Five Things

How are you? Did you have a good weekend? Once again I've not blogged for ages and am beginning to wonder if I should carry on. Blogging seems to take up so much time and I'm feeling guilty that when I'm blogging I'm not actually acheving anything - cakes don't get baked, floors don't get cleaned, the garden becomes messier. Work is busy, with news of redundancies due to spending cutbacks and more to come next year. We all know the people losing their jobs and feel so sad for them and their families. Next year might mean interviews to keep our jobs - and I'm not hopeful as someone who is very shy and was always told not to show off when I was little, interviews are a difficult thing. Some of us get a little cross when jobs are given to people we know are lazy or who just don't bother turning up for work when it suits. Oh dear! I bet you've all switched off after all that moaning - my blog is supposed to be like Eeyore's gloomy place - except it is my happy place. I fully intended today just to post up an award and to pass it on to 5 lovley ladies and instead I'm feeling sorry for myself. Time to cheer up I think!

Just before Christmas, Jo at JoJo Designs gave me this award. The condition of accepting the award is to list 5 things I like doing and then pass the award on to 5 other people. So here goes.

1. Shopping
Like most women, I adore shopping. Not that horrible boring weekly walk around Sainsbury's or that dash into town to queue at the bank or to pick up half the stock from the floor at Primark. No. certainly not. I mean this sort of shopping

beautiful things, beautifully presented and inspirational ideas that lift your spirit and put that gorgeousness into your home or garden. I also like this sort of shopping


Finding loveliness to bring home and treasure. Finding that little thing someone no longer wants that feels me with such excitement.

2.Holidaying in Cornwall.
My beloved Cornwall.
Sometimes the weather lets us down

but the people and the spectacular scenery are constantly wonderful.

3.Cross Stitch
Something else I've loved doing - yet this last 12 months I lost the mojo.


4. Baking

I love baking. Cakes never look particularly pretty but they never stay around long enough to be admired.

5. Getting Out and About.
Whether it be with friends or family, I love to get out and about. I love walking along the local canal


visiting churches

National Trust houses and gardens


and just taking time to enjoy the countryside.

I'm going to pass this award onto the ladies at the following blogs.

A Mermaid's Purse
Andi's English Attic
Kids and Capers
Tapestries of Nature
The Vintage Bothy.

Necessary Things

This week has seen young Master Funky do a total of three hours at school. The rest of the week has been spent sledging, sliding on the ice, having snowball fights. All of which I am certain are far more dangerous than walking up the hill (or slight incline) to school. I'm sure I went to school in the snow, but then, that was in nineteen hundred and frozen to death! Maybe I'm getting old and grumpy or maybe it's just this snow and ice. There are certain things I need during this cold weather that I really need to make it bearable. Of course we all need wellies


glamorous aren't they? But some funky welly socks does make wearing them a bit more fun.




I'm also certain that this scarf is snugglier because it's funky and silly.




A cosy bed, with crisp bedlinen is a must.



As are colourful warm blankets.




Skin needs some special treats




and a mug of G&B hot chocolate is made more delicious with the addition of glorious pink and white marshmallows


once I've chosen from a selection of favourite mugs.




A good selection of magazines is sure to give me that feel good factor with elevenses.



As will a teetering pile of books for the afternoon (unless there's a good play on the radio).




Of course, you do need that special place to sit and read.




There are also those times when you really need a cosy, snuggly dvd, with costume, romance, nostalgia... or just simply Richard Armitage.




I'd love to know what you do to keep going through this really awful cold snap. I'm off for lunch in front of a roaring fire now before I prepare a beef in ale casserole for tea. I'm at work tomorrow, so it looks like a slippery, slidy walk to the railway station for me. Have a good, warm and safe weekend everyone.

