Olibob Blog

Leo's pressie

2011-02-01T16:23:00.003Z

Well my aim for 2011 is to make pressies for special people in my life, and here is the next one. It is for Leo's 1st birthday pressie. He didn't seem all that bothered, but his mum liked it ;o)

I am just finishing off my sister's birthday pressie - but I can't put it on here yet in case she see's it!

Next for me is to start my Disney scrapbook....have all the photos and papers etc, just need the energy!

My exciting news has paid off! I have been asked by my work to design and deliver a scrapbooking course. Not intimidating at all then?!!!

Busy busy busy!

2011-01-19T17:51:00.005Z

So I gave my friends their canvases and they loved them! Felt all warm and fuzzy, especially as there wasn't any reason for them so they weren't expecting them! So I am continuing with the 'making something for something just because....' theme. My next one is going to be a wedding keepsake box. However, when I asked her to tell me what her colours were I got:

Its all retro/vintage 'make do and mend' so all the Cath Kitson floral colours, without the red. xx

OMG - how am I supposed to use that information?!!!

Mum has now got a gorgeous little puppy called Lilly. She is sooooo cute, I was quite tempted to pinch her! This is her and Ollie having their first afternoon together!

Dad calls her Lilo Lil which has not gone down well - but we think the name might stick!

Here is a birthday card I have made (SHOCK HORROR!). We have a rota at work for birthday cards and the last person buys the next persons card. Except I made mine. Have to say I did go a bit over the top!!

So I have some exciting prospects coming up - going along the 'don't wait for your doors to open - just knock the bloody things down yourself' philosophy!!! I have a meeting tomorrow, so I may have some good news soon!!!

buddies!

2011-01-07T17:56:00.002Z

I have been very thoughtful over the last week or so about my friendships. I am very lucky to have some great 'virtual' friends, who are crafty, fun and real in every sense! And I make things for them and chat to them all the time. But as I have been making my December book I realised how many wonderful friends I have in my life, here in 'real life'!! One of my virtual friends has really upset me and I have spent a long time worrying and trying to think what I have done to deserve the treatment, and then a friend who I see everyday got me some flowers the other day, just because I went to pick her up from the station cos it was cold.....and this got me thinking. I really do not appreciate the people I see everyday, who hug me, make me laugh / cry / dance / sing etc etc. I completely take them for granted, and I shouldn't! I love my virtual friends and so I am lucky to have both kinds!

And then I went onto my Facebook page and looked at all the people I have on there, and some of them I dread updating their status because they are always so negative or moany! and others I really disliked them at school! and some I can't even remember from school - so I removed them! It is soooooo liberating!

So I have made a promise (not a resolution cos I NEVER keep them!) to spoil my friends and show them how much I appreciate them. So I have made 4 of my friend's a canvas each. We met up over christmas, stayed in and ate too much and it was fantastic! Scarily I have known these women in total 55 years!! We have gone through births, deaths and marriages (and a couple of divorces too!) and I am very lucky to have them! I made one of them a quilt, but other than that they have only ever had cards from me......which is rude! One of them has a card I made her 5 years ago on her bookshelf....so hopefully she can update that now!

So now I am off to make something else for someone else...... don't know what or who yet!

ABC Update

2011-01-03T22:56:00.004Z

It seems I haven't updated the last of my ABC pages. I am sad we didn't end the journey together, but I am glad I have done this. I just have X and V to go. X I keep thinking of xmas. I do have another one I want to do but it means getting staged photos and I'm not a huge fan of that so I think it will be xmas.....and V I have no idea!! All I can think of is Very >>> lucky or happy or something like that!

These aren't in order, so sorry for that!

Z was easy for me, I knew as soon as we started this what I was going to do for Z. For my 30th my sister got me a zoo keeper for a day pressie at Chester Zoo. This is me feeding the lemurs.

These are practice shots my hubby did when he got his new camera - love them!

A bit of a cheat here - N for 1972 lol! The tags say what happened in 1972 (apart from me being born!).

This is a page for my paternal side. These are pictures from my mum and dad's wedding day, with my dad, Uncle Ernie and Grandad.

This was a fav picture, taken in France with hubby trying to convince Ollie to get in the water. Now we can't keep him out!

This is one of my fav pictures of the Lakes. The page is on an acetate sheet but you couldn't see that in the original photo!

So any ideas for V would be VERY much appreciated! ;o)

Days of December book

2011-01-02T21:38:00.006Z

(Monty just trying to help!)

And my first christmas card of 2011 - for Hazel's challenge.

Happy New Year

2011-01-02T16:13:00.005Z

Hello! Thought I would dust off my little blog - one of my resolutions!

Have had a great few months. Now work in a fantastic team that make it a pleasure to go into work - am very happy there. Also, I have got my mojo back BIGTIME! Can't stop crafting at the moment! I am currently doing 25 days of December book. This is my third one and I do love going back and reading my others. I am doing it on my own this year, so I was worried that I wouldn't finish it but I am on day 18 and itching to go back into my room! Plus I am a bit chuffed as I have not bought anything new to do it, it is all existing stash so feels even better! One thing it has made me appreciate is how much time I spend with people I care about - almost every day is a day filled with smiles and hugs. I know this is the case, but to see it in a scrapbook makes it even better iykwim!! I have also got a list of to do's, including some canvases for friends, sewing projects and scrapbooking. Just a shame I have to work cos it does get in the way sometimes!

Since August I have been going to Slimming World. I never thought I would enjoy it so much - I love cooking (who'dve thought!) and have lost 2.5 stone so far! Another one of my resolutions is to walk alot more. There is no point living in the Yorkshire Dales and visiting the Lakes every weekend to not make the most of it! We have done two walks so far, one to the moors and one around Embsay res. I have to say, I have not found it too hard - so the loss is paying off already!

These are some piccies from Embsay Res, man it was bloody cold! The first one is Yorkshire's version of pebble skimming! The ice sounded really weird, the noise echoed round the whole res - very eerie.

And this was our walk yesterday - up on the moors, again flipping cold!

This is my first ever beacon touch - felt very proud to do that one!

So, here we are - crafting and walking, and life is gooood!

The Resurrection!!!

2010-02-26T16:53:00.006Z

OMG! I'm never blogging again am I?!!

I can't even begin to tell you about my last year, it has been one hell of a journey! So I started the teaching thing and struggled to be honest. I loved the Higher Education stuff but found the teenage level really testing. Now don't get me wrong, they were nice kids but to have them all in a group (or pack more like!) and constantly having to say 'turn off Facebook', 'stop arguing', 'why are you late', where have you been', 'stop swearing' etc etc etc - well you get the picture! The lack of respect just astounded me tbh! And it wasn't just to me, in fact they probably showed me more respect than some of the other teachers! Apparently I was the cooooool teacher!

Plus I came from a close, team who worked well together......to a team which tbh I was never going to fit in. I tried but I failed!

After a while it really started to affect me. I haven't slept for months, I am STRESSED like I have never been before and quite frankly I was becoming a really horrible person! No crafting has taken place, I haven't even read a book in a year - which I really missed! I was snappy at my men ....and on and on!

So at christmas I had two weeks off and by Boxing Day I was worrying about work - and that was it! I decided enough was enough and I couldn't go on any longer! Plus a good ole chat with Sue helped! I rang my old job but apparently I am too highly qualified now! So I waited and the perfect job was advertised at work. I applied and I got it! Tbh I am so relieved - like I said to hubby, I wasn't actually sure what would happen if I didn't get it!

Yesterday was my last day teaching the teenagers. I was so humbled by them - they got me cards and a big cake. Now these are 16 and 17 year old boys and girls who went out and got me cards - so I was taken aback! The Support Assistant also got me the most gorgeous brooch, I may even break the habit of a lifetime and wear a brooch! or is it broach?! anyway....of course no-one wish me luck from my team but that just confirmed I was doing the right thing!

So as of Monday, I am a Project Manager for the college. I am looking after a project that gets the long term umemployed in inner cities back into work through training......very very excited! I feel like I have been given a new lease of life and the weight of the world has gone! I am going to go in positive and ready for action and I cannot wait. And I still get to teach the degree level students - so best of both worlds!

I even went on an Art from the Heart course during the week. Claudine Hellmuth was guest staring and it was really good fun. It was like the start of the new me, and I got to be all creative and got paint in my hair again! I really had a fun day - although according to Dyan we are care in the community!

How very rude!

Some friendships have suffered over the last 12 months, but I guess if they didn't make it through the tought times - it was never really a friendship after all! Plus I have made new friends through the teaching.

Don't get me wrong, it wasn't all bad - I did have some good times. But I have seen what a nervous breakdown can do to a person, and I wasn't going to let that happen!

So here I am again - same old me, just a few more grey hairs (well tons more if I'm honest!).

Tomorrow I am going on a quilting course. I mentioned in passing to my mother that I fancied trying to learn how to use my sewing machine and next thing I know I am on a sewing course making a quilt over 3 one day lessons! I hope I like it now!! I have to take all my stuff and sit with people who I really hope are not experts! It does say that it is for beginners but their version of beginner may be alot different than mine! I may have to rebook an AFTH course just to help with the confidence level!

Thanks for reading the drivel, sorry if I have let you down this past year (which I probably have at some point!) and it is very nice to see you again! Right am off for a blog-hop - I think I may be some time!

xxx

I love Dy!

2009-07-07T18:36:00.004+01:00

Well today was an Art from the Heart day, to celebrate my end of course.

So here is what we did, and I have to say I loved every minute of it (was very quiet and subdude today but still loved it!).

We were meant to put an image in the corner, you know the ones with the photo head and
stamped body - but tbh they scare the hell out of me! So I left a space, but I do know what I am putting in there!

Spending the day with Dy always amazes me, she is so incredibly talented and brilliant - and has so much to give..........it really is wonderful spending time there (and I don't think she knows how much we all do!)

So I was give the visa card and told to 'treat' myself (which I did obviously cos it would be rude not to!) and got gorg 7 Gypsies stuff and I have succumbed to grunge board - never used it till today but yes I am in love!

So got the visa today and being treated to an indian tonight..........wonder what he has done ;o)

So Torchwood part 2 tonight - god I have missed Captain Jack!

I did it!

2009-07-01T16:55:00.003+01:00

Well friends and bloggers, it is official - I have finished my teacher training and I have now had my 'oh I'm just a student teacher' security blanket ripped out of my little hands! We have a weekend away on the 10th at Huddersfield Uni but we are all done and dusted. We went for a chinese last night which was fab - we just all ate way too much and had disgusting amount of doggy bags to take home! To celebrate I have booked myself onto an Art from the Heart course next week, cannot wait. Dy has told me to sort out my shoes (she has a thing), it comes to something when you have to think of whether your shoes are nice enough!!!

But there is a serious moment I am afraid! Oscar speech warning! My family have been fantastic over the last two years, my hubby has supported me all the way. my boy has put up with not seeing me most nights cos I have been working or studying and mum and dad have looked after the boy every Tuesday for two years! Plus there are two people who have checked in ALL the time to see how I am doing! They made me glorious pressies to take to school on my first night and have basically kept me going. So thank you Em and Sue - I really do appreciate all the love and support you have given me xxx

Now there was something else I needed to say.................what was it?

Oh yes - there is a certain gorgeous individual who is another year older (so sorry you are in your late 30's now :o))

Happy birthday Em - love you TONS!! xxx

ABC update

2009-06-28T18:57:00.006+01:00

Ok here are some ABC pages - I'm not sure where Sue and Em are up to but I seem to doing these every night! Not sure if it's because we are nearly finished or I know what pages I am going to do for the remaining ones! My main excitement is that I am actually filling an entire book, how sad is that - I have been scrapping for 7 years now and do not have a full scrapbook! Well until now anyways!

So here are my pages - not in order but blogger is playing up and they've been deleted 4 times when I put them in order, so it's as they come I'm afraid!

This is a photo my friend John took for his photography coursework (I could never say that it was one of mine!) I love the flow of the water, and to know this is just down the road from me is amazing! There's some journalling behind the photo about how we moved up, and I don't understand Yorkshire people and they don't understand me but we seem to be able to live alongside each other!

This is one of my fav photos as I think it is the only one with the 7 of us in. It is Gail and Rob's wedding day. The quote says 'Families are like fudge, mostly sweet with a few nuts'. This is not an indication that Rob is a nut - more (and I know he can appreciate this) that there are some in this photo who could come under that label ;o)

Not sure about this one! My mum makes quilts as a hobby and we have the most amazing quilts on all the beds, plus wall hangings, plus table runners etc etc. So I took lots of photos of all the quilts and I found this offcut that mum wouldn't use cos she wasn't 100% happy with it! So at first I used it as the background, but it got lost under the photos - so I decided to use just the square..........may have to think about this one!

This is the most expensive 12x12 paper I have ever used, but worth it for this subject ;o)

This is about my PGCE course and my classmates. I 'borrowed' stationery off some of them and used them here. There are two sheets under the main front page, which describes my time on the cours.

Really don't like this one! I had one planned since the start about my maternal side of the family who are Matthews. I know exactly how it is going to look and what I am going to say ......... but have realised I have one cousin who no-one has any photos of - how bad is that?! So I grumpily did this one lol! But I will do the Matthews one, at some point.

N is drying and T is designed in my head but can't find the bloody photo I wanted to use!!

Coooooeeeeeeeeee!

2009-06-28T17:20:00.006+01:00

Well hello! I have been through the black hole of working out how to get my students through their exams, finish all my coursework for my PGCE, finish all my observations and gradings, working out how the hell working in education works (cos it is soooooooo confusing compared to the 'real world'), weekends at the caravan, training the dog, and crafting....................and here I am!

Have enjoyed the last few months but they have been the hardest yet! But worth it - but that's a whole new post ;o)

Anyways, this has been happening recently!

This is Ollie and his best bud, when we took them BOTH to the caravan for the weekend. Asleep at 10.45pm and awake at 5.45am - me and Tony were knackered! But they seemed to have fun.

This is my Thursday night class - all working mature students, who I LOVED teaching. I am gutted they have all finished as I looked forward to teaching them..........I asked them to stay another year but they said no!

And this is my PGCE class - we're all teaching now woo hoo! I have made some great friends on this course x

PS - really want to talk about Grey's but Sue hasn't watched it yet so I can't!

I'm back!

2009-05-04T19:21:00.016+01:00

and it's not been 4 months!

Have had a great bank holiday weekend. Saturday we went to see Monsters v's Aliens, which apparently was very good...........I say apparently cos I slept through about 85% of it! Then we went to the park with Ol's best friend for the afternoon.

