Best birthday pressie....ever

I now have to accept I am middle aged. For my 46 birthday O got me a sewing machine and I'm beyond thrilled. It is the Singer 160 automated retro machine and it is SHINY and PRETTY! Only thing is no power cable, but that should arrive later today. Half way through last round of chemo so was an amazing mood elevator. Cannot wait to have a play when bloomin' plug arrives!

Christmas stock

Managing to struggle on with chemo. Only 2 rounds left yippee! Thought I would post some piccies of new stock coming in for this Christmas at www.polkaparty.co.uk.
Not much going on apart from work as too tired to do much. Kate x

Craft room

My 25 year old son has just moved out of home to live with his lovely girlfriend. Youngest son is moving to his room and for he first time in 25 years I have a room for me!! (with guest bed). It is very much workin progress but I have been painting and gathering my weird treasures from all over the house. Here is a sneak peek...

Snoozy dogs

We have 4 lovely dogs. The big brave working spaniel Skye spends all the time he's not out gallivanting under our bed! Then good girl Luna sleeps where dogs should be. Spike takes over the sofa and Little May sleeps close to me wherever I am. Love them all for their naughty little characteristics. X
I am posting so late as I am obsessed with the Homeland reruns and can't wait til morning so watching at midnight!

Son saves fortune shocker!!!

I rang to get Luna clipped and the lady was booked until November and cost £70. We bought clippers but she leapt around like a rat on a rope when O and I tried Today jake my 16 year old took charge and she was good as gold. Clippers £30, jake free hurrah.

US tennis

Little May is baffled by our late night on a 'school day'. She is trying to remain enthusiastic about Andy Murray but is fading and keeps giving me a look that says "Really, just one more game?" I keep telling her I'll be fine alone but she wearily protests we should watch together.

A night away...

Lucky enough to be at coast for the night as O has day off tomorrow to look after squiddles. So here alone with some cross stitch and this gorgeous sky. I have not used any effects it really was this colour.

Sunrise

Blooming cockerel was out the other morning and making a racket at 5 in the morning so I was chasing him around the garden and took this picture which made it worthwhile.

Luna loving the view

Having a great time and even the dog likes the views on our morning walk. Rain, rain stay away please!

Salcombe

Well this is the view from my bedroom window for next ten days or so (have to leave early for Tilly's a level results). We are so lucky to come here to a flat Os grandfather had and family still owns so we get 2 weeks gratis We always come for the town regatta and it is brilliant whatever the weather. Kate

Off on hols

On the way to our annual trip to Salcombe I am spending a couple of days in Weymouth. Weather gorgeous and enjoying olympic atmosphere. The boat Collective Spirit is made of donated wooden items and is BEAUTIFUL! So glad I saw it. Kate x

Perfect breakfast?

Lucky to be at coast again this weekend and o cooked this and brought it to me whilst I was reading. What a lovely surprise, proper al fresco! Kate x

Perfect breakfast?

Lucky to be at coast again this weekend and o cooked this and brought it to me whilst I was reading. What a lovely surprise, proper al fresco! Kate x

Polka presents?

For once I am going to write about polka party! Thinking of starting polka presents in time for Crimbo with reasonably priced little gifts for party bags, stocking pressies etc. Remember pick up sticks? And pretty pretty pens are a couple of ideas Kate x

English summer

Hurrah. Actually at seaside and posting from beach. The boy is happy fishing (I keep yelling take off your vest!) Tilly and I sitting reading. Have place to stay here for the night so v happy as mid chemo and feeling chilled. X

Aurora update

Gosh. After hospital, dreadful weather and chemo finally got back to poor caravan! I have replaced the inner skin and next have to cut aluminium outer (gulp). Top tip for anyone needing aly I rang my local factory and they cut me an offcut to my size and only charged £15! Brilliant as I thought it would be £44 for sheet and £10 cutting fee. Hopefully more pics very soon if it doesn't blooming rain. Kate x

You go girl!

I try not to blather on about how proud I am of my kids but they have been wonderful and strong throughout my illness and O's last year. My daughter went to her leavers party last week and this pic summed up the confident lovely young woman she's become ( shes doing the dance to single ladies I think!) Soon my only girl will be off to Uni and this summed up for me the woman she will be. Kate x

Hop farm festival

Yesterday we went to our local festival and saw some great music. We're meant to be camping but as I'm on chemo are going back and forth. Today hubby looking forward to Bruce Forsyth and me Lucy Rose! My son and friend staying and we've had a call for food rations so making sarnies for them... So rock and roll. Some of yesterday's acts
THE STRANGLERS
THE FUTUREHEADS
LIANNE LA HAVAS
Kate x

Floss and the chicks

The chicks are growing so fast. Here they are chilling on a Saturday afternoon on the swingseat in the garden.
I have just started my chemo (by tablet) and all fine so far. Effects are accumulative though so may feel ropey in a few days. Hope everyone is having a lovely (if damp) summer solstice week. We had a barbecue to celebrate it on Wednesday night which was actually sunny here. Kate x

What a lady!

