HURRAY it's the weekend

Well I have survived a full week in my new job and lived to tell the tale!
It's been quite a tough week as I had become so used to being at home and pretty much doing whatever took my fancy. This usually amounted to a bit of blogging/pinterest/twitter and facebook with the odd bit of baking and crafting thrown in for good measure, and at least a cup of builders tea every hour!
Alas all good things come to an end and I find myself back in the workplace 5 days a week, but only for 4 hours a day so I suppose I shouldn't really complain.

I arrived home from work on Thursday gasping for a cuppa and generally feeling sorry for myself, to be greeted by this little package.

As you can imagine this cheered me up no end : )
Although it turned out to be a teeny bit larger than I imagined I fell in love immediately and can't wait to use it, unlike my friend - mentioning no names ahem... Donna Flower who takes it out of its box, looks at it admiringly then puts it back again!!!

Can you guess what it is yet?

Isn't it a thing of beauty.


As it's Mothering Sunday tomorrow and Mr. H's Birthday on Monday we decided to book a table here
http://www.oldsmithybeeley.co.uk/aspx014/article.aspx?CID=0&SID=36a33c82-e271-429b-a060-45be8a344026

It's on the Chatsworth Estate and a stones throw from Bakewell so plenty of walking opportunities, that's providing we can actually move after the lunch! It will be the perfect end to a tiring week.
Oh well only 14 more work days until the Easter Holidays (not that I'm counting!)


last Sunday was beautiful here in Sheffield and the sun shone all day, so we pulled on our wellies and headed out into the garden for a spot of clearing and tidying and of course the obligatory bonfire.

I think this picture was taken last year around this time. This is about halfway up the garden looking back down towards the house, so as you can tell its quite a large plot, not very wide but very long and its a fair old walk if you forget to take your trowel up to the veg patch at the very top.

this must have also been taken last year because the shed is now this colour and hopefully some time in the next month or so will become home to a few chickens - Can't wait.

and this is what I'm looking forward to in a few weeks time

Off now to make the old man a cuppa, he's been fixing a starter motor to Babs our VW, who decides every now and again to throw a tantrum if she feels she's been neglected

Happy weekend everyone and love to all the mums
: ) X

All Good Things........

The last couple of months have been quite stressful for me as I have been job hunting after being made redundant back in October last year.
I had been working in a Convent for nearly six years and I can honestly say it was the best job EVER.
I had known some of the Sisters for over 20 years and over this time they had become more like family to me, sadly this made it even harder when the house finally closed and the Sisters had to move on.

Sister Ursula, Sister Brendan and Sister Elizabeth, affectionately known as
THE GIRLS!!!

The blue eyed boy doing a spot of watering during the summer holidays!

School holidays were never a problem as he used to come along with me.
The Girls would make a fuss of him, sneaking him chocolate and treats and generally treating him like a little prince (which of course he is!).

I loved being a stay at home mum but when I was offered the job at the Convent it was the perfect opportunity for me as it meant I could work a few hours a week and not have to worry about child care.
Jobs like this are like gold dust and just when I thought I would never get another one, low and behold I was offered a job last week......WAIT FOR IT........TERM TIME ONLY *does a celebratory dance*
I can't quite believe my luck. Im just waiting to hear from them with the final details as the post wasn't originally term time only but they have very kindly adapted the hours to accommodate my child care situation.
I consider myself a very lucky girl to be given another opportunity to earn some extra cash and be at home for my boy(s)

So all is well in the Hotchpotch household and on this cheery note I leave you with a couple of my favourite snaps from the last few weeks.

don't be fooled by their prettiness as they gave off and odour which can only be likened to cat urine... EURGH!!!

Brucie doing it Cheryl Cole stylee!


Happy Wednesday everyone
: )