Forensic Science & Small Bricks.................

This photo still makes me laugh every time I see it.

So here we are at February half term, a week later than most folks it seems.

Poor old Twiglet is a bit off colour today, so we had to cancel our plans to meet up with pals, but it did enable us to mooch in our p.j.s and gave me time to blog!!

So what have we been up to/?

Firstly we went to this free event and it was really interesting, espesh if you are science geeks, like us ;)

bit of manic baking - barmy boy!!

 I must say I am not particularly materialistic, but have coveted a pair of red Converses for over 20 years, I finally snapped some up in a half price sale - oh how I love them, a dream realised - yes, I'm easily pleased!! Aren't they lush though?

 Twiglet very kindly left Santa a note and 50p towards the cost of making toys for all little boys and girls - Santa was so impressed by his thoughtfulness, he left a special gift at the bottom of his bed, isn't this gorgeous retro bag lovely?  It's now his school bag - I want to steal it!!! however, it's his kind little boy gift, so I promise not to.

 Twiglet's new thing is he makes Saturday tea for us, we had Spag Bol this week, last week he made this scrummy and very colourful mozzerella salad, clever boy.

 and crusty bread, obviously.

On Sunday we visited the Yorkshire Brickworks Show and queued for a criminal 2 hours and 50 minutes!!!!!! the things you do for love. (See top photo, some adults have no shame!!)

Lots of impressive stuff there and grown men salivating over the exhibits and do not touch signs.  I was quite impressed......

AND THEN I SAW THIS TOTALLY AWESOME METALLICA ARENA THAT TOOK 20 YEARS TO BUILD AND WAS SMITTEN........

 There is a VIP area, limos, green room........

Well I found it all very exciting anyway:)

If you look closely, Superman is crowd surfing.

 We went to see the fantastic Lego Movie the next day (I think the moral of the film may be lost on the Lego exhibitors, but hey ho!!)

Have you seen it? it's very funny.

Righto, that's a Twiggy Towers update so far.

I'll be back later.

Have a great week.

Twiggy xx

It's been a while...........

Erm where did January go? apologies for the no show.

So what have we been up to, well lots of lovely illness, we currently have a virus going round school, shivers, aches, sickness, runny noses, coughs, delightful it must be February :)

On top of this I've had an eye infection for several weeks which is thankfully now on the mend.

Anyhoo  I'm sure you haven't tuned in to hear this drivel.

What interesting facts can I share.

1. It was my birthday on 21st January - I was whisper ....44!! Mr Twigs and I bunked off while Twiglet was at school and visited The Hepworth - pay it a visit it is ace.  

We then went here for lunch - ooo check us out!!

We are going to have a family seaside visit when we are all 100% again.

2. My lovely father in law is  on the mend - what a fab fella he is - he even managed a walk up his street and back the other day.

3. I received some lovely gifts for my birthday and some great crafty books, more on those on a later blog.
(Here is a pic of my lovely satchel I received for Christmas - isn't it jolly !)

4. We managed to enjoy a bit of the Winter sunshine and visited The Heronry, I do like a bracing Winter Sunday afternoon walk.

5. I'm stitching away at the moment and will show you my work when it's finished.

6. I finally finished the Christmas cake band..... that will  do for next year then!!

7. I'm wearing my p.j.s a lot and watching some good telly - hello Mr Selfridge.

8. I finally saved up my pennies for a Kindle and I'm reading lots, some fab free books to be had. 

 I'm currently reading North and South and fantasizing about Richard Armitage - any excuse to use this photo again.

9. I'm working more hours at work until the end of March - the cash is coming in very handy.

10. Here are my lovely boys on the flow Rider at XScape - awesome!!
Apologies for rubbish photo quality

11. I'm baking Farmhouse cookies with my lovely boy.
Using our big and little bowls, birthday gifts from my lovely SIL.

Will that do for now.

Promise not to stay away too long.

Love

Twiggy xx

Back to it

Please tell me what on earth I'm supposed to do on a Sunday evening, now Sherlock has finished?  

Well I suppose Call the Midwife & Mr Selfridge might fill the gap, but I will miss it so much !!!

Righto, have managed to steal Mr Twig's laptop or Frankenlaptop as it's known.

 It's a keyboard/laptop home made hybrid!! but at least I can upload photos yay!!

This post is scattered with photos of some of my lovely Christmas gifts, lucky Twiggy I also received a gorgeous red, spotty satchel from my lovely SIL - but will post a pic later!!

So we are back at school/ work after a really lovely Christmas, as I mentioned my lovely Mum isn't too well but managed to stay with us for a couple of days.

