Linda's life

carnival time!

2010-08-06T03:00:00.001-07:00

We walked into Worthing for a coffee, and realised on the way home that it is carnival day in Worthing! The carnival is usually at the end of August, but has changed this year to coincide with the Seafront fair.

This is where we like to have coffee, Madisons in the arcade. It was jam packed with customers wanting breakfast! Looks like they do a mean bacon and egg! And they always provide a bowl of water for Merlin.

The flower displays in Worthing are as fabulous as ever!

Here’s the tallest building in Worthing.

Some rubbish pics of the carnival! Here’s the Beauty and the Beast float. Fabulous costumes!

Not sure who this crowd were, but looks like they were having fun!

Procession of minis at the rear

walk for 10 mins from home….

2010-07-29T08:59:00.001-07:00

On Shimelle’s latest class, we were challenged to walk 10 mins from home, then take some photos. Well, 10 mins south of here is the beach, which is also one of my ‘comfort zones’ for photography, especially on a nice sunny day like yesterday! This is also the first time I have experimented with a mosaic, from http://bighugelabs.com. Gonna have fun with this!!! Another time waster!!

walk round RHS garden at Wisley

2010-07-14T13:57:00.001-07:00

Mum and I have had a glorious day out at Wisley, one of our most favourite places!

These delphiniums are in the mixed border, our favourite place!

Then we went into the little rose garden, a new huge rose garden is being built, it will be fantastic!

We just loved this combination of pink rudbekia and silver eryngium in the Piet Oldurf prairie borders:

which leads to this stunning view of the new greenhouse with this gorgeous colour combination of planting:

Love this view of the greenhouse from the top of the rockery….

…which takes us to the alpine house:

Back up through the fruit garden to my dream greenhouse:

along to the model gardens where I saw this idea for my patio:

and back down the other side of the mixed border to marvel at the colour, texture and shapes in the planting:

and then of course into the shop to buy the huge long list of plants on our wish lists!

South Downs Way – Kithurst Hill to Amberley

2010-07-14T13:39:00.001-07:00

Got the walking bug now! Last weekend Nicholas wanted to do a walk with us, so we got the ordnance survey map out… and decided to drive to Storrington and park at Kithurst Hill. WE thought that a walk to Amberley and back would be about 6 miles.

It started out as a fluffy cloud blue sky sort of day:

as we walked along the ridge with the sea to our left:

The descent into Amberley was quite steep! EEK! WE got to walk back up that!

Ahhh! Well deserved refreshment in the Bridge at Amberley!

Nicholas was going to borrow my Nikon DSLR, but we both thought the other was bringing it and consequently left it at home LOL! These pics takne with my little Nikon point and shoot.

Early morning walk in Scarborough

2010-07-02T13:50:00.001-07:00

We were due to leave for home (Thursday), and because of the fog, we hadn’t really seen North Beach area of Scarborough. So we got up at 6.30am, and went straight out with our cameras. What a lovely morning! We walked along the north Beach, and then inland a little bit to a lovely park and boating pond. There were just a few dog walkers about, no tourists!

Here’s the castle again, this time with the early morning sun behind it – not in the mist!

I just loved these popsicle coloured beach huts!

It was the perfect time of day for the pictures of the boating lake, the reflections were perfect!

Scarborough

2010-07-02T12:26:00.001-07:00

We had decided to drive to Scarborough and spend Wednesday night there, as it is a place we had not visited before. Unfortunately, it was foggy! We had a gorgeous little B&B right on the North Beach, and our room overlooking the sea. We ate our packed lunch courtesy of the other hotel, and then took a walk over the castle and towards the harbour and South Beach.

This statue is on the harbour right next to the lighthouse

The south beach is a little more brash with amusement arcades, and gift shops:

It was low tide and despite the fog, there were plenty of people on the sands:

Here’s Freddy – one of the donkeys available to ride. We asked if we could photograph the donkeys, and when one little girl came up for a ride, she was told that Freddy was busy having a photo-shoot!

Pen-y-ghent

2010-07-01T13:06:00.001-07:00

We were due to walk up one of the 3 peaks of the Pennines, Pen-y-ghent. The coach dropped us off high above Horton in Ribblesdale, and we walked towards our path. Unfortunately this high up, the clouds were at ground level, and it was very misty! So we took a decision to do a shorter walk, down into Horton. As it happens, I was immensely relieved! The ascent of Pen-y-ghent was some 1400 feet from where we were dropped off, and very steep, including scrabbling up rocks for the last little bit! I am not a rock climber so was relieved that we didn’t have to do it. In fact, as we descended into Ribblesdale, the cloud began to lift, and we took some terrific photographs under Derek’s expert tuition. It was a much better photographic experience than the climb up Pen-y-ghent would have been.

Catching the sunlight as it passes over the quarry on the other side of the valley:

I think this is my favourite shot of the week, I just love this windy path – doesn’t it invite you in to the picture?

Once down into the village of Horton-in Ribblesdale, we went into the church, where Derek gave us much welcome instruction into taking photographs inside churches:

We sat in the churchyard and ate our sandwiches. Afterwards we walked up towards Pen-y-ghent, here: The right hand side is what we would have walked up if the weather had been better. Of course, by the afternoon it was perfect!

Malham Tarn and Malham Cove

2010-06-29T00:50:00.001-07:00

We got out of the coach at Malham Tarn just as the weather improved! It turned out to be a really lovely day, blue sky and white fluffy clouds. Perfect for taking pictures!

down this limestone path

And on to the limestone pavement! I guess that’s another thing I can cross off my ‘must-see’ list! I can still see Geoff Hamilton on ‘Gardener’s World’ making his own limestones out of concrete for his rockery so as to save limestone pavements such as this one!

Hebden Bridge to Stoodley Pike

2010-06-29T00:48:00.001-07:00

On our holidays! A landscape photography course in the Pennine district of North Yorkshire, with HF Holidays, tutored by Derek Forss.

Our first walk started from Hebden Bridge, from there we walked up to Stoodley Pike to see the monument to the desposition of Napoleon. not sure why a monument to Napoleon is in North Yorkshire!

The canal at Hebden Bridge

Our first glimpse of the monument

Back down a very steep descent to Hebden Bridge.

And here is THE bridge – 500 years old this year.

Walk to Cissbury Ring

2010-06-22T02:36:00.001-07:00

We bought ourselves new walking trousers for our walking/landscape photography holiday so we had to try them out this morning:

We parked in the south end car park, and walked up diagonally across this field, which was yellow with buttercups and vetch:

This field overlooks Findon valley and High Salvington on the other side of the valley

Cissbury Ring belongs to the National Trust:

My two lovely walking companions!

Evening walk to the beach

2010-06-22T01:58:00.001-07:00

We always take Merlin for a walk after tea. Merlin knows the routine and follows us about while we clear up after eating until we are ready to take him! Maurice prefers to go to the park, but sometimes I persuade him to my favourite place – the beach!

First we have to walk down the road:

Then through Marine Gardens where they have just planted these red coleus which look fab next to the yellow phormium:

The tide was quite high, but the water very calm:

Merlin couldn’t resist going in!

Ugh! A very wet smelly dog:

The sun was trying to peek through as it went down:

Making long shadows of the three of us!

We walked along towards the pier:

It looks quite Mediterranean here!

Walk round Chichester cathedral

2010-06-11T09:52:00.001-07:00

We had a ‘hub’ day today for work. Our hub is all projects within Sussex, Isle of Wight and Hampshire. It was held at Vicar’s Hall at Chichester Cathedral, which was a great venue. I couldn’t resist going out for 30 mins at lunchtime for some photos:

I love all these little pathways all round the cathedral close.

This is from the back of the cathedral.

Don’t you just love a flying buttress!

This modern tapestry hangs behind the altar. It is really stunning, and I love the way the middle looks lit up!

I think this might be my favourite bit – the cloisters. There is a really good cafe just off to the left.

Here’s the team! I am on the left. Next is Eric, then Claire, Tracey, Judi, Jacqui and Sue.

The day finished at 3pm, so we were very naughty and went for a cup cake in a really gorgeous little cafe! This is blueberries and cream. Isn’t it pretty!

Walk at Goodwood, Lavant area

2010-05-31T12:12:00.001-07:00

It was time to do our monthly long dog walk so we got the map out and decided to go over to Goodwood:

We started at the ‘P’ in the top right hand corner, and walked south to East Lavant, and then back up in a big loop. The walk was 4.5 miles and took about 1.5hours.

We soon met these young bulls! Merlin had a strop with them and barked at them!

The village of East Lavant is really pretty. I had to tear Maurice away from a rahter nice looking country pub, but even the tables outside were laid up with white napkins and cutlery – not the sort of place for scruffy old us to go in for a quick pint! So we sat on a bench at the cricket ground and had our flask of coffee

Walking back up the hill was pretty until we reached a field full of sheep and lambs that we had to cross! Maurice had to keep a real tight grip on Merlin!

The last bit was along the top and wow what a view! These pictures don’t so it justice – the first one is looking down towards Chichester, and the second one is looking west towards the Isle of Wight, which rises out of the sea like a great big whale from this angle!

Walk along East Worthing beach

2010-05-20T12:46:00.001-07:00

It has been a lovely day today so Idecided to take dog and camera over to other sied of town for a change

52 walks – A walk round my garden

2010-05-19T06:52:00.001-07:00

Just had to do this while the Spring flowers and blossom are still out!

This is the view from my back door

Down the path on the left hand side.

The little shed at the bottom was the children’s paly house. My Dad made it, but sadly the children very rarely played in it because of the spiders!! We made a mistake putting it so far down the garden, it should have been nearer the house.

I can’t go in the garden without my macro lens! Here’s a geranium, a euphorbia and another geranium!

Back up the path on the right hand side. Looks like this one needs a bit of weeding! (Actually these paths are the bane of our lives, always weedy!)

This path leads up to the back of the little summer house up by the house. It is our dumping ground! The summer house is on a turntable and should swivel, but I don’t think we would get it to work now. We sometimes sit in it and have a cup of coffee.

And finally, here’s my greenhouse – not in the sunniest spot in the gardne as it is under the shade of a large pine tree. At the moment it has potatoes in the border, and some bedding plants on the staging at the back.

walk round Bosham

2010-04-28T09:38:00.001-07:00

This is walk number 17. I am not keeping up with this project each week, and often wonder whether to jack it in! But anyway, here’s today’s walk, which was wonderful! I took Mum for lunch at a lovely garden centre near Chichester, and then we drove down to Bosham which is in the area called Chichester Harbour. It is such a lovely village!

We parked in the village and walked down to the quay, and were able to walk around to the other side of the lagoon as the tide was going out. At high tide the water laps that wall and there is no path.

This si from further round the other side of the lagoon.

Then we walked back and round past the church. You have to careful where you park here on the quay, that bit where the ice cream van and cars are parked is submerged at high tide! Bet lots of cars have got wet!!!

