WOYWW #903 - A Few ATCs

Desk has a few ATCs I've managed to do lately. 

Oh and some chocolate wrappers from my last Saturday night dancing. Had to leave early as wasn't feeling great, seem to have a bit of a cold on top of the ear trouble.

Forced myself to finish off the last 2 weeks of the Seek/Gather/Create August challenge.

Also to do the JOTW September challenge.

Stuck with ATCs though as don't feel much like crafting still.

Got son visiting again from this evening for his annual Dental visit and car service/MOT. Hoping I can cope better this time as last time was all too much with the works as well. Have a plan for hubby to park his car out the front whilst we're at the dentist so I have somewhere to park when we get home (he has a garage out the back).

Happy WOYWW Everyone.

WOYWW #902 - Pants!

Yes quite literally my craft life has been reduced to mending pants! 

It's quite distressing to look back on the week and find no crafting as such, still no real desire to either.

I did however dye my hair again on Sunday. The temperature had increased so I didn't go to church as I just can't cope with the heat.

Don't be confused, the smile belies how I am actually feeling.

I have managed a few walks, avoiding building works as much as possible. 

The footpath is so open now without the trees and undergrowth it's like walking the gauntlet in working hours, best avoided. 

(Fireplace in a hedge)

One direction from my front door had a builder retching on the grass so had to avoid that as well. 

The other way vans and early crane deliveries. All very unpleasant.

(part of a piano perhaps?)

So quite some curiosities I have seen whilst out.

This crazy wall is at the edge of the shell garage probably from the former Galleon Swimming Pool complex from the 1940s. 

Glad they kept that with the recent electrical cabinet changes. In fact they have left it clear to walk round and view.

I missed the wrought ironwork on top of the wall, for these photos but maybe this would be a good embroidery project? 

We'll see.

Happy WOYWW Everyone.

WOYWW #901 - Coming to Terms with it all Slowly.

Oh my life, yet another stressful week. Trying ways to deal with all the construction disturbances and really thankful for the persistent rain yesterday making 2 of the developments pack up earlier than usual. Also that it was nice and cool so the windows being shut all day wasn't too bad either.

The Magnificent Horse Chestnut tree has now gone but they left a log so I commandeered that to enable me to look over the wall/trellis. We've just bought privacy curtaining to cover the inside of the trellis during all this construction as the HGVs drive straight past our wall, and I can see them from my sofa in the lounge!

Still not managed any crafting, but hoping to feel better about the situation by the end of the month for the next ZEN installment. I seem to like sewing projects these days.

Here's a shadow photo just for Julia. It's from along the footpath where all the trees have been felled, the tracks are from the stump grinder.

We managed a geocache yesterday and left a duck due to all the lovely rain. I love the rain, give me rain, happy happy day.

I have continued my letter writing and have now written to my local MP. 

I have also spoken with the council enforcement team and exchanged more emails but take umbrage to being told I am the only person "complaining" and that Shanly have done a letter drop but I canvassed the other street and they most certainly haven't!

I have also raised the issue of the fragmented road markings on the street near our garage as the straight on is the give way and the HGVs etc don't seem to notice it. I had to shout to this lady to BEWARE and she jumped back on the pavement!

I have also raised the issue of Saturday afternoon and Sunday working with the council from one other development as we don't seem to get any relief if that keeps happening. I have spoken with the developer many times about this so I think I have been reasonable enough.

Thank you for all the lovely comments of support last week and I'm really sorry not to have replied to any. It is only now that I seem to have felt able to sit at my PC for me as I wasn't even going to blog this week.

Happy WOYWW Everyone.

A Very Sad Day

 A very sad day,

even the sky is crying

😢🌳🪵😢

Reigate and Banstead Council approved TPO BAN55 G1 being felled for housing development - 23/02015/F Banstead Off Wellesford Close SM7 2HL

This is just one of 10 plus tress also being felled for this development.

