is it Friday already?

This week past so quickly! I am slowly rewinding the clock in my head to bring the memory of these past few days back. Here some random pickings, in no particular order:

I am dog tired. Richard was away for two days and I had to make my own coffee in the morning. I am so spoilt that I actually feel a little annoyed if I have to get out of bed and gingerly walk downstairs to make my own. I am a bit creaky in the morning I noticed and stairs are no good. I usually take the first three steps sideways. It must be my age.

On Tuesday I took my mum to the airport. She stayed with us for 10 days, which is the longest she has ever been. It was half term during her stay and we spent a lot of time just pottering around in our pj's. It was rather nice. My mum and I went to the Good Food Show at the SEEC on Sunday, courtesy of a friend of mine who couldn't use her tickets. We went for opening time as we had to be back early. It was nice because that early it was not so busy. There was amazing produce and some rather cool gadgets, too. I bought a Diablo toastie maker for Sam, who is always hungry. It makes just one toastie on the hob. It looked teenage proof and the toastie was scrumptious, too. He'll get it for his Birthday in November. I missed out on some sampling because I am really not that keen on gin or smoked fish in the morning. Something rather fabulous happened at the show: my mum bought us a Kenwood Chef Titanium machine. Thank you mum! I still can't quite believe it, it is something I always fancied but there were always more pressing expenses to consider. When it arrives I shall make a ginormous Pavlova for it can take 12 egg whites. Just because I can. Richard plans to make sausages with the sausage making attachment.

On Monday I had an unexpected job interview for a teaching position at Uni. I only found out the Friday before. I was ill prepared but guessed the other candidates would have had as little time as I did to prepare. I did not get the job. I am not devastated but still, it would have been nice. Having said that, I do now have a different job, starting in November. It is a temporary left over maternity cover for a technical lab post. I am overqualified for the post but it will be a good opportunity to get my lab skills up and running again, should I decide to go back into research. It will be nice to be working with Richard again.


The puppy has been hard work. Jack is like a nappy free mobile baby. He is getting better with his potty training. He doesn't actually use a potty :-) but puppy pads and newspaper. He is now regularly peeing on his pads but still hides in corners for his big business. I am glad that he is allowed outside soon! Jack is quite good with the sit command but pretty useless with all other kinds of dog training. Jack kills his road-kill racoon toy at least 20 times a day. It squeaks when he bites it. The cats have made his acquaintance, too, but for now keep a safe distance.

Sam has displayed some weird behaviour these past few days. He got up before 7 am, showered and dressed and made his own breakfast, including a cup of coffee. Mind you, he didn't make me one. This is the boy who usually needs to be dragged out of bed and threatened with a complete screen ban before he gets himself showered. He  usually swears by a "Lynx" wash. I do really hope this untypical behaviour lasts for a while.

 


I made two batches of soap yesterday, one English rose scented and the other cucumber and aloe vera. One is marbled dusky pink and white and the other marbled green and white. Rather pretty I should say. It is quite amazing what difference the fragrance makes to the saponification process! The cucumber/aloe vera fragrance speeded the process up significantly and marbling didn't work that well because the soap set so quickly. I have started making facecloths for to bundle up with soap for presents.

And now you must excuse me. I am going out for dinner with two old friends and need to check my face for blemishes and wrinkles. I am hoping for a low light venue as I am sure I my face looks more like slept in sheets than usual. I also need to shine my shoes and dig my bike lights out so I can see where I am going. Have a lovely weekend! Cx

Comments

  1. I am so impressed making your own soap to go with the washcloths, I have made the washcloths and bought some nice soap. I hate having to make my own tea in the morning too.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Your soap is amazing! I've dabbled with soap-making but it takes for ever to get trace stirring by hand and I am scared stiff of those free-wheeling hand-held blender things that you can use to speed things up so I've rather given up. What do you use? Jack looks a poppet but I can imagine you'll be glad when the house-training is under your belt! Good luck with the new job and with the whizzy new Kenwood Titanium - sounds fabulous! Have a lovely evening Christina! E x

    ReplyDelete
  3. The face cloths and soap are just beautiful Christina ... what a thoughtful gift, so special when made by hand. I rely on my husband for my morning coffee too, it's our special ritual and I appreciate it so much. We're both morning people and I love that time we have together. Wishing you a wonderful weekend also.

    ReplyDelete
  4. What an awesome week. New job, lovely soap, training your puppy. He is so cute. I am not made for pets, being a farm girl but I admire those that give their time to care for an animal with love. Jo x

    ReplyDelete
  5. Creaky on the stairs in the morning sounds so familiar! As does the puppy toilet training, though thankfully it's been a few years since we had a pup in the house.

    Is it wrong to envy someone their kitchen gadgets?

