It's all gone tits up

Sorry for such a long absence, I have been lying in a dark room surrounded by boxes feeling sorry for myself.  Ridiculous really with all thats going on in the world.  So many lost lives, so much heartbreak.  Anyway, long story short, the new house we are buying has planning issues that until they are sorted we can't proceed.  Our buyers are putting huge pressure on us to move, helpfully suggesting we put our stuff in storage and find temporary accommodation at short notice.....really easy in Cornwall at this time of year with a cat in tow.  I've cried, I've ranted, I've had sleepless nights waking up in a panic, wondering where the hell we are going to end up. I hate depending on solicitors to sort things out.  I hate not having a plan of action as we really don't know time scales on sorting it out.   I could go on and on but I won't or I end up crying.....again.  We have done everything we can possibly do, it is out of our hands now we just have to let the solicitors sort out the legal side of it.

Talking of boxes, it is surprising how much 'stuff' you don't really need.  With the majority of our possessions in boxes we have been living a very minimal existence.  I had packed two huge suitcases of clothes that don't fit or rarely get worn to take with us and then thought why keep it all?  So off the the charity shop they went.  It is a bit like being on holiday, we spent three weeks travelling around Australia a few years ago, living out of suitcases and didn't miss any of our possessions.  I look at all of the boxes and can't believe how much 'stuff' we have collected over the years let along how much money was spent on them.  Once we get to wherever we end up I will be opening every box and asking myself, do I need it or does it bring me pleasure, if the answer is no then it will have to go.  I have to confess that I have bought some wool and needles.  I had packed everything thinking it would be only for a couple of weeks but find myself in need of something calming to do so I am making a shawl. It is a very simple garter stitch, I think my frazzled mind can cope with that.   I will share my progress when I can.

Louise Bourgeois says 'Art is a guaranty of sanity', so I took myself off to see an amazing tapestry by the wonderful Grayson Perry.    It certainly lightened my mood for a little while.  It is from The Vanity of Small Differences  I have shared some photos, but you really need to see it catch the many little details that make it so witty and wonderful.

Chickpea xx

I need a date!!

Last years Cornwall Pride, a joyous occasion.

What a bloody awful couple of weeks it's been with attacks on the LGBT community and democracy.  What kind of sick world do we live in when people are murdered because of their sexuality,  or as Jo Cox who was working in her constituency to help people.   I have shed many a tear, it's times like this I feel like hiding myself away, withdrawing from the world, but it's not an option, I will continue to fight hate and prejudice as I have all my life.   Haters cannot win, I will be carrying the rainbow flag again at this years Pride to show my support.

My worries seem trivial in comparison but I will give you a quick update of the house moving saga.  We still haven't got a date for exchange of contracts but I have given our solicitor the date I want to move (less than 3 weeks time eeeck!).  It may mean a very short period of time between exchange and completion but it has been dragging on and on and I'm hoping it may focus all the solicitors minds and get us all moving.  I need to book time off  work and a removal van so I need a date!!  There are still discussions over the bore hole, access over the lane to the house and the building of a stock proof fence but progress is being made.  The survey came back much as we expected, the house itself is solid but it has been pretty much unloved and neglected for years so we have a lot of work to do when we move in which fingers toes and everything else crossed will be next month.

I have started packing as I really don't want to leave it to the last minute, so the whole house is in turmoil and there hasn't been much time for anything else but I will leave you with some photos from the last few weeks.

I have at last finished my lovely warm Alpaca wool cardigan just in time for ........... summer.

We have been dog sitting these beauties for my son who went on a well earned holiday.  I think the bearded one hoped it would put me off getting a dog when we move, but although a lot of work it was also lovely having dogs in the house again.  I think secretly he also enjoyed their stay and walking them every day, so I'm winning the argument on getting a dog.  Who knows, he may even get a pet pig like he had as a child growing up on a farm.  Our cat was not so keen though!

We also went to the local agricultural show on a fact finding mission. Of particular interest were the Environmental stands as we hope to generate some of our own energy.  There were a couple of people who make shepherds huts so it was useful to get a feel of what we are looking for.  I also talked to some beekeepers who would be interested in setting up hives in our field so a very useful day.  I have never seen so many different types of chickens, from beautiful to bizarre but I will be getting rescue chickens again, not pretty but it is wonderful to see them exploring the world for first time.  I fell in love with the goats......well it would be a good way of keeping the grass short :)

Well I think that's it for my roundup.  I hope you are all keeping well and I will be back when I can, in-between work and packing.

