Highdown, DH's birthday nad dilemma cont'd

I took Merlin up to Highdown this morning, and took my camera. It was quite a murky morning, not sunny at all although quite warm and humid. Here are some of the photos I took.

This is from the 'middle' walk back to the car, looking up at the ring on top of highdown, which was once a medieval fort. I walk round it every time I go up there, and marvel at the sense of history. The grass is really long now, and absolutely full of wild flowers. This is a scabious I think, and look, it's got a bee on it!
This is just the most fab picture of Merlin. It has really captured his lovely expression. I've altered the colour and brightness a bit hope I haven't made it too green! He had a wonderful time this morning running through the long grass. He is always so exhuberent, it is hard to feel down when you are with him!







There are quite a lot of orchids in the long grass, but they are beginning to go over now.



















Today is DH's birthday. He is 51, born the day after Mum and Dad got married! He doesn't really 'do' birthdays, which is a shame, because my family like doing birthdays! One of the many little differences between our families. His mum has however, given him a cheque for £50. (She won't do that for me, or the children!!) I bought him the DVD of The Long Way Round, because we didn't see the tv series, although we both read the book. One thing DH decided to do a few years agao was to buy the children an 'unbirthday' present on his birthday because they are both December birthdays. They have planned for this 'unbirthday' present for months before usually!! This year, DD has had so much she isn't getting a specific present, but DS (and me) would like a new laptop, so we have been campaigning for it for a few weeks! DH is not keen to spend that much money and would rather buy DS something not connected to computers. I'd love a new laptop so I can have it downstairs or out in the summerhouse! We felt we did make a little headway yesterday when we went out for lunch and got DD to back us up as to how useless the old laptop is!! We'll see, watch this space!

The Volleyball dilemma continues - DB and SIL came round yesterday, and want Lucy to go so that we can take thier DD up to Oxford where the vb training is. They go away on the Thursday, so we've said their DD can stay with us until the weekend, and that we'll get her to the airport on the Monday. Our DD is feeling very pressurised now, her cousin really wants her to go so that she has got someone to go with, and is pleading with her quite passionately!! I feel a bit annoyed that they are pressurising my DD so much. (There is always a bit of tesion between me and DB anyway!!). The cousins have vb training at school tonight, so they will be able to talk some more. I've told DD not to make up her mind completely yet, sleep on it for another couple of nights. I'm very tempted to say to DB that we will take his DD to Oxford whether Lucy goes or not - it takes the pressure off Lucy, and enables them to organise the flight for Monday etc.

On a much more happy note - I have booked Merlin in to kennels for a couple of nights while Lucy is in France, and DS is away, and just me and DH are going away for 2 nights. Don't know where yet, probably b&b, devon dorset way on the mototrbike.

Parham garden weekend

I took Mum and Dad to Parham garden weekend today. The weather was absolutely glorious. It is a small stately home nearby, with gorgeous gardens. Today the garden was full of nurseries selling their plants. It was so colourful! This is Mum and Dad standing with some of our purchases.

This is a general picture, and my friend Sarah and her mum are in the back! This was a lovely stand. I particularly liked the yellow kniphofia with the red crocosmia.


And here's what I bought! A reddy ornage echinacea, a really bright orange helenium, a yellow kniphofia and 2 ferns that will grow in my (very) dry shade. I bought Mum and Dad an echinacea too as it is their wedding anniversary tomorrow. (51 years!)

dilemma continued

Well, I felt sick all day yesterday worrying about this. (I really don't have enough to do and think about do I?) I did tell my friend when I dropped DD off. I felt awful, becasue I didn't really have the time to discuss it properly, but I knew she had to be told straight away. It turns out they are not going far from Cherbourg, and it would be possible to book a ferry on the Monday from Portsmouth at 8am. DD has decided that she wants to go on holiday with them and miss the vb training. I think that is the right thing to do, but I'm worried that I'm not taking the vb training seriously enough. My brother's DD has been picked as well, and they are going to Spain on 2nd Aug. They really want ther to do the training, becasue they think it's a once in a lifetime opportunity. (I'm sure there will be other chances!!) At least now having discussed it with my friend I feel better.

DILEMMA

Oh bringing up teenagers is sooooo hard! Not had a very good week with dd (14) this week. She has been out every night which doesn't help, she is stroppy, cheeky, rude, insolent..... (just like me when I was that age!!!)

Anyway, a couple of weeks ago, a friend asked me if DD would go on holiday with them to France. They have a DD the same age, and they both get on really well together. I agonised quite a lot, but in the end said yes. They booked the holiday last week for the w/c 5th Aug.

DD got some really exciting news yesterday, she has been picked for an England training camp for volleyball under 14s. YOOHOO! Trouble is she found out late last night that it's the weekend 5/6th Aug. OH NO. She is distraught, I feel really bad about it, don't know what to do. DH thinks we may be able to get her to France on the Monday, but we don't know exactly where in France they are going. I can't talk to my friend today, because she works, I have a govenors meeting at 5pm, and then keep fit. DD is going round there for tea tonight, and tomorrow to get ready for the disco, and then K is coming back here to sleep over.

