Sunday, July 30, 2006
Party animals - NOT!
But there is no way that we would not have gone, we wanted to say good bye to J and A. But what to do at a party like that? I would have been quite happy bopping to the band on my own, but DD was with us, and she thought I looked too embarrassing!!! J and A lead a completely different lifestyle to us, lots of socialising (they can never find a free weekend when we ask them here!) and will be perfectly fine in Dubai. We just don't socialise, and don't like parties much, would rather sit at home with a bottle of nice wine from Sainsbury's - cheaper, not noisy or smoky, can find a comfortable seat etc etc. Aren't we getting old? (Trouble is J is older than DH!!)
Saturday, July 29, 2006
Worthing sea front fayre
Maurice and I walked into town this afternoon along the prom. There was a mock air-sea rescue going on, but it was quite a way out to sea, not easy for us to see. Love that helicopter! (I love watching the tv series 'Seaside Rescue'. I just think the men who man the helicopter are sooooo cool, I want to marry them all!) There is a market all along the prom, which is really busy. I wish they would do it more often in the summer, it makes the town really buzz.
Nicholas went on his Christian camp today. He went on his own on the train to Tonbridge! He was really nervous all day, because he didn't go until 4.30pm. We all went to the station to see him off! I'm going to miss him, because he is about at hime alot, and is really good company atm. I hope he has a good time! He is camping near Tonbridge (near BIL John), and it sound slike he'll be canoeing, hiking and generally doing outdoor things, just like scout camp really.
The weather is changing slightly. It has cooled down over the last couple of days, and today it has clouded over and now it's sticky. I hope it stays cooler but dry for Nicholas's holiday, and then it must heat up again for the week after cos that's when DD is going to France with Claire, Andy and Katrina. (And Nicholas is off to Soul Survivor)
Thursday, July 27, 2006
These are the ATCs I made for a swap on UKS - theme: dragonflies and butterflies. I am really pleased with the background, made by swooshing distress ink around with a baby wipe, old paper, scattered straw and worn lipstick. I then stamped butterflies randomly in scattered straw. But, then I couldn't decide what to do on top, and I made a few duff ones first! I hope these are good enough - I love the colours, much prettier than I usually use, especially the worn lipstick! Mostly I have stamped on top with my darker distress inks, brick red and the dark brown (can't remember the name of it right now)
It is my 2nd ATC swap, I made a few for the last cyber crop. I'm still really nervous about swapping things like this, becasue I know there are lots of people much better than me! But I am learning, and I really felt that I learnd a lot doing these about how much ink to put on the stamp, and being patient and waiting for the ink to dry! One or two of the words are a bit wonky, but I quite like that. I hope my swapees like them too!
Wednesday, July 26, 2006
Ooops! It's a while since I last posted!
Just a few words about the weekend - Saturday: went shopping to Crawley (again!) with Claire, Lucy and Katrina. It was very hot and sticky, and I really didn't feel very well, so did not enjoy shopping. I did buy a jacket in the Next sale. Lucy and Katrian had a fab time shopping for their holiday, and Claire only bought a top (oh and Radio Times!!) I managed to have a little nap in the afternoon before going to Stewart's BBQ. Stewart is 50 now! (Here is a pic of Stewart and his mum!) We used to socialise all the time with the 'bike' crowd in our 20s. It stopped really when we had Nicholas. We tend to get together for a meal at Christmas (Gary organises us). So it is always great to see everyone again, and lots of catching up to do!
Sunday: Got up really early to go to Newbury all-day crop organised by the lovely MJ! I picked Jan up in Portsmouth, and it was really nice to have her to chat to. We arrived at 10am on time! I am always amazed at how friendly the group is, and how welcoming. We had a fab day, lots of scrapping, chatting, eating and drinking tea and coffee - a perfect day. We left at 7pm, and I was home just after 9.
School has broken up now, and DD has been very keen to do jobs to earn some extra cash! She has made some of the tea, tidied the kitchen and her room, so she can have some money to go shopping in Brighton with Katrina tomorrow (for more stuff for their holiday!)
DS is sorting out my dad's computer, and hopefully the bits he has ordered will come tomorrow. Should be able to install on Friday.
I did a bit of clearing out in my bedroom today - books and magazines and CDs were all getting out of hand by my bed. I took some RHS garden mags to the Oxfam shop. I always love taking things to the charity shop, it feels like a burden lifted, and gives me the feel-good factor!
