:: Dear Swedish Blog, I Love You...



Hello Cute-Face!
All images via In My House



I love this blog. It's called In My House.  These pictures are just the tip of the iceberg. This lovely blog is the absolute living, breathing definition of everything I admire about confident, colourful, rustic, gorgeous European homes.  Sigh.  It's totally swoonworthy and full of really inspiring, relaxed, natural, real life details!  I love this blog because it's not about having the 'right' designer furniture, it's more about having the 'right' things for YOU in your home. Maybe those things are things that you love, or things that you have found, things that you have rescued or inherited... just lovely, meaningful things that work for you.  I like that it's about sweet touches, prints and patterns, clever re purposing, common-sense decorating and fun!  It's about happy family times and cute fashion and puppies too.  Love.  I love it. Yes!  You will love it too.  It is irreverent and awesome and great!

xx Pip

:: Craft-On-Bury...

Argh!! Patchwork sign at Glastonbury.

*faints*
*thud*

(Can not sign name as am totally passed out with shock/delight)

:: Plonk Day...

Yesterday I had a big day.  After school drop off (which I do not do!) I ate breakfast, got dressed and plonked myself in front of my computer.  That sounds weird. That sounds like I was hitting myself up with cheap wine at breakfast time.  As entertaining as it would be to imagine me sloshing about in the mid-morning, I was not. Rather I was dramatically sitting down on the couch with a relaxed yet determined flourish.  That kind of plonk. Not a carafe in sight, I swear. No gingham tablecloths. No bread baskets.  No cutlery wrapped impossibly tight in paper napkins. Nope.  Get your plonks straight.

My plonk went like this:   For five and a half hours, while the kidlets were tucked up at school, the room stood still and quiet, and I wrote stuff for a new book.  It was so still and quiet and stuff-y that I forgot to go to the bathroom, move, drink tea (or water), eat....   I just kept writing.  Not only was it still and quiet and stuff-y, it was a bit stinky too.  The smell of an unfortunate mouse languishing inaccessibly under the floorboards finally jerked me from the plonky zone,  reminding me that TIME was indeed still ticking and it was not 9.30 any more.  It was 2.45 and 2.45 smelled like mouse.  It also looked remarkably like school pick up time. Imagine that.

I am a bit of a fan of that kind of plonk.  The kind that swallows time and stinky mouse smell, and it was a REALLY great plonk, because I got so much done.  So much that I needed to use italics there.  (You need to read that bit with your eyes a bit squinty, shaking your head disbelievingly to illustrate the point. Or perhaps you are doing that because italics are hard to read in this font.  Whichever it is, you are totally feeling this, aren't you?)

This plonk day, I was on a roll.  I got lots of good words out and I felt so happy and accomplished and pleased at the end of it. Also I felt tired and hungry and busting to pee. Sorry.  At least I did not say plonk there. That would be gross.  Does this ever happen to you? Not the pee bit.  Not the unsavoury kind of plonk bit.   But the losing time, getting in the zone, not coming up for air, making progress bit?  It's kind of like having a really satisfying meal, without the cooking, food or dirty dishes... instead you dine on paragraphs and letters and numbers.  Well.  It's probably not like that really. Some letters are quite pointy and would be hard to swallow.  What I am trying to say it's really feel-good to have those kind of exhausting great days.  Does that make sense? Despite the starving, thirsty bustingness, it felt really rad to achieve stuff.

(Do you know, when I work in a big, obsessive block like that, I seem to be less inclined to write something over here, too.   It's kind of like I have totally filled my quota of happy words and I can't even think about typing even one more full stop. Or exclamation mark.  Yes. That is more appropriate.  Perhaps it is called being Plonked Out.)

What do you think?  Do you think PLONK and BLOG are stupid words for great things?  Do you ever feel like I do?  Or do you feel like you do?  How do you feel?!

xx Pip

:: Giveaway Winner...

Using the random 'close eyes, scroll up and down and then stop and make the comment at the top of the page the winner' method we chose a winner for this rad giveaway.  This was the only way to choose, really, as there were so many really great and kind comments.  I feel very lucky to have such great readers!  Thanks for taking the time to enter, and I read every single comment and now my head is so big that I can not fit in the car.  True.  I wish everyone could win. Sigh.

