turps

It was the second craft fair of the year yesterday, and it went okay. Quiet with only a few sales, but at least we made our table costs this time, and even had money left over after buying coffee. Not that it started that well, it was held in a church, which is a lovely venue, but to get there you have to park on the other side of a very busy road and go down to the greenman crossing. We did that, James carrying the A Frame we use to hang the hanging stuff, me trundling the festival trolled loaded with two big crates and three bags. Finally got to the other side of the road only for some guys in a passing van to yell we'd dropped a bag, and yep, there it was sitting on the other side of the busy road.

Thankfully, some lovely ladies grabbed it and brought it over to me, but still, not the best start.

We were talking to the organiser at the end of the fair, and I was saying how we hadn't made the table cost at our last fair and she was worried the same had happened that day. I could reassure her that wasn't the case, but even if it was, it's our risk to take. At this time of year we're really just out keeping PyroRex's presence going, hanging on until people have spare money again.

To which end, we're at another fair next Saturday, this one in aid of the cat rescue. Historically, not a good one for sales at any time of the year due to the location which has no passing footfall, but a cause we believe in so we'll be there trying to raise some funds for both us and the cats.

Right now James and my Sil are out watching Chris McCausland's stand up show which started at 4. It's their thing, watching comedy shows together. It's also a show they've been waiting a long time for as James bought the ticket back in 2024 as a Christmas present for my SiL thinking the show was happening in 2025, but in fact, it was actually March 26. So, after all that time I hope they enjoy it.

He sent me a message earlier, and I thought he'd managed to see Chris or something, but nope, he'd spotted one of the new Just Eat robot delivery things that have just arrived in Sunderland and sent me a video of it trundling past. They are cool to see, though, I do wonder how long it'll be before one ends up thrown in the river wear or vandalised.

And now as I have an evening alone I intend to have an early lobster bath and book. I know, shocker, right?

The other day I got excellent mail from misbegotten, thank you so much! ♥

Class wasn't on this week, and isn't on next week either, yet again cancelled via the main Friday newsletter and not Rosie herself. I really hope she's okay, and more selfishly, that she's back asap. I'm missing my routine, and my friends from class.

It was the first craft fair of the year last Saturday, but sadly it was a bust with all of three sales totalling £7. A profit that was quickly reversed by the £15 table fee, two cups of coffee and a toastie for £4, two goes at the cat rescue tombola for £2, two strips of raffle tickets for £2 -- though we did win a very cool 3D printed elephant from that -- and Bodhi and Kayleigh calling in to see us, which resulted in me buying Bodes a Stitch cup for £5. So yeah, that £7 didn't last long.

But, on the plus side, we met up with our crafting friends again, and it wasn't just our stall. Talking to people who've been doing the craft fair circuits for years, the first few months are always apparently dire for sales, which makes sense I guess. I know the woman who has the table next to ours had no sales either, and she has a fantastic stall as she does the fairs as a full-time job.

So, this coming weekend off, but then three different Saturday fairs in March, and I have to have hope that they will be better. But some crafty plusses, James sold another piece from the craft shop and just got another commission from TikTok, so those are working out nicely. Another story from TikTok, apparently, once you hit over 5k followers, brands can get in touch about collaborations, where you get sent free products and get commission for selling them on your page. James got his first two offers yesterday, a face roller, and what keeps making me laugh each time I think about it, a wine glass that's cut in half, so you can drink half a cup of wine. Sadly, he said no to rolling his face and the strange glasses.

I don't think I said, but I got a call from the pharmacy last week saying the manufacturers of my compressions had just been in touch saying they didn't have the mango yellow colour. Now, this was weeks after the script had been put in, and only hours after I'd called into the pharmacy to ask if the compressions had arrived yet. You could say it was a total coincidence that the manufacturer happened to pick that afternoon to get in touch with the pharmacy to say they couldn't fulfil part of the order. Or you could say the pharmacy messed up again somehow and had just sent over the script when I reminded them. I know which one I'm leaning towards.

Bodhi's on half-term holiday from school this week, so I've seen her a few times. She was here for a few hours on Tuesday and was most disgusted when she found out that not only was I married to a boy but that I had kissed him too. Apparently, that was all kinds of wrong and yucky *g*

She was also here yesterday and had me doing back to back games of the floor is lava, copying the actions from videos we were watching on tv. Thankfully, she left just before the Bluey version that had Bingo doing the worm across the floor. Because spinning I could do, jumping, too, just! But the worm, not so much.

Challenge two.

Make a Top Ten list for your favourite series and tell people exactly why you love it. This can be in any format - tv series, book series, radio plays, movie sequels, something else not mentioned here. Your series can be as short as two vaguely linked pieces of media and as long as... well, the sky is your limit. Whatever you like!

