After the big moving weekend, I am ready for bed but I do want to say that The Sustainable Health Centre and The Hub on the Green open tomorrow and I am so excited about the future because from what I have already planned the future looks good. So tomorrow come and join us at 12 noon - 1:30pm from a cup of tea on our first day!
I am blogging from my phone and I can't see the text clearly due the the paint splashes covering my screen. So I apologise for errors. Neither my cup of tea or my phone survived the door painting.
Sunday, 9 October 2011
Friday, 7 October 2011
Hurray for the Attic Scurrier!
BT (Or Openreach as they like to be called) finished off the three phone lines and two internet connections and they were amazing today. They even sent one of the boys scurrying about in the roof so they could get the cables through to the office without making holes in the wall or running cable all over the place. He came out covered in dust from head to foot and still smiling. They were brilliant and it was a tough job for them. Well done Rob and The Attic Scurrier!
Then it was van collection time. We picked rush hour to get over to Marsh Barton! Doh! John Mulvey came to help us and Simon and John were amazing. They filled the van with 3 desks, numerous chairs, motorised couches, bottles bottles and more bottles, rocking chairs (!!!), filing cabinets (now they weigh a ton...or is that tonne?), arm chairs, boxes of files...and then when they had unloaded they had to carry them up four flights of stairs. The view is fantastic but moving in involves far too much exercise for my liking.
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| Simon and John - moonlighting as removal men |
Mum brought us back some amazing biscuits from Borough Market in London. She also packed up all the bottles in the dispensary tonight.
The elephant biscuit has been stamped with some white paste and then baked. It's just beautiful and the crumbliest cinnamon biscuit too. Yummy!
When it came to supper Lottie and I sneaked out for pizza. She has just returned from her school residential so we showered her and got straight to the centre to help out so she deserved a treat. We bumped into Steve King who was my first ever cafe customer and has been a constant companion through our last 3 years work. He keeps popping up and it's great when he does. Hopefully he will be at the coffee morning so cafe team, if you miss waiting on Mr King then now's your chance to come and make him a cup of tea for old times sake.
I am on the scrounge (which I like doing) for raffle prizes for Thursday's coffee morning. So if you have anything to offer (some knitting, something from the place you work, a half hour treatment, a place on a course, something else crafty) I would really appreciate all your donations, however quirky! The coffee morning and raffle are all to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support.
Have a great weekend everyone :)
Thursday, 6 October 2011
Waiting around for the BT boys!
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| All that trouble for one little box! |
Hurray! We have a phone line in the reception of The Sustainable Health Centre (next to the hub on the green). We also have shelves in the dispensary and they fit thanks to dad. I had fun and games with the BT guys. There was a lot of sucking air through teeth which was infuriating and a lot of techy talk. They were nice guys but I didn't want it to be a challenge...I just wanted it done. Oooh get me! Stamp feet..."I want..." Anyway lovely Jane (Parents School Adviser and Joey Calmer) came by and said, "I think we need to feed you," so we went to Wagamamas. She was right. I did need feeding. Good job Jane. Jane is running positive parenting classes but she may throw in the odd tip on how to deal with a stroppy 30-something too. Her classes are perfect for parents of children in year 6 up to the end of key stage 3 and will be on Wednesday nights.
Then I went to the cinema to watch 'Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy' great movie, "well-filmed" as my friend said but not a clue what it was all about but I feel a little bleaker than I did before it started.
Tomorrow THE BIG MOVE starts where we take everything from Argyle House into the new centre. We have a van hired for 3pm and we have John "the ox" Mulvey to help with all the lifting. We know some great osteopaths in case our backs give in. I have a kettle and biscuits. It's blood sweat and tears time but we are on the very last part of this journey and then we can start exciting times at the hub and the new centre. Bring it on!
Wednesday, 5 October 2011
Choirs, Coffee and Carpentry
Such a great meeting this morning with Peter about a community choir. I am very lucky that I get to meet all these people with such talents and enthusiasm and that they want to come and get involved at the hub.
So today in brief (because it's late and I have a half-finished creme caramel):
Now where's that creme caramel?
