Some cards

Some quick and easy cards I have done for my boxes, and Sue's Challenge.

Zoo time!

Well Saturday was our trip to the zoo. Fab day as always but very tiring. Two highlights of the day........

1. Chimps having on hell of a fight! It was proper fisticuffs, with shouting and growling and everything!

2. Ol had spent all day being picked on by a little s**t that didn't like him playing with Ewan. So Ollie tried to sit on this stone lion so he walks over to Ol and tells him to get off because Ewan sits there. So Ollie gets up and my heart sinks cos he looks so sad. He comes over for a cuddle, stands up straight, walks back to the lion and sits on it telling the little s**t, to stop being so horrible and he can do what he wants to do!! I was soooooooooo proud of him!! He is such a softie and for him to stand up for himself was fab to see!

Please see evidence here ;o)

And also looking forward to scrapping this one!

So Em - I took my camera and took some photos! (there are some of me but they won't be going on here, I didn't realise my skin was so bad atm!!)

On a works subject, tonight I have been managing our call tree test and I am still amazed at how many people fail these tests!! They are told to take their department plans home with them and they still don't!! Well I am gonna kick some butt tomorrow!!

And just to prove I do sometimes do beading!

Well I never knew it did that!

I've just found somewhere to put my digital camera memory card into my laptop!! So I can show you some of the things I've done in the last few months.......

The first one is my entry into Em and Carol's Scrapbooking challenge:

You can't actually tell but the flowers have been cut out and put on as 3D's - spent ages doing that and you can't see them lol!!

The next lot are the bits and pieces I did for Sue and Doug's wedding:

Funny thing happened to me today.......

As the saying goes!! I was just driving to pick Ollie up from school and 'the' song comes on Steve Wright which I dread hearing...........Spirit in the Sky by Dr and the Medics. Within seconds I am blubbing and have to pull over!!

Story behind this!

When we were 13, one of our school friends, Justine fell off her horse and hit her head. Went into a coma and took months to leave us. Now at 13 that is pretty horrific (mind you horrific at any age!!). So our head of year Mrs Joyce says, to get us all back together and to say, well you know, we'll have a big school disco.

So we all went into the hall and she had decorated it all out for us and it was fab. Then the dj puts that bloody song on! Now anyone who has listened to the words will know what a bombshell this would have been! We spent hours just crying and hugging each other - which in hindsight was a good thing cos we all 'let it out'.

But 21 years later (bloody hell 21 years!) that song still affects me soooooooooo much! My school friend got married 5 years ago and half way through the night the dj put this on and was told very quickly to get that flipping (;o)) song off!



SO that has got me thinking and woo hoo here comes a challenge blog friends!

What is the song which affects you most? Good or bad?

Don't feel you have to share why - but I would love to know your song.......

Consider yourself tagged;o) Tell me when you answer!

Lisa
xxx

Been creative!

I've been very creative tonight - woo hoo!!

I've done FOUR cards for Susan's template challenge, started my 'All about me' tags for my UKS team challenge of a tag book (very scary!!) and tidied my room!

I then spent a fab bit of time going through my digital photos to chose which ones I am going to use for Em's challenge. I realised what a busy 2006 we had! I chose a school photo, a legoland photo and an extension building work photo. Got them all ready to print and ppooooffff goes the printer / scanner grrrrrr.

So now I can't scan the challenge cards or print my photos for the challenge! But Boots have just installed one of those photo printing thingies where you take in your memory card - sure there's a proper term for them ;o) so I'll be making a fool of myself in there tomorrow lol! We have an old scanner in the loft, so guess where DH is going tomorrow night.

Plus I decided I needed more paper if I'm going to restart this scrapping thing, so I spent all my vouchers on 12x12 paper from The Stamp Man and spent a fab 20 mins in my room filing my papers in my paper trays.......but it is all Em's fault so if DH starts moaning I'm gonna blame her! Then next month I'm gonna blame Carol ;o)

So hopefully tomorrow I can show you some of my efforts.

Hope all my blogging friends are ok and happy.
xxx

Ikea on a Saturday?!!