It was tiring just watching the Queens various engagements this weekend let alone having your husband hospitalised as well.
It gave me a whole new perspective on what a state visit must entail.
Hip hip hurray to an amazing and dignified lady. Kate

Jubulations

Here in uk we are having all sorts of celebrations for the queens diamond jubilee. I made these corsages for my daughter and I to wear to our little hamlets party this afternoon now off to paint my finger nails red white and blue. Kate x

Meeting

This is Floss introducing her 3 week old chicks to out guinnie guys Clinton and Priscilla Winkle (both boys no idea why Tilly gave one girls name!) so lovely to have all the animals in sunshine instead of rain. Kate x

Poor Poppy

This week I am dog sitting a few hours a day for friends who just got a rescue dog. She was abandoned locked in a house for 5 days so they obviously want to make her adaption to her new life as easy as possible and I have her with my dogs to help her adjust Look at her, how could anyone be so cruel...for day 2 of rescue she is sooooo easy.

Love and affection

Bella, my daughters cat, is normally very independent but today she has come for a snuggle whilst I have my lunchtime nap. Her son Fred is at vet with damaged nerves do I think she's missing him rather than feeling I need attention. Kate x

Happy days. Back at home finally with my lovely family and animals. Able to have quick walk outside between showers and already feeling the benefits. Sleep for longer than 21/2 hours at once being main one. Having said that hospital staff were so professional and compassionate, thanks staff of Foster Clark at Maidstone Hospital.

Reduced medication

Thought I would put up a picture of my reduced meds! Where do they all go? At home I probably have 1 painkiller a month so it's all a bit odd.
Well this is meant to be a Polka Party blog so here is also a picky of plate from a lovely new tableware range coming into stock soon
Kate

Bored in hospital

Supposed to leave today but have ileus which is when the bowel shuts down due to trauma so my stomach is distended and I am sick even if I try to drink water. They put a tube up my nose and into my stomach earlier which made no difference and now they want to try it again. Really fed up,sorry to vent, no ones fault but BLIMEY! Kate

Op day

Yesterday got some pics to bring with me to hospital and are cheering me up. Luna in the bluebells is my favourite but our clever Floss hatched 3 chicks on Sunday and they are adorable. Waiting to go down to theatre now just want to get on with it!!!

All our dogs

Spending as much time as poss outside and finally got picture of all four doglets facing in the same direction! From left Spike,Luna,May and Skye. Knowing you are going to be stuck in a hospital ward for a week or so certainly makes you appreciate the blossom and lilacs. Kate x

Boo to bowel cancer

I have thought long and hard about whether I should write about this. Two weeks ago I was diagnosed with bowel cancer which was a surprise as I am a healthy 45 year old with no family history of any type of cancer. I am having an op on 1 May to remove the tumour and feel ready to share this now as a colonoscopy today revealed there is only one. I have also had a ct scan so we know there is no spread to lungs or liver. Weirdly I am not at all worried and am glad to just be losing the unwelcome guest!
Apart from being very tired I was sent for tests after several trips to doctor with anaemia. I just knew something did not feel right because of tiredness so if you have any concerns always go to your doc, do not put it off. Intuition is a gift! Will write more soon but just wanted to post for anyone else who is putting off the trip to docs because it is embarrassing. I feel fine and all of us here are doing great. Kate x

Auroras roof

Had very satisfying afternoon cleaning the roof of my 40 year old caravan so I can paint it next week. Why I waited for the hosepipe ban I dont know!
Really happy though with the difference and hoping to get her finished by 1 May when I have to go for an operation. She'll be great to convalesce in.

Luna ready for summer

Luna is starting to sort her summer wardrobe and modelled her new sunnies for us today.
Then the sun disappeared. BOO HOO.
Sooooo she went upstairs to make sure Tom was ok after he came in at 3 this morning...he was thrilled. Kate x

Auroras progress

Well I am good at DESTRUCTION. let's hope the CONSTRUCTION goes as well. Having put off tackling this myself for a year I am really enjoying the challenge. As they say necessity is the mother of invention and I may have to open a coachworks.
I had to include this picture of Flash our cockerel watching his 'life partner' Floss dusting herself in a plant pot!

Aurora the Caravan

Such a lovely week decided to start the most difficult part of the caravan restoration for me as a novice. Today bought hardwood, battening and metal snips to tackle this mess. Wish me luck! Kate
Gulp

Why I am a gadfly

I am hopeless at sticking to one task which frustrates me and others.
I love The Comforts of Home which tells me why this is bad and gives me a label for my problem. It is a beautiful, inspiring book.
Yesterday I
1 Started painting caravan exterior
2 Recovered some of the interior furnishing for caravan
3 Potted up plants
And all this between 5 lifts for children but it is not impressive as I did not finish any of them! Now I have an extra hour of sunlight in the evenings maybe I can use it to 'get stuff finished'. (Fat chance). Kate

May in the sink!!

May must have been jealous of my post of Fred in the bathroom sink, she is doing a rerun in the garden today.
I have found out today I am a gadfly! Which is a relief as O just says I cannot finish anything I start. I will explain in my next post WHY I AM A GADFLY. Back out to the garden with my sewing machine-I love the sunshine.

Roses

My O and boys are great but it took my lovely girl to find these in Tesco. They all know I love pale pink roses but these are beauts! Kate x

Happy Mothers Day

This is my little collection for today. I treated myself to the candle holder at Homesense. The lovely rose is from a bouquet of long stemmed baby pink roses (my favs) from the children, and Tilly made me the lovely hot choccy which we are drinking in the sunny garden. Hope you all have a wonderful day. Simple things make today special.