My thoughts are that it is far too much hassle to get her to France on the Monday. I don't think my friend would have booked the holiday if DD wasn't going - so I think she should go on the holiday.

Why have they waited so late to tell the girls about the training camp? They must know that kids go on holiday in August? If only they had told us last week.......

Watch this space, I am sure it will sort itself out, but I feel very responsible and that I will have to be proactive in getting it sorted. I just don't want the hassle!!!!

walk in the rain

Here is the photo that is missing from my previous post. This is looking inland from the shelter, and across a road.

We woke up to distant thunder at 6am this morning, and a few spots of rain. Our doorbell goes off in thunderstorms, which is very disconcerting if it does so in the middle of the night! I couldn't decide whether to go up to Highdown (and risk being caught in torrential rain- as forecast) or down the beach. I decided down the beach was the safest option. I put shorts and sandals on, and my rain mac! It was warm drizzle - quite bizarre! Merlin and I paddled in the sea, and I ended up really wet - hope people didn't think I'd wet myself!!!

Must get browsing the internet shops!!! I need some paper to make Robin's star book. (I rather like the BG hang 10, or reading room, by I can't remember who, I must look it up.) He is 60 at the end of the month, so I need to get my finger out. I also need to make DH a birthday card (10th July) and Mum and Dad an anniversary card (9th July). DH was actually born the day after mum and dad got married!!

Marine Gardens

Recording everyday things is not something I always remember to do. So I decided to take photos on our early morning walk yesterday of this seafront shelter which is right opposite the entrance to Marine Gardens. It has recently had a replacement roof to make it look Edwardian(?) in style. I think it looks great! Much better than the previous flat roof. The grey bit is fibreglass so should last well against the prevailing sou'westerlies! They replaced all the seating too, with seats with arms, so that the homeless people can't sleep there, which they often did before. Although the other day when I walked past there was a man sleeping with his knees bent up over the arm! Must have been very uncomfortable, but then sleeping on a hard bench can't be wonderful, can it?














Here's my attempt at a couple of 'arty-farty' shots. We have always tried to take these type of photos with very limited success!!













Here is the entrance to Marine Gardens from the seafront. (Can't get this photo to load!) I walk through these gardens most days, they are straight down towards the seafront from our house, about 10 mins walk. There is a bowling green, a cafe and a pitch and putt. I used to go there for a coffee when I was studying and needed a change of scenery. I would take a spaper I was having trouble with and a highlighter, order a mug of coffee, and sit and draw all ove it!!














This photo was taken in the Spring. Now this bed is full of bright geraniums. Not all the beds have been planted with bedding, presumably for water saving. The pond is dry too, but the beds round the pond look great with roses, and big thistles, perennial graniums, alchemilla, and much more.

hot hot hot!

It's been a real scorcher today! We got up early and took Merlin for a long walk to the park and beach. Then we had bacon sarnies and coffee -YUM! I have spent the rest of the day indoors, cos it's too hot outside!! I used to really like hot days, but as I have got older I can't take the heat, it makes me feel ill. I think 24/25 degrees is about perfect. It's been 29 today, and tomorrow is forecast to be 31. I really don't like the hot nights either! It always seems to get humid after a couple of nice days. We are expecting thunderstorms later in the week. So I spent the day crafting. I've finished another CJ entry and some recipe cards for my mail art group. Oh and watched the MotoGP of course! From Donnington Park this week. Pedrosa won, Rossi 2nd, Melandri 3rd. Rossi did extremely well to come from behind, and with a broken wrist! Other sporting news is that David Beckham has resigned as England captain after were defeated yesterday in the quarter finals of the World Cup. They missed 3 penalties! It's quite sad really - I would have loved to see them go further.

We went down to the beach at about 4pm. The tide was high, and I went in for a swim, it was blissful! Cool, small waves, nice and deep with the tide high. M sat on the stones and watched.

We have to drive to Dorking in a mo to get Lucy from her volleyball weekend. Not looking forward to that much!

walking on the beach

The weather is great at the moment! Actually, it's been a bit too hot today, but Thursday and Friday were perfect summer days. It's turned more humid today, and clouds have appeared now (10pm) I wonder if we'll have a storm?

Anyway it's the perfect weather for walking on the beach, and here is a picture of sand between my toes! I love walking bare foot through the little wavelets on the edge of the sea. I have this feeling that the sand is good for the bottom of my feet!

Last night we walked along East Worthing beach, and this is a picture of the pier from the 'other' side. I love the purplish tones to the sky and the sand. Later in the year when the sun sets more in the west, ther are gorgeous sunsets over the pier.

day out to eastbourne

I had just the most wonderful day yesterday. Cynthia invited me over for lunch, and Merlin came too! Cynthia and Mike have 2 dogs, so were happy to have Merlin as well. We had lunch on their gorgeous patio overlooking the fab garden in hot sunshine, and then Mike had to go out. Cynthia and I took the dogs for a walk up the hill almost right outside their front door. The view over Eastbourne was perfect. It really was a perfect summer's day, with a nice breeze once we got up the hill. We had time for a cup of tea when we got back, and then unfortunately it was time to come home!