So today in brief (because it's late and I have a half-finished creme caramel):
- Great meeting with Peter and hopefully we will have three drop-in singing Christmassy events coming soon not organised by me...this is Peter's baby. If it was mine it would be a Neil Diamond and Dolly Parton sing-a-long group. Oooh now there's an idea.
- Off to B&Q - again!!!
- Hung blinds successfully - hurray!
- Created my own shelving system
- Phoned dial-a-carpenter (dad) for advice
- Wall too flimsy to support shelving system
- Put coffee on to soften the blow
- Ate chocolate orange to soften the blow still further
- Off to buy shelving mark two!
I had a lovely chat with Hannah today who is taking bookings for the Monday after school MAKE & TAKE CLUB 4-5pm. It's proving popular. Email registration@thecrafthub.co.uk.
Tomorrow I have high hopes for the shelving mark 2 as dial-a-carpenter is coming in in person to save the day. Nigel the electrician is coming to link up the loo gadget, BT are coming to sort out the phones and internet, I may treat myself to a cherry and almond tart and I hope to get around to contacting all our wonderful course leaders and facilitators as we officially open on Monday!
To remind you all that between 12 noon and 1:30pm on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday next week and every week afterwards we are open for a cup of tea and a chat, a bit of knitting or stitching or just to come and stop for a bit and catch your breath. On Thursday we are holding out WORLD'S BIGGEST COFFEE MORNING for Macmillan Cancer Support. So come and share a cake and cuppa between 10-12noon. We will have a raffle and a giggle and would love to see you all. You could always come and admire my shelving!
Now where's that creme caramel?
Tuesday, 4 October 2011
Phew About The Loo!
You know when you have those times when you look back and think, "I'm not sure how I got away with that." Well this morning was one of those. The loo is NOT finished - it looks finished but appearances can be deceptive! Thank goodness I encouraged last night's course members to use the downstairs loos or it could have been disastrous
I spoke to no one in B&Q this morning and as a result it was a much more pleasurable experience. I fitted my first cupboard doors and (provided when I go in tomorrow they are not hanging off by their hinges) I think I did pretty well.
I had a lovely phone call from Josephine who ordered a chocolate cake to takeaway from the fair on Saturday. She was saying thank you and how much she loved the fair. She also said she liked her lemon drizzle cake. It was such a lovely message that I saved it to listen to again when I need a boost. And note to self...lemon drizzle cake is the popular cake of the moment. It gets all the praise.
Poor Becky (and I know you will be reading this) popped by when I was in a meeting with Sophie so I didn't let her in (I'm such a meanie). I find it really hard to get the balance between being fair to the person in the meeting and kind to the person who has come to visit. The good news is that from Monday 10th (next Monday) we will be open for everyone for a cuppa and a chat between 12 noon - 1:30pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays. So there will be no more shutting the door on our lovely visitors faces. Becky...it broke my heart to send you away. Come back soon and I will make it up to you somehow x
Sophie...now there's an amazing woman. She's a business woman (runs baby signing classes and baby music classes) as well as studying for a degree as well as being a mummy to 18 month old Thirza. I've asked her to come and tutor me in time management. She was also a lovely lady and although it is hard to find a time when she is available and the hub is available too, I really hope we can work together in the future. In the meantime, Sophie is teaching elsewhere in Exeter so if you are interested in baby signing or baby music classes let me know and I will put you in touch with her.
We are getting really close to the official start of the Hub of the Green and I am so excited. So many people are interested in what we are doing but to avoid disappointment now is the time to start booking your places on our courses. If you are not sure how to, please contact me and I can put you in touch with the right person (joey.lee@sustaincare.net or 07950 961751)
Mondays - Yoga Babies, Make & Take Club for children and parents
Tuesdays - Contemporary Craft Workshops & Bonjour Tonton! (French language & drama for pre-schoolers)
Wednesdays - Adult Yoga, Bonjour Tonton!, Positive Parenting Classes, Mosaic Masterclasses, Knit & Natter drop-in
Fridays - Kimbows' Kitsch Stitching
And there are more events being added all the time. If there is something you would like to see at the hub and you can't see it yet, I would love to hear about it.