Sunday was a day visit to the caravan - it's mum and dad's turn this weekend. Which is fab cos it means we get to go for the BH at the end of the month. Today was less exciting! Morrisons for dinner, then shopping................woo hoo!

Anyway here are a couple of pages for my ABC.

J is for Joy - wanted to experiment and do a page with no photo. Never done it before and not sure I will again! Seems all wrong iykwim!

K is for Knight in Shining Armour. The photo is from legoland and under the vellum is a hymn that we sang in the St George's parade that Ol went on for Beavers - as soon as we started singing it I knew what my K page was going to be. Odd where the inspiration comes from eh?!!

L is Legoland! Our annual trip which has three different years of photos on!

This is a canvas that I made for my friend. Her dad was the inspiration behind Calender Girls and whilst we all love the story (especially living in Skipton, as you tend to stand next to them at Tesco's etc!) it is sometimes easy to forget that he died and she misses him. So this week saw the opening night of the stage show, which she loved. So I thought I would do her a little momento - with sunflowers and pearls ;o) Hope she likes it!

And here are some photos of our holiday.

Shhh - Monty's hunting wabbits!

Crazy golf - every holiday should have one!

These pictures are hysterical! There is a monkey at a local wildlife reserve and as soon as he sees a camera, he strikes a pose! The funniest game is to keep walking away and then pull out the camera - he does it everytime! We were in fits of laughter - so so funny!

This is one of the views from our caravan - heaven on earth!

Knock, knock who's there?

2009-04-28T16:25:00.002+01:00

ME!!!!

Hello there! I've been awol for a bit now! We sacked AOL cos they were rubbish, then went to BT and quite frankly I lost the will to live! But we seem to be back online for a bit so I thought I would say hi!

I won't bore you with the last 4 months but it has been fast, fun and furious! We'll just start blogging going forward iykwim! New job is going great. Very happy with the decision and no looking back. We have been spending quite a bit of time at the caravan which is ace. We all love it there soooooooooo much. We went for easter for the two weeks, so have tons of photos. Am going to make Ollie a scrapbook, as I think he deserves a little book cos he always says how nice it would be to get one, bless him!

I have been crafting this week, probably first time in months and I have loved it. Have done my K and L pages, so will post those soon.

Just a little you tube vid to show you - we were involved in a charity concert night last week and this was our 'turn'. Bet you can't see me (hint - all my lecturer colleagues are above 5'6" lol).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pir_felTBbU

well that went quick!!!

2009-01-03T18:54:00.006Z

So, since I have last blogged, my baby has turned into a 7 year old! This was at his friends party - the joint one with Jamie, think he liked it ;o)

And we have had xmas and new year!!!

We had a great time, spent with family - as it should be. With it being Ollie's bday the week before, I do brace myself for what he is going to get and where we are going to put it all!!! I think this year is a record!

Of course alot of his pressies seem to have a duel purpose, his dad also seems to be playing with them alot too! Like the scalectrix and some ball bearing roller coaster thing - just translate that into very large(taking up all the room on the table) and noisy!!!

And I met a certain little angel! Her name is Avalon, Ava for short (which also spells out her initials - very clever!) So what is worse, the fact that I was excited because I always have 'v's left in my alphabets (which Sue did also comment on so she is just as bad) and now I can use them all up OR that when I saw her I knew my first page was sorted as her babygrow matched my Blonde moments paper!!!! *blush* or does that just mean that's it, I am a scrapbooker and nothing else?!!

And I am very proud of myself cos I have finished my 25 days. Of course Sue was much cleverer than wot I was and posted photos as she went along! So prepare yourself for tomorrow's post as there may be a few pages to go at ;o)

So, I hope you all had a great xmas and new year and here's to 2009!!!!

Now that was a good day!

2008-12-16T22:27:00.005Z

You know when some days are just so good?!!

This morning I went into work for an hour, mainly for secret santa ;o) I got a pink fluffy water bottle and socks - I mean how well does that person know me?! Then I left to go to Harrogate, and will not be back until after chrimbo!

I went to Harrogate for the Lance Anderson Art from the Heart class - was fabby! I just love going on any afth class, it doesn't really matter which one! But this one was great cos Lance was taking the class and we were using Rusty Pickle paper, which I love.......The book was a school memories one, and yes I was the only one who was making it for myself! Plus I got to see Dyan again and Kirsty - who I generally see once every 3 years!! We didn't get to giggle as much as usual, he really does work us hard!!!

Sorry Kirsty for having a grubby lens *blush* she does not like them grubby!

And then I went to college, for David our tutors last lesson and we finished early and went to the pub! Don't get much better than that!!

Ollie went bowling the other night with his footie friends

It's his 7th birthday tomorrow. Why does 7th sound so much older?!! It's almost 10!!

Life changing week!

2008-12-14T16:35:00.003Z

And that might sound OTT but I promise that is what it feels like!

Monday - went to work, Ollie went to his Beavers xmas party.

Tuesday - had an interview for the teaching job I have always wanted and why I am studying for the PGCE. Have not had an external interview for 15 years so was very scary! I had to do a 10 minute presentation and then was interviewed for another hour. Then went to college.

Wednesday - they said they would let me know today, so when it got to 7pm I figured I hadn't got it and had decided I didn't really want it anyway, and I would be better off not getting it and I wouldn't be any good anyways............ring ring, well done you got the job!!! So I asked for the night to think about it - despite my husband, sister and parents screaming cos I got it!!

Thursday - went into work, and realised how much I wanted the teaching job so I rang up college and accepted. Then that night went out for our team night out - which felt awkward (however the 4th pint managed to help ;o))

Friday - I handed in my notice. Now Em is getting cross with me at this stage cos I have got my dream job and why am I sad? Because I have only ever worked for this company since leaving uni, and I have been there for 15 years! So I did it - and saw genuine shock from my colleagues! I was ok until I had to tell my team. We are such a good and positive team now and tbh the only reason why I would stay is because of them.........so that was a tough meeting! I kept it together and then went and sobbed in my car for half an hour! But then I felt much better!

Saturday - I felt in real shock that my week had actually taken this route! But dh took me to Hobbycraft and Pizza Hut so I felt much better!

Sunday - mum and dad took us out for lunch today to say well done - which is weird cos I have been focusing on the bad stuff of leaving my job and NOT on the positive side of getting my dream job!!! So now I am a happy bunny and looking forward, not backwards!

Atm moment the boy is watching Jumanji, which is fab cos I have wanted him to watch it for ages! He is loving it - which I thought he would. Then tonight he is bowling with his football club!

Of course - I haven't taken hardly any photos this week! So I may have to be a bit more creative!

Looking forward to next week, I have an Art from the Heart course, Secret Santa at work, Ol's 7th birthday and finish work for chrimbo! I don't know how my 25 days of december is going to cope with much more! (and I am almost keeping up - just a few more to do!)

Crafting? Me? Never!!

2008-12-07T18:40:00.006Z

Well belief or not, I have been crafting!

Here are my first pages for my 25 days book.

I've written a blurb of what is happening at the moment ie where we are working, what class Ollie is in, my course at college........it's inside the envelope, so not on constant display.

Shhhh don't tell anyone but the xmas trees are peel offs!!! Looks ok though cos they are on white vellum, so somehow I think I get away with it lol!

This is on acetate - I just can't photo it!

Couple more photos, this is me and Max my godson at his big brother's party (Bex is so good to have his party early so I can do the 7th page on this, nothing to do with the baby being due on his birthday!)

And this is the ultimate relaxed and chilled puppy - fast asleep and snoring!! Oh to be a dog!

Bored now....................

2008-12-04T17:40:00.004Z

How much flippin snow now?!!! My night out to the Comedy Club in Leeds has been cancelled, so we got some roast dinner stuff from M&S to cheer me up...........although I think the profiteroles may do a better job ;o)

Work has been manic, they actually think I can control the weather!

Boy and man have had a day off together - both driven each other nuts I think!!!

Still haven't managed to get my photos printed but I am keeping up with the pages, and crafting - which is destressing me again. So here are today's offerings..............can you see a link here ;o)

(do you think he quite likes the snow?!!)

Bbbbrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

2008-12-03T13:40:00.005Z

OMG how cold is it here?! As you know I am responsible for looking after disasters, one of which is snow or severe weather.....................so you know when it is time to move on when you look out of the window and your first thought is not about work or the staff, but oooooooooooooooooooooh I am gonna have some great piccies for my 25 days lol!

Well here is a little idea of how cold it is!

Page two is done - woo hoo, am keeping up lol!

There may be a theme to the next few days of blogging ;o)

1st December

2008-12-01T21:43:00.003Z

Woo hoo - so far so good lol! I have remembered to take a photo for today and I have even made the page. Of course I can't print out the photo as my printer has decided to stop - but I will go into Max Spielman's tomorrow and the next day and the next and the..........;o)

So today Ollie wanted to go to Focus and buy some decs just for his tree. I promised him last year (apparently!) that he could chose his own tree and the decorations all by himself. We have a little space on the landing, so I thought why not! No-one but us will see it and he will have some fun. So we went to Focus and he chose his stuff..................and I swear to 'you know who' I did not guide him, bribe him or anything. The following tree is all his and he even decorated it! And yes I know what you are thinking and yes he probably is! But hey, I am SOOOOO proud!

Ironic?

2008-11-30T19:53:00.013Z

Over the last few months I have been soooooooo busy I have not had a chance to do anything! All this time I have had a blog and not really said an awful lot, now I have so much to tell you I don't have time to do it!

So a short recap of what has been happening!

I am still teaching my little teenage darlings, except now I think I have broken through the pain barrier and I (and so it seems them) are now quite enjoying it! I had my graded lesson a few weeks ago, this is when a member of the college turns up and you have no idea when and they

assesses how you teach etc. You are graded 1 - 4, 1 being outstanding (which no-one ever gets), 2 being very good (normal grade for everyone), 3 is average and 4 is poor - you get either of these two and your teaching hours suddenly get reduced lol! Well I have been questionning myself and really struggling with college, so when I got a grade 1 I nearly fainted! I think it helped having two guest speakers from the Fire Service, who were GORGEOUS! Really disliking work atm but I do have an interview for a full time teaching job soon, so fingers crossed!!

Someone has come to live with us...........he is cute, and he is kissy and he is the most annoying pet I have EVER had! I never realised how hard having a puppy is, especially when he is so puppyish!

This is the first day:

And this is today, 4 weeks later:

And I promise, he does not have diamontes on his collar! They are reflective bones and I couldn't get them not to reflect!

I have to say though, I am loving the walks! We go for lots of walks in the day and I am seeing so many things I never knew were there cos I usually drive passed them! Plus I have seen lots of sunrises and sunsets, which I have to say I have never done really before...... I just hope he calms down soon, he is doing my bloody head in!

Erm what else? Ooooooooh I had a birthday, with gorgeous pressies as ever from Sue and Em! Plus I got one of Sue's fabby xmas organisers, although this year she has got a challenge to get me organised! (although we have nearly finished all the pressies, much to Em's disgust!). Stunning card as always from Kathy x

For one of my pressies, I got a Art from the Heart voucher (yeay). So I have booked myself onto the Lance Anderson from Rusty Pickle class - quite excited actually! It is a first school book, and I may just be the saddest person to actually be making it for me rather than my child!!! Well, we will see - I may allow guilt to take over and do it for Ollie instead!

Lastly, cos you must be bored by now! Sue and I are doing the 25 days of xmas together. I really wanted to do this as I need to get me doing some crafting again, as I am feeling stressed and I need to chillax as my child says! Plus due to having to give up the 365 (which I am still niggled about lol!) I wanted to at least do some crafty record of the year!

So here is my book. I did not make it too christmassy on purpose as I have soooooooooooo many non-christmas things happening in December (like Ollie's and Tim's birthday's (7 years old OMFG!), birth of Bex's little girl, and teaching stuff - although I did use christmassy colours so it didn't look too out of place! Not up to Sue's standard, but hopefully it will look better when it is full of stuff!

(oh and prizes go to the person who knows where I put my book rings!!!)

(oh and apologies for the messy desk!)

So, nice to see you again, and I'll see you again tomorrow!

Busy busy busy!

2008-09-25T19:15:00.002+01:00

I am sooooooo busy atm I don't know if I am coming or going!!! So what has been happening? Well last Tuesday I went back to skool - ridiculously excited!! I almost skipped into the classroom! Then we realised we have a certain tutor who is renowned for being a pain in the arse! I see him as a bit of a challenge tbh, he is so strict and obsessed with teaching - it is a challenge to make him laugh and ease up a bit.....but it is going to be a very long year!!!

Then on Wednesday I met my Apprentices in Business Admin. We have 14 teenagers, most of whom have either failed their GCSE's, started 6th form and left or come from very bad backgrounds with major attitude problems..........so I turned up half an hour early to get everything set up and meet my colleague who I am sharing them with (she has them in the morning with IT and I have them in the afternoon for Bus Admin). So last week was induction, so lots of ice breakers, form fillings etc etc. There are alot of new things about this teaching:
1. they are teenagers with attitude problems (never dealt with those before!).
2. I am the new person at the college and have NO idea where anything is.
3. I have never taught this subject before at this level.
4. I slept a total of about 12 mins the night before!

And - I loved every second of it! Judy said I was very calm and collected (even though I didn't feel like it!) and they did what I asked them to do, no-one killed each other or me, and they all came back after lunch - so good job done! I know it sounds really cheesy but it just felt 'right' iykwim.........no regrets whatsoever! (however I would like to reassess that statement at xmas when I want to strangle the little s**ts!). Plus it helped having a fabby Em card in my bag so when it got too scary I had a looksie at that!

I then had to go back to work grrrrr and was very grumpy about having to do that! I have adopted a new team, agreeing to do it cos I was told everything was fine and I had nothing to do. Yeah right! I have never met a bunch of unmotivated, miserable, underappreciated people in my life! And the real challenge is that the previous manager is now my 'boss' ................ mmmm interesting!

We went to see a little puppy this week, but it wasn't the right one for us. Imagine telling a 6 year old that mummy and daddy didn't like the ickle puppy that licked his face? Yeah, I didn't I lied and said the owners changed their mind and decided to keep him. Seemed to work though!

Then at the weekend we went to the caravan again, am loving it there and so far things seem to be working out - but again, xmas - reassess - strangle lol!

I went to a work's networking do this week - felt really false being there listening to how they are going to take over the business, and all I wanted to do was go to college! Anyway - not long now!

Tomorrow is our wedding anniversary - 10 chuffing years! I am actually quite proud of that...........mainly cos he is a typical accountant and is very grumpy sometimes! but mainly cos in this day and age, 10 years is a hell of an achievement! Not expecting too much, I think the caravan was my pressie!