Cynthia and I met in the first year of our degree in Neuroscience at Sussex University. Unfortunately, Cynthia left after the first term, but we have kept in touch, and see each other once or twice a year. It must be 8 years since we met!! Whenever we meet, we always have loads to say to each other, it's great!

Garden centres

Gosh! This is turning into as much of a gardening blog as a scrapping blog! It's really making me think (for ther first time ever) about what is flowering in my garden through out the year. I have been taking quite a lot of photos lately, and yesterday, I wrote a list of all the flowers out atm. It was suprisingly long!

Anyway, Mum and Dad and I love going to garden centres. I usually see them on a Thursday, and we often go somewhere for lunch. We really like going over to Ditchling, where there are 2 fab gcs in close proximity. One has a piano player in the restaurant! They both have excellent plants, good variety and quality. We love to just wander round and talk about what plants are there. We're not so interested in all the other stuff that gcs sell nowadays, pottery, books (actually, Dad can usually be found by the books).

Today, we went to Shoots on the A24 just north of Worthing. We both bought gazanias, 10 for £1.99! They are quite small, but will grow - I'll feed them well. I also bought lush red petunias to go in my low pot. We like going out that way (another favourite is Old barn, further up the A24) becasue we can drive home along the 'back doubles', little country lanes, and then through Steyning and over Steyning Bowl and down into Sompting. It's quite bleak up there, but you could see a long way today. (Must suggest a dog walk up there). On a clear day you can see Beachy Head one way, and IoW the other!

Beaulieu

We had a fab day out at Beaulieu Motorcycle World yesterday. I took over 70 photos, and can't resist showing you a few of them. These little Hondas are the noisiest bikes. They really scream! This is right at the beginning of the circuit. It was only a small circuit, which included riding round the arena. It was so easy to see everything, and to get really close to everyone and all the bikes.
Here's Sammy Miller and Phil Read, 2 famous riders of the 50s and 60s. Sammy has a motorcycle museum in the New Forest and always takes bikes to meetings like this. Maurice is in total awe of them, and just stands and gazes at them in wonder! His boyhood heroes!!! They must have a great time going to all these country events. They look like really nice blokes, in fact, I was telling my Dad how nice Sammy looks, and he said he met him a couple of times when he was in the motorcycle club in Coventry, and yes, he is a great guy!
Some of the vintage bikes entering the arena. I like this photo becasue of the guy in the front all blurry cos he's going so fast!!!
Phil Read's MV Agusta
Sammy Miller and Phil Read in the arena.
I love the bike at the back. It is an Aerial, and has a beautiful wicker picnic basket on the back! The BSA at the front is ridden by a lady who obviously doesn't like riding fast! (A lady after my own heart)


These 2 pics are the wrong way round. hunky Jason Finn is a trick trail bike rider, and did some fabby stunts includding a stoppy just inches away from his mate Craig's important bits! He then bunny hopped his way around Craig. They both looked absolutely gorgeous in their tight motorcycle outfits, it made my day!!!

EeeeK!

Eeeek! We have mice in the larder. When I went to get a little packet of pretzels (Waitrose low-fat!!) to nibble with my glass of wine last night, they were all open. Lots of little nibble marks ie mice!!! It's not the first time we have had mice in there. Well, I have spent the morning moving everything out, scrubbing it, laying a mouse trap, and putting everything back in. At least it is neat and tidy. One thing I never know what to do with is plastic food containers. I never find one the right size for what I want, and they sit there in a huge untidy pile. I am going to throw them away!!! They are so cheap nowadays, that I can buy more if I ever need any.

DH is watching moto gp, I am on here wondering what to do, the weather is gorgeous. I should go outside but I have a whole pile of ironing to do, and I'd like to do some scrapping.

Spanish

I've been learning Spanish for 3 years at an adult education class. I have been going on a Wednesday 1pm - 3pm, with Maribel as my teacher. Maribel has been a fantastic teacher! She makes the lessons fun, and I have never been bored (which I can get with languages!). This year it has been a particularly great group, I feel as though we have all got on really well! I decided to learn Spanish becasue I know a little bit of German and French (O-level! plus some adult education years ago), but I didn't know any Spanish. After 3 years, I would probably be able to order things in a restaurant or shop, but might have trouble understanding the reply! They talk so quick, and the words seem to meld together into one long mumble.

I decided that I would either give up at the end of this year, or really go for it, and take the GCSE course next year. But I do hate doing homework! I try to fit it in around scrapping and computer. If I did the GCSE I would have to spend a dedicated afternoon or morning to it, but do I want to? Anyway, when Maribel said she was leaving I decided to give up. But then a couple of weeks ago we had Marita, a supply teacher, who was brilliant! Much as I like Maribel, it was exciting to have a different style. So now I don't know what to do......... I quite fancy doing an art course instead, but I'm not sure whether they have the right course for me.

Anyway, we had a fantastic night out last night to a local Spanish restaurant, Capprichio's. We all had tapas, and then coffee. A few had beer, a few had red wine. Of course, I suffered from the rich food, and felt dreadful for a couple of hours this morning, but I made myslef take the dog out, and then felt like toast and coffee. I feel better now, just tired and a bit hazy in the head!

