"You're arriving TODAY, not tomorrow!"

Hello, hello dear readers. Dear readers, it's ever so nice to be back. You o.k? You fine and peachy? Yes? GREAT!

I still feel a bit numb and generally pooped from the little surprise I got last Thursday. All my own fault of course.

I knew my sister, Fiona, was coming to stay for a few days, and I was sure it was Friday evening she would arrive. On Thursday morning, I got a call from her, asking a question. Just as she was about to call off, after our conversation, she said "see you in a few hours". I genuinely thought she was joking. After some enquiry, it turned out she was perfectly serious, she was just about to head out the front door and begin her journey up to me.

I found the scribble later on.

My scribble.

My scribble on a piece of torn paper noting the date of my sister's arrival. As noted months ago. Yep, she'd got the date right, and I'd got the date wrong.

There was a short silence on the other end of the line, when I phoned Hugo to tell him about my mistake.

Thank goodness Fiona phoned  in the morning, rather than the usual "I've reached Newcastle" call, which means she's an hour away from our train station.

It gave me time to clear the spare room, make up her bed, and also tidy the whole of the area we were hosting a Birthday celebration for Hugo's Mum, that evening. And do some urgent work.

So that could explain why, by the time the party was underway, I didn't pay attention to that 'one glass too many', and had a thoroughly fun evening, with Hugo's family. Fiona arrived at the end of the meal.

And that will explain my delicate state the next day as we did a tour of the shops. Gosh, I felt like a knife had been slashed through my brain. So annoying, I really hate drinking too much wine, and always limit myself to two glasses max. Even that can be too much.

Anyway, to cut a long story short, the headache, the interminable headache, an unexpectedly early visitor (lovely as her visit was), tiredness and lack of sleep, all came together to make me feel thoroughly sorry for myself.

I don't think I could have looked at these BRIGHT photos untill today, without getting another headache. So the fact that I'm enjoying a bit of bright and cheery in the photos I'm putting up today, means I must be recovered, don't you think? I was wondering if I was coming down with something. We went to Edinburgh on Saturday, and it was intolerably crowded. I wondered if I'd finally caught something nasty, but I haven't, it appears.

I have been doing a lot of 'sitting quietly' though. Sitting quietly and wielding my crochet hook. I've finished crocheting a dress for my Niece Millie. Would you like to see it? It's very brightly coloured, (surprisingly). You would like to see it? Oh goody, I'll take some photos of it tomorrow then! (Ever so sorry if you expected photos of the dress right this moment). I tell ya, I could see myself wearing this dress. I don't have the figure of a six year old, at this moment in time, so I won't be doing that thing of "maybe I'll just keep it, and wear it myself, she'll never know it was meant for her".

Well folks, I do declare, a bit of tapping away, or chatting away, at the computer, has worked wonders for my listlessness. I feel quite back to my pre-Thursday Surprise self. I'll be off then, with a hop and a skip! See you tomorrow. Love Vanessa xxx

Comments

[Siobhan]

You've reminded me about my favourite crochet dress when I was small, it was red and made by my Mum. Both my sister and I had one and we both really loved them as they were so pretty. Bet your niece will love hers too - look forward to seeing it. Both my sister and I loved every thing my Mum made - sewed mostly (but she knitted and crocheted as well) and our cardigans we got knitted almost every Christmas by our next door neighbour - we were disappointed if we got something else. (The other best present was a huge slab of dairy milk chocolate from our other next door neighbour). Seems like you get tipsier than me even! A couple of glasses is my limit too - I do enjoy red wine but only rarely and quite enjoy the wooziness really. Anymore though and I feel as bad as you describe; good thing it didn't turn out to be anything else. I would be in major panic if anyone turned up a day early - my house would look like a bomb had hit it!

[sue]

Glad your are feeling back to your old self,those tulips are wonderful.Look forward to seeing the dress tomorrow.

Sue xxx

[Claire Boynton]

Nice to see you back. Glad you're feeling your old self again, Claire x

[Wendy Rhys Jones]

Vanessa you make me smile, the dress sounds wonderful, and the pictures of the tulips and leaves are amazing, what colours!!just what we need on a grim 1st. Dec day!!
Pinch and a Punch then, xxx Wendy {:0)

[Rachel]

Hello! I found you via Hen I think!Such a lovely blog you have here, with such fabulous makes If I had a visitor turn up a day early, I'd never get sorted in time! I think you did very well! The dress sounds gorgeous, can't wait to see!
Rachel x

[gill]

hi vanessa
what fun you've been having!!!!!!!
looking forward to seeing the dress
love gill
xx

[Kate]

Those photos have made my day! They are gorgeous and surprising for me as I don't usually consider orangy/gold in a colour scheme, especially with blue. Love, love, love those photos. Looking forward to seeing the dress.

[Hen]

Hi Vanessa,
Good to see you back and what gorgeous colourful pics, would make a lovely painting? I hope you're having a fairly low key week to make up for your hectic weekend. I'm busy on gifts for my next parcel, ooh exciting. Shame I really want to keep them!
Hen x

[Pipany]

Oh dear vanessa, sounds like a hard time of it. Today's photos are just beautiful though. Such gorgeous colours x

[Petit Filoux]

Nice to hear you are well! The photos are absolutely beautiful by the way.

[Janice Perkin]

the colours on those photos look gorgous - looking forward to seeing the dress - does it come in little sizes as i am going to be a grandma for the first time in March and it is a little girl and I much prefer to crochet than to knit

[The Curious Cat]

Lovely photos but I see what you mean- if I had a headache I'd struggle with them...looking forward to seeing the dress - I bet it is beautiful! xxx

[penny]

Oh Vsnessa, what a horror! If I had a visitor arriving a day early I'd probably run away! AND get a hangover! I hope you had a good weekend despite that, looking forward to seeing that lttle dress,Penny x

[helen]

Lovely photos V, as usual, hope you are feeling back to your normal self...I feel thats its ages since I have been blogging...take care...H

[Mildawg]

The warm shades in your photos made me smile so much.