I spoke to no one in B&Q this morning and as a result it was a much more pleasurable experience. I fitted my first cupboard doors and (provided when I go in tomorrow they are not hanging off by their hinges) I think I did pretty well.
I had a lovely phone call from Josephine who ordered a chocolate cake to takeaway from the fair on Saturday. She was saying thank you and how much she loved the fair. She also said she liked her lemon drizzle cake. It was such a lovely message that I saved it to listen to again when I need a boost. And note to self...lemon drizzle cake is the popular cake of the moment. It gets all the praise.
Poor Becky (and I know you will be reading this) popped by when I was in a meeting with Sophie so I didn't let her in (I'm such a meanie). I find it really hard to get the balance between being fair to the person in the meeting and kind to the person who has come to visit. The good news is that from Monday 10th (next Monday) we will be open for everyone for a cuppa and a chat between 12 noon - 1:30pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays. So there will be no more shutting the door on our lovely visitors faces. Becky...it broke my heart to send you away. Come back soon and I will make it up to you somehow x
Sophie...now there's an amazing woman. She's a business woman (runs baby signing classes and baby music classes) as well as studying for a degree as well as being a mummy to 18 month old Thirza. I've asked her to come and tutor me in time management. She was also a lovely lady and although it is hard to find a time when she is available and the hub is available too, I really hope we can work together in the future. In the meantime, Sophie is teaching elsewhere in Exeter so if you are interested in baby signing or baby music classes let me know and I will put you in touch with her.
We are getting really close to the official start of the Hub of the Green and I am so excited. So many people are interested in what we are doing but to avoid disappointment now is the time to start booking your places on our courses. If you are not sure how to, please contact me and I can put you in touch with the right person (joey.lee@sustaincare.net or 07950 961751)
Mondays - Yoga Babies, Make & Take Club for children and parents
Tuesdays - Contemporary Craft Workshops & Bonjour Tonton! (French language & drama for pre-schoolers)
Wednesdays - Adult Yoga, Bonjour Tonton!, Positive Parenting Classes, Mosaic Masterclasses, Knit & Natter drop-in
Fridays - Kimbows' Kitsch Stitching
And there are more events being added all the time. If there is something you would like to see at the hub and you can't see it yet, I would love to hear about it.
The Craft Hub's MAKE AND TAKE CLUB - Monday at 4-5pm
This course is causing a real buzz and Lottie and I are very excited about it. 
If you don't have access to email ring me on 07950 961751 and I will put you in touch.
Monday, 3 October 2011
New Loo, New Noticeboard, Working Sink = Heaven!!!
It was a dodgy start to the day but it's turn out all right in the end. Lovely Dean was back in again this morning to do the last bit of work on the dispensary. I started off my day in B&Q which was never going to get me off to a good start. I couldn't find the pipe supports! I got all in a bit of a muddle but Dean was great and it all got sorted thanks to his calm nature. I can't remember what else was going on but it all seemed a bit much. But it doesn't take a lot to turn the day around. Dad rang up to say he was on his way with the new noticeboards. Our hub is just fabulous but being listed we can't attach anything to the walls so dad came up with a cunning plan for the boards including special hooky things. Genius. He took away the last bit of cake from Saturday's sale (as payment?!).
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| Dad with his latest creation |
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| Let's fill it up! |
Then Danny came over with Ruth. Now he's a tonic in himself. Danny always came to knit and natter with Ruth and he has the loveliest nature. He tested out our new building blocks and it was great to catch up with Ruth and her new bump. I had a meeting at 2pm and so I had to say good-bye to them rather abruptly. I am sorry Ruth, it was so lovely to see you. The days just aren't long enough.
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| Little Danny testing out the blocks |
Shane the other plumber finished the en-suite. I just need to do a bit of interior decorating and flooring but we are so nearly there.
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| It's a brand new loo - never been used! |
I am now sitting at the new desk in the reception of the adjacent Sustainable Health Centre whilst the Hub is being used for it's first ever class. White Lotus Meditation have their first meeting. The dongle is working in here and I am ploughing through the emails. Clearing some of the To Do List will help me get a good start to the day tomorrow, except that I am starting in B&Q again! But it is only to find cupboard doors and I know what they look like!