I made Maribel a starbook of Worthing. I loved doing it, I used up all my scraps of Junkitz salsa papers, so it is really bright and zingy! But I felt quite nervous giving it to her, what if she didn't like it? I needn't have worried, becasue she loved it, and so did everyone else in the class! Phew! Here is a pic.

More circle journals

I promised my mail art buddies that I would post this one on my blog. I had trouble uploading photos yesterday, so here goes. This is a scraplift CJ. The owner has included lots of magazine pics for us to scraplift. Each person has to choose the next mag pic to scraplift. I really enjoyed doing this one, getting out all my stamps, stickers, rub-ons, chipboard and there are one or two hand cut!

swaps

I love doing swaps! 2 recent ones were a garden embellishment swap which I hosted and a calendar tag swap. There were some fab things sent in with the garden swap, I was really impressed. I laid them all out on the floor last night and took a photo. There are primas, rub-ons, buttons, ribbons, charms, metal embellies, die cuts, brads, eyelets, stickers. I need to start another project, a garden through the year album. I've taken quite a few photos in May and June, they will have to have 4 pages, Dec and Jan will only have 1 page each! I will use the calendar tags in it I think. We started a calendar tag swap months ago, but the host fell ill, and we didn't hear anything from her for months. Someone else hosted another swap, (becasue some people hadn't sent in their tags,) so I remade my tags for that one. Then the original host sent my tags back to me! So yet another host jumped in, and so I have 2 beautiful sets of calendar tags! It's lovely to see peoples' ideas and work in real life.

My garden in June

Well, I remained fairly well focussed, and did a lot of my list yesterday. I'm going to try and do the mail art this morning before going to lunch with A and S.

I took these pics of my garden yesterday. There is quite a lot of colour at the moment, and the roses have been spectacular this year. The purple clematis is called 'Polish Spirit', so reminds me of my late FIL, who was Polish. It is incredibly abundant, and lasts a very long time! I love it. The gravel path goes all the way round the edge of the garden, (this is the bit we gravelled in half term) then the borders slope down to a sunken lawn. There are steps at each end. These steps look gorgeous coverd in the pink rose petals, but are lethal! They are uneven and very slippery becasue they get gravel on them, and the plants are in the way at the moment, until the rose fades and I can cut it back. I have lots of foxgloves that just reseed themselves wherever each year. I must take a photo like this with drops of water on, I think it will look great!

Lists

I love making lists. It makes me feel really good when I cross things off my list!

Here is my huge long list for today, let's see if I can be focussed and get most of it done:

AIFHS
write to people who have overpaid (4)
banking (means going into Worthing, maybe have coffee, buy a magazine!!)
buy envelopes and send 2 letters from Monday

Garden
plant petunias I bought yesterday
what to do with tomatoes, pepper plants that Mum gave me

Mail art
At the very least, post the ATCs I have already made
catch up on 4 weeks projects!


CJs
finish and post Mj's page
look on wikipedia for ideas for Myths and Legends CJ


Finish Maribels star book

Order dog food (done already!)

Make father's day card
buy father's day presents (DVD of the fastest Indian if it is out yet)

Somerset Lodge, Petworth

Just had to upload these pics of the beautiful garden we went to today. I picked Mum and Dad up at 11.30am, we went to RSPB at Pulborough for lunch, stopped by the craft shop in Wyelvale grden centre (where I spent far too much money considering all I wnated was gold brads!), and then on to the garden at Petworth. WE met Mum and Dad's friends there, and wandered around slowly. When we got to the vegetable garden, the owner started chatting to us, what a lovely man! She does most of the gardening, he does the making of fences, trellis, and all other garden structures. Dad was made up when he let him look in his workshop! Highlights? The vegetable garden, all little tiny plots surrounded by box hedges, and the path lined with old fashioned roses - just the right time of year to see them.

Tuesday evenings

I always feel a bit low on a Tuesday evening. It should be wonderful! I get everyone's tea done early, DS goes to YC and Insight group, DH takes dd dancing and goes to see his mum, and I have all evening to myself, once I've taken Merlin for a walk.

But I can never get motivated to do anything! I'm trying to do a CJ entry tonight. What I really want to do is sit here and chat on the internet! How sad is that. Anyway, I have done some of it, I keep running up and down the stairs for the computer, for the journaling. (Actually it is quotes) I'm going to hand cut a title, and print the rest out on strips of card. Might stamp one of the words.

If there was something good on the telly, I could watch that. But it's only football. WOrld cup.

I don't stop eating either. I keep going to the cupboard for snacks, crisps (they are low fat!), ryvita minis (quite nice but expensive!) or waitrose reduced fat pretzels (really yummy, but in too small a packet, so have to eat at tleast 2 packets!!)

I might go and pour myself a glass of wine, having bought 9 bottles today. And I remembered to put one in the fridge.

Right noone has emailed so I'm going back downstairs to decide what to do handcut title in.

Day out in London

I had to go to London for a training day for the charity I do voluntary work for. What a stinking hot day to have to go!! I caught the 7.50am from West Worthing, not too bad. It wasn't too busy becasue it doesn't get in until after 9am, so I suppose most working people have already gone. Underground to Highbury and Islington, very hot. Then I had to catch a BR train 2 stops to Dalston Kingsland. The train was delayed, so I was late for my training day. Only 15 mins, but I think that was the most relevant 15 mins of the whole day to me!