Just joined the summer cybercrop on UKS. I'm doing the Book of Me, and am loving the prompts! I spent ages this morning making a list of the 'tracks of my years', and 10 things I do every day, and 5 things I never do! I'll upload it all here later.
Friday, July 21, 2006
Garden update
It's been really hot this week, and the garden looks like it has frizzled up in disgust! The grass is almost completely brown (apart from a few green patches of weeds!), and some of the shrubs are limp and dull. I have been trying to keep up with watering the pots, and I am pleased with how they look this year.
I keep my bedding plants to pots on the patio just outside the back door so that I don't have to walk too far to water them. We've been putting every drop of washing up water on the garden. It would be nicew to be able to put the shower water on the garden too, but I'm not sure how we'd do that!
Still quite a few plants in flower - I always think that Summer is a bit green in my garden, not so much in flower as in spring. Here's what's in flower today:
hosta, helenium, echinacea, kniphofia (2 types), hydrangea (2 types), daisy thing, grass (don't know it's name), penstemon (pink, garnet, red, blackbird), croscosmia (red, bright, bright red), rock rose (nearly finished), clematis (several types), hemerocallis (bronzy red colour and double orange), red lychnis, rose (ground cover), perennial sweet pea, agapanthus, phygellis, stocks, fushia, lysimachia, orange wallflower.
Seems I have alot of red, trouble is it's mixed in with bright pink!!
Thursday, July 20, 2006
sew colourful CJ
Part of the eager beavers CJ. I am really pleased with this. It is a bit of a scraplift from Simply Stamping this month.
The tags are big. On the left hand page the tag is covered with a page from an old book on ballroom dancing, and then inked with distress inks. The dress is BG paper, with lace sewn on the bottom, and then a few lines of straight and zigzag stitching. There is a bit of zigzag stitching to denote the front opening (like lacing). Machine stitching with primas, and round the edge of the card. The left hand page has pieces from a dress-making pattern under the tag. (It's a vogue jacket pattern that I never made, and never will now!!) The tag is covered in the instructions, and distress inked. The dress is cut from BG Mortifica paper.
I love it!
Wednesday, July 19, 2006
Hot, hot, hot (again)
Nicholas and I walked Merlin to the beach this morning at 8am. We had to keep to the shade, it was hot already! I went in the sea, unbelievable for this country, so early, yet so hot.
Then I went to Waitrose shopping. I walked into town and bought 3 fans, hope they help keep us cool tonight - it seems to heat up upstairs just before we go to bed!
Pam, Victoria and Lorraine came round for lunch, and we sat under the tree, but it was still quite hot. We spent a good couple of hours discussing teenage daughters - maybe mine isn't so bad after all!
Tonight I've been out for a meal with the family centre, celebrating their 10 years.
Monday, July 17, 2006
Scrapping, Cjs and swaps
I have done quite a lot of scrapping lately. I made the starbook (did I tell you how pleased I am with it?? LOL). At my weekend crop, I managed to do 3 pages for my garden through the year album. I am using one of my calendar tag sets from UKS swap for it. Thanks to Louise (chrismicbritt) for the january tag. The April tag doesn't have a name on the back, so I'll try to find out who made it.
I have done 4 CJ entries for our team CJ, and made my own CJ at my weekend crop. The Eager Beavers CJ is well under way, and I have Ellsese's 'Sew Colourful' CJ to do this week. Posting on this CJ is every 2 weeks, which is a bit quick really! Now I have to amke my CJ for UKstampers first CJ. Bit nervous about this one, especially as I have seen Flo's CJ on her blog!! It's fab.
Swaps are a bit slow atm. I have purposely not joined too many. But I am very excited about the huge bag of primas I got this morning. It was a 'fancy' prima swap, and for the first time I joined all 3 groups. Includes, flowers of the month, hydrangeas, got flowers, leaves, in all different colours, yummy. Here's a pic: can't wait to use them!
The Star Book pictures
Sunday, July 16, 2006
Busy time
Friday I took Mum shopping to Crawley. I bought shoes and trousers, she bought a skirt and trousers. Quite a nice day.
