Window on the World: November 2010

November 2010

01.11.10. Graham was home bright and early today. Our clocks went on yesterday, but the clocks in USA don't change for another fortnight. Sent off my invoice and did summary for website.02.11.10. Another full day of Piano lessons. Went to tap.

04.11.10. Made felt beads with my class at the Eco Centre. James came to interview some of the ladies for an article in a Derbyshire County Council magazine about being a Gold Card holder. Took photos and sent them to him in the evening.

05.11.10. Made handbag charms with my class at Village. Chris rang at lunchtime to say there is a meeting in London on Monday 13th December - shame as I'd arranged to have another musical evening for my piano pupils on that day. Good job I haven't told any of them yet!

06.11.10. Nice bright day after a very dull week. Steven's parents came and collected are old television and we had a nice chat with them. Half an hour after they left our new television arrived. Really please that I didn't have the stand offered to us by the shop. The one I found on Amazon is much nicer looking and cheaper! The Sony television is lovely, all 42 inches of it, proving that 'size is everything' after all. After lunch went for a walk near Crich. Found a tiny road on the way down to Whatstandwell (how did it come to be called that?) and then saw lots of people walking across a field. The path then led through a beautiful Birch wood - quite delightful, but a little dark to take any good photos! In the evening we were invited to a bonfire party at Elaine's. We provided the only fireworks, which didn't exactly' wow' us, but they were 'adequate'. The only casualty was my poor tooth - a side broke off while I was eating my only hot dog.

07.11.10. Another sunny day. Left around 10.15 and set off to spend the day with Robert. I have become a complete convert to Desert Island Discs and today Ian McMillan had us' in fits' as we travelled the A14. Robert's new home isn't as I'd imagined (probably as I thought he'd have found somewhere similar to his last house). Instead the ceiling are low and the front of the house is right on the road - but the chap he lives there with seems nice enough and he has everything he needs. We walked to a local restaurant, although when we arrived, we thought Robert was entering someone's house - it was called 'The Back Street Bistro'. The food was very good if a little pricey. Robert and I had pork and Graham had steak. Afterwards we went for a walk past the shops and round King's College. We missed going into the college by a matter of seconds as it closes at the public at 2.30pm on a Sunday. Next visit we will have to plan for this. Although sunny it was incredibly chilly, but also incredibly beautiful as Cambridge always is. We left some time after 5 and then spent an hour held up by an accident on the A14. Thank heavens for Radio 4...

08.11.10. Busy day then dashed to the Rycote Centre for a long tutor meeting. Stayed on after to talk to Philippa and catch up on things with her.

09.11.10. Graham off to Plymouth on the train this morning. Had an email about advertising with a school in Ripley. Offered my photos instead, strangely they didn't want any photos, but my reply initiated and drop of the fee by £50 (was it the prize for being the first to reply?) Still at £100 for the year seems too much. Tap class in the evening.

11.11.10. Had a phone call from Marstons at Wolverhampton this morning. I thought they'd given up with their lunchtime Craft workshops, but have invited me back in January. It will be a whole year since I went there. Sewed beads onto the felt beads at the Eco Centre. Only four learners today and one has dropped out completely.

12.11.10. Made wrapped wire pendants this week, was quite well received. Graham came with me shopping. After last week we went our separate ways and met back at the car. Works better for us both, but I missed having someone to carry things for me... Put the boiler on when we arrived home and after an hour and a half experienced the whole house shaking. The thermostat had stopped working and boiled the water. The intense rumblings was the boiling water having to escape through the cold water tank in the roof. No baths as the water was brown after disturbing the bottom of the tank...

13.11.10. WEnt for another walk this afternoon along the banks of Cromford Canal. Although we have lived in the area for 30 years now, we had never found this spot before. On the way to Matlock you have to cross a bridge at a pub, everyone goes left - but if you went right a little way up the hill is a car park and the canal. The light was just right for reflections in the water.

14.11.10. Spent most of the morning cooking Sunday lunch. Graham bought his car in July and ever since we have been saying that if we saw anything suitable on the TC Harrison's website we should go and take a look before the VAT goes on in January. Well this week (at last) there were some Focus' - although I wasn't keen on having a black one we said we'd go and take a look. As soon as we arrived, the salesman handed us the key and said we could go and sit in one... I adjusted the seat and altered the setting on the radio while Graham played with the sat nav and then we went for a drive, which was lovely and then we signed on the dotted line. I pick it up next Friday...

16.11.10. I agreed to do some glass painting with a group at Ilkeston Hospital. The helpers were lovely and the group did really well at tracing the outlines I'd printed off for them. Pity I'd managed to turn up a few minutes late to meet the manager from the Ilkeston Centre...

