Barack Obama

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

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?

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

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!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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!!!