Some of you know that our son Jeff is deaf. He was diagnosed just before he was three. He was tested regularly and his hearing was deteriorating fast. Luckily it just came to a stop and he was left with a moderate to severe sensorineural bilateral hearing loss. By 3 he was wearing 2 hearing aids and learning to speak.

For some babies and children they don’t have any hearing, they are profoundly deaf, they can’t hear anything at all. There is hope for these children, it is called a cochlear implant and with lots of learning and input it will allow them to hear and learn to speak. It is absolutely amazing. Get a tissue and watch this 2 minute video.

Isn’t that incredible?

The Carel Du Toit Centre is in South Africa, where they teach these children who have been lucky enough to have cochlear implants, which is where my friend’s son went.

I learnt about cochlear implants from my friend Sue, her son Hughan has a cochlear implant. They arrived from South Africa about the same time we arrived from Portsmouth and our boys both ended up in the same class. It is wonderful to see how well Hughan has done since I have known him, he is now working full time, I can ring and speak to him on the phone, which is just great.

Sue is publishing Hughan’s Diary from the first days onwards, they had videos and pictures of his learning. You can find Hughan’s Diary here. She hopes it will help other parents with children with cochlear implants, to help them work with their children and give encouragement and hope to the parents.

In South Africa there is no National Health Service so each operation has to be paid for. I think she said it cost £50,000 for the operation, £45,000 is provided via the university hospital and £5,000 by parents. It is a very expensive business. If you wish to make a donation you can through www.hughansdiary.com.

After 2 years studying Countryside Management, he changed tack and has just finished his degree in Architectural Technology and the Environment at Plymouth Uni with a 2:1. He is now back home and job hunting.

I felt quite moved by this little video and just wanted to pass it on.

Here is the full image of the card I put together for Thornbury Craft Club. I found the template on Splitcoast Stampers.

Welcome to WordPress. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start blogging!

I am demonstrating making a tri-shutter card for Thornbury Craft Club on Thur 12th May. They very kindly invited me along. I have been a couple of times and they cover all sorts of crafts throughout the year.

I have got all the kits together, I hope there won’t be more than 30 people, otherwise I will be stuck. I have some spares in case bits get lost or damaged as they work. I just need to refine the instruction sheet, which they can take home with their finished card, to make similar cards.

Here is a sneak peak of the card I am demonstrating.

Do you think they will like it?

“CHICKS (Country Holidays for Inner City Kids) is a children’s charity that aims to provide life enhancing respite breaks to as many disadvantaged children as possible at one of our retreats in Devon or Cornwall.”


I came across CHICKS in a sewing magazine. They have a kite as part of their logo so I was instantly drawn to find out more. I loved what they were doing for children who may be living in poverty, children that are being neglected or abused, who have lost parents and those children who are full time young carers.

One of the CHICKS retreats is based in Brentor, near Tavistock, a coincidence as Brentor was somewhere my husband has fond family holiday memories himself. We have also been to visit Brentor and the old church on the top of the hill. The other is based in Tywardreath, near Par in Cornwall.

The photos on the website show them having a really special time, the website also describes some of the home lives these children cope with. I want to help CHICKS further than just making a bag, I wonder what I can do next?

You can help by donating. This is on their website: To donate £5 now text CHICKS to 70777. (Texts cost £5 + your standard network rate).

Or you can become a CHICKS Memory Maker, see the Memory Maker page. Their website is www.chicks.org.uk.

Saturday 5th March, Vintage Jumble Sale, Rangeworthy, S Glos.

This is where my DH and I went to have a browse and see if I could find any bits and pieces for sewing.

This is what I bought.