Nearly There

Whilst shopping at the weekend I was pleased to see someone entering into the Christmas spirit! How are your preparations going? We're almost there, just the fresh food to buy on Christmas Eve. Hopefully, we'll be up and about early enough to get to Bridgnorth's bustling market and to indulge in a good hearty breakfast here as well. I've got my damson gin bottled ready to warm us on these cold winter evenings. Well actually, it's already been started and it's yummy, yummy yummy. Just the stuff needed to make watching Cranford on a Sunday evening even more enjoyable.



Most of the decorations are up.








Although I always leave some decorating for Christmas Eve because we have an abundance of ivy in the garden which just has to be one of the best things to bring into the house at this time of year.



New, snuggly Christmas pyjamas are ready



and I've been searching through these lovely books that Mr F surprised me with earlier this month.



Mr F. gave me another surprise at the weekend with a trip to see Wightwick Manor decorated for Christmas. I've been to this house at all times of year and it never fails to have the tingle factor. If I do ever win the lottery I will make the NT an offer they cannot refuse and move in to enjoy its Pre-raphaelite paintings and its William Morris decor - I'd be in Funky heaven!








We strolled around its magnicent rooms decorated in Christmas finery as we listened to the carol singers in the great hall. Their music followed us throughout the rooms and up to the minstrels gallery and even into the bedrooms leading off the landing. Everything looked wonderful with its natural Christmas greenery, flowers and candles - no balding tinsel here! I only wish that I could
have videoed the visit to share with you the atmosphere of my favourite place. You are not allowed to take photos of the interiors but Mr F. took one from the outside looking in. It's not brilliant but does give a little taste of its beauty, along with the painting of Janey Morris by Rossetti.


Sadly, they said I couldn't spend Christmas there, so I'll carry on with my preparations here in the Funkyhouse. Have a good Christmas ladies - don't work too hard, make sure you enjoy it.

Much Wenlock Christmas Fayre

There's nothing like seeing a donkey to make you feel all gooey and Christmassy is there? This chap (or lady) was at Much Wenlock Christmas Fayre on Saturday with his friends giving rides to youngsters in the town. This fayre is a ritual for us the first weekend in December, ever since Josh was tiny and he rode a donkey through the priory grounds to visit Father Christmas in his candlelit grotto. Nowadays we are accompanied by a sometimes reluctant teenager. This little fayre in this tiny town feels like no other. It really has that special feeling you get in a smaller community as shopkeepers and stallholders alike join in proceedings. There is a marquee selling local crafts and foods.



As well as stalls lining the narrow high street.



Vintage vehicles



You can always find something good to eat





and there are still favourite shops to explore and festive shop windows to peer through.



Ippikin has loads of funkiness going on with colourful wacky knits. If you enlarge the picture you might see some of their wonderful tea cosies. Mr F did buy me a little pressie from there...but of course I can't show you until after Christmas.


And of course you have to have The Salvation Army belting out some beautiful Christmas Carols.



After a busy morning and lunch at the fayre we moved on to Bishops Castle for more shopping and aftenoon tea. You can see more of Bishops Castle here. Our journey there and back meant a steep drive over Long Mynd at Church Stretton. The homeward bound journey was quite eerie as the mist and rain moved in. I'm not quite sure the photos show it at its mysterious best.







Of course when we got home we felt we needed more tea and cake!



Yesterday was still busy as we visited several garden centres looking for door wreaths. After much deliberation I chose this. Do you think it will do? I'm pleased with it as it is a little different to ones that I've had previously....time to ring the changes...but only a little.




One place we visited had a family of reindeers visiting for the weekend. No doubt they were having a nice rest before their busy time ahead. Each time the reindeer moved the bells on their collars made the most tremendous jingling sounds....just like Santa was already on the way.



Next weekend is tree weekend. Josh had a friend staying on Saturday evening/Sunday morning so wasn't free to come choosing trees with us. I don't think we would have been popular parents if we had chosen without him! I hope they still have some good ones left....you know the type I need....one that is exactly the right height, the right shape, a good straight bit at the top for fixing a star and branches that are spread nice and evenly throughout the tree. Oh and it needs not to shed needles everytime someone walks past. Please tell me if you see one!