Of all the pretty things...

I love flowers. I have been missing my Grandad terribly this week, and decided to pay a visit to the cemetary to take him some flowers and oodles of bird feeders around his grave. He used to feed the birds in the garden every single day, and loved to sit an watch them, so I always make sure the birds are well fed for him and he has a bird bath on his grave.


Slightly manic day today. Had a serious case of the 'can't be bothereds' this morning, tidied up and that was about it. Chris brought the girls round this afternoon. Willow is now 6 months old already, Cait is just a dream of child, a hyper dream, but an absolute peach! Poor Molly walked in sporting her best pet lip, poor mite had been sick in the night, slept til gone 10am, stayed off playgroup, and seemed much better. She went really downhill though this afternoon. Raging temperature, looked like a zombie, and violently shaking (not convulsing just shaking). Then her lips turned blue, so I checked her hands and her little fingernails were turning blue as well. Nurofen made no difference, so I packed her off to the docs this evening. Poor mite :( She looked so rotten and sorry for herself.

So, all my plans for today totally went out of the window...maybe tomorrow will be a slightly more productive day!

Everybody's changing...

and I don't feel the same! Thought I would quickly change the music for everyone...love this song...Keane rock!
*tummm teee tummm lalalalalala oooooh*
Oh and main pc is up and running again (had to buy a new wireless system) so should be updating more reglar now!

A heart bursting with love and sadness

I had resisted the urge to post this for long enough. I just wanted to extend my love and sadness to poor Lemon and her daughter on the tragic, sudden loss of Andrew. Lemon darling should you ever read this, you need to know just how much you are loved. Our hearts are aching for you, and we all love you very dearly.
Also my thoughts and love are going out to 'E' (not adding full name in case she doesn't want it to be public knowledge) on the very sad loss of her father.
My deepest sympathies to you all, and a heartful of love to help you through your grief -x-

Foiled again

Been playing with the new range from www.clevercut.co.uk for the last couple of days. What can I say? Wow! These are so easy to use, and shiny shiny spesh! An absolute bargain at 89p for three whole sheets of lovely images. Have i sold you on them yet? Anyway one of the projects I did was an art journal. Somewhere to record inspiring quotes and techniques etc...and an outlet to release the arty farty part of me. So here is a sneak peek..Ali, it will be winging its way to you soon!

Ali stinks, Paul is childish and Levi is a monster!

Of course none of the above is true but Paul said he would be checking to see if I had written the above...so just to please him I have!
I know it has been, like, forever since I updated so prepare for a mahoosive entry! I finally managed to get a pic onto this bliddy laptop, I couldn't have blogged without it!

Isn't he a peach?!
So, Ali, Paul and Levi came down wednesday to do cheltenham craft show...Levi stayed with me, and we had a ball..I am still recovering! We wore eachother out, but it was all good fun and now I really miss him!
Thursday I met up with Angela (Newgranma on uks) who is an absolute diamond, can't wait to meet her again...what a love she is. We spent ages gossiping and got hardly any shopping done!
Stopped off for my gossip fix with Orlando, and spent the rest of the show gassing with Ali and Paul.
Friday, out for dinner with Ali and Paul who both totally spoiled me and a wonderful evening was had...even though the restaurant had run out of scampi which had been mine and Alis choice!
Saturday-in a word- MANIC!
Victoria came round in the morning to make invitations and centrepiece for her Brownie 'hostess badge'. We walked Levi together, she and Levi played in the garden for ages!
Then the afternoon quickly arrived and a mad dash to get ready for the afternoon excitement!
Went with Amy and Jasmine to see snow white on ice. WOW! If you get the chance to go, I totally recommend it. It is like ballet on ice with a story and bubbles, and contortionists, and live doves released into the audience with lots of funky amazing ice skating moves thrown in for good measure...oh and some pyrotechnics too! It is produced by a russian company, and a lot of the skaters are olympic medal winners too. So fabulous moves, and a great day had by all. However if you do go...a word to the wise...don't sit too close to the stage...some poor old woman in front of us got smacked in the head with a shard of ice that came flying off someones skate! I pissed myself laughing (so cruel, I know but she laughed too!)
Saturday evening, Levi went home, and the house felt totally empty.
Sunday spent recovering and shopping, and yesterday and today I have done some tidying, and whipping up some projects using the new 'Foiled again' by www.clevercut.co.uk
Hope you are all well -x-

Thanking you!

