A Fangtastic Weekend

The pun isn't for Missy, it's for the first of three cosplays I'm making this year - my nephews Alucard costume. We made the coat earlier in the year (and I will confess I only finished the hand sewing on Minday) so this weekend we tackled the hat. And I'm pretty pleased with how it all came together, although Missy is more Carmen Sandiego than ruthless undead in it.

It wasn't all sewing, we managed some nice walks the Saturday and on Sunday, despite the damp start, got out to enjoy the Bathgate Doggy Day Out. Missy placed first in her fancy dress and my nephew with Wee Ben failed to place in waggiest tail. That dog is getting very old and grumpy at the world despite being only 7. He did not approve of the rain or the outdoors. 

There was also board games and then it was done. A very quick weekend. 

I'm other news, my quilt for Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home is doing very well and we've reached over £100 in donations! I couldn't be happier!

Thats all for now, just a short update, lots to be doing (number 2 of 3 cosplays is very nearly done!) 

A Quick Change of Weather

 

It started off well at least! Last weekend we finally gave camping a go and, to keep it safe, popped over to North Berwick to trial run things. There was a few concerns (not toilets, I don't mind a 3am flit if necessary to a properly cleaned shower block), mainly that I'd get cold (yay Raynaud's) and that Maisie (yes, our favourite gremlin) would be chaos.

Well, the first part was sorted with a onesie, a cosy sleeping bag and a fan heater for the one evening I felt damp and chilly. The second part...

Well, don't let that cheeky smile fool you. I don't appreciate being woken up by being literally walked on at 12.30am. She was good as gold the rest of the time, but I did severely miss not having a door to close between us. So that's it, glamping and she's more than welcome, but camping and she's staying with my brother!

Following our quick trip (we spent our full day on the beach and looking about tat ships) it was our friends birthday. The plan was Dungeons and Dragons and it was a great laugh.

And then it all went wrong. Monday I was tired. Therefore, when all my electronics started to play up bar my phone, I was perplexed. It took me way longer than it should to realise the broadband was broken.

And boy was it broken. Down Monday night. All day Tuesday (thankfully an office day) then Wednesday (a site visit, so I managed using my work phone as a hotspot). We quickly realised it was a utility strike, someone had damaged the cable, but something else was bothering me, mostly the lack of lights on the hub...

Well, along came our special 4G dongle and...in principle it's great, but I live in a 50s build made of sandstone. My network signal isn't great at the best of times.

Today was a sufferance. After initially being impressed with the dongle, I fell to despair as everything kept failing and falling over. I got a notification that the fault was fixed and looked longingly at the hub and lack of lights. An engineer was booked for Monday as, now that fault was resolved, we could log our deadly departed hub.

The weather perfectly matched my mood.

Then hubby got in and admired the new router that had arrived. I hadn't bothered to set it up on account of the dead hub when he had the bright idea to check if it was the same plug and, Y'all, I have never been so happy to see those little lights. We still have the engineer coming Monday (I'll swap the plugs over) but it means tomorrow I can actually get on with my job.

And I can go back to doom scrolling, but the less said the better!

Bringing in the Sun

It's amazing what a proper spell of sunshine does to warm the soul. Following months of damp, chilly weather where all my garden plans failed and those that sprouted were eaten by slugs, it's safe to say I feel a corner has been turned. Second attempt cabbage is peaking through the soil and I've cut and collected my first rhubarb crop. And Missy is already turning red from her Olympic-ready skill set at sunbathing. I've dug out the cool mat (avoided like the plague) and her cool coat so we're ready for anything.

The week started string with a mayday outing with my brother and Maisie. We organised plans for looking after her next weekend and had a chill day mooching about Dobbies and then Dechmont. The morning week finished on a high with a sighting of the northern light the Friday. Nothing to show for it, new phone so couldn't get the shutter speed to go long enough, but there was something magical about sitting in the dark, cuddled up on bed and watching the sky change colour. 

Saturday, in hindsight, I should have taken Missys cool coat on ou morning walk at Malleny Gardens. Whilst she was not permitted in the walled garden, it provided a good base for a lovely walk through trees and along farm track. I did not appreciate the yellow fields of rapeseed, but did appreciate the good company of my local friend. We took it slow and steady owing to her painful toe and, after comparing footnotes (pun absolutely intended) she's hit all the symptoms and hallmarks of my arthritis. Hopefully that isn't the case, but I shared some hints and tips I've picked up along the way to help her in the meantime until she gets a diagnosis.

It was one of those fine meet ups where the sunshine and friendship gives little to speak of that was remarkable, but was incredibly healingfor the soul. Perhaps my post holiday blues have been shaken off at last, but everything felt just so, and continued so an evening of seeing friends and then through to today.

My Mils birthday was last weekend, so we had her and her American friend visiting for the day. With the lovely weather and Missy tired and content to be left be to sunbathe in the French windows, we went to the 5 Sisters Zoo. Between the bears sharing a bath, the snow leopard having dinner and Hubby being told off by a lemur, it really was a day where the zoo showed itself off to its best.

After farewells, we're all knackeredin the house so I've got a bath running whilst Missy is asleep cuddling my hubby on the sofa watching wrestling. I can't say for certain, but I'm fairly sure he's asleep too.

And that's been the week - too quick as always. In crafting news, the top of the quilt is done and I also managed some crafts on the embroidery machine too.

Hopefully nxt week it'll be finished and I can start my raffle!

Until then, make sure you apply sunscreen and have a great time.