Right, am off cos not only is Grey's Anatomy on later (woo hoo) but Bones starts again tonight (even though I said I wouldn't watch it anymore after the TRAVESTY of Zach!) so I need to get my biccies, drinks, duvets ready - yeah, I know I am so sad!

(oh and girls, 'J' is done and ready........as is 'I' - you ready or what?!!)

Posh Bird!

2008-09-11T21:24:00.001+01:00

Happy birthday hunni xxxx

Wow - it's bin a while!

2008-08-31T17:49:00.003+01:00

One day Ol was finishing school for the summer and the next day he is due to go back - where the flippin heck has the summer gone?!!!

It has been a busy one! We've done lots of days outs with school friends, ten pin bowling, pictures, etc etc.

We also did a week at my sister's which included the annual lego land day out. Have lots of photos, to follow shortly!

We also had a day at London Zoo, which was fab! Other days included Reading and Windsor, which I love going to for day's out.

We also have become 'posh pikey's' (as named by my 'mates' I hasten to add, this is not a label I have given to ourselves!). We have got a static caravan in the Lakes, which I have to say I LOVE!! It is so fab getting away, relaxing, living at the lakes, and it's only an hour away. In fact we are all gutted when we have to leave! If I had my way, we would live there!

Anyway, have been making a certain person a birthday pressy. I was going to do a sneaky peak, as I know how much she lurves those ;o)

I have also been asked to do a xmas stall at a craft fair, not sure tbh - I'd like the stash money but I have nothing already made so I'll have to get cracking.............easier to decline?!!

Anyway, hope you are all ok and now I am back, I should be updating more!!

RIP Splashy Bob!

2008-08-06T22:11:00.002+01:00

We had to bury our goldfish on Tuesday - Splashy Bob was a cute little fishy and was Ol's first pet..........he had a good cry and we had a little funeral for him (felt very wrong flushing him down the toilet) and my boy wrote a prayer 'Dear God, we all want you to bring my fish back to life, you did it with Samson so can you do it with Splashy Bob? Thanks, Ahmen' gotta love that boy!

Yesterday was a bit sad for me cos it was one year since we last saw Casper ;o( but then we got home and Sue had sent Ol a little pressie of a fabby bookmark with an owl and his name on, to say he was excited is an understatement! 1. he got a letter, which he never gets and he moans constantly! 2. he got a bookmark and he is doing a special challenge at the library and NEEDS a bookmark and 3. it's from Sue and quite frankly he asks every day if he can talk to her on msn!!!

I went into where I am going to be teaching in Sept (the 16 year old kids scary one!) and I only have a chuffing a pigeon hole! I can't believe how excited I am about this! It's as if I am a real proper teacher lol!

Busy Week!

2008-07-31T16:12:00.002+01:00

I have a week off this week and I have to admit I am KNACKERED!!!

Monday - Morning gardening, afternoon shopping and tidying.

Tuesday - went to Jo's house, who is my friend at college who I sit with, me, Jo, Edward and Graham. Jo teaches animal management (the one we went to observe with the dog agility..........). Anyway, I guessed she would have a few pets - OMG she puts me to shame! So we spent a fab time with mahusive tropical fish, a parrot with OCD who pulls out his feathers so is completely baldy, 3 pregnant guinea pigs, 2 bonkers collie dogs, a depressed lizard and some very nice goldfish! oh and a one year old child who is going through 'the stage'! So Jo obviously needed a break and suggested we took the dogs for a walk................so we went to a local resevoir to walk the circuit round it and I swear to god it was a good 4 miles!! I was exhausted by the end and moaned all the way round! Plus it was about 95 degrees and didn't take any drinks! I managed to drive home (with Ollie moaning in the back) and lasted till dh got home and then crawled into bed! I then got my second ever migraine (hated the first one and never wanted another one!) and thought I was going to pass out or throw up or both!!!

Wednesday - we had a lovely morning in, Morrisons for lunch and then went to the piccies to see WALL.E. Ahhhhhh how cutie is that film!!! We loved it! Managed to fit in some crafting, and have to admit to starting xmas pressies big time now - my great idea is going to take bloody ages!

Thursday (today) - we planned to go to Bolton Abbey which is a local wood / river / gorgeous spot. Took lots of bread etc but it started to pour down and all the ducks went into the woods! So we stopped for some dinner and then have spent the afternoon in the library. Ollie is the only 6 year old I have met who ASKS to go to the library!!!

Tomorrow - we are meeting Jo (yes that evil woman!) to help her go through wedding plans. She is getting married at the end of August and the bridesmaids etc haven't really helped out - so we are going for a coffee to write a to do list ( does that not sound like heaven Sue?!!). Also DH is out tomorrow so plan to watch a 'chick flick'!

Back to work on Monday for a rest! Hope you're all having a good summer!

RIP Grand Pier

2008-07-28T21:54:00.002+01:00

When I think back to my childhood I have lots of wonderful memories, most of them are related to one place in particular. So I am gutted to see this today.........

Memories include the wobbly slats on the walkway which made me go dizzy when the tide was in, the scary ghost train, the hours spent playing bingo, pool tournaments and me WHUPPING everyone at air hockey!!! (so I am now guessing this is also the reason that I failed all my GCSE's!!).

I may not live there anymore, but I am WSM through and through - and I can't wait for the pier to be rebuilt so I can take Ollie so he can have some memories of it too (he was 2 when he last went on there and he says he can't remember it ;o( )

H is for............

2008-07-24T17:54:00.004+01:00

How to be a Hart!

Not entirely happy with it, but I rushed it and it looked much better in my head lol! At some point I may go back and have another go!!

Thank you to my fabby mate Sue who sent me a well done card, cos I is well clever ;o) I love it - thank you hunni!

Right I'm off to play on the Wii Fit - is sooooooooooooo much fun! (especially watching a 37 year old accountant hula hooping!) Gail - xmas party games are sorted for this year!!

Hiya!

2008-07-22T17:48:00.002+01:00

I've been a bit quiet lately, tbh have been on a major downer for one reason or another, but am out the other side now! So you'll have to put up with me again ;o)

Lots has been going on from a teaching point of view. I have been asked to teach a couple of lessons. One is to teach the Certificate in Training and Personnel to mature students one evening a week. There other is a modern apprenticeship to 16-19 years old who have left school with no gcse's......................so not much different then!! On both cases half of me is excited and giddy and the other half is screaming at me not to do it! But I am going to do it and I think it is going to be a) the hardest thing I have ever done in my life and b) the best job I have ever had!

Also has some big news the other day, I passed my Maths and English GCSE's! As part of the course we have to retake them to prove an up to date knowledge, which in black and white I think is a good idea but in reality and when I am involved I think it is a pants idea! I took the English one ok but I have a severe issue with maths, not a 'I don't like it' but a horrific terrifying sweating vomiting hatred of it! I completely freaked out and went to pieces.....................and passed! I have NO idea how it happened but it did and I am quite literally in shock! And as Sue knows, I really celebrated and had a double decker ;o)

I have been doing a bit of crafting, just waiting for Sue to hurry up and finish her H page, as me and Em are waiting.........

I've also been doing a bit of beading! I know! I haven't beaded for ages but I got an urge the other week.

And have been planning what chrimbo pressies to do.........and yes I have written a list ;o)

I have a cunning plan and am quite excited by it tbh - but I may change my mind once I start the project - will let you know!

The Boy is on holiday now, being juggled from one place to another bless him but I have managed quite a bit of time off this summer so that should help alot. And we are going to a certain chase la rowntree in the summer and we are already counting the days! I think he would pack if he had a chance!

happy birthday to you

2008-07-01T17:07:00.001+01:00

happy birthday to you,
happy birthday dear Emmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
happy birthday to youuuuuuu!

Love ya TONS xxx

wedding card

2008-06-29T21:55:00.010+01:00

Nick and Nicola are getting married on Saturday. I am soooo excited! Nick used to work for me and together we chose her ring on the 'net, designed the proposal and where he would do it!! He rang me from the beach in Spain after he had asked her and I burst into tears lol!! Nicola is at the same level as me, and we tend to be the only females in the male dominated meeting so we tend to protect each other! They are just really great and I can't wait for them to be married.

Not 100% sure this is ok for a wedding card but her colours are burgundy.........so I may have to think about it for a week! This is also part of the chipboard swap on JB, my partner Paula sent me this:

And I used it on here:

I am also a bit mad with myself, I made a matching canvas with the idea to get a black and white photo on the day, stick it on the canvas and give it to them on the night. Except I forgot we are all going to look at posh pikey caravan's on Saturday and everyone is soooo mega excited I can't postpone - so not entirely sure what to do now! I could give it to them and take it back once I have got a photo from somewhere, give it to them and say 'stick photo here' or say just wait and give it to them when they get back from honeymoon.................mmmmmmmmm.

Hello?

2008-06-21T21:45:00.002+01:00

Are you still out there?!! Sometimes life just gets so manic it's hard to get it all down - and the last few weeks have been bonkers!! So much has happened and I've forgotten alot of it!

I now have a new car, the Jimny had to go. It was a fab car, but struggled living in the Dales (a 4x4 that could handle hills!) and I now have a sex on wheels bad boy! It is a Grand Vitara 'Attitude', tis black with spoiler and pimp alloys. Everyone at work thinks it is very funny - and tbh it does look like a pimp mobile, but I do love it.

Erm, what else?.....I have finished my first year at school. That is very scarey as this time next year I will have my PGCE. I have been asked to do some bits of teaching at college, which I am very chuffed about. Have also been asked to become an NVQ assessor (I can hear Em screaming from here lol!) which is quite tempting.

Work has been a whole different matter! Due to my 'outside interests' (college) my Director feels I should hand over some of my responsibilities to enable me concentrate on my personal development. I am so upset about this but very proud that I have been sooooo professional. I think 5 years ago I would've ripped all their heads off - but now I am definately following the 24 hour rule (although this has actually been about 72 hours!). Apparently there is a huge risk in that I am the only one in the company who can do my job - so I have to hand over some of the work to someone else to do instead! I don't know what I am most upset about - 1. this is the first time in 15 years of working there that I am doing something for myself, 2. my boss who is leaving next week obviously knew this was coming and never said a word, or stopped it from happening or 3. I am soooo upset cos what it really comes down to is status, yes I have worked bloody hard to get there but hey, still getting the same money for less stress and work so why am I crying about it so much? Anyhoo, if I keep getting offered so much teaching I may just have to re-evaluate ;o)

Next door scum bag kicked off yesterday. His 3 year old was climbing on top of our fence, trying to get on the roof of the shed. So I told him (calmly) to get down or he would hurt himself. Scummer then came out and went MENTAL cos I told his kid off. But the best thing was my neighbours on the other side were in their garden and he didn't know so as soon as he saw them he siddled back into his pit! Damn this housing crash!

Craftwise - I have been very busy! A certain person's birthday is coming up and I have been initially stressing cos making for her is a chuffing nightmare! I have now managed to cobble something together. Of course I have not thought ahead of how I am going to post it to her! Yeah never really thought about that bit pmsl! All very well doing something a bit different but I may have to drive it down to give it to her lol! But Sue says it is a good idea - so if Em hates it it's her fault pmsl!

I've also done a few cards - imagine that?!!

Have also finished my H page. Not 100% cos it is very different, but hey that's the point right?

Sooooooooooooo -I can soon show you what I have been making but I promise I have been busy ;o)

Alice's book

2008-06-04T21:20:00.007+01:00

If you remember, we were told Alice wouldn't make it but last week me and Ollie went to her 1st Birthday party! I wanted to make her (and mummy) something special to recognise this - so I made her a book with photos of the day.

Hopefully mummy will like it!

Had an awful night last night at college, did some exams that I need to do to qualify for next year. Literacy I think went ok but numeracy was a complete disaster ;o( I lost it completely after 20 mins and couldn't get it back. Think I will be retaking that one next term grrrr. But after a good cry and a big piece of chocolate cake, I feel sooooo much better ;o)

Ollie had a fab day today and has gone to bed telling me how koool sue is! Comes to something when the boy would prefer to chat to her on msn than play with me! She is a good babysitter though, and laughs at his toilet joke!

Better late than never!

2008-05-30T17:01:00.004+01:00

I have been waiting for some new ink for my photo printer, but it still hasn't arrived grrrr. So here is my G page with a temp photo - will replace it when the ink arrives lol!

This is sooooo not me, totally copied, ooops I mean inspired by Sue and Carol's recent creations. Lots of firsts for me here, first time to use just black and white, first time to leave so much white space, no hidden journaling and some more doodling than usual, no flowers or ribbons.

I went for a hollywood look cos my sister looks identical to Bette Davis, so this is an ode to the black and white films.

And I know I know, it looks weird looking at a page all at once ;o)

So now I am off to think of a new theme for my H page..........knew exactly what I was going to do. A page all about my wedding and becoming a Hart..............yeah thanks Em for marrying a G!!!

Oh and off to try and get over the season finale of Bones - omfg I so did not see that coming and YES I KNOW I am talking to myself on this subject (fingers crossed on Steph tho ;o) ) x

Stuff

2008-05-20T22:25:00.008+01:00

Well I have managed to fit in a bit of crafting over the last few days. This is a 'card' for my boss, thought I would do something a bit different - not sure my colleagues get it though!!

Then this is Alice's first birthday card - I got the inspiration from Sue's matchbook challenge, not a full matchbook but almost lol! And I do aim to do a full one soon, as they are so much fun to do!

Not sure if you remember Alice, she is the little girl who wasn't going to make it - and now she is 1! She is gonna get soooooooooooo spoilt!

And here is a Sympathy card I made - sad story, will tell you more another time ;o( (it looks better irl!)

G is for.............

2008-05-15T17:58:00.000+01:00

GOTCHA!!!

Sorry couldn't resist xxx

F is for........

2008-05-12T22:33:00.007+01:00

I'm never first am I?!! Wowsers! Not bad cos I was playing catch up!

Anyways, F is for FUN.

I have always wanted to do a concentina folder on a 12x12. Am quite pleased with it - may have to do it again lol!

Who's next? ;o)

Inspired by Carol

2008-05-11T21:51:00.016+01:00

Here is something I have been working on, having seen Carol's book. Unashamedly lifted I'm afraid!!

Very bad photos, but it is quite hard to photo acrylic!

There are secret bits for journalling, which is all very soppy ;o)

E is for.........

2008-05-10T21:25:00.009+01:00

Ernie and Elvina.

Ok appreciate you that won't mean anything to you (apart from Gail) lol but they are my auntie and uncle - and I wuv them loads!

The 'e' is painted with acrylics and the paper is two scoops. There are two envelopes behind the photo that explains why I think they are ace.

(you ready for 'f' and a photo and not a scan?!!)