Well here I am, another year older. Please- let it stop now!
Just a quick update to thank you all for my wonderful cards and pressies.
I didn't peek until yesterday I pwomise!
I was bowled over by all the gorgeous cards and gifts I received, absolutely scrummerlish!

Best of British entry has been emailed in, and I am cackin my pants now! I don't know why! And now the wait. Til around the 15th of March til we find out who will be crowned the winner!
Good luck all, I know lots of fab ladies have entered.

Get that girl an ambulance lol!

Ok so it's not quite that drastic! No ambulance was required but almost needed a couple of stitches! I just had to tempt fate didn't I?!



Simba and I had a little collision...and I came off far worse! So just to remind you of the damage parrots can do (altered to black and white for those queasy blogettes!) and a moral for you...don't try and look up a parrots nose when he has just woken up! There was a reason for me looking up his nose...I think he had an allergic reaction to something! He was not impressed!
The blood was running down my face and wouldn't stop...poor Simba didn't know what was going on! Managed to get it to stop by holding the egdes together...eventually! Jeez parrot motherhood is tough going at times

Now, I am thinking a lot about sense of community today after a phonecall from my Nan...off to see her in a bit. After the incident with the trees, the support she got was fabulous. A gentleman who used to visit my Grandad a lot heard what happened, and came to see her. He is arranging some blokes to come and take the trees out on Tuesday, and they will take all the rubbish away, and the local priest said they can put it in the church skip. My Nan has nothing to do with the church (it is catholic-she isn't), but they is a social club attached to it, and my Grandad used to spend a lot of time there. Also another lady came round and cleaned up most of the mess for my Nan.
Apparently a house by the church was 'done' as well. Same thing, two lads, set fire to the trees, except they had a fence too and the fence is now gone.
The council have been most unhelpful. They just keep passing us round to different departments. Thank God for community spirit! Although when the priest said that if he had a gun and saw the lads that were doing it he would shoot them! :0

Well, another year older tomorrow...I don't like it! A nice quiet day (I hope) trying not to think about how fast the years are going now!
Happy birthday (for tomorrow) to the wonderful Izzy who shares her birthday with me :)

What time does the ambulance arrive?

Cos that is all I need to complete the set!
Last night we had a frantic phonecall...
my Nan had someone ringing the doorbell about 8pm last night, and won't answer the door after someone entering her home and stealing a handbag a couple of months ago. She called out 'who is it', at which point the letterbox opened and a bloke shouted through, your trees are on fire I have called the fire brigade! I think my Nan got in a bit of a tizz, cos she wouldn't open the door, and wouldn't go and look out of the window either...she has been really knocked for six after a long painful bout of pleurisy. So she rang here. Mum went up there (i was out for the evening oblivious to this at first) to see the fire engines leaving. Two nasty little scrotes (police term here for naughty boys, particularly teenagers!) had entered her garden, and purposely set fire to the tree like things (big leylandi type efforts)which are practically touching the house. This bloke had seen them, and called 999, so they legged it. They did a real good job of it too. My poor Nan, she so doesn't need this right now. After looking after my Grandad, then suddenly losing him (totally unexpected) then getting a long spell of shingles, chest infections, nasty heart probs, leading to being in hospital with it and being diagnosed with bad angina and then pleurisy, then being burgled...this just takes the piss. All this in just over a year. :(
On top of all this...my Grandmother (paternal) is in hospital with something nasty that I can't remember the name of, no point me going in cos she doesn't even know who I am...I saw her in sainsburys after christmas and she looked at me and sailed straight past. My Dad has had a nasty accident and is receiving treatment everyday, don't see my Dad at all, but do feel sorry for him.
Then at 8.30 this morning I get the police knocking on the door! Totally unrelated to any of this, but got everything sorted (nd no I haven't been bad lol).
So...ambulance anyone?!