I went for tv shows and book series I've loved, which are behind ( here )

Bodhi and Kayleigh have just been for a visit. Kayleigh went upstairs to do some resin work while I played with Bodhi downstairs. We were watching Pango on the computer and the fox character did something silly. So I said he was a silly fox. At which point I was soundly told off for using unkind words. So yet again, consider me told.

A few days ago dine posted about the festivids being live so I went to check them out and found an excellent MCR video. I enjoyed it lots, and also enjoyed seeing the names in comments of many old bandom fans. It's nice to know they're still out there, even if they don't come here now.

There is also a great The Pitt one here. Just, be aware of the content notes, but you know, it's The Pitt, such a brilliant show, but it'll rip out your heart and stomp on it.

And a more up-beat The Pitt one here. But again, The Pitt so up-beat along with scenes of medical stuff, blood etc.

To end on three separate things, The Craft Shop posted photos of James' restocked shelves here on Insta if anyone would like to see.

Excellent news, one of James' pieces at the craft shop has sold! Admittedly, only £8 made, but his first shop sale :D

Rosie sent a text last night that both classes were cancelled this week. I hope she's okay because this is the third week with cancellations now.



The challenge this week is Make a Top Ten list for your favourite standalone media and tell people exactly why you love it. This can be in any format - movies, one shot dramas, novels, short stories, plays, something else not mentioned here. Whatever you like!

My initial thought was films, because goodness knows I go to see enough of them, but even looking at my letterboxd page wasn't narrowing things down. So then I thought, my YouTube history and the videos I like the most. I took out song vids of TV shows, actual song vids themselves, and was left with a list of videos I love and have played repeatedly.

Now, technically, some don't really fit into the standalone media, hell, a point could be made that most of them don't. But they are moments in time that delight me, and I say that's good enough for a squee challenge.

You can see the actual challenge here

And if anyone didn't expect the rooftop video to be number one, do you even know me?

The rooftop dance -- come on, years later, and it's still my number one played video on YouTube. I love this so much.



( the rest behind here )

And that ends the top ten of my most watched standalone Youtube videos. What they say about me, I'll let you decide. Actually, checking the preview, not only does it say I can't answer a challenge correctly, it says I can't count either. But I can't seem to cut one of my list now. So, welcome to my top 11 I guess!

Not going to lie, I'm sick of seeing the rain and grey skies. I mean, I keep seeing small signs of spring, like, the daffodils are pushing through in the garden, but right now the nicer weather feels far away.

Though, at least it's not as bad as Tuesday. There was a horrible storm that day, and I'd got ready for the gym, bag packed, water bottle full, everything, when the heavens opened, and it didn't stop lashing down with rain until the next day. So much so the toilet roof leaked again, which is always fun. A huge mature tree was also blow over close by, so I decided to stay home that day.

Rosie cancelled class on Monday, and then did the same on Wednesday, which is a shame. But, it's good she did as I had an appointment for my B12 injection before class. That usually takes less than five minutes and as the doctors is minutes away from the gym, the timing is usually perfect. But not this time, as I got there and was told I was having a bariatric review. Which I'll cut for as it mentions weight etc ( behind here )

When I left that appointment I went to talk to the receptionist to check my new below knee compressions had been ordered, and they hadn't. The receptionist wasn't happy at all, as this was 8 days after my lymph appointment and what is supposed to happen is the hospice sends the script and measurements to the doctor, who approves the order and sends it off to the chemist, who then send it off so the garments are made. What had happened is the doctor practice got the script, and then did nothing with it.

I've known the receptionist as long as I've been attending that doctors, so a very long time, and she promised she'd get things sorted, and must have done as I got a message from the practice manager the next day saying the script and measurements had been sent. But really, is it so hard to do things properly and now I'll have to wait longer for my jazzy new knee highs.

James has been back at work this week, which meant we were back to pre 6am starts. He was also supposed to take my youngest nephew to a football match early tomorrow, which would have meant another early start. But the tournament has been cancelled due to a water logged pitch, so lie in for me. That and a cinema visit for us I think. No idea what to see, but something will catch our eye.

Now though, lobster bath and book, make tea when James gets home from work, then new Starfleet Academny to watch, which has quickly become one of my new favourite shows.

I got great mail yesterday, a parcel from turlough.