Yes, we did Ikea today - during a sale and on a Saturday! We went to look at a corner unit and new dvd stands. We realised when we got outside that we hadn't looked at either lol! It was very busy and people were getting very stressed in the car park! How do people get so irrate going shopping - chill out dudes!

and you know that spare guest room that was going to be decorate beautifully, probably with Laura Ashley stuff and all girly? Yeah, we bought some toy chests today and have moved all the clutter into there ;o( BUT at least the toys are all out of my front room woo hoo! Christmas stuff is now all in the loft too. Why is it that the decs are only out for 2-3 weeks of the year but when they go your room seems so big and empty?! Love it when they've gone.

I've been doing quite a bit of crafting lately. I have been really struggling with a friend's bday pressie. I always make her jewellery so this year I wanted to do something different. Have tried to do quite a few different things that have mostly ended up in the bin lol! Well I just sat down last night and had a strike of creativity lol! All done and dusted now! Hope she likes it! I can't show it to you yet, but I will do next month xx

I was starting to get a bit upset about one thing in my life but I've had a good think about it and I'm going to just stand back and see what happens. And now I have made that decision, things don't seem so bad lol! I am a silly bugger sometimes!

ATC stuff is going well for the Stamp Man. Some of the cards sent to me are flippin amazing. There is one lady who as soon as I see her writing on the envelope, I get so excited cos her cards are really stunning.

OK STOP PRESS - I am sat at my dining table watching my 5 year old picking up his toys and putting them in his toy chest. woo. am in shock!

Just to keep Em quiet

Here's a little update!

Happy christmas and New Year!! I had such an ace time - I forgot about my little blog - sorry!! I got very spoilt and got amazing pressies. I got quite choked up by the end of the day cos all my things were just perfect. And my sister and bil came up too so we had a full family christmas. Ollie loved it!!

He was poorly for his birthday but he made up for it at chrimbo! We used to have a spare room, which in my perfect world was going to be a lovely 'guest room' that all my friends could come up and stay with me.........yeah that ain't gonna happen! It's full of thousands of toys at the moment! How much stuff does a 5 year need for goodness sake! And how many types of dinosaurs were there?!! I just figured a Trex is a Trex................nooooooooooooooooo! He is such an expert! He couldn't talk very well last year due to his stammer but he could name every type of dinousaur!

Work is good. It seems my new boss is a fab boss! I actually got a christmas pressie this year! And he phones me up to see if I am ok and if there is anything I need him for ! I am not alone anymore! Woo hoo! Today I started my fav task which is to plan which disaster I am going to inflict on my senior management team. This year we will mostly be dealing with a severe snow storm and loss of heating - nice!!

And one of my bestest friends is starting IVF for the third time, after two succesful attempts (the bestest boys in the world after mine) we may have another to add! I have ordered a pink one this time, we need more girlies!!

I was starting to feel a bit down but then I had a MSN conversation last night which was so fantastic - I feel wonderful today! Ain't friends great!!!

Well, there you go - not really worth waiting for but trust me, when Em gets a bee in her bonnet it is just easier to do what she tells you!!

See you soon (promise ;o))

xx

Happy Feet

Me and Ollie joined our friends at the pictures today to see Happy Feet. The kids all loved it but the three of us 'big girls' thought it was a little bit overated (sorry!). The sound track is fab though and I did get a little goosebump when all the penguins were dancing *blush* They did advertise Night at the Museum, which I really want to see.

All food and pressie shopping is done so now it is family time - woo hoo! We're all off to Bolton Abbey tomorrow (my fav place on earth!) to catch the Thomas train, with Santa. Work have booked a carriage with prebooked tickets - so should be fab! Then we're going to Harrogate for any last minute pressies. As always at this time of year I realise I have focused on all my friends and family, I have completely forgotten DH! He is brilliant at buying pressies so I always feel guilty on christmas day cos I get amazing pressies and he gets the 'OMG I forgot to buy him anything' pressies lol!

Annoyingly I did buy him something he really wanted from t'internet but it hasn't arrived and of course he doesn't believe me!

