One Hell of a Week - The Run up to Jane's 70th Birthday Party

 Greetings from a very bog-eyed blogger today. It's been a hell of a week. Monday David went down, by bus, to visit our daughter Jo and Grandson Jack in Penge. His return ticket was booked for Wednesday. On Tuesday he had to take Jo to the doctor's who sent her straight to hospital. David drove her in her car. There were hours of waiting about in A&E before she was finally admitted to the surgical ward. Of course I was worried to death, and David was too. He knew he would not get back on Wednesday, so re-booked for Thursday. He did make himself useful at Jo's house, by taking a cupboard off the kitchen wall to make room for her new fridge.

Meanwhile, I set too to tart up our house ready for my party at the weekend. I began to paint the kitchen cupboards, Monday and Tuesday sorted, and the result, a gleaming kitchen. 

All plans in limbo, we waited for Jo to have scans, tests, etc etc - and after two days of worry, she was sent home and told to rest. I really thought it best for her not to make the journey north for my birthday, but she insisted. 

I spent all day Thursday cleaning, baking, making beds, and generally making ready for, not only Jo to be comfortable, but for our grandson Jack and his girlfriend, Jess, to be accommodated. And then I did a quick 3 mile walk to go towards my 100 mile walk in July for Barnsley Hospice.

David arrived home late on Thursday night and we were up at the crack of dawn to mow the lawn, and make the garden lovely for our guests to sit out and relax. By this time I was more tired than a long distance runner, but I was ready for the celebrations to begin, (almost).

We still had the meat to buy for the barbecue, and trifles to make, and the tent to erect at the bottom of the garden. I can tell you, by the time we picked the kids up at Doncaster station on Friday morning, I had had a week of work out, and was reaching for the vitamin pills.

Let the celebrations commence! So, here are the photo of my birthday weekend, which was awesome. Thanks to my wonderful family the memory of my 70th birthday will be a delight I can look back on for as long as my mind allows. 

We had such a brilliant family get together after almost two years of separation due to the pandemic. It was so good to have all the grandchildren (though not children any more) together, and we laughed and gossiped into the evening. 

Jo, Jack and Jess have gone back to London, the David, Tracy, Star, Jade and Norbert are at home just down the road in Worsbrough Dale. It is 7.22p.m. on Sunday 11th July, and David and I are just about to settle down with a glass of wine to watch England v Spain in the 2020 Euro's Football championship. Though we are no longer together I know that every member of my family are going to be doing the same thing tonight, as, most likey, are you.

So here is hoping England win the match, and 'Football is Coming Home'. I have to go now, it is a great way to end my 70th Birthday weekend.

Lots of love to all, keep well and keep smiling. 

Jane and David xx

p.s. AND THERE WAS A GUEST IN THE SHED FOR FRIDAY NIGHT'S SHEDCAST

Shedcast 26 - Coalface Productions is a Go!

Hi Everyone,

Great news, Coalface Productions is a Go, we have lift off. The new community theatre company started by Lee Pollard and Paul Athorne, local writers, held its first meeting at the Belmont Club, Hoyland, on Wednesday, July 1st. Watch this space for info on future productions. 

And then a Zoom meeting with the Shortlands Poetry Circle writer's group.

AND WE ARE OFF...

David and I got off to a good start for our July Challenge - 100 miles walk to raise money for Barnsley Hospice. We have clocked up 11.4 miles so far so a way to go, but we are enjoying our walks. And in between we have painted the kitchen, so going good. You will find my donate page here, every little helps and  I only have to raise £150.00 so I am hopeful. David has a page too, click here. Thank you so much.

So, here is this week's shedcast, enjoy:

And more pictures of our week:

A bit of a freshen up.

And David made a lovely garden chair.

We walked to the Farm Shop to buy burgers for our barbecue - yummy!

And of course we watched the football. This is when they won Germany to get into the quarter finals.

And last night England won against Ukraine 4 - 0 and will now go through into the semi-finals on Wednesday. I never thought I would get into football but I've really enjoyed watching England play.

So now we are in the run up to my birthday on Saturday (10th July). The family are coming over for a barbecue (whatever the weather) so I have a week to tart up the garden and get ready for a little party. Yeah! I love birthdays!