Sunday, 2 October 2011
Busy Weekend!
The grammar and punctuation spot-the-mistake competition has been temporarily halted as I am so tired I cannot be held responsible for my actions.
Yesterday...
Yesterday's craft fair was fabulous. We had lots of visitors including lots of people that I have met recently through the hub, lots of familiar faces from our Cafe Sustain days and lots of faces that we had never seen before but hope to see again. The only complaint was the people came in waves and I am shocking bad at multi-tasking, never mind having multiple conversations so if I didn't finish the conversation I started with you, I am really sorry and please do pop by so we can finish our chats. There were so many positive prospective partnership conversations. We had people who wanted to sell at the craft fair, people who wanted to teach at the hub. people who wanted to come to the courses and people who want to keep in touch and know what is going on in the future. And that blog-readers is all good news.
'Our Arty Ones' were just that. They are amazing. For someone who just about managed to draw a rocket on a canvas bag (but made the mistake of colouring the rocket's windows blue when I should have left them colourless) I am in awe of them all for what they create. If you weren't at the fair then do take a look at the photos I posted yesterday and let us know what you think. If you were one of our whizzers, who come in, sped past the stalls and had a cup of tea or rushed off I would ask that next time, you pause and really look at what 'Our Arty Ones' do. There will be no pressure to buy anything but when you pause and really look you, will see all sorts of amazing things. Lisa's little flowers that look like table decorations turn out to be hair clips and Sharon's bunting had individual fish stitched onto the satin ribbon. These are talented, clever, witty people and if you dash past you will miss things. I had an email from a lady today who had bought some bunting from Sharon for her daughter's bedroom. She had emailed to say, "...[My daughter's] bunting is also so beautiful I hadn't appreciated the detail like the cupcake ribbon...her room is finally finished hurray!"
I came away with a new necklace, two hairclips, gingerbread men, biscuits and cakes, decorated canvas bags and a fish and chip card. The only thing I didn't get which I wanted was a green spotty wallet but I will get that at the next fair.
The cakes were fabulous again. Mum's decorations on her brownies were a work of art in themselves, Amelia reminded us how fabulous gingerbread men are and I have been nibbling away at them all weekend, Becky's biscuits are great with a cup of tea, how kitsch can you make a cake?...very! Just ask Kim, Ben's flapjack recipe was great and it was nice to have him there in flapjack as he couldn't come in person, I was really pleased with my raspberry and almond cake, the little white starred crispy cakes were cute as anything and the raspberry muffins that arrived freshly baked and still warm (good job Cathy!) we delicious. It was such a hot day that we didn't serve as many teas and coffees this time - but the sunshine didn't stop people buying cake and we had plenty of takeaways cake orders too. Good job bakers! I think as our next fair is on 5h November and I have a dental plan, I may try and make bonfire toffee!
Today I spent the day with a very patient Dean who has been fitting the dispensary on his Sunday off. Yesterday his wife, Rachel 'Little Stitch', was working at the fair so thanks to the hub they have had no quality time together. This is not representative of the hub's aims and objectives but I would just like to say a big thank you to the Poulters for all their time and help and support and plumbing lessons.
B&Q have dropped a few places in my popularity pole yet again. When asking for the items on Dean's list the 'here to help' man told me how he hated it when men sent their wives and girlfriends and didn't understand why they couldn't come down themselves. I explained I wasn't a wife or girlfriend merely a gopher! It didn't help my cause. I haven't felt quite so small and pathetic in a while. I think they need to invest in their customer service.
By lunchtime tomorrow I will have running water in the dispensary and by the end of the week my en suite loo will be fully functional. I am looking for someone willing to be the first to test it. Offers by email only please.
Yesterday...
Yesterday's craft fair was fabulous. We had lots of visitors including lots of people that I have met recently through the hub, lots of familiar faces from our Cafe Sustain days and lots of faces that we had never seen before but hope to see again. The only complaint was the people came in waves and I am shocking bad at multi-tasking, never mind having multiple conversations so if I didn't finish the conversation I started with you, I am really sorry and please do pop by so we can finish our chats. There were so many positive prospective partnership conversations. We had people who wanted to sell at the craft fair, people who wanted to teach at the hub. people who wanted to come to the courses and people who want to keep in touch and know what is going on in the future. And that blog-readers is all good news.