He did say last night though he enjoys spoiling me at christmas so I should just accept it, plus he doesn't spoil me during the rest of the year (except he does ;o)) - so I may just accept the spoiling and not feel the guilts.....................wouldn't you? xxx








Plus sis and bil are on their way - so perfect christmas all round this year ;o)

Blurgh!

Not just flu it seems - yukky!! Lots of vomit too! But all sorted and lovely now! We went to the panto in Bradford yesterday. His first ever and mine in about 20 years!!! Was fab. Billy Pearce was Aladdin and he was brilliant! Has not changed a bit! Ol liked it and booed and hissed etc - just didn't like it when Princess Yasmin sang.

Today has been a great day. Pub for lunch with some friends from work. Ollie loves going to the pub - always tells daddy (even though he is told not to lol!). Then this afternoon have picked up Paula's little boy from nursery early so he could come round to play. Paula will then pick him up after work. 27 minutes and counting lol! Was just saying to Sue, how to people do this all the time! I can manage billions of £'s worth of assests but two children (4 and 5) I struggle! We agreed in order to do this with lot's of children you have to be as bonkers as Em!!

Going to attempt an exploding box tonight (again!) so will maybe let you see it - depending on what it turns out like ;o))

xxx

Birthday boy!

Well we had our party yesterday and it was fabby! Most of the kids turned up and Ol was overwhelmed by it all to begin with. I couldn't believe how many of the parents left their kids and said they would come back in 2 hours! I would never do that! but ho hum each to their own.....

There were a few bumps and tears but mostly it went well and he had a great time.

Then today we woke up to a VERY poorly baby ;o(. It looks like a case of flu - is very hot (101 degrees atm!) He slept for most of the day and his pressies from grandma's etc are still in the boxes - so we know he most be very sick! Lots of calpol and juice, oh and kisses lol!

What upsets me most is he was really poorly last year with a sickness bug that someone bought into nursery (quite openly in fact!) and he threw up all during his bday and xmas! So this year we said we would do something really special to make up for that and he is ill AGAIN! I know a couple of the mods felt that kids get poorly all the time and he will get better, which I do know. But why does it always happen on his bloody birthday?!! I think he was poorly during the week but we were just so busy it didn't 'come out' until today................big hugs for baby! But he is 5 now, so is such a big boy (hug).

Friday Feeling!!

I finished work today and Ol finished school - until 2nd January!! I am so excited! Today was a weird day. My dept has been audited and has received quite a bad grade. The findings are things I have been telling the Exec for months and no-one listened and no-one helped.

Today I was called into a meeting by three 'Heads of' who all apologised for leaving me and not supporting me and they promised to change things in the new year. I felt like a great weight had been lifted!!! I could myself filling up but managed to remain some level of professionalism lol! I was so happy - how sad is that!

Then I got home and had a fab phone call with Sue, except she probably didn't think so ooops!

Had a tough night with the child! He is so tired he has turned into the whinge monster from hell!! He told me tonight he wished I was dead, then spent an hour sobbing and telling me he loved me............bless him! He has talked about death all night, I did stuggle when he asked if me and daddy died who would look after him! He looked so sad and I really didn't know what to say! It is catch 22 - do you say don't worry that would never happen (because we don't know that it won't happen) or do you answer his question? I did the honerable and perfect mother thing...............completely fobbed him of and changed the subject! Then he asked when people die does everyone come back two days later, like Jesus did! Why do children ask such difficult bloody questions!

Think of me tomorrow - birthday party with 17 of them! Arrggghhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

Today

Was Val's funeral. Was a very sad day, especially watching a man bury the woman who he adores and just looks so lost without her. I was ok until the Celine Dion song came on and then I went ;o( but my friends will be very proud of me cos I had a good ole cry instead of holding it in and being brave!

