A different entrance

 After a wet morning, with lots of fun with Josh and Sammy, Fliss and Steve, which involved chocolate eggs and tales of the fun had with Grandma in Manchester. The weather dried up and we decided to have a walk.

We drove to our local castle here in Portchester, but decided to miss the crowds and walk a different way, this lane takes you down to the sea, and past these lovely bluebells, a true sign of the warmer weather to come.

Giving us lovely views of the coast line as we walk down the lane, this one toward Gosport with the navy boats in port.

 We are now at the waters edge and viewing the castle and its fortress walls. There is a dry moat just past the mounds of earth.

 At the point are the fishermen, a popular place for them. Opposite, across the water is wasteland, a small marina and the Portsmouth naval base, with the dry docks and the historical part with HMS Nelson, HMS Warrior and The Mary Rose.

 This is a popular place for sailing, there is a small yacht club next to the castle, so the fishermen have boats sailing by all day, plus all the walkers, very interesting place to spend time. I have not shown photo's from inside you can find them here

 It was great fun, nice to get out, I am avoiding garden centre's because I will want to buy items to plant, and gardening is not allowed, yet! Later I was able to do a bit more stitching, here is my progress, I did more work on page 3, finishing another circle and bits around it. I love the colours. I have half a circle pattern not started, the design has an error on the colour to use, every one I have seen stitched shows green here, so I will stitch all around it and then decide which shade of green to use.

Su and Gav came here for a meal last night, it was fun, we chatted most of the evening, no TV which is great.
Today is Easter Monday, so we all have the day off, and it's raining, too wet to go out, so a day planned inside, no jobs to do in the house, so fun time, I was hoping to do some finishing of a couple of projects, but I'm not sure I will be comfortable enough, so I have pencilled them in for next Saturday. So more stitching and watching a couple more episodes of Downton Abbey. I love lazy days at home, not sure about Kev, he dose get bored, will have to wait and see how we get along.

Normal Saturday

 It's just a normal Saturday morning here, been to the hairdressers for my haircut and blow dry, I am booked in for every 4 weeks, quick look around our farmers market and home for coffee and internet. Loads of blogs read, whilst drinking a mug of fresh coffee. Bliss, I like normal.

Patchwork Sampler is coming along, above was Thursdays work and below Fridays stitching. I am getting on great, but on Tuesday I'm back to work so no stitching in the day time. I hope to finish page 4 today, not alot to do now, and just 8 pages left.

 I purchased another basket for Purdy, so in true feline style she stole Graces basket, and therefore Grace just took over Purdys basket, Grace is so laid back. Both baskets are by our patio doors, so they can sleep in the sunshine and see out into the garden.

 Hubby playing games on the computer, sat next to me, he is hooked on "Zuma"

The rest of the day is home together, we went shopping on Thursday and I purchased my first fancy bra in two years, still not able to wear it, but it waiting in my drawer, just a couple of weeks to go. I am healing very well, our bodies are amazing, and the surgeons who put us back together are artist. I am feeling so very good, my tummy tuck is fantastic, and the skin used form my tummy to construct my new boob is doing well.  I have so much more movement in my left arm, I feel as if the cloud has gone and there is sun shine all the way, after two years I feel free.

Page 4

I have done the top level of the fourth section, this completes the top line,  

 You have seen the purple before but I love the design and colour, the red in the corner is very bright, my aim is now to complete the whole of the 4 top pages, I am finishing off the second page, I purchased the thread I required on Monday. It would be nice to have 4 pages done before I go back to work next week.

I had a great time out on Monday with Su, firstly I was able to fit back into my jeans, I hate going out in jogging pants, we had visited a favourite shop for both of us and then had lunch in my fave bistro, after wards we popped to our local village centre and then home to drink coffee and chat.

I have a couple more days at home this week, most days I have friends popping in but this afternoon I am going to visit a friend, it's nice to get out, but it does cut back my stitching time.

Snow is back in the North of England, but here in the South it's another sunny cool day, we had rain yesterday, enough to help our gardens, but we are still in drought.

Stitching weekend

I spent loads of time stitching, I am totally hooked on this sampler

Each bit I add I love, it all works so perfect together, I have to buy silks today, I require 11 of them, but I had all the colours, except 4, makes stitching this cheap. I am stitching on Zweigart, Lugana, 25 ct, the fabric has perfect squares, I purchased a few packs, a couple of weeks ago, it was on special in our local Hobbycraft.

 Stitching so far, I am working on the third page of the top row, it will fit in my frame with inches to spare.

I am having my first day out today, Su my daughter, has the day off, we are going for a small shopping trip, with a stop for coffee, and then back home, not out for long, but it will be nice to be out. Hubby Kev has a days golf planned with friends, they have left early to go to a different course. Fliss is home with her boys, they are off to see Grandma tomorrow who lives 5 hours drive away in Manchester.

Yesterday Fliss, Steve and the boys came to visit, it was another sunny day and we sat in the garden, it was pure pleasure to watch the boys play football, with laughter and giggles they each had a ball to kick about.

My weight loss is coming along, I am steady losing 1-2lbs each week, I use "myfitnesspal" on my iPad, it records all my food and real excise each day.Today I will also start wearing my pedometer, all I hope will help me increase my fitness.