The House Of Wishful Thinking

Hello everyone.

Are you sitting comfortably?

Ten i'll begin.

Just before Gordon took ill this year we decided that the time was right to move house.

This all came about as we had spotted a property just 2 minutes walking distance from the shop and it also had a view of the fields and mill pond from the back garden.

Well we sort of had to let everything go when Gordon took ill and i had to stop all prospetive buyers coming to the house and had the for sale sign taken away and our details left at the estate agents.

To cut a long story short somebody asked to buy our house in June and we put in a bid for the house we wanted.

Alas after the surveyors report the house we wanted needed to much doing to it and we were told to just stay put so everything was stopped .

In August we were driving home and took a wrong turning and noticed a 1930s style house for sale.

It was completely empty so we went and had a look in the window and we liked what we saw.

The back was open so we went and had a look there too.

I fell in love with the garden before i even looked through the back windows.The kitchen was still original in every way and when we went to the bottom of the garden there was a small river running through it we were HOOKED.

The house chose us i am sure of it and we couldnt get it out of our heads.

There was a lot of work involved as our surveyor told us which included having the whole downstairs gutted and damp proofed but apart from that the house was solid and steadfast with great potential.

On the 1st October the house of wishful thinking ( my name for it all the way from the beginning as i didnt think we would ever own it even though we loved it ) was ours and ever since we have been bringing it back to life.

So far we have took it right back to its bare walls, had doors removed and had walls knocked out.

But now each day as we go in we can see it starting to take shape.

We have lived on a really busy main road for all these years with loads of noise and now we are moving into a country village just a 25 minute walk into the grounds of Newstead Abbey (one of our favorite places.

We go to the house every evening after work and on our days off to see how the builders are getting on and doing what we can to help the process along as we know we have to have the main bits done before the bad weather arrives.

There is still a long way to go but we are both really happy and excited and Harry loves it too.

Here are a few pics and i hope you like them.

This was how the kitchen looked and i loved it.

Sadly only the 1930s table and the old clothes airer/pan holder above it remain.

This is how the back reception room looked like but now

the wall on the right near the window has gone and joins onto the kitchen.

The rest was gutted right back to bare walls.

A view of the front garden and countryside over the road.

We are taking the hedge at the top out as you cant see oncoming traffic so it is dangerous and we are going to have a small wooden fence and gate instead.

I cant wait to get cracking on this space.

I want to make a vegetable patch in the island as we get sunshine on both gardens all day.

This is the back porch which is a little sun trap and look

at all those Bramley apples picked straight off the tree.

This will have to be all re pointed and maybe rebuilt next year.

Here is a pic of the back garden a couple of days after getting the keys.

I have already started getting it into shape but im not doing anything else

now until spring as there are lots of bulbs in the garden and i need to see

what and where they are before going further.

At the bottom of the garden are some steps that lead to a small river.

It is full of wildlife including Ducks,Kingfishers, Brown Trout and our very own

Moor Hen who i have christened Hilda.

In the garden so far we have seen a male Pheasent, a family of Partridges, a Heron, a Spotted Woodpecker and the most friendly Robin who isnt one bit scared of harry.

We know its going to take some time to get it all as we like it but the main thing is we are going to love it here and are so very happy.

We are going to open up the house now for the men with the radiators and finish stripping the upstairs rooms ready for painting.

Will post more pics when i have a minute and i hope i havnt bored you to tears with my ramblings.

Please leave a comment as i love to read them.

Love and Smiles Rob Gordon and Harry xxxxxx

Back Online Yippeeeeeee with a Massive Catch Up

Hi Everyone.

I know i was supposed to post 2 weeks ago but im afraid our modem thing died while we were at the N.E.C.

The Sky man came and changed it last Saturday and it worked for literally 10 minutes after he left and died again.

Hes been again today and has done loads of geeky things and fingers crossed it will work at least until i have got this blog post up and running.

Anyway the N.E.C was fabulous as usual and heres a pic of us on the Thursday just before they opened the doors.

Karen Me Gordon and Michelle

It was great meeting old customers and new and although we were so busy we still had time to chat and have fun.

While i helped Gordon on the till and re stocking Karen demonstrated the new Sizzix Vintaj machine and all of the Vintaj jewellery products and folders that go with it, while Michelle demonstrated the different Scor-Pal boards.

We had sold out of all of those products by the end of the show which made us all really happy.

On Thursday and Friday evening i met up with some old pals from my younger days in Birmingham.

Thursday evening i met Karen who had to come without Roz and Kath this timeas they were working but we had a good old chin wag and catch up. It was great seeing you Kaz and cant wait for you all to come and see us next year.

Friday evening was very emotional for me as i met up with Lorna who was my closest female friend in Brum. She was on holiday with me back in 1993 when i first met Gordon and i hadnt seen her for 16 years. Not only that she bought along another old buddy Chris which was such a wonderful surprise. Lorna and Chris its been too long and we have to stay in contact now and again cant wait for you to come and see us next year.

Heres a couple of photos of us.

Myself Chris Lorna and Gordon

Lorna and I = Double Trouble

Now then i bet you are wondering what was so important that i had to come home on the Saturday of the N.E.C.

We have been waiting for the main part of our new products to be delivered and they will be available in January, so i had to be home for the delivery.

Oh woweee i couldnt resist opening one of the boxes and when i did i had to go straight up to my craft room and play.

So for the next 2 months the girls and i will be busy making samples for the launch of these products on Ideal World Create and Craft Channel in January.

Just before we went to the N.E.C, Harry had his last haircut for the year so here is a before and after shot of him.

Harry Before his haircut.

Harry after his haircut.

Honestly everything is happening all at once here and Gordon and i are up to our arm pits with another big project that hopefully will be ready for February. It started on the first day of October and is sort of taking over our lives at the moment ( but more of that tomorrow ).

Heres a little clue of what is taking most of our time up .

If you can guess what we are doing do leave a comment and all will be revealed tomorrow.

So i have caught up a little now and will be back tomorrow.

Love and smiles Rob Gordon and Harry. xxxxxxxxx

See You At The NEC

Hi all.

Just a quick blog while Gordon is at the shop getting more stock to take back with us to the NEC tonight.

We have spent all day setting up and the stand looks fabby.

Gordon, Karen,Michelle and myself will be there tomorrow ( our stand is number E 17 ) with some wonderful new demonstrations and some great new products to show you.

I am there for the first two days and then the lovely Sandra takes over from me for the weekend.

WHY am i coming home on Saturday ?????

I will let you all know on Sunday and you will know then why i havn't been blogging much for the last few months.

Tomorrow night and Friday night i am having reunions with friends i havnt seen for 15 years and will put some pics up for you to see.

Right i will get all our clothes and toiletries ready to go and if you are at the NEC this week please stop by and say hello.

Love and smiles Rob Gord and Harry xxx