Enough sighing.  Drum roll....  The winner is ::

Nic F :: Well Ms Pip, I like to visit your blog because I like the way you articulate your words. That and it's colourful, inspiring and reminds me of stuff from my childhood.


I love your lack of competitiveness with other crafters, in fact that's the most inspiring thing for me about your blog, how you share your skills and knowledge and you share the same from other crafters encouraging them to share themselves and encouraging people to take up craft because it's cool not daggy.


I live in lovely West Gippsland in Victoria, right near the snow....


And I've been reading for ummm, it'd have to be for 4 years or more.


PS on a sidenote which is irrelevant to your blog, more than anything, your message about my Vic Police media interview left me even more inspired by you because you not only realised we have crossed paths but you took the time to acknowledge that so thanks :)

I have some clogs to give away, if you like. You can choose the ones you want from West Country Clogs.  Do you fancy that?  Shall we do that this week?  Maybe a couple of books too?   I don't want to bombard you with free good stuff and freak you out or anything....

xx Pip

:: Important Things...

Do you have anything that you would like Mike's readers to know about?  Important things that are going on? Great things you have made? Events? Awesome stuff that you (or someone you know) have written?  Why don't you post a link below so we can all take a peek?

xx Pip

:: Yes or No?

Yes or No?!

Do you eat this? Even as a guilty pleasure?

Is it time to come out?

xx Pip

:: Nursery Food...

Look. Do not judge me.  Sometimes you have 'nursery dinners' imprinted in your memory.  Quick, mildly weird things that your Mum or Nanna or Dad used to serve you on the run. Tonight we are having a rare 'nursery dinner' night. This is because I have been in the shop for two days and even though I cooked LOTS of food to make sure that these two night's dinners were sorted, the hungry people in my house ATE tonight's dinner already.  And Cam is at work. So he's no use in the dinner cooking department tonight.

So, we are having something which Max and Rin and I love (Ari, notsomuch.)  Prepare to be shocked, but don't be too hard on me, because you KNOW I know about food.  AND you KNOW I am a good cook.  AND you've even cooked some of my recipes, perhaps?  Maybe.  This, of course, does not mean that I don't go weak at the knees for a nostalgic, nursery favourite.  This dinner dates back to when I was a wee child.  The idea may originate from the label on a can of soup, I am not sure.  I am too scared to ask.  Maybe it came on the spaghetti pack even...?

Here is what you do.

Cook a packet of spaghetti til it's al dente (I say that to make this seem fancier and more foodie than it is, truth be told, but DO cook your spaghetti nicely)

Then you need

One warmed tin of condensed tomato soup (don't add water! must NOT be salt reduced! if you like a lot of sauce, get the biggest can of soup)

One block of Kraft cheddar cheese, grated (this is the one that is NOT kept in the fridge at the supermarket)

You cook the spaghetti, as we said.

You use the warm non diluted soup as the pasta sauce.

You put a LOT of cheese on top.

You eat it up.

Shame. Shame. Shame. Yum.

Do you have any recipes like this?  From a label on a can, or from the 'handy hints' section of a 1974 newspaper, or from your Nanna's scribbly recipe file?  Do tell!

xx Pip

:: Crafternoon MixTape 1

:: Dry July...

Look at me go! I am the Queen of denying myself things!  Today is Day 22 of my Vegetarian Challenge! Wooh! I am actually finally getting used to this new Vegetarian way of being... It has taken this long to feel like I can do it..!  I have been craving chicken soup (because I have been unwell!) and tuna (because the yellow can atop the fridge is totally beckoning me!) But I have not caved. Not once.  I am like that. I am SUPER determined. In fact, you can call me Super Determined Lady.  Yes you can.

The internet is really good for me, because it keeps me focussed on good stuff, and it helps me TRY to be a better person. Or something.  Does it do that for you, too?!  Because I like the good stuff, I wanted to tell you that I have started a Meet Me at Mike's team for Dry July.  Dry July is a month long pledge to NOT drink. In July. But you guessed that, didn't you?!  Funds raised from Dry July benefit people who are battling cancer.  My very favourite fella in the whole wide world, Dave (Cam's dad) died of cancer in November 2009.  I miss him every single day.  Our whole family misses him every day, in fact.  Not just me!  He was such a lovely man and it is sucky that we can't see him anymore.  Bum.  I want to see him right now.  So... I am drying up like a Cruskit in honour of him.  I shall be dry as a yesterday's toast.  I will be dry as a kettle left on all day.  You get the picture.  Dry = me.  I will be Dry for July. Yes.

