FURIOUS

Last night was Nellie's Sixth Form parents evening.  As you may know if you read my blog Nellie does not have an easy time.  She has severe eczema, alopecia and an under active thyroid.  So she has a lot to deal with and deal with it she does.  She has been brave enough to ask me to take her to the wig shop to get her a wig to cover her ever growing bald patches - yes they are big REALLY BIG.  She has been brave enough to agree to see a Counsellor who helps children through their difficulties when they have an illness that is difficult to deal with.  It is working really well and has helped enormously.  She also managed to gain FABULOUS results in her GCSE's although her attendance was really poor.  A*'s, A's and B's.  She has been to her first sleep over at a friends house in years and years - she told her friend she wears a wig, that's a hard thing to do, she also told her that she 'pirates up' with a bandanna when the wig comes off - a hard thing to do - her friend was fab about it and they both had a great night - a normal night for a teenager - the first one in a long long time.  She has now made FRIENDS at school, is more sociable, is taking a pride in her appearance, and is trying hard at school.  So last night I understood when two of her teachers said her absences would make it more difficult for her to achieve but that they understood that she was not 'skiving' that was OK.  We know that it will be harder for her to get to where she wants to be - she works hard and tries her best to catch up and mostly she does catch up.

So when we went to see the last teacher I did expect her to mention her absences what I did not expect her to do was to concentrate on those absences rather than Nellie's achievement.  Not for one minute, did I expect her to say, not verbatim I might add, was 'Obviously Nellie is absent from school for reasons of VANITY, that is with regards to her alopecia'.  I felt like she had hit me in the chest with the biggest hammer ever.  I was speechless for a little while and I then said 'you do know that is not Nellie's hair don't you'.  Really, she said, I didn't know.  I then pointed out that Nellie was not VAIN and that was not why she hadn't been attending.  She said 'well what I meant was it isn't a physical illness is it'.  I will now tell you that this 'teacher' teaches PSYCHOLOGY and is a former nurse.  Maybe teaching isn't for her.  What do you think?  Oh and as we left the room she said - loudly - 'Great Wig' there was a queue of pupils and their parents waiting outside. 

This morning Nellie came into my room and said she didn't feel well. She wasn't going to school.  She didn't want to.  She went back to bed.  Problem this morning she has a three hour Philosophy and Ethics exam - a mock but important all the same.  I lay in bed with my heart pounding, my head racing, sinking feeling etc what did I do.  I decided that I would have to be tough, Nellie was in bed crying, she hadn't slept, she did feel awful.  I told her that we couldn't let this teacher spoil what she had achieved.  I told her, I was cross, that she had to get up, she had to do her exam, and she had to go to school.  She did.  I am so proud of her.   Well done Nellie. 

Well my rant is over, I feel better, I am now going to use all this angry energy to clean up the house, then we shall start adding some Christmas sparkle. 

Phew. Thanks for listening!

Nellie's Prom

Last Friday was Nellie's prom.  She had not decided for definite that she was going until 2 weeks before.  Luckily  it took only two hours in TK Max to find a beautiful dress, one trip to John Lewis for her dancing shoes, new underwear (sucky in pants as we call them) and a home-made fascinator.  She chose to use a vintage handbag and wear her Great Nan Lily's diamante necklace.  She looked beautiful.

I was so proud of her.  Nellie has had a really tricky time.  At the age of 10 she developed Alopecia Aerata  it wasn't too bad and could be disguised.  She also has had severe eczema  since she was born - yes you can be born with eczema.  Her alopecia and eczema became more and more difficult to manage from about the age of 13.  When she was 15 she was diagnosed with an under active thyroid gland and now has to take tablets to control this. Phew - she has had a tough time and it has resulted in her missing lots of time off school. She has never said 'why me' - she is not perfect though and has had a tough time.  At about the time she discovered her thyroid problem her hair was becoming increasingly worse and she decided that she wanted to do something about it.  She now has two 'twigs' as we call them and she wore her new curly one for the prom and it looked fabulous.  Nellie had a super night and was really glad that she went.

