The secret is out.

Hello. I'm back from watching Shed of the Year at Janet and Paul's house, we had a smashing time. Wine and cream cakes to celebrate my win. Thank goodness I don't have to keep it a secret any longer. I see some comments have already come in on the last post, thank you for that. Twitter has been going mad, lots to read on there. Bit tired now, I will be back tomorrow.
Toodle pip

Bonkers.

Hello, back again. This is the gaping hole in my hedge left by me chopping down lilac trees. Not a pretty sight. I could struggle on with my basic tools and try to remove more of the stumps, but the closer to the ground I get the more backbreaking the job will be. I think they are best left as they are, they may start sprouting new growth from what's left of them. If this happens I expect it will take least a year for the hole to become anything like a real living hedge again. 

So something needs to be done while I wait for mother nature to work her magic. Now what have I got that would fill the gap. I have some spare pot plants that I could relocate to disguise it a little. What I need is something to create a barrier behind the stumps, something with a little height. There must be something lurking amongst my collection of odds and sods in the garage. 

 Yes, there was. A few months ago I was mooching around Uncle Stan's garden with him, when he pointed out several pieces of what was mostly junk, and offered them to me in the hope I might be able to do something with them. I declined the rotten pallets, but a piece of green wire mesh caught my eye, that might come in useful, I thought.

It fit's the gap just right. I had a couple of lengths of metal  which used to be a gazebo frame, they were threaded through the mesh and hammered into the ground, one at each end. All it needs now is some kind of decoration to make it more interesting. I have plenty of old freebie cd's, some old and very hard paint brushes, some Christmas baubles, and two wire flowers with a couple of plastic ones. Move four of the pots into place, and there you have it. A new, completely bonkers, art instillation in the hedgerow. I love it, and I think Uncle Stan would approve.

Thanks for popping in. We'll catch up soon.
Toodle pip

Joan's sheddie poem

Hello. Our resident poet Joan has sent in another poem. It certainly made me smile, I hope it does you too. Thank you Joan, I'll be back later.

Hi Ilona. My humble offering to all the work you put into your summerhouse.

The Shed That Ilona Built.

We were there at the beginning,

When Ilona hatched her plan.

To build a bespoke summerhouse

As only Ilona can.

Enthralled with her vision,

And marvelling at her skill.

In only using materials

Destined for landfill.

She worked it out precisely,

With pallets and reclaimed doors.

Taking on a brand new life

As sturdy walls and floors.

We saw, like the rising phoenix,

The summerhouse grow and grow.

Taking form and taking shape,

Somewhere to relax and mellow.

With colourful mis-matched paint,

And furnished with jollity.

How could this 'shed' not win

First prize?  In all honesty?

No, it doesn't have a motor,

To rotate it round and round.

Nor does it have four wheels

To drive at speed on the ground.

Not used as storage,

For dolls houses and mowers.

Its purpose is tranquility

Amongst the plants and flowers.

The voting is all over,

And soon we'll know the result.

First prize by right should go

To the 'shed' that Ilona built.

It's just a bit of fun so I hope you like it. I couldn't let this momentous event go by without applauding you and your vision and skill. 

Take care

Joan (Wales)

Not another Shed post !!!

Hello. Not long now, Shed of the Year will be on the box again on Friday night, 8pm Channel 4, the last one of the series. I've been saving these pics of the day of the filming, now is the time to post them.

Lillibrooke Manor is a party, corporate, and wedding venue near Maidenhead, Berkshire. It's part of the Heritage Group, quite pricey if you have the dosh to spare. We were able to wander around the gardens and courtyard during breaks from filming. 

Nice setting for wedding photographs.

Two of the sheds were able to get there under their own steam. You will recognize them from the programmes. 

William and co didn't play a big part on the day, so they arrived later. It was mainly down to George the presenter to take charge of presentations, with the judges putting in an appearance towards the end when it came to announce the overall winner. William looks dapper, don't you agree. 

Larking around and posing for photo's during the breaks. So pleased it was a sunny day.

Chrissy Darling in the patriotic outfit, didn't remove any part of it at all. He must have been very hot under all that fabric.

There was a lot of standing around while the crew did their bit. 

Briefing George, he has his cue cards in his hand. He should know it off by heart now.

Pensive look on his face, gathering his thoughts in anticipation. In fairness his lines were near perfect. It was the director in his quest for perfection which created extra takes, and quite rightly so. When I did a bit of filming years ago around my trucking work, I hated being told what to do, I was a bossy madam and rebelled with a strop. I used to get annoyed that they weren't taking me seriously and wanted to make me look a complete plonker. I was quite protective about my professionalism as an experienced lorry driver, and wanted to be regarded as an equal to men, not some bimbo in a big lorry playing at it. Move on a few years and I can see now that you have to follow the director, they know what they want. Now I am older I am a lot more relaxed and deliberately act the fool, people can laugh at me because the pressure is off, I have nothing to prove and can laugh at myself.