We went to the Railway Museum to see Santa which was ace and Twiglet was a wise man - of course - in the Christingle and we forgot our camera on both occasions - bah!!

We also went here to see The Jungle Book which was excellent.

Mr Twig's dad (Grandad Twigs) came out of hospital for Christmas but had to go back in last week due to an infection, he came out again last weekend and has to go back once a week for a pretty nasty outpatient op.  Poor old Nana Twig's is having to nurse him and to be honest, she could do with a nurse herself - crikey!!

This is a hamper I made for my lovely Mum for Christmas, filled with some of her favourite treats.......... she loved it.

Twiglet's Christmas cakes and the chutneys went down very well too.  

My lovely SIL & BIL scoffed their entire jar of chilli jam on New Years Eve :) 

I'll have to chuck some more together.  

Anyhoo, we waited in vain for our usual Christmas snow for sledging, we are still waiting with out fingers crossed. 

It's my birthday on 21st January and I managed to get a snow day off work last year, but to make sure it's covered, I've swapped my day off next week, so I don't have to go in - total child !!

Ok, so will try and blog on a more regular basis.

Got to go and sort out dinner now, then collect Twiglet from his Boys & Girls Aloud after school club !!

Cheery Bye

Twiggy x

2 reasons why I haven't blogged..............

1. I have started working an extra 2 days per week, and I'm cream crackered.

2. I have 't got access to my photos at the moment and I'm using Twiglet's Kindle to blog.

However, I have much news and many photos to share so forgive me for now and I'll be back soon!

Twiggy xxx

Happy New Year

Happy 2014 everyone!!

Apologies for my absence but it's been busy over at Twiggy Towers.  

We've had a smashing Christmas and New Year spent with old friends and loved ones - just as it should be.

Twiglet's Christingle and our visit to see Santa at the NRM were just lovely, but we had such fun we forgot the camera, so you'll have to take my word for it!!

My lovely Mum came over  to spend the festive season with us which was so nice (she was a trouper too as she is quite unwell at the moment).

Good news, Grandad Twigs was released from hospital on Christmas Eve, so was able to have Christmas home with his family around him.

He's on the mend but has several horrid side effects.

They don't make them like they used to you know, he is unable to have many drugs due to existing health problems and medication he takes, so he has only had paracetamol to manage his pain. 

He's managed to crack a few jokes and keep a smile on his face. 

What  a tiptop fella he is, but we already knew that!!

I will be back later with photos, I'm using Mr Twigs  PC today, so I can't upload any.

Have a lovely New Years Day, we are having a PJ day due to gales and lashing rain.

Don't forget to watch Sherlock later, we are VERY excited.

love

Twiggy x

MerryChristmas

Photo above, Twiglet's fab Christmas cakes that he made all by himself - aren't they ace?

Well we are still wrapping, then I'm going to make mince pies, then off to collect Grandma Twigs from Doncaster to come over for the Christingle later today and stay over for the big day - Twiglet is one of the 3 Kings.

Still no news on whether or not Grandad Twigs will be out of hospital for Christmas but he's on the mend and Nana Twigs will phone us with news later, so fingers crossed.

Here's a photo of all our homemade Christmas cakes and chutneys, all gift wrapped and good to go, I'm pleased with how they look.

We have a very big turkey for our much smaller party, so Mr Twigs has many recipes lined up :)

However, you choose to spend it, have a lovely Christmas and a very Happy New Year.

Thank you so much for sharing my year, my bloggy friends.

Have a very Happy 2014, and I'll be back soon.

Twiggy xx

Here is the Christmas news...........so far

Christmas Tree at Twiggy Towers 2013 - we don't believe less is more !!

I can't believe that it's only 6 days to Christmas Day, ( I  also can't believe that the BBC have cancelled Ripper Street either, the mad beggars).

As ever we are crazy, bonkers, busy during the pre - Chrimbo period, so here is the edited news from Twiggy Towers.

Photo of Chrimbo cake made completely by Twiglet, we are going to chop it up and ice it for Grandparents gifts this weekend!!

1. Poor old Grandad Twigs, fell down on Monday night and is now in hospital recovering from an operation on his broken hip, he is such a trooper - send healing vibes please. My Mum isn't too well either :(

2.  Twiglet and I have had a long running nasty stomach bug - the joy of being at/working in a First school near Christmas.

3. Twiglet gave a star turn as Uncle John in the Christmas play, everyone was ace, for such a little school - 80 children - there is much talent and loveliness.

4. The whole school trip to the panto was fun - note to self I am not cut out to look after boisterous under 5s - blimey Charlie!!

