Tuesday and Wednesday

Tuesday and we are back to our flower arrangement unit, it was time to practice the all round loose posy, first with and then without a candle, which you can see below. I am fairly happy with both of those, one or two minor bits, but largely ok. I can't say the flowers this week are my own personal taste, I am not even convinced they work well together but I won't be able to choose what customers want in their orders from me, so I guess I have to live with that.

As for parking, Mike dropped me in today, which worked out well so no hassle for me today!

Lots of flowers on Tuesday, as in the evening it was Flower Club and this month it was members evening, which is where members of the club demonstrate rather than us having an outside demonstrator. It was a lovely evening, sadly after remembering my camera this month, it died on me and I was only able to get one decent shot. Sylvia, my flower arranging mentor did the final demo excellently and she did her 'party piece' which was lovely. But don't tell her my favourite of the night was the one from Martin, one of the very very few men in the group which was stunning and the only decent photo I managed to get. June won one of the arrangements in the raffle and choose Sylvia's! Note for me, next year I do a demonstration!




Martin did his arrangement in a cauldron which looked super and a fantastic idea for a Halloween or Bonfire Party or event. He even managed to have a fire under it too! Brilliant!

Wednesday I was late in again, as I had to take Jamie to school and by the time I got to where I now park there was only one space left, so I was very very lucky! Although by the time I got in, I hadn't really missed much as it is Tutorial on a Wednesday morning, or from my perspective, a waste of time. This week we had to watch a totally pointless DVD, totally aimed at the younger student, but of course that is where the funding is. God forbid they actually acknowledge that they have an older student too, and in my group the majority are mature students, and me at 44 is not the oldest person on the course - 3 of us are 40+!! In the end 3 of us 'olderies' (is it a word, it is now!) were in tears at the naffness and pointlessness of the whole thing!

Then it was onto our funeral work, and another go at a double ended spray and hooray, I have been signed off on mine, so I don't have to do that one again, that is it, a big tick in that box! Here is mine below and I am pleased with it, as it has a good strong line, throughout, with carnations, backed up by gerbera and limonium (which I totally totally hate and would never ever use if given the choice - it is nicely coloured but just looks naff!) I tried very hard to tone down the foliage, and it has worked, although the cupressus was just about past its sell by date so it was easy not to use too much.

After that it was my first go at a loose wreath and I do not like mine at all. Why, well it looks far too compact and cramped together, you don't seem to be able to view the beauty of each flower and surely that is the whole point of a floral tribute. The foliage seemed too big, it may have been better with smaller pieces of foliage, but the leaves on them seemed too big too. I personally think it looks awful awful awful. I had to leave early to let Mike get back to work after he had collected Jamie from school and got soaked to the skin walking back to the car, so wasn't a happy bunny by the time I got home. And I was tired again too! Must get more sleep! So that was week three at college!

Jamie had Jake over for tea and play tonight, so that was great fun for them. Mike and I enjoyed a quiet dinner together later watching Spooks and chilling out.

Ciao

Sue

XX

Reading challenge 8/16 - currently reading Lovers and Players by Jackie Collins
Jamie's Reading challenge 5/12 - currently reading Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull by James Luceno
SLYMI - 1/52

College - Week 3

For this weeks issues over the parking see below, but yet again its AARGH, AARGH, AARGH!!!!

We started off week 3 with some wrapping, this time it was plants and planted pots and these were not as easy as they looked! More practice required! Then it was onto flat backed bouquets which sadly we didn't have enough time to finish but I felt I was just getting into it and was really pleased with the results I was getting. Mine certainly seemed firm and held in place, we will be going back to that next week, with an even bigger one, sadly I took mine apart before I got a picture, duh!

I was late into college this morning, but I've kept a note of how much and why. The reason is last week, I parked in a street near the college, not sure who the land belongs to, but it was adjoining a college building and grassed area, and wasn't in anyone's way, just like the other student cars who were parked in the same area. This week, when I and lots of other students arrived we found it had been double yellow lined, so it took ages to get out onto the main road again and then I had to drive around and find somewhere else to park. I managed to squeeze into the lane just past St Mary's Church car park and then walked in for about 10 minutes! College just passes the problem onto other areas rather than trying to come up with a solution to students parking problems. It should realise that for some people their park and ride scheme is not ever going to work. Now how do I get myself onto the Student Council? So because of their blanket policy on parking, this morning I missed 20 minutes of my class!