You did a good job George, it was great meeting you.

Come back tomorrow, Joan has written a shed poem for me, and it's great.

Thanks for popping in, we'll catch up soon.
Toodle pip.

Follow your dreams.

Hello. Have I ever told you how much I hate the term, 'settle down?' I have just read this article about an Australian woman who took her young son out of school to take him travelling the world. She wanted to spend more time with him and self educate him. Somewhere in the comments someone asks how he will be able to settle down as an adult. Well, I was spitting feathers.

Where are the rules about settling down, does it happen when you reach a certain age? Is it something that is inevitable, the normal pathway from childhood, teenage years, and finally adulthood? I don't think so. The term 'settling down' says to me, stifling creativity. It says following the flock towards a life of humdrum existence. Ok if you choose to settle down as an individual later on and you are happy with that, but I love it when someone comes out and breaks the mould to follow their dreams.

Individuality is a kind of roller coaster ride. It's not safe, it's not steady, and it's not boring. I love going with my gut instinct, as this mother has done with her son. She has broken away from convention to do what she thinks is the best for the two of them. Her son looks happy, they are having the adventure of a lifetime, surely that has to be better than her being trapped in a stressful job, and him sitting for hours at a school desk trying to cram enough facts into his head to pass exams.

There are no rules for education, there is no starting date, and no finishing date. It begins the moment you are born, and ends upon death. Conventional education chiefs may think they know best, but sitting in a classroom does not work for everyone.

Have a look at their blog, actually it is a very good read, and see for yourself if this lad is missing out on anything. Who knows where his career path will take him. The world is full of possibilities, and he is out there grasping every exciting minute of it.

Thank you for popping in, I'll get on with some jobs now. We'll catch up soon.
Toodle pip

A bit late tonight.....

Hello. I'm a bit late tonight, don't know where the day has gone. Crafty Club this morning, then gardening, hedge trimming and bagging up the rubbish. This afternoon I went to the tip with another load, then onto the vets to pick up medication for the kids. Popped into the small Tesco on the way back and found a six pack of kiwi fruit for 11p. Round the corner at the Co op I bought an eight pack of Actimel for 69p instead of £2.89, and a four pack at 39p instead of £1.69. I don't normally buy this because it's far too expensive, but at that price it's ok. I will put it on my breakfast cereals. 

Yesterdays lunch was using up some yellow stickers, a bit of a mishmash but it tasted nice. Ready chopped onions, ready sliced mushrooms, baby sweetcorn, and steamed potatoes and carrots left over from the day before. Served on a bread roll. 

Look what someone gave me today, surplus to requirements. Two single bed duvet's one with a cover. I don't need them and as I am not sure of their history and most people won't accept second hand bedding, I will turn them into pet beds.

My dinner tonight, I couldn't be bothered to cook so I took a ready meal out of the freezer and zapped it in the microwave. Sweet potato, butternut squash, and spinach stew. I added a lump of Danish Blue cheese which gave it a scrummy taste.

Last week I bought two packs of Rye bread. I quite like this toasted. I cut up a plastic bag from the bran flakes and used it to separate the slices. 

Oh dear, I'm falling asleep here, I'd better go. Thanks for popping in, we'll catch up soon.
Toodle pip

A big cheer for the Sheddies

Hello. I met a smashing couple at the hotel when I was down south for the filming of Shed of the Year at Lillibrook Manor, near Maidenhead. I arrived at seven-ish and checked into my room then went to the restaurant for something to eat. I was hovering around the bar area looking for someone to allocate me a table, Oliver and Adele were also hovering wanting to eat. They very kindly invited me to share a table with them which I gratefully accepted, much better than sitting on my own. After the meal, we mingled with the other sheddies.

Oliver's shed is in the Cabin/Summerhouse category, which is on the same programme as mine, to be shown on Friday. It is sited on their allotment in Warwickshire. Here are some pictures of it,  and here is a yoootooob video of it being constructed.



All the sheddies were good fun, we all joined in the spirit of it. Oliver and Adele were great company, look out for them on Friday.

Still a few more pics to come, I'll post them before Friday.

I'm busy again, lots to do. Tatty byes, we'll catch up soon.

Taking trees down with a handsaw and kitchen knife

Hello. Well that's left a big hole in my hedge, ha ha. I got the last trunks down and now it's tidy up time. I will take some of the tops down of the other shrubs to lower the height a bit, and plant something to fill the gaps here. It won't look so bad when I have trimmed up all the others. 

Off to the tip, this is why I have a big car, comes in handy as a van. There are two trunks which wouldn't fit in, I'll make up another load when I've done some trimming.

I have started cutting felt shapes out to make some decorations to sell on our crafty stall at the Christmas Fair. A bit early I know, but I don't want to leave it till the last minute then have to rush.

