because I thought I'd have some spare time....

Work has been 'challenging' the last 12 months, and 'tricky' the last 6.

But that's a long and boring story to go into here (and I won't stop once I get started!!!), so a couple of weeks ago, and thinking that I'd need something to wear over Christmas, but didn't want to spend a fortune (tricky job situation means I'm busy squirreling away as much of my salary as I can possibly manage in anticipation of very 'iffy' times ahead!), so I decided that I'd make an outfit.

A loose shift style dress crossed my mind ... room to grow during all the Christmas day food-fest ... and bizarrely, the perfect pattern was in the November issue of 'Sew' magazine.

I also decided I wanted 'tartan' somewhere in my outfit and came across the perfect thing on Minerva Crafts online shop.

Now, let me just explain that in my head I'm a domestic goddess with oodles of time on my hands and nothing better else to do with this spare time than to make clothes that will hopefully fit !!! 

So last week, I took delivery of 3 meters of this beautiful tartan fabric - for the loose shift dress idea, 3 meters of corduroy fabric - for a vague 'jacket' idea to go with the dress, 3 meters of fabric to try out the 'Sassy Skater Skirt' pattern also in the Sew Magazine, and 5 balls of Stylecraft Alpaca Tweed wool to knit myself a new winter scarf (Stylecraft pattern free the other year courtesy of a previous order from Deramores).

The scarf is coming a treat, which is saying something for a committed 'stocking stitch' only knitter...

 I'm actually quite a bit on from this...2.5 balls of wool in ... but being the novice that I am with all the Sl St, k2tog, PSSO, yf etc etc and on a 8 row repeat, I'm still having to concentrate....which I've found 'difficult' with 'I'm a Celebrity' having started!!! (My guilty secret pleasure!!!... I don't watch much telly, and virtually no other 'reality' type guff) so I only manage to get a few rows in during the ad breaks!!! .... hopefully I'll get it finished before Christmas...but it'll be tight.!

I've actually just had 2 days off work, so with some very useful daylight hours NOT spent at my desk, I've made the 'Sassy Skater Skirt' from the November Sew Magazine.

I drafted the pattern as instructed, and I'm soooooooo pleased how easy it was to sew up (only 1 silly mistake on my part with the waistband that needed unpicking and re-doing) and it had its first maiden outing today with an impromptu trip to Canterbury with my Mum and Sister for 'lunch'....which actually turned in to a bit of a Christmas Gift buying expedition!!! (I've never been so organised!!!...I don't usually start my Christmas till December, so this seemed ridiculously early...still....the outfit looked great, got complimented, didn't fall to pieces (always a bonus when you're out in public) and I'm definitely going to make more...they make a perfect work skirt, and with the elasticated waist....plenty of Christmas food/treats/drinks 'growing' room!!!!

So, all in all, a pretty successful couple of days off.... now to measure up and cut out the Christmas Day Dress pattern !!!!
 

heartbreakingly generous...

So yesterday I made that rather glorious Mocca Chocca Sponge cake.

I posted a photo of it on my FB page where a couple of work colleagues commented on how nice it looked and how much they liked to eat Mocca Chocca Sponge cake on a Monday morning at work....

I took the hint and made a mental count of how many of us are in on a Monday (we've recently 'merged' teams and there are a variety of Full Timers & Part Timers (who all work different days!), we've also got some people on Annual Leave and one person currently off sick... so cut off seven slices, wrapped them up and popped them into a carry box.

Now, its been a 'challenging' time at work for the last few months and stress levels are quite high.  

This morning at 7.30am I left home for what I hoped would be a better week... once I'd battled my way through heavy rain, strong gusty wind and finally managed to get my car to one of Canterbury's Park n Rides, hopped on a waiting bus, walked from the City Centre to my office!

I staggered into the office at 8.20am and noticed that our Co-Ordinator was already busy tapping away at her pc... 

"Morning" I chirped... a grunt was offered in reply.
"Did you have a nice day off on Friday?" I continued... another grunt.

So, having had the conversation killed and no eye-contact made, I gave up, made a mental note that there was to be no improvement on the stress levels, popped on my headphones and listened to BBC News (drone on and on about the Trump/Clinton last day of campaigning - and that's a whole nother horror story!!!) until I was due to start work at 8.45am.

I think we made it to 10.30am before I finally caved in, tore myself away from a never ending report with a ridiculous deadline, picked up the box of Mocca Chocca sponge slices and offered them to the girls.

It was only when I got to our bad tempered Co-Ordinator (who was able to make eye contact and offer more than a grunt at the prospect of a slice of cake!) that I realised we had called in another member of staff to help us out - AAAARRRRRGGGGGGGHHHHHHHH  

There were EIGHT of us in the office !!!!!!

 All slices of my beautifully moist, mocca chocca sponge cake were speedily dispatched, with some lovely comments on how light and tasty it was....

I was left looking at an empty lunch box, a cold cuppa and report that wasn't going to deal with itself!!!

#sigh
#heartbreak
 

NOTHING in my wardrobe fits.....

ever since I bought my Dualit toaster (as a birthday treat in January) I've piled on the lbs .... (nearly 20 of them actually!).

It's all down to the doorstep size slices of bread that been toasted by the loaf, the packets of croissants and pain au chocolat's  that's been warmed on the warming rack and muffins, crumpets (and the list goes on...)

and all of these scrumptious goodies generally need a nice thick coating of gorgeous, thicken your arteries, butter!!!

So, I really shouldn't be surprised that I've got up at least 2 dress sizes since this time last year!  Virtually nothing fits.  I've made a variety of 'tops' over the last 12 months and they fit, but its the hip n waist that have received and held onto the excess poundage! So I'm struggling to fit into my 'bottom' half separates! 

I've just finished the hugest pile of ironing and I'm now chilling on the sofa watching Food Network cook awesome Festive Food (its only 6th November for goodness sake!) and I'm drooling over all of it and wondering how I'm going to be the size of house, no ... a grand regal palace by the time New Year gets here.

I'm feeling irritable and uncomfortable in my non-elasticated 'bottoms' and to console myself, I've just finished making this beauty .... 

a Mocca-Chocca sponge cake with chocolate spread filling and a dusting of cocoa powder on top!!!! (with the toaster in the background that has been the cause of such 'blue' feelings!!)

The healthy eating begins next weekend!!! :-D

Happy Sunday y'all