There’s plenty of wild life about:

And here’s Mum!

work colleagues

2010-04-25T13:13:00.001-07:00

Lots of changes going on at work, and last Tuesday we went to a ‘Change management’ workshop at Lodge Hill (fabulous venue) run by Spurgeons our new employer. It was a lovely day and Lodge Hill is in gorgeous grounds, so we had to take a few pics!

Me, Judi, Tracey

Tracey, Me, Jane and Judi

Me, Tracey, Jane, Sue and Judi

Me, Tracey, Jane, Sue, Judi and Justine

Walk on Brighton Pier

2010-04-09T03:19:00.001-07:00

Just as a contrast to Worthing Pier we went to Brighton Pier! It has loads more shops and fun fair rides on it than Worthing:

The only money we spent was to buy an ice cream and a coffee!

It was a really beautiful sunny day and quite warm! The pier was packed with people:

Love this view looking east:

Here’s the pier from the shore. Notice the fish and chip kiosk in the foreground. There must be hundreds of places to buy fish and chips in Brighton!

walk along Worthing Pier

2010-04-05T07:07:00.001-07:00

I am a bit behind with my walks, so when we walked into town along the seafront this morning I thought I would photograph my walk along the pier. Unfortunately the batteries in my camera died, so I borrowed DH’s camera. As the sun was so bright I couldn’t see what I was taking!!!

There are always lots of shows on at the Pavilion theatre on the landward end of the pier.

The buildings on the pier are very art deco in style.

This is the night club at the end of the pier. Just imagine all those girls trip-trapping along the wooden slats in their ultra high heels late at night!

There are always lots of fishermen fishing off the pier:

I am trying to get a feel for the art deco style here!

And finally:

But they didn’t say no kitesurfing over the Pier! (picture from Littlehampton gazette last November)

walk number 12

2010-04-03T10:19:00.001-07:00

I am a bit behind with my walks. But this afternoon we decided to go out with the dog, along the Ilex trees:

through the park in Ferring where they were playing football:

down the Rife (which was pretty full today and which Merlin couldn’t help but go in for a swim!) to the sea:

At the beach end of the Rife is the Bluebird cafe where we had a cup of tea, and ate our hot cross buns

Merlin watches very intently for a crumb!

And back along the seafront, where the wind got up and it was very chilly!

And then back up through the trees and to the car. This picture shows the view looking back towards the sea, much better on a hot summer’s day!!

Tom’s 18th Birthday party

2010-03-28T04:31:00.001-07:00

We had a fabulous time at Tom’s 18th birthday party last night. It was held in the Dome, in the top room which is actually the dome.

This is what the dome looks like inside. It was the 2 floors you can see in the picture above, the top floor being like a gallery.

Here’s Tom, Lucy, Kirsty and Steve arriving in the stretch hummer:

And finally a rather nice one of Maurice and Lucy:

Walk no 11

2010-03-21T10:28:00.001-07:00

I have not kept up with ‘52’ walks, but here’s one we did today:

We decided as it was such a nice day to walk the dog somewhere a bit different. But all the places we could think of would have had sheep and lambs – not a good idea with Merlin! So we decided to go up to Cissbury Ring, an iron age hill fort just north of Worthing:

It is quite a steep climb up from where we usually park. Merlin loves to run on ahead and then run back down the hill towards us!

Walking through the gate onto the actual ring itself

We walked on the lower path today, and round the other way!

The path in the distance goes over towards Lancing clump, a place I frequesnted as a child!

Views to the south and the sea.

Views to the north and fields!

walk number 8 – Ferring Beach (again!)

2010-02-26T02:57:00.001-08:00

It is one of my favourite walks! The sun was shining so I took my camera, and nearly didn’t take my hat! Glad I did – cos it was a cold wind! The greensward is so soggy and muddy! Merlin just loves splashing in the puddles, and was very muddy when we got home! Right at this moment he is lying on my hall carpet making it muddy and smelly!!LOL!

walk no 6 Worthing Seafront

2010-01-31T08:02:00.001-08:00

I decided to take my camera with me on a walk along Worthing seafront this morning as it was so nice and bright. Abit chilly though, look there’s still frost on Marine Gardens

I always have to take a picture of these beach huts! They are doing a lot of work to the prom, reinstating the cycle route, so that’s workmen stuff in the background.

Then I decided to concentrate on the buildings on the seafront. Here’s a bit of Heene Terrace:

And the Beach Hotel. They are due to do some alterations to this building, but I love the 1940s/50s style:

I think that little cottage is called the ‘Fisherman’s Cottage’, peeping through the palm tree!

Then I decided to take pictures of the seafront shelters:

And then back up Grand Avenue. This is Dolphin Lodge at the end of Grand Avenue. It was originally built as a hotel, but has always been flats.

The ‘new’ bit on the seafront end has this amazing mosaic on the side. I love the 1960s feel to it!

Here’s one of the Ilex trees of which Grand Avenue is famous for! I didn’t realise how much this one leaned over until I took this picture!

January 20th

2010-01-20T11:44:00.001-08:00

The 3rd prompt for 52in10 challenge is ‘What would you tell your younger self?’

Well, I know what I would say…. Go to university – do NOT take the job as a trainee accountant! I was 17 when I met Maurice and although it sounds corny, it was love at first sight! I took my A levels (Maths, Physics and Chemistry) and was applying to university to do Biochemistry. I even applied and sat entrance exams for Oxford! But, we decided that we couldn’t live without each other and wanted to get married.

So I didn’t go to university, I got a job as a trainee accountant. I qualified as an accountant – and worked in accountancy for 10 years, eventually having my own clients when I had the children.

Well, we have been very happily married for 31 years now, and our children are 18 and 21. I did go to university- when I was 39, and took a degree in Neuroscience. (One of my greatest achievements - I got a first!) I am glad I did go eventually, but it was not the same as going when you are 18. The children were young, and I didn’t have time or inclination to socialise. I really enjoyed my degree, and it bought up huge regrets that I didn’t go earlier, and have a career in Science. It has taken me years to work through the regret, first of all blaming others for not ‘making’ me go (!) and then realising that it was MY decision, and at that time NO ONE would have persuaded me otherwise. So I guess what I would say would be ‘go and get a science job!’ not ‘go to university!’. I have absolutely no regrets about getting married, and have had a very happy life!

January 17th

2010-01-17T09:42:00.001-08:00

A stroll along Brighton seafront. It was a lovely afternoon and I invited Mum over for a roast dinner. We made the effort to go somewhere different with her after dinner.

Walk number 3

2010-01-13T02:50:00.001-08:00

I know I am a bit ahead of myself here, but I just had to have some snowy pictures in this series of walks! We have had snow on the ground for 1 week now – unheard of in these parts!!! The pavements have been treacherous, and Merlin pulls hard, so walking him has been a nightmare! I have mostly walked him round to the park, and as it snowed again overnight I thought I would take my camera this morning. The new snow looks very pretty, but is quite slushy, so will hopefully go soon! I am fed up with it now….

Stepping out of my front door, the bushes look really pretty.

Turning to walk north up my road

Turn left into Rugby Road

Right into The Drive. I love these colourful terrace houses!

Left into tarring Road. That’s the railway line to the right of the picture with the footbridge in the distance

And into West Park

Here’s Merlin eating a snowball that I threw for him! He has loved the snow!

Just managed to take this one before the battery ran out!

Goals for 2010

2010-01-10T06:33:00.001-08:00

This is the second of Scrapdolly’s 52in10 challenge.

Following on from prompt 1 which was about what I achieved in the first decade of the 21st century, it’s time to blog about my goals for this year.

I have a list of scrapbook/photography challenges:

continue with my 365 project
this 52in10 project, not sure how yet, so I am blogging the prompts for now. Might do an 8 x 8 album
52 walks. Easy to take the photos as I am always walking the dog! And we have already put one Sunday per month as a long dog walk. What to do with the photos? Blog them on here and possibly put them in divided page protectors from Arrowfile.
Scrap weekly in 2010 Hoping to use these prompts in my general scrapbooking! Maybe a 2010 album?

Otherwise, I am particpating in a goals workshop over on www.simplify101.com. I absolutely love this site! So far, I have written down about 60 dreams! Next week’s lesson is about converting them into goals

I think that if I have to pick 4 goals for 2010:

Exercise regularly and eat more healthily
Get on top of finances, save some money!
Take time for creativity – need to build regular time slots each week
Take time for family and friends

Walk number 2

2010-01-05T10:12:00.001-08:00

An early morning walk to the beach!

You don’t very often see seaweed all frosty!

What a decade!

2010-01-03T03:49:00.001-08:00

Random thought on this decade. This time 10 years ago we were relieved that the millenium bug hadn’t hit! All our computers were going to crash!!! But thanks to the hard work of loads of computer geeks, (including Maurice!!) we were saved!

I finished my degree
we got a dog
Nicholas finished school and went to university
I started scrapbooking
I started quilting
I rekindled my love of photography
We got the internet!
We got mobile phones
We changed our car for the Honda CRV
My Dad died
Maurice’s Dad died
I made new friends through my hobbies
I tried teacher training, but failed!
I was a school govenor at West Park and Durrington
Maurice went on his first motorcycling holiday without me!
I lost some weight
I started dying my hair
Lucy met Tom
Nicholas met Freya
Lucy played volleyball and was an England Under 16 champion!
I started volunteering at the Family Centre and now work there part time
I started to research my family history and joined the Anglo-Italian family History Society
Maurice and I both turned 50
Nicholas entered his 20s
Lucy entered her teens (and didn’t we know it!!)

This is my answer to Scrapdolly’s 1st prompt for the 52in10 challenge for 2010.

Now I really must get on and start some housework!

New Year’s Day - walk no 1

2010-01-01T03:59:00.001-08:00

I have joined in the ‘52 walks’ challenge. It shouldn’t be too hard as I am always walking the dog! But I will try to vary my ‘walks’, that’ll be my challenge!

Walk number 1, easy peasy, my favourite local dog walk, over along Ferring Beach.

Park in the car park, through the gate and along the greensward. It’s lovely because Merlin can be let off the lead straight away, and he can ferret in amongst the verge, run with other dogs along the green, or go down on the beach!

It is a beautiful sunny day, but freezing! Here’s the frozen puddle, and it was so funny watching Merlin trying to find a piece where the ice was broken to drink the water!

That’s Bognor Regis in the distance!

Merlin having a roll on the grass!

Then back home for a steaming mug of coffee! And now I have to organise myslef to take the Christmas decorations down and pack them all away:(

5 things I love about December

2009-12-16T14:24:00.001-08:00

Christmas cards

Christmas music How about this one! LOL

Visiting Garden centres

Looking at the Christmas lights when walking the dog (photo taken in 2007)

5 things w/e 27th November

2009-11-29T13:50:00.001-08:00

OOps! I forgot to pos this on Friday. Oh well, better late than never eh?

seeing:

Seen the first Christmas lights up and lit on a house just round the corner! I love going for a dog walk in the dark and seeing everyone’s house lit up – just for me to see!