And now I have to get ready for the Barnsley Spoken Word Collective event at Jump WMC this afternoon, at 4 p.m. you know, shower, hair to wash, lines to learn, so I'll say ta ta for now and wish you all a happy week ahead. I'll be back (God willing) next week with a full update and pictures of my Birthday Party (among other things). Take care, all.

Keep well, and keep smiling,

Jane and David xx

Shedcast 25 - And my encounter with a £30,000 sapphire and diamond ring

Hello Everyone,

It is Monday, and my apologies for being late in putting this blog out, but David and I have been away from home, verily gadding about in North Yorkshire. After a wonderful week together with friends we are now back and excited about starting our 100 miles in July walk to help raise money for the Barnsley Hospice. So, a big 'Thank You' to our mates over in North Yorkshire for giving us such a lovely break, hope to see you again soon.

Here is our Shedcast, this week from a small but perfectly formed shed, at the bottom of a large and perfectly planted garden, It makes the little patch at the back of our house look more like a field than a garden, but as David says, wild flowers can look just as beautiful. Anyway, I came home with a bag full of Begonias so we can posh it up a bit. When you have watched the blog take a look at what else we got up to during the week, in photos below, including my encounter with a £30,000 sapphire and diamond ring. 

The week started well with a walk in the countryside while the fellas got to work building a raised patio at the back of the house.

So, guess where I am? I thought it was Cape Canaveral or a secret rocket base in the heart of Yorkshire. Beam me up Scotty!

The chaps were hard at it when we got back

The next day we went to see David's sister, Nan and Lawrence who we hadn't seen for over two years. It was so good to get together again.

Our drive out to Ripon and beyond took us to The Black Sheep Brewery at Masham where we bought a quantity of beer and a beer mat for our shed, yeah!

The it was back to work on the wonderful wall.

Meanwhile it was back to the woods for us.

The next day we went to Salt's Mill, at Bingley where we mooched around the book shop, the David Hockney paintings, the Simon Palmer exhibition, the antique shop and cookware department. It was all very interesting, and a little surprise when we found the Valley Press Anthology of Yorkshire Poetry was on display and for sale in the book shop. And guess who has a poem in that little book - Moi!

And to end the week we had a barbecue and bubbly event.

So let me tell you about the £30,000 sapphire and diamond ring. It just so happens that a long time ago, I was given, as a present, a rough emerald from Brazil. I have always wanted to have it made into a ring, though I know it is not terribly valuable. So while I was in Skipton I popped in to a little jewellery shop in Sheep Street. It had been recommended as a place that did jewellery repairs and commissions as well as selling exquisite items, Isaacs Working Jewellers. As I suspected my stone was not at all valuable, but Mr Saj Anwar told me it could be made into a beautiful ring, or perhaps a pendant, if I so wished. To show me some of the exquisite work of the shop, Saj disappeared into the back to bring me a commissioned ring that was waiting to be picked up. It was the most fabulous ring set in platinum, and I could not resist popping it onto my finger. Well, it fit perfectly and it looked as though it should have been mine, large enough to be pleasing whilst conservative enough not to look too 'in your face' as they say.

I enquired as to the price - £30,000. You should have seen the jaw drop. I think my words were, 'it's out of my league.' As proof of quality workmanship it was second to none, and Raj told me that platinum being more difficult than gold to work, makes it so valuable. 

I know that my rough emerald will be in good hands when I hand it over to Saj to make into a piece of jewellery for me, even though it won't be in platinum. It may not be this month (unless I can persuade David not to eat for a month) but the idea has been born, the goal is in site and now I just have to make a plan to make it happen. Everything is possible! Thank you, Saj for the inspiration. So now you know where to go for that special piece, it's like opening the door to a secret garden of exquisiteness, right there in the middle of Skipton - Isaacs Working Jewellers

So that's all folks, back to Monday washing. Oh and maybe a little warm up walk to ease the legs into July. Have a good week. David and I will be back in our humble shed on Friday. Keep safe and keep smiling.

Love and hugs,

Jane and David xx

P.S. I'm still suffering from bling blindness - £30,000, on my finger, whatever next!

Oh, and yes the new patio wall did get finished.