Love you Nellie    xxxxx

Saltaire Take Two

On Sunday we decided to visit Saltaire near Bradford.  We encourage Nellie and Belle to join us and they did - yeah.  Betty had uni work to  do so she stayed at home - actually she took her laptop to the pub where she works to do it.  Not sure how much got done but as the Diet Police are on patrol I know she was not drinking - only pop.

Saltaire is a great place to visit as it has something for everyone.  On first floor is a gallery with lots of faberoony art and artefacts.  There is also a vast variety of books on art, fashion, graphics, design etc.  K was in his element he is partial to a good book purchase and is always tempted.  He is thrifty though and always checks online before he purchases to get the best price.  He ordered two books when he got home and I don't know how it  happened but two from my selection popped up in his basket.  Thanks K.  Amazon were very kind  and because he is a good customer gave him a £10 voucher.  Not bad.

On the second floor Yorkshire Fashion Archive had an exhibition - it was well worth a visit.  Not only did they have items of clothing that had been donated they have photographs of the people who owned them wearing them and their story.  Goosebump time - well for me anyway - I really enjoy social history and nostalgia.

Does this make you chuckle?

It did me!

This homemade wedding dress from the late 1950's was a pale salmon pink - the lady who made it and wore it said she didn't suit white and that it reminded her of her school blouses so she went for the pink - apparently it was becoming fashionable in the late 50's to wear pink - you  learn something new everyday don't you.

Here she is on her Wedding Day - isn't is gorgeous

The lady who made and designed this dress also screen printed the fabric - she was an art student - as Nellie and I said it wouldn't look out of place now.

Lovely

This happy couple  were just about to go on honeymoon to Wales

The dress was really pretty

This outfit looks very 40's but was actually a 1970's piece

BIG collar and looked like crimpoline - nice.

We did partake in a little snackette from the Diner.

There was a great household items section with super stuff but NO PHOTOS so can't share.  I can share that a few items were purchased to go in my giveaway which I will post about very soon.

After a good stoll around the mill we venture a little into the village.  Houses all in rows with beautiful windows, stately looking lions

and rainbow llamas

Nellie and Belle

Having fun watching a film of David Hockney's latest work which he has created using his i-pad.

We had a great day and as we were walking out I said to the girl's that was great fun, we all stayed together as a family and didn't split up -ha ha said Nellie quick as a flash - that's cos you have the money.  Only  joking she said. 

Why Saltaire twice you may wonder - well the last time we went just K and I we had a fuss - code for argument in the Diner and I had a strop and demanded to be taken home.  What was it about - oh just the saga of the dresser top being returned into the house from the garage.  Very serious at the time really silly now. Good job we know each other and our quirky ways so well.

So Funny

Just to prove how inept I am at this blogging malarky I have just received a comment on my previous post which was really funny and I actually laughed til I cried.  Trying to reply to the said comment - who is also my first follower - A FOLLOWER - what me - I became a follower of myself.  This has made me howl with laughter and also my whole family.  I never knew blogging would be so much fun.  (As I said in my previous post I need to go to Blogging School - maybe that could be a business plan for someone).

Also laughing at dearest Nellie she is p****d off as I have come up with a cunning plan.  If her bedroom is not tidy by the end of the month I am moving her into the tiny bedroom and making her room into my craft room and K's project room.  This has not gone down well as you can imagine and she insists that it will not happen - aha I said I think you  may find it will if your room is not tidy.  (I am talking major untidy not just a little bit messy).  SO amongst the laughter from K and myself Nellie resorted to 'if you move me into the little room I will be moving out' - RESULT.  I had tears rolling down my face.  Teenagers are wonderful arn't they.  I did say to Nell I can't wait for you to have your own children - when you ask me advice I will just laugh and say remember when.  Of course I wouldn't really do that - I was a teenager once and was not perfect.  Belle has gone to bed it was all too much for her.

Actually what I was going to post about tonight was this little pin cushion I whipped up.  I made it from an old felted piece of blanket - I wanted it to look a little bit like a boater hat, when I rummaged through my ribbon box I found the ribbon complete with boater stylee bow - recycled from a chrissy present I think.  You like.  Maybe I could do a tutorial.  That would be clever wouldn't it.  We shall see as you all now know my blogging skills are still not quite as good as they should be. 



Where did you get that hat, where did you get that hat?

Good night I am now going to try and unfollow myself.  LOL lots.