I feel like writing to find out who the land belongs to and who requested or who decided that the double yellow lines should be placed there. The area below highlighted in yellow is the area which has been double yellow lined, students parked in those areas were not causing a problem - except for the few who parked on the immediate area of Sherwood Drive. More to follow - keep tuned!

Ciao

Sue

XX

Reading challenge 8/16 - currently reading Lovers and Players by Jackie Collins
Jamie's Reading challenge 5/12 - currently reading Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull by James Luceno
SLYMI - 1/52

The Weekend Already!

Saturday Jamie was at his drama class again, and I sat and read in the green room while he was doing his stuff. After that we headed to Borders where Jamie has his favourite Frappacino and Chocolate Cake and I had Latte and Fruit Bread, delicious. We had a long wander around Borders and Paperchase, a favourite thing to do. When we got home Kian came around to play and I pottered on doing my bits and pieces. Mike had headed off with Martin to see Mott the Hoople on their reunion show in London, so it was a peaceful evening and I treated myself with a couple of glasses of wine, lovely!

Sunday, we saw Kian again and he and Jamie spent a large part of the afternoon playing together very nicely, phew! And then lo and behold it was time again to get ready for school!

Ciao

Sue

XX

Reading challenge 8/16 - currently reading Lovers and Players by Jackie Collins
Jamie's Reading challenge 5/12 - currently reading Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull by James Luceno
SLYMI - 1/52

Thursday and Friday Fill-In

October is here already, where is the year going? It is still incredibly dry here but the nights are starting to draw in, sadly. Thursday, just catching up with all the stuff that needs doing, feeling a lot more on top of things this week, which is good.

Here is a Friday Fill-In as I haven't done one for a few weeks, enjoy!

1. I have a history of taking life too seriously, but now I try very hard to live and enjoy each day for what it is.

2. How to play the piano is something I wish I knew how to do.

3. I'm eating (or recently ate) a chip butty with chips from the fish and chip shop, bad I know!

4. I am looking forward to seeing Doug Aldrich when Dio are on the road.

5. So that's it, that's the end of the Ashes in England for another 4 years!

6. Something is always better than nothing!

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to chillin, tomorrow my plans include reading in the green room whilst Jamie is at his drama club and Sunday, I want to sleep!

Ciao

Sue

XX

Reading challenge 8/16 - currently reading Lovers and Players by Jackie Collins
Jamie's Reading challenge 5/12 - currently reading Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull by James Luceno
SLYMI - 1/52

Wednesday - More Floristry!

Back to college again today, end of the college part of my week though today. Wednesday morning we have tutorial and then we concentrate on funeral work, a never ending part of the floristry business, sad but realistic I'm afraid. Today it was a double ended spray, which is also pretty much the same shape you would use for a top table arrangement!

Here are some pictures of today's work.

I like the way you can see the water drops on the flowers here,

and close up the spray carnation (dianthus) looks amazing - not sure of its colour, so will have to look it up!

I am still feeling very tired, so tonight was a night off! Lots to do for the rest of the week though. I used up the flowers I brought home in my new container and was fairly pleased with the result, I feel I made something out of some leftovers, so that was good.

Ciao

Sue

XX

Reading challenge 8/16 - currently reading Lovers and Players by Jackie Collins
Jamie's Reading challenge 9/12 - currently reading Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull by James Luceno (Jamie is back onto his Jacqueline Wilson and has completed a couple of those, but like me still has this one on the go too!)
SLYMI - 1/52

Tuesday - Floristry and To Do List

Today was floral arrangements day and the arrangement below was my second attempt at a simple linear arrangement, much more pleased with this one, as the carnations are not splaying out as much as last weeks.