Saturday I went to a crop in Hove. It was fab! It's in a really lovely church hall, easy to find, free parking, but not many people yet. Janet would really like a bout 12 people so we can acrue a little kitty for stash to try on our own, or someone to come in and demonstrate, eg alcohol inks. J did a great job of organising, a 'page of the day' competition, a 'try this' table, and alittle 'crop talk'. We tried out some vellum ideas. It was 7pm before I got home, and buy the time we had walked the dog, and watched telly (we've been watching 'Only Fools on Horses'), it was bedtime!!!
Sat am I took DS to work and then went to sainsbury's to buy stuff for friends coming round today. I took all the recipes from the Sainsbury's magazine - it was brill. I did salmon on a bed of vegetables, potato salad with mango chutney (yum!), a hug salad, and sausages and chicken legs becasue I was worried there wouldn't be enough - in fact there was plenty! They have not long gone home, DH and friend drank rather a lot, and then DH bought more beer out just when C had said she wanted to go home with her youngest DD! A really lovley afternoon, we sat under the tree , and always have great chat. Slightly spoiled for me a the end becasue they stayed so late. But really nice to have DD with us all day.
It's very hot atm. Just going down the beach with the dog.
Friday, July 14, 2006
My second star book
DD has decided to go on the holiday and miss the volleyball training. It has been a bad few days, where she and I seem to clash the whole time. Right now it's because she thinks she is going out on Sunday afternoon and we have people to lunch. They have younger daughters, who absolutely adore Lucy, so we would like her to be there! (DH is doing his Mr Spock bit, and being totally unemotional about it-accusing me of excalating the argument all the time.)
Anyway there will be another chance at the vb training, later in the year. Even my brother's dd is having second thoughts now!
Off shopping with Mum today to Crawley. She needs a break from dad (and I expect he needs a break from her!!). They are together 24/7, and I think things are a little tense from time to time. I haven't been shopping with Mum on her own for years. I hope it will be OK! Let's see if we can buy her some nice new clothes that both suit and fit!! A tall order these days I find.
Thursday, July 13, 2006
Tagged by MJ
2. How many kids do you have if any?2- Nicholas 17 and Lucy 14
3. Are you married, single, divorced, widow,? married to Maurice for 27 years
4. What is your occupation? Originally I was an accountant, and even had my own clients when Nicholas was a baby. I have been an NCT antenatal teacher, completed a degree in Neuroscience, worked in research at Sussex University, tried to train as a science teacher in a high school (failed!). Now I suppose I am an SAHM, but try to do as much voluntary work as possible, as a school govenor, administration for the Worthing Family Centre, and membership secretary for the Anglo-Italian Family History Society.
5. What are your passions? My family, my dog, scrapbooking, reading, gardening, family history, internet forums.
6. Are you a dreamer or a dream seeker? I think a bit of both. I don't really dream much, but I do try to make things happen that I want.
7. Are you happy with the way you life has turned out? Yes! I am really lucky to have such a fantastic family! Right now, I need more personal challenges, more structure and routine, but I will make that happen in the Autumn.
8. Are you a scrapper and if so how many hours a week do you scrap? I love scrapping! I don't spend as much time on it as I do the computer but I suppose it is about 10 hours per week. That is a complete guess!
9. What do you want to do before you die? Road trip across USA with Maurice on a Harley Davidson! See my grandchildren!
10. What is your favorite food? Sunday roast, especially roast lamb with mint sauce with new potatoes just dug from the garden!
11. What is the food you hate the most? processed packet food
12. What is the most embarrassing thing that has ever happened to you? I'm sure lots of embarrasing things have happened, but the one that springs to mind is when I was at primary school, we had to take it turns to wash up the teachers cups in the staff room. Me and my friend dared each other to go in the men's toilets! Of course, just as we did a member of staff came in!!!! He made us go and tell our teacher what we had done!! (That was punishment enough I can tell you)
13. What is the happiest day of your life thus far? Can I have more than 1? 2 must be giving birth to my kids, especially as I had always wanted a boy then a girl. And finding out I had got a first for my degree! Happiest moments in my life come when I take Merlin for a walk, he is so exhuberent!
14. Are you a neat freak? Or a dirty house cleaner? A bit in the middle. I used to be more houseproud than I am now. I do like a tidy clean house, but cleaning up dog hairs could be a major daily job!
15. What is the worst thing you have ever done? Gosh, there are loads of things I am not proud of, maybe the way I handle my teenage daughter is the worst thing I do at the moment.
I tag Kym!
