Woyww and Ernest!

Its been another eventful week for me [one worth catching up on previous blogs for if you are in need of a giggle]. I have been hosting a young cockerel on his gap year for the last week...its been a week of work, play and at times [failed] guidance. Ernest will be off tomorrow heading north to his next host, Jen, at http://themadhouse-themadhouse.blogspot.com/and will be staying a week in Saltburn by the Sea, N Yorkshire.....I really hope she knows what she's letting herself in for and has all alcohol well locked away before his arrival. It's been a very busy week for him here so he may just be glad of a good rest :-)

Today I have a show and tell I'm sure lots of you will love as much as I do. I was asked by another blogger to make a character doll and last week I showed you the fabrics I had found with him in mind. I have been working on him all week in between other sewing jobs and have now finished him.....and I'm really thrilled with how he has turned out. [My little 19 month old Granddaughter recognised him immediately so he must be pretty convincing]. I just need to parcel him up now and he will be on his way to his new home.






Fun day Monday Ernest joined in the fun and with a little help he made his own look-a-likey and he insists I show you him proudly holding him [it hasn't left him far since he made him so I think he is pretty chuffed with it].





Of course Fun day Monday has to be followed with a head down catch up Tuesday....Ernest has been a good help with this too.....

He climbed into my felt box and helped me find the black felt for the doll's shoes.

He helped by ironing it and then....


...helped by pinning on the pattern.







He tried holding the shoes under the sewing machine but his feet wouldn't reach the foot pedal at the same time so had to leave me to the machine sewing.







For those of you who remember the blanket I crocheted I thought you might like to see that you little person it was made for loves it and Nanny Annie hasn't lost her nack of snuggling a baby to sleep :-)





I really hope I've made you smile today. For more fun and laughter please pop over to Julia's blog and join in the WOYWW fun.

Sunday roast and a fun day Monday....

My gorgeous son and his beautiful girlfriend have set up home together in an annex of her family home and on Sunday they invited us for dinner at their newly decorated abode. [As much to show us their beautiful new home as to show us what a wonderful cook G is and I can certainly see she know the way to a man's heart].

It was a really scrummy roast chicken dinner with fab veg and all the trimmings.

Ernest came with us and spent a little time showing G his blog on the computer....



.... then sat on M's shoulder for a while to watch the footy.









On our way home we had to call in at a local pet shop to get some dog food. Ernest went for a look round the shop on his own and I found him trying out a new swing but I had to say he couldn't buy one because it would be too heavy to post and wouldn't fit in his box on his way around blogland.







Today Ernest was well over his hang over [thankfully] and was really excited to hear it was fun day Monday. He asked me to teach him to dumf so we found some wool rovings in the colour he wanted and he set to to make a Ernest look-a-likey. He needed a little help of course because he very quickly found out just how sharp the needle was and this put him off a bit.


Here he is very proudly showing off his finished result.....not bad for a first attempt we thought and I've told him I will pack it carefully in a little plastic box I've found for him to take it home with him.

Hen Party and a never again moment for Ernest!....

For those insisting on seeing my outfit for the party here's a quick snap I took before I left home. I'm sorry it's a bit dark but believe me when I say I'm pretty sure you can see enough. :-) I only had to walk 20 yards to the party cos it was in our neighbours garden but believe me when I say it was the longest walk of my life because it was still daylight and we live in the middle of the village! :-)
We were blessed with a beautiful evening with none of the rain that we had been having all week. Everyone had made huge efforts and had come in some really wonderful fancy dress. Ernest was so excited and joined in lots of the photos.




This is the mother of the bride-to-be sporting a lovely green outfit...take note girls this is not an outfit to wear if you're likely to need several visits to the loo during the evening :-) Ernest really loved her wig.

Ernest is now in the hands of the beautiful bride to be.


He got in a family line up and then insisted she had her photo alone with him. She was more than happy to oblige.



The music and dancing was out in tents/gazebos out on the lawn and while I was enjoying the festivities I'm afraid Ernest snook off inside. He found the food and drink and had just a little too much of each!












I'm sorry to say I had to take him home earlier than planned and he spent the next hour with his head in a bucket! Teenagers eh!
He is now sleeping off his hangover and is muttering the eternal words....."Never again!" I really hope he has learnt an important lesson in life!

My latest blog award and Ernest's latest news...

Twiglet has given me this award - she knows how much I struggle to tell lies ;-)

Thanks for the award sis.