Hearing:

Raia pitter pattering on our bedroom window, thunder in the middle of the night (always sets our doorbell off!) and wind blowing! Yes, it is STILL horrible weather!

Tasting:

Gorgeous salmon sandwiches and the best cup of tea I have ever tasted at The Tea Cosy (see my other blog for pics)

Smelling:

Garlic! at the Pomodoro and Mozarella restaurant last night!

Feeling:

the enormous effort trying to walk against the wind this morning on Ferring beach

Blog award!

2009-11-22T04:05:00.001-08:00

Thanks Dorothy! I have a bog award YAY!

But now I have to answer all these questions!! With one word answers!

1. Where is your cell phone? … downstairs

2. Your hair? … short

3. Your mother?… gardner
4. Your father?… dead
5. Your favourite food? … casserole
6. Your dream last night?… wind!
7. Your favourite drink? … wine
8. Your dream/goal?… travel
9. What room are you in?… computer room

10. Your hobby?… scrapbooking
11. Your fear?… snakes
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years?… traveling
13. Where were you last night? … Gilberts
14. Something that you’re aren’t?… athletic
15. Muffins?… no
16. Wish list item? … Porsche 911
17. Where did you grow up? … here
18. Last thing you did?… drink
19. What are you wearing?… fleecy
20. Your TV?… off
21. Your Pets?… Merlin
22. Friends? … not as many as before (oops sorry not 1 word!)
23. Your life?… hectic
24. Your mood?… busy
25. Missing Someone?… dad
26. vehicle?… motorike
27. Something your not wearing?… hat
28. Your favourite store? … craft shop
29. Your favourite colour?… orange
30. When was the last time you laughed?… this morning
31. Last time you cried?… never
32. Your best friend?… don’t have one
33. One place that I go to over and over? … craft club
34. Facebook?… sometimes
35. Favourite place to eat?… Italian

5 things:

2009-11-20T01:02:00.001-08:00

A quick post this morning before I go out in the rain and wind with the dog! And then I have to go to Waitrose for food shopping, which is Ok because I can get 2 hours free parking while i go clothes shopping for new smart black trousers. Then I am seeing Mum this afternoon.

Right now I am seeing:

dark, damp, windy weather outside (not too keen to go out there tbh)

Right now I am hearing:

Snow Patrol! Lucy went to see them on Wednesday night in Brighton and the house has been filled with their songs turned up loud! I love them!

Also, I have started listening listening to Christmas music, starting with a little Jazz Christmas CD, lovely!

Radio 2 has been playing Wild Horses by Susan Boyle all week, and it is seriously getting on my nerves!

Right now I am smelling:

Some Christmas candles I have bought for a present, boy are they strong!

Right now I am tasting:

My gorgeous lamb casserole! Well, not quite right now, it’s what I am having later on for tea!

Right now I can feel:

My fingers lightly skipping over the keyboard ….. and pressing all the wrong keys!!!

Looking back

2009-11-18T00:46:00.001-08:00

I have been keeping this blog since August 2005. I did write another blog before that but I didn't let anyone see that - it was very private!

So it's easy to look back at what I was doing 1 year ago today. In fact, I was writing a daily thankyou last November. On 18th November 2008, I was thankful for my Crawley crop! They were a really great bunch, and we had a lot of laughs. But I don’t go to that one anymore. Instead myself and Burn are going to have a crafty evening in her craft cabin at least once per month! (In fact, we are going to the craft barn for a class on Saturday with the fabulous Sue Roddis . So I am looking forward to that.

Looking back further:

November 2007 I had just finished taking an online photography course with Cheryl Johnson. I took Painting with Light, and I have to say it’s a fantastic course and the best of hers that I have done. I am still doing loads of photography, and tryong to do Project 365 from March 2009 – March 2010.

November 2006 I was doing circle journals, and writing about the music I listen to. Well, I am still doing circle journals and still listening to music, although my taste has changed a bit! (Still listening to lots of radio 2 though)

November 2005 I didn’t write anything!! But I was about to start my first online class: Shimelle’s JYC!!!!

November 14th

2009-11-14T11:19:00.001-08:00

2 good things this weekend! One is the cybercrop over on www.ukscrappers.co.uk, and the other is that Maurice is going to Phoenix tomorrow for a week on business and I have put in orders to 2 scrapbook stores and a quilt shop for him to bring home with him next weekend! YAY!

Here's a LO that I did this morning for the cybercrop:

It’s another one for Lucy’s 18th birthday album. Isn’t she cute? I think this picture really shows her personality!

And here’s a sneak preview of a Christmas minibook I made for a swap over on UKs:

learning something new

2009-11-13T07:48:00.001-08:00

I have just learnt how to embed a You Tube video WOOHOO!

5 things….

2009-11-13T07:45:00.001-08:00

Here’s an idea I got from Shimelle’s class:

What am I seeing right now?

Rain! It is damp and dreary today. It is pouring down with rain, and is very dark.. It is forecast to get windy too!

What am I listening to right now?

Black Swan Song by Athlete (won’t let me embed it at the moment, so go and find it on You Tube.

What am I tasting right now?

Just had a very healthy salad for lunch. Trying to lose a few lbs before Lucy’s party on 12th December to be able to fit into my LBD!

What am smelling right now?

Last thing I noticed the smell of was my friend’s baking this morning when I went for coffee! Had to have a piece of her warm scone! MMMMMMM! (It was only a tiny bit I promise!)

What am I feeling right now?

A bit bundled up in warm clothes!

What are you seeing, hearing, tasting, smelling, feeling?

December Daily

2009-11-10T08:23:00.001-08:00

I completed this book last year – my aim was to document all the things I do to prepare for Christmas. I really enjoyed doing it, and am really pleased with the end result. I have just read it again, and it really brings back the essence of the month!

I think I made most of the pages ahead of time, I had some file folders which i used as a template for the covers, then covered them with Christmas paper (Basic Gray in this case). I tend to stick to one make now for a minibook (my first attempt at JYC used all different papers, and I prefer a more unified look!) I didn’t take all the pictures at the time, in fact, one or two of them are not even my own, but downloaded off the internet! Some days I used Shimelle’s JYC prompt if it fitted in with what I wanted to do, or used another day perhaps.

I tried to make my pages of different shapes and sizes. Some are just the same as the covers, some are torn about half way along, some are different shapes, including a snowflake paper! I also used acetate for some pages.

So here’s a few pictures:

The front cover has an acetate over the top stamped with white stazon snowflakes. The white scalloped card is stuck onto the acetate.

Day 1 documents my shopping! This is not one of my photos but is from the shopping centre website! On some of the LHS of the pages I tried to use Christmas photos I had taken over the years.

This page is a double page documenting my scrapbook crop’s Christmas party! That’s me in the silly turkey hat LOL!

I love this page! IN that envelope is a list of number 1 singles over the years! I LOVE Christmas music – all sorts, from carols to Slade’s Merry Christmas to Bing Crosby’s White Christmas!

Here’s my snowflake page. It’s a piece of scrapbook paper that was in the shape of a snowflake cut and half and glued together. I seem to have written on it upside down! The RHS is an acetate with the photo stuck on. When you turn the page to no 14, there is some journaling the same shape as the photo, so it is hidden from view here.

LHS my lounge with the tree and mantelpiece decorated! RHS, DS Nicholas and his friend.

I have included this page to show you how daft we are! There is a Boxing Day swim in the sea for charity (a lot of seaside resorts in England do it!) Last December we did it in aid off our Dad who sadly died the previous August. The photo in the middle is of (L-R) my niece, my brother and me. The bottom photo is off someone pouring warm water over DD Lucy!

Finally, here’s a glimpse of it from the edge so you can see the different sized pages.

Christmas

2009-11-10T01:50:00.001-08:00

Each Christmas recently I have done a December scrapbook. I have completed two ‘JOurnal Your Christmas’ classes from Shimelle, and then last Christmas I completed a ‘December daily’ class from Ali Edwards.

This year I am doing a different sort of class, ‘Get organised for the holidays’ from www.simplify101.com, my new ‘online home’! Last week’s lesson was to make your holiday inspiration statement. That’s exactly what the page from day 4 of JYC above does! It captures my perfect Christmas!

Not sure of the exact wording yet, but my statement includes the words:

MAGIC, JOY, and LAUGHTER

One thing I have already done is cook the Christmas pudding. I am now in the process of finalising who is coming when, and then I need to start to plan food and drink, presents, decorations, and other activities.

This Christmas is ever so slightly complicated by the fact that Lucy turns 18 on 8th December (party on Saturday 12th) and Nicholas turns 21 on 27th December (we have yet to finalise his plans) eeeeeek! £££££££££££££££££s!

Thoughts on blogging

2009-11-08T12:07:00.001-08:00

I have spent quite a lot of time today reading the Shimelle’s forum on her blogging for scrapbookers class. It has made me think about why I blog, and how I see my blogging in the future.

I blog because:

I love writing diaries
I love taking pictures and uploading the ‘best’ ones to my blog to help tell the story and make my blog post more interesting
I love to document my everyday life so that I can enjoy looking back in years to come
I like keeping in touch through blogging (always my craft friends so far, maybe I will be brave enough one day to give the blog address to other friends
I like the fact it is hosted on the internet so that if my computer crashes i won’t lose it all
It helps me to remember stories that I want to scrapbook

But it doesn’t always work like that! I am pretty good at keeping up with my photo a day, and that includes a lot of everyday things. I do keep in touch with friends through blogging (see my sidebar on my photo blog)

I don’t keep this one up very much now that I am blogging a photo a day on my other blog. I would like to keep it for explaining what is uppermost in my mind at any one time, and for remembering stories that I want to scrapbook.

I would like to make it funnier (LOL) and alter the tone and attitude. I want to explore different styles of writing and recording and therefore make it more interesting, and to for my readers!

I would also like to learn some more technical stuff, like how to get a better background – I quite like the background on the other blog, but not this one! And I guess there are lots of technical things that I don’t even know exist! So I will try and keep up with the forum.

October 22nd

2009-10-22T12:14:00.001-07:00

OK tour of the bedroom time! Top picture is of the wardrobe. It is 1930s solid wood with ‘flame’ mahogany doors. It is a triple wardrobe, each section is like a coffin (!) and comes off the base once the top is taken off. It is a *** to move! But we’ve had it out on the landing for about 3 months! Moved it back in yesterday, at last! Now I need to sort out my clothes!

Second picture shows the new sink, and my chest of drawers. We will hang some pictures above that chest of drawers. The top needs 1 or 2 nice bold pieces, not the mish mash that’s on there LOL! This is DH’s side of the bed.

Third picture is my side of the bed. What a mess! The pine bedside cabinets really need to go, but not sure where to go to buy more. Our other ‘pieces’ of furniture came from a second hand furniture shop that isn’t there anymore. So we need new bedside cabinets and a cabinet for the little stereo. (I like to listen to a CD while reading in bed, and we wake to Radio 2 at 6.30am with the alarm setting). The big chest of drawers in front of the window is Maurice’s. I need a nice big mirror to go on top of it. The old dressing table has had to be dumped because it had woodworm!