HQ is not too bad, and the room was quite nice, but far too hot, even with 3 fans. There were lots of people aquashed in which made it hotter. The training was not really relevant to me as a volunteer (eg trade union membership!), but some of it was quite interesting. The other people on the course were really nice, friendly and welcoming, something that must go through the whole of the charity!

Journey home was a bit of a nightmare. UNderground was hotter than ever, and very crowded. I panicked a bit at one point, wondering how I was going to get out of the train as people stood all along the carriage. I waited 1 hour on a hot Victoria station when I realised too late that I could have caught an earlier train to Haywards Heath and changed for Worthing GRRR!

By the time I got home I felt light headed, nauseous (from the motion in the new trains), and incredibly over heated. I got off at Worthing and walked, just to get off the train!

It was incredibly nice to get under a cool shower, and drink a glass of wine. By then, I fancied something to eat, so heated up a WW meal from the freezer. N and L were out, DH was on a conference call, so I had time to relax and chill out.

WE took Merlin for a walk along the beach, and then sat in the conservatory with a bottle of wine. LOVELY!! N came in and sat and chatted to us, which was great. L had a friend to stay, but did come and talk for a bit.

Circle Journals

My Favourite Photo CJ front cover


My entry in Pets CJ belongs to Hollybo UKS


My entry in Beach CJ belongs to Ellsese UKS






My entry in My favourite place CJ belongs to Ladyscrap UKS

My Favourite place CJ belongs to Ladyscrap UKS

I love CJs!! I love scrapping on the small pages, experimenting with different ideas and techniques and seeing other people's work in the flesh.

My first Cj has not long returned to me. It was with UKs and the theme was My Favourite Photo. The work in it is fabulous, and I keep looking at it again and again.

I've not long joined another UKS CJ, this time my theme is Family. Stupidly, I forgot to take a photo of it before I sent it on.

My next CJ is with my team on UKS, the Scrapettes. We are sending each other pages rather than the whole CJ, to save on postage and stop loosing any in the post. Trouble is, we don't get to see anyone else's work in the flesh! My theme this time is 'Garden'

My next CJ is with UK stampers. I am a bit nervous about this one, cos I don't think I'm very good at stamping - I'm still a bit messy. Might have to practise alot!! But, having said that, I am so looking forward to seeing everyone else's work and learning some new techniques. My theme is colours.

hobbies

I've always dabbled in hobbies.

I've done photography, including my own B&W developing, and an advanced photography evening class (full of older men who knew exactly what they were doing!! Me, I was lucky if I loaded the film in properly!) where we had a beautiful model to photograph. We have always kept nice albums, usually one per year, but special holidays have merited their own with a bit more writing and memorabelia.

I've kept diaries in the past, and dabbled with the idea of writing. I enjoy getting to grips with a subject and writing about it as per essays at university.

I've dabbled in sewing. It's along time since I made anything to wear (Probably a baby dress for Lucy!) But I always make my own curtains, and recently have started using the sewing machine for LOs.

I've cross stitched. About the time I had DS and DD, cross stitch was very popular among my friends so I amde lots of cross stitch baby cards, Christmas cards, and samplers. I always prefeered the 'heritage' or 'vintage' look to the 'cute' look. Just recently when I was ill with flu, I caught up on an old project, and Elizabeth Bradley cushion 'Auricula'. It is absolutely gorgeous. The colours are divine, and there are lots of subtle shades. That's why it has taken me so long! It is a winter project though. I have now finished the pattern, and am beginning to stitch the black background. I must have bought it about 10 years ago!

I dabble with my garden. When we lived on the sea front, I spent alot of time researching what would grow in the salty air, and planted the front garden accordingly. When I drive past now, I can see my planting has matured nicely despite the sea winds. Since moving here I have not made the time for gardening. We have ahuge garden here that is quite overwhelming. It was very overgrown when we got here, and it's only now that we are beginning to get it under control. Each time I go out there I am overwhelmed with the enormity of the things that need doing, and consequently can't start anything! I need to break it down into small chunks, and when I do that, I manage to get something done. I love visiting gardens, especially the RHS garden at Wisley, which I managed to get DH to last week. I really want to visit Christopher Lloyd's garden in Kent, and Sissinghurst, and some of the NT houses down in the West Country.

Family History has become a big hobby lately. I volunteered to be part of the committee of the AIFHS, and have done treasurer and now membership. I love being part of the group, and doing the admin side of things. I like the fact I have streamlined the m/s process, kept the letters and emails up to date, and am simplifying for later years. Trouble is, it does take time from researching my own family history. I have found out a lot about the Fumagallis , since Giovanni (paternal GGgrandfathercame to England in the 1870s. I have tried to come forward from him, with quite a bit of success. Recently another of his descendants joined the society so more present day Fumagallis. I have also researched quite a bit on the Vanstone side (maternal grandfather), and have found a huge amount by contacting others on the internet. And I love researching WW1 and grandad's experiences. I recently started a heritage album (combining 2 hobbies) of Grandad with his photos from the early 1900s.