I watched Shed of the Year this morning, programme number three which was on last night. I liked all the sheds, and remember some of the sheddies I was talking to when we did the filming. There were two snippets of me on it, a taster of what is to come. I think it's going to be a laugh.

I asked on Twitter if anyone knows how my readers in other parts of the world might watch it, and someone came back with a possible solution. I don't understand it myself, I am not technically minded when it comes to computers. My contact says, Using the Chrome browser with the Hola extension you can watch Channel 4oD. Hola will fake your location to make you look like you are in the UK.  I have no idea what that means.

Right, I am winding down, won't be long before I am in bed, so I'll say goodnight. We'll catch up soon. Have a nice Sunday.
Toodle pip

My hippy style bag

Hello. I've been busy getting on with stuff, plenty to do at Tightwad Towers. Thank you so much for all your kind wishes, I am overwhelmed by how many people take the time to send in their comments. But, life goes on and I have a lot of memories to look back on. Uncle Stan had a long and full life, and I hope to follow his example and fill mine with what makes me happy, and that is mainly keeping busy doing things I enjoy. 

I spent this morning finishing off this bag. It's 12 inches by 13 inches, and made out of scrap fabric, some hand stitching and some machining. I made the back and front as two separate pieces then blanket stitched them together. It is several layers thick so it isn't floppy. The handles are long enough to go over one shoulder, which is how people like to hold them. 

I have added a tab with a piece of black elastic to the back, which fastens onto the button on the front.

All the stitching is random, I didn't have a plan, just added it where I thought it would look nice. I frayed some of the edges of the fabric. 

The back is a plainish piece of fabric.

I am very pleased with it. I have made another bag front with a mixture of red and pink fabrics. Another work in progress to join the other projects. I need to do some work in the garden in the next week. The lilac trees are down but there is still a lot of trimming up on the other bushes, and the front garden needs some attention too. Thank goodness for the electric hedge trimmer.

I'll get off I've still to do the walk yet, don't want to get behind. Shed of the Year is about to start but I'll catch it later. Thanks for popping in, we'll catch up soon.
Toodle pip.

Time to reflect (update)

Hello. Apologies for not writing a post today. I have had an emotional day visiting family, and now I am very tired. I'll be back soon.
Ilona

Thursday morning.
I went to see Uncle Stan in hospital, he was very poorly. Just had an email from Auntie Pat, he passed away just after I left to come home last night. I'm glad he got to see me, he knew I was there. I'm going to have a quiet day today, just me and the kids. I will read your comments and I thank you for your kind wishes, but I won't speak again today.

Best wishes,
Ilona

Happy Birthday Joyce.

Hello. I've been to a party today, a 90th Birthday party. Joyce had an open house day and invited all her friends to drop in. Her little bungalow was packed to the rafters all day with a steady stream of guests. I was invited to join them for a bite to eat, and then take Bailey the poodle for his afternoon walk and to give him a break from all the noise. 

I think most of the village had turned out, it was full when I left and even fuller when I got back. Joyce is a very respected member of the community,  a regular supporter of the church, and an eager fundraiser for good causes. 

Joyce's daughter (standing), was on hand to supervise the food and drinks, there was a lovely spread of home made nibbles, pastries, and cakes. Joanna from the 1939 house turned up (seated on the floor), with Celia, one of the elderly ladies that she looks after. It was a smashing village get together.

Anyway, must dash. dinner time. Thanks for popping in, we'll catch up soon.
Toodle pip

The day I met William

Hello. Hello. Another busy day, Crafty Club, and in the garden. My neighbour is going to put a fence up between us so I have cleared the weeds from my side. Also taken down a bit more of the lilac, only two more trunks to go.

I haven't posted these pictures before, so now is as good a time as any. Remember when they came to do the filming of the summer house for Shed of the Year. William is getting miked up by the sound man. 

The director waiting to get started.

I had to move my car out of the way so they had room to set up the camera. There were two vehicles packed to the roof, with six people and all the equipment.

Here is William doing his first takes, strolling down the street.

No, I'm over here William, not that house.

After an hour or so it was time to get the kettle on. As you can see, I did buy a box of tea bags. What was left over have been donated to the Crafty Club. They were a great bunch to work with, all smiley and jokey, we had a laugh.

That's a nice photo. As well as being drop dead gorgeous, he is also a very friendly chap.

The camera had a very long arm and could reach up high over the whole garden.

One last picture before they left.

It was a fab fun day, thankfully very sunny, just perfect. You will see the results of the filming on Friday the 19th, so don't forget to tune in to Channel 4 at 8pm. I shall be going to watch it live at Janet's house. Oooh, now I'm getting excited to see my summer house on the telly.

It's 9pm and I've still got to do my walk, better get on with it.

Thanks for popping in. We'll catch up soon.
Toodle pip.