Tag you're it!

Thanks

Anna

I have been tagged!

First times you got kissed, how was it ??
hmmmm I remember my first proper snog! It was my best friends older brother Leicester, and it was ming-a-ling!
First time you drove a car ? What kind of car was it ?
Never ever driven a car...it scares the sheeite out of me!
First time you scrapbook and do you still like your page ??
Spring/summer 2004, started an album as a gift for my Mum, after I vowed never to scrapbook! Best gift I have ever given! I do still like my page...ok it was nothing fantastic but the start of a huge journey for me.
First time you went on a date, where did you go and with whom??
Honestly can't remember! First proper boyfriend I guess at about 15-16!
First time you fell in love and how did you know ??
hmmm was about 16....and totally head over heels for a guy called Rob...we split up and got back together a year or two later. How did I know? Because in some way I still love him after all these years (I hate him too!)
First time you cooked for someone ? Was it yummy and what did you make ??
can't remember...but I do remember making a cup of tea at a very young age for my Mum and Dad using the hot tap cos I knew I wasn't allowed to touch the kettle!
First time you got on a plane?? Where did you go and were you scared ??
I was 9, and went on a huge plane from Gatwick to the usa with my Dad. I was in floods of tears cos I had just left my Mum crying at the gates. It was a very sad affair as I was going to stay with my Auntie who had terminal cancer. Had a ball with her though in the time I stayed with her, and ended up there for longer than planned. God I am so glad I did.
First time you shaved your legs ?? And did you cut yourself ?
I went through the phase of asking my Mum if I could shave my legs, until one day just before we went out she shaved a patch off my leg with an electric razor...bitch! Didn't have time to sort them out as we had to leave the house!
First time you put on make up ? Looking back how did you do ? Did you look like a clown or do a good job ?
Can't remember the first time...I was obsessed with Barbie make up at a young age (remember the nail varnish too that peeled off by itself lol) I remember by brother buying me a load of barbie make up one christmas...I was so chuffed!
First time you moved out of home? Was it into an apartment or house ??
Gosh...I spent most of my time at about 17 at the house of the family I worked for as a nanny, although still had the odd night at home and lived from suitcases. I then moved in with my boyfriend and left the nannying job for an office job. It was a bedsit/flat, quite a nice little set up...I eventually left him and moved back home. I then had every intention of moving out again, but got into some bother, and had to stay put (that info is certainly not for blogging lol). By this time it was just me and Mum, and neither of us could have afforded to live alone so I stayed put. Shortly after that I had a bungalow, but decided to stay with Mum. I was happy and so was she, so we sold up. Then I got signed off sick, and can't afford to move out, so am with Mum again for the forseeable future!! Jeez essay!

3 peeps to tag....

Scoobylou

Caroline

Cath

You're it girls!

Embrace the space!

That's just what I am doing...white space on my layouts IS A GOOD THING! That's it, decision made! I never totally clutter my layouts, but am leaving more space on recent ones, I like it...it fills me with calm!
Getting a bit arty farty lately (maybe that is why my layouts are becoming clean and simple again-I can use altering as a messy outlet!?), the weekend has been filled with plying with floor polish, making pretty background panels for atc's and stuff!
Had a good chat on the phone with Jen last night, and we actually realised just how much altering we have both done. In fact between us, we built up quite a varied portfolio of alteredness! Loads of techniques between us! In fact I found a gorgeous embellishmenty type thingy that Jen had made for me a couple of years ago, from resin.
Altered art certainly seems to be very popluar at the moment, and this explosion got me thinking. Why is it suddenly so popular? I think a large part of it is to do with so many people having home internet now, and the magazine market is now open to altered art being incorporated within an existing style of mag. So the word is spreading, people are sharing their work more, (well some people are) and more and more advice and techniques are being made available to people.
Will try and get some pics up (they are on the other pc) of the backgrounds I made...lots of experimentation with colour!
Hope all my blogettes are well and happy -x-

why is it?

