New Beginnings

I feel like recently I have been constantly apologising for how busy I am an how spars my blog is, now days. But this term has been one of the most exhausting (moving builds, HMI inspections and trying to get a grips with the new national assessments are only the icing on the cake).

My mam came down for a long weekend and we had a great time watching rugby, cooking and making a 1920s kimono for my friend hen night.

The finished kimono (aka my new dressing gown)

Well as I mentioned back in the summer holidays, my former flatmate lof (3 years) eft Orkney for the bright lights of Glasgow and I finally found a new flatmate, this was not a fun process and very stressful due to the lack of suitable applicants but she was like a ray of light and enjoys a lot of the crafty things that I do and we knew each other from work. While it has been a lovely 9 months or so she now also applying for jobs on the mainland and I had some big decisions to make. Stay and go through the stress of finding or not finding someone to move in or move on to a more affordable flat that I can live in on my own.

View from Murray's new flat

Tea at Cups in Glasgow

Had a great meal with old friends then we had a sing along to Evita at the playhouse in Edinburgh

In the last term I have managed 2 visits south to see Murray and currently planning the next to trips (one Edinburgh, one glasgow)

Well after very little search I found a HOUSE that I couldn't say no to:

Private parking

Coal burning fire

Conservatory

VERY affordable ... SOLD!!!!!

Well rented but it will do me right while I save for a mortgage deposit (ugh grown up funs).

Slowly tweeking things here and there to make it a home, lots of colour being used to counter act the red feature walls

Anyhoo, the house is very much a blank canvas it has some less endearing features left behind by previous tenants but I am really looking forward to making it mine and more importantly homely.

Refurb Frenzy

During the Summer Holidays I had surgery on my back which meant that I was limited in what I could do craft wise but I was inspired a lot by various things that I read or watched. My parents travelled back to Orkney with me to help me get settled in without doing myself any further injury and so I took it apron myself to use there offer of help to do the things I really wanted to do.

The first trip was to my local butchers where I was spoilt for choice but on a mission to buy Ox cheek and make John Torrod's Ragu. Mam helped me prepare the ingredients and lift the, seriously heavy, casserole dish... Not without our disagreement but we fired it in the oven and headed to my local for an aperitif while it slowly cooked in the oven.

I also managed to take them, in a torrential downpour, to our local recycled furniture store. Once there my dad stopped moaning about the rain and my mam started making some happy noises and we wondered through the beautiful vintage and affordable furniture. I was aiming to get new bedside tables and after watch Kirsty Allsopp's Fill Your House for Free I wasn't scared to take on a challenge.

Here is what I found and how they ended up:

 

I am currently lying in my room with my new furniture around me and I still love them and the extra storage space they have provided, next plan is two try and get 2 bookshelves (one for the kitchen and another for my room). I may go a wander long later today.

Another inspiration was all the pictures that my recently departed flatmate has been sending me of his new flat in Glasgow:

My new flatmate, Lorna, was also inspired and has painted these chester drawers for her room.