(and aren't you proud of me for not taking the pi$$ Em? x)

I'm busy making something special just for me and have nearly finished, so will have some more photos soon.

Just wanted to show you these though, with the gorgeous weather we are having we thought we would go for a picnic. Sometimes I forget how awesome it is around here - this is about 5 mins down the road from our house........not bad eh?

(am having a scary moment though, am sat watching Gladiators with little man - gawd, when did I get so old to watch this with my son?!!! he is loving it though!!)

dusting off the blog!

2008-05-08T16:28:00.002+01:00

I am sooooo busy I am disappearing up somewhere!! Work is chaos - so many disasters atm ;o( Plus my child's social life is taking over mine, I run from one place to another and when I get to sit down to do some crafting, it's midnight!!! Not complaining though, he is having a ball!

Plus I am coming up to the end of my first year on my PGCE (can you believe that!) and have to do a few presentations etc. Last night I taught a class of twenty 18-20 years olds on Corporate Social Responsibility and also Contingency Planning for 3 .5 hours. I survived and quite enjoyed it tbh! Have alot to learn but hey that's why I am on the course! I also have to deliver a module on Elearning, the pros and cons............so I have hand picked certain people I work with and am going to do a Youtube video (obviously have picked all the gorgeous ones ;o)) tomorrow at work. They have all been primed and are going to have nice hair etc lol. And then I have to deliver that all on Tuesday night to my class..........and then I can breath!!

So whilst I won't apologise for not blogging (because I don't think we should apologise x) I will say I miss my friends and I will be back soon...............(you never know by then, Em may have actually finished her E page!) xxx

Been doing some craftin!

2008-04-27T22:04:00.010+01:00

I can show some bits that I made for Sue and Em, annoyingly I forgot to photograph what I made for Carol grrrrr!

(there may be a BIA theme ;o))

This is a circle book for Em:

And this is Sue's:

A day of smiles

2008-04-27T18:13:00.007+01:00

Me, Em, and Carol all went to Sue's house yesterday and I have Sooooooooooooooooo much fun! It felt like it was just a day of smiling and laughing!

I set off at 6am to travel all the way from the Yorkshire Dales, and managed to still get there an hour before the divas! When they finally arrived (they really shouldn't be allowed to travel anywhere together!) we did lots of catching up, and swapped our special cj's. I adore my cj (which Mel and Steph were in too) and thankfully the girls liked theirs too.

We all had a chat with Steph, who unfortunately could not be there, all because of norty Mr Nerdbird and him being a man (and oh I bet he paid for it too!!).

Then we went for a short car ride and Sue took us to Scrap Revolution which was a fab shop and I could've spent a fortune! Unfortunately the terror of the short car ride made me so scared I couldn't even shop properly! OMFG I was so scared, and at one point was sliding all over the back leather seat while Carol and Em were screaming!! Me and Em had to swap on the return journey cos quite frankly Em just refused to sit in the front!

Then we went for a gorgeous pub lunch, but we had to come inside as the children laughing and playing outside were getting on Sue's nerves!

Then we screamed all the way back to the house, where we then spent a few hours telling Carol off for not having more confidence in her stunningly gorgeous and quite frankly irratatingly perfect creations! Don't think she believed us though! Obviously Em couldn't join in too much due to her whiplash - but I'll let her tell you about that (again and again and again........).

Lots more drinks and hummy pineapple cake (all served by Poor Doug) and I got to meet a wonderful 13 year old boy who Sue is soooo mean to, and is no way as bad as she makes out (well.........).

One of the best things about yesterday is that it did not feel like a 'forum meet up', like the names badges, and the card comps and the sometimes falseness of them...........yesterday was about friends meeting for a natter and a lunch (and it was the first time we have been out in public too!) and I wasn't nervous or worried in any way (well apart from when Sue was driving!).

I also got lots of fabby presents, which I have just unpacked and put around my room. And this time we all remembered to bring our cameras and actually take some photos!

Then it started to get late and I had the horrifically long long long journey home, which somehow was shortened from 5 hours to 3.5 hours!!! (just waiting for those speeding fines to plop through my letter box ;o))

So now we just need to agree the next time, cos quite frankly we do not do it enough! and note to self, check with Sue what her outfit is going to be ;o)

Here's some photos from the day - with lots of smiles and laughter.

A time of ups and downs!

2008-04-14T23:11:00.003+01:00

Literally every 5 mins my time is going from great to bad! Yesterday my bestest bud Bex told me she was expecting again - which is so exciting! I have booked in a couple of pink ones! This is a massive thing, which I won't go into but I am soooo chuffed!

Then today my wonderful supportive boss handed his notice in ;o( - gutted! I have gained more from him in the last 18 months than any bosses in the last 15 years...........but it is the right decision for him.

Took the buns to the vets, and was asking lots of questions having investigating all the facts...... Oliver the vet accused me of being a mystery shopper and told me off for making him nervous! The funniest thing was he was cutting the breeding ring off Joe's leg and needed to get another wire cutter cos the first set broke, so I start telling Joe off and saying 'it was not good enough and the ring had to come off now', as the vet walked in the door, so he says 'well I am doing my best'!! Bless him, think he dreads me walking in now!

And I have to say I am gutted about Mark Speight. I so wanted him to be ok. I have met him a few times and was always so nice. My boy adored SMart, we had to record it so he could copy the pictures. So so sad ;o(

I have been worrying for the last couple of days cos I didn't feel 'right'. Been to see dr and tis all sorted, feel so much happier now!

Hopefully I can get some crafting done soon, haven't been in my room for a week!

10 days to go ;o) x

D is for .............

2008-04-09T16:55:00.007+01:00

Very sorry for being late - I'll just do an Em and say my dog ate my homework ;o)

Here is my D page. I am actually quite chuffed with this! It is a page for daddy. He does an fabby job and they are just two peas in a pod. There is a tag under the vellum, that tells him what a great daddy he is and how I love sharing Ol with him.

I was also inspired by Jane from a Scrapbook inspirations article and used some pictures he drew of him and daddy. I am also going to try and use some of the letters Ol has written to me over the years and do a book like Jane did....

Once Upon a Time

2008-04-04T21:33:00.027+01:00

Well here it is, my awesome uber cj! Thank you everyone, it is ace! (and remember where you saw it first eh?! ;o) )

Chapter One - mine!

Once upon a time, in a kingdom far far away, there lived a little boy who dreamed of one day becoming a dragon slayer. As he was so little, the King appointed him stable boy.

One day he was walking through the forest, with his favourite horse Star. He came across an old woman in a worn out cloak. She asked if he could spare some food as she had not eaten in a long time. The stable boy gave the old woman his last piece of bread.

The old woman thanked him and the boy and the horse moved on, when suddenly………….

Chapter Two - Steph

There was a huge flash and where the old woman had once stood there was now a fairy. The little boy and Star stopped in their tracks and stared at the fairy. "whoooo are you? stammered the frightened boy. " I am Aurora, queen of the fairies and because of your kindness I will grant you one wish". The little boy thought and looked at Star. And then he thought some more. Well I have always dreamed of being a dragon slayer but the King says I am too small" Aurora smiled and with a wave of her magic wand the little boy became a man! "You must now travel the roads to the farthest reaches of the kingdom on a very important quest" Aurora said seriously. "To complete this quest you will need to find the following things............"

Chapter Three - Carolyn

.....a ruby jewel.......a sword.......a magic potion.

The dragon-slayer and his horse, Star, set off immediately on their new quest. They had already journeyed for many miles and darkness soon began to fall. In the distance the dragon-slayer spotted a strange looking castle. Now that he was no longer a humble stable boy, the dragon slayer boldly approached the dark locked doors of the castle. Using his staff, he hammered on the doors and hollered to wake the castle guards.

He hollered and hollered, but n-one appeared - just as he was about to give up and continue his journey, the large heavy gates opened slowly with a terrifying squealing noise that made the hairs on the back of the new knight's neck stand in end. Star was also frightened and it took all of the knight's strenght to stop his horse from bolting away.

When the gates were fully open, the knight and Star started forward into the dark shadows of the castle courtyard. From one of the guard towers weak candlelight could be seen. The knight tethered his frightened steed and pushed open the door to the candlelit room.

The room was empty apart from one small table and a wooden chair - but to the knight's surprise there was a veritable feast of food and wine and by the door was laid food and water for the horse.

Both man and horse forgot their fears and started to eat and drink heartily as they were starving having not eaten before setting out on the fairy's quest.

After about 5 minutes of non-stop eating and drinking, the knight began to feel dreadfully drowsy and Star seemed to be suffering the same.

Suddenly the darkness of the shadows was lit by a bright flash and the knight felt himself falling, falling, falling forever into blackness and the last thing he saw before he passed out was a hooded old crone cackling with laughter.

When the erstwhile dragon-slayer finally awoke he felt strange, but his head ached so much he couldn't even open his eyes. But then he heard a strange voice half cackle half scream - it was the old crone speaking - of that he was certain.

"Not so brave now, my proud sir dragon-slayer - are you? ha ha ha. You see I am the wicked witch of the east and I have turned you into a humble frog and as for your stupid horse - to suit his name he is now a new star in the night sky. And the only way that I will turn you both back to your former selves, is for you sir knight to swear on your life that you will bring me the treasure that the fairy has set you to find"

The dragon-slayer turned frog could hardly contain his anger - he desperately wanted to fulfill the fairy's quest, because the kind fairy had made all his boyhood dreams of being a nobleman come true only hours ago. And now through trickery of this cursed witch and his own foolishness all was about to be lost.

He needed a plan and quickly............

Chapter Four - Hazel

The would-be dragon slayer turned frog looked around him to see whether there was a means of escape. He couldn't figure out where he was - all he remembered was falling, falling, falling forver into blackness. He leapt and hopped across the stone floor, trying to make sense of this damp dungeon. It was so dark that it was nearly impossible to even make out the direction in which he was travelling. He seemed to have been moving around for quite some time when suddenly he could make out a very dim shaft of light and he was aware that he was not alone. In the darkness he heard the squeaking of a rat and its scurrying past him towards the chink of light made him gasp with a mixture of fear and hope. This was obviously the rat's means of escape into another part of this dungeon into which the dragon-slayer had been flung by the evil witch of the west. Perhaps he too would be able to flee from this dark prison and continue his quest to find a ruby jewel, a sword and a magic potion.

He peeped through the hole, the means by which the rat obviously frequently made his way to forage for food; it took him a while to make out anything in the dimly-lit, almost bare basement, but when his eyes adjusted more to his new surroundings, he realised that there was a long narrow window high up that was just allowing enough light to filter through to enable him to espy a big casket - little did he realise that the light was coming from his own precious Star shining high above.

The frog listened intently, for he was very wary that the old crone might be lurking in the darkness ready to pounce on him if she realised he had left the dark dungeon into which she had plunged him. He could just make out the deep sighing sound of the witch sleeping, perhaps in an adjoining room. As his eyes adjusted still further, he was fairly confident that she wasn't in this room. By now he had begun to learn that as a frog he could leap and hop quite adeptly - and silently too - a distinct advantage for him to be able to further explore.

If he could successfully reach the casket he might be able to find something that would help him fulfill his dream to return to the fairy with the ruby, sword and potion and thus become a dragon slayer. It took all his energy to tilt the lid, revealing a load of well worn books and a much smaller casket in which there were jewels. As if by magic, the dim lightthat filtered through the window became stronger as his trusty Star shone even brighter and he was able to make out the colours of emeralds, sapphires and.........rubies! Little did he know that the shiny ruby jewel that he selected would be the means of eventually getting the sword and magic potion too.

But first he needed to ensure that the wicked withc didn't catch him there, so he hopped off as quickly and quietly as he could to return throught the rat hole to the dark dungeon to think of what he should do next.

Chapter Five - Nigel

As the frog hopped back into the dungeon he noticed something strange. The ruby he had picked was glowing with a faint light. As he looked around he spotted two yellow dots in the shadows. Slowly the dots came towards him and he could see they were eyes, rat’s eyes. The eyes blinked, and a squeaky voice said “You’re not a real frog, are you?”
“No” replied the frog, “are you a real rat?”
“No” the rat answered. “I’ve been enchanted the same as you. I know how to undo the spell but I can’t do it myself. You may be able to though. The witches power comes from her amulet, if we can take it from her the spell will be broken”
“How do we take it?” asked the frog, “and why can’t you do it?”
“We do it the same way that she enchanted us, we put her to sleep” replied the rat. “I can’t do it because it will put me to sleep too, but frogs are good at holding their breath so you’ll be ok. Now, we have to be quick before she wakes up, follow me.”
The two of them went back through the hole, across the basement and into the room where the witch was asleep. The room was full of books, boxes and jars. A candle flickered on a table near the bed where the witch was sleeping. On a chain around her neck was dark grey pendant. “That’s the amulet” whispered the rat. Quick as a flash the rat scurried up the side of a small cabinet and grabbed a mouth full of leaves. He came back and gave them to the frog, “Burn one of these over the candle, it will put her into a deep sleep, but let me get out first or it will put me to sleep too. Good luck!” and he was gone, scurrying out of the door.
The frog picked up the leaves in his mouth, and with a huge leap he jumped onto the table with the candle. Carefully he held one of the leaves over the flame and it began to smoulder and give off a thick smoke. He dropped it on the table and added the other leaves to it. As the smoke swirled around he heard the witch start to snore, now was his chance. His heart was pounding as he jumped onto the bed and hopped onto the witches shoulder. He waited, but she didn’t move. Slowly he crawled across to the amulet and tugged but it wouldn’t come loose and he couldn’t reach the clasp. By now he was starting to run short of breath - even frogs can’t hold their breath forever. Desperately he tugged and tugged at the amulet, and just as he thought he couldn’t do it the chain snapped. He grabbed the amulet in his mouth and leapt off the bed. As soon as he did he felt something happening and then everything went black.
He woke up to find a man dressed in black standing over him, holding the amulet and smiling, “Well done Frog”.
“What happened?” said the frog, and then he realised that he wasn’t a frog anymore, he was a man again, “Did it work? Are you the Rat? Where’s the witch?”
“Slow down” said the man. “Yes, it worked. As soon as you took the amulet away from her the spell was broken and we both returned to normal. The witch is gone, without her amulet she is powerless and has fled into the forest. As for who I am, my name is Lord Vendar and this is my castle. Now, who are you and how did you get here?”
Slowly the would-be Dragon Slayer told his story, of his meeting with the Fairy Queen and her quest. Lord Vendar listened quietly until he had finished. Once the story was told he stood up and walked out of the room. After a few minutes he returned with a large bundle in his hands. From it he took something small and red.
“This is the ruby you are looking for. It belongs to the Fairy Queen, you should return it to her”.
Next he took a small bottle, with a strange label. “I believe that this is the potion you require. I don’t know what it does, maybe she will tell you when you deliver it, or maybe not. Finally, there is this…”
From the bundle he took a sword. It was obviously old, and had seen better days, but there was something about it which seemed magical. “I don’t know the name of the sword, but it has been in my family for generations. I think now is the time for it to be returned to its rightful owners. When you have completed your quest return here and I will take you as one of my knights. Maybe in time you may even meet a dragon. Now it’s time to be on your way, there is somebody waiting for you outside.”
The would-be Dragon Slayer rushed outside to find Star waiting for him, looking quite happy munching on some hay. After hugging his friend and making sure that he was ok, the would-be Dragon Slayer mounted up and set off in search of the Fairy Queen.
When he reached the clearing in the forest, the Fairy Queen was waiting. He climbed down from has mount and crossed the clearing to kneel in front of her.
“Welcome, brave knight. I am glad to see you again, and see that you have retrieved the items I requested.”
The would-be Dragon Slayer rose and passed over the bundle with the sword, ruby and potion. The Queen opened the bundle and took out the sword. She looked at it sadly.
“It is a long time since I have seen a sword such as this, and it saddens me to see it so neglected. However all is not lost thanks to you my knight. Watch…”
She took the ruby from the bundle and placed it in a space at the top of the hilt. Then she opened the bottle and poured the potion over the blade, whispering strange Elvin words as she did so. Slowly the sword changed, the ruby began to glow and the blade began to shine again as the years of neglect were washed away. After a few minutes the queen stopped her chanting and looked at the sword with pride. Then she looked at the would-be dragon slayer.
“Thank you for the service you have done for us brave knight. In return I hand you this sword. To us it is called Lhûg-Gurth; you would call it Dragon-Death. Guard it well, for one day you will need it. Now, return to Lord Vendar and tell him that the new Dragon Slayer requires training. Farewell, Dragon Slayer.”
So the Dragon-Slayer returned to the castle where he was hailed as a hero. In time he fought dragons and married a princess, and everybody lived happily ever after.