Shanly still haven't stood by there own Construction Management Plans to communicate with the local residents via a regular newsletter, to share what they are doing with this major development down (what was once) a quiet cul-de-sac. They didn't even issue all local residents with a notice of commencement.

Residents are totally blindsided by this developer.

This and other various other planning breaches which unfortunately the Council Planning Enforcement section don't seem to be able to enforce.

Shame on you Shanly

And today not to mention the noise from the chipping machine and generator as well as the chainsaws, plus the rumble of the constant digging on the site. Oh and the nail guns saws and hammering either side for the other 2 developments doing roofs.

Total nightmare.

WOYWW #900 - Trees all but GONE!

I've decided to finish my first living line yesterday 1st September. I started it on 31st May. I thought it fitting to have the tree on the outside when rolled up.

The last 3 panels are a local wildlife field, the Horse Chestnut soon to be felled and a plant I have seen everywhere alone the streets despite the drought. 

There was NO saving of the trees, all approved to be felled by the council, TPO or not. 

Spoken to 2 Tree Officers and the Rights of Way local assistant and no one seems to care much about anything these days it's a very sad state of affairs.

Still no communication from Shanly, a blatant disregard for local residents.

Total chaos here yesterday. Crane and articulated lorry with the roof for next door but they didn't think to get a car moved beforehand! 

They got hold of the keys and a builder moved it eventually.

Half the trees on the footpath felled without closing the footpath, nightmare for all but the most agile (I walked along about 4 times and they had to stop each time!).

Absolutely shattered and son coming for visit, not sure I can cope. 

I was supposed to be doing an online thingy this week too but totally lost the plot these days.

As for my first "00" post that was for #200 on 3rd April 2013, having joined in first a year before that at #145 on 14th March 2012.

My 200th post just happened to be when I first met up with our Helen. All the best for your operation Helen whenever it is....

Happy WOYWW Everyone.

WOYWW #899 - Nada

Sorry nothing to show here except papers about the development and tree felling. 

Shanly still hasn't shared any info so I've written to head of planning, the local press and my 3 councillors. Also the groundworks contractor just trying to get an idea of what's happening and when.

I spoke with the Tree Officer yesterday, its a done deal.

The press have replied to my email and I expect a call soon.

Everywhere is such a mess and I feel a prisoner in my own home with the other 2 developments going on either side as well. 

The roads are either full of HGVs or blocked or closed!

The closed/diversion is for some other roadworks and the signage is rather misleading as the throughfare is still open.

Add to that I am suffering from all the dust with Pulsatile Tinnitus.

Only positive is I managed to go to badminton last week and church too as it was a bit cooler, but had to leave both early. Unfortunately it has been warmer the past couple of days which is distressing.

So yes still struggling somewhat, can't really concentrate on anything crafty and lots of tears.

Happy WOYWW Everyone.

WOYWW #898 - Felling a tree from TPO BAN55 G1

Have just found out that Reigate and Banstead Planning have approved the felling of a TPO tree for the Shanly development. All without meaningful local awareness. 

To say I am seething is an understatement to say the least. 

So here's the tree in question, and it's original TPO from back in 1965. 

The Shanly development is taking place on the old allotments.

In all this madness with Shanly I have managed some more embroidery. 

I added some swirly leaves, then a panel from my wedding dress fabric (pink flowers) and the hay like grass having had no rain in months.

I've penned letters to my local ward councillors and the local press, just need the courage to send them now...

Happy WOYWW Everyone.

WOYWW #897 - Quietly Screaming!

Locked in air-con room quietly screaming. Loud music blaring to counteract the noise from the loft conversion nextdoor-but-one and the constant beep-beeping reversing alarms on the building site out the back.

Husband is fiddling with the internet so I need to activate stand alone speaker periodically.

On desk are the Solar Eclipse glasses for later bought them ages ago so really glad I remembered where I stored them!