My paper clutter

2009-08-21T11:54:00.001-07:00

I must tell you about my paper clutter course I have been doing on www.simplify101.com

It has been very enlightening! Here's my office clutter before, and then again after. I realised that my 'prime real estate' ie the first shelf was taken up with stuff that wasn't so important. So although most of the paper is the same it is better organised and labelled, and certainly looks a lot neater!

The course has been really good, and I recommend it to anyone. You get 6 weekly 'lessons' and there is a small forum where we have been encouraged to swap ideas. We have a daily thread where we tell what we have been doing in our 15mins alloted time per day! It has been a great motivator! So much so that I have signed up for another course, 'Organise101', to help me to organise my scrapbooking stash.

Craft room mess!

2009-08-17T12:05:00.000-07:00

I thought I would embarrass myself and show you how messy my dining room is at the moment! I have literally just dumped things in there, all over the table, the chairs and the floor! I have been sorting out my paper clutter and books upstairs in the little bedroom we use as a computer room/office, and thus this room has been severely neglected!

Maurice has gone on his holiday motorcycling in the Himalays today, and I have 2 weeks without him, Nicholas is away this week and then again the next weekend, and Lucy is away both weekends too! So I am going to empty this room bit by bit, and then put it all back NEATLY!!!! One of the problems is that while Nicholas was away I put most of my sewing stuff upstairs, which is all piled up by the window now. I cannot do any scrapping or card making atm, so I really must do it!

All my own photos CJ

2009-07-15T07:12:00.000-07:00

I have just received the most gorgeous circle journal home! It was an 'all my own photos' circle journal over on UKScrappers. It really is the most fabulous CJ I have ever received. Thanks girls!!!

I really do intend to properly finish this one, and will probably find out some historical facts to write in the journaling spots.

Special thanks then to Karen (enola05) for organising!

Pages and creators:

Pier - Me!
Palm Trees, view from pier and beach huts (all in fab flaps!) - Kate (secretscrapper)
Warners etc (more fabulous flaps!) - Gemma (craftygem)
Worthing Pier (even more flaps!!!) - Karen (enola05)
Seafront relections- Liz (jerseyscraps)
beach scenes- Dee (craftdee)
funfair - Arlene (dizzyscrapper)
Seafront hotel - Ally (AJ)
Seafront elegance -Jo (jo.Bee)
Pavilion theatre - Me (I put in too many pagesLOL!)
Beach - Caz (Caz890)

Busy weekend!

2009-06-29T03:29:00.000-07:00

Nicholas and I went up to London for the day on Saturday for the Anglo-Italian Family History Society AGM. I am the membership secretary, Nicholas is the webmaster. Here's a view out of the train window at East Croydon. It feels like you are approaching London once you get here. Up until then we travel through mostly green fields!

Our meeting was at the Mormon church near the museums, so we went into the science museum to get a friend's son a birthday present.

Then the V&A for lunch! We sat in the courtyard - it was gloriuos and we could have been anywhere in the world! Look at these lemons!!!

Here's the venue for the AGM. Unfortunately it was very poorly attended, only 7 of us!!!

And then we had to just nip into the Natural History museum and see the earth thingy! It's looking a bit tatty now. And it looks small! We remember this escalator as being really big!!! Must be about 10 years since we went there before!!! Then we stood on the mock up of the Kobe earthquake. Pathetic!!!

And finally at Victoria for our train home.

Sunday morning we went to church - to Nicholas's church because it was reopening after being refurbished inside. A lovely new limestone floor, removal of pews, a general freshen up and gorgeous new chairs. After the service they moved the chairs aside and prepared tables for a ploughman's lunch.

This banner has been made for the church recently, and it is much more gorgeous than you can see in this picture!

Mum came with us to church, then back home for a roast dinner, then for a little drive to practice my advanced driving. We then went to DB and SILs house for a cuppa and to see their new extension in the middle of being built.

Took Mum home and decided to take a pic of her kitchen before all her stuff goes back. Doesn't it look fab!

Our evening walk along the beach. Nicholas comandeered the camera, so here's some of me! On the beach, walking back from the beach, and checking the car over with Maurice in preparation for my next driving lesson on Monday.

Yet another busy weekend!

Walk with Nicholas, Lucy and Merlin

2009-06-26T09:50:00.000-07:00

Lucy was at a bit of aloose end this afternoon - no college, and her boyfriend Tom was working. So she suggested we went out for a drink! It was great! We walked with Merlin down to Marine Gardens cafe, and had an ice cream, cake and drink. Just like the old days! It is ages since we 4 went out like this. We used to do this all the time in the school holidays.

Sandown weekend

2009-06-24T04:40:00.000-07:00

I had a really fabulous weekend! Burn took freda and me away to a little cottage near the river Thames at Shepperton for the weekend, and we spent Saturday at the Quilt show at Sandown racecourse. It was a lovely venue, really light, airy and spacious. It was great to be 'showmn the ropes' by Burn and Freda, who have both been quilting for years. We did spend some time looking at the quilts, and I was particularly interested in the sea-scape quilts, to get some ideas for my sea scene hanging. We also walked along by the river, which was really trnaquil after our manic shop at Sandown! In the evening, we had a takeway chinese, and a show and tell! In order, the photos are Freda's, mine and Burn's. I am going to do another post with photos of the quilts.

craft room tidy up

2009-06-18T01:11:00.000-07:00

I have had another big tidy up! I use my dining room as my craft room, and it is usually in a terrible state! It has piles of stuff all over the floor and I can't see the table

!

Now at least I can see a good bit of working space! I finally got round to ordering a clip it up whirly thing. I hung all my alphabet stickers onto it, and am embarrassed to say that I have filled it up! At least now they are at my finger tips, and I will use them, especially all those old half finished ones! It's great!

I have ordered the piles on the floor a bit better. Just got 2 big boxes, one with Arrowfile inserts (I am still sorting photos!) and one with holiday bits and pieces over the years. They really need a proper resting place!

Mini book swap part 2

2009-06-16T09:16:00.000-07:00

And here's the minibook kit I received, now made into a book about summer 2001!

Mini book swap

2009-06-16T09:11:00.000-07:00

I received this gorgeous mini book in a UKScrappers swap this morning! It comes all the way from Bali!!! So thanks very very much Sue, it is really lovely - not sure that these photos really do it justice. The first photo shows the extras she sent with it, loads of ribbon, more die-cuts etc.

I love it! Just got to decide what to put in it, but my first thought is photos of me and Maurice when we first met. Might have to use scans though as we haven't got many photos from that time.

Driving

2009-06-11T13:17:00.000-07:00

I had another advanced driving lesson today. My instructor, Ron likes to take me deep into the country to the north of the town. We drive down some really tiny one track country lanes, gorgeous! He is really keen to tell me interesting facts about places, buildings and landmarks. I have shown a bit of interest, so he is doing it more! Today we drove to Arundel, and as we drove past the cathedral, we saw that the flower festival is on. I happened to mention that I haven't been to see it ever, so we parked up and went into the cathedral! Ron is like a tour guide, spouting interesting facts all the way!LOL

A funny little story is that I mentioned at my sewing class that he has taken me on some really lovely drives in the countryside. Fiona asked why would he want to take you there? nudge, nudge! Well, that particular afternoon, we drove over round some lovely little villages to the west, and he made me park the car, then he said, let's get out for a walk, there's something I want to show you round here!! Well, I had to suppress a giggle!!! What was it he wanted to show me?!? Actually it was a very interesting gravestone in Walburton church yard, which has the story of the death engraved as a picture on it. (It was a tree that fell on him!)

I wish I had taken my camera on these drives!

My driving is improving all the time, and Ron says I am ready for my test YIKES! I have now arranged to have a dummy test with another instructor next week. I must fill in the form for the test too.

Todays chat has also bought back lots of memories for myself and Maurice. The subject got onto my Dad and the fact that he had worked at Ricardo Engineering at Shoreham. Ron mentioned someone he had known at Ricardo, who was involved in the RAC/ACU training scheme years ago. Well, that was where Maurice and I met! It was a training scheme for novice

motorcyclists, and I went on (under Dad's instructions) when I had my first moped when I was 17. Maurice was a trainer.... need I say more..... (It was his big Triumph Trident motorbike that attracted me!) So walking the dog tonight we've been trying to remember who else was there!LOL Maurice can't remember Ron though.

Leaving work

2009-06-01T05:10:00.001-07:00

YAY! I left my cleaning job last week!!! I had a lovely evening last night - not having to worry about getting up this morning, or preparing all my stuff for this morning! We went for a lovely drive last night to practice my advanced driving. We went down some gorgeous country lanes north of the village of Ashington which came out by this gorgeous little country church! We then made our way to Amberley and had a drink in The Bridge. It was really busy!

When we got home we walked Merlin round the block, and bought a bottle of wine on the way home. It's quite a while since I had a drink on a Sunday night!!!

Today I got up slowly, had my cup of tea in bed, YAY! It is another absolutely beautiful day, so i walked Merlin along the beach - dipping my toes in the sea! I pottered around the kitchen and then helped Lucy revise for Biology exam this afternoon. Not sure how well she is going to do, she doesn't know the stuff well enough really!

Now I am on the computer doing AIFHS stuff, and making a very long list of things I want to do over the next few weeks. More on that later!

5 things about us

2009-05-20T03:08:00.000-07:00

Inspired by Ali Edwards again!

5 things about me;
counting down the days till I give up my cleaning job (next Thursday)
loving (and keeping up with) my Photo a day project
struggling with losing a bit of weight
reading David Bellamy's autobiography
crafting (esp scrapbooking) LOADS!

5 things about Maurice:
looking forward to his Himalayan adventure
has lovingly cleaned and polished the 'blingy' bike - Honda
is enjoying playing squash again
loves loads of vegetables with his dinner
has a job still atm (American Express are to make another 4000 redundant)

5 things about Nicholas
is taking 1st year exams at Bath uni
is staying on for an extra week to party!
will probably do some voluntary work in the summer - computer related
is probably looking forward to coming home for the summer
is willing to talk to me on MSN a lot!

5 things about Lucy
is taking A/S level exams at the moment
is on study leave - but not too much studying going on!
is driving everywhere in the little green Micra
working quite a lot at the Cricketers as a waitress
is looking forward to going to Spain in the summer with Tom.

driving, eating, scrapbooking!