Photo of the homemade chutneys made with produce from our lottie, prettified for Christmas gifts.

5. Christmas service in church this morning was delightful, the children sang beautifully.

6. I've really enjoyed watching Christmas crafty programmes this week, the Sewing Bee and a bit of Kirstie Allsop, however, I've decided there is NO way on earth I'll get my cross stitch cake band done for Christmas, so I'll save it for next year - I always start Christmas projects too late, I blame it on the lovely Summer spent on the allotment instead of stitching.

7. I did finish off this little fella for a lovely fellow blogger though :)

8. Cripes it's been windy up here, our for sale sign has blown down 3 times now!! (If you want to buy my house, enquire within !!

9. Last day of term tomorrow - woohoo!!

10. Going carol singing with the Cubs tonight, weather permitting, then they are having a a party !!

 Photo of Twiglet's ace kissing ball - note 3D effect !!

This year I made a hamper for my Mum for Christmas full of her fave food stuffs - thrifty and will be used!!

11.  We are going to see Santa here on Sunday - I am v.excited.

Take care, keep warm and I'll try to post again before the big day.

love

Twiggy xxx

Owwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww

I had my tooth taken out this afternoon.Ow
Twiggy

Keeping Christmas our way

 

(Photo from Christmas 2011)

 

Well the wind has gone and the rain has come, it's a soggy, dismal day today  but we are feeling Christmassy.

Getting us in the Christmas mood, the preparations in our school obviously help, I could hear the Christmas play dress rehearsal yesterday, while I was sorting out the tickets and dinner money -I  love this time of year.

Today we visited out village church Christmas fair, which is a relatively new event to raise some much needed funds. 

 I've got to admit I'm only a seasonal church goer and Mr Twigs is an atheist, so we don't go often but as a village resource, it's important to support it when we can. 

 People love to see the children there in the Christingle or attend the school's Easter concert and Harvest festival there. 

 However, due to the dwindling congregation the church are looking at new ways to utilize the building as we do not have a village hall or similar.

I do hope they are successful as it is a really beautiful and welcoming place which I'm sure holds many happy memories for villagers and visitors alike.

Anyhoo as I was saying, we popped in and had a cuppa and some cake - rude not to and bought a few bits and bobs, pretty peg fairy.

Gorgeous poppy brooch for Nana's birthday made by Bob one of our villagers - I say hello to him every day and never knew he was a potter !!
(excuse rubbish photo)

There was a chap selling beautiful wooden furniture, cake stalls, tombolas, and all run by Nana's just lovely!!

Beautifully presented mince pies
 

I would much rather spend a bit of cash at these events rather than spend silly money on works Christmas outings - which we aren't doing this year - hooray !!

Another Christmas tradition, the Grandparents love a calendar of Twiglet for the year, so that is the Christmas pressie taken care of :) (Bargain deal from Vistaprint folks).

This afternoon the boys are getting the decs down from the attic while I prettify my Christmas chutneys.

To me this is what Christmas is about, giving in a small way, (Twiglet has asked for very little this year, bless him), spending time in the local community and enjoying my family - top,cosy, festive fun.

You can keep your high street shops and Black Fridays.

Keep Christmas your way !!

What are you doing?

Twiggy x

Phew isn't it windy??

Happy Advent candle !!

Crikey it's blowing a gale up here on't tops.  I thought the house was going to take off at one point and part of our garage roof has been torn off!!

Anyhoo thank goodness we no longer have a greenhouse to worry about and my heart goes out to those involved in accidents today :(

My pal popped round this afternoon and we had a mince pie and a stitch and natter session - very nice too!!

I've decided to have my yucky tooth pulled out next Monday, so send healing vibes for me then will you?

We really enjoyed the Country Living Show at Harrogate this weekend.

Didn't buy much, but a few little treasures.

Here is Twiglet's little dog badge, so cute.

( He looks like he's having a wee on the Tardis!

Bob Ambrose, our new leather house rabbit!!  looking very at home perched with Marcus the urbane fox who is currently naked, as I'm trying to get some mould marks out of his lovely tweed jacket - any tips folks??

We also saw the very lovely Lynsey from Swirlyarts who kindly let us have the tickets to the show. 

 Her stall looked a picture and it was great to finally meet in person.

Twiglet selected some of Lynsey's fantastic labels - go over to see her and get them while they're hot!!

Right off to make toad in the hole now before taking Twiglet to Cubs - oh why, oh why do we have to go out in the cold, dark, windy night???

Take care

love

Twiggy xx