The words are so meaningful that I have never really noticed the sentiment before:
For all those times you stood by me
For all the truth that you made me see
For all the joy you brought to my life
For all the wrong that you made right
For every dream you made come true
For all the love I found in you
I'll be forever thankful baby
You're the one who held me up
Never let me fall
You're the one who saw me through through it all
You were my strength when I was weak
You were my voice when I couldn't speak
You were my eyes when I couldn't see
You saw the best there was in me
Lifted me up when I couldn't reach
You gave me faith 'coz you believed
I'm everything I am
Because you loved me
You gave me wings and made me fly
You touched my hand I could touch the sky
I lost my faith, you gave it back to me
You said no star was out of reach
You stood by me and I stood tall
I had your love I had it all
I'm grateful for each day you gave me
Maybe I don't know that much
But I know this much is true
I was blessed because I was loved by you
You were my strength when I was weak
You were my voice when I couldn't speak
You were my eyes when I couldn't see
You saw the best there was in me
Lifted me up when I couldn't reach
You gave me faith 'coz you believed
I'm everything I am
Because you loved me
You were always there for me
The tender wind that carried me
A light in the dark shining your love into my life
You've been my inspiration
Through the lies you were the truth
My world is a better place because of you
You were my strength when I was weak
You were my voice when I couldn't speak
You were my eyes when I couldn't see
You saw the best there was in me
Lifted me up when I couldn't reach
You gave me faith 'coz you believed
I'm everything I am
Because you loved me
I'm everything I am
Because you loved me

A perfect song for a perfect lady - RIP Val xxx

Out the other side!

Hellooooooooooo!

Some stuff has been really bad lately and in my usual style I have gone into my little caccoon and refused to accept or talk about it! BUT I am out the other side now and all ok - phew!!

So what has been happening? ol has been doing his nativity play - mummy and daddy are going tomorrow night. Very excited. Grandma went today and said he did his two lines very well (he is a shepherd) but yawned through most of it lol! Also it has been videoed so ready to watch that on ITV when it's on.

I have finished most of my pressies and the cards are all done and sent - with the exception of two which I have lost the addy's for *blush* but they will be sent soon.

Pressies all done and mostly wrapped. So all those people who mocked me for being too anally organised with my lists..............all I can say is.................nah nah nah nah nah ;o) x

Oh good news I forgot to tell you about is that Joey's little girl did not have cancer, thank god. They did test for it and were going to treat it with chemo but one of the consultants was not happy with something on the results so sent a biopsy to New York. Came back not cancerous - so happy tears all round. She really is a brave little girl and as for daddy, just amazes me everyday. A single father who is so devoted to his child - makes me proud ;o)

At the moment DH is wrapping DS's pressies. He has his birthday so close to christmas it seems a shame sometimes. But this year he has so much stuff. Funnily alot of it is stuff DH says he never got to play with as a child....................wonder who some of these pressies are really for lol! There is a definate dinosaur, batman, lego theme for christmas and cars, Power rangers and transformers theme for birthday!

I may have made a bit of a mistake this year! Last year I booked a party at a themed place which was about 40 mins drive from here. As it was the last Sat before xmas, most of the kids from nursery that we invited couldn't make it. So I had to cancel it and have the party at home. This year I was determined not to have to do that again, so I booked Fun Planet which is a bit like Wacky Warehouse. But to make sure he had lots of friends there, we invited quite alot of his class aiming on 40 / 50% not coming so it is so close to chrimbo and the day after breaking up for holidays......................so far we have 17 coming with 4 still to reply!!! OMG it is going to cost us a bloody fortune!!!! Such a difference between nursery and school! Everyone is so excited about it and the mothers have all asked what kind of things he likes and is it ok to get him such and such. Nursery, never got anything like that! I've just broken the news to Dh that it is £7 per head and how many are coming - he's gone very quiet lol!!!

Fab day!

Am concious my last few posts have been blurgh so wanted to tell you about a fab morning I had on Tuesday. I went into school and spent a morning making christmas cards with the kids. 27 of them to be exact!!

It was a great day. Really let me stop and smell the roses, if you know what I mean!! They are so fab cos they just don't have any hang ups or issues. Except the two girls who had a heated arguement on who's xmas tree was better, Chloe's who's was green and Naomi's who's was pink (of course I secretly agreed with Naomi ;o)) Mrs O was really grateful and I've been pre-booked for Valentines, Mother's Day and Easter!!!