That some days I spend hours doing one thing and never seem to get anywhere at all..and other days, like today I can achieve all of this by 4pm:
get me and simba up and sorted, get simba and jess fed, prepare todays and tomorrows dinners, catch up on all forum posts, put an order together online, take a phonecall, play with simba for a while, go to work at the hospital for the afternoon, complete two circle journal entries, tidy my scraproom (kind of), check forums again, manage to make and eat lunch in between! How?

Still lots more I could be doing lol!

My scrapbooking seems to have gone topsy turvy, since around October ish I have gone back to my roots of more simple layouts. I am very fond of A4 layouts again too...something I have dabbled with before but this time it is a real passion!

Lots to complete on the scrapping front, plus atcs for the lounge swap, if I continue to have days like today...piece of piss! lol!

I've been tagged...

Thank you Anna so here goes...


Four jobs you have had in your life:

nanny, nursery nurse, shop assistant...that's all sorry-unless you count staff cover in a garage!

Four movies you would watch over and over:

The Green Mile, Beaches, Don't tell Mom the babysitter's dead, Bad boys

Four places you have lived:

Always lived in Cheltenham!

Four TV shows you love to watch:

Lost, Desperate housewives, Friends, Cold feet

Four places you have been on vacation:

Portugal, Menorca, USA, Blackpool!

Four websites I visit daily:

The lounge
2peas
and these two aren't everyday but I do visit often as I am planning to morph into a fabulous combination of these two ladies! Cathy Zielske and
Tara Whitney

Four of my favourite foods:

My Mum's veggy casserole and dumplings *yummers*, anything pasta, pizza, tiger bread!

Four places I would rather be right now:

with my man *football widow here sob*, scrapping someplace fab, having a girly evening with my pals, anywhere warmer than cheltenham!

Four bloggers I am tagging:
hmmmm...since most of you have been tagged somewhere down the line this may get tricky! Ok...sorry if you have been tagged already but nowt is on your blogs as of now! Amber...Jane...Beth...and Shirl :) TAG YOU'RE IT!!!!

I must I must I must improve my blog updating! Will try really hard...bit snowed under at the mo! Still have this commission album to do, plus loads of other scrap related stuff, and the card for CB mag to duplicate and send in, plus loads of other bits and bobs that I am blocking from my mind right now!
Today I managed to bag some of the new gorgeously deeelish URBAN ADDITIONS can't wait for them to arrive so I can lick them.

Todays blog photo was taken yesterday evening, from the track in the forest we take the ponies and horses through on our hack. This is at the top of the hills in Leckhampton, a really beautiful, peaceful area...I forget all my troubles while I am there. I have discovered that I seriously need to fashion some kind of camera bag to stop me looking like a touristy prat with my camera round my neck. This isn't usually a problem, but 1) if you are riding a horse or leading a pony it just aint gonna happen any other way, 2) horses will try to eat a camera around your neck, and 3) a big lensed camera will not fit under your coat no matter how hard you try.
I also discovered that I need proper knee length riding/stable boots, knee high mud versus ankle length joddy boots just aint gonna work!

Personal life is turmoil just now...not my own personal problems per se, but everyone elses...gotta be strong...I have been feeling better over the last few months, it has taken me 4.5 years to get this far. I can't face going back to square 1 again. It will not beat me.
I think my noo years ressy should have been 'other peoples problems and traumas are not my problems and traumas' maybe this should be my mantra...it will never work though, I am way too sensitive for that.

Got a gorgeous house guest coming to stay at the end of Feb, that could be interesting and I am really looking forward to it...watch this space to see how I cope lol!

