Happy

Thank you so very, very much for all your kind and thoughtful comments on Monday's post. They gave me a lot to think about. I think I should emphasise that we are happy. I am lucky to have John, to have two healthy children, somewhere safe to live. We are lucky that John has a job when, during this bleak economic climate we are experiencing in the UK, so many do not. So many things to be thankful for. So although Leeds may not be where I want to spend the next twenty years, we are here now, with no immediate plans to move, and life is good. There are so many positive things about living where we do. I think we need to rediscover Leeds, and Yorkshire, as a family. I have created a happy little bubble in my home and garden, but we could get out and about much more. 

I think it's because my children are at the start of their time in education that I feel this sudden urgency, it feels a bit "now or never". But none of us know what tomorrow holds or where we may be in a years time. I must enjoy the present, not wish it away. I am also aware that the kind of distances I am talking about are nothing to those who live in the US or Australia or South Africa. At least I don't have to get on a plane to see my family! It seems that many of us have moved around for various reasons and I did so enjoy reading all of your stories in the comments. Thank you. You are all lovely.

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More good things to make me feel happy and lucky...blogging giveaways! I won two (woo-hoo!) in the last couple of months and, while I was on holiday, some little parcels arrived. How nice to see these packages lying among the bills on the door mat when I got home on Saturday.

The first is from Greer of typically red. Back in May, Greer hosted a a very bloggy morning tea, a week of tea drinking and baking and giveaways to raise money for cancer research, prevention and patient support, and she raised an impressive AUD$860. Do pop over to Greer's blog if your don't already know it; as well as being a busy mother of three young children and knitter-extraordinaire, she also takes stunning photographs and writes about her life in Australia. 

I was lucky enough to win a pair of beautiful, orange cable-knit mitts and a matching mug warmer.

Aren't they just gorgeous? Here I am wearing them:

I adore them. I am already imagining wearing them in the Autumn with a cosy jumper while walking through fallen leaves. 

And that mug warmer...

...perfect for drinking mulled wine out of a glass without burning my hands. Hmm, new hand warmers and the thought of mulled wine - it's enough to get me wishing the nights would start drawing in.

But it's still Summer. And my other giveaway prize is the most bright, summery, cheerful and altogether useful thing:

A new sunglasses case! From the lovely Gina of Rosie Hearts. Gina makes and sells the most fabulous cases for glasses, mobile phones, iPads and Kindles, and key rings too. Her stuff is beautifully made with a fun, humorous feel - have a look at her shop on notonthehightstreet.com. Thank you very much Gina! This case is a huge improvement on the nasty black polyester one that came free with my sunglasses, and has saved them from a summer of lying scratched and dusty in the bottom of my handbag.

I am starting to think I ought to join in with the giveaway fun - I have been very lucky and would like to share the love. But what to give away? Suggestions please. And please remember that I do not have Greer's knitting skills or Gina's sewing abilities! x