The Snippings Of Autumn

It is Autumn and I find myself thinking how the Dickens do we get to here but here are we none the less , I have my supermarket order set up so hopefully fingers crossed I won't have any problems getting what I need although there does seem to be panic .After months and months of trimming my hair myself .. I say trim more like cut then trim trim trim , having gone from long hair ( to my shoulders ) to a bob my hair was starting to look wayward.So wayward in fact that my hair could have set up its own progressive rock band and had a number 2 hit mainly because it was held of the top spot by some catchy tripe that will end the singers royalties for years to come.

Did not really do much at the weekend other than watch the rugby as my family had it on and drop some Savlon off to my Father In Law and show his 95 year old near sighted partner how to operate their new washing machine.It is well worth remembering that the little things we do in our indepeendce is so vital to our well being and our mental health.

Win An Apron

 AD

Get your flour at the ready one because it is Lockdown 2 , I have the opportunity for you to win this lovely apron By Phillipa Bandurek Bradbury, she is a wonderful artist who is based in Cambridgeshire.Within her art she works in ink, watercolours and acrylics.I admire anyone with an artistic talent though me avoiding the washing up is not going to pass for  Tracey Ermin art instalment.Anyway back go Phillipa's art ! You can see Philippa's work both on her instagram page  and her Etsy page 

The apron is 65% cotton and 35% polyester and has an adjustable neck and waist straps as well as a handy double pocket on the front. You can also buy a greetings card in the same hare design and is priced at £16.99

This pretty item also comes as part of a deluxe hare themed gift box. The gift box contains which costs £29.99:

• Hare Apron-Printed with adjustable neck strap and waist strap, and pocket at front.
• 3 x Hare note cards/greeting cards. Blank for your message
• Beautiful unframed watercolour hare print(A5 size) printed on 300gsm silk card

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Here are the Terms and Conditions.

1. The promoter is Philippa Bandurek Bradbury

2. Employees of Philippa Bandurek Bradbury,Ninjakillercat blog or their family members or anyone else connected in any way with the competition or helping to set up the competition shall not be permitted to enter the competition.

3. There is no entry fee and no purchase necessary to enter this competition.

4. Route to entry for the competition and details of how to enter are via Ninjakillercat blog

5. Closing date for entry will be 30th November 2020 After this date the no further entries to the competition will be permitted.

6. No responsibility can be accepted for entries not received for whatever reason.

7. The promoter reserves the right to cancel or amend the competition and these terms and conditions without notice in the event of a catastrophe, war, civil or military disturbance, act of God or any actual or anticipated breach of any applicable law or regulation or any other event outside of the promoter’s control. Any changes to the competition will be notified to entrants as soon as possible by the promoter.

8. The promoter is not responsible for inaccurate prize details supplied to any entrant by any third party connected with this competition.

9. No cash alternative to the prizes will be offered. The prizes are not transferable. Prizes are subject to availability and we reserve the right to substitute any prize with another of equivalent value without giving notice.

10. Winners will be chosen by the use of Rafflecopter

11. The winner will be notified by email and/or letter within 28 days of the closing date. If the winner cannot be contacted or do not claim the prize within 14 days of notification, we reserve the right to withdraw the prize from the winner and pick a replacement winner.

12. The promoter will notify the winner when the prize will be sent.

13. The promoter’s decision in respect of all matters to do with the competition will be final and no correspondence will be entered into.

14. By entering this competition, an entrant is indicating his/her agreement to be bound by these terms and conditions.

15. The competition and these terms and conditions will be governed by [English] law and any disputes will be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of [England].

16. The winner agrees to the use of his/her name and image in any publicity material. Any personal data relating to the winner or any other entrants will be used solely in accordance with current [UK] data protection legislation and will not be disclosed to a third party.

17. Entry into the competition will be deemed as acceptance of these terms and conditions.

18. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook, Twitter or any other Social Network. You are providing your information to Pressure King Pro who will directly send you the prize  and not to any other party.

19. Uk only.

20. You must be 18 or over to enter this competition

Disclosure : I have not been compensated for this post in anyway , thank you toPhilippa Buradek Bradbury or allowing me to run this competition.