Then it was onto a simple all round posy design, we get our flowers on a Monday and then use those flowers up to Wednesday, they start long and get shorter as the week goes on! Below is my simple design, I wasn't sure if the gerbera were too much, but was pleased with its profile. The next step was to change it into a simple posy with candle. I have a tendency to put too much foliage in, that is something I really need to watch out for.

And here is mine, I am much happier with the gerbera now, as the added height from the candle puts the gerbera much more into proportion. One of my big worries was timing, as I am always quite slow with my flower arranging, but so far I am going ok. I am also now starting to get to grips with some of the written work too, but need a couple of quiet days to get my head around it at my own pace.

My neighbour Janet gave me the two vases below, which will come in very handy for a variety of purposes, I've already used them to stand flowers in before I use them, allowing the flowers some time to condition prior to arranging. Thank you Janet.

I'm not sure if I mentioned but the final part of my birthday present has finally turned up and it is below, so if I get some time I might be able to use them to do a scrapbooking page. Oh well maybe the weekend!

Here goes for my second Tuesday To-Do List - its pretty similar to my first one but at least some of the things have been ticked off the list!

1 Tidy my desk - and keep it tidy - the big task, although it is less than a couple of weeks ago!

2 Catch up with all paperwork - lots of scanning to do

3 Tidy up the garden and start getting it ready for Autumn

4 Get out walking for longer walks with Binnie

5 Sort out Jamie's Bedroom and clear out some of his old toys/clothes etc.

6 Distress mirror for our bedroom.

7. Finish my Kefalonia scrapbook.

It still seems fairly daunting, but at least I am on top of the washing and ironing - and the ironing is my most dreaded job!! I am aiming to knock each job off the much bigger list in my head, slowly and just go for it one by one.


Ciao

Sue

XX

Reading challenge 8/16 - currently reading Lovers and Players by Jackie Collins
Jamie's Reading challenge 5/12 - currently reading Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull by James Luceno
SLYMI - 1/52

Monday And Back to College for Week 2

Parking Travesty Week 2

So, parking AARGH AARGH! The mean spirited b***ards, that is all I can say. There was a way of sneaking into the college car park, but this weekend they have blocked it off, not only with tree trunks but also with college buses/vans. I think they are showing a total lack of care and consideration to a whole group of current students and potential students (parents with children). As I have said before they are trying to act as the 'environmental conscience' - well if you are a student but not if you are staff - then its ok to use a car.

One of the great ironies of it all is their policy is making a larger carbon foot print in many cases, as one of their responses to students when they ask where to park they suggest parking at the MK Dons Stadium and using the college bus service - and they have suggested this to a student who, to do that would have to drive a further 2 miles to the stadium, park up, wait for a bus and then reverse it in the evening, so to my mind, in that student's case a further 8 miles per day! In my own case rather than having to hump around all the equipment that is required on this course, because we have no lockers and cannot leave the items in our classroom, when Mike is on a day off he will drop me into college, thus doubling the journey - ie - I would (if I could park!) drive to college and then drive home so a round trip of approx 6 - 8 miles, on the days that Mike brings me in we will be making 2 trips thus doubling that days mileage to 12 - 18 miles, I haven't checked the exact mileage but rest assured, now I have the bit between my teeth I will.

Oh yes and have I mentioned the 40 plus empty car parking spaces at the college!

Watch out for updates - as there will be some.

College Week 2

As for the course, well today I had another go at Cone Wrapping, posh name for wrapping flowers in that pretty way Florists do! I'm getting the hang of it now and am happier with my bows too, as I had a practice of them at the weekend. Here we have two wraps, one in cellophane containing a single gerbera and a small bouquet in Kraft paper. Getting the hang of this!



My bows are starting to come together but need lots more practice too, just to make them better and quicker, and also to have a go at combining colours - but getting there!

Below is a more elaborate spiralled bouquet, this time with tissue paper to make it even prettier, again it's practice and more practice until it all just comes naturally, but not a bad start.

Still feeling pretty shattered by the time I get home - will I ever read and scrapbook again?

Ciao

Sue

XX

Reading challenge 8/16 - currently reading Lovers and Players by Jackie Collins
Jamie's Reading challenge 5/12 - currently reading Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull by James Luceno
SLYMI - 1/52