Think of me tomorrow - we have Tim's birthday party in the morning (pirate party where O is dressing up as Jack Sparrow lol!) and then Jacob's party in the afternoon!!! Oh and then work's xmas party on Sunday! Three nights out next week and then his party on Saturday! My 4 year old has a better social life than me!

Birthday box

I have FINALLY finished my sister's birthday box!!

Thank you Sue W for the letters (especially APR when I decided to change the original colour scheme *blush*) and Sue F for the halloween bits.xxxxx

A friend, Little Val

A family friend 'Little Val' died yesterday - may she rest in peace, one of the strongest and bravest women I have ever met.

xxx

Today

I survived today - with a little help from my friends ;o)

Nothing more to say, but maybe I will have one day.............

Was I naughty?

Well............let's just say Art from the Heart were there and they had all their Blonde Moments stuff............so yeah I bloody was naughty!!

(and there were tons of bead stalls - so was even badder than that ;o))

I'm ok

I've been having lots of tests lately, cos there is something not right - but all the 'nasty' tests have come back normal, so it seems whatever I have is just your bog standard stuff woo hoo!!

I had a great chat with an old lost friend last night, which I really enjoyed. Glad we did xxx

Off to Harrogate tomorrow to the Knitting and Stitching show, which has knitting and stitching but also TONS of card making and beady stuff so am a bit excited!

I have made tons of stuff, all of which I am quite proud of! But I can't show you cos some of it is for sneaky beaks who I do not want to see their pressies before chrimbo - so I'll have to show you them after ;o)

Melissa got her beadies that I made for her and I think she quite likes them! Which is a relief as I always worry when I have sent them off and I am waiting for the response - phew lol!

Anyway, see you tomorrow when I have spent a day being inspired and spending too much money!

And we're off!!

We all sent our Circle Journals out yesterday and I got Sarah's today. To say it is amazing is an understatement!! I am so freaked out that I am next in the book lol!!

It has been (mostly) such good fun and I am really enjoying it - even if I am freaking!! We are certainly going to be tested to the limit! Confidence is at an all time low, so my friends are going to strangle me by the end of this!

Leadership conference tomorrow (no longer called Management Conference as we are Leaders not Managers...................blurgh!!). The new MD is certainly stamping his mark on the place - can't wait for the question and answer session! (as well as the party tomorrow night ;o))

Rob is clear from cancer - flipping fantastic news. I had a horrible thought it was going to be one of those heartbreaking love stories. My sister finally finds her soul mate and he is diagnosed with cancer (again) but noooooooooooooooo he is ok (thanks up there!). I am very worried about Joey. I mentioned his little girl was poorly but they left for Florida so I assumed all is ok. Well it isn't ;o(

One good thing about the conference is I get to drive for an hour with my new Pink cd - why have I not listened to her before? She is fab!

I've been spoilt!

Other than the fact they are very caring people, there is another benefit of having crafty friends - you get amazing birthday pressies!!

I got a fab post it pad and xmas card kit from Sue, an original Carol M candle and a die, the most amazing waterfall book from Kathy (which I was admiring yesterday on her blog little knowing I was going to get it for my birthday!) and some jewellery from Em. Now Em says she is not a beader but they were gorgeous! And her card made me blub!

And lots of beautiful cards from my BC1 friends.

Thank you everyone - made me feel very special xxxx

Circle Journal

Here is my attempt! My standard isn't very high - but I enjoyed doing it!

So busy!!

Sorry - I haven't updated a while (again!!).

What have I been doing................?

Max's 2nd birthday party on Saturday. He is so cool! I know I am biased cos he's my godson, but he is a dude! Bex made me a little cake too and I got balloons too (cos me and Max have a joint bday party!).

It was Sue's weekend challenge this weekend and it has been so fantastic on the forum! So busy and everyone crafting - ace! I managed to do some - not all of them which was the aim ;o( but some of them. And am now determined to do Gail and Rob some coasters for chrimbo.