How can you help me be a dried up old bag in honour of a great fella?  Well...  You can join our Mike's Dry July team here and pledge to go dry too (there are Golden Tickets available for purchase if you need to have a bit of a night off being dry!)  You could also donate on our team page, if you can't possibly give up Wine-o-Clock!  That is equally good.

Wanna be on my team?  Wanna cheer from the sidelines?!

xx Pip

:: What Would You Do?

So. Let me tell you about something that happened to me today.  I was upstairs looking out the window at about 9.30.  It is cold here in Melbourne...  It was probably about ten degrees at the time (it's thirteen degrees in Fitzroy now, according to The Age).  We live over the road from the Housing Commission flats and there is a playground directly opposite us.  Lots of really great families and people live in those flats.  In the Summer and after school the playground is a hive of activity.  Those families and people are often out and about doing good stuff and hanging out in the neighbourhood.  This morning there was a child sitting on the swings.  He was alone.  There was no one else in the playground.  He was wearing a parka and shorts.  I could see from my window that he had no shoes on.

He was swinging backwards and forwards, just a titch, with his head down, trailing his bare feet through the tan bark. Hmm.  I watched him for a little while, made some tea, did a few things and came downstairs.  It was about 10.15 now. I looked out my downstairs shop window.  He was still there, swinging and trailing.  So I got my keys, stepped outside, locked my door and walked over to the playground.  I walked up to him slowly, from the front.  I said 'Hey! I live over there, and I noticed you were here by yourself.  Are you okay?'  He said 'Yes.'  I said 'Are you sure you are okay, because it's pretty cold and you don't have any shoes on.' He said 'I'm okay.' I reckon he was about 12.  I said 'See that building over there, number 63?  That's where I live.  If you need anything at all or any help, just come and see me'.  He looked down at his mobile phone, and then back up at me.  'Okay. Thanks.' He said.

So I walked away.  As I walked away I could see a police car pull up a bit further down the street. The policemen were moving along some drunk blokes.  I walked inside and shut the door. I looked out the window and the boy was still swinging.  Hmm.  Gulp. Worry.  I went back out and walked down the street to let the policemen know about the boy and the worry and the cold feet.  They said they'd go and have a chat to him.

A few minutes later, I saw them approach the boy, who was obviously a bit nervous about this.  He backed away a bit.  They all chatted  for a while.  Then the policemen (keeping their distance and in a very non threatening and pal-like way) slowly walked the boy back towards the flats.  And that is where it ends.

I don't really know why he was in the park, or what had happened, or where his shoes were.  I don't know why he wasn't at school, but he seemed like a great kid.  Really sweet and polite too.  The police left about 20 minutes later, without the boy,  so I am thinking they sorted things out.

I feel a bit sad that the boy had to be escorted back home by the police.  And I think it would have been a bit scary and embarrassing for him.  Policeman can seem very scary when they are approaching, even to an adult.  But I felt it would be wrong not to get involved.  I wanted to be sure that someone was looking out for that good kid. I wish I could have given him a bit of a squeeze and a cup of tea... and some socks... without seeming like a weirdo lady.  I wish I could have sorted his problem out for him, without having to get the boys in blue to help.  But sometimes those things are not possible...

What would you have done?  Would you get involved?

xx Pip

:: OMG! WIN Three Lovely Books!

Well would you LOOK AT THESE BOOKS! OH EM GEE!  How terrific are they? Do you want to win them?  Well... if you live in Australia YOU CAN! Answer my question before midnight Melbourne time on Friday and I will choose a winner over the weekend!  To win :: Simply tell me ::

Why do you like to visit my blog?!  Where do you live?!  How long have you been reading?!


Here is a bit more about these nice books...


My Abuela's Table by Daniella Germain
You might remember I posted about this book a little while ago, even before I had my hands on a copy.  Daniella is a very talented illustrator. Holy smoke she is great.  Her drawings are simply lovely and coupled with a whole heap of her grandma's recipes, it is itself a recipe for RAD.    (Luckily I have gotten to know Dany a bit better, because we have been working on a project together with our publisher Hardie Grant!) Miss Germain is currently blogging over here, so that would be a lovely way to get to know more about her.  Dany also guest blogged over here last week (with lots of recipes!), but I bet you already knew that!!  Thank you to Hardie Grant for sending me this book to give away!  (I am very lucky because they sent me an extra copy to keep!)


