Small disaster–nobody hurt

I’ve not always kept a travel journal but I have always collected ephemera.  When we first got the long haul travel bug, I’d create collages of this and that and we’d put them in IKEA frames to hang in our stairwell.  It’s an awkward place to take photographs and one spot in the house that just doesn’t feature in any I’ve taken.  So, I don’t have a record of how it was before disaster struck.

We didn’t hear anything.

We have no idea when it happened.

But yesterday morning, my Hero went downstairs to find a row of three large frames had fallen from the wall.  Being the Hero he is too, he’d cleared it all up by the time I appeared.

Each of the (cheap, insubstantial) frames is damaged and there’s a small, postage stamp-sized piece of plaster missing.

So what happened?  We have no idea but can only think that the top frame slipped and fell straight down the wall taking the others with it.

The more pressing problem is, do I fix a temporary repair to the three frames and take my time to create something new and fresh for that wall? 

Or do I begin on a new series of travel-related hangings and use the cobwebby box of fourteen stretched canvases I bought several years ago for this very purpose?

I hate this bit

One suitcase is packed.  On a trip like this, my hero and I travel with two medium sized suitcases each and we always pack our own things.  Though we are not off till tomorrow afternoon, I wanted to get the bulk of the things sorted, because who knows what distraction tomorrow might bring that’s preferable to packing a suitcase?

Anyway, it was easy to pack this first one and fill it with cruise-only things.  A couple of dresses, party shoes, sunny day things and cold weather gear, because our itinerary will involve a range of temperatures and we will need a variety of layers which work together.  Having got it comfortably full, I closed the lid, zipped it up and weighed it.

17.7kg.

“Oh that’s good, not so heavy at all” said my hero.

“Oh good, I can take a couple of extra tops” said I.

So one suitcase stands closed up and (maybe) complete, whilst the other one is open on my bed awaiting all those things which can’t be put in until tomorrow – hair and make up stuff, contacts, a couple of chargers and so on.

And I know at least one friend who is curious about what I’ve packed in the “journal” category.

A compact bundle is the answer.

I thought about it and decided that I would feel bereft without the basics, at least.  Oh and a bag of water soluble crayons.

The pink pencil box contains those essentials: the four mini ink pads, a couple of sheets of travel-related stamps, a couple of washi tapes, a glue stick, scissors, ruler and a date stamp.

There’s my small Martha Stewart concertina file to collect ephemera for my Project Life album when I get back.  I find it easy to catch up that way and can simply slot it all in place at home later.  I created a card for each port of call and those are in there ready for my observations.  I’m hoping I know what will be written in the first two lines: dulce de leche and pisco sour!

And I simply couldn’t travel without a notebook of some kind, even if I decide to do something more elaborate and creative.  So I put in the cahiers and the brown paper Midori.

Now, I’m sitting here wondering if I’ve thought of everything.  Do I need an additional long sleeved T shirt?  What about a hat (as well as the ear warmers?)  Have I packed sufficient dressy/casual/cool/warm clothes?  What do I always wish I’d brought (but didn’t)?  I have another 20 hours to think those things and yes, I really dislike this bit.

This time tomorrow, I’ll be ok though.  We’ll be on our way to the airport to fly first to Madrid where we’ll transfer to a LAN flight to Lima to begin our adventure in South America.  I hope you’re going to join us on our trip and swim alongside?

My prize arrived!

You might recall that I was the lucky winner – not of the lottery, but of a draw for a trolley system for my sewing machine.

Look what arrived this morning.

I opened the trolley bag first.  Very smart and rather larger than I imagined!   I couldn’t wait to explore…

There’s a good, solid retractable handle to pull it on two sturdy wheels

and a grab handle at each end too. 

Inside it’s lined with small pockets here and there

and loads and loads of padding, securely fixed with velcro patches.

The whole front unzips and opens up, making it easier to load the machine, which is not only very large, but also rather heavy – 20kg.

I unplugged my machine and carefully lifted into place.  All those additional padding blocks had to go – it took up almost every inch of the bag.

The pockets at the front are deep enough for additional feet and other accessories and I don’t feel worried that they’ll squash up against the metal panels of the machine and be damaged in any way.

Those inside the bag are probably better suited to lighter, thinner things like scissors and Swiss Army Knives  - the Bernina sewing version, of course

There are small pockets on the inside of the top flap which are ideal for spare needles and unpickers plus the Bernina universal tool for getting in all kinds of awkward corners in case of emergency.

I lay the knee lift on the top and squeezed the sewing table down the side – that was the only part which didn’t seem to have an obvious home.  Maybe I’ll investigate if there’s a better place for that.

Foot pedal in one end pocket, power cable in the other

I zipped it all up and squeezed between my desk and the cupboard.  Wide load coming through!

It was rather easier loading the embroidery module.  The bag is similarly padded with a non-slip panel on the base which fits the solid base perfectly.

There’s a secure strap to hold it in place, though I don’t think it’d go anywhere.

A large pocket inside the front flap holds all the hoops and any other paraphernalia – the templates and any threads – will fit in the outer front pocket.

Zipped up, secured in place, we’re ready to roll!

But oh my, there’s a huge empty space in my studio. 

I think I’ll get it all out again

There it was…

This morning, standing tall and looking pretty even after three weeks.  But the time had come to say goodbye to Christmas and so this afternoon, within an hour or so, the scene was rather different.

We had only to look at it, it seemed, for needles to fall by the hundred.

And there it was, gone.

Tired of turkey?

I hope your Christmas was filled with lovely company, tasty treats and good humour.  Ours certainly was, though I’m afraid anyone looking for a bit of peace around here was to be disappointed as I was stuck with my hacking cough night and day, in spite of drinking Benylin by the bottleful (not really, it just seemed like it at times)

I took a photograph of a small collection of stuff on the kitchen worktop on Christmas Eve for my Project Life and noted that it looks much the same today.  Hmm.  Yes, this was the Christmas of cough medicine (and no, I don’t like that particular one though the same brand cough sweets are fierce and pretty effective)

It’ll definitely find its way into my Christmas journal anyway, as will this one taken on Boxing Day on the dining table.  Sums it up well, don’t you think?

One of my stocking presents makes me smile every time I see it, though how long the novelty of the illuminated USB cable will last, I don’t know.  Father Christmas must have been taking particular note when I accidentally swiped my tablet from the worktop shortly before Christmas and broke the mini USB connector (but not the tablet – phew!)  Anyway, right now, I think it’s fun, don’t you?

My cough is my excuse for doing very little about the house and finding small heaps of very interesting presents still waiting to be explored.  That’s my bedtime reading for tonight sorted, then.

Tomorrow, I’m going to venture shopping for the first time since last Thursday morning.  We’re tired of turkey in all its guises and I think it’s time for a change.  I’m tempted by a bit of fish, I think…