Have had my blood pressure taken today and it is still too high - so blood test and ECG tomorrow - happy birthday to me!! Oh and I may not have any choice in the old stress and work thingy....

Oooooooooh and Ollie is a shepard in the Nativity Play and he has got a line! 'We are the three shepard's' How chuffed am I and how much am I going to sob!! He also might be on tele. ITV are doing a religous documentry on his school on how RE was taught 50 years ago and now in present day. So I'll let you know lol!

Also I was talking to his teacher today and I mentioned I did card making and have now somehow managed to offer to do a card making session with the class in time for chrimbo..........................WHY?!!!

Challenge Five

Challenge 2 (challenge 1 is still drying!)

My poor baby!

Will someone please tell my child not to bounce on his bed and do a 'geronimo' jump - unless there is someone there to catch you!!!

All I could think of was what a great scrapbook page it would make - I know, I am an awful mother lol!!

How sad does he look? ;o(

Catch up!

Sorry blog - its been a while!!

Saturday was the Stamp Man demo day. I was a bit nervous on this one cos usually I am given a design to show people how to make. This time it was a 'what would you like to do' table - which basically meant they sat there and said 'I dunno' and I had to think of something to show them!! They all seemed happy and so did the boss, so I must've done ok!!

Sunday was bonfire night. We went to the village where Ol goes to school, which was lovely. a couple of fireworks went a bit haywire which was a tadge worrying but no-one got impailed on a rocket - so overall a good night lol!

Today was our first ever Parents Evening. He did good and Mrs O was very pleased with him. She said he is a serious little boy who thinks very hard about things. He tells very interesting facts (usually pointing his finger!) and obviously knows everything there is to know about dinosaurs!! One thing she did mentioned was his amazing ability to get ready for PE. Now I am very proud if this cos my friend Em mentioned ages ago that in her job, she has a nightmare when kids don't know how to undress and dress themselves. So we have practised (*blush*) and now he can do it really well. So Mrs O thanked me for making her life easier - I am sooooooo chuffed! How sad is that! lol! DH thinks its hysterical and he says he's going to get me a lollipop tomorrow!

Happy Birthday!

To my hubby!! We both took a day off work and went shopping in Ikea for house stuff (got loads of bits for my craft room but he refused to buy me a lava lamp - think I may have pushed him too far with that one ;o) ) and then Toys R Us for chrimbo pressies - which we are all finished for the children in our lives (marvellous!!).

Tomorrow we are doing the adults pressies and then we are done!! No idea why we are blitzing them - but while we feel like it we may as well!

What a way to spend your birthday! Think he is just getting old lol!

Stamp Man demo day on Saturday. Getting nervous now as am doing something a bit different!! Oh well, I am a glutton for punishment!

Mixed Emotions

Well, we have been waiting for a court summons for a while now........I didn't tell you what happened with the nutty neighbour! It involved him screaming and shouting at me and my boy in the middle of the street - threatening and f'ing and blinding (to the point my 4 year old asked me what a c**t was!!!). So last night we got a missed recorded delivery notice through the door to 'The occupiers of .....' - so that's it we thought. I went to pick it up today and it is a letter from next door. Telling us he would like to resolve this issue and he would like us to confirm in writing to promise to pay towards some of the replacement fence should we ever need to replace it in the future.

Funny, 5 weeks ago he wanted a brand new 6 foot fence all the way down his drive and we had to pay 100% of it.

We thinks he has been to see a solicitor lol!! It is the biggest backtrack on record!!!! No wonder he hasn't spoken to us in 5 weeks!

Then I got to work and my fab new boss told me she has been seconded to a major project and today was her last day. She has only been my boss for about 4 months. Before this I had the boss from HELL!! He was awful - but I love my job so I was in catch 22. Then I get a great one but I suppose that is the problem having a great boss, the MD will want her managing the biggest most important project in the company!!! It is a massive job for her and yay for girl power!!

My new one from tomorrow is ok, I know him quite well and he knows nothing about disaster recovery - which keeps me 'in there' ;o)

So a sad and happy day.