2009-05-12T11:02:00.000-07:00

Well, my first advanced driving lesson has happened! I arrived at my instructors house, suprisingly nervous, and knocked on his door. He is exactly how you would imagine an member of the IAM to be, middle aged, ex police type, precise. When I went back to the car to wait for him, I noticed a drip coming from the bonnet, eeek! The car radiator is leaking!!! So, we decided to drive back here and pick up the Micra! Maurice said I should do the test in the Micra because it is manual and the Honda is automatic. So there I am crashing through the gears - trying to start off in third, not going into 5th when I should! Actually he said at the end that I impressed him with how I switched to manual having not realised it. I came away not really knowing what I have to do to improve my driving, but well aware of the IAM system, IPSGA! (Information, position, speed, gear, acceleration)

I spent the weekend scrapbooking. It was our Brighton crop on Saturday, and then Maurice was out all day on Sunday. It has been a while since I have been 'in the goove' for scrapbooking, but I think I am getting back there now. I just need a 'project' to do. My last project was our wedding album, and as my birthday photos hadn't turned up, I decided to do more to my A-Z of everyday things, and start a 2009 album. The 2009 album is going to have 1 DLO per month, it is going to be tricky to decide which photos to use and which to leave out!

Last night I went for 2 meals out - one after the other!!! Naomi at work (our student social worker) was leaving her placement so we went to a nice little Italian on Worthing seafront for the early bird dinner, £8.99 for 2 courses). It was great! I had meditterraean grilled veg for starter and then goats cheese salad for main. Naomi gave us all a little present! We each had a little bottle of nail varnish beautifully wrapped in pink with silver ribbon!

Maurices brother and wife are down for a visit from Scotland. So we arranged to take them out for a meal, yes last night! WE went to a little pub on the outskirts of Worthing. Trouble was it was a gut-buster type of menu - no salads! So I picked scampi and chips and I ate it all! Boy did I suffer though! It would have been oK if I had not eaten the (earlier) cheese or the chips! So I have had a nice long nap this afternoon! Probably won't be able to sleep tonight nowLOL

BH weekend

2009-05-05T05:19:00.001-07:00

We love a BH weekend! This time of year is great because May day comes soon after Easter, and then we have the late May one to look forward to as well! (Lucky my notice at work covers the month of May with 2 BH Mondays in it!)

We went to visit Nicholas at Bath on the Honda motorbike. It's about 2.75 hours each way. Oh my god it was cold! And oh my god did I get a numb bum!(Although why they call it a numb bum I don't know - it is actually quite painful!!) Here we at the university are setting off for home, and it rained a little bit! Maurice had spent all morning on Sunday polishing the copious amounts of chrome on his bike, only to get it slightly damp! Oh dear!

It can get very boring on the back of the bike, so to pass the time away I have made up loads of little challenges for myself, and might make an art journal to record them. A bit like my photo a day - but instead a challenge a week! 50 challenges this year as I am 50!

Big decision time!

2009-05-02T08:47:00.000-07:00

Lots of big decisions this week!And I have done things I have been putting off for ages!

On Monday I had a health check I had put off for about 2 years!

On Wednesday I handed my notice in as cleaner at Worthing Family Centre. I have been doing the early morning cleaning for 2.5 years, which is much longer than i anticipated when I took it on! I liked the hours (except that getting up before 6am is not too good - especially in the winter!) because I was home by 9.30am and the rest of the day is my own. I liked having a bit of money that was my own, to spend how I liked, and I have bought a lot of scrapbooking stash with it! But I also have loads of money left! I didn't like the way my hours had changed and going in on Wednesday and Thursday evenings.

What am I going to do now? Well there may be an opportunity to be a volunteer coordinator for the Family Centre in a couple fo months. I have been 'nibbling' at this as a volunteer myself for 6 months or so, but it is very frustrating as I only do about 2 hours per week, and I can't chase things up very well. I really hope it happens! It will be a 2 monring a week job, and PAID - not voluntary!

Also on Wednesday I went to the dentist and finally made a decision about my 'failing crown' on my front tooth! I am going to get it fixed cos it is really starting to bother me now. So I am going to have a bridge (an implant was another option, but cost £3k YIKES!) . I have an hour and a half appointment in July for the temp bridge to be fixed!

Finally, this morning I have been to have my eyes tested and ordered new more trendy glasses! Again, I have been putting off going for about 2 years! No problems with my eyes, just need slightly stronger lenses.

PHEW! I am exhausted now!

Uni friends/People photography

2009-04-27T07:42:00.000-07:00

We had a great afternoon with my old uni friends yesterday! I went to Sussex University as a mature student (10 years ago now!), and still keep in touch with the girls I made friends with. Essi came over from Finland for a few days with DH Markus, and son Tobias, and daughter Julia (little baby), so we decided to get together. WE made afternoon tea! So sandwiches, quiches etc. Jane bought scones and cream, and Sarah bought a carrot cake.

I tried taking some candid shots for my People Photography course. Here are some of the best. It is sooo challenging this course. It really is outside my comfort zone to take pics of people, and directing them for a photoshoot - well I find that nigh impossible! I just have no idea what to say to them!LOL
I bought Tobias (4) a Thomas the Tank Engine sticker book, and he sepnt ALL afternoon doing it, he really loved it!

Here's Jane doing what she does best, talk!

I think this might be the best technically. It is Roger, who is Markus's friend, who they are staying with in Brighton. He drove them over, nice chap!

But this is my favourite! Simon is soo gorgeous, photogenic and is a really nice chap! He is Sarah's husband. I love the way the light falls on his face.

CJ entry

2009-04-24T06:25:00.000-07:00

I must try and showcase a bit more of my crafting! I can't usually be bothered to photograph it. But I was so pleased with this, I have to show it to you! It's my entry in a CJ called'Take One Stamp'. Each CJ has one stamp that you have to use. This is a gorgeous Crafty Indiviuals stamp, that I decided to stamp with Versamark, then colour it with chalks. I don't use my chalks very often, in fact, hardly ever! First of all I chalked it all in pink, but then decided to try different colours, browns, mustard, and pink to highlight the butterfly. I have to say that I am really pleased with it! It is mounted on dark brown card, then onto a scrap of Prima paper that I had left over. It is a really dinky little CJ, only measuring about 6 x 4ins. Lovely!

Scrapbooking Holidays

2009-04-19T10:51:00.000-07:00

I have recently taken all my old photos out of those 'sticky' albums, and put them into archival albums from Arrowfile. I decided that I would keep all the holidyas seperate. I ordered 12 x 12 albums and a variety of page protectors from Arrowfile. I now have 6 albums full of our holidyas going right back to when we were first married! What I would like to do now is to sort each holiday into the right order, and scrap 1 or 2 pages per holiday. I have just found all the holiday diaries - I always keep quite detailed diaries when on holiday. Now I need to spend some time on each individual holiday!

This project is going to take a very long time!LOL I will update again soon

2009-04-15T12:36:00.000-07:00

Wow, we had such a fabulous time in Rome! It really was a whistle stop tour though!

Here is the inside of the Colluseum, completely different to how I imagined! I thought it would be grass inside. I guess all this would have been underneath the 'stage', where the killings and Galdiator fights took place. It really is HUGE!

The Pantheon. It is Soooo ancient. Unfortunately it was shut because of easter and we couldn't go in.

The fabulous Trevi fountain. Actually I was a little disappointed, it didn't seem as big as I had imagined! Maybe because there were so many people about.

A lot of the buildings were this gorgeous terracotta colour.

The Sapnish steps. It seemd that anybody who was anybody in Rome were on those steps on Easter Monday! Such stylish people. And mostly Italians, not very many Americans or Japonese.

This wonderful view is from above Piazza del Popolo. It is looking towards th vatican city (those high walls) and that large dome is St Peters Basillica

One of my favourite shots! Part of a fountain in Piazza del Popolo.

And the Colosseum! It is so big, and so much part of the city. Awesome!

I just love this, a photo of Maurice taking a photo of the church of San Giovanni en Laterano

Finally, we were pleased with ourselves becasue we mastered the public transport system! Not that hard I know! But quite a thing for us. This is the double decker train we caught from Fiumicino airport right to our hotel! (well 5 mins walk to it anyway)

Back with more tomorrow. I did take 252!!! (and I haven't deleted very many) So you will have to see some more.

WE are off to Rome!

2009-04-11T13:38:00.000-07:00

WE are off to Rome for a few days! My last and final 50th birthday celebration. We are catching th 8am flight from gatwick so nice early start, and coming home on Wednesday evening. So expect lots of photos!!

Happy Childhood

2009-04-08T03:13:00.000-07:00

We have swapped round the computers a bit here. I now have Dad's computer, because it is much better than mine. Nicholas has sorted it all out for me this week. What I wnat to tell you about though is the cine films I found on here! Dad had all the cine films converted to DVD a year or so back with the idea of editing them - he never did! But there are 4 hours of old cine film on this computer!!! They are absolutely wonderful - my 6th birthday, family weddings, beach holidays, relatives visiting etc. I am going to watch a bit every day. Most of the film dates back to the late 1960s early 1970s, and it is just fabulous to see us all so much younger and moving! Just wish I knew how to show you a bit(LOL) but then you really had to have been there to appreciate them!! Maurice and SIL Lynda used to hate it when we got the old cine films out! And of course we always had to watch the bit where we went down the slide off Weymouth pier into the sea backwards - several times!!!

Remembering Dad

2009-04-03T04:52:00.001-07:00

yesterday we had a man come to take away the big machine tools from Dad's garage. The garage was Dad's domain, none of us knew anything about the tools or what he did out there! He had a lathe, a milling machine, a bandsaw, a vertical drill etc. But that's what Dad did! He made some fantastic things for us and the grandchildren. I have a shaker style seat in the conservatory, and a bookcase in my bedroom. We have a doll's house which I have tried to decorate and furnish!! In the loft are a castle, a farm, a dolls bed and 2 desks! He also made a full size rocking horse for my brother's children.
As a child I can always remember Dad in his garage. We had a small garden with the garage in a compund, but it was at the back of our garden, so there was a door into it from the garden. He was out there EVERY night! His hands were always black with oil and grease! In those days he fixed cars, and did alot for the Austin 7 club. He machined the cylinder blocks for the engine for restored Austin 7s. He was involved in a record attempt in the late 1970s with Austin 7s round Goodwood circuit. (Andrew and Maurice went to reunion before Christmas - 30 year anniversary!) When I first bought a moped when I was 17, Dad rebuilt the engine! And then I bought a Suzuki 50cc trail bike which I blew up the engine, and he rebuilt that too!
It was the right time to clear the garage. Any sooner would have been more painful, but any later and the tools would have started to detierorate. But it did feel like a little bit more of Dad gone from our lives!

New challenges

2009-03-29T02:58:00.000-07:00

Now I am 50, I have decided I need new challenges.

I was thinking about a change of job. (I always intended to be a career girl, not a SAHM!) But it is hard to find anything right now with the economic slow down, and the job at the moment fits in very well with family and dog! I would need a part time job near home so that I could get home easily for Merlin. But I knew that when we decided to have Merlin, so I am not complaining. I will get a bit more challenge with my voluntary work at the Family Centre as the volunteer coordinator. I can probably do more than I am doing! (And this may lead to something else later on) I do quite like the cleaning, I like the fact I am finished work for the day by 9.30am, and that I am my own boss, and that I don't have to bring my job home with me!