The C word

2008-03-23T16:00:00.004Z

And after the B word, it is ok to be a bit worried lol!

But mine is dedicated to CATS. I love my cat and my big man who disappeared last year. This was a tough one to do, as I kept getting all emotional (and Sue does not like tear wet wrinkly paper ;o)) So here it is, I am trying very hard to use my own handwriting and not print everything out - although it is nasty to do that! I am quite happy with this one, the 'books' where their names are have got lots of pages underneath that explains where we got them from, what their personalities are and what their fav thing to do was. Now I fully expect a slating from the other two as they tell me on numerous occasions how much they HATE cats - but hey ho, I am sooooooooo used to their moaning and negativity. (and I know Carol will at least be on my side!).

Oh and you'll be pleased to know a new fabby camera is ordered so hopefully this is the last scan lol. Right off to finish D, and wait for Em to catch up.......

Another canvas!

2008-03-19T21:24:00.006Z

Yes, I have done another canvas! I know it is all a bit boring now, but hey I have to get my money's worth from the AFTH course lol!

This one is for Grace Elizabeth and I think Tracie liked it ;o). Grace has the same affliction as many of our children (and pets!) and that is perfect photos taken purely to scrapbook! I decided to use this photo (which took my breath away) rather than the mean mummy one where she is all wrinkly and wrapped in a pink ribbon pmsl!

I am quite happy with it. I am doing another one for a friend and it just is not working! Am walking away from that one for a bit, sure she won't mind ;o)

Ol has been poorly this week, he's got this horrible sore throat and cough. I know he has been poorly cos he is asking to go to bed!

It was Parent's evening tonight. Overall a good boy as expected lol! She mentioned him being 'gifted' in maths - woo hoo! Of course I take full credit for that and his father has had NOTHING to do with that. I am upset that she thinks we need to go back to the speach therapist. I really didn't like the therapist, so am going to ask to see a different one. We were told one aspect of his speach he would probably grow out of, but potentially he's now got into a bad habit that we need to break.............

DH found me sobbing the other day *blush*. I was doing my C page (take note Em, you're gonna be last again!) and found a couple of photos of Casper ;o(

He was so handsome!

Last night was freak out night at college. We had some guest tutors come in to talk about dyslexia and what our responsibilities are going to be. I think I had a wake up call for what my responsibilites will be.........freaked me out a tadge! But still can't wait to do this!

Right, Torchwood time *sigh* - catch ya later!

World Book Day

2008-03-13T21:54:00.002Z

Well Tuesday was World Book day at Ol's school. He has quite a few costumes, so I figured he'd be a Jack Sparrow, or a dragon, or a knight.................oooooooooooh nooooooooooooo he wanted to be a Trex, Well actually a ravenous beast, which is his fav book.

So everyone said I should be really good at making a costume, being creative and everything. I pointed out that I can make necklaces and stuff but have never actually made a dinosaur! So no pressure at all then!

I started making the costume and wanted to check with Em and Sue what I should do with - a shoebox, paint, a green towel, card, elastic. Em wrote back and told me what I should make, which I was making - so woo hoo! Sue wrote back and wished me luck..........how helpful was she?!!

So at 10.45pm I finished it and laid it out on the landing.

In the morning I heard a very loud WOW! I then got a huge hug and told I was nearly as good as grandma at making stuff!

So he went off to school, (surrounded by lots of Jack Sparrows ;o)).

He only won 1st prize out of the whole school!! He won a £10 gift voucher and obviously the pride from his friends lol! And I was told I am now officially better than grandma - yeay!!

He is a little disappointed that he has to spend his book voucher on books but overall quite chuffed!

Em and Sue are trying to take credit for his winning, but I am unashamedly taking FULL credit as I worked WAY too hard to share this!

We have some photos, just need to get them loaded on - so watch this space xx

B is for.......

2008-03-08T20:10:00.005Z

Well tis time for B (now Em has finally pulled her finger out and finished her page!).

Every time I thought of this I just came coming back to one word................so I stop trying to fight it and accept it!

The picture was taken in Portugal, when Gail took me on holiday (I was about 17) and she had just made me climb a small hill, which turned out to be a freakin mountain! I was hot and tired and the facial expression explains why I used this particular photo lol!

(still apologising for the scans, no idea where my flippin camera has gone!)

Here are the tags behind the photo, loving 7 Gypsies atm!!

(oh and update on Fred the bunny, he has been 'done' and i didn't kill this one! However he does have an infection, (looks VERY painful!) and I have to give him antibiotics through a syringe. Tis certainly a challenge!

Sad

2008-03-04T16:08:00.003Z

We buried Annie today, was extremely sad. It was a lovely service, in a beautiful church. She was sent with dignity.

I have a new obsession!

2008-03-03T21:37:00.004Z

I went on a Art from the Heart course a couple of weeks ago, to learn how to paint on canvases. We did crackling, something else I can't remember what she called it but it involved ripping and dying! and then stippling. I have done a massive hexagon shaped one, which I can't show you yet cos it is too big to scan lol!

here are a couple I have done with stippling, on a smaller scale.

Warning - picture overload!

2008-03-02T21:51:00.020Z

Well here are a few (!) photos from our Feb holiday in the lakes. I cannot take any credit for the photo's, all taken by dh! And he don't take a bad photo really!

During a drive, I saw a llama. Of course no-one else saw it, so I got the mickey taken for the week. And then we went along the same road, and lookey here - a llama! So Gail - LOOK IT'S A LLAMA!! (of course I didn't get an apology from anyone!)

Daniel Mendoza

2008-03-01T21:33:00.004Z

Both my mum and auntie are very into tracing our family tree, and Elvina has found a little gem! We are related to Daniel Mendoza, number 82 of the top 100 most influential Jews. Not only this, but his son was also the first ever Jew to become a published writer. And reading what they both achieved is very humbling. Plus it says Peter Sellers is also in this line, so investigations are taking place ;o)

He's even in the t'internet!:

Daniel Mendoza was the first Jewish prize-fighter to become a champion. Though he stood only 5'7" and weighed 160 pounds, Mendoza was England’s sixteenth Heavyweight Champion from 1792 to 1795. Always proud of his heritage, he billed himself as Mendoza the Jew.He is the father of scientific boxing. At a time when the sport of boxing consisted primarily of barehanded slugging, Mendoza introduced the concept of defense. He developed the guard, the straight left, and made use of sidestepping tactics. This new strategy, the Mendoza School, also referred to as the Jewish School, was criticized in some circles as cowardly. But it permitted Mendoza to fully capitalize on his small stature, speed, and punching power.His first recorded prizefight was a knockout of an opponent, known as Harry the Coalheaver, whom he dispatched in 40 rounds. A victory in his first professional fight in 1787 won him the patronage of the Prince of Wales (later George IV), the first boxer to earn this honor. His acceptance by British royalty (he was the first Jew ever to speak to England’s King George III) helped elevate the position of the Jew in English society and stem a vicious tide of anti-Semitism that many Englishmen read into Shakespeare’s characterization of Shylock in his play The Merchant of Venice.Mendoza had a series of storied matches against rival Richard Humphries, one each in 1788, 1789, and 1790. He lost the first battle in 29 rounds but won the latter pair in 52 and 15 Daniel Mendoza, “Mendoza the Jew” rounds. He laid claim to the English boxing title in 1791 when the prevailing champion, Benjamin Brain, retired. Another top English boxer, Bill Warr, contested Mendoza’s claim. In May 1792, the two met to settle the matter in Croydon, England. Mendoza was victorious in 23 rounds. Warr and Mendoza met again in November 1794, and this time it took the champion only 15 minutes to dispose of the challenger.Mendoza, a descendant of Spanish Marranos (Jews coerced into conversion to Christianity) who had lived in London for nearly a century, became such a popular figure in England that songs were written about him, and his name appeared in scripts of numerous plays. His personal appearances would fill theaters, portraits of him and his fights were popular subjects for artists, and commemorative medals were struck in his honor.Daniel Mendoza was one of the inaugural group elected in 1954 to the Boxing Hall of Fame and of the inaugural class of the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1990

I got WELL done!

2008-02-28T17:17:00.003Z

My big sister left me a rather brusque voicemail today, shouting at me for having a blog and not telling her!

Ok, one I DID tell you - at christmas and mum says she remembers me telling you cos she has no idea what a blog is and she asked dad...........and well you can imagine that conversation.

Two - I have mentioned you loads of times! And there is a very dodgy photo of you!

So everyone, say hi to my big sister Gail and no she won't tell you all my family and childhood secrets - cos if she does then I will post hers on here too!

Warning - Loooooooooooong post!

2008-02-26T16:54:00.002Z

Well here I am again, no pictures this time - just boring text I'm afraid ;o)

Has been a bit of a whirlwind tbh - bad stuff first:

Dh's grandma died this morning. A very strong and unique lady, who has left a big hole in the world. RIP Annie xxx

Dad got rushed into hospital with something wrong with his intesteins (sp?). Our main worry is that if they operate, he will get MRSA (7 out of the last 8 times he has!!). Makes you wonder how much more one human body can take!

John at work has been left by his wife - he is in pieces and I am gutted, really thought he had finally found the one.

So....................good stuff!

My main excitement is the arrival of Grace Elizabeth! Tracie (Bondgirl) had a beautiful little girl, and named her Grace (mainly cos all of fate and destiny said she had to ;o). No pictures yet tho (HINT HINT) but I am very happy - and can now make something pink - woo hoo!

Went to Strictly Come Dancing Tour with mum and sister. Was ace! My hands hurt at the end due to all the clapping - and I even danced at one point! Was a really good girlie night out.

TOOT TOOT - Kathy has had my bday book put onto the BG gallery - very chuffed as it is MINE!! Well done Kathy!
http://www.basicgrey.com/catalog/idea_gallery_info.php?idea_gallery_id=26566

Have started the ABC of Me - as you have seen lol - very excited about this, have made a list (of course!) and only have a few initials to decide on ;o)

Got a gorgeous card from Em when I got home from work - and boy did I need that! How does she know?!!

House is on the market. We have found our dream home and now we just need to sell ours - easy eh? But I do have a contingency house jic ;o)

Have had another assessment from college, which went ok - so, so far so good.

Thinks that it for now..................off to college for 4 hours now and I am so excited! So sad I know.

Keep safe everyone, and kiss a loved one xxx

And here is mine

2008-02-23T19:52:00.004Z

Ok - I am getting on average a text every 30 mins from some nutty bird, and quite frankly I am feeling so sorry for her boys it is untrue! MY GOD that woman can nag!!!

I am going to blog more and update you on some bits and pieces, but hopefully this will stop her harrasing me for at least the next hour!

Here is my A page. VERY sorry but I have lost my camera, and DH's is way too expensive for me to use! So I have had to scan and do in two stages (hate doing that!!)

This is WAY out of my comfort zone, but I guess the whole point of a challenge is to do that! So we have Black and white - and nothing else - flipping heck! And it's a bit romantic, which I do not do. But hey it is our 10th wedding anniversary this year, so I thought for once I could be slushy!

Such a nippy biscuit!

2008-02-04T22:55:00.000Z

I am getting hourly telling offs from Em cos I haven't been here for a while! So just to shut her the hell up, here I am!

I have been very busy over the last few weeks, everything has been manic. Last week was Jim and Shirley's joint retirement 'do' last week at work. They are both fab people, who make the day go that bit faster. So it is quite emotional that they are both leaving. They are the ultimate odd couple, it is so funny watching them together. Shirley is the ultimate matriark (sp?) and Jim the down trodden long suffering husband! I made Shirley a book for her trip to New Zealand and I tarted a box up for Jim as he is starting to learning how to paint. He was so choked up he gave me a big hug! And then I remembered why crafting is so cool, cos we get to make people happy, and that is cool!

HAve been very busy crafting, two pages in two cj's one for cbc and one for uks. The next cj I have on uks is Willow's. I love working on Willow's stuff as her style is so unique and distinctive and it really does change the way I do stuff. Can't wait to do this cj, know exactly what I am going to do for this one.

Also it was a couple of bdays last week - gorgeous pinkness that is Mel and the beautiful bird that is Carol. For Mel I made a Tinkerbell mini peg and Carol I made a star for her to wish on.

So tons of crafting and obviously not one photo! As I left everything to the last minute so no chance of taking piccies. Good one!

Had a fab MSN party last week, I have missed them x

The bunnies are moved into the same hutch now - with a seperation between them, Joe II is on the top floor and Freddie is ground floor. Seem ok, am not going to put them together as I am not going to have them 'done'. Do NOT want to go through that again!