We have both agreed we feel like a weight has been lifted off our shoulders - the law is on our side wooooooooo hoooooooooo!

And I have just a promise to a friend not to look at something cos it will spoil a surprise - and it is very hard not to look and I have another 14 days not to look yet!!

Well.........

My sister and bil drove for 7 hours to the hospital appointment to be told the machine was broken 'didn't anyone ring you'?!! To say they weren't happy was an understatement! They have to go back next week now grrrrr!

I have also had my first meeting with my new MD at work. He is a scary man! We lovingly call him the 'ballbreaker'. He is calling us in one by one. So far the people leaving are either very pale - or sobbing like babies!!

Well I was in there for an hour and I have to say.............I quite like him! We got on ok and we left it if I needed anything from him to get people to do what I want them to - I only have to ask! My job is annoying cos no-one wants to do what I ask them to do but then a disaster happens and everyone looks to me to save them!! (not literally, only in the business sense!!). We'll see though - not going to say he is fab, cos I haven't called on him for anything yet ;o)

I have a nickname too - but couldn't possibly say lol! They think I don't know what they call me lol!

Am now laughing about a conversation me and Bex have had on msn - I got her really good, bless her. And on her birthday - what a meany I am!!

We love Camelot!!

We left our house at 8.00a. and got home at 9.30pm!! Knackered but had a great day. The kids ran around like maniacs, and went on every ride they could! Paula had to take Ollie on most of the fast / upside down ones - but that just means he loves her even more!

One funny bit, we'd just finished our fish and chips and walked past a little ride of balloons with little baskets, just going round slowly by the ground - so we thought, lovely. So on we gets - except we had only seen the end of the ride, not the mind numbing terror of what it really was! A good 80 foot in the air going round so fast and up and down. How I kept the fish and chips in is a miracle! Helen went a very funny colour and Paula just went very quiet. Of course all of the children thought it was fab!!

Have just sent Carol all my entries to the Crafts by Carolyn big comp. I am going for the 'send tons of entries and at some point someone might like the stuff' approach ;o) It is great to feel so crafty again, especially on the forum. The Mods bit is buzzing and there are so many ideas going on - feels like we have turned a corner. Fabby!

Bex's Challenge number 12

OMG - I've done one!!

Now I know

How to insert a piccy (thanks Bex and Carol!) here's my mum's bday card.

I'll be putting some more on but this is more of a test than anything else lol!

Well I've been very bored at work today so have organised myself into writing my Circle Journal to do list and I feel much happier!! Have also just been sent a little taster of someone else's and have now got a major panic on!!

Work wise I am very p'd off today. I booked this week off, fair and square. My 'colleague' who I do not get on well with did not. But her daughter is at home yesterday and today back from boarding school (she is 17) so I feel guilty and offer to go in today so she can spend the day with her - do I get a thank you? do I bugger!!! I have also got all of christmas off and Feb half term next year - don't think I'll be offering again lol!!

Wish me luck tomorrow - we're off on another work's day out. This time to Camelot to a Spooky Spectacular, including a firework display. To say Ollie is obsessed about Halloween is an understatement! He asks in June if it's nearly Halloween ;o) Don't worry about christmas or birthday - only Halloween...... Mum has made him a new cape and hat and he looks fab in it (photo tomorrow maybe!!)

And a very good friend has helped me through a really hard and difficult day today. I am so lucky to have such good friends (hug)

I'm jiggered!

Went to our Londonderry office yesterday - which means leaving home at 4.00am and getting there for 9.00am, a day off meetings and then home by 9.00pm - so am completely knackered now!!

Ollie had a lovely day with grandma and grandad yesterday, they went to the farm and did pumpkin carving, with 200 other children apparently!!

We've had a nice day today, went to Bex's house and played for most of the day! I am really enojoying this half term, my little man is a pleasure to be with and I am having so much fun with him.

I did get one phone call, one of my close family members had kidney cancer about 5 years ago and had one of their kidneys removed. Well their regular check up has shown abnormalaties and he is in pain again, so things are not looking good. Well, we'll find out on Monday ;o(

Off to make a birthday card for my mum. I hate making family member cards - always feel more pressure on those!!