Chickpea xx

Butterfly and Chickpea Rescue

It's been a smashing Bank Holiday weekend, just what I needed.   We travelled up to Somerset to babysit the grandchildren and a jolly time was had by all.  It was good to get away from the stress of trying to buy a house, there has been all sorts of complications, which if we can't get sorted to our satisfaction may mean that we have to pull out.......it doesn't bear thinking about.  Spending time with the grandchildren puts everything into perspective, the littlest one always has a smile on his face and literally dives head first into fun.  While the older two happily spent an afternoon jumping waves, such simple pleasures.  While we were looking for seaweed I spotted a butterfly washed up onto the beach.  I thought it must have been dead but on closer inspection saw it struggling to move.  Scooping it up I painfully trudged up the pebbly beach, sadly not the golden soft sand that we are used to in Cornwall, and placed it carefully onto a bush.  After a few minutes it seemed to recover from its swim, stretched out it's wing to dry and warm itself in the sun.

Sitting on a beach, watching children play, surrounded by beauty and nature.......it really is the little things in life that bring such joy isn't it?

Chickpea xx

Is it a dress? Is it a Tent?

Merchant & Mills pattern

My mother was an amazing dressmaker and tailor.........me on the other hand never even sewed on a button until I inherited her sewing machine and thought it would be nice to learn how to use it.  I have had several attempts at learning dressmaking, once at a class, where the humiliation of having to be measured nearly saw me walking out the door.   How much??!!  That can't be right, the tape measure must be wrong....sob sob.  Anyway, I made a blouse which never saw the light of day.  A couple of years ago I made another attempt at a top which sort of fell apart.  Ever the optimist I am now trying to make a dress, I am already thinking I don't actually like it and would never wear it and I haven't even finished.  It looks like I accidentally stumbled into someone's tent, got caught up in it and stumbled out wearing the tent.  It may look good on a 5'10" skinny person but not on a 5'1" 'well rounded' shorty. (and getting more rounded by the day with all the stress eating)  I picked some cheap denim so I didn't waste too much money and now hate the fabric.  However by learning from the mistakes on this dress the next dress with nicer fabric will be better.  It said on the pattern that it was easy.....well I have already messed it up,  completely missing marks that told me where sleeves etc should line up, well how was I too know that was what they were, they didn't actually say.  It also said to iron interfacing around the neck.  I didn't realise there were so many different types and just picked up the first I saw, yes you've guessed it, the neck was as stiff as a board.  For an 'easy' pattern I feel the instructions could have been clearer for complete novices like me.  I lost heart with it so the dress got shoved into a drawer and has remained there for months.

Then along comes Sewing Bee, for those not familiar with the programme, a group of amateur dressmakers compete each week to win the coveted Sewing Bee title.  Each year I get all excited and yearn to be able to whip up a dress like them.  Each year I fail miserably.  I feel like the poor lad who was knocked out in the first round.  But I live in hope, one day I will make something I can actually wear.  I have retrieved the dress, unpicked the neck, luckily had enough material to cut out another and am now sweating and swearing over the sleeves.  Well at least it takes my mind off the buying a house saga......which is still ongoing.  I will never be able to achieve these amazing jeans made by Kristie but she kept trying and so will I.  Obviously the sewing gene was not passed onto me but with practice, practice, practice hopefully I will improve.

Update:  While the football was on, yes my lot are Man U. fans, I thought I would work on the dress and have finished it!  With a few alterations, cutting a huge amount off the length and sleeves and adding a little line of stitching to the neck and sleeves I think it is passable.  The seams inside are fraying like anything, I haven't got the hang on zigzagging close to the edge without the machine gobbling it up.  But I would certainly wear it at home, and maybe out with a sleeveless cardi to pull it in so it doesn't look so much like a tent.  I'm thinking of making a sleeveless one in a light cotton next, well I have to justify the cost of the pattern, I can mooch around the garden in it.

I'm hoping to finish off a few more projects before everything is packed away.  I have earmarked a little box room in the new house for sewing but will be so busy sorting, painting and getting the garden cleared it may take a while to get sewing again.  The saga of the move is continuing, we are now trying to find out the state of the septic tank, insure access to our bore hole which is in someone else's field and disconnect the electric supply to a GP building down the lane.  Such are the complications when you are buying part of a farm that has been divided up.  I'm still incredibly stressed but hopefully it will all be sorted soon.

Chickpea xx

Wall Envy and Confusion

Yes I know, I think I would get D - for my blogging at the moment.  What can I say?  Still clearing the attic, it is embarrassing the amount of stuff up there!  Anyway by Bank Holiday Monday I was so grumpy about the whole thing that the bearded one decided to get me out of the house for an hour (to save his own sanity I think as I had been snapping at him all weekend).   I had wanted to go to Potager Garden for a while after hearing about it from friends and this was the perfect opportunity.  It is over on the south coast where our new home (hopefully) will be, so we thought we would explore the area.

It's a lovely little garden with a cafe, there is a lovely 'feel' to the place, all very 'hippyish' which suits me down to the ground.  I especially loved the wall built out of logs, my sons partner has said he will  make me one when we move, probably not to this scale though!

Coffee, cake and a stroll around the garden getting ideas for our new home set me on the path back to a happy Chickpea.  People thought I was a bit strange photographing the compost heaps and chicken run but it is all research.  The cafe is lovely with a glasshouse next to it where you can play table tennis and extra seating so that even if the weather is miserable you can sit surrounded by exotic cacti.  It lives up to it's name by growing veg for the cafe, potager meaning kitchen garden.

