To Advertise or Not?

Firstly, a quick hello and welcome to my newest followers   ; Emma from The Log Cabin and Carole from The Smiling Cat.
Secondly, an update on my post from yesterday. At the time of writing Martha's blog had had over 5 million hits, the decision about not taking photographs has been scrapped and her Just Giving page has raised over £68 000 for her charity. This has to show the Internet at it's best. Well done to all those people who responded.
I have been pondering recently, the pros and cons of adding advertising to a blog. I find it's not a clear cut opinion to form. Some of the blogs I read are adamant that they are and will remain advert free, other have adverts, but no pressure to click on anything and yet others are right out there with full-on promotion of their sponsors.
I find that I am irritated by adverts on some blogs, but don't mind it on others.
For now I will remain advert-free. Not least, because I can't believe that I'll have enough readers to make it worthwhile monetising it.
We shall wait and see......

Is it 1984? Maybe for Martha Payne.

I posted recently about the blog written by Martha Payne, Never Seconds.

Today I learned that her local council, Argyll and Bute has forced her to close down the blog.
This has been reported extensively over the last few hours. The most surprising thing is the council don't seem to appreciate the power of the Internet.This blog has had over 2 million hits.
Many reports have posted the councils email address - here it is:-
 complaints@argyll-bute.gov.uk
Strangely, the website will be shut down this weekend. Coincidence?
Read the blog and make up your own mind about what is going on here.

Best Laid Plans .......

Firstly, hello to my newest follower, fellow Leonard Cohen fan, Lovely Grey Day. If you haven't read her excellently written blog, give it a go.
Tonight I was supposed to have a night out - only to a small comedy club in the city centre. Cheap and cheerful, with the bonus of a couple of glasses of wine. However, it's been one of those days. I got caught up in the fall-out from someone else's bad behaviour at work. Unknowingly, of course.
As a consequence, I've had to forgo the day off I had booked for tomorrow and finished later than I should. This meant I couldn't have made it into the city in time for the start of the show and I have to consider my early start tomorrow.
On top of this, the football has interfered with the viewing times for Corrie
. If you're not in the UK, you might not appreciate that watching Coronation Street on a Monday night is essential for several million of us - especially up north.
So what's a girl to do in these circumstances -







Pour a gin and tonic



and fire up the sewing machine!

Red Gingham

Time for a confession - I have a bit of an obsession with red gingham. It started with the purchase of a pair of new red gingham curtains from a charity shop.

Bunting on shelf edges?

They will be put around a work table in my sewing room. I've got a make - over / revamp in mind. There's a lot to be done and it's very much a W.I.P. Meanwhile I've been collecting ideas - these pics are filched from Pinterest, not my work, unfortunately.

Isn't this a lovely cushion?

Red gingham features quite heavily in my design ideas. I had already planned on white / red decorating theme, but now all I see is flippin' red gingham!

Can you have too much bunting?

Whilst looking for ideas, I found it everywhere - all kinds of clothes, homewares and interior design can and is done with red gingham.

I did see one picture on Pinterest of a whole room decorated this way - upholstery, curtains, accessories, the lot.
I know less is more, so I'll have to choose carefully and of course, the driving factor is cost. With the exception of paint (already have this), my purchases are thrifted, home made or presents.

Bought this money box tin in a charity shop a couple of months ago.

When I finish it, I'll post photos and you can tell me if my new sewing room (A.K.A. back bedroom) is fit for purpose or not!

This tin is part of my thrifted collection ready for use in the new room.

Throw It Again

My Bank Holiday was mainly spent dog walking. We walked the dogs around the local water park. One of them found an abandoned tennis ball, so a good half hour was spent throwing it for her. She loves the water, so that's where the ball went.

We took bread for the ducks and swans - they were in very short supply, but the Canadian Geese obliged by eating as much as they could.

Bargain Hunting

On my way home, I popped into Asda and as luck would have it, my visit coincided with the appearance of the girl with the yellow sticker gun.
I snapped up quite a few bargains, but only that I will definitely use.
Cost full price -£8.97 for this pile.
Cost to me -£2.87, and I have pastries for breakfast, yogurts to last all week and the main ingredients for several main meals.
I love a bargain!