I did Week 2 of Seek Gather Create.

Prompts:- Cut-outs, A Seed, Texture and Light Green.

I did another ATC. I think ATCs are all I can manage right now so I did an ATC for the JOTW August monthly challenge too.

Prompts:- Lemon motif, Lemon/Green/Blush&White, Texture, Patterned Paper and a Scripture.

My Scripture is, James 1:2, My friends, be glad, even if you have a lot of trouble.

Not sure I am managing the Joy though!

Nearly forgot my embroidery, just doing something abstract. 

It's making me think of a split rock (geode or agate), or a shell. Not really thinking about the design other than the colour progression.

Happy WOYWW Everyone.

WOYWW #896 - Knocked for Six AGAIN!

Yep 33 degrees on Monday has knocked me for six again. I think I am coping then Wham! 

Opened my window Tuesday evening for some fresh air and to give the air-con a break but had to get wet cloth to drape over my shoulders as waning again writing blog at desk.

I did the Nerium Oleander Shrub on my embroidery followed by some Jars of Clay backed by Solomon's Colonnade with Cyprus trees.
 

I did an ATC for week 1 of Seek Gather Create. I managed to find things to satisfy the 4 items from my stash: Coral, A Fish, An Edge, Dark Green.

I'm having a break from the scripture writing but did a page on "My hiding place" the Hebrew word beseter.

I've been picking a few watercolour sessions out of a Summer Creative Retreat.

Poppies and a landscape.

Milky Way and a Seashell.

Flowers and Colour Play Circles.

Just about holding it together - not.

Happy WOYWW Everyone.

WOYWW #895 - Buildings Works.

Oh my life - quietly losing it here. Just to clarify about the buildings works and that it is not going away soon, in fact it has just been added to...

1) Nextdoor east of us sold part of their garden and a new single house is being built there on the corner. Started March 2026 expected to be finished by Christmas 2026.

2) Shanly started building 17 homes on the old allotments at the end of the cul-de-sac behind us. Started July 2026 and expected to finish 2028 (yes that vague).

3) Yesterday nextdoor but one west of us started their "Summer" loft extension.

The lorries tear down our road before negotiating the hairpin turn (site of single house being built) into the cul-de-sac behind us. You can just imagine the dust from a month without rain and them not having water on the Shanly site still.

We have spoken with and written to Shanly also written to the council planning breach department and I have spoken with the site manager of the ground works contractors. How much money they must have put into planning agreements and then they flout many of the conditions, it is beyond belief.

I did force myself to do a journal page but ended that with slicing my right index finger whilst cleaning my scissors!

I did add Helen's Echinacea's to my embroidery.

I'm now having a go at a plant which keeps catching my eye on my morning walks. I have used a piece of my dress fabric for this section. I looked on maps and the shrub (whatever it is) is draped over a wall so I guess I'll add that to the bottom. I need to have a go at a double line hand mending stitch too. So I guess this is somewhat a sampler for stitching as well.

So stay in my room, air-con, fan and music on. Don't look out of the windows or open doors or go for walks between 7.30am - 6pm. That should do it!!!

Happy WOYWW Everyone.

WOYWW #894 - Precious Little

As the title says, precious little crafting done this past week. 

Here's my desk where my "daily" scripture writing is even left wanting!

I did however, spurred on by some of you, add a further strip to my embroidery. 

The silver/grey plant was added after a friend's visit Friday and a photo she shared. 

The blue was supposed to be a Hydrangea but looks more like a pond in the distance LOL.

Still severely upset by the buildings works with all the dumper trucks, plumes of dust and insidious beep-beep reversing alarms. Plus elsewhere workers parking completely on the footway/pavement saying they didn't care.

Thankful for the cooler temperatures, though still in flimsy Summer dresses. I did manage going to church on Sunday which was the first time in 6 weeks. But all in all still struggling.

Happy WOYWW Everyone.