If you are in the area go and pay a visit and give them your support in developing this little oasis of calm and community.  I'm sure I will be visiting often.

House news - I'm about to get quotes from removal firms, it's been 15 years since the last move so I think I will have to sit down with a stiff drink afterwards!  I'm still prodding the bank and conveyancers to get things moving, why do things take so long?

I'm confused this morning, blogger is telling me something about changes in HTTPS settings.  My poor brain can't take in anymore information at the moment.  Can anyone translate this into English for me?

Chickpea xx



Chickpea xx

Prancing around in my Pinny

Lucienne Day design fabric

I took some time out from the frantic de-cluttering/packing this week to go to a pinny making workshop.  A friend was saying how she would like to have an old fashioned crossover pinny when we walked into the fabric shop a saw a pinny making workshop advertised.  Well it was fate so we immediately signed up.  I found this fabulous retro fabric which cost more than any sensible person would pay for a pinny, it just means that it will never be allowed anywhere near any type of cooking of course.  I will just prance around in my pinny, glass of wine in hand pretending to be a 50's housewife.  It is not quite finished of course........yet another unfinished project........but it will look nice hanging up in the kitchen even if I never finish it.  I hope to get around to it before it is packed for the (fingers, toes, legs and eyes crossed) house move.  I just need to finish the shoulders and top sew around the neck and armholes.

Crossover back

I am chuffed to bits that I actually made something I would wear, unlike my other dressmaking disasters.  I'm even tempted to make one in linen to wear over a top and leggings.  What do you think, would anyone notice it's a pinny?

In other news, things are moving slowly on the house front, it doesn't help that the buyers solicitor sent the paperwork to our old solicitors despite being informed that we had changed to another.  Two weeks wasted!  Oh well gives me more time to plough through 15 years of clutter in the attic.

Chickpea xx

Send out a search party

I am lost in the hell that is my attic.  I cannot believe how much stuff is crammed into every corner, it is a nightmare!  I think attics should be banned, if I had to look at all our old stuff everyday, move it to clean, constantly trip over it etc, I'm sure I would decide that I really don't need to keep every bit of paper that my children draw on, all of their old school books, toys and clothes.  The drum kit and surf boards would have been ditched years ago, but while they are hiding in the attic they avoid the grim reaper.  I am drowning under a sea of boxes, if you don't hear from me for a while send out a search party, seriously I need help, I have fooled myself that I'm not that bad at hoarding but I confess......I am a hoarder.  Is there a cure?  I hate the thought of things going to landfill so have been trying to come up with creative ideas to divert a lot of the stuff elsewhere.  Old c.d.'s will make bird scarers, old clothes for quilts and rugs, a huge amount is going to a friends mother who raises funds for a wheelchair football group at car boots.  There is still an awful lot of stuff that unfortunately has to be taken to the dump, it is a timely reminder not to buy anything that cannot be disposed of in a 'green' way.

I am also in a flurry of chasing up solicitors, estate agents etc. to try to keep things moving.  What a palaver!  The house buying/selling business being as it is in England, there is nothing stopping someone coming along and offering more money on the house we hope to be buying, or our buyers pulling out.  It is a nerve wracking business and the further I can push the process along hopefully the less likelihood of this happening, though I get told horror stories of people pulling out within days of exchanging contracts.  Aaarrrgghhh!!!

I am so stressed that I am grinding my teeth even more than usual in my sleep (when I do manage to sleep) and have broken bits off two teeth.  I have been told that wearing a shield when I sleep would help but I'm worried that this would affect my already terrible sleep patterns.  Has anyone ever tried one?  Any advice would be most welcome, I don't want to shell out a load of money only to find I can't use it.  It hasn't helped that I have had redundancy looming over me....yes good timing hey....but was relieved to be told today that my job is safe.  I feel desperately sad for all the people who have lost their jobs.  Working in the Public Sector used to be a relatively safe profession, not any more!

Apologies that my blog is so boring at the moment, life seems to shrunk to work, housework and packing at the moment.  Hopefully in a few months I will have lots to share as I turn my hand to the country life.......I will be needing a lot of advice as I stumble my way through growing my own, looking after chickens and learning about the country that I will be surrounded by.  I will be getting used to strange sounds, smells and the dark again.  It is been a long time since we lived so close to nature, no streetlights, no local shops or walking into the city for a meal.  How our urban cat will cope with it I'm not sure.  I will also be exploring a whole new coastline, I have always headed to the north coast, in our new home (fingers, toes, legs and eyes crossed) the south coast will be nearer so lots of new beaches to walk.

I will leave you with some photos of a natural phenomenon that looks like something out of Dr Who.  Every now and then, conditions come together to form sea foam, it looks very weird, but is harmless.

                 

Love the wobble, it's a bit like jelly :)

Chickpea xx