OK I blame the sun and the leaves on the trees and the daffodils for making me behave in this most unElainelike manner. I have been sorting out and tidying up and washing and cleaning. The sun gets into all those corners that lurk in the dark during the winter and which can be ignored safe in the knowledge that if you cannot see them, neither can anybody else. But now I cannot ignore them and as I have decided to shift a few things around today was the day I got stuck in.
First of all, I had to clear some space in my bedroom as I have decided, after watching The Great British Sewing Bee, that I can do most of what they do (not as capably or with such style of course) and that all the memories of making my own clothes came back in force. As I have such difficulty buying clothes these days that I like and that are not modelled on a size eight Hobbit, I have decided to purchase a sewing machine. I have been researching what is on the market and all I want is a basic one, but the choice is bewildering. Do I want an overlocker (gawd knows what that is) over 40 embroidery stitches, a buttonholer (YES) and an endless list of other accoutrements that are making my eyes water.
Before I make up my mind I need a sewing space so I have to make one. Right here goes – I have moved my laundry basket into the bathroom, I have moved the small white chest of drawers from the bathroom, cleaned it up and it is now my bedside table; the old battered stand which I had used hitherto and which I kept because it belonged to my mum has had to go, falling to pieces. An extra kitchen chair which I have kept just in case (in case of what I ask myself) is going to my pal Rosemary who needs one; I cleared out my hell hole 
aka my storage cupboard in the hall and cleared out a mountain of junk including an old paint bespattered pair of steps which I hate using as they wobble, odds and ends of old carpet, lino, floor tiles etc etc; old tins of paint, old paint brushes the usual suspects all appeared and I hurled the lot in the back of my little Nissan and peddled off to the Tip where it was all dumped in the relevant bins.
So home feeling very virtuous and pleased with myself and then shifted furniture around so I now have a table in my bedroom, drop down so it does not take up a huge amount of space, and that is going to be my sewing corner and, in fact, my desk as it makes writing this much easier when I am sitting up and not balancing the laptop on my knee. Yes I know a laptop is built for one's lap but it can do your back in if you are hunched up.
I have started on my fledgling sewing career but more of that another day. Just to let you know that I have recently read the latest India Black book by Carol K Carr (loved it) and will review soon, ditto the latest Mapp and Lucia book by Guy Fraser-Sampson, Au Reservoir (adored it) and am looking forward to attending its launch in a few weeks. Only noticed today that a quote from one of my earlier reviews Guy's books has been used to head up the press release. Fame at last…
OK just a quick catch up and will be back again soon.
Au reservoir
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