Remembering....

I have not long heard the very sad news about Amanda Holden and the loss of her baby. According to news reports the Britain's Got Talent Judge, who was seven months pregnant, went to Hospital in London on Tuesday when she noticed the baby had stopped moving. Despite the best efforts of doctors, the baby boy was stillborn.

I admit I was very upset when I read this, and my thoughts were not only with Amanda, and what she and her husband Chris must be going through, but also very much made me think about my own experience of loosing a baby late on in pregnancy. I thought of my special little man, who I crave every single day of my life for just one more cuddle. Those early days after the loss of my baby, were quite surreal. It was like I was floating around, not really with it. We had a funeral to sort. I went with my husband to various places we thought may be appropriate for a special little get together to remember Joshua, and this whilst milk meant for him, my darling tiny son who I was burying,  was literally pouring out of me, like tears. The hospital offered me the choice of taking some medication to stop my milk coming in, but in my thinking I wanted to feel close to him and wanted proof that yes, I had had a baby, he was not with me, but he had existed, and was a very real person who was created out of love and the hope of a wonderful future for him. It was a long long time till his milk went, like him I didn't want to let it go.

I would never dream of telling Amanda and Chris how to cope, what to feel. We all react very differently, and we must do what works for us. It helps me to talk about my experience, get my feelings out. Does this mean I haven't got over it. Well for the record, I shall never get over it, never forget, possibly like Amanda won't. Of course, things DO get easier and I had so much love and support from people around me, who for just a little while carried me along whilst I got emotionally stronger and I know in my heart although is sad my baby is not with me, I am happy I experienced carrying him and giving birth to him. I don't know exactly what Amanda Holden is going through, but do know that when you lose a baby, one unwittingly joins this club of women who only each other knows what it is like, and the pain it brings. Of course the fathers too should never be forgotten about in all of this. Sometimes women and men talk about their experience, sometimes they don't. No right no wrong.

For me I had wonderful support from Sands  They have a very moving and gentle book, called A Star for Bobby aimed at brothers and sisters in the family and has a special place in Miss. Poppins' bookshelves. Sometimes, we feel like we want a little read of it, and are always touched by the story. In my next pregnancy the best information and advice I could hope for was from Tommy's and I went on to have my own special hero, Master Poppins, born at 29 weeks. It was not an easy ride, but he fought all the way and is the most charming and wonderful little four year old, who my love for grows stronger and stronger all the time.

So my heart goes out to Amanda and her family, I do think it must be quite hard going through this in the glare of the public eye, but she shall have so much support and love of all those around her.


* Thank you so much for your heartfelt comments on this post, I have been very touched and moved by them *
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I Love A Little Ladybird....

I don't know about you, but I love an old book. I love it even more if it happens to be a child's old book, with pretty pages and sweet nostalgic text. Yes, I am a Ladybird book fan, the older the better. I know for collectors, condition and things like editions, series and dust jackets are very important, and can increase the value somewhat, though for me I am not interested in value. They have far more sentimental value to me and I certainly don't mind them looking a little sorry for themselves.

Here is my little ladybird collection.... ( click on photograph if you want a closer nose )

Do you recognise any you may have....

I think they look so charming gracing  Miss. Poppins' shelf....

She loves to read them, we especially like Danger Men....

Well yesterday, a lovely friend of mine lent me her copy of Homes & Antiques.

As I was having a very pleasurable read I stumbled upon this article all about Ladybird Books. It talks about how these highly nostalgic books are now collectors items with ( in some cases ) a big monetary value too.

As for my little collection, I couldn't help get a little excited and checked out my editions to see if I had any of the higher value items ( what was I saying about them only being of sentimental value ) though of course only for interest, I doubt I would sell any of mine. Tiptoes got me a little excited as the 10th edition ( 1954)  fetches around £45.00. I have Tiptoes and eagerly checked out its credentials. The article goes on to say about how to check out your collections....

How to see if yours is a first edition. Apparently there are dozens of pointers. You need to establish the publication date, and not to be fooled into thinking the 'first published' date on your title shall give you the answer, as this does not guarantee your copy is a first edition. Key dates help, in 1961, the ladybird logo changed from an open-winged bird to the plan view that is more familiar. In 1965, dust jackets were abandoned in favour of matt board covers. And the article goes on to mention many more interesting facts. If like me you love to know the history of your ladybird books you can pop along to Ladybird Fly Away Home  a super place to learn all about your Ladybird books. Or The Wee Web


As for my little collection, one or two have been given as lovely gifts, some from even my own childhood and most bought at no more than 20p from thrift shops and carboots. I have noticed however that even charity shops are popping a couple of pounds now on these sort after items. Quite an increase from the half a crown they used to cost. So, check out your collection, you never know you may have the 'holy grail' of Ladybirds ( if it still exists, as none are known to ) a special run of the 1971 version of  The Computer, approximately 100 copies were produced for the Ministry of Defence with special covers so they didn't looks like children's books. By far the rarest Ladybird book. If you find it, remember me won't you ;0)

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A Mary Poppins Week....

Thank you so much for your wonderful and inspiring comments on my florals post and the wearing of them. I thought the comment from Shabbily By The Sea  was very touching...." If a hundred year old walled garden can can wear roses then why can't we? " So true Kristina.

Well I have been nosing at fashion magazines and actually it seems, florals are the *in* thing at the moment. Many of the catwalks have pretty florals gracing them and I enjoyed reading this post on Fashion Urbia  Hey blogettes, maybe we have started something with this floral thing ;0) As I mentioned, I love to wear the floral cardigan I photographed in my last post, and here I am wearing it. I don't post photographs of me often, so please be gentle....

I was featured in a lovely magazine that is local to my area and surrounding towns and villages. The article was about blogging and my love of handmaking what I call my pretties I use the word a lot, I think I first used it on my blog here gosh one of my first posts back in 2008. I really enjoyed chit chatting with the friendly editor of the magazine at my home, and I have to say, I have had lovely feedback ( even my super postman said he enjoyed reading it ) I was quite tickled that my photograph, on the contents page, was bigger than Sir Alex Ferguson's  ;0)

It actually has been somewhat of a Mary Poppins week, first my little article in this months Tesco magazine, then on the same day as this magazine's release, I was on the television. It was the repeat of my Bargain Hunt episode, where I appeared as a contestant with my lovely friend  in 2009. I didnt realise it was on until it was nearly over, and some people who didnt get to see it first time round, said they really enjoyed it and it looked like we had a ball, we certainly did !! We even made it on to their 25th anniversary edition last year, those bloomin' candleabra's are famous I tell you....

So after all the lovely attention I have had, I am hoping for a quiet week, in my own little world, making pretties and getting on with life and all that it brings. I have been getting into more of a sunnier disposition, and holding off buying that light box as the sun has been a peeping on occassion, and very much lifting my mood. Though she is obviously a little shy and hasn't been back since. Come on Sun I miss you....
 
So back to the chine it is, I enjoyed making these pretties....:0)


Pretty cushions....
 

Sweet fabric covered notebooks....

And Oh so pretty bags....

Is it wrong that I want to keep everything I make ;0)

Hope you are having a good week whatever you are up to, going to go for a blog moochy to see what your news is....

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