So then I thought about a physical challenge. I quite fancy swimming. Trouble is, our local swimming pool is ancient and horrible! There are a couple of gymns locally with lovely pools but they are expensive! I would like to challenge myself to swim 50 lengths of our local pool by the end of the year. All I need to do is to find a quiet time in the pool once a week.

My main hobby is crafting, and I continue to challenge myself with new projects, always several on the go at once! I have recently completed several projects (our wedding album, 2008 album, and almost finished Scrap Your Day). I have a new CJ, and one half way through. I ought to look for a new challenge CJ, maybe a fabric one.

I love photography, and have signed up for another of Cheryl's online classes - this time people! I have a bit a mental block about taking pics of people. I feel embarrassed asking if I can take someone's photo. So that class will definately be challenging! Also I have just started 'Take a Photo a Day'. I am going to do that for the whole of the year I am 50. I think it will be achallenge to remember to do this, and then upload the photos! They are on my photo blog.

My newest challenge is to take my advanced driving test! Maurice is very keen that I do this. I am doing it in part because of him. There's been lots of talk about driving here over the last few months because of Lucy taking her test, and it has made me think about my driving. Sitting next to Lucy I realised that I anticipate alot more than I thought I did. But equally, I often drive out to Ferring in the mornings for a dog walk, and find myself somewhere completely different! I have driven on automatic pilot! So this will be a massive challenge - I don't overtake ever! So I have to learn how to do that. I have to learn to rectify my bad habits (not looking in the mirror enough), and to put up with Maurice's comments! (He has already comendeered my Advanced Driving book!)

Wish me luck!

OMG I am 50!

2009-03-26T04:33:00.001-07:00

Yesterday was my birthday and now I am 50! OMG I cannot believe it! half a century!

I have had an amazing lot of presents and the most gorgeous birthday cards! Thank you so much everyone!

We had a fab day. After opening presents in bed, Maurice made me a bacon and egg breakfast, then we took Merlin for a quick walk. I had a new macro lens for my camera so you will see lots of close ups from now on!LOL We then went to Mum's (she gave me a gorgeous sewing box), and we went to Nyman's garden for lunch mmmm! I took loads of photos with my new lens! Then back here, Lucy went to fetch Tom, and Andrew and Lynda came round for a drink and to give me a presnet (gorgeous earrings!). Then Lucy and TOm went to fetch an Indian takeaway YUM! I spent the evening watching tv, lying on the sofa, my favourite decadent waste of time!

Today I am having a quiet day looking at all my presents and cards, and want to sort out my sewing stuff later!

More Birthday celebrations!

2009-03-24T04:49:00.001-07:00

Here's some more photos from my fabulous birthday celebration!

Here's Andrew, my bro, with his wife Lynda.

Andrew and Sarah. Sarah is one of my 'Friday morning' friends. We met when the children were babies, some 20 years ago! Unfortunately, my other 'Friday morning' friend Angela couldn't make it. Angela and Sarah's husbands were best friends at school.

Stewart and Sue. Stewart is a 'biking' friend of Maurice's so I have known them both since I met Maurice (32 years!) Stewart was Maurice's best man. We didn't see them very much sfter our children were born, but are seeing them regularly for a Staurday night out now.

Sarah and David. Sarah was my best friend at school! So I have known her for 35 years!!! They have lived abroad for David's working life, but are now living back in the UK, not far, so we do meet for coffee, lunch and the occasional evening.

Nick and Claire. Nick worked with Maurice on the Y2K project at American Express. So we have known them for about 10 years. Their children are just getting old enough not to need a babysitter, so we have started meeting for a drink on some Friday nights!

Claire and Jacquie. These two are my NCT friends. Claire was a breastfeeding counsellor, and Jacquie trained to be an antenatal teacher with me. Our children are all similar ages.
Unfortunately, Jacquie's husband Andrew couldn't make it tonight.

Claire and Andy moved down here from Sheffield when the children were little, so we have known them for about 16 years. Our children are the same age and we have taken it in turns to host dinner parties over the years.

Michelle and Izzy, my 2 nieces. Thsi phot really captures their personalities! Michelle is the older and looks poised, Izzy has that cheeky smile!

Jacquie and Maurice. Nice photo this one!

Have you noticed something? There were 21 people there for dinner which included 3 Andrews, 2 Lindas (well a Linda and a Lynda!), 2 Sarahs, 2 Claires, and 2 Nicholas's!! (There would have been 3 Nicholas's if Anglea and Nick had been there!)

None of our friends know each other (except Claire and Jacquie), but you wouldn't have known that on the evening! They all got on very well. There turned out to be quite a few connections, for example, Sue worked with sarah briefly 30 years ago! Andrew S knew Sarah L's Dad, cos they played cricket together, adn Sarah L's Dad worked with Sue!!!

What a great night! So glad we did it!

Let the birthday celebrations begin!

2009-03-23T07:02:00.000-07:00

It's not my birthday until Wednesday, but we had a big celebratory dinner on Saturday evening at the Black Horse pub in Findon. I invited close family and friends, 21 of us in total!

Here's a few photos:
Here I am with Nicholas and Mum.

Me with Mum and my brother Andrew

Me with Lucy and Tom

Lucy bought this balloon and drove up to the pub on Sat afternoon with it and a birthday cake that her and Tom had made as a suprise!

Here I am at the end of the evening with Maurice!

Lots more photos to come - will upload again tomorrow.

woohoo!

2009-03-18T04:46:00.000-07:00

Lucy passed her driving test yesterday! First time and only 3 months of lessons! Clever girl! Here she is ripping the L plates off - we won't see her for dust now.....

She treated me and Tom to lunch at 'Food' restaurant - mmm lovely. They do a very nice excellent value lunch for £5. I think I will take Angela and Sarah there next week.

Then at 5pm, Lucy came with me to have coffee and cakes with the girls from work. We went to a little Lebanese cafe called The Levant near work. Gorgeous cakes, and we had non-alcoholic cocktails, mmmmmm! Very refreshing! They bought me a helium balloon, and a gorgeous necklace.

After tea, we went to the Black Horse to give in the menu for Saturday, and have a celebratory drink. What a fabulous day!

This is why I went back for my camera this morning! The weather is so gorgeous at the moment, and the blossom is well and truly out! These blossoms are in neighbours gardens, and make a really gorgeous scent as you walk along.

Another attempt at a daffodil! Quite pleased with this one. I took pains not to get another one too close. And I focussed on the middle.

Fianlly, this is what it was like down the beach this morning. Look at that blue sky!

Foggy to sunny

2009-03-16T04:41:00.000-07:00

First of all, here's a better picture of a daffodil called Jetfire. I have a little clump of them in my front garden. I love the darker yellow centre!

When I went to work at 6am this morning it was really light (hurrah!) and no fog, but I could see a grey line in the distance. After about half an hour a really thick blanket of fog came down! I guess it's because it is a bit warmer these last few days. The fog was burning off as I walked the dog, but I tried to take a few photos.

Yesterday was the most glorious day! Gorgeous sunshine and quite warm too! We had a lovely walk along the beach. I do love these little wavelets at low tide. And here's Merlin trying to find a stone in the pool at the end of the breakwater! He loves these pools and always goes in, sometimes they are quite deep, and catch him out!

Spring has sprung!

2009-03-10T03:58:00.001-07:00

First of all, my lovely bunch of daffoldils. I would so love to take a really good photo of a daffodil, but I find it really hard to get the focussing right! I shall practice again this year! They are soooo cheerful though aren't they? I love having a big bunch like this in the kitchen.

We went for a short dog walk on the downs at the back of Sompting on Sunday morning with MUm. Look at all the little baby lambs! They were very young and very gorgeous! We had to keep Merlin strictly on the lead.

Finally a couple of photos from my garden. I love this heelebore - just look at the markings! And the polyanthus are in a pot just outside the back door.

16 things about me

2009-02-27T02:11:00.000-08:00

I read this on Ali Edward's blog recently and thought I would have a go! I have been thinking about what to write while out on my dog walk! Here's the latest picture of me, ice skating! Lucy and I went iceskating last Tuesday on Worthing's very own temporary ice rink! It was great fun. And we had a gorgeous lunch afterwards - quality time with DD, fab!

So here are 16 things about me right now:

1. I have been very happily married for over 30 years! YIKES!
2. we have 2 fab kids - Right now I am just loving watching them turn into independent young adults.
3. The dog is being annoying right now! Spring is very definately in the air with him, and he is a bit of a nightmare out on a walk - he pulls soooo hard!
4. I am still cleaning and volunteering. Right now I do Mon - Wed early mornings, then Wed evening for a 'quick clean', Thurs pm is volunteering, then stay on till 8pm cleaning. Fridays off!
5. I am loving scrapbooking best of all out of my hobbies.
6. I am looking for a new challenge for this year.
7. I am spending too much time on the computer!
8. I completed my first quilt and now am in limbo not knowing what to make next!
9. I still have coffee on a Friday morning with my 'best mates' Angela and Sarah, but we don't manage every Friday these days.
10. I am spending quite a lot of time with Mum, and still worry about her far too much!
11. I have made time for a bit of family history this year, and am beginning to research my paternal grandmother's family.
12. I did get out my old cross stitch again the other day to finish it as a priority, but haven't doen very much yet!
13. We are going to Rome at Easter to celebrate my 50th birthday.
14. I have organised a dinner at the Black Horse at Findon for 24 friends and family to celebrate my 50th birthday.
15. I do eat quite healthily, abeit a bit too much! (Really want to lose 7lbs before my birthday)
16. Right now I am very happy!

Nicholas

2009-02-23T03:40:00.001-08:00

Nicholas came home for the weekend. I have just dropped him off at Worthing station for his journay back to Bath. I can't believe how excited I get when he comes home!

Nicholas always says he misses Merlin more than us, and he certainly spends loads of time playing with M when he is here! I bet Merlin misses Nicholas too!

It was absolutely gorgeous on Saturday, so we took Nicholas for lunch at the Cricketers - the pub where Lucy works as a waitress - and then a very long walk on the beach right along to the pier. As it was a beautiful sunny day we all took our cameras and took loads of photos. Here's Maurice and Nicholas foing 'artyfarty', and Worthing pier reflected in the pools of water on the sand. And finally, my attempt at 'artyfarty' with the pier structure.

The garden is awakening -slowly!

2009-02-17T06:53:00.000-08:00

Just these last couple of days, there has been a definate change in the air, a smell of spring! The mornings and evenings are rapidly getting lighter too. So I went out with my camera to see what I could find in flower - not much I am afraid, but some snowdrops and a mahonia bush.

Of course Merlin always has to come out in the garden with me to see what is going on!

Last autumn, Mum came over once a week, and we did lots of gardening together. We have made quite an impact on the lower garden, but it has been too wet, too cold or too snowy lately to do anymore!

Here's my garden last week!! That's not a pond, that's a humungous puddle!!