    ReplyDelete
  6. Oh, I love your washclothes! That is such a pretty pattern and they look so squishy and soft. How did you find the time to make your own soap? A new puppy, a trip to Turkey, I am impressed! I keep talking about how I need to do it, but I haven't been able to find the time yet. Plus I am a bit afraid to do it by myself and my husband doesn't have the time now.

    ReplyDelete
  7. The soap is so pretty! When I first saw it I thought you had baked something delicious, then felt a little silly when I read that it was soap. :-)

    ReplyDelete
  8. Love your soap making, I thought it was a yummy strawberry cheesecake at first! The washcloths look lovely and thick too - great for Christmas gifts. When our pooches were puppies, there were some days I wanted to cry with the amount of poo I was having to clean up. He is so very cute, that little face. Have a great weekend xo

    ReplyDelete
  9. Oh my word! That soap is absolutely beautiful. Lost in admiration! X

    ReplyDelete
  10. Well that Jack is certainly making his presence felt! I do like that soap, it's very attractive and I bet it smells gorgeous. I hope you had a great evening out with your friends :-)

    ReplyDelete
  11. You are so busy, I don't know how you do it. The wash clothes are so pretty and with home made soap, what a great gift.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Your soap is so pretty. I honestly thought it was fudge at first, though, and I wondered how you got the colors in it. Silly. I'm glad to hear you have a new job, even if it's temporary. I'm sure it will be a good way to get back into your field. And you never know - my first teaching job (in a high school) was meant to be a one-year maternity leave coverage position and the woman I was covering became pregnant again unexpectedly during that year, so she took a second year's leave after that. I ended up with two years at full pay when I'd only been expecting one.

    ReplyDelete
  13. You with wrinkles? No way. I hope you had a wonderful dinner with your friends. Your soap looks beautiful, almost like fudge or candy. Glad you had a good visit with your Mom. The job opportunity might be pleasantly enough work with all the other things you have to do to raise those beautiful children.
    Hugs,
    Meredith

    ReplyDelete
  14. Love the puppy, love the soap and love the facecloths.:) I get a cup of tea brought to me in bed in the mornings, aren't we lucky! Morning walking down the stairs sideways is very familiar as well :(

    ReplyDelete
  15. So glad to read I'm not the only one who's spoilt! M also brings me my cuppa in the morning, which I drink before getting up, whilst he busies himself getting the children up. Rather appalling, really :-)

    ReplyDelete
  16. I love the soap Christina. I thought it was sweeties! I now make that noise when I either get up from sitting down, or bend down to retrieve something from the floor. You are spoilt ;) I'd love a cup of tea brought to me in the morning.
    Leanne xx

    ReplyDelete
  17. What a great Mother you have! I'm soooooooo jealous x

    ReplyDelete
  18. ooh enjoy your kenwood, what a lovely gift xxx I get a cup of tea in bed in the morning, and I love it xxxx it's the only one I always drink whilst it's hot!

    ReplyDelete
  19. The soap looks fab!! Congratulations on your job! Even if you are over qualified does it mean you don't have to consider all the tedious 'shenanigans' that go along with more senior roles. Sometimes I wonder if I should consider applying for a promotion and then I get a grip and decide I like the 'easy' (hahahaha) life. Enjoy your kenwood...hope you had a good week x

    ReplyDelete
  20. That soap looks fantastic - how do you make it? I bought some soap from the Skye Soap Co. in Portree to give as Christmas presents with a crocheted cloth. Your mum is great - what a really lovely present to get for you. Congratulations on getting your job - hope it goes well for you.

    ReplyDelete
  21. What lovely gifts the soap and face cloths will make. I remember those puppy training days! Such hard work.

    ReplyDelete
  22. What a wonderful mum you have buying you such a fabulous gift, I shall look forward to seeing the things you make with it. Your soap is so pretty, I envy those who get that and the beautiful wash cloths as a gift, the perfect pampering kit. Your puppy is so cute. They're hard work at that age but so worth it for everything they give back.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Hi Christna, I have visited before but must apologies as you fell under my radar for a bit . I'm very happy to have rediscovered you though :) Jack is so cute :) We are desperate for a dog but I can't quite make the commitment. Not ready for the nappy-free-mobile-baby effect quite yet. My youngest is 7 but the potty training memories still feel very fresh!!
    I'm seriously intrigued by homemade soap, really really want to give it a try, if you have any starting points for complete beginners, I am all ears :)
    Glad to have found you again, I will be back :) Jillxo

    ReplyDelete
  24. Your puppy is adorable! Even with the toilet training. I am loving the idea of you pedaling off for a night out with your friends, all glammed up with your fabulous socks. Brilliant. I hope you had a great time. x

    ReplyDelete
  25. Your soap looks fantastic what a great present. I hope you had a lovely evening out!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Thank you for visiting and leaving a comment, I love to hear from you, I really do. I sometimes reply by email but I am not all that reliable... Christina xx

Labels

Show more