Olive And Pru: January 2021

31 January 2021

TV And A Frustrating Jigsaw

I watched a lovely film last night called 84 Charing Cross Road, a charming, gem of a film starring Sir Anthony Hopkins and Anne Bancroft. It chronicles the true story of a transatlantic business correspondence between two bibliophiles that gradually developed into a close friendship. Helene (Ann Bancroft) a script-reader in New York sees an ad in the Saturday Review of Literature for a bookstore in London that offers mail order. She writes to the bookshop asking if they can help with her search for some titles she has not been able to find locally. Store manager Frank (Anthony Hopkins) responds politely to her chatty letter, and over the course of two decades, a deep, long-distance friendship evolves.

Today whilst working in the craft room on some dolls house things I've been catching up with ITV's Finding Alice. Alice's partner of 20 years, Harry, falls down the stairs and dies soon after the couple move into the dream home he designed. Alice discovers that some men, including her late ex, hide stuff that they don't want to deal with.

I've also started watching Channel 4's The Great. Funny, entertaining and addictive, it's loosely based on Catherine The Great and her influence on Russia's history.

This jigsaw is driving me crazy, look at all that blue/grey mountain area! I like a challenge but there have been a couple of times when I have thought about giving up, but having gone this far I will persevere.

I've had tea, now I'm relaxing and looking for another nice film to watch.

~ Be safe and well ~

Polly x

23 January 2021

A Good Read

I Let You Go by Clare Mackintosh

In a split second Jenna Gray's world descends into a nightmare. Desperate to escape, she moves to a remote cottage on the Welsh coast, but her hopes of moving on and starting afresh are haunted by her fears, her grief and her memories of that cruel November night.

Slowly, Jenna begins to glimpse the potential for happiness, but her past is about to catch up with her, and the consequences will be devastating.

The novel starts out as a crime of hit and run. It was a slow build up, then wham, a major twist happens, which I did not see coming, and everything changes. The story then takes off in twists and turns.

It’s well written with a strong plot, good characters, and some tense, thrilling and shocking moments. It held my interest from page one.

∼ Happy Reading ∼

Polly x

18 January 2021

Aquarius January 20 – February 18

Miss Claire Voyant's horoscope for Aquarius

Sharing your Aquarius birthday, with, among a few million others, Ed Sheeran, Jennifer Aniston, Oprah Winfrey, Paris Hilton and John Travolta.

A bit about the personality

Do you know someone who sees the world in a totally unique way, someone who works hard to make a positive change in people’s day-to-day lives, someone who is intellectual and social, loyal, reliable, and stubborn? Chances are that person could well be an Aquarian. Aquarius is the sign most closely associated with humanitarianism. They’re also linked to science and technology and known to have a creative outlook on life. They’re sometimes called oddballs, eccentrics, or even “aliens”—but for an Aquarius, this is a good thing. Ruled by Uranus, the planet of disruption and revolution, think of Aquarius as a rebel with a cause. They can be stubborn, refuse to compromise and hot tempered, but always enigmatic.

Aquarius' prediction

If things are getting tense between you and a friend or co-worker, don't try to fight it. Conflict is never nice to deal with, but sometimes it's necessary to solve a problem or move in a better direction. Plus, your good communications skills are better than ever, so you can trust yourself to navigate any tension with grace and ease. Don't be afraid to disagree, especially when you know you're right and the other party is wrong or misguided.

Despite your aloof nature, your emotions run deep, and, like many of us the stress of the pandemic has taken its toll. As an intellectual air sign, you used your brain to stay busy rather than sink into despair. You may have organised virtual meetings, family get-togethers or fundraisers. It's likely that you might be exhausted and in need of a little care and attention yourself. It's ok to be vulnerable and ask for support. Remind your friends and family that it's your birthday, but let them do the work. Your task for 2021 is to learn to put yourself first.

~ Be safe and well ~

Polly x

15 January 2021

Dollshouse Update

Dollshouse number 2 is taking a long time to complete but I can see light at the end of the tunnel. I've been working on the kitchen for ages making everything myself so I have spent a fair amount of time working out how to make things!

In between taxing the little grey cells I have made some accessories for other rooms.

Starting in Miss Teen's room, she has a new jewellery box made with two small pieces of wood covered with pink leather and a faux diamond on the lid. Some posters printed from the web, and some photographs of random people printed from the web and glued onto sparkly card.

Freddie likes sitting on the bed with her.

I'm currently working out how to make a dressing gown for her.

Mr Teen's room now has Mr Teen in it, along with some posters, photos,

books and x-box games, all printed from the web and stuck onto card stock.

There is some wall art in the bathroom.

A chair, rug , picture and Dylan are on the top landing

Two pictures, framed photos and a large mirror in the master bedroom

Chloe likes sleeping in this room

The library has pictures, a laptop, a mobile phone

and steps

I made the books and bought the bookends with globes that rotate.

The middle landing has a runner, a picture and a plant. The plant isn't a miniature, I bought it in

Asda for the princely sum of £1 ! I'm not sure it looks right though, I think it's a bit large.

Please feel free to comment :-)

I have a Mr and Mrs in the lounge. I've removed the plant because

I thought it was over powering that corner. It's in the dining room now.

A picture, photos, a flower vase and the plant in the dining room.

a runner, console table, plant, photo, clock and mirror in the ground floor hall.

I made the mirror and the spider plant, the pot is a toothpaste lid!

The rooms look much better now, having had some personal touches added.

~ Be safe and well ~

Polly x

7 January 2021

Happy New Year

I didn't feel much like posting this on new year's eve. I was too sad to think of anything other that the loss of our beloved Buster, but I want to say thank you to all you lovely people who read and leave comments on my posts.

Here's to a happy, healthy and better 2021

Polly x

2 January 2021

Buster

Our dear sweet Buster was put to sleep on Wednesday. After having his leg amputated in July I hoped he would have another 4 or 5 years of good health, he was approaching the same age as me and I imagined we would share lots of walks in our old age. But deep in the back of my mind was the fear that the cancer would return, and it did, with a vengeance, in his lungs and heart. It was very quick, he started coughing and his breathing was shallow and laboured, the vet knew before x-rays confirmed it.