My favourite snow pics

2009-02-06T02:36:00.001-08:00

A little tiny snowman on the beach! Don't often see the beach this colour! LOL

I just loved this bare Christmas tree decorated with rope found on the beach! Jenni has suggested suing it as this year's Christmas card, what a fabulous idea!LOL

This gorgeous snowman was about 6 feet high and was built in Marine Gardens on the pitch and putt course! Love him!

Snow day!

2009-02-02T08:40:00.000-08:00

Loads of snow today! We woke up to an overnight snowfall of about 2 inches, which is a an awful lot for us! I cycled to work, Ok in the fresh crunchy snow! And as it got light a magical winter wonderland unfurled! Gorgeous!! I walked my bike a fair bit of the way home because the snow by then had been crushed to ice by loads of tramping feet! Maurice was at home,- he couldn't get to work (transport completely up the spout), and Lucy was excited! During the day the snow mostly melted, but as it is getting dark it is beginning to freeze. It will be like a skating rink in the morning. Another casualty of the weather is my sewing class tomorrow. it has been cancelled, even though we are supposed to be making a snow scene picture LOL! I have more photos in my camera from our walk down the beach this afternoon, but here's Merlin doing his snow dog angel in the back garden!

Barack Obama

2009-01-20T03:00:00.000-08:00

I am not really very interested in world affairs or politics. But as today is the inauguration of Barack Obama, America's first black president, I thought I would have a picture of him here. He is under tremendous pressure! He is a very popular choice all around the world, and there are some very tricky world affirs for him to deal with, the Israeli/Palestinian recent fighting in the Gaza strip, Afghanistan (where we seem to lose another British soldier each week)and not least the current economic problems! Wow I do hope he can live up to expectations.

Good Luck Barack Obama. ( PS - what a funny name, Barack?)

PPS and isn't he insanely good looking?

Chocolate

2009-01-14T03:31:00.000-08:00

Am I a chocolate lover? Not really. Well I do like it and if it's there it gets eaten, but I don't buy it very often.

Last night we finished up all (well most) of the chocolate we had over Christmas. Mum bought us a tin of Quality Street (mmm love the purple and green ones best!) Maurice bought me 3 (yes 3! I thought perhpas it was 3 for the price of 2 whhen I opened them) for Christmas! Maurice's dad alwasy used to buy me some at Christmas, and I was feeling nostaglic for them! I love the nutty bit around the outside, and the soft bit inside, all of it really! And then I always think that the container will be useful for something - but I have yet to find that something LOL. Maurice still has a half finshed box of liquers, I am not so keen on them.

We also finished off the Christmas cake. I made 2 this year, because I followed a Waitrose recipe, and there was too much mixture for 1 tin! It was the best cake I have ever made! I didn't ice it until the weekend after New Year, and guess what, between us 3 (me, Lucy and Maurice) we have eaten both already!!!

Now I need to work hard to loose the half a stone or so I seem to have put on over Christmas. Think I will go and make a veggie soup for lunch!

How cold?

2009-01-11T03:28:00.000-08:00

Here are some photos I have been taking over the past week. It has been cold for quite a while now, below freezing temperatures overnight (one night it was -6!), and only just creeping aboe 0 in the day. But it has been lovely and bright most days!

SIMPLIFY

2009-01-05T03:16:00.000-08:00

Some thought on my word for the year.

I intend to look at all areas of my life and try to simplify them.

First thoughts are: How to save time so I can craft more? Simplifying laundry routines and shopping routines will be a good place to start. I will try not to iron so much, taking things out of the tumble drier and folding works well enough, and noone seems to mind if they haven't got perfectly ironed clothes. I will try and get back into the routine of internet food shopping (in fact I ought to do that right now!) I have begun to simplify my craft stash by selling loads of old stuff I won't use anymore (got £25 at B&H crop on Saturday). This will enable me to see the newer stash and start to use it! I have loads of kits that I haven't even opened. I need to cancel the sub to the kit I get, cancel the sub to a card making mag I don't even like! buy less magazines! (Look at websites for inspiration instead)

Maurice has decided his word will be SURVIVE! This includes survive at work (ie not be made redundant) and on his holiday big trip to the Himalayas.

Nicholas has decided on LEARN. He did consider CHALLENGE, but thinks that last year was his challenge year, this year is more about consolidating change.

When we asked Lucy, she said her word would be BUM! Then when we explained more, she said SEX! Oh to be a teenager eh? I think her word should be FUN. And I will try to enable her to have lots of it!

Happy New Year!

2009-01-01T06:38:00.000-08:00

Oh here we are tumbling into 2009, no where near ready for another new year! We stayed in last night, just the 3 of us, (Lucy was off partying!!). We watched Narnia with Nicholas. Very enjoyable film. Made me think about betrayal etc, and maybe I should look into an Alpha course this year.

I haven't had time to sit down and think about my goals for 2009. I have decided to have a go at setting myself SMART goals in certain areas of my life. The idea came from Maurice's nephew's partner Angela. I have also picked a WORD for 2009 (see Ali Edward's blog). I have finally settled on SIMPLIFY, after considering FOCUS and JOY. Why SIMPLIFY? I just think that if I simplify things in my life I will be able to think more clearly, and thus get less distracted (hence why I considered FOCUS), and I want to be able to see the JOY in everything, which will be easier if I can see more clearly.

I have already started to simplify, by simplifying the way I use my computer. I still want to read blogs, and I have expanded and updated my list of blogs here. Nicholas has just showed me how to use the RSS feed facility in outlook, so I will use that for a couple of blogs (Robert Peston on the BBC) and see how I get on with it. It sounds great, especially as it just automatically downloads the latest entry, whereas with my links I have to click on them and download the actual blog to see if there is a new entry.

Just off to sort out my huge pile of scrapbooking stuff, and figure out my priorities (PRIORITISE could have been another word for me!) for projects in 2009. I also have a few online classes that I didn't do last year, so I must do them, but using material from the projects I want to do.

HAPPY NEW YEAR to you all!

Boxing day swim 2008

2008-12-26T11:06:00.000-08:00

It was freezing!!! The temperature was much lower today, and nasty biting easterly wind got up! Plus it was high tide and a bit rough! But we braved the elements, and went in. We all had to stand behind a red tape, and count down from 30seconds before 11am. It was a fabulous atmosphere! We just ran in, and the waves broke over us, and then we ran out again! it was all over so quickly I didn't have time to feel cold. Some kind person near us had bottles of hot water which he tipped over Lucy and my brother. You should have heard the squeals of delight! We all had a hot coffee and wrapped ourselves in towels and dressing gowns afterwards. it was great! Thank you so much for sposoring me, between myself, Lucy and my brother and his girls we think we have raised about £400!! Fantastic!

This is the sea that we went into!
Nicholas, Mum, Lucy and myself just arriving, BRRR!
We had t shirts printed with dad's name
Thant's me with the santa hat!

Countdown!
off we go! That's me with the santa hat in the middle
Just come out, you can see that I ma wet up to my middle!
Lucy enjoying a hot water shower!
Lucy, me, my brother and his 2 girls

Boxing day swim

2008-12-16T06:02:00.000-08:00

OMG I must be mad! I am doing the Boxing day swim again this year. I did it 2 years ago, and thought I would never do it again, but I have volunteered this year in memory of my Dad! The annual boxing day swim is a fabulous fun event that takes place at Splash Point in Worthing, come rain, shine, wind, frost etc! It is in aid of the CT scanner appeal for Worthing Hospital. My Dad had fabulous treatment there throughout his 11 years of cancer. So this is a small way of saying THANK YOU to the hospital.

To sponsor me please visit:

http://www.justgiving.com/lindapierce

THANKYOU!!!!

December diary days 2 - 4

2008-12-04T13:33:00.000-08:00

OOpps! Having said I will do a December diary I have forgotten to do days 2 -4! But I have doen 2 and 3 in my real life book. I'll take some photos tomorrow and upload them.

Day 2 was Tuesday, and I took Mum shopping to brighton. Managed to buy some seriously BIG pressies (Shhhhh secret!) so I am dead chuffed! Mum bought part of my present - a rotary cutter. Just need a ruler and a cutting mat now.

Day 3 was Wednesday, and I spent a while finishing off the prep of my December diary as per Ali Edwards. http://aliedwards.typepad.com/ The idea is to have the pages made so you just have to add photos and journaling each day. I then spent the evening wrapping advent presensts for the kids. I have taken part in the UKScrappers advent swap this year and decided to include the kids! So they each have a present to open each day up until 24th. It's instead of buying lots of little presents at Christmas. Kind of spreads it out! Me and Lucy have loved opening presents together each day! I posted days 1 - 12 to Nicholas so he can open them at university. I still need to buy a couple more - must try and do that early next week. Also want to get cards sent soon.

Day 4 is Thursday - today. I have been rushing around a bit today so not done very much towards Christmas except sew angels at my quilting group this morning. My idea is to give friends an angel this year to hang on their trees!

December diary - day 1

2008-12-01T04:15:00.000-08:00

It's Christmas Journal time again! This year I am going to do a combination of Shimelle's class and Ali Edwards December diary. I need to make my book today, so I can just write, stick in photos and embellies!

Here's my 'don't forget' page from last year. I haqve been ppretty good. I admit I am not particularly organised with presents, but have made a start. I don't need to think too hard about food this year cos I'm not cooking Christmas dinner! (yipee!) I WILL sort out the decorations and throw out those we don't use anymore. I have made plenty of simple cards, and am pleased with them, but have had to supplement with bought ones. I must buy a new Christmas CD though!

Here's the manifesto from Shimelle's class.

Starting today, December first, I will keep a Christmas journal. In it, I will write
something every day to reflect on the holidays of my past, enjoy the holidays of
the present and dream about the holidays of the future. To some, this would be a
stack of papers and trivial scribbles, but not to me. I am taking back my Christmas, I am letting it be something I relish and most importantly I am giving at least fifteen minutes to myself, every day, no matter how crazy this season becomes. This Christmas I will make something with my own hands, my own words and my own memories.

My first entry is going to be what I have already done in preparation for Christmas. Actually it's quite a bit!

Made over 40 cards

bought Michelle and Izzy's presents

bought wrapping paper (cheap from Asda and expensive from M&S)

organised delivery date for Christmas tree (nice man from the pet shop called to book a date!)

organised what Mum will do on Christmas day

advent swap on Ukscrappers (what fun!)

started to buy and wrapped presents fro Nicholas and Lucy for the month of December (needs completing!)

ordered presnts for Maurice

ordered BG wassail papers! (for my Dec diary)

taken and ordered photos for Brighton and Hove crop to do Christmas LOs

made 2 Christmas cakes

Thanksgiving last day

2008-12-01T03:08:00.000-08:00

This is my last post on this topic! Yesterday I was thankful for Lucy and her boyfriend Tom, who together cooked us the most yummiest roast dinner! We had Mum over so I cleared the dining room and we ate at the proper dining room table. It was really lovely!