Wednesday, July 12, 2006
Not enough to do!
Even my computer forums are really slow atm!
But it should be a really good opportunity to catch up on scrapbooking!! I have loads of ideas about what I want to do, especially now I've finished (?) sorting out the old photos. Number one priority is Robin's star book, which I have to say is coming on really well. I saw some paper in a magazine that I thought would be perfect, and it said it was Chatterbox Reading room. I ordered it, but it's different to the magazine!! Still nice though. I'm using a light olive green and a burnt red colour bazzill for it. The green chalk ink, and red distress ink I have goes really well.
Number 2 and 3 are CJs. Number 4 is Mail Art.
Then I suppose I can think about the other projects. But I have a crop on Saturday. It's the Brighton and Hove crop ressurected, and in a church hall, so I'm hoping it will be good, and there will be lots of people there. I want to try out new things, and hopefully if the crop is a success we can get people to demonstrate new techniques for us. So I think I'll order some garden photos and start the garden album (or CJ).
Monday, July 10, 2006
Highdown, DH's birthday nad dilemma cont'd
This is from the 'middle' walk back to the car, looking up at the ring on top of highdown, which was once a medieval fort. I walk round it every time I go up there, and marvel at the sense of history. The grass is really long now, and absolutely full of wild flowers. This is a scabious I think, and look, it's got a bee on it!
This is just the most fab picture of Merlin. It has really captured his lovely expression. I've altered the colour and brightness a bit hope I haven't made it too green! He had a wonderful time this morning running through the long grass. He is always so exhuberent, it is hard to feel down when you are with him!
There are quite a lot of orchids in the long grass, but they are beginning to go over now.
Today is DH's birthday. He is 51, born the day after Mum and Dad got married! He doesn't really 'do' birthdays, which is a shame, because my family like doing birthdays! One of the many little differences between our families. His mum has however, given him a cheque for £50. (She won't do that for me, or the children!!) I bought him the DVD of The Long Way Round, because we didn't see the tv series, although we both read the book. One thing DH decided to do a few years agao was to buy the children an 'unbirthday' present on his birthday because they are both December birthdays. They have planned for this 'unbirthday' present for months before usually!! This year, DD has had so much she isn't getting a specific present, but DS (and me) would like a new laptop, so we have been campaigning for it for a few weeks! DH is not keen to spend that much money and would rather buy DS something not connected to computers. I'd love a new laptop so I can have it downstairs or out in the summerhouse! We felt we did make a little headway yesterday when we went out for lunch and got DD to back us up as to how useless the old laptop is!! We'll see, watch this space!
The Volleyball dilemma continues - DB and SIL came round yesterday, and want Lucy to go so that we can take thier DD up to Oxford where the vb training is. They go away on the Thursday, so we've said their DD can stay with us until the weekend, and that we'll get her to the airport on the Monday. Our DD is feeling very pressurised now, her cousin really wants her to go so that she has got someone to go with, and is pleading with her quite passionately!! I feel a bit annoyed that they are pressurising my DD so much. (There is always a bit of tesion between me and DB anyway!!). The cousins have vb training at school tonight, so they will be able to talk some more. I've told DD not to make up her mind completely yet, sleep on it for another couple of nights. I'm very tempted to say to DB that we will take his DD to Oxford whether Lucy goes or not - it takes the pressure off Lucy, and enables them to organise the flight for Monday etc.
On a much more happy note - I have booked Merlin in to kennels for a couple of nights while Lucy is in France, and DS is away, and just me and DH are going away for 2 nights. Don't know where yet, probably b&b, devon dorset way on the mototrbike.
Saturday, July 08, 2006
Parham garden weekend
This is a general picture, and my friend Sarah and her mum are in the back! This was a lovely stand. I particularly liked the yellow kniphofia with the red crocosmia.
And here's what I bought! A reddy ornage echinacea, a really bright orange helenium, a yellow kniphofia and 2 ferns that will grow in my (very) dry shade. I bought Mum and Dad an echinacea too as it is their wedding anniversary tomorrow. (51 years!)