So having included the link to her blog, I must either tell 6 lies and 1 truth about myself or 6 truths and 1 lie ?...

1. At 8 1/2 months pregnant I could still bite my toe nails.
2. I can say the alphabet backwards
3. I have a pet tarantula called Fred
4. I've delivered 150 babies one of which being my hubby's Managing Director's daughter
5. I used to work with a magician
6. I've been to the top of Mont Blanc
7. I used to do bobbin lace making

I have checked out many blogs to pass this one on to but most have already had it so if you feel like telling a few truths/lies please accept this from me and have a go.

Now for those of you following Ernest's adventures here is the latest update.


Our day started off well. He was very patient while we designed and made his fancy dress outfit ready for the party tonight. He insisted on the headband to keep the feathers out of his eyes.


I told him we then needed to do a bit of shopping and he was keen on coming with us. He fancied having a go at driving but his feet wouldn't reach the pedals.


So he decided he would sit up front to take in the scenery.









He really enjoyed sitting in the seat in the trolley but was annoyed when I refused to let him fill the trolley from the drinks aisle alone.


He asked for a coffee in Starbucks but even though we ordered him a small one he wasn't sure whether to drink it or bathe in it.

He is now out on his deckchair in the garden taking in the rays and resting ready for the party later.

Work experience and turning a new leaf maybe?....

Ernest has been a willing helper most of today. He helped staple fabric on a bed headboard. It was a lot easier having an extra beak around. We were able to stretch the fabric well between us and the finished result was wonderful.









He then helped me cut out a waistcoat. He has learned to pin on a paper pattern, tailor tack and cut out the fabric. He really does seem a natural at this sewing lark.











He worked hard all morning so I said he could take the afternoon off. I found him a deck chair so he could really relax for an hour.












I really thought he had turned a new leaf until I caught him helping himself to yet another miniature bottle of alcohol...this time brandy!

Ernest update...

You will be pleased to hear my little visitor is settling in well. He met a big hairy beast last night who, he was pleased to see, was of a friendly variety. Skye likes to sniff out any new visitor but has promised not to bite him unless he steps out of line.






He also met little robin and muttered something about pulling a bird but changed his mind when I told him he could come with me to a hen party on Saturday night....I'm not quite sure he understood but he certainly seemed pretty excited at the thought.







As it was his first night here we offered him a tea of his choosing. He said when he arrived at the post office yesterday he could smell fish and chips but when we got there he seemed a little concerned at the crispy jacket one of the chicken breasts was wearing and made a hasty retreat.






Thankfully I quickly followed him out because he was showing a little too much interest in the sign on the roadworks at our new bridge. I know teenagers like to live life dangerously but I refused to let him play on the bridge.





Breaking news.....he's in love!!!

Julia the Queen of WOYWW has blogged today about a gorgeous gift Anne has sent her and I'm afraid Ernest is totally smitten.

I've got a visitor.....

I have a little visitor here who arrived this morning. His name is Ernest and he normally lives at The Hen House. He is on his gap year and is travelling around Blogland and is staying me for a week. I will then be looking for another kind blogger who will take on this challenging youth. I have been warned to keep the drinks cupboard locked at all times and I already know why :-) I have told him he is welcome but of course he does have to earn his keep here because as you know I lead a busy life.

Here he is on arrival. He said he had had a good journey but he appeared to be glad to stretch his wings.

He seemed to rather like my hanging rails and thought it would be a good place to do his daily pull ups.


He inspected my pictures closely and thought it was a good place to sit to keep an eye on all that was going on.










This was one of his favourite places especially when I was sewing but I have told him health and safety just wouldn't allow it.


He was really glad of a cuppa but said he was more of tea man than coffee.



He said my chicken food was really scrummy.








I insisted he also remembered to eat his greens to stay healthy but being a typical teenager he didn't seem too concerned about healthy living.


In fact when my back was turned getting lunch he found a miniature bottle of Whiskey and helped himself to a quick swig!


He has certainly made himself at home and plans to be here to watch the footy matches.











After lunch it was down to work so he said he would help with a bit of ironing.

He also seemed very keen to learn a few tailoring skills while he was here.










Please call back from time to time if you'd like to see what Ernest gets up to while he is staying with me and if you feel able to offer him lodging for a week please email me at wipso@toucansurf.com but be warned he is quite a handful :-)