Saturday 4 December 2021

This Present Time

The past few weeks have been difficult -  many sad news stories [covid, the refugee crisis, the murder of little Arthur] family health issues, the deer-strike damaging the car - and most of all, losing Gillian. We got back from Essex both feeling quite drained, acknowledging the need to take it easy for a bit, maybe even spoil ourselves a little.

And there at 11pm on Wednesday night, we arrived to find a parcel waiting, addressed to me. i did not recognise the handwriting, I wasn't expecting anything. How intriguing! Bob made a pot of tea, and also filled two hot water bottles to warm the bed [with water that is, not tea] and I found a pair of scissors to open the packet carefully.

Look at this lot...

A lovely selection of crafty bits and pieces from Anne, a longstanding blogging friend in Scotland. How did she know my address, I wondered. Then I worked it out - she'd have found it on the Postman Pat package, as she was the next hostess on his journey...

I am utterly thrilled with the contents

  • a McCalls pj/nightie/dressing gown pattern - I can certainly see myself using this for Rosie. If not for nightwear, these are good basic shapes for dressing up clothes. It's age 7+, and she is almost 6.
  • A crochet magazine and a macramé pattern book

  • five knitting booklets with all sorts of patterns I'm itching to try out
  • A pretty floaty scarf printed with butterflies [Gillian adored butterflies, how poignant to have received this on the day of her Thanksgiving]
and finally a card with a beautiful message on the back, and a picture of a songbird in the snow on the front.

This present was such an unexpected delight - and Anne's timing was perfect. It really lifted my spirits at the end of a long hard week. I think we've been blogfriends for more than ten years, and this little gift is an indication of her continuing kindness, she knows how I love crafty stuff. I will never be as good as crochet as she is though! I still get compliments when I wear the crochet flower brooch she sent me many years ago.
I shall really enjoy sitting down with a cuppa and going through these carefully. My stash of baby knits is zero right now, and I do like to have a few bits and pieces on hand in case I hear of another precious little one arriving. [It will make a change from sewing birds for Etsy - they have been flying down to the village post office frequently since I posted the ad] 
Thank you Anne for your thoughtfulness, and brilliant timing. Such friendship is precious.

18 comments:

  1. What a lovely and thoughtful gift from your blogging friend!

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  2. What a lovely surprise and everything just right for you

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    Replies
    1. Isnt it great when somebody gets it 'just right'?

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  3. What a lovely surprise, just when you needed it.

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  4. What a lovely surprise for you it must have lifted your spirits no end. Enjoy making them. x

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  5. Phew! Glad it got there ok. Got your address from lovely card you sent, alongwith Jolly.The 'Royal' collection booklet has some really easy things to knit, the little crown hat in particular is so cute, I made 3!The looped hat (remember them?) is such a faff but maybe you could sell it on in your shop? I hear they're back in vogue! Glad we're friends. Time for you and Bob to do some chillaxing now!xxx

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    1. The crown is very sweet - and there's a very smart grey waistcoat that I am tempted to knit for George

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  6. It was a lovley and encouraging gift to get, just in the right time for you.

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  7. So happy to hear that you received this lovely surprise exactly when you needed comforting, So kind of Anne to put her sympathy into action!

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    1. A really special gift, sent with affection - "a hug in a jiffy bag" almost

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  8. What a lovely, thoughtful gift.

    I had to laugh at the thought of you filling the hot water bottles up with tea. 😀

    Take care of yourselves. Xx

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  9. What a wonderful kind gift. She is indeed a good friend.

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