Thought for the day

With thanks to Frugal Queen who I have "borrowed" the quote below from...

 

Kinda says it all for today...

Am I entirely mad?

Over the last couple of weeks an idea has been going round and round in my head. Last year a friend of mine raised money for the U foundation by going on a cycle ride. Sounds easy I hear you say. Not necessarily when the ride was from London to Paris and was over 4 days - 75-80 miles a day! Well as someone of advancing years, well, over 50 anyway, and definitely very unfit (at least 4 stone overweight) I remember being very impressed with this. The U foundation supports the provision of schools for children in Zambia - see link below.

www.theufoundation.org

Anyway this idea that's been going round in my head was that I need something to aim for, something to help me lose weight, get fit and feel better about myself, and just maybe this was what I needed to get involved in. The more I thought about it the more it appealed to me, and my friend Margaret tells me that it involves eating lots of cake en route to Paris - well I was hooked good and proper! I discussed it with the other half and we talked about all the reasons I wouldn't be able to do it - raising the money, getting fit enough, having the time to train, and actually completing the challenge - but something inside me is still saying go on, you can do it if you put your mind to it! In the words of Helen Skelton - all I'll  need to do is keep going forward. Well I've decided to follow the training schedule for one week and if I still feel the same by next weekend I'm going to go for it. So if anyone wants to take odds against me completing it I'll take your money any day - at least I'm going to do the best I can anyway! Below is the link to the information about the challenge - and remember that I'm the wrong side of 50, overweight and definitely unfit!!
 
  2013 London to Paris Cycle Challenge
The U Foundation is currently raising money to build nursery schools and support education projects in remote parts of Zambia

Another project finished!

I promised myself that before I could start any new projects I had to finish 2 UFO's. Well today I finished 3 things - although I'm not sure if they really count as 1 UFO! Months ago I started to make myself new bags for work. I wanted a small handbag and tote bag, so I cut out the upholstery fabric I had chosen, layered it with cotton wadding and lining fabric and off I went. I ran into a number of problems, primarily related to the fact that this made the fabric I was working with fairly thick and sewing over seams was very difficult with my modern sewing machine - obviously not designed for utilitarian objects or fabric. Anyway after a little searching I managed to pick up a second hand refurbished machine which is much more solid and sailed through my project with no problem - at least it did once I put in a needle that wasn't blunt!! My fault entirely I hasten to add.

And here's a picture of the new workhorse!! The only problem is that it weighs an absolute ton and I struggle to pick it up and put it on the table.

And here is the completed tote bag, handbag and I added a matching little zip purse (or does that count as a new project - hope not!!)

And although I could now start a new project, having finished my January CQJP square and the bags I've decided I'm going to finish the pony next. I have a new doll whizzing around in my head that I really want to get started on but I know that once I start it I won't get anything else done as dolls tend to take up my entire attention and I do nothing else until it's finished!! As a teaser it's steampunk based....

Until next time, keep calm and carry on creating!!