'Our Arty Ones' were just that. They are amazing. For someone who just about managed to draw a rocket on a canvas bag (but made the mistake of colouring the rocket's windows blue when I should have left them colourless) I am in awe of them all for what they create. If you weren't at the fair then do take a look at the photos I posted yesterday and let us know what you think. If you were one of our whizzers, who come in, sped past the stalls and had a cup of tea or rushed off I would ask that next time, you pause and really look at what 'Our Arty Ones' do. There will be no pressure to buy anything but when you pause and really look you, will see all sorts of amazing things. Lisa's little flowers that look like table decorations turn out to be hair clips and Sharon's bunting had individual fish stitched onto the satin ribbon. These are talented, clever, witty people and if you dash past you will miss things. I had an email from a lady today who had bought some bunting from Sharon for her daughter's bedroom. She had emailed to say, "...[My daughter's] bunting is also so beautiful I hadn't appreciated the detail like the cupcake ribbon...her room is finally finished hurray!"
I came away with a new necklace, two hairclips, gingerbread men, biscuits and cakes, decorated canvas bags and a fish and chip card. The only thing I didn't get which I wanted was a green spotty wallet but I will get that at the next fair.
The cakes were fabulous again. Mum's decorations on her brownies were a work of art in themselves, Amelia reminded us how fabulous gingerbread men are and I have been nibbling away at them all weekend, Becky's biscuits are great with a cup of tea, how kitsch can you make a cake?...very! Just ask Kim, Ben's flapjack recipe was great and it was nice to have him there in flapjack as he couldn't come in person, I was really pleased with my raspberry and almond cake, the little white starred crispy cakes were cute as anything and the raspberry muffins that arrived freshly baked and still warm (good job Cathy!) we delicious. It was such a hot day that we didn't serve as many teas and coffees this time - but the sunshine didn't stop people buying cake and we had plenty of takeaways cake orders too. Good job bakers! I think as our next fair is on 5h November and I have a dental plan, I may try and make bonfire toffee!
Today I spent the day with a very patient Dean who has been fitting the dispensary on his Sunday off. Yesterday his wife, Rachel 'Little Stitch', was working at the fair so thanks to the hub they have had no quality time together. This is not representative of the hub's aims and objectives but I would just like to say a big thank you to the Poulters for all their time and help and support and plumbing lessons.
B&Q have dropped a few places in my popularity pole yet again. When asking for the items on Dean's list the 'here to help' man told me how he hated it when men sent their wives and girlfriends and didn't understand why they couldn't come down themselves. I explained I wasn't a wife or girlfriend merely a gopher! It didn't help my cause. I haven't felt quite so small and pathetic in a while. I think they need to invest in their customer service.
By lunchtime tomorrow I will have running water in the dispensary and by the end of the week my en suite loo will be fully functional. I am looking for someone willing to be the first to test it. Offers by email only please.
Saturday, 1 October 2011
Craft Fair Photos
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| Lisa Purchase fabulous designs |
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| Lisa's canvases |
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| Kim's kitsch fairy cakes |
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| Add caption |
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| Kimbows creations |
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| Little Stitch's sock teds |
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| Kim modelling her necklaces |
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| Oscar and Felix decorating their bags |
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| Mum's cake stall |
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| "Nice gloves Scrummy!" |
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| The concentration in the crafting area...fantastic! |
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| Our Arty Ones were just testing the cakes |
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| Max's front... |
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| Max's back! |
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| Little Olly with his rainbow bag |
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| We have fabulous models at the hub |
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| Lovely Mimi and Olly and Olly's fab-bag |
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| Love it! |
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| Hester's side of the bag... |
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| Sharon's boaty theme |
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| I bought a fab Padstow card for my friend for old times sake :) |
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| Loving the bunting with fish too |
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| Our Arty Ones |
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| Scrummy's chocolate brownies |
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| Sharon's nautical stall |
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| and Sharon's hearts...these were popular today |
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| Kimbows' bracelets |
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