I love to read. I try and read each night in bed for 30 mins or so. I chat with others on the internet to get ideas about what to read, and have read some fab books lately. Some of the Richard and Judy books have been good. I'm currently reading 'A Short History of Tractors in the Ukranian' by Maria Lewyckya. It is absolutley hilariuos!! But that could be becasue I knew an East European old man (FIL), who was Polish, but had the same turn of phrase as the old man in the book. Makes me read it out loud to DH (much to his annoyance if he is trying to read too), and laugh out loud!

I always come on here thinking I'll just write a little bit and spend ages, and write ahuge long missive! Who on earth would want to read it? So i will leave my biggest and best hobby to another time -SCRAPBOOKING.

week off work

Dh had last week off work as holiday. It was the kids half term holiday. Actually, we didn't do anything with them all week! But we are pleased because we got some jobs done.

DH and DS put down gravel on the path, a job that has been waiting to be done since last summer, when we put down the old carpets to stop the weeds growing through. It looks fab now! But it ha made the other side look a bit thin, so we really need another load of gravel to top dress the other side and the back.

Another job was painting the kitchen. We had a new floor put down earlier in the year, and we weren't too sure whether the yellow really went with it. Also, they don't so that yellow anymore, and there was only 1 coat on the wall where the boiler was replaced. So we decided to go pale cream, and it looks fab too!

I also took DS out shopping for new clothes, 3 new pairs of trousers, new trainers new pants and socks. He likes to have the same as he had before, not a man who likes change!

We had our day out on the bike. DH had to take the BMW in to the garage in Guidford for some tweaking, so we went to Wisley for the day, and then on to Guildford cathedral. Very nice until we got to the garage and they hadn't done all the work M wanted doing. So we waited in the ****** garage for 1 hour for his 'man' to come and explain!!! We took N and L out for a meal to 'La Difference', a place we used to like going to 20 years ago. WEll, the food was OK, and very cheap, but it was like walking into your granny's front room, and full of old people!!! Not quite your hip, cool and innit place teenagers like.

And we saw MIL for her birthday, and my mum and dad on Monday.

All in all a great week!!!

(But..... I am pleased to be back to normal now, spending time on here catching up and doing my housework and AIFHS stuff!! Boy, I am a person who likes routine really!)

MIL's birthday

It was MILs 85th birthday yesterday. DH decided it would be a good idea to take her out for lunch. But she really doesn't like going out for lunch! I suggested fish and chips in her flat. At first, she wanted to go out. Then she said oh no, she'd rather have chips. Then right on the morning of her b/day, she said she would go out, maybe to the Roundstone or Oystercatcher. R&J had been to the oystercatcher, so I think that took her fancy. We arrived a bit late about 12.30, becasue we had been for a walk up to Cissbury and not woken Lucy, so she was still in bed at 11!! After quite a bit of faffing about (OMG, I'm sure to be like that when I get old!!), we drove to O/C, not very far actually. DH went in to see how busy, not too bad, let's go in. As soon as we walked in, I could tell she wasn't going to like it!! It was quite dark, and reasonably busy, but not noisy. There were a lot of children (it is half-term). DH and L went to find a table, but I could tell MIL was very uncomfortable. We left without even sitting down! We drove back to Littlehampton, and parked right outside the chip shop. DH went in to order, but they are so slow!! MIL and I went for a short walk along the river. Fish and chips were good, nice and fresh, but it was gone 2.30pm by the time we ate them!! WE were starving, and consequently ate them a bit quick (Out of the paper, MIL insisted on having hers on aplate, more faffing about!) They laid a bit heavy for the rest of the day.

DH says he's taking lessons, so that he can be that bad when he gets older!! I don't think our kids will be so accommodating.

Bank Holiday weekend

It's the end of May bh weekend. I love all the little bits and poeces of holiday we get around now, Easter, early May and now end of May. The end of May is a particularly nice time of year because everything is growing so enthusiastically. My garden is looking very lush and green, especially as we've had a bit of rain lately. Highdown where I like to take the dog is looking great, long grass dotted with buttercups. Here is a photo I took yesterday morning.

It's still not very warm though! It's just poured down, more like April showers.

I did loads of gardening yesterday, planted my pots for the patio, and the corner that we cleared several weeks ago. Boy was I stiff this morning though! A good walk along Ferring seafront fixed that. It was Chelsea Flower Show this week. I'm very tempted to go next year. It suddenly occured to me that I could go without Mum and Dad! I always do garden shows, gardens and garden centres with them, never anyone else! I would post a picture of my garden, but I've accidently deleted it before uploading, woops! I'll have to take some more.

Mum and Dad came for as cup of tea this afternoon. Dad didn't seem too bad, coughing a bit, and got tired quickly. Lucy is out with Gemma, Nicholas is going out later for bowling. Maybe we should hire another film? We hired 'The Constant Gardener' on Saturday. It was really good- just the right amount of intrigue to keep us watching! Well acted, and filmed. Lovely with a glass of red wine and some Bombay Mix to nibble at!

I've been tagged...