I have so enjoyed doing this thread! Thank you for reading it! It has made me feel much more positive and happy, and I hope it has done the same to all of you even though some of you are going through very tough times. In fact, I was watching The One Show last week, and they were doing a little article about stress, and got this rather depressed, pessimistic man to complete a 'happiness diary'. He had to think of 3 good things each day and write them down. He had terrible trouble at first, but got better at it over the month and found his outlook on life really changed!!! I think I might do that in january, which can be a rather depressing month.

Thanksguvung day 29

2008-11-29T00:38:00.001-08:00

Today I am thankful for M&S custoner service! I bought 3 rolls of expensive wrapping paper last Friday, and left them there! Yesterday I went in on the offchance, and the assistant found them straight away, there waiting for me! And we watched the lovely girls in the cafe dealing with a poor old lady who was very confused and frail! They were so gentle with her. Toot toot for M&S!

Thanksgiving day 28

2008-11-28T02:12:00.000-08:00

Today I am grateful for my 'real life' friends. I have loads of 'cyber' friends that I talk to every day more of less, but these are my real life friends that I drink coffee and eat lunch with! This morning I am off to Angela's for coffee with her and Sarah. I met Angela at a mother and baby group shortly after Nicholas was born, so that's nearly 20 years ago! We were only at the m&b group until the babies were 8 months, so met at each others houses, on a Friday afternoon. That changed to a Friday morning once the children were at nursery school, so we could actually talk! The group diminished over the years as people moved away etc, and Sarah joined us as she and Angela were already friends through theur husbands. We don't meet every week now. Maybe once every 2 or 3 weeks on average, usually at one of our houses, but occasionally out for lunch or coffee. We have been through each others ups and downs and provide each other with enormous love and support.

Later on I am going to meet another set of friends for lunch. These friends also date back to when Nicholas was a baby. We used to meet as a postnatal NCT group. We all lived locally and met once a week at one of our houses, ably organised by Denise. WE didn't see much of each ohter for while when the children were at middle school, but we now meet up once a month for lunch at Tides restaurant in Goring. We've also been through everyone's ups and downs, including 'empty nest' syndrome, now our children are going off to university!

I love the fact that I have such a diverse set of friends. I don't have a particular 'best-mate', but do have lots of people I can talk to and go out with. Not only do I have the friends I made when I first had Nicholas, but new friends I am making now through my crafting, both scrapbooking and sewing.

2008-11-27T00:29:00.000-08:00

Today is thanksgiving day in USA. Later on today I might do another entry here about the origins and traditions of it, but just now, I want to do my big thankyou that I have been saving until today. Today I am grateful for my close family, Maurice and the kids! What would I be without them?

Here's the latest photo of Nicholas that I took at Bath a couple of weeks ago. Am I proud of him??? He has settled into university life so well, and is joining in with so many things, many more than we had hoped! He has a fabulous social life with lots of different groups of friends, and is really happy! I don't think the work has been particularly challenging this term, but maybe that's a good thing- he has had time ot settle in nicely. (That's Maurice and my Mum in the picture at the Roman baths. My mum is really small, so M and N are bending their knees LOL) I am really looking forward to meeting Nicholas in London on saturday. We're going to have lunch at the science museum, then onto a AIFHS meeting at Andy's office.

I think this is the latest one of Lucy that I have taken. This is where Lucy can often be found when she's at home! She has purloined the family laptop, and it is more of less permanently in her bedroom! I am so proud of Lucy, she has settled into 6th form college really well, has made new friends, and is enjoying the new subjects (pyschology and sociology) I am really proud of her achievements in volleyball, England u16 champions, and although she is not England standard, I love that she has a really good attitude to winning or losing, and will continue to play socially. I am proud of her relationship with her boyfriend. They seem to be really good friends, and never argue. She is coming through the teenage years and really blossoming!

And here we are as a family! We don't have many shots like this, maybe I will take another one this year. I think we took this about 3 years ago for a Christmas card! I am so looking forward to spending some time all together over the Christmas period!

Thanksgiving day 26

2008-11-26T03:42:00.000-08:00

Radio2! I love listening to radio 2, so today am grateful for the DJs, my faves are Terry Wogan in the morning, love his quirky sense of humour, especially the Janet and John thing! (JUst ordered a CD for Children in Need - also Bandaged!) I quite like Jeremy Vine at dinner time, I do enhoy the phone ins and hearing all different opinions about the news topics of the day and other less serious topics. I love the popmaster quiz on Ken Bruce's show . I also love Chris Evans - drivetime- love his upbeat excitement! Fave bit is where the children ring in to say what they've done for the first time today! But my absolute favourite are Stewart McConie and Mark Radcliffe in the evenings. Love em! Especially the music they play, so cool! I can often be found in my craft room listening to them while I craft! Consequently I don't watch much telly anymore! I am very choosy about what I watch - recently I have enjoyed Stephen Fry's trip round America where he visited every state, and found some really quirky people! Also anything with Charley Boorman, YUM!

Edited to say that the Bandaged CD arrived, and that Ken Bruce DWYT is incredibly funny! maurice loved it too! It's probably the only track we will listen to LOL!

It is Thanksgiving Day tomorrow, so I think I will write an extra special thankyou. Watch this space!

Thanksgiving day 25

2008-11-25T10:26:00.000-08:00

Gosh! Less than 1 week to go now.

Not sure if I've said thanks for my dog yet LOL!!! Here he is - I think a few cute pics will say all I want

Thanksgiving day 23 and 24

2008-11-24T04:57:00.000-08:00

OK I'm taking 2 days to be thankful for this! I am so grateful to Shimelle, who ran 'Everyone has a story' workshop yesterday in Gosport. I have always been inspired in my scrapbooking by Shimelle, both in magazines, books and online, so to have the opportunity to got to a workshop and meet her in real life was just amazing! (Bit star struck really!!!)

We had a fabulous day. Thanks to Sue from Gosport who organised it, fabulous venue, so spacious and light. And thanks to my new pal Helen, with whom I car shared. We didn't stop talking all day long, and I hope to meet up with her in the new year to continue with the project together.

I have loads of inspiration to take away from the workshop! I will use different size photos in my scrapbooking from now on, and will do more journaling!

Look at all this lovely food! We had to take a dish that meant something in our lives, and the stories were really interesting! There was literally tons of gorgeous foods, soup (YUM) sausage rolls, nibbles, salads, quiches, gateaux, cakes, cream etc. Thanks to everyone for providing!

Here's Shimelle in full flow! I think she was explaining about writing down that you intend to carry on with this project at this point.

And here I am 'starstruck'!!! LOL Seriously though, Shimelle really is a very nice person, and a fabby teacher.

Thanksgiving day 22

2008-11-22T02:23:00.000-08:00

Last night we went to a glitzy awards dinner for Sussex Sports partnership. So today I am grateful for the superb way it was organised! It really was good - not too boring (LOL) as all the speakers kept to time! So lovely and so important to recognise all those volunteers who run the little sports clubs that are everywhere!

It was a lovely venue, beautifully decorated, and the food and wine were good too! The only tiny downside was that Lucy's team didn't win and that the music for the disco was too loud! Why do they have such loud music that you can't talk? Maurice and Andrew knew one of the orgaisers as they used to work with her. A great job they can be proud of!

Thanksgiving day 21

2008-11-21T04:16:00.000-08:00

Today I am thankful for Fridays!!! WOOHOO no work today! I work Thursday evening so I cna have Friday off, so a bit of a lie in and plenty of time to myself!!

I have just this week changed my hours a little bit. I am now cleaning Mon-Wed 6.15-9.15, then a quick clean Wed evening, don't go in Thursday morning, but do 5-8pm Thursday evening. U changed becayse it's dirtiest on Thursdays and I was just doing a quick clean then, and I am doing a little volunteering course on Thursday lunchtimes.

The course is being run for ex-users of the family centre who would like to be involved as a volunteer, and I am participating in this one, with a view to runnning it myself later on! So far, so good, there's 4 of us atm, so a nice little group.

Thanksgiving day 20

2008-11-20T07:48:00.000-08:00

Today I am grateful for my wonderful box of organic vegetables that is delivered right to my door every Wednesday! Maurice and I eat them nearly all between us, and it's a box for 4 people!! Think how healthy we must be now.

We are eating more and more veg and fruit. I am sure that our diet is getting better as we get older. Even Nicholas who isn't a great veg lover is having veg every night with his tea, unlike some of his fellow students! Lucy and Tom don't eat enough veg though. Tom is quite fussy really.

This should help with losing weight! I am about 7lbs over my goal weight which I attained this time last year. Not bad really, but I am really struggling to get the motivation to lose that small amount of weight!

Thanksgiving day 19

2008-11-19T03:23:00.000-08:00

Today I am thankful for Durrington High School, and especially the head teacher, Mrs Sue Marooney! We were at the presentation evening last night, and I am pleased to say that Lucy got the attainment awards for PE and Food Tech! Well done Lucy! Sue M has really turned the school around over the last 5 years. I was a govenor there for a couple of years, and was involved at a very exciting time of change, a huge management shake-up in fact! Here's a WOOHOO for Sue and her excellent management team for such a great school, let's see it go from improving to outstanding in the next OFSTED!!!

2008-11-18T01:41:00.000-08:00

Today I am thankful for my Crawley crop! It's a real joy - we laugh so much - all the way up in the car with Burn, then when we get there! And we made a fabby little Jacob's ladder last night courtesy of Burn!! WOOHOO Zoe if you're reading this!!

Going backwards:

Yesterday I was thankful for the big M&S store over at Shoreham! I had a bit of a spend-up, and bought a fabby lbd for Lucy's award dinner on Friday, beautiful Per Una shoes, another pair of shoes, slippers, 2 prs brown trousers and a top I can wear on Chrsitmas day. The racks were jammed packed full of clothes in all the sizes.

Sunday I was thankful for a quiet day in! Spent more time sorting and printing photos for Shimelle's class next Sunday.

Saturday I was thankful that Nicholas has gone to uni in such a beautiful city - Bath! We had a fabulous day with him, and went round the Roman Baths, awesome! It's amazing to think they are over 2000 years old, and that the main pool's lead lining is still the original, and that the water in there fell as rain over 10,000 years ago!!!

Off to a quilting course to make Christmas bits, bbl!

Thanksgiving day 14

2008-11-14T04:44:00.001-08:00

Today I am thankful for all the time saving gadgets we have in the house! Particularly the dishwasher and washing machine. Both were on this morning as I left the house to go out for coffee with Claire. Having the tumble dryer break down recently makes me realise just how lucky we are these days to have these gadgets. And boy do we take them for granted!

Thanksgiving day 13

2008-11-13T06:06:00.000-08:00

Today I am thankful for Lucy's volleyball teacher. She is extremely hardworking, and is always driving them to volleyball matches plus all the training out of school hours! She has now put the team forward for the Sussex young sports team of the year award, and we are all going for a posh evening at the Hotel Metropole in Brighton next Friday! WOOOHOOO!