My Month in Numbers 2013: April

Hello there my ever faithful number-crunchers. How's things with you on this final day of April?

The sun's shining here, so much so that I even ditched my coat and went out in my denim jacket today [I was fully dressed beneath that though!]

But while those sun rays are telling me it's definitely spring now... this month has seen me making magazine projects with Christmas paper releases ... [yes, let's take a moment to digest that. Christmas ranges already] and I've also been working on something else a little festive too.

I feel a bit like one of those plants, insects and birds that get entirely confused  by climate change and they can no longer work out what season it is!

So, in this spirit of seasonal-slippage how about we make a leap back in time to the first day of this month?

Minus 1 degrees C = the temperature in my garden on April 1st when I braved the cold to take part in a traditional Easter weekend activity.

No, not the hunting or rolling of pretty Easter eggs wearing my best bonnet, but rather ...  titivating the garden ready for summer:

48.23 linear metres = the amount of decking I stained using 1 tin of 'Jacobean Walnut' wood preserver.

And look, how sensible I was ... I didn't even paint myself into a corner ... I just gradually backed-up towards the door so I didn't have to spend the rest of the day trapped in the greenhouse until it dried!

But that last little patch was haaaaarrrrddd work on my knees. I had to kneel on the step to keep my new wellies out of the wet varnish and then reach outwards to finish the last bit. And itwas just as hard on my wrists; after painting 47m I'd just about run out of stain and ended up having to squash the paintbrush down to squeeze out every last drop.

And it still needs a 2nd coat.  What joy! 

Oh and the new wellies I'm wearing in that photo?

They [kind of] saved me .... £230 ... because, after stopping myself from splurging on a pair of boots from America which I fell 100% in love with ... [they're these ones here if you want to see, they have a tiny bit in common with the wellies. But with less rubber.] ... I treated myself to  ...

... a pair of £14 Matalan wellies instead!!

And the way the sun's shining it's little heart out today I might be forgiven for thinking I had no further use for wellies ... but ...

3cm = the height of the drift of icy cold hail which landed on the bathroom window-sill [in a matter of minutes] during a flash hailstorm last week:

I'd seen friends in other areas of the country talking about the hail on Twitter but was thinking: "well, it's beautiful here today, and I've got washing drying on the line, I think the bad weather's missed us".

Famous last words.

An hour later a thunderous pounding of hail on the windows set me straight on that!

4 = the number of books read [even though I only photographed 3!]

Whether you've seen the Drive movie or not the book is a beautiful, airy, stylistic treat. One of those books you can just drink in. Can't recommend it highly enough. Glorious work.

[It's only downside is its distinct lack of Ryan Gosling. But hey, that's what Pinterest's for right?]

4 = the number of bags of shoes, bags and coats donated to charity.

I found myself getting rid of quite a few fun, colourful, 'fashion' type bags due to finally finding a perfect soft black leather bag in a timeless style and a tan/silver leather bag that goes with everything.

After all the fast-fashion ones were discarded I even caught myself saying that investing in these 'classics' means I don't need lots of others.

I sounded like every 'capsule wardrobe' magazine article I've read since I was 14. Only now I'm living it.

Does this mean I'm old now? ;-)

And ... while we're talking of donating to charity ...

12 = the number of posts I created for Push-Up Bra Blogging
3 = the number of special guests who took part
66 = the number of people who've donated so far [as of 11.17am 30.04.13]
£524.54 = the total amount the class has raised so far [as of 11.17am 30.04.13, which is after I grabbed this screenshot]: 

And I'm delighted to say that the donations continue to roll in as and when bloggers are gettinga round to reading and implementing the ideas in the series! My page will remain open for donations indefinitely.

OK, if there's a clever way for me to now segue from talking about fund raising to talking about wheelie bins ... then I can't think of it. So here's some bins ...

3 = the number of bins we now have round the back of the garage after taking delivery of the new blue recycling bin:

We keep our bins behind the garage as they just get in the way on the drive where they block the garage doors. And while it's never been ideal [we've always had to do some balletic re-shuffling to get the one at the back out] at least they were hidden. But now ... with 3 of them there. Oh dear.

Do you remember those slider games you used to have when you were little [you can play them on line now] where you had to move little tiles around to get them all back in order to make a picture? Well ...

... I have a feeling that bin-days round here are going to start to look like a real-world 3D version of that!

21 = the number of designs in the first of a new range of official Month in Numbers merchandise!! Here's the new 'Month in Musings':

For more on these hop back to yesterday's post here.

And ... finally ... and just when you thought it was safe to go back into my blog since I promised not to go on about the bumper box of Monster Munch snacks I got for my birthday ... someone went and did this ...

James had a parcel to collect from the depot so we went to collect it before work. As he emerged form the sorting office I noticed he was holding onto both the parcel he went for ... and ... a pizza box.

And there's only one person in our house who takes delivery of pizza boxes. [That's me!].

And we all know that Good Things come in pizza boxes.

Like ... pizza for a start! But also 12x12 scrapbooking papers.

But as I hadn't ordered any I was a bit confused as to what could be in there ... so I excitedly tore off the tape ... and quickly opened the only lid to find ...

6 packets of Titanic Snacks = the number of savoury treats a wonderful snack-facilitating friend sent me as a surprise!:

[For the record ... 0 = the number that are left!]

Aren't I lucky to have a friend like that?

Who doesn't want anchor and ship wheel-shaped salt and vinegar flavour snacks delivered into their hands unannounced? Who?

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So that's me ... over to you. Feel free to read and join in. Just read and enjoy. Read, enjoy + think about joining in next time. Whatever you fancy this time round.

Here's a quick re-cap of the Month in Numbers good manners for those who are planning to or have already blogged a post and want to leave a link for myself and others to visit and/or pin to the Pinterest board.

Please bear in mind the shared aspect.

• When you swing by my blog to drop off a link to your Month in Numbers post - please leave a comment for me while you're there. Not because I'm needy ... but because it feels fair. Reciprocal.
• Please link to my blog in your post. As much as I'd like to think that everyone who reads your blog already knows what 'My Month in Numbers' means... the truth is, they don't. So unless you explain where the idea comes from and how your readers can join you in doing the same next month, they are none the wiser.
• Please take time at some point in the month to visit and comment on a few of the other posts too.

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Right ... will go make a cuppa in my biggest mug and settle down to read the posts I've spotted out there already!

Wishing you a happy month ahead.

Julie x