There is an air of excitement at home at the moment. We have heard a very nice house which is actually a converted stable is up for sale in the village where Ol goes to school, so are trying to find out more info. At first I ignored any conversations about moving but having spent all last night (well to 3.45am at least) lying away and thinking about it, I am now coming round to the idea. Plus the thought of putting up with the scummers from next door does not sit well iykwim. I don't want to leave here as it has been a happy home, but this other house is GORGEOUS! And if I lose my craft room DH has said I can have a cabin in the garden - so everyone's a winner! I think even if we don't go for this one then it is time to start looking for the right next home is coming around.

So here is a long boring post with no piccies, but at least it will shut the goddess up till she finds something else to nag me about! As I have said on a number of occasions, poor poor Mat!

All cried out

2008-01-24T21:51:00.000Z

Well today did not start well. I have a guy that works in my team who is ace. We get on so well, we have the same sense of humour, we are very sarcastic and most people don't realise we are taking the mickey. We work really well together and he is on my list of favourite people. Well we were in a meeting this morning and he got a phone call from one of his best mates. His mate went to his dr cos he had a bad cough, ended up having to have his lung drained and for some reason it wouldn't heal. Well the phone call today was to tell him that he had a rare form on lung cancer and he has a couple of months left.

Now my team mate is 24, the most laid back person I have ever met, happy go lucky and I literally watched him fall to pieces. We sat in the meeting room and he just lost it. It was one of the hardest things I have ever done and seen in my life!

So I sent him home, with instructions to talk to people and not keep everything in (cos I know ALL about that).

Then my phone rang and it was the vets. I took the bunnies in this morning for their 'op' and yep of course..................Joe died under the aneathestic. Joe is the brown bonkers one on red bull and I literally sobbed like a baby! I am soooo gutted! Ollie didn't know they were going in so I rang DH to see what we should do. He couldn't actually understand me the first time I rang him cos I was crying too hard *blush* Well we decided to see if the neighbour had any more (cos he did say if anything happened..........).

So we now have a Joe the second. He is a complete exact replica of bonkers bunny so we'll see. I know it is wrong to lie etc but after losing Casper, we really did not think he could take losing Joe. So keep your fingers crossed that JII will pass the test!

So I am all cried out today!

And they save me again!

2008-01-23T18:09:00.000Z

tbh the last few days have been really rough, I have been getting really down especially about one thing in particular. You know what it's like when you start thinking about something and to you it seems really small and insignificant, but over a while it really starts to do your head in! Well when a fabby wabby mate then asks you about it cos she has noticed it, it is like a huge weight being lifted off your shoulders! It is not just me and someone else has noticed! It's still grating on me but now I can moan and bitch about it and feel much better lol!

So Monday was really bad at work - lots of stress and pressure (and stooopid people who expect me to stop the flooding!). Tuesday was a bit of a clean up (literally lol) and incident reports etc. Then school last night which got me all stressed cos it was about intergrating numeracy into lessons - and I 'ate maffs!

So when I woke up this morning and realised I was going to my first Art from the Heart class of 2008 my little heart lifted a little bit. Dropped Ollie off at school and picked up a parcel from Em. To say she has spoilt me is an understatement! She has sent me loads of BG stuff and I love it all! In fact she couldn't have chosen better! So BG pressy next to me I set off to Harrogate in the car with loud tacky music and sweeties!

OMFG I have had such an excellent day! The course was making a book with the BIA and decorate a tin to put it in. I can't actually begin to explain how friggin brilliant the course was! I have made (with a little help ;o)) a book from scratch, with a covered front and back, with fabby pages with tags, envelopes etc etc. Even the tin is sexy!! Dyan shared so many wonderful ideas that I just would never even think to do and should me how to use all those fabb things I have bought from AFTH and never had the guts to use! I have come out armed with confidence to just have a go and see what happens! I also have a really good pressie for Gail's bday next month! Imagine sitting in a class being shown how to make really tricky things in an easy way, surrounded by Blonde Moments, Tim Holtz, 7 Gypsies, Elsie, MAMBI etc etc - bliss!

I will show you - but I need to finish off a couple of things ;o)

Oh and I must apologise to Sue as I may have shown off a bit in a text lol!

(Oh and can I just point out today I have being SEWING! Me? Unbelieveable!)

And then I get home to a parcel from Carol. She has sent me a beautiful tin with a gorgeous message in and some ace primas. She is soo talented, I love getting parcels from Carol!

So there we go, if you spoke to me last night you'dve got an angry sad stressed individual. Now you have a relaxed happy crafty person - so thank god for my wonderful friends and the talent that is Dyan!

Just a bit wet!

2008-01-21T21:53:00.000Z

What a flippin day! We have been preparing for bad weather but nowhere near as bad as this! The funny thing is, because I am in charge of the disaster management everyone thinks I can stop the emergencies - like I can stop the flooding! What makes me mad is Ollie's school was closed at 11.00 and I managed to leave work at 6.15! Oh to just leave work when I need to.............

Well I have a couple of the 365's to catch up on..................but I am so exhausted I'll catch up tomorrow zzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Stay dry x

10 things about you

2008-01-19T22:25:00.000Z

Here is my take on the 10 things about you challenge on JB.

These pictures were taken at my sister's last year when DH bought a new camera and they did a photo shoot, I have always liked them but never really thought about scrapping them. errrr hello?!! So when I counted them and there were 10 - I knew I had to use them for this challenge.

It is quite simple but I didn't want to detract from the photos...........I may have another play at some point.

All better now

2008-01-18T22:26:00.000Z

Am all better now, have stopped halucinating and shaking and the nose has stopped running - so am much happier. My funniest thing this week was Sue and Em being concerned that I was poorly until I told them I was missing college this week - and then suddenly they were very worried lol! Was a bad one, proper flu. So the jab didn't work then?!

Anyway, back to 365's.

LO Prompt 2

Go back to day 12, read the prompt and look back at your notes from that day. Either use the photo from your day 12 or take a new one or two if you wish, and scrap this photo telling the story behind it.

Here's my LO, quick and simple and full of flu - so not perfect in any way lol!

15th Jan

"Make rest and refreshment a necessity, not a luxury."
Dan Zadra

Here is my relaxing item - not your usual thing but I was going looking around my house and the one thing I put on in the evening is my fabby lava lamp which I got for xmas. I sit and watch it for hours and it sooooooooooo relaxes me - love it.

16th Jan

You, whose day it is, get out your rainbow colors and make it beautiful."
Traditional Nootka song
Show me colour in your life today

I have lots of colours in my life, especially my boy. But my fav place in the house is full of colours (being painted pink and lime helps!). Here is a section of my craft room, the completely rainbow bit ;o)

I also wanted to show you a new version of my eye, very colourful lol!

Very colourful indeed ;o)

Well today is Dad's bday. Another one we weren't expecting, so is a good day. Have been out for a nice meal, greek. So of course I had my usual garlic mushrooms and steak lol!

Here's his card, from Sue's challenge on JB

And one more piccie:

Need I say more? :O)

Well the weekend beckons........have a good one everyone x

My little things, plus .....

2008-01-14T14:02:00.000Z

12th Jan

Savor life's tiny delights---a crackling fire, a glorious sunset, a hug from a child, a walk with a friend, a cup of soup, a kiss behind the ear.
John Anthony

Well here is my little delight,

I thought about this quite a bit cos I have so many delights in my life. But for me, my dh and baby and family are so much more than a delight! Then I got a text from my friend and I decided on my phone being my small delight.

I love getting texts from my friends, and I get at least one every day. To me this means that there is someone out there thinking about me and wondering how I am. Over the last 12 months I have had quite a bit going on, and my friends have been there all the way. They remember when I have dr's appointments etc and always seem to know when to send the 'how did it go' text. I watch a tv programme (one in particular) and me and Em chat all the way through it (I say chat, I actually mean bitch and destroy them all the way through!).

I sit in really boring meetings and talk to Sue and cos I am senior management in charge of emergencies, then this is completely fine to do lol!

I have met a number of people through the internet and they have become some of the most important people in my life, I am more honest and open with them than I ever am with the people who I see every day. They know me better than most people who have known me for years and they check in with me by using that little piece of technology that is my phone - so yeah, it's more than just something to order the chinese on ;o)

13th Jan

"When in doubt, take a bath."
Mae West

Sorry Anna but you have NO chance of getting a piccie of me in the bath lol! It is bad enough doing the self portraits when I am dressed!!

But the bath is a special place for me. Before Ollie was born I used to have lots of long bubble baths, tons of bubbles, surrounded by candles and my fav music on in the background, and most importantly the door LOCKED!! It was my wind down time and I loved it!

Then I got pregnant and really hated them, I hated being so hot!

And then the baby came. One big thing that has always upset me was when I had Ollie I was very poorly and was unconcious for 4 days after he was born. I missed alot of his 'firsts', his first bath being one of them. I really wish I'dve been there! But when we got home I have to say the bath time was one of the most stressful things we did! We bought an inflatable bath and DH and I both did the bath time. There was lots of warm bubbles and soft towels, and two adults taking hours to bathe this tiny thing! He was soooo slippery! Was very stressful! And then of course he got older and bathtime become his and daddy's playtime!

Ironically about 5 weeks ago I fancied a bath on a Sunday night. So I light the candles, and filled it with bubbles and got in. MAN I have missed those baths! So now every Sunday becomes my bath night. Now I don't have a lock on the door and I have a 6 year old coming in every 10 mins to ask me where x is and why does he have to do y?! I don't have the music on anymore, but I guess Ollie is the music!

13th Jan

"Attempt the impossible in order to improve your work.”
Bette Davis
I want you to really think about this quote today . What did you attempt today that improved your day?

Today has been a very weird day for me - today I phoned in sick to work! Now usually I battle every illness and drag myself in. I detest being ill and hate wimps who call in sick.....so for me to do it, was a big thing. I have a cold and feel terrible. So I figured I would take a couple of days to get better rather than do what I usually do and force myself in and take weeks to get better! I also finished a friend's bday pressie. Have been stressing over this, what do you make the winner of BOB Altered winner - jewellery etc - noooooooooo, you give yourself that extra little challenge lol! But all done, so big achievement today.

Going to do my 2 o/s lo's tonight and tomorrow (bleary eyes permitting ;o)) and feel so motivated and excited! I can't believe how 'into' the 365 I have got! Tis fab!

Lastly - I found some nutty family photos that I wanted to share.

And while we are talking about Bette Davis have a look at this!

And then my sister!

More stuff

2008-01-11T16:42:00.000Z

8th Jan

“The best color in the whole world, is the one that looks good, on you!”
Coco Chanel

Fraid I don't have one for this - will have to owe you ;o)

9th Jan

Take time every day to do something ridiculous.
Philipa Walker
Lets see the silly side to you!

Can't quite believe I am doing this!! Imagine a 6 year old giggling behind me while doing it and a DH trying desperately to understand why lol!

I don't really have a silly side, I should do really but I never have! I love people being silly around me but I think it comes down to confidence sometimes. I would rather be the quiet one in the back than in the loud one in the front - I leave that to my beautiful friends ;o)

10th Jan

The eyes are the window of the soul
English Proverb
You cannot hide your true feelings through your eyes, they speak a thousand words. Take note!

I'm going to be a bit cheeky with this one cos they are not new photos. But as soon as I knew the prompt then I knew the two piccies to use. All the time people are saying that Ollie has 'got my eyes' and I would have to agree. I love looking into his big brown eyes, so full of innocence (so not entirely like mine lol!). All my life my eyes have done me well, and can sometimes be used as a bit of a weapon - so my eyes are goooood!

Me at 5

Ollie at 5

11th Jan

Families are like fudge…mostly sweet, with a few nuts.
Anonymous
Lets add a few more to the self portrait experience!

Well what can I say about my family - we certainly have our fair share of nuts!

Uncle Robert is a true geordy - in every sense. This is the first time we have had a geordy in our clan but he certainly brightens it up! He is loud - both in clothes and voice! And he makes my sister very happy - so nuts is good.

My Uncle Ernie is the best uncle in the world! He is dad's brother and we have always had a great bond. He is a cockney g'vnor and tends to embarress us wherever we go! The best story with Ernie is when dad woke up from his coma. He said he knew he was in trouble if either a priest came in or Ernie drove up to see him..............so of course when we told him this he drove up (he was coming up anyway to see dad awake!) and walked into Intensive care dressed as a priest!! Was very funny and dad thought it was hysterical! Sister didn't and neither did the nurses - but we did ;o)

I don't have any recent photos of him (or me and him together) so that will change the next time he is up.

And then there is daddy - when he is with Ollie he becomes completely bonkers! For a moment, he even forgets he is an accountant!

And don't even get me started on the Matthew's side of the family! Mum's side of the family are all from Birmingham. Auntie Brenda, Uncle Barry, Alison and Sally etc etc.............we only ever really meet at funerals or weddings (lots of weddings on this side of my family - and divorces!) Will dig out some old photos to show you.

Here are a couple of non 365 photos (cannot believe how many photos I am taking now the camera is in my bag!).

This is my big man on his way to Beavers (damn that Lesely Neilson for ruining the innocence of Beavers!)

And finally (phew you say!) is a couple of piccies from the school run this afternoon. Not a bad view from the playground eh?

And I am quite pleased with this last one. This is one of the fields we drive past. Currently flooded and the sun was setting - so a piccie was taken! I am getting into this whole photography stuff!

365 Challenge

2008-01-07T18:07:00.000Z

Well I am going to have a go at the 365 challenge, of taking one photo every day..........here's a catch up from the 1st Jan.

1st Jan

Prompt 1
"A day without laughter is a day wasted" - Charles Chaplain
Lets start the year with laughter
Journaling Prompt 1
I want you to write a list of Goals for 2008, nothing to unachievable, just a list of maybe 10 things you would like to do

1. Take at least one photo every day.

2. Do not take myself too seriously.

3. Do one LO every week.

4. Enjoy my college course and do the work on time.

5. Do not leave CJ's till the last minute.

6. Try and be a bit tidier.

7. Make the most of my friends.

8. Appreciate my family.

9. Try and be nice to DH (try ;o))

10. Tell Ollie I love him everyday.

2nd Jan

Prompt 2
"I´m gonna make a change,

For once in my life

It´s gonna feel real good

Gonna make a difference

Gonna make it right

I'm starting with the man in the mirror"
Micheal Jackson

Grab your notebook at some point today and journal your feelings, or with just one word that sums up the day for you!

My one word? BUSY!!!

Not ready to journal feelings yet so Busy will have to do for now lol!

3rd Jan

I didn't get a chance to take one today, but I can do the jornalling - in fact I could probably do pages and pages lol! My main worry (apart from my weight) is the ezcema on my face - hence why you won't see many photos of me! I feel like some days I am like a bright red beacon beaming a shiny red light lol!

