dismal, drizzly, dull days and long for spring, summer or even autumn!

I love to walk along the edge of the sea .... where the waves lap onto the sand ... but I don't like beach holidays.

I am rather obsessed with pretty stationery and notebooks .... at present I'm using 4 different diaries ... I have a large one in work, one in my handbag and two on my desk at home ... and I actually use them all.  I am also a sucker for notebooks and unusual pens.

Lastly, I can touch my nose with my tongue. Ugh!!!

Now I'm supposed to pass this onto to 15 other people ... but I honestly think most of you have had it by now ... so I'll leave it open for anyone to take if they want to. You're very welcome!

I've noticed that I've got some new followers recently ... so I'd like to say a big hello and welcome to the Paradise Peninsula! I've got a lot of reading and catching up to do!

It's my Birthday!

Postcards from the P.P. is One today!

I can't believe it's a whole year since I took my first tentative step into the world of blogging ... but in some ways it seems longer because so much has happened to me in the space of that one year!

I started blogging as a way of showing my daughter what we'd been up to at home on the Wirral .... or on the Paradise Peninsula (or the P.P.) as she calls it. .... hence the name of my blog.

I thought it was a good way of sharing photographs and stories with her, and she started a blog at the same time..... she mainly shows me the lovely things she's bought!!!

My blog has just rambled on about our lives in general with no particular theme whatsoever ..... and amazingly, people out there in blogland found me and started to follow.

Slowly, but surely, I've found a whole world of wonderful new friends who care enough to take the time to comment ..... this was so important for me when I was diagnosed with breast cancer in May .... so many of you sent such warm and uplifting messages at a time when I unable to think straight! It really helped so much!
I often read your messages in the middle of the night when I couldn't sleep ... they were so very comforting!

You've been there all through my treatment, you've shared my scary moments, my sad times, my rants and raves and all the good times too, and you are still there now that I'm all recovered and ready to reclaim my life! I thank you all from the bottom of my heart!

I feel now that I've got friends all over the world ... from The USA to Australia, and all round Europe ... and of course so many in the UK. I love seeing what life is like where you live..... and I'm very much looking forward to meeting up with some of you when we finally get the Northern Blog Meet sorted out!
Hopefully in the New Year, fingers crossed!

Now it's time to pick the winners from my birthday giveaway ... it's very exciting!

All the names were put into a bowl and then the lucky winners have been drawn out.

The Cranford 'Pass the Book' giveaway goes to

and the the other two prizes are going to

So, Busybusybeejay, Jill and Laura please e-mail me with your details and I will send your little parcels on their way as soon as I can.

Here's to the next year of blogging ... I'm hoping for a very 'ordinary' year with no dramas please!!!!

Pass the Book!

I had a lovely surprise yesterday when I heard a big thud landing in my porch. The postman had delivered a heavy parcel filled with goodies. I had won the giveaway from Dawn at Life on the East Coast. Now this is a special giveaway, because it contains the 'Cranford' book which must be read and then passed on. It was the prize in the Pass the Book that is doing the rounds in Blogland at the moment. It was started by Emma at Silverpebble, and has also been read by Anne at Andamento. I'm the fourth lucky recipient.

And here it is! What a lovely little book ... just  the right size to fit in my handbag. I'm going on a long train journey this weekend ... and this little treasure is coming with me! Now, I was delighted with the book itself, but there was more ...

 .. lots of little treasures all wrapped in tissue and ribbons ( which have gone straight into my ribbon stash!)

Take a peep inside ....

 A handy sewing set ... and some beautiful ribbons .. have I mentioned my fondness for ribbon?

 Lovely cake cases ... so pretty ... crying out to be filled with delicious cupcakes very soon!

 The sweetest little tin ... (I have a fondness for little tins also!)

 ... containing a Yankee Candle which smells like holidays!

 And something really yummy for me ... and my dog!

Inca was delighted and took it off to her bed to give it her full attention!

Wasn't that a lovely parcel?

Thank you so much Dawn... you have been over generous!

When I've finished the book, I'll pass it on too.... it's my blog's first birthday at the end of the month so I'll celebrate by having a little giveaway.So if you would like to take part please leave me a message. Followers who comment will have two chances to win.

I'll draw three lucky winners on Monday 29th November.

First prize will be the Cranford book and some goodies ... probably with a Christmas theme!

And there will be two more little parcels for second and third places (but sadly without the book!)

Good Luck!

