Started stitching these a couple of years ago and finally finished them, with a whole bunch of other projects in between.

 

While we had some good drying weather last week I decided it was time the soft toys I finally got back from storage last year had a good clean. They were stored in bags but were still dusty and looking bedraggled.

The certainly brighten the back garden up...
( Pics below... )

 
A little later than intended, thanks to life getting in the way, but here at last are the pics of the 60th birthday card I made for my friend. Unfortunately, it went a bit wonky when I stuck it to the card because it's quite large. I used one strand of thread on 18 count fabric, so the stitched piece is a little over 6 inches tall by about 3 1/3 wide.

There should be more to the border, another shade filling in most of the gaps, but I liked the simpler version so I left it at that.
( See Pictures Here... )

 
Yay! I've managed to complete another set of designs! These ones are a mix of cross stitch and coloured blackwork, stitched on 14 count. The big ones were designed for bookmarks but I'll be making mine into birthday cards as I've got some tall, narrow card blanks that will fit them nicely. The two small ones will be gift tags.
( Pics Here... )

 


Thank you to all of you who sent hugs, good wishes, and a lovely virtal gift, you really helped me get through today *hugs*

Well, as I already told most of you, the prep didn't go too well, I managed most of the first litre, barely slept last night, and I still felt full this morning so I only got through half a litre of the second lot. I called the hospital to discuss matters and they suggested I go in anyway and they'd see if the test could still be done.

Battled my way there (by taxi) through pouring rain and traffic jams, then found all the doctors were running late, so I was sitting around in a hospital gown and thin hospital dressing gown, in a chilly room and had to dig out my cardigan again to stay warm for an hour and a half. Oh joy. I didn't want to be there and then I had to wait. Good thing I took a book with me.

I was not knocked out for the test as I'd expected, just sedated enough to relax me, but everyone was very nice and they let me keep my crystals with me, and... honestly, it wasn't terrible. What surprised me though was being told I'd done an excellent job with the prep, so I'm really glad I didn't chicken out and cancel. I will say it's odd being able to see your own insides on the monitor the doctor uses though...

Apparently, everything was perfectly fine, which is good news I guess, something else ruled out. Spent an hour in recovery, with water and biscuits, then had to wait half an hour for a taxi and got stuck in traffic all the way home. But then my friend, who's staying tonight, popped out and got chips, so that was a nice treat. I rarely have them =)

Not quite caught up online yet, but I got my writing done - three drabbles this morning, two more this evening - and posting is done. My streak is still unbroken!

Still things I want to get done before bed, so I'd best get on with it.

 


Yesterday, I managed to make it down to the post office, braving the cold and the crowds of holiday shoppers (being agoraphobic I don't like crowds), so all the overseas cards went in the post, YAY! If I have your address, there will be a card on its way to you. Whether they will arrive before the 25th is anybody's guess, our postal service is hit or miss and even when they get to the right countries, the cards will have to make their way through another postal service. It's a daunting journey for a humble Christmas card!

I'd appreciate if people would let me know when theirs arrives, that way I'll know how long they took to reach different destinations and I'll have a better idea of when to aim for posting next year. (I'll probably be late again anyway, of course. I'm never prepared for Christmas, lol!)

I also did rather a lot of shopping and spent too much, but food is necessary and we have enough to last for a bit, plus some holiday treats. I found I'd put mince pies on my list twice, so I decided that meant I should buy two kinds. I like my logic =)

I also, for reasons best known to my brain, bought a box of peppermint candy canes. What I intend to do with them I don't know. We're not having decorations so I have nowhere to hang them. Maybe I'll hand them out to visitors. I'm still trying to get rid of the last of the Halloween candy, lol! They looked festive though... I don't get out much, so when I do I'm prone to impulse buying - nothing massive, just silly things that I buy without thinking. I now have a Santa hat... Well, at least it'll keep my head warm!

Now I just need to rest and recover from my adventure. Right now I'm worn out, but at least I got things done.

I hope everyone else is better prepared for the holiday than I am!

 

Title: The Perfect Moment

Author: badly_knitted     

Characters/Pairing:Jack/Ianto, OFC Ceri Evans

Rating: PG

Word Count: 1767

Summary: Ianto thought it was just an ordinary shopping trip, but it turned into something he never would have expected.

Spoilers: None

Warnings: None really. If you’ve read my fics before, you know what to expect – humour, fluff and silliness, with a little romance thrown in for good measure.

Disclaimer: I don’t own Torchwood or any of the characters. Which is sad.

A/N: I started writing this way back in 2010; it was to be one of my first fics but I got in a mess with one small section early on and abandoned it. I remembered it again a few months ago while I was writing First Date Nerves and decided to have a bash at sorting it out, finally finishing it last year. I think it’s all the better for the long wait, I have more experience at writing the characters now and I think it shows.

A/N2: I’ve been sitting on this one since I finished writing it, waiting for the perfect moment to post it and what could be a better occasion than my 1000^th LJ post? So finally four years after I started writing it, here it is! Hopefully you’ll think it was worth waiting for!

( The Perfect Moment... )

 


YAY! I haz a lovely Ianto picture (well, five really) in a mount that spells out his name! It was just delivered and it's brilliant! It's amazing what you can find on ebay when you're looking for something else...



Now I just have to decide where I want him! *bounces happily*