"Life is too short and too amazing to spend time worring about imperfection "
Ali Edwards
Grab your camera and click, dont worry about the imperfections! Use todays quote for both your photo and journalling prompt.

4th Jan

"Normal day, let me be aware of the treasure you are"
Mary Jean Irion
Record a normal, daily routine, take note!

Well I completely admit that because I hate photos of me, poor Ollie doesn't have alot of me and him photos so that will change (thanks to these challenges ;o)).

My normal routine evolves around my treasure, and whilst on paper they are chores they never really feel like chores iykwim! Daily routine can be school, swimming lessons, playing at friends, going to grandma's, Beavers etc etc etc.

My routine today:

Over slept cos I stayed up too late watching tv,

Rush around like a loon getting me and Ollie ready,

Help Dh find his watch, wallet, car keys, mobile etc etc etc

Do the dreaded school run, we have to drive about 4 miles to get to school but the school was the best one for him.

Go back to town to try and find a packing space (NEVER CAN!).

Get to work, manage a team and be an expert in my field (whilst being very bored!).

Leave at 3.00 to get back to school to pick baby up,

Arrive home at 3.30 ish and do some jobs around the house while Ol watches some tele.

Start tea.

Sort out the animals.

Play with Ollie.

Daddy gets home.

Have tea.

Watch a bit more tv.

Bathtime

Daddy and Ollie have an hour playtime / tv time / supper time

Mummy gets to play for an hour in craft room (bliss!)

My turn to do stories, wee, clean teeth etc

Spend next 20 mins getting Ollie asleep.

Maybe go back and craft or go downstairs and watch tv.

Stay up way too late watching crap tele!

And start again............

5th Jan

"I am beautiful no matter what they say"
Christine Aguilera
Lets get up close and personal.
How do you feel about the person you are, insde and out?

Inside I am an ok person, I love lots and like to give to people. The bigger problems don't phase me too much and I can handle 'situations'. I sometimes say things too honestly and yes that means sometimes I can be a bitch - but I do try to stop that from happening! I try to be happy, fair and true.

Outside is a whole different story! I have no confidence, or will power or strength - but that will change (I hope xx)

6th Jan

Photo to come!

Hold out your hands to feel the luxury of the sunbeams.
Helen Keller

Our hands tell us alot about the person we are, our occupations, age and life.
What do your hands say about you. Take note

My hands are the things that shock me most about me growing old! I look at my hands and they have changed soooooo much (in fact sometimes I think they look so much like my mums!) They look like a mid 30's persons hands and that's not me, no sirey! On my hands I have a engagement ring, a wedding ring and an eternity ring - and that says alot about me. I am loved and I have a beautiful family at home who are there for me.....................ohhhhh deep for a hands prompt!!!

7th Jan

I'll have to owe this one as my printer is poorly due to some vellum being stuck in there - wooops!

Meet the Bunnies!

2008-01-06T21:33:00.000Z

Well here are the new additions to our zoo! They still don't live in the same hutch yet as they tend to try to kill each other! But they are due to go in and get 'done' soon so hopefully that will help! Their breed is called a 'Silver' and the flecks you can see are bits of silver in their coats, beautiful.

I never thought I would love have bunnies soooo much, they are certainly a welcome addition to our family!

This is Joe (and child lol!). With Joe, imagine a bonkers hysterical maniac, drinking red bull!!

And this is Freddie, a very quiet laid back bunny, until the above said bonkers bunny gets in his face!

So my objective is to take a photo of them without red eyes lol!

Shape Shifter

2008-01-06T21:18:00.000Z

Here is my entry for Bex's shape shifter challenge. Scanner currently has a piece of vellum stuck in the printer bit - so we have to have photos I'm afraid!

Review of 2007

2008-01-03T21:19:00.000Z

Here is my 2007 review for the JB challenge. I've been a bit cheeky and done mine on a canvas. you can't really see it very clearly, I have written in between the piccies and done some doodling!

The 'and' handbag has the personnal and sad stuff that should be included but I didn't want it on show iykwim!

Think Differently about Autism

2008-01-02T21:15:00.000Z

Please have a look at these, thanks x

http://www.think-differently.org.uk/Understand%20autism/View%20our%20films/Part%201.aspx

2008

2008-01-01T20:49:00.001Z

Happy New Year everyone xxx

Just to make Sue chuckle

2007-12-27T23:51:00.000Z

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/main.jhtml?xml=/motoring/2007/12/08/mnmay08.xml

It's been a whirlwind!

2007-12-27T19:20:00.000Z

Wow - where has all that time gone?!

So what have I been up to.................? Ollie had his 6th bday. Had two parties (thinks he's the queen!). Had a friend's one at Fun Planet which is a fun factory type of place. Fab for me - you arrive, give them the cake and you see the kids in two hours time! Stress free, how can anyone complain?!! (having hosted his 4th one at home with party games and bags etc I have always vowed I would NEVER do that again!). And then he had the family party, which is at home but luckily we don't have to play party games ;o)

(picture of the gorgeous Alice, wearing a dress just for me - how lush is she?!)

As well as a guitar (thanks grandad!) and lots of other toys, he also got a rabbit called Joe. Our neighbour breeds show pedigree rabbits and we were going to have a baby one that was 'not up to show standard' (which Em thought was very funny!) but in the end he gave us a show one! So when we told people we had a bunny (including the vet) we were asked when the second one was joining us...............apparently they get lonely as they are pack animals. So Fred then joined us (and again he gave us a pedigree - very norty neighbour!) Already have fabby personalities - Joe is a maniac! For anyone who has watched Over the Hedge, our Joe is just like Hammy! Fred is very quiet and shakes alot! We did have an introduction but that ended rather badly so we are taking our time now! I do openly admit I am now a bunny groupie - they are sooooo cool!! Pictures to follow shortly, as I keep forgetting!

And then I got my first assignment back from college - a pass woo hoo!

And then chrimbo! I have had a great time. We all went to mum and dad's for the day (after going to the outlaws in the morning). Gail and Robert came up so it was a real family thing. I got some amazing pressies! A bind it all (which I thought I was going to get as we were discussing a cj I have and he mentioned that it would look better if it was spiral binded - like he would know anything like that without having to go onto a site and order one lol!). He did also buy me a BIA tote bag, tons of spare wires and tool kit from a lovely lady who he was on the phone to for an hour and a half - she so saw him coming eh? ;o) I also got lots of perfume, jewellery, crafty stuff, tickets to see Strictly at Manchester, cd's, etc etc. I also got a gorgeous set of pressies from Sue all the way from Florida - love her! I got a Elsie star book, multi coloured rings for my cj's, a beautiful magnet to match my bday mini canvas AND a christmas 2007 scrapbook, which I just have to add the photos!!! Tis gorgeous xxx

So here are some photos from the day:

This is just Ol's pile! He is in there somewhere!

And these are the rest of ours - or at least some of them! Did I mention we go a bit ott when it comes to chrimbo pressies!!!

Then we have the necessary sleeping after lunch piccies ;o) sorry uncle Robert and Auntie Gail lol!

Then Boxing Day we went for our usual meal, which involves a full cooked all day breakfast (which makes you feel very sicky afterwards!).

Back to work today, but managed to get half of a MASSIVE assignment done so am feeling very good. Other half hopefully will be finished tomorrow!

My friends may have noticed that I didn't send any cards out this year - SORRY! But I had lots of beady orders to do, so needed to foucs on them. BUT I am going to send Carol a cheque for the doggies as a donation. Hope that is ok with everyone - you know I think you are all wonderful and wished you a very merry chrimbo xxxxx

How rude

2007-12-07T16:24:00.000Z

Why do all my non crafty friends think this is hysterical?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbXLIniGz24

much going on!

2007-12-04T23:09:00.000Z

I have so much going on at the moment I don't have time to catch my breath!

I was assessed yesterday at work by my tutor, which was terrifying! I had two one hour sessions and the first one was fantastic. Of course I invited my tutor to the second one, which was full of dullards who would not join in! She said I did really well considering and I got really good feedback..............so am happy!

Erm.....what else? Oh dh had the job of tooth fairy tonight and he did it so well! (except I did send him back in cos he was a cheap yorkshire accountant so he was told to add to it ;o) )

Oooooooh he has a Man U fan in his secret santa and he has got together a load of quotes on pages (all very sarcastic as he is a Liverpool fan!), photos and embellishments.................hands up who thinks this sounds like a scrapbook? of course he is completely denying it!

Have rec'd my uks Buffy cj back and it is fab. Will scan it soon.

Just getting together a jewellery order for a fabby friend - have enjoyed doing beadies again.

Am also making a couple of chrimbo pressies, one of which I am happy with and one I am HATING! And of course the one I am hating is the one I have to send soon cos she is going away - so because SHE is going on her jollies I am getting stressed and grumpy, so yey thanks posh bird!

AND to add to that I got a reminder that the Magikal mystery tour cj next posting is tomorrow and I am nowhere near finished. Now Sue suggested I asked Em for an excuse, cos quite frankly her excuses are fantastic! So when I texted her to ask for a spare one..................well lets just say I was SHOCKED at her response! very rude!

I love my boy

2007-11-29T18:21:00.001Z

Today the kids were told in class that one of their classmates has been diagnosed with leukemia. So they have been told what will happen ie hair loss etc. So on the way home, Ol was telling me about it. He then started to worry cos it is winter and she will be cold.

About 15 mins later he asks if we can go round to Grandma's.

So when we get there he takes Grandma to one side and asks if she will knit a hat and scarf for Caitlin cos she will get too cold in the winter with no hair.

My god I love my boy *sigh*

Initial Teaching Assignment

2007-11-21T16:58:00.000Z

Well last night we had to deliver a 20 minute lesson to our class on our specialist subject. It went ok, the feedback was overall quite good. I can't believe how nervous we all were! The really good thing was we all supported each other, so if we asked a question someone was guaranteed to answer and if we needed volunteers someone was there. What it did prove to me was that I am loving this course so much and am so pleased I applied for it. Definately the right change of direction for me!

I also downloaded all the photos off DH's camera the other day and I laughed so much at the next four photos! Not sure if it will translate but it was very funny at the time! DH is trying out the timer on the camera at my sisters house but it took four attempts to get him in the shot..................we were in hysterics by the end of it!

It's Official

2007-11-15T19:41:00.000Z

I is the most spoiltest person EVER!! Today I am 35 and I have had soooooooooooooooo many pressies I am all a bit shocked!

I got a bunch of roses from my team at work (bless them!), a designer handbag of mum and dad, a set of flip flop candles (Em you would LOVE them!), big box of choccies, a subscription for Bead UK off my sister and bil, lots of money, 3 new cds, a trip to Art from the Heart's new shop on Saturday and tons of kisses from little man plus a birthday tea at Mcdonalds..................

..........so up to that I is spoilt.

Then I get 5 parcels from crafty friends - and to say I am a bit overwhelmed is an understatement! Because I have lost my battery for my camera I can't show all of them as I will have to borrow dh's but I can show you some and I will scan some but they will look pants (so if any of you angels have decent photos can you email them to me!!).

This is a gorgeous birthday book from Sue, with an example of a month page.

and here is the most fantastic mini canvas of my baby! I keep moving it round the house cos I can't decide where to put it as I want to be able to see it all the time! (it also has a little easel)

Then Carol sent me a wonderful knick knack box, which this scan really does not do any justice so I am hoping Caz took some of her fabby photos ;o)

(tbh I am quite distraught about this, cos I think it is made of matchboxes and if it is, then that bird truly can make stunning things out of such simple things! No wonder she is BOB 2007 lol!)

Then this is one of the things Em made me, a blackboard which is soooooo cool and according to my baby I should use when I teach cos the class will like it!

The bootilicious Em also made me a List holder of fab pink heart shaped post it notes, held up by a PINK BIG PEG! Now last night I was telling Sue how much I wanted a big peg and she never said noffink!! and now I have one! Have scanned it and it looks terrible so that will be a dh special me thinks!

And I got a name plate accordian book, of which the poem made me cry cos it is so beautiful - again scan does not do it any justice *blush*

And then I opened Steph's which again had me filling up! It is an stunning acetate circle LO (which I have always loved!) with my fav piccy of me and dh on our wedding day in pink and lime - identical to my crafty room colours. Cos it is acetate it does not scan well - so another dh special I'm afraid!

Then an accordian book from Kathy, which is perfect in every way.

There are so many pages, I just can't do them all! But I know exactly how I am going to fill it and that is to say where I am at 35 - have wanted to do this and wasn't sure how but as soon as I saw this I knew what to do!

So that is just some - and I haven't even scanned the cards yet!! I am so so lucky to have such wonderful, caring and incredibly talented friends. This is a very happy birthday!

Thank you everyone.

Before I go I do want to show you one card I got from Bucket. Now those who know me know my hair is a little bit wild, but I do not deserved this (especially when everyone laughed when they came into my office and saw it!)

At last - sorry H!

2007-11-12T19:38:00.000Z

A VERY long time ago *blush* we had a beady swap on CBC. Well I had H as my partner and she sent me the most delicious beads but tbh I was completely out faced by them. I had NO idea what to do with them and I put them on my 'waiting for inspiration' pile (there's quite alot on that pile lol!).

Well a few weeks ago I went to a show in Harrogate and I saw some examples using these beads. So I have adapted what I saw and came up with this:

H's beads are the big ones that are intertwined with the main string. You can't really tell on here but they are really funky and fun, and they are all mine ;o)

So thank you H and as I have said, I am really sorry for it taking so long to make something with them!

Me and Ollie have had a duvet day today. I have been icky all weekend and on the way to work / school this morning, little man had a little accident. It was only little but I didn't want to leave him there knowing that I had been poorly (my mahusive pet hate of parents taking their children to school / nursury when they know the kid is poorly as my boy has missed 3 out of 5 birthdays and christmases due to having major bugs - so it gets me mad mad mad!). Plus I would hate for him to have the humiliation of having a major accident in front of his classmates. So I had a chat with the teacher and I bought him home. Then phoned my boss (man with grown up children) and explained Ol was poorly. ' (sigh)Ok well I'll hope to see you tomorrow then' - and then at 3.30pm rings me begging for me to come in cos they have a major disaster and he can't deal with it. (which of course I did, phewie for grandad's!) So believe me I will be having words with him tomorrow!!