Shop Online To Help Businesses This Christmas

Lockdown 2 sounds like a straight to release Jason Statham film but the reality is far from that and my humour is one of the things that keeps me going .If you’re one of those who are struggling for someone to talk to online then please do reach out seek help.I am constantly talking about my feelings and some might say you shouldn’t do that but bah to them . I think as they say don’t suffer in silence a problem shared and all that. I feel so sorry for all the small and big businesses that have had to shut their fours again , I think and hope we can all do this if we all pull together and people don’t pull against the system.If your a business that sells online then please do contact me I might order from or I might not but I’ll probably know someone who would love to. 

1. The beautiful Etsy page from Philippa Bandurek Bradbury is a must and I am in awe of her talent and I only wish I could draw like that , so please do look at her Etsy page and she if there is a gift you'd like send someone the Christmas or a treat maybe for yourself.And as a treat for you all Monday the 9th of November I have the opportunity for you to win one of the aprons.And Jane Willis from Onions and Parer blog reviews a Hare Christmas Box that is available in Phillipas's Etsy shop.

2 And you might not have the money to totally revamp your bathroom at the minute but what about some towels , Allure do some really beautiful towels and I assure you that their towels are top quality and you will really appreciate the indulgence of them as a quality item they will last very long time.Also they do weighted blanket 

3. This lovely little independent shop called Podarok they're an a ward winning gift boutique in the Cambridge arts quarter they have everything to suit your budget from small to that extrgance price that you know you truly deserve.

4 Natural looking jewellery is available from 

Photofinish jewellery

5 My friend Emma has aEtsy store where you can pick up

personalised gifts

6 And a long time much loved school friend Gail who is an incredible artist has a stunning Etsy page where ehe sells her work , she has produced artwork also for many books and is currently in the process of doing pottery
 

Travel And The Memory Of

 This will be the first year in how ever many years that I have not got abroad , my passport is gathering dust and my husbands will need renewing soon and my suitcases have't a clue just as I haven't when I will get to travel again.At first when the holiday to Corfu got cancelled it was a bit heavy sigh you know that sort of sigh when you've run out of tea bags and you know then it is a real emergency.Travel is mostly importantly memories to fall back on especially in these pandemic times where we are all just trying to make sense of the world .You could give yourself a little boost and print of some of your holiday pictures onto canvas or perhaps a mug.I have literally just drunk out of a mug with the coliseum in Rome on it.I am not sure if even I will get abroad next year as who knows with this Pandemic but one thing I can be certain of is I will not let it make me a prisoner and I will do everything I can to be me and to help other people within the current rules and guidelines.

You could also relive memories by looking where you 've been on YouTube or you could plan a trip for the future and live it through Youtube and whilst you're doing this you could sample local cuisine by cooking some dishes that you might eaten or have indeed eaten. A not going abroad year doesn't have to be boring especially as there is so much to see within our own beautiful country take for example my flying visit over the weekend to Cragside or my holiday earlier this month to Boscastle.There is isn't any point moping I don't think yes please do have feet stamp but why not go and do in the current beautiful Autumn canvas we have about us.

A bit of self reflection never did anyone any harm and I shall be doing more of that when oh joy of joy my new kettle is here and my kettle brings me so much joy.But what I won't be doing is baking with Matcha or aka green snot like they've been doing on #GBBO this week it just looks and tastes vile.And of course it is lovely to listen to some Classical music and it soothes my soul just like tea does.I thought I might struggle to write of late but no I don't think I am , and I believe writing is so important as is my own individuality.And being home more has given me more time to appreciate the beauty of out seasons though I don't quite appreciate the rain choosing to rain just on me everytime that I go out to shop.

Cragside National Trust In The Autumn Light

 Come one and all to Autumn 

Put aside your worries and woes

Stand still for a minute and let that minute melt into a hour or two

There is joyful competition in Autumn amongst the trees

Come and see the Autumn light in the Northumbrian beauty that is Cragside and you will return then I can guarantee you that just as an artist continually assesses and apraises their own beauty that is their painting.