Blogging with substance ...

Wow! I've just been sent a lovely blog award by Heather from The Patchwork Heart

I'm thrilled to think that someone out there is actually reading my ramblings ... and likes it!

So, a big thank you and hug for Heather!

Now I have to sum up my blogging philosophy, motivation and experience in five words, and then pass the award on to ten more bloggers who I love to read.

Hard to sum up blogging in five words

but here you go:

friendly

***

communication

***

diary

***

inspiring

***

compulsive

I want to pass this award on to a group of people who have been reading my blog and leaving the most wonderful, uplifting comments on my ups and downs over the past few months ....

Busybusybeejay

Rosie at Corners of my Mind

Lyn at Everyday Life

Felted House

Diane at Heart Shaped

Lisa at Jumble and Jelly

Simone at Linden Grove

http://thehomeiswheretheheartis.blogspot.com/

Ros at Snoopydogknits

and last but not least my daughter at Recent Treats

Thank you all so much!

If you're not familiar with any of these blogs, why not pop over and have a peep!

Life is Good!

Back to the hospital today for an appointment with my consultant. Life is looking very good indeed, and I don't need to see him anymore.... in fact, he said that if all cancers had been like mine, there wouldn't be any problems with breast cancer. My illness has caused no end of heartache and worry for our family over the past four months.... so I can't begin to imagine how difficult it must be for those women who haven't been as fortunate as me.
I'm feeling much more positive about the future and I just need to recover fully from the treatment now.
I still feel like I'm living in slow motion some days ... but it is getting much better!

Meanwhile, I've got plenty of time to dabble in Blogland.

I'm taking part in the Autumn Swap organised by craftyhelenathome and I'm looking forward to seeking out some goodies and maybe even crafting a few things myself. Watch this space!

There's a super giveaway going on over at Garden of Daisies.

I promised I'd mention it here, so you can pop over and have a closer look.

Heather, from The Patchwork Heart is organising a get together for us Northerners some time in late October or maybe November. There's a few of us from the Wirral and some Yorkshire ladies who have already signed up. We think we can drive about as far as York or Harrogate comfortably or maybe people would like to travel over to this side of the Pennines. The plan is to have a lovely time drinking coffee, eating cake and chatting. If you think you would like to join us, contact Heather.... or leave a message here, and I'll pass it on to her. I'm looking forward to meeting lots of my Blog friends!

I'm so excited!

Radiotherapy ~ Day 25 (9:05) THE LAST ONE!!!!!

I've just returned from the hospital after having my last treatment ..

I can't describe the feeling of joy I have bubbling inside me!

It's like Christmas, and birthdays and the first day of the summer holidays and everything wonderful all mixed together!

I'm going to do today's blog later on ... I just had to share my happiness

My Hopes and Dreams for the next 365 days

Well, my '25 things in 25 days' challenge is finished. .... and I've reached my rainbow after all the rain on the way!

When I started this I was on Day 1 of my treatment and I felt as though I was in a dark tunnel with no way out .... I couldn't see the light at the end. Blogging every day has given me something to focus on away from the hospital appointments and some of the topics really made me think ...

and none more so than this last one ... about my hopes and dreams...

I hope this treatment has worked ... everything so far indicates that it has been successful ...

I hope I can learn to live without the word CANCER shouting in my head when I wake up every morning....

I hope I will be able to read an article or hear a news story about 'someone else's cancer' without losing confidence in my own recovery ...

I hope I remember all the wonderful things that happened to me in the past 4 months and not just the bad things.... above all the love of my family and friends who have been with me every step of the way....the lovely people I met at the hospital ....

and the kindness of people who I didn't know at all, but now feel like my friends ( yes, that's all you wonderful people in blogworld who took the time to read my ramblings and left such uplifting comments of hope and support)

I hope that I can remember to live for the moment ...

that it's the smallest things in life that can give you the greatest pleasure.

I hope that my life will be back to normal very soon ... returning to work (normally not something I'd be too excited about) but this time it will mean I'm well.... (but I hope I don't get bogged down again in the daily grind).

And my dreams ... well, they haven't changed

I dream of us winning the lottery and buying a house in the Lake District ...

or near a beach...

... with a holiday home maybe in Paris

More realistically, I dream of a long uninterrupted summer holiday next year ... six weeks away with our caravan travelling through Switzerland and France.

And best of all ...

I feel that I'm able to have hopes and dreams for the future!