Tucked In by Meredith Gaston
I first saw Meredith's book at the Brunswick Street Bookstore when my sister was in town. I snapped a photo of the cover and later got online to ask Penguin Books for a copy to give away.  Wow.  This book is really so adorable. It's a guide on being cosy and relaxed and snoozy and happy.  I mean. REALLY?!  To me that is probably one of the top five books a person would EVER need!  And how great that Meredith got to write and illustrate such an IMPORTANT BOOK!  It's really very important to take time to restore yourself and treat yourself.  It really is.  This book is the definitive guide to comfy niceness.  Thank you Penguin for not minding when I cheekily asked for this book!  I am so glad I can give it away to someone deserving!  I am even going to buy myself a copy, because I love it so much. Yes.

You Sew Girl by Nicole Mallalieu
I have known Nicole Mallalieu for a couple of years now. Do you know her?  She's a really nice lady and she has worked super hard to put this book together.  Do you want to know how to sew PROPERLY?! Do you want to make things that look super profesh and not too wonky?  This is your book.  Nicole knows everything about sewing.  If there was a Precision Driving Team for sewing machines, she would be the top rev-head in the cutest floral pitsuit.  This book has step by step instructions for making skirts and belts and bags and hats and all kinds of pretty and practical things.  Thanks to Harper Collins for sending me Nic's book!  Thanks to Nicole for working so very hard and sharing her skills with us!

Good Luck!  The questions again are ::

Why do you like to visit my blog?!  Where do you live?!  How long have you been reading?!

xx Pip

:: Because Knitting is So Hollywood....

From the top ::

Audrey Hepburn

Ginger Rogers

Gloria Stewart

Katharine Hepburn

Marsha Hunt

xx Pip

(Original tip off was the Katharine image via Kate Nancarrow on Pinterest... and then I hunted the rest down on Google!)

:: Help Needed!

image via

I have some very nice friends working on a very great show on my very favourite tv channel.  Yep. I can't say more than that, but it's a show you are going to L.O.V.E.  (No, it's not a craft show, btw!)  Susie was wondering if you can help them with a couple of segments they are doing for said show...?!  We figured that someone out there would know the very right person for this...  or people... maybe you know more than one crafty doyenne?!  Here's what Susie says ::


A documentary series is looking to feature people/artists who work in the following mediums:

Black velvet paintings, sand art, string art, macramé, copper art, cross stitch (and the like)

We’re after those who’ve been doing it since it was first in vogue – who might be oblivious to the kitsch beauty of what they do, but love it nonetheless. If this sounds like someone you might know – or if you have a creative idea for trying to get in with that crowd, we’d be extremely grateful for your help! Thanks so much. [contact: susiejonesxx@yahoo.com.au]




Do you know someone like this?!  Have a think and chat with the people you know and let's see if we can help!

xx Pip

:: A Few Important Things...

Angela and Renee's Big Adventure ::
Help Angela and Renee get to Berlin for the first ever Etsy Conference! Wowee! Lordy, I would love to go too... maybe I could stow away in their hatbox, or something?!  Help them by clicking here.

You Sew Girl :::
Nicole Mallalieu is really the Queen of the Sewing Machine!  She has just released her very first book, You Sew Girl, which tells you how to dot your i's and cross your t's in a stitchy kind of way.  If you want to learn the very best technique and be super knowledgeable about sewing, Nicole's book is the book for you.  I have a copy to give away later this week, so stay tuned for that!  If you are serious about sewing, Nicole is your muse.  Do you have Nicole's book?  Have you made something from it?!

Born To Knit ::
Save The Children needs YOUR help!  Are you a knitter or a crocheter?  Click over here to find out how to contribute to this annual campaign to make blankets for kids who really need a bit of cosy in their lives.  Make your squares and then drop them in to Spotlight or Lincraft... or mail them to Born To Knit HQ.  There is also a school's competition, I think that is REALLY great.  Get your school knitting!!  Get yourself knitting!  I am pretty sure that you are allowed to crochet too. They did say that in the email they sent me.  Each square needs to be 20cm x 20cm (to make a blanket of 16 squares measuring 80cm x 80cm.)  Things need to be a bit uniform, so that the squares are easy to stitch together...!  Got it?!  Ace.  Let's make some squares!!