I've been tagged by MJ, so here goes:

5 things in my Fridge:
chillis
old jar of jam
olives
cold meat
milk


5 things in my wardrobe:
trousers
1 dress
jackets
children's christmas stockings
handbags


5 things in my bag:
purse
credit card wallet
diary
phone
lypsyl


5 things in my car:
seats
steering wheel
insurance details
dog blanket
wine carrier

5 things I watch on TV (I don't have skyplus)
Dr Who
New Tricks
Gardeners World
The Apprentice
Last of the Summer Wine

a busy week

This week has been one of those weeks where I have rushed about after everyone else. I had to take my Dad (and Mum) to hammersmith Hospital for his 6 monthly check up on Thursday. They were very nervous about it because Dad has been so unwell lately. He has myeloma, a sort of blood cancer, which can be treated, but never cured, so it keeps coming back. With him being so unwell lately, they thought it had probably come back. Well they did all the tests yesterday and x-rays (it affects his bones), but they won't have the results until next week. It was a very long day for dad, 2 hours driving (M25, A40, yuck), 2 hours waiting in the hospital, and 2.5 hours back. I was knackered!!

Went to see them on Fri am, Dad's very tired, but I think they are glad to get Thursday over. Mum doesn't drive, and they took their car into the garage Wed early am, so I gave them a lift to the garage to pick it up. I think dad can just about drive safely on short journeys!!

Luckily my wonderful friend Sarah made us lunch yesterday! It was lovley, a real oasis of calm!

Been rushing around after DD, getting her from school, and making tea for DD and friend, then getting them off to the theatre for 5pm (4.30 on Tues!) I felt quite good about it, cos I gave them high carb meals to keep them going. M has made her bacon sandwiches when she got back! We went to see the show on Wed, with Mum and dad (Dad had to go out a couple of times becasue of his coughing) It was really really good, with loads of dancers from aged 2 to 18. DD and her group were in loads of dances, probably the most spectacular was Viva Las Vegas. They were dressed like showgirls, with leotards, silver tops, silver high heeled shoes, and a most fantastic huge feather headdress! Wonderful!

I've been working on a heritage LO all week. It's of my Grandad and his mates at training camp in WW1. I've been carefully distressing everything, and I'm pleased with it now. Still needs a couplemore items. Might look on google images in a mo.

I rather hurridly completed a CJ entry this morning, so I could send it off on the deadline. Quite pleased with it in the end. I had been thinking about it all week, planning in my mind, but I should really have done it earlier, and not left it till today!

We are doing a 'page swap' CJ in our UKS team. Looking forward to getting going with that.

A few new stamps came this week from eBay. Butterflies and dragonflies (homemeade - hope they last!), little tiny cute garden themed trio, and some vintage buckles for Sbing!

A windy day!

Just typing in that title reminds me of a Postman Pat story, 'Pat's Windy day'!! I remember Mrs (can't remember her name, had twins, I think) hanging out the washing as it was a good drying day!! I did hang out Nicholas's anorak, and it was drying nicely, and then it rained, and now it's all wet again.

I could hardly stand up on the beach this morning. There was that awful panicky feeling becasue I found it hard to breathe. Stupidly, I walked along eastwards before I got to ther beach, and walking westwards on the beach was virtually impossible. So I walked along to heene Road, and back round the streets. When I got in, the phone rang, and it was DD's school, asking me to pick her up becasue it was likely that she had conjunctivitis. Lucky DD! Being told she MUST go home!! WE stopped off at the chemist and got some ointment.

I took Mum and dad out for lunch. Haven't seen them for a while because of colds and flu and chest infections. They seemed OK, a bit tired, still coughing a bit. They are going to see Michelle go to her prom tonight, so I left them at home about 2 for a rest. Bought some bedding plants at Old Barn. I will have to put them in this weekend.

Scrapped a bit this afternoon, finished off handbags CJ. Managed to persuade DD to do a bit too, but she only managed 1 page before she got bored.

may 16

Rushing around again! Took the dog for a wlk down the beach, it's warming up out there, so had to carry coat and fleecy! Taking DD to drs in a min, then family centre for work, back here for lunch, and off to FC again this afternoon.

DD has dance tonight, and DH not going to his mums, so I'm not sure who is going to take DD and friends!! I need to do my Spanish homework.

Another busy weekend

After 3 Saturdays out on the trot, (New Forest to meet my UKS team, London for SOG Family History fair for AIFHS AGM, and Newbury for a crop), I have a Saturday in!

But, I have to organise for a big dinner tomorrow, 11 to cook for. 2DBILs, 2Nephews and OHs, and us 4. What really p****** me off is that I have to clear away my scrap stuff from the dining room table!! And the Scrapettes have set challenges for those of us not going to Bonanza. I really love challenges, and want to have a go. So I'm leaving the scrap clearing until late tonight so I might have an hour later.

R & J are coming from Scotland via Bournemouth, some sort of reunion. But they haven't told us when they are coming to Worthing/Littlehampton. So they don't know what time lunch is, and J has been invited to arrive about 11.30am. DD has a big dance rehearsal which starts at 1.45pm, so we have to eat early! I'm starting to feel stressed!

Just off to town with DD for last minute costume stuff and b'day pressie for my friends DD, then shopping at sainsburys, then more dance rehearsals.