Friday, July 07, 2006
dilemma continued
Well, I felt sick all day yesterday worrying about this. (I really don't have enough to do and think about do I?) I did tell my friend when I dropped DD off. I felt awful, becasue I didn't really have the time to discuss it properly, but I knew she had to be told straight away. It turns out they are not going far from Cherbourg, and it would be possible to book a ferry on the Monday from Portsmouth at 8am. DD has decided that she wants to go on holiday with them and miss the vb training. I think that is the right thing to do, but I'm worried that I'm not taking the vb training seriously enough. My brother's DD has been picked as well, and they are going to Spain on 2nd Aug. They really want ther to do the training, becasue they think it's a once in a lifetime opportunity. (I'm sure there will be other chances!!) At least now having discussed it with my friend I feel better.
Thursday, July 06, 2006
DILEMMA
Anyway, a couple of weeks ago, a friend asked me if DD would go on holiday with them to France. They have a DD the same age, and they both get on really well together. I agonised quite a lot, but in the end said yes. They booked the holiday last week for the w/c 5th Aug.
DD got some really exciting news yesterday, she has been picked for an England training camp for volleyball under 14s. YOOHOO! Trouble is she found out late last night that it's the weekend 5/6th Aug. OH NO. She is distraught, I feel really bad about it, don't know what to do. DH thinks we may be able to get her to France on the Monday, but we don't know exactly where in France they are going. I can't talk to my friend today, because she works, I have a govenors meeting at 5pm, and then keep fit. DD is going round there for tea tonight, and tomorrow to get ready for the disco, and then K is coming back here to sleep over.
My thoughts are that it is far too much hassle to get her to France on the Monday. I don't think my friend would have booked the holiday if DD wasn't going - so I think she should go on the holiday.
Why have they waited so late to tell the girls about the training camp? They must know that kids go on holiday in August? If only they had told us last week.......
Watch this space, I am sure it will sort itself out, but I feel very responsible and that I will have to be proactive in getting it sorted. I just don't want the hassle!!!!
Wednesday, July 05, 2006
walk in the rain
We woke up to distant thunder at 6am this morning, and a few spots of rain. Our doorbell goes off in thunderstorms, which is very disconcerting if it does so in the middle of the night! I couldn't decide whether to go up to Highdown (and risk being caught in torrential rain- as forecast) or down the beach. I decided down the beach was the safest option. I put shorts and sandals on, and my rain mac! It was warm drizzle - quite bizarre! Merlin and I paddled in the sea, and I ended up really wet - hope people didn't think I'd wet myself!!!
Must get browsing the internet shops!!! I need some paper to make Robin's star book. (I rather like the BG hang 10, or reading room, by I can't remember who, I must look it up.) He is 60 at the end of the month, so I need to get my finger out. I also need to make DH a birthday card (10th July) and Mum and Dad an anniversary card (9th July). DH was actually born the day after mum and dad got married!!
Monday, July 03, 2006
Marine Gardens
Here's my attempt at a couple of 'arty-farty' shots. We have always tried to take these type of photos with very limited success!!
Here is the entrance to Marine Gardens from the seafront. (Can't get this photo to load!) I walk through these gardens most days, they are straight down towards the seafront from our house, about 10 mins walk. There is a bowling green, a cafe and a pitch and putt. I used to go there for a coffee when I was studying and needed a change of scenery. I would take a spaper I was having trouble with and a highlighter, order a mug of coffee, and sit and draw all ove it!!
This photo was taken in the Spring. Now this bed is full of bright geraniums. Not all the beds have been planted with bedding, presumably for water saving. The pond is dry too, but the beds round the pond look great with roses, and big thistles, perennial graniums, alchemilla, and much more.
Sunday, July 02, 2006
hot hot hot!
We went down to the beach at about 4pm. The tide was high, and I went in for a swim, it was blissful! Cool, small waves, nice and deep with the tide high. M sat on the stones and watched.
We have to drive to Dorking in a mo to get Lucy from her volleyball weekend. Not looking forward to that much!
Saturday, July 01, 2006
walking on the beach
The weather is great at the moment! Actually, it's been a bit too hot today, but Thursday and Friday were perfect summer days. It's turned more humid today, and clouds have appeared now (10pm) I wonder if we'll have a storm?
Anyway it's the perfect weather for walking on the beach, and here is a picture of sand between my toes! I love walking bare foot through the little wavelets on the edge of the sea. I have this feeling that the sand is good for the bottom of my feet!
Last night we walked along East Worthing beach, and this is a picture of the pier from the 'other' side. I love the purplish tones to the sky and the sand. Later in the year when the sun sets more in the west, ther are gorgeous sunsets over the pier.