It’s all about time. I have set myself so many targets and just resent anything that takes me away from the project that just has to be finished. Weeks are passing, and days are full. Yet I love everything I do.

The hawthorn is out, as is the sweet smelling gorse, the sky is blue and the wind  is chilly off the sea, and this afternoon I sat for a while just enjoying deep breaths of cold air. My sewing machine broke down today, and I was so frustrated, right in the middle of a feather motif in free motion, and this catastrophe has prevented me from finishing that particular piece of work. I wanted to get everything done before gadding off to the ends of the earth.

A couple of weeks ago John and I whizzed down to Wales and spent time taking care of Bonnie and Hazel, which was fun. Natasha and Leo were ensconced in the attic from 8am till 2 am every day. They are making a film for a company in New York, and have to make all the puppets and then animate them by the end of April. Silicone, moulds, clay somehow were transformed into amazing fruit and vegetable people, with the tiniest details all coming alive. Fascinating work, I can’t wait to see the end result.

Anyway while they were forming hands and mouths and mixing colour, we went on various outings with the littlies. The best was Techni quest in Cardiff where children have hands on experiences to experiment and discover, and there is something for all ages. John enjoyed looking after Hazel, and made her a fort to keep her in.

We sat on the pier and ate ice cream, visited a farm and made all the meals, hoovered and went to bed exhausted.

Very tiring. Came home to discover that Darcey too had been visiting the sheep and lambs, but in her case she was a little more hands on. She slipped under a fence and ran off to the flock of concerned sheep yelling, ‘come to me Lambie!’. Gerry was stuck with Dylan in the pram, and was yelling at the little rustler to come back. Suddenly the farmer appeared and started yelling at Gerry, ‘can you not control your child?’ and Gerry was muttering, ‘No’ and she had fears that Darcey might be shot….like what happens to bad dogs!

Anyway all is well.

I heard this song the other day, called the The Lonely Sky, and loved the lyrics, describing an old cathedral,

‘Lords and ladies lie in stone,

Hand in hand from long ago,

And though their hands are cold they’ll love forever…’

And War and Peace is going well in the University. Having read it twice, I feel quite confident, as some people are only beginning the journey. Our Russian lecturer is brilliant and really makes you focus on things I might have skimmed. I still managed to doodle the feather design for my quilting project. I am glad I did as that is what I was doing today, till it all went pear shaped.

I am unenthused, I feel as though I am in limbo, waiting for the next adventure. I had so hoped to clear my sewing room but now that is on hold. I feel a little lack lustre. Till next time, when I hope I will be feeling more on top of the world.