17.11.10 Very busy week as usual and today I had an appointment at the hospital about my next acupuncture sessions. It was just a brief meeting with the nurse which took 5 minutes after waiting 20 minutes. She was surprised to see me as she'd made a note to phone me - at least it meant I got to read my magazine...

18.11.10. After having my root filling replaced last week and the dentist finding that I'd cracked the enamel in another tooth, the resulting filling has refused to settle down. This morning I had an appointment to sort it out, only it hasn't. TC Harrison's called me this morning, reminding me that I needed to take the new insurance certificate to them to get the tax ready for tomorrow. Except it hadn't arrived at that time. I passed the postman on my way to the dentist and after signing for yet another motorbike part (Graham was away) I was handed the vital piece of paper. I took the certificate straight after leaving the dentist, but when I handed it over I was told that they didn't need it as when they thought it wasn't coming they had a look round and found the original tax disc, funny that...

19.11.10. I didn't think I'd sleep last night wondering how I was going to explain to my current car that I was trading her in for a newer model. I was so nervous when I got to Village, I wasn't sure if I would last until lunchtime. I couldn't believe it when one of the Line Managers came in and announced that she'd be sitting in on my lesson - not an OTL, but just an 'Participation Observation'. Well, that took my mind straight off the excitement of the new car! The class went really well especially as it was a project I'd not done before - Peruvian Thread Pendants and then after, I had to wait behind and receive feedback- lucky me! I eventually arrived at TC Harrison's at 12.45 and was away in the new car just after 1pm. I love it...

20.11.10. Early start to the day and at the NEC for 10.00am. There was a Memorabilia Show next door to our Design and Technology show - looked much more interesting! Spent the morning talking to visitors about Craft Club and showing people how to finger knit. WEnt to see a seminar about using e-technology in knitting, given by Rose Sinclair and Jo Mann. Rose is amazing in the work she does, edits and writes Textile Books for schools. Will be interesting to hear what she's been up to the next time our paths cross. Stayed late to tidy - only I didn't do much. Home half past 6, tea on way home of fish and chips...Thanks for picking me up Graham.

21.11.10. Morning was spent getting Sunday lunch, afternoon, I spent at Derby High School at a seminar given by Pamela Wedgwood. It was very low key and very enjoyable. For someone who is so well known she was very unassuming and approachable. Had some really good ideas for musical games. Bought 5 books which she signed. My first trip in my new car...

23.11.10. Second session at Ilkeston Hospital. Used the glass paints and completed the cards - looked great and everyone enjoyed making them. Went to tap.

24.11.10. Busy day. Gail came at 6.30pm to collect me to go and see Martyn Joseph at the Darwin Suite at The Assembly Rooms. He played several guitars and was accompanied by a chap on a double bass. Great concert, audience predominately made up of men. Unfortunately Hermione did not like the level of noise and I had to sit out the second half of the performance. Even more unfortunately, the damage had been done by that point...

25.11.10. Busy morning with two piano lessons and then off to teach at Wirksworth. WE netted on Christmas baubles, the learners were very inventive and loved the technique. Dull and cold.

26.11.10. Another advanced technique at Jewellery Class today, beaded snowflake following a sequence pattern. Again the learners lapped it up, what it is to have capable people, I love it!

Graham in Redditch all day. Worked all afternoon and did some tidying. Lucy had her lift home and I collected her from town at 6.00pm. Then we went shopping and food shopping. Didn't get home until 8.30pm, Hermione not happy.

27.11.10. Woke up to snow - the world was white and so pretty! Went out and took photos. Had lunch at the Spotted Cow in Holbrook and then took Lucy to town so that she could have a chat with the person who runs the Oxfam shop. It was so busy in town that Graham and I went home and then went back to collect her about 4pm. Came home after doing some shopping.

28.11.10. Another beautiful sunny day. Decided to head out to Bakewell cameras at the ready. Stopped off for some snowy pics of Haddon Hall. Although it was closed we sort of insisted that we were 'only taking photos' - as the chap who lived in the Gate House remonstrated with us. He had come out in his socks and sandals, had he not noticed the weather?...Had a nice Sunday lunch in a pub in Bakewell and then a short trip to Eyam with a short walk round - it just got colder and colder. We ended up at Longshaw Estate, but didn't dare venture out at that stage and then beat a hasty retreat home.

29.11.10. Graham took Lucy to her lift for 6.45am and then caught the 7.20am train to Plymouth. Odd sort of day, extremely cold with some snow throughout the day. Only two piano pupils made it to their lesson.

30.11.10. Loads more snow today. Had to cancel all piano lessons and the outlook for the rest of the week is doubtful.