TTFN blogettes -x-

quick update!

ok quick update before I brave tesco (In the car! wooot) Main bit of excitement this week was being contacted by crafts beautiful magazine, as one of my cards was a winner in their competition, so I get a bundle of prizes, and they also want to publish my card in one of their mags/books- yay me! Card is in todays piccy...it is a mini paperbag book on a card, and I must admit I was quite pleased with myself after that one was made!
Gone a bit ATC mad this week...I swear in the last week or so I must have made about 60 of the lil blighters! Some I am really chuffed to little mintballs with...others will be going in the bin! Hopefully off to WHS in a mo too to try and get some page pockets, and any other goodies they may have...I have decided I actually have a magazine fetish of some sort, but this week I have torn pages out to keep and the rest are going for recycling...this does not include scrapping mags...they will NEVER be torn and I keep every single one *blush* I can't help myself!
Hope all is well in the land of my blogettes!
TTFN -x-

Nothing exciting to report really! Drank evil red wine last night (I never touch red) and today have had a headache all day, and been in a foul mood! Must not drink red again!
Spent the day with Jasmine yesterday, it is amazing how different she is after a week off school. My odds are on her turning into a lil cow once she starts back at school...she isn't naughty just so damn lary in term time!

Anyway, pic for today is of Kara, one of my god daughters. She is a funny lil munchkin. We have a bit of a special bond, even though I don't see her too often, but I was there when she came into the world.

Done heaps of housework/sorting out today, loads more to do tomorrow...just hope I have a bit of motivation. Really need to get some scrapping done, made some cute little accents tonight that I am well chuffed with...at least something scrap related is going right...mojo upped and left a while ago! All I wanna do is play with my camera!

'Appy Noo Years...from my scraproom to yours!

appy noo years everyone! Tried to do this at midnight but the laptop wasn't having any of it!
I hate new year. Not the January the 1st part of it...just the farce of celebrating beforehand. It isn't a good time of year for me, I accept it, but don't go out of my way to celebrate it! Totally pants pic of me...you can even see the tv reflection in my glasses...but it is ME...no airs and graces, just lil ole me., in my scraproom!
Hope you are all enjoying the festive season as it draws to an end. I have big hopes for 2006, don't worry I am not setting myself up for a big let down...if things happen then they were meant to be...if they don't then it isn't the end of the world. What are your goals for 2006? I want to take my scrapbooking to another level...for ME. I want to stick to my own style. I want to enjoy it again, and not do a layout because I feel I have to. I need to learn to say no to comission albums (done a few now!) I want to learn about photography, I have a fantastic new camera, and I want to make it earn its keep! I want to forget the minor irritations in life, and act like a child again!
I need to learn to stop waffling!...well mebbes that is hoping for a bit too much!
Whatever your goals, wishes, dreams and hopes, I wish that 2006 is your year.
2006 IS the year of the scrapper
xoxox

Not impressed...the arctic frog...

Yes it is THAT cold in my scraproom! Hat, scarf, gloves, vest top, long sleeved top, jumper and fleece...all topped off by me wrapping my hands round a mug of hot coffee! This is seriously affecting my mojo. How can I be expected to work in these arctic temperatures?! Not a happy bunny! I wanna scrap, and I can't. Not impressed!

So was it good for you?

Christmas that is! Had a nice day here...Santa(s) surprised me with my much coveted Fuji finepix S9500! Woohaaaaaa! Nan was here for lunch, but we ended up taking her home early as she felt rotten (she has pleurisy) bless her. So instead I spent the evening at my brothers (we normally have Jack's birthday tea at Nans for the evening, but she wasn't up to it), caught up with the Christmas soaps, ate too much, slept like a log!
Had loads of fab pressies and everyone seemed happy with the gifts I gave so all is good. Had a couple of odd ones too...a chicken money box?! (I laffed so hard at that one!). Boxing day, lounged at home, few visitors in and out...good game of dvd trivial pursuit which I won *gloating*...I think I shocked everyone with my apparent store of useless knowledge! Yesterday I did a bit (too much) sales shopping...next sale was fairly good, finally found a perfect pair of jeans (I am sooo fussy with jeans), undies, a corset (!), some mugs (I am obsessed-have no room in mugs cupboard now at all)...then off to starbucks for a huge gingerbread latte...yummers. Got some new bedding too, all beige and brown and lovely. Then today I have been on a mission to sort some of my scraproom aka the stoooodio out...nearly there! Hope you all enjoyed crimbly time xxxx

