Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die, life is a broken winged bird that cannot fly

taka

redsquirrel80 wrote: »

Lovely! Make sure you take anti-midge stuff for Skye - they are vicious, especially round the distillery.. oooh Tallisker whiskey yum..

And near Fort William too if you are doing any walking!

Let me know if you want any info on Edinburgh! When is it you are on your holidays? If it is in the next week or 2 doors open days are happening in various places around Scotland so may make visiting some places cheaper or you can visit places not ordinarily open to the public!

I must go to Skye sometime... Its kinda embarrassing that I've never been! I've seen faaaaar more of places like Australia and NZ than I have of the UK!

Oban is fab too!

doodledo_2

I am sorry but quite frankly when did this new diary occur lol.

Helloooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo xxxxxxx

pania

hello everyone remember me?!?! he he

Sorry for the absence, been really busy, mainly busy reading MG's diary and fab challenges, and cheery daffs blog. to the neglect of my own!

Soooo much to update on tis untrue but right now life is good.
I am following MG's challenges, albeit quite a few days behind, and have moved into the new room so took the opportunity to create myself a lovely peaceful haven where I can both work and relax. I spent a little bit in its creation but my new theory is "investing in myself." now that doesnt mean being frivolous with money but spending a small amount of money on things that are going to benefit me, my positivity and my quality of life. I know have a beautiful bottle green chenille throw on the bottom of my bed, for those days when the coldness of winter or the turmoil of life gets too much and a chenille throw is called for... I have a matching lamp and matching uplighter. I have two minature childrens windmills. you know the brightly coloured ones that you can blow around? to remind me to occaisonally cut loose and be a kid (as if i need any such prompting! :rotfl:) I have a cushion that says "may your days be filled with laughter, friendship and love" and I have created a "new zealand" corner to inspire me for where I want to get back to. All very motivational but all very serene at the same time.
Well in financial news, a frugal month and the benefits of saving will allow me on payday to pay off one debt and to snowball the payment AND overpay on another debt!! I will be firmly back in the 15ks, have some money to my name too and manage a week away!! Bank holiday overtime and a small payrise has allowed that to happen for which i am exceptionally happy.
I have had ideas to increase my income too, I still have my dog walking but due to work constraints that is sporadic money to say the least but nice when it happens. but I was thinking of something more regular that I can control. Now I have always been (pardon me while i toot my own trumpet here) exceptionally good at soft furnishings and whilst I wouldnt wish to take on the responsibility of someone elses curtains form a distance I thought about getting a sewing machine cheap from somewhere and making a stock of different cushion covers and selling them on an ebay shop. different sizes, shapes, materials, bolsters etc. Also childrens bits like cooking sets, named aprons, play oven mits, tea towels and the like, in a little matching set for christmas? would put paid to some of my lazy post work free time which with the exception of running/the gym I have very little to do with and generally end up crashed out on my bed... Any thoughts? (or more to the point any orders?? :rotfl: )
Mentioning the gym brings me on to my next point. I went tonight to the new council gym which was absolutely lovely. council...lovely... do they go together you may think? but oooh yes!! tis gooorgoeus. and bearing in mind how much i was paying for the other heap of a gym, and this one does pay as you go which for me right now would be the best thing. running is going really well but I need to strengthen up as running doesnt do that, it is making my good bits look super good but my bad bits super wobbly! also the demands i am going to be putting on my body next year I need to be as strong as I can be so getting back in the gym would be a good move, make me feel better about myself, and in return lifting my positivity, motivation and self esteem.
Right, well my lovely strangers, I am off to sleep. Hope you all sleep well, thanks so much for the scotland suggestions, I'll look at that!!!! night night xxx

Cheery_Daff

Gosh Pania, you sound really positive at the minute! :T

(and :eek: at the thought that reading my rubbishy wafflings is stopping you posting on your diary! :eek: :rotfl:)

Excellent news on the money, how satisfying to be able to pay off another debt! And your new room sounds absolutely marvellous - yes, you're right, a little investment in yourself doesn't go amiss (as long as it's not just an excuse to shop - which i'm sure it isn't! ) I should remember that too, I often don't do that kind of thing, and then land up frittering my weekly 'unnecessary spending' money just on the odd cake and nonsense when I could have saved it and got something cheery. Will bear that in mind! And hooray for the council gym! :j

As for your soft furnishings - go for it! I'm not going to volunteer to buy from you though - too busy turning all my old clothes into my own soft furnishings :rotfl: Although I'm sure your own stuff is much better quality! Yes, an ebay shop sounds fab! And little kids' apron sets (and gardening aprons??) etc sounds just fab - and brilliant for Christmas (could you throw in a 25p-from-Wilko's wooden spoon and charge an extra fiver perhaps??? :rotfl:) How exciting!

REDMADCURLS

I think the kids things are an amazing idea! I remember when my neice was in brownies they needed to buy an apron and it wasn't easy to find one.

My little neice (3) loves cooking and she would just think she is the coolest kid with her own tea towel etc.

So yes, I for one, think great idea. (Also the cushions etc always sell well on ebay)

Maybe even a card in post office for alterations to curtains??

Loving the new room thing...........very calming and good personal investment.

Good times Pancake, good times!

pania

ooh cheery I love the ideas! Maybe a more heavy duty cloth in green for the garden would be ideal! and painting aprons too with some of that kinda table clothy material.. oooh am all inspired now!! shall we start a franchise lol!! :rotfl:
I do like my cheery bits i have to say and although a small extravagance just looking at them makes me feel *sigh* in a good way so more than worth it!! remember you cant see the cake once its gone!!!!

How are you anyway are you ok? I need to catch up on your diary, have to say, love the blog though!

pania

whoop whoop! thanks for the validation red!! *P dashes off to go sewing machine shopping!!* brilliant idea for the curtain alterations too!

Cheery_Daff

Can't see the cake when it's gone - except for an extra podgy bit round your middle... :rotfl: Must remember that!

Aprons are great - wipe clean too! You can get all kinds of brill fabric these days Glad you're enjoying the old blog! Must remember to write on it more often.... Have a good one!

Midnight

I think the soft furnishings sound great - especially if they have something to set them apart like names on the aprons or maybe quotes on the cushions. You could try etsy.com and folksy.com as well as ebay for making sales.

Also I run a little crafts blog, and I have interviews with crafty people on there (just a set of questions you answer on email) which could then link back to your shops when you are up and running.

I can't post the link here as I don't have many posts (only just coming out of lurkdom ) but feel free to pm me if you feel it would be something you would be interested in doing for the future.

redsquirrel80

Your new room sounds lovely and the soft furnishings are a great idea! Worth maybe selling on Etsy as well as eBay?

Enjoy the sewing machine shopping - I got one off eBay a few months ago, from someone who lives nearby, it was £10! It's an old 70s Singer and works perfectly.. I loves it