Thank you so much for the birthday present, Turlough. I'll keep it safe, and unopened, until my actual birthday, that way I know I'll have a lovely surprise to open. Though, I must admit, I was tempted to open it right now. You're the best ♥

Other than that it was a busy day as we went off and stocked James' unit at the craft shop, and very nice it looks too. He's between a sea glass unit and one that seems to sell a mixture of things, so the wood stands out nicely. I'm still not sure how profitable it's going to be, but the ladies running the shop are lovely and didn't charge for this last week of Jan, which was good of them. If you want to see, I've uploaded a photo here

Then, after stocking the unit we first, took Megan -- Kayleigh's cat -- to the vet and then went to pick Bodhi up from school as Kayleigh and Lucy were having a cinema and meal out day date. Bodhi was just as fun, and four going on fourteenish as usual. She wanted to give me some presents, including, a piece of paper to cut, four toy dragons, one of Kayleigh's bras and a Stitch hat. When I told her that it wouldn't fit my head she told me it had a thing at the back that made the hat bigger and how did I not know that as grown-ups are supposed to know everything. So, consider me told yet again. And also wonder when I'll become this magical grown up that does know everything.

Then later, it was The Traitors final episode which I'd been looking forward to so much. That show though, it had me on the end of my seat a few times thinking something was going to happen that didn't. But I was happy with the ending.

Today was a cinema day and as James had a Wagamama gift voucher, we went there for dinner. I had the silken tofu firecracker curry, and every bite teetered on the edge of being too hot. Which was my fault, as I did see the name. But still, it was tasty despite it making my nose run.

We'd gone to see Mercy which has been getting some bad reviews but despite being ridiculous in places, still kept me in suspense all the way through. I especially liked the concept of the film being the same time length of the trial on-screen, as the countdown was shown often, making it easy to work out when to dash out for a toilet break.

Some good things that have happened recently.

pensnest, your parcel arrived. So far Kevin has been in the cave bed and Murphy has sat on top of it. Thankfully, not at the same time. Thank you so much.

James' work sent him a card signed by his whole team along with some money from a collection his team leader had arranged. I'd like to say this was a surprise, but she'd accidentally copied him into the arranging email a few weeks ago, and he'd seen before the email had been retracted. But, surprise or not, it was lovely people had put in money, especially a such an expensive time of the year. He's thinking of using it to buy our new Beamish yearly pass, which seems a good idea to me.

James also got a phone call to say he had a space in a craft shop. The way it works is you can pay to hire a unit with four shelves and a hanging space, then the shop sells the products for you. We'd inquired last year, but there were no spaces then, but two units had come free, and he'd been given one of them. It's £40 a month rental, which is under the price we'd pay for four weekends/tables at craft fairs, but with much less work. Obviously, we've no idea how profitable this will be, but it's worth a go, and when we went to the shop earlier to check out details, it was lovely to see his name already up there on his unit. Now, he just needs to work out what to take to the shop, and get his stock levels back up. But, the shop is aware of circumstances, and have said to go and fill the shelves when he feels up to it.

16 people were at exercise only class on Monday, the most we've had ever. More than half of those were newbies, so many of them that I couldn't even say hello to every new starter, something I always try to do. Why I'm adding it to the good things list though is, I asked if there was a risk of having to leave the programme being as it was getting so busy, and I'm well over the official graduation time, but Rosie reassured me that I didn't have to go anywhere.

A new Starbucks opened in my town today, so we had a wander down to check it out. The place was buzzing, and we were well past the first 50 people who were given free coffee. But, when we had to go outside to try to log onto the app due to terrible connection inside, one of the managers saw and gave us both free coffee vouchers anyway. So, I got a pistachio matcha latte, and very tasty it was, too.

Weight management exercise only class restarted again today, and I was glad to get back into an accountability routine because I've sucked lately. As class doesn't start until 11 I decided to go to the gym first too, and it was good to be back there too, saying hello to the regulars and doing a mini leg day. I also got to use my new nifty magnetic gym bag, which works beautifully attaching itself to the machines.

James was supposed to be back to work after bereavement leave, but ended up being sent home by his team leader, who said he was nowhere close to being in the right headspace to take calls. I knew it would be a hard day as he always used to call his mam on the way to work, making sure she was doing okay, and of course, couldn't do that today. But I didn't expect a call an hour after leaving for work saying he was coming home. Work suggested he stay off until after the funeral, and he's got a sick note from the doctor that covers that period.

Now he's tucked up under his heated throw and fast asleep, which will, hopefully, do him good. But man, it's so cold here today. The sink in the downstairs toilet didn't drain due to frozen pipes and the pavements are so slippery, with more snow and ice forecast for tonight.

Despite having a load of recorded stuff to watch, I've been binge-watching Star Trek Strange New Worlds the last few nights, and enjoying it lots. I'm getting close to the end of season one right now, and suspect I'll watch more tonight. That's despite having an ep of The Traitors, Pottery Throwdown, New Year Bake Off, New Year Taskmaster, Celeb SAS Who Dares Win, Christmas All Creatures Great and Small, two eps of The Masked Singer to watch, and then tonight, new Pete Wicks, For Dogs Sake, and man, do I love that show, and Pete, so much.

But before any of that, time to make tea, then lobster bath time.