Merry Christmas!
Thought I should do a little blogging before I retire to my boudoir! Had a lovely day today: Friends and god daughter came to visit this morning, then this afternoon I went to visit another friend, with some more godchildren of mine. Man they were so hyped! Mols spent 2 hours tracking Santa, then her and Cait squealed when a chap walked past the window dressed as THE MAN himself! 'But how can that be Santa?' said Mols...'He is in Japan now'! Bless her lil cottons!! Anyway I won't keep you reading....hope Santa brings you all you wished for, and then some. Lots of excitement tomorrow eh people? Well..today now! My nephew turns 10 today, so we have Christmas in the morning and birthday in the evening! Hope you all have a lovely festive snuggly happy time. I know some of you (me included) will be missing loved ones this year...they are with us though. Love to you all xxxx

Restoring my faith in humanKIND

ok quick update about my test....after many rows yesterday and starting the morning by throwing up, I did a test and it is negative. Will retest in a week, but not been sick today so it must have been a one off...very bizarre!

Now....my friend phoned me this morning to make sure I was ok after yesterdays vileness...and I heard the most wonderful thing ever. This friend is my bestestest friend, and mother of one of goddaughters. Bit of background: when her daughter was 9 months old, her partner left them, 2 years ago he landed himself in prison, and it was most deserved. My friend has dealt with so much in her life, so nobody deserves this more than her. She survives on less than £100 a week, to support her and her daughter. Yet she still manages to make christmas special, buy lovely gifts, and take her daughter horseriding etc....you will understand the impact of why I am saying all this in a mo...

This morning her doorbell rang...worried it was someone she didn't want to see (she has had a lot of trouble lately)...she reluctantly opened the door, keeping her foot behind it. A chap was on the other side, who she had never seen before. 'Miss Ellis'?....'yes' said my friend....'I have a delivery for you' says this bloke....So my friend says she is not expecting anything, what is going on etc, and this chap says, 'I am just the delivery guy', and puts two big marks and spencers cool bags on her doorstep and goes off to get more. Thinking back to last Christmas, her ex (in prison) had told her about this scheme they have with the salvation army, for single mums where the childs dad is in prison. Basically they deliver a little gift for the child, (like a selection pack). So my friend asks if it could be to do with them, and the guy said it probably was but honestly couldn't say who it had come from etc, but that yes it probably was the salvation army. My friend is stood in floods of tears, with her hand over her mouth...utterly gobsmacked. At which point this guy says...this is why we do it *blub* Friend says she really doesnt deserve it, she was on her own long before her ex went 'down' and she manages...and this guy says 'you manage. but this is to give you the extras...*and looking at her face*, this is what it is all about' *blubbing more* He forgets something else, and goes back to the car to get a box...friend asks him if he wants the cool bags back...nope they are yours to keep.
Well she unpacks these bags on the phone to me...there was:
2 huge cadbury selection packs, a huge homemade christmas cake (she has never had a christmas cake) boxes of chocolates, m&s biscuits, shortbread, oodles of stuff for dort, barbie pencils, colouring books, colouring pencils, 2 christmas puddings, boxes of mince pies, eggs, bacon, butter, salmon, sausages, milk, bottles of non alky drinks, tins of food, jams, boxes of cup a soups, other packets of stuff, bags and bags of stuff.
I stood on the phone in floods of tears, just because nobody deserves this more than my mate. And she is feeling guilty about it because there are others out there who deserve it more than her. Off to make a donation of some sort to the salvation army now...I think it's gonna be a good Christmas :)