We have all got colds!! I spent another night downstairs on the sofa. (I'm feeling especially guilty for not seeing Mum and dad all week, but can't risk Dad getting another chest infection). DH is making the most of it today!! DD and DS not too bad.

After a really gorgeous day yesterday, it is beginning to cloud over now, and is cooler.

Just got back from evening dog walk. The tide was out just enough to show some sand at the bottom of the breakwaters, so Merlin was able to run about a bit. It was a cold wind down on the beach.

Got a bit of a cold at the mo. Not bad enough to make me feel really ill, but enough to stop me being able to see Mum and dad. Dad is just recovering after a nasty chest infection so don't want to give him anything else. He has a bad pain in his leg which could be something to do with coughing, or could be the myeloma coming back. Mum says it's a bit easier today, so maybe it is a trapped nerve caused by coughing, and will get better slowly. Trouble is, it's keeping them awake at night, and they are not able to get out, so are feeling a bit depressed, and frustratingly, I can't help!

Stayed to lunch at the Family Centre today. Pizza and salad. Just trying to work out whether 5 pieces of pizza is allowed on my diet!

Off to tackle Spanish homework. Must do something towards my CJ which is due to be posted on Sat.

oops!

I thought I'd put a link to my blog on my UKS signature. So I wanted to edit a bit of March 31st entry. But now March 31st is not in the right order. Ooops!

March 31st

It was my birthday on Sat. Maurice bought me a watch ( I lost my old one this time last year!), Nicholas a box of chocs and Lucy made a lovley photo frame, and she'd chosen piccies of me for it, and decorated the mount. Mum and Dad bought me new secateurs and scrapbooking papers, Sarah some twiggy lights and a brown vase to put them in, Angela, expensive bath oil. I did some scrapping in the morning, did my CJ entry Pets. M and I went out to Chichester in the afternoon and had a cake. It poured with rain (M says it always does in Chi) . Went to Spotted Cow for dinner with Mum and Dad, it was great. I had soup for starters and then trout.

It was mother's day on Sun. We went to see M's mum, and stayed there too long, cos we waited to see John, who was going for dinner. When we got home, N and L had made a cake, and were going to cook the roast dinner. They did a splendid job, roast lamb, roast potatoes, lots of veg, ohh I forgot, prawn cocktail for starters, and then strudel or cake for pudding. YUM. And they cleared up! Best mother's day pressie I think I've ever had.

This week has been pretty normal. Housework and AIFHS on Mon, work at family centre on Tues (but I'm having the next 2 weeks off), Scrapping and Spanish on Wed (gonna give up Spanish cos Maribel is leaving at the end of the summer term. I want to do something arty), saw M and D for lunch at Old Barn Nurserys at Ashington on Thurs, and have been to Sarah's for coffee this morning, and to Muldoons for lunch with Linda and Margaret.

I ordered a huge parcel from Canny Crafts cos they had free P&P, and 10% off. I ordered several 8 x 8 albums, some bright paper, and TH distress inks. Must have a go with them later. I am hosting my first swap on UKS, prima flowers. I'm pretty laid back, so I really don't mind if it ends up that I put more things in the swap than I get out of it. It's just a bit of fun, well supposed to be. Talking of swaps I received my original calander swaps tags back. She's had them since about Oct! Luckily, someone else is up for hosting yet another ct swap! Otherwise I'm left with 12 July tags!!

It's been a bit quiet on Uks, and I'm dying for ukstampers to really get going. Actually, it has just occured to me that I should post on there myself!

Funny thing happened yesterday! I went to Sainsbury's and realised just as I got to the check out with my full trolley that I didn't have my credit cards. I would have to leave the shopping and come back with the money. But, as luck would have it, I bumped into Sarah L, and she offered to pay for it for me, and I send her a cheque. PHew!!!

Monday morning

Just been for a rather wet doggy walk. Can't complain really as we had a nice drop or two of rain last night. It wasn't really raining when I went out, and not cold or windy so could have been worse. The grass is quite long and Merlin gets very wet underneath !

I've got a lot to do today housework , Family History stuff , Circle Journal to finish

I'm going to start the day by organising my diary on Outlook here on the computer. I keep forgetting appointments (dentist, school govenors' meetings ) so I need desperately to be more organised. I always thought I was quite an organised person, but lately it has all gone to pot . I backed up my file of 2005 photos yesterday, and thought i'd organise them a bit better, but it would take forever! I have several copies of most photos in all sorts of different folders. How did that happen?

I've got a horrible cough that kept me awake all night. I nearly went on UKS at 3am to see if anyone was around!

The warmest day of the year!

What a beautiful morning! The sun is shining, and the air is actually warm. It's the first time this year that the air has felt warm, and there is a lovely smell and feel to the air. Spring is finally here!

I just sat in the garden for 10 mins with a cup of coffee, and saw loads of birds, pigeons, balckbird, great tit, and I can hear loads singing even now as I sit at my computer. I saw butterflies, bees and other flying insects. Fab!

Took Merlin for a walk along Ferring beach today. I couldn't decide whether to wear my coat, but decided to take it anyway, and pockets are useful for poop scoop, bags, treats, keys etc. I was glad I had it on becasue there was quite a strong breeze along the beach. Here are some photos: