My new computer chair. Love it.

I have been looking for a new computer chair and during a visit to Ikea, I spotted this sweet little chair which is just perfect for the space. It is nice an neat and a little bit different to your bog standard chair a la Argos.

Here is another picture of cute dog Flecki. How she manages to look like a puppy at the age of 13 is beyond me. Cute dog alert y'all!

I have been a bit naughty ignoring my blog, but there hasn't been much to say really.

One thing that has changed is that I have signed up for online dating. It maybe a little too soon as I am not six months out of a long relationship but I wanted to do something to get the old brain whirring again and though I don't really have great intentions of getting "out there", you just never know and they do say it can happen when you least expect it.

I had around 35 messages to sift through. One said "Thanks but no thanks" - nice - I mean why bother?? Wouldn't mind but he was no oil painting. My problem is that I take the worst photos in history. My son kindly says I don't look as bad as I do in my photos!!

So all but one message got deleted. I did get a message from a nice sounding man from London. I have replied to that so will see how it pans out. I am not desperate....repeat I am not desperate.

I also got a wink and a message from a pretty hot looking 42 year  old who reckoned I look sweet in my picture. He sounded lovely but I think looking to hook up with someone very soon. I only joined today so that will not be on my agenda right now. It was vaguely flattering though. :)

Au Revoir. x

It is all a bit embarrassing!

In my last post I did say that I had some time off and I intended to do some "stuff" to share with you.

The truth is, I have done very little over the past two days and now this being my third day off, am panicking a little.

I have experienced something this weekend which I think I have not for some time and that is a feeling of loneliness. Feelings about a relationship breakdown came to the surface and I had to face the disappointment, anger and sadness. Sometimes you do just want to blame another person for what has happened but there is a little whispering voice that reminds you of just how equal a role you did play in the dance. It is painful, it is bloody annoying, but it is the truth.

A phone call to an old friend turned into a shared rant about our partners. Mainly anger at ourselves for sticking around so long, due to fears, lack of self esteem and denial.

After this baring of the soul however, I felt a glimmer of hope, release and refreshment coursing through the old veins. A bit like refreshing the computer page, the old stuff remains but there is something to move onto.

So I trundled up the stairs and did something I had been avoiding for ages. Getting this little cupboard out of the junk mass and attempting to re-position it on my landing.

It has an annoying quirk, in that the lower shelf just meets with the top of the box double plug on the wall, so you are unable to use the plug nor push the cabinet against the wall, so it is a wobbling away from the wall.

I knew the cupboard/cabinet needed to be raised by at least 1/2 inch to clear the plug, so I cast around for something to achieve this. Frustratingly I could find very little, due to chaotic tendencies. In the end however, I chanced upon a peculiar looking saw (from Tchibo) and a slat for a single bed.

I managed, with much huffing and puffing, and the odd curse, to finally saw two equal lengths of wood to place under the cupboard. To my surprise (and relief), it worked!

I then relocated some baskets which fitted very nicely into the shelving area.

Now this cupboard is very old, hand made by a distant relative (or so I understand) and while I believe it would look nicer painted or at least lighter, I would feel a tremendous amount of guilt that I had spoiled someone's careful and very detailed work. This is it!

The Latest Weeny Blighter to join the family.

I have started to write stories about my little creations. Here is the latest Weeny who I made last weekend. 

 

I have a day off  on Friday so it is a long weekend. Hope to do something I can share with you. :)

 

Quick update, I have now lost around 8.5 lbs so the wheat baby belly is definitely receding. Very pleased with the progress which is a bit slow (we all want to lose weight quickly) but it is such an enjoyable way of eating that I feel it is worth it for the results.

A quick share!

I am aware that I have not posted anything for absolutely ages so here is something that was achieved today.

A sweet little cupboard painted by my niece. It was a bit difficult to find somewhere to put it and it is a shame about the shower switch but at least it is finally up on the wall.

Makes a nice place to display my little collection of trinkets and oddsies.

Not quite got all the bits in their right places but will have a go at the weekend.

Weeny B for Amy.

The de-cluttering continues and did a bit of Wheat B baking so have been quite productive.

Here is a picture of a Weeny B for a girl I know called Amy. We all have one in this house now!

My son's.

 

And finally mine, which went a bit wonky but I love it all the same.

 

 

 

 

We are all off to a classical music concert tonight so that will be relaxing and take our minds off life for a couple of hours.

 

See y'all later.

Not much crafting going on at present!

Hi

I really have struggled to fit in any crafting recently. Reasons

1. Doing this wheat belly diet involves a lot of food preparation (and washing up).

2. I have had a lot more energy so have embarked on a massive de cluttering exercise!

I am pleased to report that since January 16th, I have now reduced my wheat baby belly by 6lbs.

It all appears to have come off the middle which is great. I am really trying not to see it as a diet and more as a new way of eating. After struggling away at various slimming clubs and then back sliding, I feel so much more positive once I found something that I like and that is working for me.

It is so expensive though! Nearly all my money is going on food because as we know good food costs a lot more than filler type foods, eg. bread, pasta and rice (not wheat based I know) but considered high carbohydrate.

In essence this is what I am eating.

Meat, fish, eggs, nuts, green veg, salads, berries, cream, olives, avocados. Oils and a little butter and cheese.
You also do any baking which I restrict to weekends only with almond flour, flax seeds ground, and coconut flour.

At some point, I hope to master some of the recipes so I can have some food that is made in advance.

Enough of that.

The decluttering is going to be huge scale as you know Ambers Alley is based on buying and hoarding other peoples' bits and bobs. It makes me think of how much money I have spent over the years on stuff I really did not need. That includes creams, potions and lotions.

Anyway it is the weekend and so I must make the most of it.

Au Revoir and enjoy the lovely weather. Hope all the flooded out people are able to sort out their lives now the levels are reducing.

My Latest Boot Fair Spoils!

 

Look at this little lot I got from the boot fair this morning, just £7.00 in total.  Look at the Weeny Blighters. They are loving it. This is right up their street. This is their era. From a bygone age when kids had yet to discover their I pads, I pods, tablets and gaming machines. I mean look at the book Bimbo and Topsy!  Nowdays a Bimbo is someone off the Only Way is Essex. I prefer Bimbo being a cute terrier.

 

PS. Not forgotten my projects, just being delayed by other stuff at the moment.