Do me a favour tonight - give a kiss to someone you love, make the most of them.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

What a rollercoaster!!

This weekend has been very busy and quite emotional!!

Yesterday afternoon, me and Bex took the boys to the pictures to see Barnyard. It was really nice cos Ol and Tim sat in front of us and I got to cuddle Max. It was Max's first time and apparently as godmother, it was my duty to make sure I was with him! He did really well, to say he is 2 next month! They all laughed at the rudie adult jokes but me and Bex were hoping they didn't really understand them!

Then I went out to Lisa's house at night. There are a bunch of us that don't meet very often but when we do I always have a great time. There were six of us last night and we went with some wine and got a chinese (my fav!). Lisa announced she is pregnant, which is wonderful! Then she told us there were some complications so things may not be ok - she is going to the Specialist on Monday.

Then I heard about a friend who went into labour with twins yesterday. Only one made it through. How do I make a card for one and sympathy for the other?

Then we worked out that out of 6 of us aged 40 and under, 3 are having some kind of cancer treatment. That is so scary!!

But before we knew it, it was 1.30am and we had nattered since 8.00pm!! I love girly nights in, you remember you are not on your own and you have really good friends. And of course lots of wine and food helps too ;o)

Then today a cyber friend has just given me some good news, in fact the best news you can hear from a friend! So now I am back on a high!

Well it turns out she was stronger than me ;o)

What a day! Have spent all day interviewing and met two really nice people and two nightmare's!! Easy decision to make though - so jobs offered!

I'm very proud of myself that I have done quite a few entries for the CBC Comp - just now have to photograph them all and get them sent in! It's so good to be crafty again, I can feel my stress levels reducing already! Just have to do a scrapbook page and I'm all done.

Talking of stress, I now have to have my blood pressure taken every fortnight cos it is too high. I have two more chances of it being below a certain amount and then I have to have ECG tests etc - so no problems about getting my blood pressure down then!! They really know how to calm you down!

Well that's it for today. Our first ever half term is upon us and I have planned things for most of the days - so I may just be knackered by this time next week (and alot poorer!).

New start

I've been thinking of restarting this bloggy thing for a while and just haven't got round to it - so sorry for the delay!!

Extension now finished you'll be pleased to know! I now have the house of my dreams.

Neighbour is completely bonkers - now screams at us in the middle of the street! Don't think it helps that our solicitor has told him to 'bog off'! Nice man!

Friends - now that is a subject I'm going to avoid, lets just say I now know who they are! Update - I've actually just come back to edit this after reading Saffa's blog. I actually already knew who they were and I am thankful everyday for that. But in all of the recent 'troubles' I feel like I have lost a really good friend and I wish I was strong enough to say 'hi' but I'm not! And also recent events made me do something that I have never ever done in my life!! I backed down and contacted someone who I had fallen out with (over something petty really) and asked if we could put it all behind us. Luckily she said yes! But I was suprised by how good it actually made me feel - I should admit I'm wrong more often! (not too bloody often though iykwim!!).

Work is good. Interviewing this week - god I hate doing those! But I am so desperate for staff I'll take anyone at the moment! If they turn up, they get 10 points in the first place ;o)

Biggest news is that my little baby has started school!! He loves it, has settled in really well. Seems to have found his voice too which is great. he is so quiet and shy, I always worry he is going to be forgotten in the corner (hug) but his teacher (who is now on the same hero level as Batman!!) says he is getting bigger and stronger everyday. It was his harvest festival a week or so ago. All reception class went to the front and sang a song about vegetables - my man was a marrow! I wept like a baby - which is fab cos I didn't cry on his first day and felt guilty all day for not crying!!

One of my friends is having a tough time with his daughter and has been told he must go straight back to the hospital to discuss results of some tests. BUT he's now gone to Florida for a fortnight and hasn't told me what the doc said - so now I'm panicking!

Speaking of Florida, Sue is there on honeymoon now - so Sue if you see Joey can you ask him what the doc said?!