Anyway, there is a point to the ramblings! While I was making H's bracelet, Ol played with some beads and made Lynda a bracelet too. Lynda is my friend who I hold as one of the women who I most admire as a mother, single parent since Jorge was about 2, amazing relationship and the child is wonderful. Now Jorge is 11 now and when I go and see Lynda, Ollie and Jorge play on the playstation. To say Ollie thinks he is a god is an understatement! So when I ask who the bracelet is for, he says well Lynda of course! (am I ok to feel a little jealous cos it was not for me lol?!). So here it Ol's bit of beading today (don't freak, I did the crimp beads and the clasp!):

Wish me luck tomorrow getting a 5 year old to school who has worked out he can have days off if he says he is poorly!

And I am done!

2007-11-09T18:37:00.000Z

Well I have finished all the challenges!! Woo flippin hoo!

Here are the rest:

The second sew far sew good - a thank you card for mum for all the sewing stuff she does for us!

Challenge 13 - Peg it

Challenge 7 - Another shape (this stand up with a pyramid bit at the back!)

Challenge 4 - Marathon Project

This is a 6x6 book for sister's chrimbo pressie. All about our two trips to legoland (note the freaky photos that are a year apart and yet almost exactly the same!).

Not all of the pages, but an example to show.

(very sorry for the poor scan but the lego pieces raise it too high)

(and don't tell the boys I nicked their lego ;o))

(just to prove to Uncle Robert that he DOES sleep in the car!)

Challenge 14 - Useful storage

(a bobbins box for mum)

Challenge 11 - It's a Picture (with bonus points for not using a frame)

So here is a calendar for sister

Challenge 6 - cd

This is a xmas tree for my craft room (as I won't have space for a proper one!) and Little man is making my the decs to put on it!

Challenge 10 - a table decoration

Some more

2007-11-07T22:24:00.000Z

Well I have managed to do some more of Sue's challenges. I really wish I had more time cos I would love to really sit and think about what I do - but I don't so these are the best I can do in the time. Plus I have done the storage box and photo frame ones ................ and now can't find my camera battery that I put somewhere safe to charge up...................*sob*!

I did promise Sue I would do every one but that is looking unlikely now but I have given it my bestest shot - and am determined to finish the marathon challenge which is booked for tomorrow night's 'slot'

Challenge 15 More than 1

3 to be precise – I want you to make 3 cards. Each card must have the same embellishment or stamp used on it 3 TIMES

Challenge 17 - a picture

and finally I want you to make a card using a PHOTO You may also make a LO if you prefer An EXTRA 5 points if you use NUMBERS on your project

(This is a thank you card for Lisa, who throws the BEST kids halloween parties! This is baby Alice - the one who was poorly when she was born. Look at her now!)

Challenge 16 - to die for

Make a CHRISTMAS card using DIE CUTS. No other rules

Challenge 12 - sew far sew good

2 cards are required here – no theme at all BUT they MUST include items that you would normally find in a sewing / knitting box

(DAMMIT - JUST NOTICED I HAVE TO DO 2 CARDS GRRRRRR!!)

Wishing you a blingy christmas!

2007-11-04T20:44:00.000Z

Well here is another challenge - this time something beady. Now most of the things I make are for other people. DO NOT get me wrong, I love making things for my friends and family but I did realise the other day I went out (miracle!) and I did not have anything decent bead wise to wear! So I promised myself I would make something for me - and with christmas coming what is a better excuse for using up all the swarovski crystals that I have saved up.

So here is my blingy christmas. Not sure about the necklace but can change that before my work 'do' if needed! The scan doesn't show the complete blinginess of it BLING BLING and more BLING!!

ahhhhhh that's better!

2007-11-03T21:24:00.000Z

I forgot how much I love stamping and embossing! Here are my cards for Sue's challenge number 5 (only meant to do one but I had so much fun I did two!).

For this challenge we want you to make a card using RUBBER STAMPS (don't panic if you haven't GOT stamps IMPROVISE!!!!) there are 2 steps to this challenge Use your stamps to make a BACKGROUND as well as having a MAIN STAMPED IMAGE. You can use two different stamps for the two elements or get creative and use the same stamp to make the background and the main image - it's up to you!

The first one is embossed with my fav powder, moonglow (midnight copper) which doesn't show the shimmer in the scan. The middle bit is raised up.This one has a script stamp as the background and the tree is embossed using moon glow again. It is four images decoupaged (pain in the bum but end result is good!).

And here is a necklace for challenge 3, WE NEED A PRESSIE!!! so whatever you like a present for someone handmade and fabulous

The start of SUE's big challenge

2007-11-03T10:22:00.000Z

Well here are the entries so far!

Challenge One

READY STEADY GO we want YOU to make a christmas card with MORE than ONE FOLD this can be interpreted how you like

So here is mine - you'll never guess what I did pmsl! I did try others but they all looked like pap!

(inside)

and challenge two - a SWOT template

Now I am passionately hating both of these but I had to force craftiness last night - hopefully it will be better tonight!

Swing Card

2007-10-28T19:48:00.000Z

Another JB challenge - was flippin hard this one! I did a card for dad to give to mum for her bday.

Somebody stop me!

2007-10-25T19:48:00.001+01:00

Last night I started on more JB challenges, even though the time is closed I am determined to try them all! So I started on the fasten it challenge. So I did an A4 gatefold card for Lisa and Dave's engagement......................9 cards later I finished!!! They are very simple but I really enjoyed doing them and now have all the cards for events leading upto chrimbo like mum's bday and Gail and Rob's anniversary!

I won't show all 9 cos they are pretty much the same. All have strips down the front, with eyelets and ribbon to close. Inside they have an insert of vellum with a rub on poem / saying underneath so it shows through a bit. Am quite happy with them, and even DH has one for his bday!

Here is G & R's anniversary which I am pleased with cos their wedding colours were red and black:

("All love is sweet, given or returned")

And this is mum's which I thought it looked a bit like a quilt!

Same insert inside, just with another flower rather than a smushy poem ;o)

And this is Lisa and Dave's engagement (WOO HOO!!!) Lisa doesn't do fancy so I kept it plain. (when I say doesn't do fancy the wedding is going to be in a field and we all have to wear wellies apparently lol!)

It's got 'together forever' down the front and inside under the vellum there is "to get the full value of joy you must have someone to divide it with'.

And then this is the Literacy and Numeracy challenge, my godson Max's bday card. I saw the poem and knew it was for Maxy!

'Listen to the mustn'ts child
Listen to the don'ts
Listen to the shouldn'ts
The Impossibles, the won'ts
Listen to the never haves.
Then listen close to me.....
Anything can happen child
Anything can be'

(Sounds a bit godmotherish to me!)

And then today I have sorted out all the 100's of boxes in the spare room and turned it into a guest room............................so need to lie down now!!

Some more JB Challenges

2007-10-22T21:44:00.000+01:00

I think these are all I'm going to manage today - I need to find a way to get more crafty time ;o)

This is a sign for Alice, I am so pleased that she is having a first christmas it had to be for her!

Next is Bex's challenge to make 3 tags - I did 4 but the rules were to show 3 lol!

The last one is Lis's bloomin challenge, to use blooms on the card. This is for mum and dad.

The first of JB challenges

2007-10-21T21:31:00.000+01:00

Well here is the first bit I have managed for JB's challenge weekend. I wanted to get them all done by midnight on Tuesday and I know exactly what I am going to do for each one, I just cannot get the time to do them - so they will be done, just not in time for the points.

Well here is my take on challenge 2 = Your challenge is to make a Christmas decoration to hang on the tree . Your decoration can be made however you like, as long as it hangs, and is small enough to go on the tree.

Is it catching?!

2007-10-18T19:42:00.000+01:00

I love Sue so much, I call her my rainbow cos she always makes me smile and laugh - especially during the rain..........................but (and she knows this) she is a little anal retentive!

Her papers are filed to perfection, as are her stamps. You really don't want to see her ribbon drawer or die cut storage!

Well following my eyelet disaster the other night I decided I needed to do something about my ever growing collection of eyelets.

So I bought a really nice spice rack from my local charity shop and have spent the last hour.......................

.....................putting them in the spice jars, in colour collections. So each colour is in a different jar and I also have a 'fun' jar which is for the themed eyelets.

Please tell me I have not caught something from Sue - PLEASE!!

Once Upon a Time..........

2007-10-14T20:56:00.000+01:00

Well this does not happen very often (if ever!) but I have made something that I really like and I am not going to self critique!!!

Here is my Once Upon a Time cj. I am getting a bit braver with cj's so have decided to do something a bit different! This time I am going to start off a story and as the cj goes around, each person fills in the next bit to the story. As well as the Buffy cj, I am doing two other cj's atm, one on UKS (10 people) with the wonderful Willow and co (all of which are incredibly talented), I am just coming to the end of the Anything Goes group, just waiting for mine to come home - very exciting! and one on CBC (5 people) hosted by Melly, which I have two from CBC already and I love so I was always going to join in again!

So I have done the same cj for both groups and the same beginning of the story - just to see how the story is different!

So here it is. Some pages I have not added an awful lot to as the paper is so gorgeous (DCWV Once Upon a Time .............as if I could use anything else lol!) but I am really happy with it.

(I turned the photo sepia so it blended in more with the papers - Ollie at Legoland last year!)

(The page opens up and the story is printed underneath, but you'll have to wait to see the story lol!).

Please note - no pink, tons of ribbons, buttons or big blooms anywhere - off to lie down now ;o))

An Xmas swot!

2007-10-11T21:02:00.000+01:00

Well here we have a xmas card from Sue's template challenge. Sorry for the blurry scan but the snowflake is quite big and chunky.

(oh and Sue I do forgive you for making me do this card and making me drop about 300 tiny eyelets on my craft room floor!).

finshed at last!

2007-10-10T17:29:00.000+01:00

This is the first time I have done a UKS cj and I don't think I realised how long they took! I knew it would be a year (cos 10 / 11 people sign up) and you think it won't feel like a year......................well it flippin does! And I signed up for two at the same time!

But now I have completed the last pages on both of them today (why was I last on both of them?!) so can get them in the post tomorrow. Have to say I have enjoyed them both, have definately made me raise the bar and I have learnt LOADS from them.

So you'll be pleased to know, no more duffy ;o) Of course I have signed up straightaway for another one but only one this time lol - A Magickal Mystery Tour, can't wait!

Oh and here is something I made yesterday.

I bin a craftin!

2007-10-06T22:03:00.000+01:00

All this time my mojo has been hiding at the Just Bex and UK Beaders forums!!

So here are some cards (YES CARDS!!) for JB:

Paisley (new home for Lynda and Jorge)

Old and New - good ole K&Co v's Basic Grey (no contest really lol!) These have vellum over the top and I have glazed some of the paper underneath, but you can't see it on the scan.

And here's one for the Buttons challenge, although I am fighting the need to fix the bottom button!

And here's some bits of beadies:

woweee!

2007-10-06T18:04:00.000+01:00

So how did he do? He was really good until his solo, where his hands were shaking so badly! Then he started singing and we all sat there for 3 minutes with all our mouths open, most of us filling up (including Tim who doesn't 'do' emotional!). His voice was bloody amazing! None of us were expecting his voice to be that good, including his family which were there too.

We all had such a good night and he really enjoyed it too (once he stopped shaking lol!). Apparently we are now on the books as the 'rent an audience' lol!

My Fair Lady

2007-10-05T17:45:00.000+01:00

Oh I am soooooooooooooooo excited about tonight lol! David is my friend at work who manages our Training dept. He is in My Fair Lady and has not told anyone. Except what he doesn't know is that we all know about it and we have also ALL got tickets to go and see him tonight! We have got the first 3 rows and everyone has been so giddy about it!

David and I have quite a competitive relationship, really since I caught him cheating at a works quiz night - so this is going to make up for all the times he has beaten me and been sarcastic with me (which he tends to do all the time!).

I am going to enjoy this sooooo much!

(I am sitting next to Jen who has bought in her foamy finger from the Westlife concert - oh god he is going to hate us lol!)

Em made my baby cry

2007-10-03T18:18:00.000+01:00

Ollie got a parcel today from Aunty Em, when he opened it there was a wrapped pressie and a card. So first of all he asked if it was his birthday! Then I told him sometimes people nice just send things and it doesn't have to be a birthday. So he happily opened the card, I read the message to him - which mage him cry!

THEN he opened the pressie. Not only did he have 3 big bags of sweets (which apparently are much cooler than what I buy him!) but also a tamagotichi football game that every time it comes on the tele he begs for one! So Em is officially the coolest person in the world (and apparently even better at making cards than me!).

Thank you Em - you made him very happy {hug}

You have to see this film - tis fab!

2007-09-28T17:15:00.000+01:00

http://www.foxsearchlight.com/littlemisssunshine/

nah nah nah nah nah!

2007-09-26T16:15:00.000+01:00

well I went back to school last night and we had to present our homework as a lesson, so of course the tutor paired me with the 'why are you on this course as you're not a real teacher' git. Well it turned out the homework he had done was completely crap and I had to do it all myself! He did say thank you to me when it was all over - so I guess being just a trainer ain't so bad ;o)

Today is our 9th wedding anniversay and I got a gorgeous bunch of flowers delivered to work - so he ain't so bad!!

Am worrying about a couple of friends who are sad, very proud of the other ones xxx

Sad baby

2007-09-22T22:16:00.000+01:00

well my boy has finally accepted that Casper has gone, he spent the last two hours sobbing uncontrolobly (cannot spell that word!). He was mostly upset because he thought Casper had decided he didn't love him so he went to live with someone else.

Well, I did mention that Casper might be in heaven now, which caused more sobbing but I think it eventually helped because he said he was sad but he was ok cos he was somewhere good.

Did I do the right thing?

Sneaky peak

2007-09-22T20:01:00.001+01:00

Here is a sneaky peak of my Friends cj................can't see anymore at the moment cos it may spoil the surprise lol!

New Day

2007-09-19T19:44:00.000+01:00

So today is a new day!

Not much has really happened today, I did my homework (although I take offense that Sue questioned whether I did it while I was meant to be working! as if I would!), my big sister Carol sorted out my other issues and Em also threatened to kill them!

My garden is finished and it looks amazing. Will post piccies tomorrow. I did send my 5 year old out into the cold and rain to take some photos for me but quite frankly they were very poor quality...............you want a job doing and all that ;o)

Was just reading Steph's blog about her 'Mum' cj, which is gorgeous by the way! So am feeling all creative: so after a certain person's bedtime story (which will probably have something to do with a cat and a hat!!) I will be pottering..............and then I'll realise it is time for Hereos and have to leave it all for another day!

I have most of my cj layed out for my friends one but I only have one page of the BG papers that I'm going to use - grrrrrr, so may have to pop into a stampy shop tomorrow.

So, sorry for my strop yesterday but in my usual style have now got over it, realised those people don't matter and moved on - with a little help............................xxxx