It's been a while........................

..........since I posted....................stitched anything........read any blogs.................caught up on emails..............! So here I am........! Work has been busy (the whole of November is going to be the same - so roll on December I say!!)......and this week I spent two days in the city at a conference...which was good - and the program was packed with information and we got to spend a bit of time networking......which is invaluable in our jobs.......but it was two days out of the office which means when I go back on Monday there will be a log jam of emails, a fair amount of paperwork on my desk just waiting for my attention and a delegation of 20 people who are visiting and will need to be looked after.......so this next week will be another busy one.......but it makes the time pass quickly!! Three birthdays this week......the Prince tomorrow...little Taya (GS) on Monday and Mark on Thursday.......I think I am ready for them!!!

Tomorrow I will be catching up on some housework and finishing off some swaps.....deadlines are not looming they are HERE!!

Yesterday after the conference I went to visit little Ryley......she is just the cutest thing...(and I am totally unbiased!!) Everyone is going along nicely.....Dylan loves to give his baby sister kisses and share his most noisy toys with her...especially when she is sleeping.....!! I tried to get some photos of Ryley when she was awake but she had just had a feed and was sleeping......she still has that fabulous head of hair!! At the moment it is the same colour as her Aunty Rhiannon who is holding her........The Prince drove down to pick me up but since the Quilt and Craft Fair was in town today we decided to stay overnight and get an early start............besides my favourite store was just across the road from the hotel so there was the chance of getting some Christmas shopping done before the Quilt show........(and NO there were no missed sessions at the conference....I was able to fit in a couple of hours shopping on Thursday night between the end of the sessions and dinner - speed shopping - I am great at it!!)

This morning dawned cold and bleak after a really windy night......the hotel is on a lake near the beach and it was busy on the water this morning......even though it was quite choppy and I would imagine very cold.......... One thing you learn very early on with the Prince is that he never travels straight to a place.....there is always a more interesting route than the direct one.......so we set off in the opposite direction to the venue for the quilt show.....even though it was cold the kite surfers were enjoying the conditions!!! I think this is something for those with good upper body strength.....I am sure if you don't have it to begin with it wouldn't take long to develop!

We got to the quilt show eventually and caught up with some new shops as well as some favourites like Jane from the Patchwork Apple (the painkillers must have been working there was no indication she wasn't well!) and Sarah from Quilt Fabric Delights.....Ran into Marc and we caught up for lunch and a hot choccy........Of course no visit to the city is complete without calling in to Hetties Patch......which is "on the way" home....well sort of (times like this I remind the Prince he doesn't always take the direct route!! ) We finally got home and I have to say it is great to be here...I have only been away three days but it feels like much longer.......!

Miss Chelsea was pleased to see us........this was her sad face the other day when I left..........and I guess she thought I would never see her while she was "hiding" in the garden....perfect cover.....won't stand out at all........................

I am planning on catching up on some blog reading tonight.......I have missed it while I have been away and I don't have a laptop so couldn't log on at the hotel........I have one (a laptop not a hotel) on my wish list for my birthday/Christmas this year.......I will keep you posted!!!!

Hopefully I will have some stitching news next time!!

'Til then..............................Lorraine