Brexit, dollars, lampwork beads and me

The United Kingdom has voted to leave the European Union. I am very surprised, it never seriously occurred to me that this would be the actual outcome so I didn't really think through what my shop's currency being in dollars would mean to my beadmaking income. I wanted to stay IN.

I found myself awake in the early hours and so got up at 3.30am to see how things were going on the referendum. With the result looking cut and dried and the pound falling alarmingly against the dollar, I shut my Etsy shop temporarily until I could figure out how it would affect me.

Now I'm up (and far more awake), I realise that this makes no difference to my customers in the United States, they can continue to buy at the same prices (to them) as my shop's currency is set to dollars. A little over half of my customers are the US and so I can hope to continue to enjoy their patronage and one upside is that the exchange rate means I will get more sterling from those transactions.

The downside is that the rest of my customers are in the UK, with a small percentage in other countries in the EU. To them, my prices have increased significantly (10% at the time of typing). I imagine this will mean some of those customers may choose not to buy from me. I have considered lowering my prices or changing the currency of my shop but I haven't increased bead prices in three years, if I decrease them and things settle down again, well, I'm just not willing to make beads for a lower price. I'm not exactly getting rich out of self-employment! I hope that the two sets of customers will balance themselves out and I can continue making lampwork beads for all of my lovely customers.

With apologies to those it adversely affects, I've decided I will be rolling my sleeves up and just getting on with things as they are. It's out of my control, it's pointless to get all stressed about it. I will continue to monitor and make decisions accordingly. Watch this space for news.

Meteorological colour clashes

I am cross with the weather. 

The first time it was warm enough in the UK to get Stylecraft colour Tomato out for the temperature blanket I'm crocheting, there was a nice build up of Kelly Green, Grass Green, Gold Sunshine and THEN Tomato as the lower part of my photograph shows.

With the temperature rising a full seven degrees in the last 24 hours, I've had to jump from Kelly Green straight to Tomato ... the colours don't look nearly so nice next to each other. You'd think the weather would have a little more consideration for the fact that when I picked my colours back on 1st January, I imagined a smooth transition.

I may have to petition the Met Office if they keep this up. 

Permanent removal of slugs and snails from your garden

I'm hardening off some bedding plants on the decking area prior to planting them out next week. I put them out during the day and bring them back into the greenhouse at night to gradually acclimatise them.

How to keep them safe from slugs and snails is always a headache for the gardener. I have discovered a way of permanently excluding slugs and snails. It's organic and cruelty-free, no chemicals are necessary, all you need is a reasonable aim.

Instead of chucking them over the fence into your neighbour's garden, chuck them onto the other side of the river instead ... get back from there you little bleepers!

Enjoy the rest of the bank holiday weekend!

Who's been shitting on my doorstep?!

We awoke this morning to some chirrupping that sounded like it was in the house. When we investigated we thought it could be in the roofspace above the hallway or it might just be the Dunnocks who often nest in the bit of garden right outside the front door.

We tracked it down to this little fledgling calling for his mum on the threshold of the door.

I put some gloves on and scooped him up to be relocated where there's a bit of cover and camoflage; he stands a better chance of being safe from the local cats there. He was flapping his wings and hopping about before he resettled so I'm pretty sure he's not injured. His mum should still be able to hear him as he's only a few feet from where he was before.

Good luck, little one!

The circle of life ... Rest in Peace dad, I'll see you in my dreams

11th May 2016

Letter to: The Intermediate Care Team
Hinchinbrooke Hospital

  

Dear Sirs

We are writing as a family to send our sincere thanks to the Intermediate Care Team for the palliative care Percy Cannings received towards the end of his life when he was suffering with stomach cancer and for the re-enablement care provided for Bet Cannings following her hip re-replacement.

The two medical matters occurring at the same time put the family under extreme strain. On the occasions when one of us couldn’t be with dad, knowing that the care team were visiting three times a day took some of the pressure off; it was extremely comforting knowing there was someone looking after him during mum’s stay in hospital and whilst she got her mobility back upon discharge.

We couldn’t have managed without the support and expertise provided and so thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

We understand one of the carers who visited mum and dad, (name deleted for privacy), was due to have a baby around this time.

Unfortunately, we lost dad (Percy) recently. We had his funeral yesterday and said goodbye to a much loved husband, brother, uncle and father. Whilst we were all together, we signed a card to celebrate a beautiful new life entering the world. At this difficult time for us all, it has been very comforting to be reminded of the circle of life and we wonder would it be possible for this hand crocheted blanket (made by Sue, Percy’s eldest daughter) to be forwarded to (name deleted) and her family as a token of our esteem.

The pattern is a vintage one by Patons, no longer in print. A blanket using the original pattern was  made for the television series, Call the Midwife, and featured in one of the Christmas Specials. The pattern has been recreated with Paton’s permission and made available on-line by a blogger called Rebecca, otherwise known to the crocheting world as Little Monkey, the pattern is called the Midwife Blanket.

The blanket has been crocheted using Drops Baby Merino yarn which is 100% fine merino sheep’s wool, specially manufactured as suitable for new borns. It is fully machine washable and a ball band from the yarn, which contains washing instructions, is included with the card.

Warmest best wishes and our thanks once again for all your help.

The Cannings family