The Hottie Challenge ::
Cam's running this great campaign on her blog to raise funds for The Margaret Pratt Foundation.  Do you get frosty toes at night?  A hottie is defo the answer to that.  So let's go.  Make one for yourself and another for The Hottie Challenge.  Post the second one to Cam to be exhibited and then donated to benefit this great charity.  The Margaret Pratt Foundation supports people and families as they go though organ transplants and encourages awareness and helps fund research via the community.  Get involved in this cute, toasty way.  Your toes will thank you. Someone with shoddy lungs will thank you, too.

Do you have anything important we should all know about?  Let us know in the comments, if you would like to!

xx Pip

:: Jackie...

Did you watch The Kennedys yet?  I really enjoyed it.  I want to know more about Jackie and Bobby...  There is a book, but it might be a load of fabricated, money making spin.  Or it might be true.  I don't know. What do you know about the widow Kennedy and her brother in law?  Not that I want to gossip...  But I find it fascinating.

Jackie had such a difficult marriage and such sad things happened in her life.  No wonder she wanted to live on a private island under the protection of Mr Onassis.  I would want to live on an island to.  Maybe not with Onassis though...  Shudder.

x Pip

:: I Miss Tuna...

Sigh.
I am such a BAD vegetarian.
I am up to Day 15.
I will totally make it to the end.
I have not wavered....
But I really do miss TUNA!
You can throw things at me, if you like.
I totally deserve it.
Please don't throw tins of tuna...

xx Pip

:: South Riding...

Ooooh. Loving Anna Maxwell Martin's costumes in South Riding.  It's such a great series.  Thanks MUM!  Lots of lovely blouses and coats and hats. Heaps of super dooper cute kilts and skirts and cardigans.  Tons of frocks and suits and purses!  You totally need to watch this!

xx Pip

:: Sneak Peek :: Make Hey!

Hello you!

Here is another sneaky peek at my new book (which goes to press today!)  This is a super simple project called 'Girl's Best Friend Wall Quilt'  It's a variation on the wall quilt I did for Frankie an issue or so ago.  This is shot in Michelle's studio.  She has such cute things in her studio.  Wait till you see the photos we took in there with the cute bunting I made. I think you will like them. Yes.

Make Hey! has lots of SIMPLE projects and also lots of MORE INVOLVED projects too.  Things for first time crafters and things for more experienced crafty types as well!  And it has recipe cards too!  Yes!  They feature a few delicious things we like to eat.  You might like to eat them too, I think!  I hope!  This book is peppered with the kind of inspiration shots we all love, and dotted with the kind of things we all love too. Plus projects. Plus recipes.  Phew!

I hope you like it as much as we all do! Gulp.

xx Pip

:: My Blog via iPhone!

(dolls are by cloth and thread!)

Hello! Very exciting news!  If you download the Bloapp App from Itunes and search for Meet Me at Mikes and bookmark it, then VOILA!! You can get our blog in a super cute App format on your Iphone!  It is really very good!  And it's free!

If you have a blog, you can Bloapp your blog too!  (Kind of a bad name, Bloapp....!)  That is all!

xx Pip

:: Running For Crayons

both images via Running For Crayons :: Click here for more

Running For Crayons is Tilly.  You can find MUCH MORE Tilly over here.  You can also read Tilly's blog.  I totally think you should.  Tillly's website is a totally scroll-tacular load of splendid!  Off you go!

xx Pip

:: Things To Watch...

South Riding with David Morrissey. Fantastic. The costumes are To.Die.For.  I have watched this series thanks to My Mum and I loved it!  The cardigans and jumpers in it are amazing!!  You will love it!



Mildred Pierce (via Helen!) Looks so great! Can't wait to catch a glimpse of this!



Jane Eyre! I have not seen the movie yet. Is it even OUT in Australia yet? Probably. I am probably clueless!

What are you busting to see?!

xx Pip

:: On Breaking Up, Grief & Being Shallow

Hey! How are you? I am feeling a bit better today! Phew!  I have been resting and eating nice (vegetarian) food and watching Jane Eyre for the zillionth time with Ari and STILL working on Max's blanket.

I was thinking about why I love to make things which take a long time.  Quick things are fun to make too, but I really love the commitment of a slow project. I guess I am a total sucker for a long term craft relationship. For instance, I love making crocheted blankets.  A lot.  I have been thinking about WHY I am so enamoured with the blankie, while I have been making Max's.

Firstly, I really love to make things for other people, a LOT.  I love that they know they are totally worth those thousands of stitches, because they are super special to me.  But it is more than that.

Getting to know each other :: I love to watch the blanket unfold before my eyes, in a way that I decide on.  I love to watch the colours come together, see the stitches race row by row in little clusters and smooth lines.  I love to feel them gather their 'blanket' weight, as they grow from a strip, to a bit, to a fully fledged LOT!  I love to weave in ends and snip loose threads and stitch edges and  repeatedly fold and tug and admire as I go. I love to lay it down on the clean floor and look at it from afar.  I love to fold it up nicely and see how that looks too. I love to show it to other people, to talk about it and to see the whole thing grow in one chatty, woolly, blankie bundle.

Spending time together :: I especially love these long winded projects hanging about the place, making cameos in our everyday life. Watching a particular movie together with the blanket growing slowly on my lap.  Having a chat and tying on a new colour.  Collecting a new ball of wool or searching for scissors while someone makes a tray of tea and biscuits.  Whole weekends of nice times, picking the blanket up and doing a little bit.  Putting it down and making dinner, or feeding the cat or putting a log on the fire.  

Getting comfy :: Usually these kind of long winded projects take a couple of months to complete, so each blanket clearly marks a particular time in our life.  Each blanket is sort of like a rather woolly craft diary.  Each blanket is a tribute to the time it took to make, and the things that happened then.  Each blanket is a remembrance of why I chose that colour or where a row was finished or who was nearly having a baby or which stitch was my favourite or who doesn't like pink...!

The end :: I get sad when I finish this kind of project and we have to 'break up'.  Sometimes I shed a tear.   I'm a total long haul gal.  And even though I feel QUITE sad and empty, filled with blanket grief,  when I hand it on, it's so super satisfying at the same time to finish a project you are proud of, and to bestow it on someone you really love.  And then start another one...  (Which seems a bit shallow, but it helps with the grieving process.  Kind of a rebound scenario, but with better intentions and a woollier result!)

Does this make any sense to you?! Do some of the things you make mark certain times in your life?  Or do you make and then forget how you got there, kind of like pregnancy and childbirth?!  Or something?  Do you feel craft grief?  Do you bounce straight into a new relationship?!  Are you shallow like me?

xx Pip

:: Miso Sick...

image via this lovely Flickr (recipe is over there too!)

Not only has my internet been slowed to snaily pace due to the whole family streaming the crap out of it... but I am sick.  I was a bit sick and now I am completely sick. I am coughing like there is no tomorrow.  I am coughing myself a bit inside out, really.  Oh well.   Never mind.  I have a hot water bottle tucked into my shirt, Vicks on my chest and a hot bath calling my name.  That will help.  Plus I am watching South Riding (thanks Mum!)  David Morrissey fixes most things, I find.  And I am sort of a bit working on Max's blanket.  Do you think I will be better tomorrow?  Say yes.

If I am a bit quiet or tardy on the old email, well you'll know it's because I am under the doona.  And also because it takes 238 hours to do a blog post at this internet speed. Sheesh.  I have had a few emails about really good things I need to blog about.  I PROMISE I will do that next week when my internet is back on par.

For now, though, I guess it's time to slow down...

xx Pip

:: The Applecart Doesn't Fall Far From The Zine...

A lovely gal dropped these rad zines off to Mike's a couple of weeks ago!  How good?!  So good.  You can get one here, if this looks like you. It looks like me. It does.

Today ::

My internet has been slowed.
There was a terrible crash just near our studio in Fitzroy.
I have been crocheting Max's blanket.
I visited Michelle to drop off some last things for Book 3 (Make Hey!)
I made poached eggs for Ari, who is sick.
I bought rice crackers and chocolate wafers and iced tea for Max, who is also sick.
I am sick. I have a cold which is trying to mess me up. No.
I had a visit from Kirst.
And another from Luka and Angela.
I watched some Real Housewives.
And learned something from Helen Razer.

How about you?  What did you do?

xx Pip